KARNATAKA

Four cities yet to submit action plan on tackling pollution in Karnataka

Four cities in Karnataka with high levels of pollution are yet to submit action plans to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) detailing strategies to tackle the problem.

Under the National Clean Air Programme, several cities across the country with more than the permissible limits of pollution were identified, and the CPCB had directed them to come up with action plans to address the situation.

In Karnataka, four cities with air pollution levels beyond the limit of 60 ug/m3 were categorised as “non-attainment” — Bengaluru, Davangere, Kalaburagi, and Hubballi-Dharwad.

A release from Greenpeace India stated that out of the 13 non-attainment cities across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana listed by the CPCB in south India, action plans for only three were at the ground implementation stage.

The recommendations include introduction of electric vehicles, increase in Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses to expand public transport, and minimising registration of new vehicles.

INTERNATIONAL

Curtain Raiser :Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Exercise KAZIND 2018

Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Army Exercise ‘KAZIND’ will be conducted between the Indian and Kazakhstan Army from 10 to 23 Sep 2018 in Otar region, Kazakhstan.

This is the third joint military exercise between the two countries which have a history of extensive cooperation in the defence arena.

The second edition of the exercise was held in India last year.

The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral Army to Army relations and exchange skills and experiences between Kazakhstan Army and the Indian Army.

India on track to buy 18 bullet trains from Japan for Rs 7,000 crore

India will purchase 18 bullet train sets from Japan at a total cost of about Rs 7,000 crore in a deal that includes a pledge to transfer technology for local production.

Each train will have 10 coaches and would be able to cruise at the speed of 350 km per hour.

The country’s first bullet train is likely to start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad by the end of 2022.

The 508-km, high speed train corridor is being built with Japanese assistance.

· World’s first lion cubs born via artificial insemination

In a world first achievement, a lioness at the Ukutula Conservation Center and Biobank in South Africa‘s North West province has given birth to two cubs conceived via non-surgical artificial insemination, using fresh semen from an adult male lion at the same facility.
The research is a breakthrough for saving endangered specieslike tiger and snow leopard.

IAF & French Air force Conduct Basic Training in India

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 at Darwin, Australia.

Sixteen different nations from across the globe, including French Air Force (FAF) participated in this exercise.

On the return leg, Rafale fighter aircraft and transport aircraft of FAF staged through Air Force Station, Gwalior and Air Force Station, Agra from 01 – 04 Sep 18.

NATIONAL

· Amazon India made its e-commerce website and mobile application available in Hindi

Amazon Indiaannounced that its e-commerce website and mobile application is now made available in Hindi. Other online players like also Paytm Mall offer users the option to use Hindi as a language. However, Flipkart is available only in English.
The launch of the Hindi shopping experience is to bring the next 100 million customers online. This first Indian language launch by Amazon will enable Hindi-preferring customers to shop in their preferred language.

· National Nutrition Month being celebrated across Country in the month of September

The National Nutrition Month (September) is being celebrated across the country to mark the fight against malnutrition.
During this month, various programmes have been organized by the Women and Child Development Ministry to spread broad awareness on the issues related to malnutrition like stunting, undernutrition, anemia and low birth weight in children.

· Total state fiscal deficits to rise by 20bps to 2.8% in FY19′

The aggregate fiscal deficit of the states is likely to moderate to 2.8 per cent of GDP, 20 bps higher than the budgeted target, on the back of the states likely achieving a zero revenue balance to GDP ratio in FY19, said a report.

The agency has revised downward the aggregate debt/GDP estimate to 24.4 per cent for FY19 from its earlier estimate of 25.8 per cent. The states have budgeted debt/GDP at 24.3 per cent for FY19, marginally higher than 24 per cent in FY18.

The states have budgeted their combined gross market borrowings at Rs 4,40,720 crore in FY19. But the agency estimates the borrowings to be higher at Rs 4,65,280 crore this fiscal.

The states’ aggregate market borrowings rose to Rs 1.1 trillion during April to July 2018, from Rs 98,200 crore over April to July 2017.

· Smriti Irani inaugurated ‘digital village’ in Amethi

Union textiles minister Smriti Irani inaugurated a ‘digital village’ in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Under the digital village project, there would be 206 programmes available for the people including a Wi-Fi Chaupal, LED bulb manufacturing, a unit to make sanitary pads and PM digital literacy initiative.

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