Daily Current Affairs and GK | 9 July 2021

Topic: National News

1. Government brings Department of Public Enterprises under Finance Ministry.

• The government has issued a notification to bring the Department of Public Enterprises under the Finance Ministry.
• Earlier, the Department of Public Enterprises was under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
• This move has been taken to ease the future disinvestment plans. The amendment will come into force with immediate effect.
• Now, the Finance ministry has six departments after the inclusion of DPE. The other five departments are:
  • Department of Economic Affairs
  • Department of Expenditure
  • Department of Revenue
  • Department of Financial Services
  • Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
• The government has announced the sale of Rs 1.75 lakh crore of stake in public sector companies and financial institutions.
• The Department of Public Enterprises acts as a nodal agency for all Public Sector Enterprises. It assists in the policy formulation for Public Sector Enterprises.

Topics: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. India - EU agreed for Cooperation in the field of Agriculture.

• A virtual meeting between Narendra Singh Tomar and Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski was held on 7^th July 2021.
• Both leaders discussed various issues including EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the India market reforms.
• EU has set a target of bringing one-fourth area under Organic Farming by 2030. Indian agriculture minister highlighted the recent reform of the government in the agriculture sector.
• Agriculture minister explained various initiatives like Pramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, formation of FPOs, and increase in the use of Nano urea.
• Indian Agriculture Minister raised the issue of fixing the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) of Tricyclazole. It is affecting the export of Basmati Rice from India to the EU.
• India-EU relations gain momentum after the last India-EU Summit in July 2020.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. India and Gambia sign MoU for cooperation in the Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances of India and the Public Service Commission of Gambia have signed an MoU for cooperation in the field of Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.
• The main aim of the MoU is to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.
• Both countries will cooperate in many fields like Performance Management System in Government, Implementation of contributory Pension Scheme, and e-Recruitment in Government.
• A meeting of the Joint Working Group will be also held for the implementation of this MoU.
• Gambia:
  • It is the smallest country in Africa.
  • It is surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Banjul is the capital of Gambia. Serekunda is the largest city in Gambia.
  • Adama Barrow is the President of Gambia.

Topic: Agriculture

4. APMC mandis become eligible for availing financial support from Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

• Union Cabinet gives nod to APMCs mandis for availing financial support from Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. It will help in regulating markets’ capacity and provide better facilities to farmers.
• APMCs will get interest subvention for a loan up to Rs 2 crore for each different infrastructure project like cold storage, sorting, grading, and assaying units.
• APMCs provide a market for farmers for their products and create public infrastructure.
• However, there will be a limit of a maximum of 25 such projects for a private sector entity.
• Now, State agencies, national and state federations, and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) can also avail benefits of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• The government had launched a new Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs 1 Lakh Crore.
• The period of the financial facility has been extended up to 2025-26 and the duration of the scheme has been extended up to 2032-33.

Topic: MoUs / Agreements

5. An MoC between CCI and JFTC got approval from Union Cabinet to promote and strengthen cooperation in the matter of Competition Law and Policy.

• A Memorandum on Cooperation (MoC) that was signed between the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• The MoC will help in promoting and strengthening cooperation in the matter of Competition Law and Policy.
• In this MoC, they will exchange information, and CCI will gain knowledge from the experiences and lessons of its counterpart competition agency of Japan.
• CCI can do any memorandum or arrangement with any agency of any foreign country under Section 18 of the Competition Act, 2002, to discharge its duties or performing its functions under the Act.
• The another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICoAl) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), United Kingdom has been approved by Union Cabinet.
• This MoU will help to exchange knowledge and research and publications which will strengthen good governance practice in both jurisdictions.
• Competition Commission of India (CCI):
  • It was formed on 14 October 2003 under the Competition Commission Act, 2002.
  • It has a chairperson and six members. It is a quasi-judicial body.
  • It aims to eliminate practices that affect competition in the Indian market and protect the interests of the consumers.
  • Its current chairman is Ashok Kumar Gupta.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. Tamil Nadu has exported GI-certified Madurai Malli and other flowers to USA and Dubai.

• The Geographical indications (GI) certified Madurai Malli and other traditional flowers such as button rose, lily, chamanthi, and marigold consignment have been exported to US and Dubai from Tamil Nadu.
• The professors from the floriculture department of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore, helped consignments in the adoption of packaging technology to increase the shelf life of the flowers.
• In Dubai and the USA, the Indian communities could offer fresh flowers to Hindu gods both at home and at temples and could celebrate religious and cultural festivals after exports of flowers from India continue at regular intervals.
• In 2020-2021, Rs 66.28 crores of fresh flowers jasmine flowers, and bouquets have been exported to countries like the USA, UAE, Singapore, etc. Out of which, Tamil Nadu has exported the value of Rs.11.84 crores.
• The flower of Jasmine is the most popular among the countries. The scent of Jasmine is synonymous with the splendor of Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple. Madhurai has developed as the ‘jasmine capital’ of India.

Topic: National News

7. Defence Ministry implemented ‘SPARSH’ for sanction and disbursement of pension.

• SPARSH, an integrated system for automation of sanction and disbursement for pension, has been implemented by the Defence Ministry.
• System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) is a web-based system for processing of pension claims and credit of pension into the bank account.
• The government had also launched a Pensioner Portal for pension-related information and redressal of grievances.
• Service Centres will be established for helping pensioners in accessing the SPARSH portal.

Topic: National News

8. Government set up development council for cement Industry.

• The government has set up a 25-member development council under the chairmanship of Puneet Dalmia for the cement Industry.
• It will suggest ways to eliminate waste, increase production, improve quality and promote standardization of products.
• It will also suggest measures for the full utilization of the installed capacity and promote scientific and industrial research.
• It will also work on the standardization of accounting and costing methods and increase the productivity of labour.
• HM Bangur, Rakesh Singh, Pracheta Majumdar, Madhavkrishna Singhania, and Nilesh Narwekar are the other members of this council.
• The development council for the cement industry will also focus on the development of new materials, equipment and methods.

Topic: Report and Indices

9. OECD report: 22 million jobs lost in major economies due to Covid-19 pandemic.

• According to Employment Outlook 2021 report of OECD, around 22 million have lost their jobs in the advanced economies due to the Covid pandemic.
• At present, out of the 22 million jobs lost, 8 million are unemployed, while the remaining 14 million are considered inactive.
• The employment level has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Coronavirus crisis has increased income inequality, and decrease secure employment opportunities for lower-skilled workers.
• About 114 million jobs were lost worldwide during the pandemic.
• Job retention schemes have saved 21 million jobs. In May 2021, the unemployment rate under 25 years of age stood at 13.6%.
• Hospitality and service-sector faced a greater level of joblessness due to lockdown in many areas. Job opportunities had increased in the finance and insurance sector during pandemic.

Topic: National News

10. Cabinet approves ₹23,123 crore emergency response package to fight Covid.

• The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹23,123 crore package for developing healthcare infrastructure and boosting emergency response.
• The package has been announced for creating 20,000 additional ICU (intensive care unit) beds and setting up of pediatric units in all districts.
• It is the second phase of the package. The first phase was approved in 2020 to fight against the Covid pandemic.
• The main objective of the package is to accelerate health system preparedness ahead of a potential third wave of COVID-19.
• The package will be implemented from July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. In this package, Center has contributed ₹15,000 crores while States’ share was ₹8,123 crore.

Topic: Miscellaneous

11. Indian Railways opens first movable tunnel aquarium at Bengaluru station.

• Indian Railways has set up the first movable tunnel aquarium at Bengaluru station. The aquarium has rare species of fishes and exotic marine plants.
• The aquarium has been developed by the Indian Railway Stations Development Cooperation Limited (IRSDC) in collaboration with the HNi Aquatic Kingdom.
• The aquarium is based on the concept of the Amazon River. It has a 3D selfie area, and 20 feet of glass periphery.
• Bengaluru City Railway Station is also known as Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

12. Ramgarh Vishdhari becomes fourth tiger reserve of Rajasthan.

• The Environment Ministry has approved the conversion of the Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary into the tiger reserve. It will be the fourth tiger reserve of the Rajasthan.
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary boundary will touch the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the Northeast & Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve on the southern side.
• According to the Tiger census of 2018, there are 102 tigers in the Rajasthan. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Sariska Tiger Reserve, and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve are the other tiger reserve of the Rajasthan.
• Recently, the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s technical committee has approved the conversion of Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary into a tiger reserve.
• Ramgarh Vishdhary Sanctuary is spread across 1071 square kilometers. It acts as the buffer area of Ranthambore National Park. It is located in Bundi.

(Source: News on AIR)