1. NITI Aayog has proposed to sell only e-vehicles after 2030
In yet another instance of flip-flopping regarding electric vehicle goals, the government think tank NITI Aayog has set a new target pertaining to EVs. According to the latest Cabinet note, NITI Aayog has proposed that only electric vehicles should be sold after 2030. This expands the scope of EVs beyond two-wheelers and three-wheelers and is being done to increase the usage of clean-fuel technology according to NITI Aayog.2. G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth held in Karuizawa, Japan
In order to deal with the economic and financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the former G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting was promoted to the summit-level meeting as a forum of leaders of major industrialized countries and emerging countries in November 2008. The first G20 Summit was held in Washington D. C.3. Worldwide Displacement tops 70.8 million at the end of 2018: UNHCR report
World Refugee Day 2019: By the end of 2018, almost 70.8 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations. 37,000 people were newly displaced every day in 2018, according to the report by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.4. RBI panel on MSMEs headed by U K Sinha recommended to double collateral-free loans limit to Rs 20 lakh
The report has also mentioned mainstreaming the restructuring of stressed loans, considering the central bank had given a one-year window to banks to do so in January. A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expert committee on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has recommended doubling the cap on collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh from the current Rs 10 lakh. This will be extended to borrowers falling under the Mudra scheme, self-help groups, and MSMEs said a person privy to the development. If the central bank approves the recommendation, the banking regulator will have to amend its July 1, 2010, circular that prescribes a maximum Rs 10 lakh for collateral-free loans.5. NHA and ICICI Foundation signed a MoU to train 15,000 personnel under Ayushman Bharat Scheme
The MoU between NHA and ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth is aimed at capacity building of health personnel at state and district levels. The National Health Authority and ICICI Foundation have signed an agreement to train 15,000 state and district personnel and Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras to streamline delivery of health services under the government's flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme. The MoU between NHA and ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth is aimed at capacity building of health personnel at state and district levels.6. SEBI permits stock exchanges to introduce futures on commodity indices
The size of the contract has to be at least ₹5 lakh at the time of the introduction in the market with an initial maximum tenor of 12 months. The turnover should be at least ₹75 crore for agricultural and agro-processed commodities, and ₹500 crore for all other commodities. The stock exchanges, willing to start trading in futures on commodity indices, are required to take prior approval for launching such contracts, Sebi said in a circular.7. ICANN, NASSCOM to collaborate on Internet Innovation Research
Global internet body ICANN and Indian IT industry body Nasscom Tuesday announced collaboration to develop identifier technology that can be used for managing devices and infrastructure using the internet. Under the collaboration, both the bodies will first focus on updating Internet of Things (IoT) devices using domain name system (DNS) even in a situation when the manufacturer or supplier has closed down the business.8. Bangladesh emerged as the fastest economy in Asia-Pacific: Asian Development Bank
Bangladesh has emerged as the fastest growing economy among the 45 countries of the Asia-Pacific region according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In the financial year, 2018-19 Bangladesh attained a growth rate of 7.9 % which is its fastest rate since 1974. The bank predicted that the growth will be 8% in the next financial year. The ADB country director handed over the report to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina last evening.9. India constitutes 6.3 percent of the global fish production: Fisheries Department
Indian fisheries and aquaculture is an important sector of food production providing nutritional security, besides livelihood support and gainful employment to more than 14 million people, and contributing to agricultural exports. With diverse resources ranging from deep seas to lakes in the mountains and more than 10% of the global biodiversity in terms of fish and shellfish species, the country has shown continuous and sustained increments in fish production since independence. The total fish production during 2017-18 is estimated to be 12.60 million metric tonnes, of which nearly 65% is from the inland sector and about 50% of the total production is from culture fisheries and constitutes about 6.3% of the global fish production.
