18 SEP 2020

  

World Bamboo Day: 18 September

   

World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products.

• People and businesses from around the world use this day to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products
• WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.
• World Bamboo Day was founded by Kamesh Salam as former president of the World Bamboo Organisation in 2009.
• The theme for the 11th edition of WBD 2020 is ‘BAMBOO NOW.’

Mexico issues 'world's first' sovereign bond linked to UN sustainability goals

   

MEXICO issued what it described as the world's first sovereign bond linked to the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, raising 750 million euros (S$1.2 billion).

• The government did not specify how it would spend the money raised.
• The bond's preliminary investment prospectus cautioned that there was no guarantee that Mexico would make disbursements for projects that meet the UN characteristics.
• The bond is part of an emerging trend of debt issuance aimed at raising funds that attempt to tackle social, environmental and other issues.

India Happiness Report 2020

The first all India Happiness Report covering all States and Union Territories measuring happiness across the country, what contributes to people's happiness, the impact of COVID-19 on happiness, and insights from thought leaders.

• The study is based on a nationwide survey covering 16,950 people between March and July 2020 by Professor Rajesh K Pillania.
• In the happiness rankings of states and union territories, Mizoram, Punjab, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the top three.
• Among the big states, Punjab, Gujarat, and Telangana are among the top three states whereas, among smaller states, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are the top three states in happiness rankings.
• Among union territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep are the top three union territories in happiness rankings.
• Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana have shown the worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness.

Four Indian cities drop in Global Smart City Index; Singapore on top

Four Indian cities- New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru -witnessed a significant drop in their rankings in the global listing of smart cities that was topped by Singapore.

• The Institute for Management Development (IMD), in collaboration with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), has released the 2020 Smart City Index, with key findings on how technology is playing a role in the COVID-19 era.
• In the 2020 Smart City Index, Hyderabad was placed at the 85th position (down from 67 in 2019), New Delhi at 86th rank (down from 68 in 2019), Mumbai was at 93rd place (in 2019 it was at 78) and Bengaluru at 95th (79 in 2019).
• The 2020 Smart City Index (SCI) was topped by Singapore, followed by Helsinki and Zurich in the second and the third place respectively.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigns in protest of Farmers' Produce Trade & Commerce Bill 2020

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Badal has resigned in protest of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.

• Ms Harsimrat Badal belongs to Shiromani Akali Dal.
• President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted the resignation of Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Council of Ministers.
• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in addition to his existing portfolios.

Karnataka Govt launches loan disbursal programme “Arthika Spandana”

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa launched the “Arthika Spandana” programme.

• Under this scheme loans worth Rs. 39,300 crore would be disbursed through various cooperative institutions, for helping people during the times of COVID-19 and floods.
• Of the total amount approved under the scheme, Rs. 15,300 crore would be disbursed to the agriculture sector while Rs. 24,000 crore would be earmarked for the non-agricultural sector.
• The Chief Minister handed over cheques towards loans to 50 beneficiaries, during the launch.

UP govt decides to give cows to families with malnourished children

In a unique step towards eliminating the malnourishment among children, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to give cows to the families with malnourished children, which will ensure availability of milk for them.

• The step taken under  the 'Poshan Abhiyan’ campaign will help in bringing down the  level of  malnourishment among children and women in the state.
• The State  Government has decided to give cattle from its cow shelters in the state under the Chief Minister Destitute Cow Participation Scheme to the families which have malnourished children or women as cow milk will be extremely useful in removing malnutrition.
• The cows will be given to the families who are willing to keep them and also have available space for them.
• If the family wishes so, it will also be given an opportunity to choose a cow at the cow shelter.
• An amount of 30 rupees per day will also be given through DBT to the family for taking care of the cow.

Himachal Pradesh CM inaugurates “Swachhata Cafe” in Solan district on PM’s birthday

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur virtually inaugurated the “Swachhata Cafe” at Nalagarh in Solan district on the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• A ‘Swachhata Park’ is also being opened at Kufri in district Shimla. 
• Apart from this, proposals for opening ‘Swachhata Cafes’ from different areas of the State were being considered by the State Government.
• The Cafe is being operated by Laxmi and Durga women self help groups.
• The main attraction of this Cafe is that it would serve traditional food such as maize bread and Sarson ka saag, butter, lassi etc.

Byju's unveils 'Education for All' to empower 5 mn children by 2025

Byju’s, an edtech company, aims to make digital learning accessible to millions of children from underserved and economically deprived communities.

• The country’s second-most valuable startup announced the launch of its social initiative - Education for All.
• The programme aims at democratising education by ensuring that children across all economic backgrounds get equal access to quality learning opportunities.
• This initiative would bridge the educational and digital divide by making quality learning accessible to the children in need.
• To commence the initiative, Byju’s has signed MOUs (memorandum of understanding) with mission-aligned partners -- The American India Foundation(AIF), Magic Bus, Save the Children, United Way and Vadham Tea.

Chef Vikas Khanna honoured with Asia Game Changer award for feeding millions in India amid Covid crisis

Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna will be honoured with the prestigious 2020 Asia Game Changer Award for feeding millions across India amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• He fed people through a massive food distribution drive that he coordinated from thousands of miles away in his Manhattan home.
• The Asia Game Changer Awards, launched by the Asia Society -- a US-based non-profit organisation -- in 2014, identify and honour true leaders who make a positive contribution to the future of Asia.
• Khanna is the only Indian among the six honourees named by the leading organisation.
• Preeminent cellist Yo-Yo Ma, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, Korean boy band BTS, producer of Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' Miky Lee and business leaders and philanthropists Joe and Clara Tsai are the honourees of the Asia Game Changer Awards.

Former RBI governor Amitabha Ghosh passes away at 90

Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Governor for 21 days, Amitabha Ghosh, passed away at the age of 90.

• Ghosh had the shortest stint as RBI governor, from January 15, 1985 to February 4, 1985, which was a stop-gap arrangement while Ghosh was serving as a deputy governor and waiting to hand over charge to the 17th RBI Governor R N Malhotra.
• After handing over the charge, Ghosh returned to his position as deputy governor.
• Ghosh was the deputy governor between January 21, 1982 to January 20, 1987, and again got an extension till January 20, 1992.
• Prior to joining the RBI, Ghosh was the chairman of Allahabad Bank.

Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka Ashok Gasti passes away

The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka Ashok Gasti has passed away.

• He was diagnosed with severe Covid-19 pneumonia and critically ill with multi-organ failure when admitted to the hospital in Bengaluru on September 2nd. 
• Ashok Gasti was the first time MP who had taken oath as member of Rajya Sabha on July 22nd.
• A lawyer by profession and former General Secretary of BJP, he had also served as Chairperson of the Backward Class Development Corporation in Karnataka.