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The Government of India and Asian (ADB) today signed a $125 million loan to develop Climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The signatories to the tranche 3 loan for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADBs India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.

The financing is the third and the last tranche of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Program approved by ADB in 2018 to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage Infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in the state. The tranche 3 loan covers Coimbatore, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.

With an aim to invite ideas, solutions and actions that can transform rural economy, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge. It is one of the platforms where ideas are invited from individuals, Social Enterprises, Start up, Private Sector, Civil Society, Community Based Organization, Academic Institution, Start-ups, Incubation centres, Investors etc having potential to transform the rural economy.

DAY-NRLM is one of the flagship https://exam.pscnotes.com/POVERTY-alleviation”>Poverty Alleviation programs of the Ministry of Rural Development, which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihoods enhancements and improved access to financial Services.

Three new cultural sites in India, including the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat, and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO . The UNESCO website describes a tentative list as an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.

The Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat, is dedicated to Surya Dev and is situated on the left bank of the Pushpavati River, a tributary of the River Rupan. It is the earliest of such temples, setting trends in architectural and decorative features and perfectly illustrating the Solanki style. Itscomponentsthe main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa), and a sacred pool (Kunda), now known as Ramakundaare all built in the Marugurjara architectural style. This eastfacingtemple is built of bright yellow sandstone.

MANGROVES on Indian coasts that act as coastal guards have considerably shrunken due to https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change. By 2070, the Indian Mangroves will reduce and shift by around 50%, especially in southern India, due to decline in suitable habitats along the east and west coasts of India, revealed a research conducted by Birbal Sahni Institute Palaeosciences (BSIP).

Mangroves in the southwest and southeast of the country that covers four states: Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, Kerala andAndhra Pradeshwill be in the most vulnerable condition. These coastlines will submerge and the mangroves in the area will degrade more as compared to other areas.

Certain regions like Chilika and Sundarbans along the east coast and Dwarka and Porbandar along the west coast of India is likely to see less reduction and landward shift by 2070 due to the differential response to Precipitation and sea level change in different parts of the Indian coastline, said the study.

In a significant development and recognition to the countrys efforts in improving access to modern family planning methods, India is the only country to have received the Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards-2022 in the ‘country category’ at the International Conference on Family Planning held in Pattaya city, Thailand.

India has made outstanding progress not only in improving access but also adoption of modern contraceptive methods enabling couples to make informed choices about family planning. These are reflected in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 data. As per NFHS-5 data, overall Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) has increased substantially from 54 percent to 67 percent in the country, from NFHS-4. Similarly, unmet needs of family planning have witnessed a significant decline from 13 per cent to 9 per cent. The unmet need for spacing has also come down to less than 10 per cent.

The total ‘demand satisfied’ for family planning among currently married Women aged 15-49 in India increased from 66 percent in 2015-16 to 76 percent in 2019-21 which has already crossed the SDG target of 75 set globally for 2030. The governments focus on improving easy and affordable access to modern contraceptives are reflected in the fact that 68% modern method contraceptive users obtain their method from the public , as per NFHS-5 data. Mission Parivar Vikas, one of the governments flagship programmes, to reduce unmet needs in family planning, has also been a critical factor in the overall improvement.

Indias efforts in improving family planning demonstrate the progress the country is making towards achieving the SDG targets on women and maternal health.

TheState of the Climate in Asia 2021 reporthighlighted how impacts are wreaking an ever-increasing human, financial and environmental toll, worsening food insecurity and POVERTY and holding back Sustainable Development.

The report also painted a worrying scenario for future water Stress. High Mountain Asia, including the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar region, with approximately an area of 100,000 km2 of glacier coverage. The rate of glacier retreat is accelerating and many Glaciers suffered from intense mass losses as the result of exceptionally warm and dry conditions in 2021. These so-called water towers of the world are vital for freshwater supplies for the most densely populated part of the planet and so glacier retreat has major implications for future generations.

:In J&K, the “Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project” was inaugurated by the Union Power Minister.

Highlights:

Pakal Dul HE Project (1,000 MW) is being built by Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Limited (CVPPPL) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation in Kishtwar, J&K.

Union Power Minister R K Singh virtually inaugurated the diversion of the Marusudar River of Pakal Dul HE Project in Kishtwar, J&K.

The Chenab River is fed by the Marusudar River, which is a major tributary.

“Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project”

The Pakal Dul HE Project has a capacity of 1000 MW. Chenab Valley Power Projects [P] Ltd is constructing it.

JKSPDC (Govt of J&K) and NHPC Ltd have formed a joint venture business (Govt of India Enterprise).

The mentorship programme was launched for Young Innovators for marking 75th Year of Indias independence.

This mentorship programme will help in promoting scientific temper among masses, by strengthening scientific research & innovation efforts in India.

The programme is a pan India Scheme, which envisages Star College in every district supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

This programme will help towards the concept of networking, outreach and hand holding. It seeks to organize workshops, handhold at colleges particularly in rural areas, meetings per month and conduct outreach activities in government schools. These activities will enable new colleges that have started their journey under the scheme to come up in line with the mandate of Star college scheme.

The Prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure award 2020 was awarded to Priyanka Mohite, a 28-year-old climber from Maharashtra.

Highlights:

Priyanka Mohite, a 28-year-old climber from Maharashtra, has been nominated for the prestigious ‘Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2020’ by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

She was chosen for her excellent contribution to the field of land adventure.

She climbed Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Makalu, the world’s highest peaks.

She is the first Indian woman to summit Mt Annapurna, the world’s tenth highest Himalayan peak.

Wang Yaping, a Chinese astronaut, has become the first Chinese woman to walk in space.

Highlights:

Wang Yaping’s team performed a six-hour trip outside Tiangong space station as part of ongoing construction.

On November 7, 2021, Wang and her colleague Zhai Zhigang left Tiangong. They added a suspension system as well as transfer connectors.

This was the Shenzhou-13 crew’s first extravehicular activity. They will stay on board the space station for six months.

Tiangong, which translates to “heavenly palace,” is China’s most recent success in its quest to become a significant space force.

China has sent multiple missions to the Moon and has landed a rover on Mars. The Tiangong’s core module was launched into orbit in 2021.
By 2022, this station should be operating. Tiangong is projected to be operational for around 10 years.

A report by the World Food Programme (WFP) has revealed that acute hunger has increased across the world. As a result, 45 million people are living on the edge of famine across 43 countries.

In its earlier report in 2021, WFP had estimated this number at 42 million. But, recent assessment of reveals that another three million people facing famine in Afghanistan.

As per report, fuel prices & food prices are increasing and fertiliser is more expensive. All these factors feed into the new crises of starvation like unfolding in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.

Report highlights that, to curb this situation worldwide, seven billion dollars will be needed, which earlier was estimated as 6.6 billion.

5 million Syrians are witnessing an acute hunger, as per report.

In countries like Haiti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Angola and Burundi, acute hunger has been increasing.

The Geological Survey of India has designated 100 mineral blocks with geological potential for auction. Handing over of these a hundred Reports to the State Governments will ensure non-stop grant of Minerals in the country and extra revenue to the State Governments by bringing greater quantities of mineral blocks under auction.

About MMDR Amendment Act, 2021:

The 2015 MMDR Amendment Act introduced transparency in the allocation of mineral concessions in mining leases and exploration licenses.

In this non-stop endeavour, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, has been further liberalized in March 2021.

The latest amendment is anticipated to expand EMPLOYMENT and funding in the mining sector, enlarge the income to the States, increase production and time bound operationalization of mines,maintain the continuity of mining operations after the tenant changes, and accelerate the pace of mineral exploration and auction Resources.