07-07-23 Daily-Karnataka-KPSC Current Affairs

While the monsoon has intensified over the past week and Dams, especially in southKarnataka, have been filling up, scanty rain in June has left large swathes of the state dry and has exacerbated the shortage of drinking water, revenue ministerKrishna Byregowdarevealed in the legislative assembly

the lowerHousethat the government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore to each district to supply drinking water, and that he has directed deputy commissioners (DCs) of districts to take steps to supply water through tankers. Last week,Byregowdahad pegged the deficit of rain in June at an overall 50%, although he had said that in some parts of the state the deficit was as much as 90%.

Replying to former chief ministerBasavaraj Bommai, who during , raised the issue of acute shortage ofdrinking water due to the delayed monsoon, Byregowda said 193 villages across the state are suffering from a scarcity of drinking water. The minister said arrangements are being made to supply water to residents from borewells and tankers.

Data shows that 11 districts recorded a deficit of rain in June, while four saw large deficits. A deficit of 19% is considered normal and anything above 60% is considered a large deficit. However, while the coastal and some parts of theMalnadregion have received large amounts of rain over the past few days some regions in north Karnataka continue to remain dry.

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).