Chinas Yuan Replaces Dollar as Most Traded Currency in Russia

According to data from the Moscow Exchange, the yuan accounted for 23.6% of Russias Foreign Exchange turnover in the first quarter of 2023, while the dollars share was 22.5%. This marks the first time the yuan has surpassed the dollar in Russias currency market

The rise of the yuan in Russia is part of a broader trend of increasing acceptance of the Chinese currency in international trade and finance. China has been actively promoting the internationalization of the yuan, encouraging its use in cross-border transactions and investing in to support its use in global markets

NCERT Launched Indias First National Assessment Regulator PARAKH

The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has released Indias first national assessment regulator, PARAKH, which will work on setting norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards in the country.

The PARAKH regulator aims to set up assessment guidelines for all boards to help remove disparities in the scores of students enrolled with different state boards. PARAKH stands for The Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. It is established within the education survey division of the NCERT.

PARAKH has been launched as a part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

It has envisaged a standard-setting body to advise school boards regarding the new assessment patterns and the latest research and promote collaboration between them.

PARAKH will work in three major assessment areas including large-scale assessments, school-based assessments, and examination reforms.

List of worlds deadliest earthquakes since 2000.

An earthquake with a magnitude 7.8 hit Turkey and Syria. More than 4,000 people died in Turkey and Syria as a result of an earthquake. As rescuers search the debris of collapsed buildings for trapped victims in the bitter cold and snow, the death toll is anticipated to grow.

On June 22, 2022, an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.1 killed over 1,100 people in Afghanistan.

On August 14, 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing almost 2,200 people.

On September 28, 2018, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Indonesia, killing almost 4,300 people.

More than 300 people were killed on August 24, 2016, by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy.

On April 25, 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal killed around 8,800 people.

On August 3, 2014, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake close to Wenping, China, claimed the lives of around 700 people.

India Extended USD 40 Million for Bolstering Sports Infrastructure in Maldives.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has extended a concessional USD 40 million Line of Credit for developing sporting in the Maldives. It is a part of New Delhis efforts to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modis flagship projects such as fit India and Khelo Indiainto the stretch of the Neighborhood First Policy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is on a visit to the Maldives to further expand bilateral engagement with the key maritime neighbor of India.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has inaugurated the community center with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid.

Sports infrastructure across islands will be developed through the dedicated concessional USD 40 million Line of Credit.

PMFME Scheme Recent Initiatives

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries recently launched six one district one product (ODOP) brands under the PMFME Scheme. PMFME is Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises.

Earlier the ministry had signed an agreement with NAFED. NAFED is National Agricultural https://exam.pscnotes.com/cooperative-Marketing“>Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited. Under the agreement ten brands of ODOP are to be selected.

The products come in unique packaging. They ensure longer shelf life. The brands are supported with separate investments to push their sale through e commerce platforms.

SAAR Launched By Smart Cities Mission

The Smart Cities Mission was the driving force for SAAR’s creation. SAAR will document the Smart Cities Mission’s projects as a part of the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav festivities.

Highlights:

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is in charge of implementing SAAR.

The National Institute of Urban Affairs and other leading institutions in the country will join the ministry in implementing the project.

This contains 15 of the world’s best architectural schools.

The institutes will keep track of the mission’s preparation and implementation.

Students will be able to learn about urban development processes realistically due to this.

SAAR must first compile a list of 75 projects. The list includes projects that are both creative and cross-sectoral.

The project will capture the outcomes of the smart city mission and its impact on the lives of city residents.

Regulations on Waste Tyres Management

Ministry of Environment, Forests & https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change shared the draft notification for regulations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for waste tyres.

The regulation will be effective in the fiscal year 2022-23, if finalised.

Draft notification was shared in because, NGT data shows that India discards around 275,000 tyres each year, but there does not exist any comprehensive plan for them.

Furthermore, around 3 million waste tyres are imported for recycling.

Indias Non Fossil Fuel Milestone

The Ministry of New and recently announced that India has reached its non fossil fuel target much ahead of 2030.

At the COP21, India had pledged to install 40% of overall electric energy from non renewable sources. India aimed to achieve this target by 2030. But it has now achieved this well ahead in November 2021.

The total installed electric capacity of India is 392.01 GW. Of this, the total non fossil- fuel based energy is 157.32 GW. This is 40.1% of 392.01 GW to be precise.

India increased its Investment in renewable energy programmes. According to REN21 Renewables 2020 Global Status Report, India made total investment of 64.6 billion USD in renewable Energy sector. In 2019 alone, India invested 11.2 billion USD in the sector.

IEA on Indias Ethanol Consumption

As per recent research of International Energy Agency (IEA), India is on track to become worlds third-largest ethanol market by 2026.

India will only be left behind United States and Brazil by 2026, as it has accelerated the transition towards clean energy Environment to become carbon neutral by 2070.

This research came after India increased ethanol use in between 2017-2021 by three-fold, to a projected 3 billion litres.

With this, India is set to overtake China as the worlds third-largest ethanol user by 2026.

According to IEA, India has made huge progress in expanding ethanol blending.

Blending was 2 per cent in 2017. By 2021, it had reached to 8 per cent. It thus brought India on target to attain 10 percent blending in 2022.

Ethanol is one of the principal biofuels. It is naturally produced by Fermentation of sugars by yeasts or through petrochemical processes like ethylene hydration.

Rs 1544 Cr Approved Under State ECRP 2021-22 By Delhi

The Delhi Cabinet has authorized a budget of Rs 1544 crores to improve Health Services in the union territory as part of its fight against COVID-19.

Highlights:

The ‘Emergency COVID Response Package’ was adopted by the Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (ECRP).

The ECRP 2021 was established because there was widespread agreement that the epidemic was not yet over and that a third wave was likely.

Thus, in order to avoid any doubts about virus management and prevention, the cabinet granted Rs 1544.24 crore for the State ECRP 2021-22.

The ECRP will aid in improving resource management in Delhi. It will be critical in the event of a future Covid-19 wave.

This fund will be used to fund all long-term and short-term pandemic management initiatives.