Cabinet approves implementation of PMKSY for 2021-26

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26.

Scheme was implemented with an outlay of Rs.93,068 crore.

CCEA approved central support of Rs.37,454 crore to States.

20,434.56 crore of debt servicing has been approved for loan availed by Government of India to develop Irrigation during PMKSY 2016-21.

As a part of the scheme, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Watershed Development and Har Khet ko Paani (HKKP) components have been extended for 2021-26.

India-Poland treaty on assistance in criminal matters receives Cabinet approval

chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved India andPolandtreaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

This treaty is aimed at enhancing capability and effectiveness of India as well as Poland in investigation and prosecution of crimes through mutual legal assistance. It will also include crimes related to terrorism.

It also seeks to enhance effectiveness in investigation and prosecution of crime, through mutual legal assistance.

With respect to transnational crime and its linkages to terrorism, the treaty will provide a legal framework for a bilateral cooperation withPolandin investigation and prosecution of crime.

UNESCO adds Durga Puja to its Intangible Heritage list

Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided, in its 16thsession, to inscribed in Kolkata on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

16thsession of UNESCO is being held, starting from December 13, 2021. It will conclude on December 18, 2021.

Till now, Durga Puja was celebrated in many parts worldwide. But an official global recognition was pending.

Durga Puja is a classic fusion of religion and culture. It is regarded with a lot of pride. This festival is performed and celebrated predominantly by the Bengali community.

As per UNESCO, cultural heritage does not end at collections of objects and monuments. It also includes traditions or living expressions which have been inherited from ancestors and passed on to descendants. It is a practice, expression, representation, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO.

Background

The National Unity Government (NUG) comprises of pro-Democracy groups and some members from Myanmars civilian administration, which was overthrown in a military coup recently. The NUG has been working to raise funds for its revolution of toppling the ruling military government in Myanmar. In the other move, the Military government has outlawed and designated NUG as a terrorist.

Tether is a , which is hosted on the Ethereum blockchain. Its tokens are issued by Tether Limited. Tether limited is controlled by owners of Bitfinex. Tether is called a stablecoin, since it was originally designed to always be worth US$1 and maintain $1.00 in reserves.

Biogas Programmeto support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

To utilize huge surplus , cattle dung, industrial and urban biowaste available in the country for recovery of energy, the MNRE has been promoting bioenergy in India since 1980s. One major support extended by MNRE has been Central Financial Assistance provided for setting up of Bioenergy projects such as Biogas, BioCNG, Power from urban, Industrial and Agricultural Waste / Residues for reducing their capital cost/ interest on loan therefore increase project viability.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of Indiahasnotified theNational Bioenergy ProgrammeonNovember 2,2022. MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases. The Phase-I of the Programme has been approved with a budget outlay of Rs. 858 crore.

The National Bioenergy Programme will comprises of the following sub-schemes:

India Submits its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to UNFCCC

India submitted its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to the United Nations Framework Convention on https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change (UNFCCC), during the 27thConference of Parties (COP27) today. The Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy was launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, who is leading the Indian delegation to COP 27, being held at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6-18 November, 2022.

The salient features of the strategy are

The focus will be on the rational utilization of national Resources with due regard to Energy Security. The transitions from fossil fuels will be undertaken in a just, smooth, sustainable and all-inclusive manner.

The National Hydrogen Mission launched in 2021 aims to make India a green hydrogen hub. The rapid expansion of green hydrogen production, increasing electrolyser manufacturing capacity in the country, and three-fold increase in nuclear capacity by 2032 are some of the other milestones that are envisaged alongside overall development of the power sector.

Increased use of biofuels, especially ethanol blending in petrol, the drive to increase electric vehicle penetration, and the increased use of green hydrogen fuel are expected to drive the low carbon development of the transport sector. India aspires to maximise the use of electric vehicles, ethanol blending to reach 20% by 2025, and a strong modal shift to public transport for passenger and freight.

While Urbanisation will continue as a strong trend from our current relatively low base, future sustainable and climate resilient urban development will be driven by smart city initiatives, integrated planning of cities for mainstreaming adaptation and enhancing energy and resource efficiency, effective green building codes and rapid developments in innovative solid and liquid Waste Management.

Indias Industrial Sector will continue on a strong Growth path, in the perspective of Aatmanirbhar Bharatand Make in India. Low carbon development transitions in the sector should not impact energy security, energy access and EMPLOYMENT. The focus will be on improving Energy Efficiency by the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, National Hydrogen Mission, high level of electrification in all relevant processes and activities, enhancing material efficiency and recycling leading to expansion of circular economy, and exploring Options for hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel, cement, aluminium and others.

India has a strong record of enhancing forest and tree cover in the last three decades alongside high economic growth. Indias forest fire incidence is well below global levels, while its forest and tree cover are a net sink absorbing 15% of CO2emissions in 2016. India is on track to fulfilling its NDC commitment of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of additional Carbon Sequestration in forest and tree cover by 2030.

The transition to low carbon development pathway will entail several costs pertaining to the development of new technologies, new Infrastructure, and other transaction costs. While several estimates exist, varying across studies, they all fall generally in the range of trillions of dollars by 2050. Provision of climate finance by developed countries will play a very significant role and needs to be considerably enhanced, in the form of grants and concessional loans, ensuring scale, scope and speed, predominantly from public sources, in accordance with the principles of the UNFCCC.

States to get additional Rs 47,500 crore this month: Finance minister

The Centre decided to release an additional Rs 47,500 crore to states as their share of taxes in order to boost capital spending, especially for . The Centre said the reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel would not impact transfers to states.

The Centre, which has seen healthy revenue collections, has already stepped up fund transfer for GST compensation and is now pushing more funds to states, which were sitting on cash balance of nearly Rs 2.7 lakh crore at the end of October. Only four states had a negative cash balance.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Released

The Ministry of Commerce and announced its Wholesale Price Index (WPI) statistics.

Highlights:

Provisional Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based Inflation increased to a five-month high of 12.54 percent in October 2021, compared to 66 percent in September.

An increase in gasoline and manufacturing prices was blamed for the increase.

The benchmark inflation has been in double digits for seven months in a row. The benchmark inflation rate in October 2020 was 1.31 percent.

When compared to the same month the previous year, the high rate of inflation in October 2021 was driven by a surge in the costs of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum and natural gas, food, chemicals, and chemical products, among other things.