07.07.23 Daily [Andhra Pradesh] APPSC Current Affairs

The central government would discuss with AP ways to deal with the damage to Polavaram Irrigation projects diaphragm wall and the spillways guide bund, at a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, July 9.

In a recent meeting chaired by Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat, it was decided that members from central water commission, the Polavaram project authority as also officials from the Jal Shakti ministry and AP <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/water-Resources“>Water Resources department would meet again to deliberate on the steps to be taken to address the issue of damage to components of the project. Shekhawat wanted safety to be the top priority irrespective of considerations like cost escalation.

AP water resources authorities say that the Union minister stressed that there should be no future complications once the repair or replacement works are done for the two damaged components. The responsibility for this must be taken by those who oversee the works.

As for the diaphragm wall, there is a proposal to construct parallel walls at four portions to replace the damaged portions and connect the new walls to the existing undamaged wall. However, safety issues have been raised. Nowhere in the world had such an experiment been carried out so far, it was stated.

According to an estimate, it would require nearly `400 crore to carry out the repair works and construct a parallel diaphragm wall in four portions. If the whole length of the diaphragm wall spread over 1,300 metres is to be erected anew, it would cost nearly `800 crore.

Gujarat is among the top 10 states in India in deposits per capita, according to data from theReserve Bank Of India.

The states deposits per capita is Rs 97,000, ninth highest among the major states of India as of March 31, 2023. While the per capita deposits of several smaller states and Union territories are higher, among the major states, Gujarat stands ninth.

Gujarat is behind Delhi (Rs 3.94 lakh), Goa (Rs 3.92 lakh), Haryana (Rs 1.64 lakh),Punjab(Rs 1.51 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh), Uttarakhand (Rs 1.24 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 1.24 lakh) andKerala(Rs 1.02 lakh) on this parameter.

According to the latest report from the Gujarat state-level bankers committee (SLBC), aggregate deposits at banks in the state including scheduled , cooperative and small finance banks, stood at Rs 10.76 lakh crore.

The state is also aggressively opening Jan Dhan accounts under the Financial Inclusion scheme.

The Centre announced plans to set up its first campus of the prestigious IIT outside India in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The foreign campus will be set by the IIT Madras and programmes for the campus will be launched in October this year keeping in mind the parameters of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which focuses on internationalisation and recommends high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.

This PARTNERSHIP will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region.

The setting up of the IIT Campus is expected to enhance Indias reputation globally and its diplomatic relationships and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras.

The United Arab Emirates pledged to give USD 15 million to help rebuild the Jenin refugee camp after the most intense Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades.

The funding promise comes after the two-day offensive destroyed the camps narrow roads and alleyways.

The operation, meant to crack down on Palestinian militants after a series of recent attacks on Israelis, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes.

Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the fighting.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency reported that the would be granted to UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, to rebuild damaged homes and businesses and for the agencys Services.

UNRWA has struggled recently to raise the funding it needs to keep its day-to-day operations helping millions of people across the Middle East. Israels fierce incursion this week saw bulldozers tearing through streets to clear a path for the hundreds of soldiers deployed. Israel withdrew its troops on Wednesday, revealing a scene of destruction.

Children experienced the highest number of grave violations in conflicts verified by the United Nations in 2022, with the conflicts between Israeli and Palestinians and in Congo and Somalia putting the most youngsters in peril, the UN childrens agency said.

UNICEF also expressed particular concern about their plight in Haiti, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ukraine, where Russia has been put on the UN blacklist.

India and France on Thursday reviewed the entire spectrum of their strategic and DEFENCE ties during talks here between National Security Advisor(NSA)Ajit Doval and Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic advisor to the French President. The visiting dignitary also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi before returning to Paris.

Doval and Bonne also reportedly prepared the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Paris on July 13-14. He is the guest of honour for national day of France this year. Both the countries this year are celebrating 25 years of their strategic PARTNERSHIP. Besides focussing on their bilateral ties, Doval and Bonne also reportedly discussed the aftereffect of the ongoing Ukraine conflict and situation in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China adopting an aggressive stance in the region. India and France share long defence ties and the latter is now keen to impart technology for the jet engine for the twin-engine combat fighter jet planned by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).