ಶ್ರೀಗಂಧ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ

SAMVARDHANA MAY 2024.pdf

NEWS – 30 MAY 2024 • REC wins ‘Sustainability Champion – Editor’s Choice Award’ at Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024 • Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) has been honoured with the Corporate Social Responsibility award in the NF (Non-Fossil Fuel) business category at the Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024, held in Goa • The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) scrapped 550 old buses under the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which mandates deregistration and scrapping of government vehicles over 15 years old. These buses, older than 15 years or having traveled more than 900,000 kilometers, were sold through a tender process. The policy, effective from April 1, 2022, includes mandatory fitness tests for vehicles and offers incentives like road tax rebates and registration fee waivers for new vehicle purchases. It aims to reduce pollution, enhance safety, support the auto sector, create jobs, and boost the steel industry. • S&P has upgraded India’s outlook to ‘Positive’ from ‘Stable’ while reaffirming its long-term sovereign rating at ‘BBB-’. This decision is driven by India’s robust economic growth, sound economic fundamentals, and effective policy reforms. Key strengths include a dynamic economy and strong external balance sheet, while weaknesses involve high debt and low GDP per capita. This is the first outlook improvement for India by S&P in nearly ten years, reflecting a remarkable economic recovery post-Covid-19. S&P's ratings influence borrowing costs and investor sentiments globally • The RBI Governor recently launched three initiatives: the Pravaah portal, Retail Direct Mobile App, and FinTech Repository, aiming to boost efficiency in financial services. Pravaah is a web platform for regulatory processes, offering online submission, status tracking, and timely decisions for authorizations and approvals. The Retail Direct App aids retail investors in managing Gilt accounts, facilitating participation in auctions and secondary market trades via smartphones. The FinTech Repository compiles vital data on FinTech firms, aiding policymakers and industry members, while the EmTech Repository focuses on technology adoption by RBI-regulated entities, managed by RBIH. • India's successful test-firing of the RudraM-II missile highlights its indigenous technological strength and bolsters national defense capabilities. The missile, designed for air-to-surface anti-radiation purposes, boasts impressive specifications like a 300-kilometer range, speeds up to Mach 5.5, and a 200-kilogram payload. It operates from the Sukhoi Su-30 MK-I and features advanced guidance systems, sensors for target acquisition, and incorporates cutting-edge indigenous technologies. This development not only strengthens India's air security but also marks a strategic replacement of older missile systems, showcasing the nation's prowess in defense technology

#PSI ESSAY : Social evils (Eg:Female Foeticide) and role of Civil servants

Circular Issued • No Entry for Attenders: Pregnant women must enter ultrasound rooms alone. • Display Boards: Scanning centres and hospitals must display no-entry policy boards for attenders. Female Foeticide Concern • Recent Racket: A female foeticide racket in Pandavapura, Mandya district prompted these measures. • Continued Concern: Female foeticide persists despite crackdowns on illegal abortions. Purpose of Circular • PCPNDT Act Implementation: Ensuring effective enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. • Violation Concerns: Violations include recording ultrasound procedures and sharing gender information. Action and Direction • District Authorities: Ensured strict compliance with new rules in all scanning centres. • Legal Provisions: Cited Sections 4(4) and 5(2) of the PCPNDT Act, prohibiting sex determination and communication of foetal sex. Emerging Trends and Preventive Measures • Sharing Videos: Attendees sharing ultrasound videos internationally to determine foetal sex. • Additional Monitors: Prohibited to prevent indirect gender indication during scans

CA – 14 MAY 2024 • BBMP to provide dental care, physiotherapy in PHCs • The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in Kerala is launching an orientation programme for temple priests and staff, titled 'Bhakta Sukhadam Kshetra Darshanam' (Happiness for devotees from temple visit). This initiative aims to improve the courteous behavior of priests and staff towards devotees, enhance the overall experience for visitors, and boost temple revenue by providing proper guidance on conducting special poojas. Former IAS officer M Nandakumar will be conducting training sessions for around 5,000 temple priests and staff across 15 classes, focusing on effective communication, understanding rituals, and traditions to ensure a feel-good experience for devotees and promote a harmonious temple environment. • State Bank of India (SBI) said it was the first bank to become a trading-cum-clearing (TCM) member at India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) which deals with trading in precious metals. • P. Shyaamnikhil became India’s 85th Grandmaster by completing his third and final GM norm in the recently-concluded Dubai Police Masters chess tournament • The 7th edition of India- France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced held at Umroi, in a fully developed and modern Foreign Training Node in Meghalaya. • Mammoth, a large CO2 capture and storage facility, is now operational on an Icelandic volcano by Climeworks. It uses 72 fans to capture 36,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, burying it underground for carbon sequestration. The location near a geothermal plant aids in powering the facility and extracting CO2 through chemical filtering. The capture process involves separating CO2 from steam, compressing it, dissolving in water, and injecting it underground. Mammoth aims to eliminate millions of tonnes of CO2 by 2030, contributing to global carbon neutrality targets. Challenges include high costs, reliance on renewable energy, but innovations like seawater injection show promise. • Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana enter UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register, highlighting their cultural significance and preservation. Ramcharitmanas, written by Tulsidas, is a revered work in Hindu literature, offering insights into Indian culture and devotion, and introducing traditions like Ramlila. Panchatantra, an ancient collection of animal fables, has global reach and resonates across cultures, showcasing moral teachings in storytelling. Sahṛdayāloka-Locana by Acharya AnandVardana contributes significantly to Sanskrit poetics, enriching literary understanding and appreciation. UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, initiated in 1992, aims to safeguard humanity's documentary heritage, ensuring access for various purposes. • India and Iran have signed a 10-year deal for the Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port, involving India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and the Ports and Maritime Organisation of Iran (PMOI). IPGL will invest $120 million for port development and extend a credit window worth $250 million for infrastructural projects, aiming to make Chabahar Port a connectivity hub for India, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Eurasia. • The 4th Joint Committee meeting reviewed the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), signed in 2009 during the 7th ASEAN Economic Ministers-India Consultations. The agreement, effective since 2010, is also known as the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), focusing on physical goods trade and excluding services, which are covered under a separate agreement signed in 2014. ASEAN, established in 1967, comprises 10 member states and aims to promote cooperation and integration across various sectors among its members and with other Asian countries.