1. Cabinet approves opening of Indian Mission in Lithuania
Tags: International Relations Popular
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the opening of a new Indian Mission in Lithuania in 2022.
It will help expand India's diplomatic footprint, deepen political ties and strategic cooperation, enable the growth of bilateral trade, investment and economic engagement.
It will facilitate stronger people-to-people contacts, allow more sustained political access in multilateral fora and help mobilise support for India's foreign policy objectives.
The Indian Mission in Lithuania will better assist the Indian community and protect their interests.
This will have a direct impact in increasing domestic production and employment in line with our goal of self-reliant India.
India - Lithuania
India recognized Lithuania (along with the other Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia) on 7 September 1991 following the acceptance of their independence by the then USSR.
India's diplomatic relations with Lithuania were established on 25 February 1992.
The Lithuanian language, the oldest surviving Indo-European language, has great similarities with Sanskrit, so it reflects ancient links with India.
2. Union Minister Giriraj Singh launches ‘Azadi Se Antyodaya Tak’ campaign
Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh today launched a 90-day inter-ministerial campaign 'Azadi se Antyodaya Tak' under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.
The campaign will be implemented by involving all rural stakeholders such as families of selected freedom fighters, Panchayati Raj Institutions, women's networks, youth groups and students highlighting the achievements of the schemes.
The campaign has been launched with a mission to saturate 75 districts of 28 states and union territories with the beneficiary schemes of nine central ministries.
Direct assistance to beneficiaries in saturation mode in 17 selected schemes during the campaign, will reach the person at the bottom of the pyramid in rural areas by each of the participating Ministries and Departments.
in this campaign the following ministries and department will be involved -
Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Department of Financial Services,
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,
Department of Agriculture and farmers Welfare,
Department of Health and Family Welfare,
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Labour and Employment.
3. India Tops The World In Real-Time Payment Volumes In 2021
Tags: Popular Economics/Business International News
According to the ACI Worldwide Report on Real-time Transactions, India's real-time transactions are ranked first in the world.
In the year 2021, India's real-time transactions have grown to 48.6 billion.
China ranks second after India with 18 billion real time transactions.
India's transaction volume is more than seven times that of the US, UK, Canada, Germany and France combined (7.5 billion).
Brazil, Thailand and South Korea lag behind India and China in terms of real-time transactions of 8.7 billion, 9.7 billion and 7.4 billion respectively.
This research has found that more than half (52.71 percent) of consumers worldwide use mobile wallets.
Real-time payment transactions worldwide crossed 118.3 billion in the year 2021, a growth of 64.5% on a year-on-year basis.
Reason to increase in real-time transactions
The rise in the use of digital payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the growth of QR code payments and UPI-based mobile payment apps among merchants, propelled real-time payments into 2021.
Consumers are moving from cash to digital real-time payment methods, which means that the share of real-time payments in total payment volume will exceed 70% in 2026.
4. Samba becomes first district in country with 100% Golden card Registration
Tags: National News
The Samba district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has become the first district in the country where all the citizens, employees and pensioners have the Golden Card of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Samba district achieved this feat after a special registration drive by the State Health Agency from April 11 to April 21.
There are a total 62,641 families in Samba district out of which 3,04,510 people are eligible for AB-PM-JAY Sehat Golden Card.
Under this scheme, the beneficiary family is being given the benefit of health insurance of Rs.5 lakh.
Recently, Palli village of Palli Panchayat of Samba district became the first solar power village in the country, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 April.
About Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Started- April 1, 2018
Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a health scheme of the Government of India.
The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the budget session 2018.
This scheme was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 April 2018 on the birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar from Ranchi district of Jharkhand.
The objective of this scheme is to provide health insurance to the economically weaker people (BPL holders). Cashless health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh is provided to every family covered under this scheme.
5. Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to 5 years in jail for corruption
Tags: Popular International News
A court in military-ruled Myanmar found deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of corruption and sentenced her to five years in jail.
The case was the first of 11 corruption charges against the Nobel laureate, each carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
A Myanmar junta court accused the 76-year-old leader of accepting a bribe of $600,000 cash and gold bars.
He has already been sentenced to six years in prison in other cases and is facing 10 more corruption charges.
Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since February 2021, when a military coup toppled her elected government.
About Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi born on June 19, 1945, Rangoon, Burma is politician and opposition leader of Myanmar.
She was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1991.
She has held several government positions since 2016, including that of state counsellor, which essentially made her the de facto leader of the country.
She was sidelined when the military seized power in February 2021.
6. IFSCA Issues Framework for FinTech Entity in International Financial Services Centres
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), has issued a “Framework for FinTech Entity in the IFSCs”.
The Framework aim is giving boost to the establishment of a world class FinTech Hub at GIFT IFSC comparable with other International Financial Centres (IFCs).
The framework proposes to cover financial technology (FinTech) solutions resulting in new business models, applications, processes or products in areas/activities linked to financial services regulated by IFSCA.
It covers advanced/innovative technological solutions which aid and assist activities in relation to financial products, financial services and financial institutions (TechFin).
The framework provides for a dedicated Regulatory Sandbox for FinTech products or solutions namely IFSCA FinTech Regulatory Sandbox.
7. NTPC Signs MoU with Energy Vault for Gravity-based Energy Storage Technology
Tags: Latest National News
NTPC Limited announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Vault Holdings (“Energy Vault).
NTPC Limited the largest power generating utility in India.
The objective of the MoU is to collaborate and formalise a long-term strategic partnership for deployment of Energy Vault’s EVx™ gravity-based energy storage technology and software solutions based on the outcome of a joint feasibility study.
The technology also offers beneficial utilisation of coal ash for manufacturing of composite blocks for Energy Vault’s gravity based energy storage system.
About NTPC
It is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
It aims to provide reliable electricity and related solutions in an economical, efficient and eco-friendly manner driven by innovation.
It became a Maharatna company in May 2010.
It is located in New Delhi.
It is India's largest power utility company with an installed capacity of 63925 MW (including JVs)plans to become a 130 GW company by 2032.
It was incorporated on November 7, 1975 under the Companies Act.
8. Exports of Indian chemicals register growth of 106% in 2021-22 over 2013-14
Tags: National Economy/Finance
The export of Indian chemicals has registered a growth of 106 percent in 2021-22 as compared to the year 2013-14.
India's chemical exports for 2021-22 set a record at US$ 29296 million, while India's chemical exports stood at US$ 14210 million in 2013-14.
The growth in exports of chemicals has been driven by a jump in shipments of organic, inorganic chemicals, agrochemicals, dyes and dye intermediates, specialty chemicals.
Today the Indian chemical industry has become a global player and earns foreign exchange for the country with the "Make in India" approach.
India’s position in chemical production
India is the sixth largest producer of chemicals in the world and the third largest in Asia.
India ranks 14th position in export of chemicals.
Today India is a leader in the production of dyes and contributes 16%-18% of the world's dyestuff exports.
Indian dye is exported to more than 90 countries. India is the fourth largest producer of agrochemicals in the world and manufactures more than 50% of technical grade pesticides.
About 50% of the agrochemicals in the world are exported from India.
India is the largest producer and exporter of castor oil in the world and is responsible for almost 85-90 % of total global exports in this segment.
9. Government scraps MP quota for admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas
Tags: Latest National News
As per the admission guidelines for 2022-23, the central government has abolished the quota through which Members of Parliament could recommend names for admission in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs).
Along with this special provision for admission of employees of the Ministry of Education, children and dependent grandchildren of MPs and children of serving or retired KV employees, the discretionary quota of Chairman of the School Management Committee has also been removed.
What was the MP quota and how much was the right of recommendation ?
Through the quota of MPs, 10 students could be recommended by each MP for admission to classes I to IX at the beginning of each academic year.
As per the rule 10 names should be restricted to children whose parents belong to the constituency of the recommending MP.
There are 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 245 in the Rajya Sabha who could have collectively recommended the admission of 7,880 students per year under the individual quota.
But according to the official figures, 8,164 admissions were done under the quota of MPs in 2018-19 i.e. crossed the prescribed limit.
The following admission quota has been retained
The special provisions that have been retained in the admission quota include admission of children of recipients of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
Recipients of National Bravery Award, 15 children of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) employees, children orphaned due to Kovid-19, children of late Central Government employees, children showing special talent in fine arts etc will be able to take admission from the respective quota.
10. Religious freedom in India ‘significantly worsened’: US panel
Tags: National
In its 2022 annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said that the state of religious freedom in India has reached a "significantly worse" state than last year.
It has recommended that India be designated a 'Country of Special Concern' (CPC), i.e. the category of the worst performing governments on religious freedom criteria.
What is the USCIRF?
It is an independent, bipartisan body created by the US International Religious Freedom Act, 1998 (IRFA).
It has the authority to monitor religious freedom violations globally and make policy recommendations.
It is an entity formed by Congress and not an NGO or advocacy organisation.
It is led by nine part-time commissioners appointed by its President.
Meaning of 'Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC)
IRFA requires the USCIRF to annually identify countries that qualify for the CPC designation.
According to the IRFA, CPCs are countries whose governments engage in or tolerate "particularly serious violations" of religious freedom.
Such freedom is defined as a serious violation of the internationally recognized right to freedom of religion.
The other designation, for less serious violations, is the Special Watch List (SWL).
Other countries who have been designated as CPCs
For 2022, a total of 15 countries have been recommended for the CPC designation, based on religious freedom in 2021.
They are India, Pakistan, Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Vietnam.
