Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 September 2024

Topic: India and Its Neighbour

1. India remains Nepal's largest trading partner.

• According to the latest Nepal trade statistics released by the Department of Customs, India remains Nepal's largest trading partner.
• Nepal's trade deficit reached NPR 237.45 billion by mid-September in the financial year 2024-25.
• Currently, Nepal maintains trade relations with 145 countries, but has a trade deficit with more than 100 of them.
• Nepal faces the highest trade deficit among its neighbours, with India having a trade deficit of 144.67 billion Nepalese rupees and China having a trade deficit of 51.80 billion Nepalese rupees.
• Nepal exports a variety of goods to India, including hydropower, resin, agricultural products, yarn, pashmina shawls, leather, handicrafts, as well as silver and gold jewellery.
• Similarly, Nepal imports mainly petroleum products, chemical fertilizers, salt, sugar, rice, vehicles, copper and cotton etc. from India.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: State News/ New Delhi

2. The minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers will be increased by the Delhi government.

• On September 25, Delhi's newly-appointed Chief Minister Atishi increased the monthly wages of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers in the capital with an aim to provide relief from inflation ahead of the festive season.
• The minimum wage of unskilled workers has increased from ₹17,494 to ₹18,066, semi-skilled workers' salary has increased from ₹19,279 to ₹19,929, while that of skilled workers has increased from ₹21,215 to ₹21,917.
• She said that the minimum wage in Delhi is the highest compared to any other state in the country.
• The new wage rates will be implemented from October 1.
• Recently on September 21, 2024, AAP leader Atishi took oath as the third woman Chief Minister of Delhi and became the youngest among the three to hold the top post in the national capital.
• She also became the 17th woman to hold the post of Chief Minister in independent India.

Topic: State News/Odisha

3. Mankidia community became the 6th PVTG to get habitat rights over forests in Odisha.

• The habitat rights to the Mankidia community were granted under the legal sanction of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
• Mankidia’s ancestors have been dependent on the forest for their livelihood and ritualistic practices.
• The Mankidia community is an Austro-Asiatic community that mainly lives in Forests.
• Paudi Bhuyan of Deogarh district was the first PVTG to receive habitat rights in Odisha.
• Odisha is the leading state to give approval to the habitat rights to six PVTGs.
• Paudi Bhuyans, Juangs, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saora and Dongria Kondh were the five PVTGs that have got habitat rights.
• 13 PVTGs — the highest among all states and Union Territories are residing in Odisha. The PVTGs inhabit 1,683 villages in 14 districts.

Topic: State News/Tripura

4. Tripura government launched the CM-SATH scheme.

• Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched a new scheme CM-SATH to support the meritorious students for higher education.
• The state government is committed to ensuring the financial constraints of students.
• The CM-SATH project will support meritorious students who need financial support.
• It has been designed to provide financial support of Rs 60,000 (Rs 5,000 monthly) to 200 students.
• The 200 beneficiaries will be selected by the District Education Officer of each district.
• Rs 1.20 crore would be spent on this project in the first year.