Current Affair 1:

India’s maize exports at an all-time high

 

The export of maize has touched USD 816.31 million in the first ten months of current fiscal 2021-22 (April-January), already exceeding the USD 634.85 million achieved during the last financial year.

Neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal are the major importers of maize from India. Bangladesh has imported maize worth USD 345.5 million in the current fiscal (April-January), while Nepal has imported maize worth USD 132.16 million during this period.

With initiatives of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to explore and diversify new markets, Vietnam has emerged as a major destination for export of maize.

Maize, which is globally known as the queen of cereals, has emerged as one of the significant foreign exchange earners under the commodities covered under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) ambit.

Maize is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. The cereal crop is primarily cultivated in the states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Current Affair 2:

Joint statement : India Australia virtual summit

 

Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). They welcomed the substantial progress in deepening political, economic, security, cyber, technology and defence cooperation.

Leaders welcomed the considerable progress made in the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations. Leaders re-committed to concluding an Interim CECA at the earliest and work towards an ambitious, full CECA by the end of the year to enhance trade and investment ties and deepen the CSP.

Leaders emphasised the importance of an early resolution of the issue of taxation of offshore income of Indian firms under the India Australia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

Leaders recognised the significant breadth of science and technology cooperation between the two countries. They welcomed the extension of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) – a pillar of collaboration on science, technology and research – and the commitment to build on the successful 2021 India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon.

Leaders welcomed the inaugural India-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Cyber Framework Dialogue held between Minister Payne and Minister Jaishankar on 12 February 2022. They welcomed cooperation on cyber governance, cyber security, capacity building, cybercrime, digital economy, and critical and emerging technologies.

Leaders underlined the importance of India and Australia’s space engagement including Australia’s ongoing support of India’s Gaganyaan Space Program.

Current Affair 3:

Nipun Bharat Scheme

 

Read introduction from Ministry.

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy called National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) on 5thJuly 2021 under the aegis of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha.

The mission aims to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy in primary classes and to ensure that all children attain grade level competencies in reading, writing and numeracy. The Mission lays down priorities and actionable agendas for States/UTs to achieve the goal of proficiency in foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by grade 3.

Current Affair 4:

Action plan to reduce carbon emission

 

India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol (KP) and the Paris Agreement (PA).

• As per the extant provisions under these treaties, India is not obliged to completely stop carbon emissions. The UNFCCC notes that the emissions originating in developing countries, including India, will grow to meet their social and development needs.
• As per the UNFCCC, the climate action of all countries should be based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
• Based on these principles, all countries need to access and responsibly use a fair share of the global carbon budget.
• India with more than 17% of the global population has contributed only around 4% of the global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1850 and 2019.
• India has progressively continued decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. In key sectors of economy, the mitigation efforts have been undertaken with a vision of low-carbon, sustainable development. As a result, India has achieved 24% reduction in emission intensity of GDP between 2005 and 2016.
• As a Party to the UNFCCC, India periodically submits its National Communications (NCs) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the UNFCCC which includes national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory.
• As per India’s third BUR submitted to the UNFCCC in February 2021, total GHG emissions, excluding Land Use Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) in 2016 were 2,838.89 million tonne CO2e and 2,531.07 million tonne CO2e with the inclusion of LULUCF.
• Energy sector contributed 75%, Industrial Process and Product Use 8%, agriculture sector 14% and waste sector contributed 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. The LULUCF sector was the net sink and absorbed about 15% of the carbon dioxide in 2016.
• The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change through its several programmes and schemes including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, and strategic knowledge for climate change. The NAPCC provides an overarching framework for all climate actions.
• Thirty-three States /Union Territories (UTs) have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into account the State-specific issues relating to climate change. These SAPCCs outline sector-specific and cross-sectoral priority actions, including adaptation.
• Apart from resolutely addressing climate change domestically, India has launched international coalitions such as International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Recently, at COP26 in Glasgow, new initiatives under CDRI and ISA, viz, Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) and Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), were also launched. Along with Sweden, India co-leads the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) for voluntary low carbon transition of hard to abate sectors.

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