Today's News 26 March 2019
नीति आयोग फिनटेक कॉनक्‍लेव 2019
नीति आयोग 25 मार्च, 2019 को नई दिल्‍ली के डॉ. अम्‍बेडकर नगर अंतरराष्‍ट्रीय केन्‍द्र में एक दिनभर चलने वाले फिनटेक कॉनक्‍लेव का आयोजन किया। इसका उद्देश्‍य भारत के फिनटेक क्षेत्र में बढ़ती ऊंचाइयों को आकार देना, भविष्‍य की रणनीति एवं नीतिगत प्रयासों के लिए योजना बनाना तथा व्‍यापक वित्‍तीय समावेश के लिए कदमों पर विचार करना है। इस कॉनक्‍लेव में वित्‍तीय स्‍थान- केन्‍द्रीय मंत्रालयों, विनियामकों, बैकरों, स्‍टार्टअप्‍स, सेवा प्रदाताओं एवं उद्यमियों के प्रतिनिधि भाग लिए।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/19417-2019-25
#FinitechConclave #Policy #Commission #NitiAayog #India #SEBI #MSME

अर्थव्यवस्था में तरलता की स्थिति बेहतर
वित्त मंत्रालय और भारतीय रिजर्व बैंक (RBI) ने 25 मार्च 2019 जानकारी दी है कि अर्थव्यवस्था में तरलता (लिक्विडिटी) आरामदायक स्थिति में है। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि इसमें रुपी-डॉलर स्वैप विंडो के जरिए 35,000 करोड़ रुपये का और बूस्ट दिया जाएगा। आर्थिक मामलों के विभाग के सचिव सुभाष चंद्र गर्ग ने पत्रकारों को बताया कि तरलता आरामदायक स्थिति में हैं। तरलता को बढ़ाने के लिए RBI की ओर से रुपये-डॉलर स्वैप व्यवस्था के नए उपकरण के बारे में पूछे जाने पर गर्ग ने कहा कि यह आरबीआई की ओर से उठाया गया सार्थक कदम है।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/19416-2019-03-26-04-16-50
#RBI #SubhashChandra #dollar #economy #FinanceMinistry

Global Energy Transition index
India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index, which has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability. Sweden remains on the top on this annual list compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three, as per its latest report released on 25 March 2019.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19421-global-energy-transition-index
#WEF #India #BRICS #China #Brazil #CO2

Chandrayaan 2 to carry NASA science instrument
India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2, scheduled for launch in April, would be carrying a NASA science probe. Chandrayaan 2 will carry NASA-owned laser retroreflector arrays that allow scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon, the US space agency officials said, during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held in Texas.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19420-chandrayaan-2-to-carry-nasa-science-instrument
#NASA #Chandrayaan2 #ISRO #India #spacecraft

Magnetoreception found in Human
Many people are able to unconsciously detect changes in the Earth’s magnetic fields, according to scientists who claim to have found concrete evidence of a new human sense — magnetoreception. Researchers from California Institute of Technology in the US and the University of Tokyo in Japan offer experimental evidence that human brain waves respond to controlled changes in Earth-strength magnetic fields.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19419-magnetoreception-found-in-human
#Magnetoreception #Human #Earth #magneticfields #eNeuro

SC dismisses plea of Triple Talaq
The Supreme Court 25 March 2019 dismissed a plea challenging the constitutional validity of an ordinance which makes the practice of instant ‘triple talaq’ a punishable offence. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed a plea of a Kerala-based outfit and said it will not like to interfere.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19418-sc-dismisses-plea-of-triple-talaq
#SC #TripleTalaq #RanjanGogoi #SupremeCourt

SC issues notice on RTI portal
The Supreme Court on 26 August 2019 issued notice to the Centre and state governments on a petition seeking to establish a Right to Information (RTI) portal to enable people to file online applications for information from any department.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21317-sc-issues-notice-on-rti-portal
#SC #RTIportal #SupremeCourt #RTI #NRIs

Coal in India report 2019
India, the world’s third largest coal consumer, is one of the most appealing market for Australia’s thermal coal to meet its increasing energy requirements, according to a new report.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21316-coal-in-india-report-2019
#Coal #Indiareport #ChiefEconomist #Australia

Amazon Forest fires
As the Amazon forest fires rage on, US space agency NASA said that 2019 has seen an increase in the number forest fires in the Amazon region in Brazil.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21315-amazon-forest-fires
#AmazonForestfires #NASA #Brazil #USspaceagency

First crime committed in space
US space agency NASA is investigating what may be the first crime committed in outer space, The New York Times reported.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21314-first-crime-committed-in-space
#Firstcrime #space #NASA #ISS #AstronautAnneMcClain

India’s first startup IPO
Desi startup Alphalogic Techsys became the first enterprise to float India’s first startup IPO, which would allow it to raise growth capital from a group of investors instead of select VCs.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21313-india-s-first-startup-ipo
#IPO #startup #AlphalogicTechsys #Sebi #US

First Indian to win BWC's gold
P.V. Sindhu on 25 August 2019 became the first Indian to win a Badminton World Championships (BWC's) gold by beating familiar rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a lop-sided final in Basel.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21312-first-indian-to-win-bwc-s-gold
#BWCsgold #PVSindhu #gold #BWCs #Sindhu

Chennai-Vladivostok sea route
India and Russia are against “outside influence” in the internal matters of any nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 4 September 2019 during which they discussed ways to bolster cooperation in trade and investment, oil and gas, nuclear energy, defence, space and maritime connectivity.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21392-chennai-vladivostok-sea-route
#Chennai #Vladivostok #NarendraModi #EEF #India #outsideinfluence

Coordination committee for Census
A coordination committee headed by chief secretary was constituted in Jammu and Kashmir on 4 September for Census-2021, an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) stated.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21391-coordination-committee-for-census
#Coordination #GAD #Census #JammuandKashmir #GirdhariLal

India hikes contribution in Global Fund
Strengthening its commitment towards eliminating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, India has increased its contribution to the Global Fund to $22 million for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22), up 10% over the amount contributed in the fifth cycle.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21390-india-hikes-contribution-in-global-fund
#India #GlobalFund #AIDS #G20 #BRICS #malaria #tuberculosis

Higher procurement price for ethanol
The Union Cabinet on 3 September 2019 approved a higher procurement price for ethanol purchased by oil marketing companies for the ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme, which will come into effect from December 1 for a period of one year.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21389-higher-procurement-price-for-ethanol
#ethanol #EBP #UnionCabinet #Cheavy #procurement #oil

Treaty on mutual legal assistance
India and Maldives on 3 September 2019 signed a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid discussed ongoing cooperation in various fields and ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21388-treaty-on-mutual-legal-assistance
#India #SJaishankar #AbdullaShahid #Maldives #IOC #MLAT

Vikram performs second maneuver
The Vikram Lander of the Chandrayaan-2 mission successfully carried out the second de-orbiting maneuver in the early hours of 4 September 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21387-vikram-performs-second-maneuver
#Vikram #Chandrayaan2 #ISRO #moon #Pragyaan #spacecraft

India's banana and Climate Change
Climate change may lead to a significant decline in banana production in India -- the world's largest cultivator and consumer of the crop, according to a study.
Read More: http://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21386-india-s-banana-and-climate-change
#ClimateChange #India #Bananas #Brazil #agricultural #fruitcrop

Today's Headlines - 25 August 2023
BRICS currency in BRICS Summit
GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

Brazil's President called for the BRICS nations to create a common currency for trade and investment between each other, as a means of reducing their vulnerability to dollar exchange rate fluctuations. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made the proposal at a BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Officials and economists have pointed out the difficulties involved in such a project, given the economic, political and geographic disparities between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Why does Brazil want a BRICS currency?

Brazil's president doesn't believe nations that don't use the dollar should be forced to trade in the currency, and he has also advocated for a common currency in the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.
A BRICS currency "increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities," he told the summit's opening plenary session.
What do other BRICS Leaders think?

South African officials had said a BRICS currency was not on the agenda for the summit.
In July, India's foreign minister said, "there is no idea of a BRICS currency". Its foreign secretary said before departing for the summit that boosting trade in national currencies would be discussed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the gathering, which he attended via videolink, would discuss switching trade between member countries away from the dollar to national currencies.
China has not commented on the idea. President Xi Jinping spoke at the summit of promoting "the reform of the international financial and monetary system".
Is the US Dollar in trouble?

BRICS leaders have said they want to use their national currencies more instead of the dollar, which strengthened sharply last year as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and Russia invaded Ukraine, making dollar debt and many imports more expensive.
Russia's sanctions-imposed exile from global financial systems last year also fuelled speculation that non-western allies would shift away from the dollar.
The objective, irreversible process of de-dollarisation of our economic ties is gaining momentum, Putin told the summit.

#upsc #news #headline #brics #currency #summit #internationalrelations #bricsnations #investment #ratefluctuations #vulnerability #lunae #economic #political #geographic #disparities #brazil #russia #india #china #southafrica #currency #mercosur #southamerican #leaders #videolink #trade #indiaforeignminister #USDOLLAR #ukraine #globalfinancial #economic

Today's Headlines - 26 August 2023
BRICS gets six new members
GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

The five-member BRICS invited six more countries to join the alliance, in a move which can strengthen its claim of being a ‘voice of the Global South’ on one hand, while raising concerns about China’s increasing dominance on the other. BRICS consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In its ongoing summit at Johannesburg, South Africa, it has invited Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Their membership will begin in January.

Why New Members

Adding new members strengthens the group’s heft as a spokesperson of the developing world. BRICS currently represents around 40% of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the world’s GDP.
With the additions, it will represent almost half the world’s population, and will include three of the world’s biggest oil producers, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran.
The rush towards BRICS is driven by two basic impulses: “First, there is considerable anti-US sentiment in the world, and all these countries are looking for a grouping where they can use that sentiment to gather together.
Second, there is a lot of appetite for multipolarity, for a platform where countries of the Global South can express their solidarity.”
The formation of BRICS in 2009 was driven by the idea that the four emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would be the future economic powerhouses of the world. South Africa was added a year later.
While the economic performance of BRICS has been mixed, the war in Ukraine — which has brought the West together on the one hand and strengthened the China-Russia partnership on the other — has turned it into an aspiring bloc that can challenge the western geopolitical view, and emerge as a counterweight to Western-led fora like the Group of 7 and the World Bank.
What this means for India

If India’s presence at the recent G7 summit in Hiroshima, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in an informal Quad summit, was seen as a sign of New Delhi’s US tilt, it continues to attach importance to the “anti-West” BRICS.
India is also part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and despite problems, it has relations with Russia, with China.
While China does want BRICS to be an anti-western group, the Indian view is that it is a “non-western” group and should stay that way.
Among the new members, while India looks at all of them as partnerships worth developing, concerns have been raised that the group could become more pro-China and sideline New Delhi’s voice and interests.

#upsc #news #headline #brics #newmembers #internationalrelations #globalsouth #china #brazil #russia #india #southafrica #johannesburg #iran #egypt #ethiopia #world #GDP #population #quarter #economics #ukraine #worldbank #hiroshima #shanghaicooperation #organisation #SCO #NEWDELHI #prochina #interests #developing

Today's Headlines - 08 September 2023
G20 agrees to give African Union membership
GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

Group of 20 nations agreed to grant the African Union permanent membership status, and leaders are expected to announce the decision during a summit in India. The move would give the 55-member African Union, which is currently classified as an “invited international organization,” the same status as the EU. It’s part of a drive to provide African countries with a stronger voice on global issues such as climate change and emerging-market debt, particularly as emerging markets in the so-called Global South take on a more prominent role in world affairs.

More about the News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the G20 summit, has made it a priority to grant the African Union full membership.
Countries like Germany, Brazil, and Canada have also expressed their support for African Union membership to the G20.
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies.
The members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The European Union is keen to take some credit for the G20 step. Leaders from the bloc plan to hold a high-level meeting with African leaders on the sidelines of the summit, which is being skipped by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Dubbed a “mini-summit,” the Europe-Africa meeting will include a discussion of the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine on global food security — a situation that threatens to escalate after Putin refused to revive a UN-backed deal to allow grain shipments after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Other topics include efforts to reform the global financial architecture, improving conditions for private investments and infrastructure projects in Africa, as well as the situation in the Sahel region.
Flashback
The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).

#upsc #news #headline #G20 #African #union #membership #internationalrelations #20nations #leaders #climatechange #market #organization #global #south #news #primeminister #NarenderaModi #G20Summit #germany #brazil #canada #intergovermentalforum #GDP #world #population #european #vladimirputin #projects #AU #55members #unity