Published on: December 3, 2024
Snippets : 3 DECEMBER 2024
Snippets : 3 DECEMBER 2024
- A recent study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School has highlighted the effectiveness of India’s PRAGATI system in accelerating infrastructure development, praising its role in fast-tracking projects worth $205 billion. According to the study, PRAGATI has significantly contributed to India’s economic transformation by improving the country’s economic landscape. The study also emphasized the system’s impact on improving the quality of life for millions of people, particularly through faster implementation of projects in vital sectors such as roads, railways, water, and electricity, and the integration of green technologies for sustainable development. Additionally, the system fosters collaboration between the Central and State governments, encouraging a culture of accountability and efficiency, while supporting inclusive and sustainable development. PRAGATI integrates advanced technologies like Digital Data Management, Video-Conferencing, and Geo-Spatial Technology to ensure timely implementation and effective governance. It operates through a three-tier system, involving the Prime Minister’s Office, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of States, allowing real-time data-driven decision-making to address pressing national issues.
- The Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) was established to address the urban infrastructure needs of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Funded through the priority sector lending shortfall, UIDF ensures that resources are available for infrastructure development in these underdeveloped urban areas. The primary objective of UIDF is to supplement the efforts of State Governments, Union Territories (UTs), and local bodies in enhancing urban infrastructure, with a focus on essential services like Sewerage and Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, and the construction and improvement of drains/stormwater drains. Managed by the National Housing Bank (NHB), the fund has an initial corpus of ₹10,000 crore and is modeled on the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). It currently covers 459 Tier-2 cities and 580 Tier-3 cities. States are encouraged to leverage resources from the 15th Finance Commission grants and existing government schemes, while ensuring the adoption of appropriate user charges for the sustainability of the fund. UIDF loans come with an attractive interest rate of Bank Rate minus 1.5%, a repayment period of five equal annual instalments within seven years, and quarterly interest payments.
- The Indian government has announced that the base year for calculating the country’s GDP will be updated from 2011-12 to 2022-23. This change, as revealed by the Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Rao Inderjit Singh, aims to better reflect the current economic realities, especially considering post-pandemic shifts and the growth of digital platforms. The Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics (ACNAS), a 26-member body chaired by Biswanath Goldar, has been formed to oversee this transition. The committee will focus on identifying new data sources, revising the GDP computation methodology, and standardizing data structures to improve accuracy. The revised GDP and Consumer Price Index (CPI), based on the updated base year, are expected to be released by early 2026. This update is crucial as the current base year, 2011-12, no longer captures recent changes in consumption patterns, technology, and other economic dynamics. India’s GDP growth has been slowing down, with the growth rate decelerating to 5.4% in the July-September 2024 quarter, attributed to weaker manufacturing, reduced consumption, and a decline in the mining sector. The government is also working to strengthen its statistical systems, including revitalizing statistical coordination between the Centre and states and enhancing the use of administrative data for better accuracy. In addition, a 22-member panel is revising the base year for the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and other key indices, adjusting commodity weights to reflect producer prices more accurately.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is celebrating its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025, and as part of the festivities, it’s hosting a National Meteorological Olympiad (Met-Olympiad) to spark interest in weather and climate sciences among students.
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone for a world-class cricket stadium to be built by the Karnataka State Cricket Association at a cost of Rs 150 crore at P Gollahalli in Tumakuru taluk. The stadium will come up on 50 acres of land, allotted by the state government to KSCA, in about two years.
- The Tekkalakote Police Station in Siruguppa taluk has been selected as the 10th best police station in the country for the year 2024, according to Ballari district police. SP Dr Shobharani V J shared this information in a post on the department’s Facebook page. In the post, the SP has lauded the efforts of officers and staff of the Tekkalakote station responsible for bagging the best police station award.
- The Sivagiri Mutt in Kerala, founded by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, is establishing an all-religion worship centre, promoting unity and harmony among different faiths. This initiative comes amid disputes over places of worship among various religious groups. The proposed centre’s model was unveiled at an all-religion conference at the Vatican, commemorating the centenary of a similar conference initiated by Sree Narayana Guru in 1923. The centre will feature worship spaces for Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, along with a meditation area, serving as a memorial to the Vatican conference. The event was attended by heads of all religions, including Catholic church head Pope Francis, who emphasized the relevance of Sree Narayana Guru’s teachings in today’s world. The Sivagiri Mutt, managed by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust, aims to spread Guru’s principles, including his ideology of ‘One caste, one religion and one God for humankind’
- Bengaluru’s Aishwarya Pissay claimed the third spot in the 2024 FIM Bajas World Cup.
- Durga Foundation, an NGO, in collaboration with the NLSIU and city police, has launched the ‘active bystanders initiative’ to combat sexual harassment in public places through a programme called “D.A.R.E. TO CARE: Say no to sexual harassment.” The initiative involves creating awareness and sensitizing the public through visits to 112 police stations, street plays, and door-to-door campaigns, aiming to cover 5,600 members, including street vendors, pourakarmikas, and autorickshaw drivers, who will be trained and awarded certificates and medals as “Durga” real heroes, promoting a proactive approach, confidence, and empowerment among volunteers.
- The Forest Department has initiated a ‘Trackers dog squad training centre’ in Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR)
- Hubballi airport is Karnataka’s most profitable airport among the four aerodromes controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), with a revenue of ₹19.37 crore in the financial year 2023-24. The state has nine airports, with the AAI operating four: Belagavi, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru. Belagavi followed Hubballi with a revenue of ₹14.99 crore, while Mysuru and Kalaburagi earned ₹9.26 crore and ₹2.26 crore, respectively. Karnataka’s other airports include Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, operated under a public-private partnership, and the Mangaluru International Airport, leased by the AAI to Adani Airport Holdings Limited. Notably, Kempegowda International Airport was the most profitable airport in the country in 2022-23, with a profit of ₹528 crore.
- The fourth edition of the Green Literature Festival (GLF), the country’s only literary festival dedicated entirely to all things environment, will be held in Bengaluru. The festival, first launched in June 2021 as “a response to the urgent need for literature that helps us comprehend our relationship with the planet, mend the broken bits, promote love and care for the climate through positive climate action,” as the event release puts it, “promises to be a fiesta for eco-enthusiasts, nature lovers and readers of all ages and tastes.”
- Recently, the Red-Breasted Flycatcher bird which migrates from Eastern Europe to escape the harsh winter was found in the Ameenpur Lake in Hyderabad.
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a reply from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and others over the deteriorating condition of Varkala cliff, a designated national geo-heritage site located in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, which exposes 13 lakh to 2.5 crore-year-old sedimentary rock formations, hosts unique biodiversity, and supports underwater reefs essential for local fishing communities, and is also revered for its natural springs with therapeutic properties
- In a significant conservation step, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has granted in-principle approval for designating Madhav National Park in Shivapuri district, Madhya Pradesh, as a tiger reserve. Located on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands, the park is part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills and features a diverse landscape of plateaus and valleys. The park is home to two prominent lakes, Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, which support both aquatic biodiversity and terrestrial species. The drainage pattern directs towards the north and northeast, with the park forming the catchment area for the Sind River that flows along its eastern boundary. The eastern section of the park contains sedimentary rocks of the Vindhyan system, including sandstone, shale, and limestone. The vegetation includes Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests and Dry Thorn Forests, typical of North-Western Madhya Pradesh. The flora features Kardhai, Salai, Dhaora, and Khair, while the understory includes Ber, Makor, and Karonda, with Jamun and Mahua trees near the nullahs. The park supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including species such as Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsinga, Chital, Sambar, and Barking Deer, as well as predators like the Leopard, Wolf, Jackal, Fox, and Wild Dog.
