1. PM Modi inaugurates Bundelkhand Expressway in U.P.
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16, 2022 inaugurated the 296-km-long Bundelkhand Expressway, which passes through seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and has been constructed at a cost of around ₹14,850 crore.
Important facts
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of the expressway on February 29, 2020 and it was completed in about 28 months.
The 296 km long, four-lane Bundelkhand Expressway passes through seven districts, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.
It extends from NH-35 at Gonda village near Bharatkup in Chitrakoot district to Kudrail village in Etawah district, where it meets with the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
The expressway will have four railway bridges, 18 major bridges and 286 minor bridges.
Provision has also been made for rain water harvesting at every 500 meters on the expressway.
Significance
Apart from improving connectivity in the region, the Bundelkhand Expressway will boost economic development and generate thousands of jobs for the local people.
The project is also significant as most of it was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was one of the major sources of employment to the migrant laborers returning to the state.
The work of making industrial corridors in Banda and Jalaun districts next to the expressway has started.
2. Ministry of Women and Child Development issues Detailed Guidelines for ‘Mission Shakti’
Tags: National News
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued detailed guidelines for the ‘Mission Shakti' scheme.
About Mission Shakti
It was launched by the Ministry of Women Child Development during the 15th Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
It is an integrated women empowerment programme for the safety, security and empowerment of women.
Objective of the scheme
Care and protection of all women and girls including disabled, socially and economically disadvantaged and vulnerable groups with short term and long term services for their overall development and empowerment.
Components of Mission Shakti
Sambal
It is for Safety and Security of Women.
This includes schemes of One Stop Center (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) along with a new component of Nari Adalats.
Samarthya
It is for Empowerment of Women.
In this, the earlier Ujjwala schemes, Swadhar Greh and Working Women Hostel have been included with amendment.
The existing schemes of National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under Integrated Child Development Services ICDS have now been included in Samarthya.
A new component of Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment has also been included in the Samarthya Scheme.
3. Union Minister Arjun Munda inaugurates 'Manthan' tribal welfare symposium at Palghar
Tags: National News
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated a two-day symposium ‘Manthan’ on upliftment of tribal communities at Palghar in Maharashtra on 14 July.
About Manthan Symposium
This Symposium is focussing on the various programmes to be undertaken on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Fees Control Authority, Grants Department and Tribal Museums which organize 'Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas' on birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
It also includes discussions on the ST component and the health and education of the tribal population.
Apart from Maharashtra, representatives of tribal welfare departments like Jammu, Kashmir, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. participated in the seminar.
Tribal communities in India
According to the 2011 Census, the tribal population formed 8.61% of total population.
97% of tribal population live in rural areas and 10.03% in urban areas.
The sex ratio for the overall population is 940 females per 1000 males.
Scheduled Tribes have 990 females per thousand males.
No tribe has been identified in Punjab and Haryana and Union Territories of Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry.
Chhattisgarh has the largest proportion of Scheduled Tribes population of 30.62%, followed by Jharkhand 26.21%.
Gujarat, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir region and Goa are the four major states in which more than 10% of the population belongs to the Scheduled Tribes.
4. Govt launches “Jagriti” mascot for empowering consumers
Tags: National News
The Department of Consumer Affairs has launched a mascot “Jagriti” on 15th July to empower consumers and create awareness about their rights.
About “Jagriti” mascot
Jagriti will be projected as an empowered consumer who is spreading awareness about consumer rights and solving consumer problems.
It will be used to create consumer awareness about various topics of the department.
Its themes include the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, hallmarking, National Consumer Helpline Toll-free number 1915, provisions of the Weights and Measures Act, decisions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority and testimonials by consumers on grievance redressal.
The Jagriti mascot will be featured in all its media campaigns with the tagline "Jago Grahak Jago".
Aims of ‘Jagriti’ Mascot
Strengthening consumer awareness campaign presence in digital and multimedia
Reinforce a strong young and informed consumer as the top consumer rights awareness recall brand
5. Centre dedicates 166 CNG stations across 14 states
Tags: National News
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on 15 July virtually dedicated 166 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations across 14 states of the country.
Important facts
These CNG stations have been set up by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and nine of its group City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies.
This is an important step towards expanding the availability of eco-friendly CNG to the transport sector, households and industry in India.
These CNG stations, commissioned at a cost of Rs 400 crore, will further strengthen the gas based infrastructure and availability of clean fuel in the country.
This will stimulate the market for CNG vehicles and will have a huge impact on manufacturing, skill development and job creation.
The number of CNG stations will be increased to eight thousand in the next two years.
Presently the number of CNG stations has crossed 4500 as compared to 2014 when there were around 900 CNG stations across the country.
Ambitious target of expanding the share of Natural Gas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of increasing the share of natural gas in the primary energy mix to 15% to enter a gas-based economy.
The development of the gas-based economy is expected to play an important role in achieving India's goal of net zero by 2070.
What is Hydrogen Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)?
Combination of hydrogen with CNG gives a compound gas known as HCNG.
It is a mixture of compressed natural gas and 4-9 per cent hydrogen by energy.
It can also be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines and for home appliances.
Compared to conventional CNG, the use of H-CNG can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by up to 70%.
It is capable of saving up to 5% in fuel.
6. Iran, Belarus to be newest SCO members
Tags: International News
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is all set to expand with Iran joining the group as its ninth member, while Belarus has applied for membership.
Important facts
The decision to include Iran was made at last year's Dushanbe summit and Belarus has applied for its membership.
This is the first expansion of the SCO after India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017.
The significance of this expansion is that it reflects the growing international influence of the SCO and also shows that the principles of the SCO Charter are being widely accepted.
India will host the SCO summit next year, and Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region’s first “Tourism and Cultural Capital”.
What is Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?
It is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
It was founded in 2001.
The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and came into force in 2003.
It is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization.
Its aim is to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
China, Russia and four Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan – were founding members of the SCO.
Official Languages - Russian and Chinese
Chairmanship - On the basis of rotation for a year by Member States
7. IIT Madras tops ministry of education's India Rankings 2022
Tags: National News
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has secured the first position in the 2022 India Ranking of the best higher education institutions in the country released by the Ministry of Education.
Important facts
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIT, Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.
This ranking is prepared by the Ministry of Education by dividing the educational institutions across the country into different categories.
Under this overall university, college, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medicine, architecture, dentistry and research category come.
Best University - Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
It is followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia at the second and third positions respectively.
Best Management Institute - IIM Ahmedabad
IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have secured the second and third positions respectively.
Best Engineering College - IIT Madras
IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.
Best College - Miranda House, Delhi
The Hindu College of Delhi is second and the Presidency College of Chennai is at the third position.
Best Medical College - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Best Dental College - Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai
Best Pharmacy Institute - Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Best Architectural Institute - Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Best Law Institute - National Law School of India University, Bangalore
Overall Top 5 Institutes
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
8. "Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report
Tags: International News
On July 14, 2022, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) published its "Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report.
About the report
Title - Addressing the crisis of cost of living in developing countries: Poverty and vulnerability estimates and policy responses.
Objectives of the report
It estimates the potential impacts of food and energy inflation on global poverty and vulnerability.
According to this report, the global livelihood crisis is pushing another 71 million people into extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries.
An analysis of more than 159 developing countries showed that rising prices of key commodities in 2022 are already troubling parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Balkans.
The report warns that the cost of living crisis is pushing millions of people into poverty and hunger at an alarming pace.
UNDP recommendation
According to the UNDP, targeted cash transfers by governments will prove to be more "equitable and cost-effective" than broad subsidies on energy and food prices.
UNDP has called for corresponding action. It has asked to provide direct cash transfer to vulnerable people. It also asked wealthy nations to further expand the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which they set out to help poor countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
UNDP is a United Nations body, which helps countries to eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.
It is headquartered in New York City, and has offices in 170 countries.
UNDP is the largest development aid agency of the United Nations.
9. The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs tops the service portals of the Union Ministry
Tags: National News
The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been ranked first under the Portal of Central Ministries in the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment.
Important facts
The Digital Police Portal of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Central Mantralaya Services Portal has been ranked second in the assessment.
This evaluation was done by evaluating service portals with the portal of their parent Ministry/Department.
The government portals that were assessed were divided into two main categories - State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Portal and State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Service Portal.
Four parameters of assessment
Accessibility
Content availability
Ease of Use and Information Security
Privacy for Central Ministry Portals
National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment
The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment was conducted in 2021 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in association with knowledge partners NASSCOM and KPMG.
It is a periodic assessment aimed at improving the effectiveness of the States/UTs and the Central Government in the delivery of their online services to the citizens.
10. BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting
Tags: International News
Union Labor and Employment Minister Bhupendra Yadav participated in the BRICS Labor and Employment Ministers meeting held under the Chinese presidency on 14 July.
Important facts
With regard to the priority issues discussed in the meeting, the Minister highlighted the initiatives taken by India.
The Minister informed that a Sector Council for Green Jobs in India has been set up to develop strategies and implement programs for skill development in the green sector.
The minister explained the steps taken by India to provide relief to the workers during the pandemic.
India has taken several initiatives to increase the number of days of assured employment under MGNREGA and to provide free ration.
The government has provided loans to street vendors to help them restart their business under the PM Svanidhi Yojana during the pandemic.
The meeting was attended by ministers from member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Declaration of the meeting
The need for promoting green jobs was recognized in the Declaration of the meeting.
The Declaration recognized the need to promote green jobs for sustainable development, strengthen cooperation in skill development and protect workers' rights in new forms of employment.
Discussions on three priority issues
Promoting green jobs for sustainable development,
Developing skills for resilient recovery,
Protecting Workers Right in New Forms of Employment.
About BRICS
It is an acronym for the group of major emerging economies of the world – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
In 2001, British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC.
South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010.
