FinMin finalises framework for sovereign green bonds

The Finance Ministry has finalised the framework to issue sovereign green in line with global standards, according to sources. The government

intends to mobilise Rs 16,000 crore from the issuance of green bonds during the second half of the current financial year. It is a part of the borrowing programme for the second half of this fiscal.

These rupee-denominated papers will have long tenure to suit the requirement of green Infrastructure projects.

The government is planning a total borrowing of Rs 5.92 lakh crore during the October-March period of the current fiscal.

The government had in the Budget for 2022-23 projected a gross market borrowing of Rs 14.31 lakh crore.

MoHUA launches the Transport 4 All Challenge Stage-2 and Citizen Perception Survey-2022

The Transport4All Challenge is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, that aims at enhancing the mobility experience of citizens. The Challenge focuses on digital innovation and invites cities, citizens, and innovators to join hands to develop contextual digital solutions to improve formal as well as informal public transport to better serve the mobility needs of all citizens.

Three Stages of the Challenge

The Transport4All through Digital Innovation Challenge comprises three stages:

Stage I PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face

Stage II SOLUTION GENERATION: Startups develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs

Stage III PILOT TESTING: Cities engage Startups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback.

MoHUA launched

the Urban Outcomes Framework 2022 in April, 2022 as an initiative to undertake a transparent and comprehensive assessment of cities based on cross-city outcomes across major sectors. The Framework also includes the third round of Ease of Living Index. The Ease of Living Index, as a 360-degree assessment, aims to evaluate cities across India based on the Quality Of Life, Economic Ability, and Sustainability.

TechNEEV@75Launched By Sci & Tech Ministry

The Ministry of Science and Technology launched “TechNEEV@75” as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Highlights:

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister, met with successful start-ups, including those from tribal communities, on the occasion.

The minister also stated that by the end of 2022, the Central Government will establish 30 Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Hubs for Scheduled Tribes (STs) across the country.

These STI centres will aid in the development of tribal communities’ scientific potential as well as general socioeconomic Growth.

The Department of Science and Technology has already established 20 of the 75 projected STI Hubs.

Through a variety of interventions across the farm, non-farm, and other linked livelihood sectors, these centres will directly assist 20,000 individuals.

“TechNEEV@75” is a year-long commemoration of the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in enabling communities to achieve equitable and inclusive economic growth.

This report was published at the time when Delhi and its adjoining states are reeling from a thick blanket of smog and deadly fumes.

As a result of this, government has shut schools and take emergency measures to control pollution.

The Supreme Court also noted that, it has become a trend to blame farmers and their practice of stubble burning for all the pollution in Delhi.

As per report,

stubble burning incidents in the year 2021 are considerably lower in most states, with exception in Haryana.

In Haryana, stubble

burning incidents has increased by 48.5 per cent in between September 15 and November 13, 2021.

In Punjab, the cumulative number of such incident is 21 per cent lesser as compared to However, since October 13, Punjab witnessed a 53.3 per cent jump in stubble burning incidents.

IQAir Air Quality Index

Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are among the top ten most polluted cities in the world, according to the IQAir Air Quality Index.

Highlights:

Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai are among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world, according to statistics from IQAir.

With an AQI of 556, Delhi topped the list, while Kolkata and Mumbai, in 4th and 6th place, had AQIs of

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177 and 169, respectively.

Lahore, Pakistan, and Chengdu, China, are among the cities with the poorest AQI indexes.

IQ Air:

IQ Air is an air quality and pollution city tracking service, a Switzerland-based Climate organisation.

IQAir is also a United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) technology partner (UNEP).

An AQI of zero to 50 is regarded as ‘good,” 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory,’ 101 to 200 is considered moderate,’ 201 to 300 is considered ‘poor,’ 301 to 400 is considered very poor,’ and 401 to 500 is considered severe.’

Kushinagar Airport as a Customs Notified Airport – CBIC

The organization of CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has declared Kushinagar Airport as a Customs notified airport. This would also facilitate global passenger actions which include that of Buddhist pilgrims.

Highlights:

The Kushinagar airport is a global airport unfolding throughout a location of 600 acres. It was granted the licence to operate global flights by using DGCA remaining February. In the month of August, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prolonged the validity of the licence to function worldwide flights till February 21, 2023. The licence was once due to expire on August 21, 2021.

The Building Urban Planning Capacity in India report comprises of a set of recommendations on several aspects of urban planning like:

Interventions for planning healthy cities

Optimum utilization of urban land

Ramping up human-resource capacities

Strengthening urban Governance

Building local Leadership

Enhancing the role of private sector and

Advancing

the urban planning Education system.

As per report, India needs a Central sector scheme to build 500 healthy cities over the next five years as well as a thorough revamp of town-planning acts in states in order to meet future challenges of Urbanisation.

As per the NITIAayog, the Central sector scheme for building 500 healthy cities will have to be initiated by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in association with the states & Union Territories.

Reforms Report by NITI Aayog

launches the Report on Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India. The report is titled Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India.

Highlights:

The report was developed by NITI Aayog, in session with worried ministries and eminent experts in the domain

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of city and regional planning.

It provides a condensed effect of the significant deliberations and consultations conducted over a period of 9 months.

India is Home to about 11% of the total world urban Population. By 2027, India will surpass China as the most populous united states in the world. Unplanned Urbanization, however, exerts exceptional Stress on our cities.

Shoonya Campaign by NITI Aayog

, RMI, and RMI India Launch Shoonya Campaign. It is an initiative to promote zero-pollution shipping vehicles by working with customers and Industry.

Highlights:

The Marketing campaign aims to speed up the adoption of electric

powered automobiles (EVs) in the urban deliveries segment and create customer attention about the advantages of zero-pollution delivery.

Industry stakeholders such as E-Commerce companies, fleet aggregators, unique gear manufacturers (OEMs) and Logistics corporations have been scaling up their efforts towards final-mile shipping electrification.

As part of the campaign, a corporate branding and certification programme is being launched to realise and promote industrys efforts toward transitioning to EVs for final-mile deliveries.

Crime Record of India by NCRB

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) record on Crime in India was launched.

Highlights:

The Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown resulted in a drop in regular crimes like theft, robbery, and assault on ladies and children in

2020.

There was a 28% increase in the registration of cases in 2020 in the country in contrast to

2019, especially owing to the violation of COVID-19 norms.

An nearly 21-fold bounce was recorded in instances of disobedience to the order duly promulgated by means of public servants.

Crimes against Scheduled Castes showed an increase of 9.4%. offences towards the Scheduled Tribe communities showed an increase of 9.3% over 2019.

Sixth Edition of SCO Peaceful Mission

Indian Military Contingent participates in the sixth Edition of Exercise SCO Peaceful Mission 2021 at Orenburg, Russia.

Highlights:

Joint Counter Terrorism Exercise PEACEFUL MISSION is a Multilateral Exercise, which is performed biennially as section of navy diplomacy between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

The 6th version of Exercise PEACEFUL MISSION is being hosted by Russia in the

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Orenburg Region of South West Russia in September 2021.

The focus of the exercise is to foster shut family members between SCO member states and to enhance abilities of the army leaders to command multinational military contingents.

The exercise will enable sharing of quality practices between the Armed Forces of SCO nations.