KARNATAKA
Karnataka lags behind Tamil Nadu and Kerala in tackling hunger
India has set herself the target of eradicating hunger and malnutrition by 2030, in addition to increasing use of clean and affordable energy. All the states have been tasked with working towards the realisation of these objectives, referred to collectively as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A survey conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, which released the Annual State of India’s Environment 2022 report, has found that, while Karnataka is faring well in pushing clean and affordable energy initiatives, it is lagging considerably behind its neighbours Tamil Nadu and Kerala in tackling hunger and malnutrition.
Karnataka brings up the rear of the table that lists states against the ‘zero hunger’ indicator, assessing steps taken to end hunger. Against 100, Karnataka scored a mere 53 out of 100. Among other categories, the indicator looks at efforts taken to feed all sections of the population, particularly the children, besides looking into efforts made to promote agriculture, support extended to small-scale farmers, access to land.
Karnataka has slotted in 10th when it comes to its performance in steps taken towards eradication of poverty, with a score of 68, standing sixth in its ability to offer quality education and gender equality. Although the state comes in 11th when it comes to supplying clean water and sanitation, it has scored an impressive 85 out of 100 on that count.
Karnataka has come in 12th in the category that ranks states on steps taken to reduce socio-economic inequality. The state has achieved the same rank in the ‘life on the land’ category, wherein initiatives undertaken to promote more sustainable techniques aimed at the use of terrestrial ecosystem, preservation of forests, halting and reversing land degradation, among others.
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistan remains on FATF’s grey list: Report
The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog FATF has retained Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list” and asked Islamabad to address at the earliest the remaining deficiencies in its financial system, according to a media report.
Pakistan has been on the grey list of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since June 2018 for failing to check money laundering, leading to terror financing, and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019.
India-ITU Host Country Agreement (HCA)
HCA was signed in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
HCA provides the legal and financial framework for the establishment and operations of the Area Office and innovation center of ITU in New Delhi, India.
ITU is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for information and communication technologies (ICTs).
India has taken many initiatives to develop telecom standards. ITU recognized 5Gi standards developed in India.
NATIONAL
Digital transactions earned dividends for the nation
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines PrahladJoshi has said that with more people adapting digital transactions, a saving of ₹1.75 lakh crore had been possible and the menace of middlemen had also been checked.
The country had performed over ₹20 lakh crore digital transactions, which was 60% more than the digital transaction of China. He said that with the introduction of Jan Dhan accounts, 45 crore zero balance new bank accounts were opened and in these zero balance accounts, there were deposits to the tune of ₹1.65 lakh crore in the last seven years.
Naval exercise MILAN concludes in Visakhapatnam
Indian Navy’s largest multilateral exercise Milan 2022, which saw the participation of over 40 countries, ended on Friday. The sea phase of the 11th edition saw the participation of 26 ships, one submarine and 21 aircraft.
The sea phase commenced with a series of exercises to enhance the interoperability amongst the participating navies.
The exercise, held amid tensions between the West and Russia and the crisis in Ukraine, saw the warships of the Quad countries; France; Myanmar; South Korea and Vietnam and among others practice completing drills. Russia, Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia among others are participating in the exercise without ships.
Swadesh Darshan Awards
The awards will be given to recognize best practices like innovative approach, achievement of planned objectives, the adoption of sustainability principles in design, planning, and operations, ability to attract private investments in peripheral development, efficient project monitoring, and efforts undertaken to ensure optimal operations and maintenance, etc.
The government has approved 76 projects worth over Rs 5500 crore across 31 Indian states and union territories under this scheme. At more than 500 tourist destinations, tourism-related infrastructure has been developed.
It has been decided by the Ministry to invite entries under various categories such as Best Log Hut Facility, Best Tourist Interpretation Centre, Best Cafeteria, Best MICE Facility, Best Sound and Light Show, Best Craft Haat/ Souvenir Shop facility, and Best Waterfront Development (Beach/ River/ Lake, etc.).
Initiative for fishermen – ‘SagarParikrama’
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy ParshottamRupala outlined that the “SagarParikrama” initiative will be aimed at understanding “challenges, experiences and aspirations of fishermen community”, look at the scope of seafood exports, as well as to popularise schemes that the fishing community in coastal areas can avail of.
The department of fisheries of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy and National Fisheries Development Board along with Gujarat government’s department of fisheries, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board and fishermen representatives will be organising “SagarParikrama”, with the voyage being flagged off from Mandvi on March 5 and concluding at Porbandar on March 6, via Okha in DevbhoomiDwarka.
While the programme is planned to be held in states that have a coastline, Gujarat will mark the first state as part of this initiative.
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