RAJASTHAN
- Rajasthan chalks out strategy to improve health indicators
- After failing miserably to secure respectable place in overall delta ranking of NITI Aayog, the five aspirational districts of the state identified by the Centre need improvement in 49 different indicators set by NITI Aayog. The health department has chalked out a strategy to improve health indicators in the five identified districts of the state.
- NITI Aayog had released a list in December last year of overall delta ranking of 111 identified aspirational districts of the country. Among 111 identified districts, there are five districts of the state, which include Sirohi, Karauli, Baran, Dholpur and Jaisalmer.
- Among five aspirational districts of the state, Sirohi has secured 72nd rank, while Karauli, Baran, Dholpur and Jaisalmer booked 88th, 90th, 92nd and 100th place in overall ranking of 111 districts of the country.
- Health department working rigorously to identify gaps in maternal and infant healthcare services to improve health indicators including maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate, immunization coverage, institutional deliveries, sex ratio at birth and total fertility rate for improving ranking of its districts.
INTERNATIONAL
- OECD has reduced the world economic growth forecasts for 2019 to 3.3 percent
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)has reduced the world economic growth forecasts for the year 2019. OECD has cut its 2019 forecast for global economic growth to3% for the current year, down from 3.5% it predicted earlier.
- The report notes that trade tensions and political uncertainty, including Brexit and erosion of business and consumer confidence are weighing on the world’s economy thereby contributing to the slowdown. The 19-nation eurozonewas particularly hard to hit, with predicted growth dropping from 8% to 1% which was contributed to policy uncertainty including those over Brexit.
- UNODC referred to India as a Key Hub for Illicit Drug Trade
- United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has referred to India as a Key Hub for Illicit Drug Trade.
- The study has found more than 1,000 drug listings from India published across 50 online crypto-market platforms. The report also states that in 2017 Indian authorities have dismantled two illicit Internet pharmacies, seizing close to 130,000 tablets containing psychotropic substances.
- India, Australia, France and Turkeytogether accounted for 83% of global production of morphine-rich opiate raw materials in 2017.
- UNODC was established in 1997. It is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. UNDOC came into with the merger of United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention
NATIONAL
- MoEFCC amended rules to ban the import of solid plastic waste
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)has amended the Hazardous and other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 to completely ban the import of solid plastic waste.
- The amendment notified by the MoEFCC fixes a loophole which previously allowed the import of plastic waste into India for processing. The ban on the import of plastics is in lines with the principles of sustainable development. To ensure the ban doesn’t adversely impact the ease of doing business, the amendmentallows the reverse import of defective electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, within a year of export.
- India is exploring various options to discourage the use of single-use plasticsand also is emphasizing recycling of the plastic waste to reduce the burden on the environment thereby providing benefits.
- CCEA approves investment sanction for Kiru hydro project
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved the investment sanction for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric Project.
- The project is located on river Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir.
- It shall provide much-needed power in the northern grid and shall accelerate the process of development of remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
- It is scheduled to be completed in a period of 4.5 years.
- The CCEA also approved the investment for 1320 Mega Watt Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant at Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh.
- Cabinet approved for new hydroelectric policy
- The UnionCabinet approved a new hydroelectric policy aimed at boosting the sector, including according large hydro projects the status of renewable energy projects.
- According to the new policy,large hydro projects will also be designated as renewable energy projects. So far, only smaller projects of less than 25 MW in capacity were categorized as renewable energy. With the removal of this distinction, large hydro projects will be included as a separate category under the non-solar renewable purchase obligation policy.
- Under this policy, power purchasers will have to source a portion of electricity from large hydro projects. The new policy will increase the debt repayment period for hydro projects to 18 years from the current 12 years with the provision to introduce an escalating tariff of 2%.
- Cabinet approved for the Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior
- The UnionCabinet has approved the proposal for setting up of a Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. The Centre for Disability Sports, Gwalior will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 170.99 crore, spread over a period of 5 years. The Centre of Disability Sports would be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- The centre would create animproved sports infrastructure to ensure effective participation of persons with disabilities in sports activities and also enable them to compete at national and international levels. It would aid in developing a sense of belonging in Divyangjan to facilitate their integration in society. A governing body consisting of not exceeding 12 members would be set up for overall superintendence and supervision of the Centre with representation for experts from National Level Sports Federations apart from experts in para games.
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