28-10-22 Daily-Karnataka-KPSC Current Affairs

Despite a recommendation to the contrary, the has decided to merge all four state-run road transport corporations to plug operational losses and increase efficiency.

KarnatakaState Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Staff and Workers Federation, for years, has been demanding a merger with Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka RTC (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka RTC (KKRTC).

It was even one of the demands made to the MR Srinivasa Murthy committee which was set up by the government in November 2021 to recommend measures to restructure and revive ailing RTCs. However, the one-man committee reportedly rejected the merger demand.

KSRTC was bifurcated in 1997 into new corporations such as BMTC and NWKRTC. In 2000, one more corporation, KKRTC (formerly NEKRTC), was formed.

The Union Government expects a record production of 342.33 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables in 2021-22. It is an increase of about 7.73 million tonnes (2.3%) over the production in 2020-21.

The area of cultivation could increase to 28.08 million hectares from 27.48 million hectares in 2020-21, according to the third advance estimates of the area and production of various horticultural crops for 2021-22 released by the Union Ministry of <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The production of fruits is estimated to be 107.24 million tonnes against 102.48 million tonnes in 2020-21. Similarly, the production of vegetables is estimated to be 204.84 million tonnes compared with 200.45 million tonnes in 2020-21.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is commonly referred to as the worlds terrorism financing watchdog, which means it is the author and custodian of an international regime that works to ensure that the flows of in the global financial system are not misused to fund terrorist activities.

FATF describes itself as an inter-governmental body that works to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the Integrity of the international financial system.

FATF maintains a grey list of countries that it watches closely. In essence, these are countries that have, in the assessment of the FATF, failed to prevent international money laundering and terrorist financing, and are, therefore, on a global watchlist for bad behaviour.

New Zealand passed the Plain Language Bill, that requires bureaucrats to use simple, easily understood language while communicating with the public. With the law, which banishes jargon and complicated English words, New Zealand is aiming to become a more inclusive Democracy and help people who speak English as their second language, those with disabilities, and the less educated.

According to the Bill, plain language is defined as appropriate to the intended audience and clear, concise, and well organised. Supporters said the Bill would save the government time and improve accessibility of the Bureaucracy to people of all walks of life.

The WHO released the Global TB Report 2022 on October 27, 2022. The Report notes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, treatment and burden of disease for TB all over the world.

21.4 Lakh TB cases notified in India in 2021, 18% higher than 2020

Over 22 crore people screened for TB in 2021 across the country for early detection and treatment of TB

Under the new initiative Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, more than 40,000 Nikshay Mitra supporting over 10.45 Lakh TB patients all over the country

Indias imports from China have risen 31% for the nine months ended September, propelling two-way trade past $100 billion and the to a record high.

India imported $89.66 billion worth of goods from China in the period, the highest on record for three quarters in any year. Imports stood at $68.46 billion at the end of Q3 of 2021, which was itself a record high.