National news
Centre Approves ₹1 Lakh Crore for PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana to Boost Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY) to promote sustainable agriculture and achieve food security, with a total proposed expenditure of over ₹1 lakh crore. PM-RKVY will receive over ₹57,000 crore, while Krishonnati Yojana will be allocated ₹44,246 crore. These umbrella schemes aim to streamline various centrally sponsored agriculture schemes under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, avoiding duplication and ensuring better convergence.
Key points:
- PM-RKVY includes programs like Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agroforestry, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Per Drop More Crop.
- The rationalization offers states more flexibility in crafting agricultural strategies tailored to local needs.
- The measures are expected to increase farmers’ income and strengthen food security for the middle class.
Union Cabinet Approves ₹63,246 Crore Chennai Metro Phase-II Project, Expanding City Network by 119 Km
The Union Cabinet approved the Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase-II, which consists of three corridors covering a total length of 119 km with 128 stations. The project will be completed by 2027 at a cost of ₹63,246 crore, expanding Chennai’s metro network to 173 km.
Key details:
- Three corridors:
- Madhavaram to SIPCOT
- Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass
- Madhavaram to Sholinganallur
- The project will connect North to South and East to West in Chennai, enhancing the city’s infrastructure and transportation network.
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that this development will significantly boost Chennai’s urban connectivity and mobility.
Cabinet approves India to Join International Energy Efficiency Hub by signing Letter of Intent
The Union Cabinet approved India’s decision to join the International Energy Efficiency Hub, a global platform aimed at fostering collaboration and promoting energy efficiency worldwide. This aligns with India’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a low-carbon economy and improved energy security.
Key points:
- 16-nation group: India will gain access to strategic energy practices and innovative solutions from countries like the U.S., U.K., China, and Japan.
- India’s participation allows for collaboration with other member states, sharing expertise and learning from international best practices.
- The move strengthens India’s role in global climate change efforts by promoting energy-efficient technologies.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that India’s membership will enhance its global engagement on sustainable energy practices.
Launch of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme: Empowering Youth with 1.25 Lakh Internship Opportunities
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme has been launched as a pilot project aimed at providing 1.25 lakh internship opportunities to youth in India. Announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2024-25, the scheme targets offering internships in the top 500 companies over five years, with a total budget of ₹800 crore.
Key Details:
- Implementation: The pilot will roll out in seven districts across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Telangana.
- Internship Duration: Each internship will last for 12 months.
- Application Period: Candidates can apply for internships through the online portal pminternship.mca.gov.in from October 12 to October 25.
- Eligibility: Youth aged between 21 and 24 years, who are not employed full-time and not engaged in full-time education, are eligible to apply.
- Company Participation: Top companies were selected based on their average Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure over the past three years. Participation is voluntary, but other companies, banks, or financial institutions can join with approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
International Film Festival on Environment & Wildlife ‘Vatavaran’ Inaugurated
The International Film Festival and Forum on Environment and Wildlife, Vatavaran was inaugurated at Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi, featuring the theme “Wetlands for Life.” This three-day film festival aims to raise awareness about the conservation of wetlands, highlighting their ecological and economic importance.
Key Points:
- Importance of Wetlands: Jitendra Kumar, Director General of Forest in the Ministry of Environment, emphasized that about 6% of the Indian population relies on wetlands for their livelihoods, making their conservation crucial.
- Discussions and Strategies: Kumar hopes the festival will foster discussions on significant environmental issues and help formulate effective conservation strategies.
- Bilateral Cooperation: Taina Dyckhoff, Climate and Environment Head at the German Embassy, noted the successful collaboration between India and Germany in environmental and wetlands conservation, stating that film serves as a powerful medium to engage the public on these topics.
Ministry of environment: Officeholders: Bhupender Yadav (Union Minister), Kirti Vardhan Singh (Minister of State)
India Recognizes Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali as Classical Languages, Expanding Cultural Heritage
The Government of India has officially conferred classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, as recommended by the Linguistic Expert Committee, increasing the total to 11 classical languages in India. This decision was approved by the Union Cabinet on October 3, 2024.
Key Points:
- First Classical Language: Tamil was the first to receive this status in 2004.
- Criteria for Status:
- Antiquity: Languages must have a recorded history of 1500-2000 years.
- Ancient Literature: Must possess rich literature that is part of cultural heritage.
- Knowledge Texts: Inclusion of prose, poetry, and inscriptions is necessary.
- Distinctiveness: Should be distinct from later forms of the language.
List of Classical Languages:
- Tamil (2004, Tamil Nadu)
- Sanskrit (2005)
- Telugu (2008, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana)
- Kannada (2008, Karnataka)
- Malayalam (2013, Kerala)
- Odia (2014, Odisha)
- Marathi (2024, Maharashtra)
- Pali (2024, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh)
- Prakrit (2024, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh)
- Bengali (2024, West Bengal)
- Assamese (2024, Assam)
Impact of Classical Language Status:
- National Awards: Potential establishment of awards by the Ministry of Education for classical languages.
- Academic Promotion: Universities may set up dedicated centers or chairs for these languages.
- Employment Opportunities: Anticipated job creation in academia and research sectors.
- Preservation and Digitization: Enhanced focus on preserving and digitizing ancient texts, generating jobs in archiving, translation, and digital media.
State news
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Sign MoU on Wildlife and Forest Management
On September , 2024, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on wildlife and forest management challenges. This agreement was made during an inter-state coordination meeting held in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Key Objectives:
- Strengthening cross-border conservation efforts.
- Mitigating human-animal conflicts.
- Promoting sustainable forest management practices.
Key Initiatives:
- Deployment of expert teams for elephant capture.
- Mahout training programs for managing elephant camps.
- Knowledge transfer on Standard Operating Procedures for darting and capturing animals.
- Workshops and seminars on animal nutrition and sustainable practices.
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital: Amaravati
- Chief minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
- Governor: Syed Abdul Nazeer
International news
Nepal to export 40 Megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh via India’s power grid
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have signed a trilateral agreement to export 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through India’s power grid. This landmark deal, signed in Kathmandu, marks the first time Nepal will sell electricity to Bangladesh, having previously only exported to India.
Key Details:
- Electricity Transmission: The electricity will be transmitted from Nepal to India via the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line, after which India will forward the equivalent amount to Bangladesh.
- Revenue: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) estimates that the sale will generate approximately 330 million rupees for Nepal.
- Collaboration on Hydropower: In a related meeting, the countries agreed to collaboratively develop the Sunkoshi-3 hydropower project, with plans to finalize a joint venture agreement in the next meeting.
Nepal:
- Capital: Kathmandu
- President: Ram Chandra Poudel
- Currency: Nepalese Rupee
Banking news
3 new members appointed to the Monetary Policy Committee of the RBI
The Government of India has reconstituted the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), appointing three new members: Prof. Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya, and Dr. Nagesh Kumar. This brings the total membership of the MPC to six, which includes three members from the RBI and three appointed by the government.
Key Points:
- Background: The MPC was established following the amendment of the RBI Act in 2016, with the first committee notified on September 29, 2016.
- Search and Selection Committee: The Search and Selection Committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, recommends members for the MPC. It includes representatives from the RBI and the Department of Economic Affairs.
Composition of the MPC:
- Members from RBI:
- Chairman: Dr. Saktikanta Das (Governor of RBI)
- Deputy Governor: Dr. Michael Patra (in charge of Monetary Policy)
- One RBI Officer: Nominated by the RBI Central Board
- Members Appointed by the Government:
- Prof. Ram Singh (Director, Delhi School of Economics)
- Saugata Bhattacharya
- Dr. Nagesh Kumar (Director, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development)
Term and Eligibility: The government-appointed members serve a four-year term and are not eligible for re-appointment. They can be removed on specified grounds or resign from their positions.
Functions of the MPC: The MPC is responsible for determining the RBI’s policy rates to meet the inflation target set by the government, which is reviewed every five years based on the Consumer Price Index.
RBI:
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Ranks and reports news
Transition to Renewable Energy in India: RBI Forecast
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects that by 2030, fossil fuels will no longer dominate electricity generation in India, with renewable energy expected to exceed 50% of global electricity production. This shift is vital for achieving sustainability objectives and combating climate challenges.
Key Highlights:
- Addressing Hard-to-Abate Sectors: Cleaner power generation will significantly impact challenging sectors such as steelmaking and aviation, where low-carbon alternatives are still developing.
- Investment in Low-Carbon Energy: The RBI highlights that for every USD invested in fossil fuels, approximately USD 3 should be directed towards low-carbon energy initiatives over the next decade.
- Tripling Renewable Capacity: To meet global net-zero emission goals by mid-century, tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 is essential.
- Cost of Decarbonization: The total investment required for a fully decarbonized global energy system by 2050 is estimated at USD 215 trillion.
- Balancing Policies and Market Forces: The report emphasizes the need for a balanced approach between public policy interventions and market-based competition to facilitate a successful energy transition.
Award news
Alexander Dunn Awarded the 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
Alexander Dunn, a distinguished mathematician from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, has been honored with the 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He is celebrated for his impactful contributions to analytic number theory, particularly his collaboration with Maksym Radziwill in addressing the Kummer-Patterson Conjecture, which explores biases in cubic Gauss sums.
Award Presentation: The award will be conferred during the International Conference on Number Theory at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, scheduled from December 20-22, 2024.
About Alexander Dunn: Alexander Dunn has made remarkable advances in mathematics, focusing on analytic number theory. His innovative work has significantly contributed to solving long-standing problems within the discipline.
About the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
- Establishment: The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize was established in 2005 to honor young mathematicians making notable contributions to fields inspired by the legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
- Eligibility: The prize is awarded annually to mathematicians under the age of 32.
- Cash Award: The recipient receives a monetary prize of USD 10,000.
- Previous Winner: In 2023, the prize was awarded to Ruixiang Zhang, an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Defence news
TASL and Moroccan Defence Forces Sign Major Armoured Vehicle Deal
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) has signed a contract with the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco to locally manufacture 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) combat vehicles for Moroccan defense forces.
Key Details:
- Delivery Timeline: The vehicles will be delivered over three years.
- Significance: This is the largest deal for Indian-made armoured vehicles, both domestically and internationally.
About WhAP (Wheeled Armoured Platform):
- Design and Development: WhAP is an amphibious wheeled combat vehicle, developed indigenously in collaboration with DRDO and Tata Motors.
- Features:
- WhAP focuses on modularity, scalability, and reconfigurability, allowing it to perform various roles.
- It excels in difficult terrains, like muddy conditions, and can withstand mine blasts.
- Variants like the Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV) have already been inducted into the Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
Sports news
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Kicks Off Today in Sharjah
The ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup kicks off today in Sharjah, UAE, with the opening match featuring Bangladesh facing off against Scotland, who are making their debut in the tournament.
Key Highlights:
- India’s Campaign: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian team, which begins its campaign against New Zealand tomorrow.
- India vs. Pakistan Match: One of the most awaited matches, India vs. Pakistan, is set for Sunday.
- Live Commentary: Akashvani will provide bilingual Off Tube live commentary in Hindi and English for the matches on Friday and Sunday.
UAE:
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
- Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum