Current Affairs 22 August 2024

NITI Aayog and CSIRO Launch Climate Smart Agritech RISE Accelerator Program for Startups and MSMEs

On August 19, 2024, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) from Australia launched the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator program. This program invites applications from startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to harness advanced technologies and digital solutions to tackle climate challenges in agriculture and promote cross-border innovation. The program will start in October 2024, with applications closing on September 15, 2024. It will run for nine months, offering online and in-person sessions, including immersion weeks in India and Australia. Selected participants will receive mentorship, market information, and potential partnerships, with no participation fee and a chance to receive up to Rs 45 lakhs in non-equity grants.

Lok Sabha Speaker Constitutes 6 New Parliamentary Committees for 2024-25

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has formed six new Parliamentary Committees for 2024-25, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Committee on Estimates (CoE), Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU), and committees focused on the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Each committee has a one-year tenure and includes members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

• Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Chaired by K.C. Venugopal, it consists of 22 members and monitors government expenditures and reviews Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.
• Committee on Estimates (CoE): Chaired by Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, it examines budget estimates and suggests efficiency improvements.
• Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU): Chaired by Baijyant Panda, it assesses the performance of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Welfare Committees: The OBC committee is chaired by Ganesh Singh, and the SCs and STs committee is chaired by Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste. These committees review welfare measures and implementation of programs for their respective groups.

Udaan Partners with MOCAF&PD, SIDBI to Transform FPS into Jan Poshan Kendras

Udaan, a B2B e-commerce company, has partnered with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MOCAF&PD) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to transform Fair Price Shops (FPSs) into Jan Poshan Kendras (JPK). This initiative aims to increase the income of FPS dealers and improve the product portfolio offered by these shops. The pilot project has been launched in 60 FPSs across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat. Under this partnership, JPKs will receive credit facilities from SIDBI and access to over 3,500 products through Udaan’s platform. The initiative aims to modernize 1.3 lakh shops and eventually convert all 5.38 lakh ration shops into JPKs.

NEHHDC Secures Oeko-Tex Certification For Eri Silk

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) in Guwahati, Assam, has secured Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk. This certification ensures that textiles are tested for harmful substances and produced in eco-friendly conditions. Eri Silk, known as the world’s only vegan silk due to its ethical manufacturing process, is now recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Assam. This certification will help expand Eri Silk’s presence in the global market and enhance its appeal as an eco-friendly fabric.

UAE Joins BRICS Partners To Launch Centre for Industrial Competences

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined BRICS partners to launch a Centre for Industrial Competences in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). This initiative aims to support the development of industrial skills and capabilities. The announcement was made at the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting in Russia. The new centre will contribute to the New Industrial Revolution (NIR) framework and help develop industrial skills across member countries.

NPCI Launched “UPI Circle” for Secure Delegated Payments with Trusted Users

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new feature called “UPI Circle” on its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform. This feature allows primary UPI account holders to delegate payment responsibilities to trusted secondary users. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced this feature during the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in August 2024. UPI Circle enables primary users to link with secondary users, granting them partial or complete access to their account for making payments. The feature offers two types of delegation: full and partial, with specific guidelines and limits to ensure security and convenience.

WB Issues World’s 1st Carbon Removal Bond of USD 225 Million to Fund Amazon Reforestation

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank, has issued a USD 225 million Amazon Reforestation-Linked Outcome Bond. This bond, the first of its kind, links financial returns to the generation of Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) from reforestation projects in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. The bond has a minimum guaranteed annual return of about 1.745%, with potential returns up to 4.362% based on project performance. The funds will support reforestation activities by Mombak, a Brazilian company aiming to build the largest carbon removal projects in the world.

President of India Confers National Geoscience Awards 2023 on 21 Geoscientists

On August 20, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards for 2023 on 21 geoscientists during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The awards, given by the Ministry of Mines, recognize achievements in various categories, including Lifetime Achievement, National Geoscience Award, and National Young Geoscientist Award. Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering research in phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry of Precambrian sedimentary rocks in India.

Centre Approves Senior-Level Bureaucratic Reshuffles & Appointments in Various Departments across Various Ministries

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved several senior-level bureaucratic reshuffles and appointments across various departments and ministries. Notable appointments include Sunil Paliwal as Chairman of the Chennai Port Trust and Vikram Dev Dutt as Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Sanjiv Ranjan to be Secretary General of IORA Secretariat for 3 Years from January 2025

The ACC has approved the appointment of Sanjiv Ranjan as the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretariat in Mauritius for a three-year term starting January 1, 2025. Ranjan, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, will succeed Salman Al Farisi of Indonesia. Ranjan has held various diplomatic positions and is currently serving as Additional Secretary (Administration) and Dean of the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS).

Former Meghalaya CM Salseng Marak Passed Away

Salseng Chada Marak, former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, passed away at the age of 83 in Tura, Meghalaya. Born in 1941, Marak was the first CM of Meghalaya to complete a full five-year term. He served as CM from 1993 to 1998 and briefly in 1998. Marak was first elected to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1972 and later joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1976.

World Sanskrit Day 2024 – August 19

World Sanskrit Day, also known as International Sanskrit Day or Sanskrit Diwas, is observed annually on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. The day aims to promote Sanskrit, one of India’s most ancient languages. The first World Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969.

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2024 – August 21

The United Nations observes the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism annually on August 21. The day honors victims and supports survivors of terrorism, promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. The theme for 2024 is “Voices for Peace: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators.”

World Senior Citizen’s Day 2024 – August 21

World Senior Citizen’s Day is observed annually on August 21 to honor and recognize the contributions of senior citizens to society. The day highlights challenges faced by the elderly, such as healthcare and social isolation. The day was first proclaimed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Launched Nutritional Scheme for School Children

On August 18, 2024, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana to provide nutritious food to children in government-run schools. The scheme, launched in Hamirpur, aims to benefit 5.34 lakh school children by providing boiled eggs or fruits once a week. The state government has allocated an additional Rs 12.75 crore for the scheme in the current fiscal year. The CM also announced that 17,510 primary school teachers would receive tablets to promote digitization in education.