Union Minister launches the Bamboo Market Page on Govt e-Marketplace (GeM) portal

In News: Union Minister of State for Agriculture& Farmer’s Welfare Shri Parshottam Rupala launches the Bamboo Market Page on Govt e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.

Context:

  • The National Bamboo Mission and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) have been working together for having a dedicated window on the GeM portal for marketing of the Bamboo Goods (Bamboo based products & Quality Planting Materials).
  • Resultant to the collaboration, a dedicated window “The Green Gold Collection” for bamboo products was launched by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture.
  • The dedicated window will provide an electronic platform for the small manufacturers and niche sellers thereby vastly increasing their reach to attract buyers and at the same time will provide niche products from trusted sources to the buyers, a win-win situation for both.
  • This initiative seeks to promote the adoption and use of bamboo products among Government buyers and usher a sustainable rural economy for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

ADB and India – agreement on road upgradation project in Sikkim

In News: The Asian Development Bank and the Government of India signed a $2.5 million project readiness financing (PRF) loan to support project preparation and design activities to upgrade major district roads in Sikkim.

Context:

  • Sikkim’s road network requires upgradation to all-weather roads as frequent landslides and erosion damage the roads and disrupt intra-state connectivity.
  • The PRF project aims to ensure implementation readiness through feasibility studies, preparing detailed engineering designs of selected subprojects and building capacity of state agencies so that the ensuing project gets completed in a timely manner.
  • Some of the priority roads identified for upgradation are included in the state’s master plan for transport management that was formulated with ADB technical assistance in 2012.
  • The ADB-funded North Eastern State Roads Investment Program launched in 2011 had earlier supported road improvements in Sikkim.
  • ADB was established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members, headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

Union Minister inaugurates Indus Best Mega Food Park at Raipur

In News: Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Narendra Singh Tomar virtually inaugurated the Indus Best Mega Food Park at Raipur, Chattisgarh.

Context:

  • The Mega Food Park will ensure value addition, longer shelf life for farm produce, better price realization for farmers, excellent storage facility and will provide an alternate market for farmers in the region.
  • The Park will also provide direct and indirect employment to about 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers in the CPC and PPC catchment areas.
  • The modern infrastructure for food processing created at Park will benefit the processors and consumers of Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas immensely and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the State of Chhattisgarh.

About Mega Food Park Scheme

  • The Scheme focuses on boosting the food processing industry so that the agriculture sector grows exponentially and become a major contributor to doubling the farmer’s income and the ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
  • The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Mega Food Park Scheme in the country.
  • Under the Scheme, the Government of India provides financial assistance up to Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project.
  • Mega Food Parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster-based approach. Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at the Central Processing Centre and facilities for primary processing and storage are created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs).

India and UK initiative to promote industrial energy efficiency

In News:

  • India and Govt. of United Kingdom launched new work stream to promote industrial energy efficiency under the Clean Energy Ministerial’s (CEM) – Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI) co-ordinated by UNIDO, at the 12th Chief Energy Ministerial (CEM).
  • The IDDI initiative has been supported by Germany and Canada, with more countries expected to join soon. The objective is to infuse green technologies and stimulate demand for low-carbon industrial material.
  • Indian Ministry of Power highlighted that India is committed to cut emissions intensity per unit of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030.
  • The commitment hinges on effective deployment of low carbon technologies in Energy Intensive Sectors like Iron & Steel, Cement and Petrochemicals.

Government to launch SAGE (Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine) initiative

In News: With the objective of focusing on the needs of India’s fast-rising elderly population, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will launch Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) project to select, support and create a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups.

Context:

  • Start-ups can apply for being a part of SAGE through a dedicated portal and will be selected on the basis of innovative products and services.
  • They should be able to provide products and services across sectors such as health, housing, care centres, apart from technological access linked to finances, food and wealth management, and legal guidance.
  • The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment will act as a facilitator, enabling the elderly to access the products through these identified start-ups.
  • India’s elderly population is on the rise, and as per surveys, the share of elders, as a percentage of the total population in the country, is expected to increase from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026, and surpass 19.5% by 2050.
  • The SAGE project is shaped on the recommendations of the empowered expert committee (EEC) report on start-ups for elderly.

NITI Aayog – 2020 SDG index Report

In News: Niti Aayog has published the analytical report of States and UTs achievements and failures on the Sustainable Development Goals. Developed by a global consultative process on holistic development, the 17 SDGs have a 2030 deadline.

Context:

  • India saw significant improvement in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to clean energy, urban development and health in 2020, according to the NITI Aayog’s 2020 SDG Index.
  • However, there has been a major decline in the areas of industry, innovation and infrastructure as well as decent work and economic growth.
  • Although the index shows improvement on the inequality SDGs, the NITI Aayog has omitted key economic indicators used to measure inequality in income and expenditure last year and given greater weightage to social indicators instead.
  • Kerala retained its position at the top of the rankings in the third edition of the index, followed by Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh in second position.
  • At the other end of the scale, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst performing States while Bihar (50) bottomed the index.
  • However, all the States showed some improvement from last year’s scores, with Mizoram and Haryana seeing the biggest gains.
  • The NITI Aayog launched its index in 2018 to monitor the country’s progress on the goals through data-driven assessment and to foster a competitive spirit among the States and Union Territories in achieving them.

Karnataka’s Performance:

  • State improves ranking in NITI Aayog’s SDG Index. Karnataka shows progress in nine of 16 goals, including clean energy, infrastructure, and reducing poverty.
  • Karnataka ranked third in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index for 2020-21, as per a report.
  • Karnataka improved its score from 66 in 2019-20 to 72 in 2020-21 and improved its ranking from fourth place to third.
  • Along with Karnataka, three other States — Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Uttarakand — too scored 72 and ranked third.
  • Karnataka improved its scores on indicators related to reducing poverty; good health and well-being; gender equality; affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communication; responsible consumption and production; and peace, justice and strong institutions.
  • With regard to health, the State’s score improved in issues related to diseases and mortality rates. However, the score related to number of physicians, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 people reduced from 72 in 2019-20 to 70 in 2020-21, which according to an expert is a matter of concern, particularly when the State is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa released the State government’s SDGs Vision 2030 last December and said an estimated ₹10 lakh crore was needed to meet the SDGs target in the next 10 years.

209 flood-prone areas identified in Karnataka

In News:

  • Reviewing monsoon preparedness ahead of the monsoon, 209 areas across Bengaluru have been identified as prone to flooding. Of these, 58 have been classified as ‘hyper-sensitive’ and 151 as ‘sensitive’.
  • A communiqué from the Chief Minister’s office stated that BBMP officials apprised Mr. Yediyurappa of other measures, such as establishing 63 temporary control rooms, and eight zonal control rooms.
  • Details of quantum of rain received are publicly available on the ‘Megha Sandesha’ app, apart from water-logging points and advisory to the public, according to a statement from the CM’s office.

Norms for employing retired officials defined – CVC

In News: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has laid down a defined procedure to be followed by government organisations for getting vigilance clearance before employing a retired official on a contractual or consultancy basis.

Context:

  • According to the procedure, before offering employment to retired All India Services and Group A officers of the Central government or their equivalent in other organisations owned or controlled by the Centre, vigilance clearance from the employer organisation, from which the officer has retired, should be obtained.
  • In case a retired officer served in more than one organisation, clearance has to be obtained from all of them where the person was posted in the 10 years prior to retirement.
  • Simultaneously, a communication seeking clearance should also be sent to the CVC.
  • It directed all government organisations to formulate rules to ensure the cooling-off period was observed.

Central Vigilance Commission

  • The CVC was set up by the Government in February, 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by Shri K. Santhanam.
  • In 2003, the Parliament enacted CVC Act conferring statutory status on the CVC.
  • The CVC is not controlled by any Ministry/Department. It is an independent body which is only responsible to the Parliament.
  • The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and to recommend appropriate action.

“Glaciers of the Himalayas, Climate Change, Black Carbon and Regional Resilience” Report – A World Bank study

In News: Black carbon (BC) deposits produced by human activity which accelerate the pace of glacier and snow melt in the Himalayan region can be sharply reduced through new, currently feasible policies by an additional 50% from current levels, a study by World Bank (WB) specialists has said.

Context:

  • The research covers the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush (HKHK) mountain ranges, where, the report says, glaciers are melting faster than the global average ice mass. Glacier melt produces flash floods, landslips, soil erosion, and glacial lake outburst floods.
  • The rate of retreat of HKHK glaciers is estimated to be 0.3 metres per year in the west to 1.0 metre per year in the east. Black Carbon adds to the impact of climate change.
  • Deposits of BC act in two ways hastening the pace of glacier melt:
    1. by decreasing surface reflectance of sunlight and
    2. by raising air temperature.
  • Full implementation of current policies to mitigate BC can achieve a 23% reduction but enacting new policies and incorporating them through regional cooperation among countries can achieve enhanced benefits, the WB said.  
  • Black Carbon:
    1. BC is a short-lived pollutant that is the second-largest contributor to warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO2).
    2. Unlike other greenhouse gas emissions, BC is quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop.
    3. Unlike historical carbon emissions, it is also a localised source with greater local impact.
  • Some of the ongoing policy measures to cut BC emissions are:
    1. enhancing fuel efficiency standards for vehicles
    2. phasing out diesel vehicles and promoting electric vehicles
    3. accelerating the use of liquefied petroleum gas for cooking and through clean cook stove programmes
    4. upgrading brick kiln technologies
  • However, with all existing measures, water from glacier melt is still projected to increase in absolute volume by 2040, with impacts on downstream activities and communities.
  • The WB publication says “Industry [primarily brick kilns] and residential burning of solid fuel together account for 45–66% of regional anthropogenic [man-made] BC deposition, followed by on-road diesel fuels (7–18%) and open burning (less than 3% in all seasons)” in the region.
  • With Stronger Policy initiatives, regional cooperation and collaboration, glacial melts can be handled better saving the lives of many says World Bank.