India Elected Vice-Chair of IPEF's Supply Chain Council
India was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This appointment highlights India's critical role in developing a resilient supply chain in the Indo-Pacific region. The election, part of a larger agreement on supply chain resilience, establishes India alongside 13 other IPEF partners in shaping regional supply chain policies.
Under the IPEF's agreement, three key supply chain bodies were established:
Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair), India (Vice Chair)
Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair), Japan (Vice Chair)
Labour Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair), Fiji (Vice Chair)
Each body will operate with elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs for a two-year term.
The Supply Chain Council adopted Terms of Reference and will explore initial priorities in its first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., scheduled for September 2024. The Crisis Response Network will conduct a tabletop exercise and plan its inaugural meeting alongside the Supply Chain Summit. The Labour Rights Advisory Board aims to enhance labor rights across IPEF supply chains.
The 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE-2024)
India is hosting the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) in New Delhi from August 2-7, 2024, marking a 66-year hiatus since its last hosting in 1958. The conference, held every three years, is taking place at the Pusa Institute under the theme 'Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems'.
The conference is organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) in collaboration with several key institutions, including the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event.
The International Conference of Agricultural Economists was first established in 1929 by Leonard Elmhirst in Devon, England. It aims to bring together top agricultural economists and scholars to discuss global agricultural issues.
Delhi Country's Third most Polluted City in First Half of 2024: CREA Data
Delhi ranked as the country's third most polluted city out of 256 cities in the first half of the year, according to an analysis of average PM 2.5 data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) that was released in July 2024. The average PM 2.5 levels in Delhi during the period January to June was 102µg/m3 — twice the daily national standard of 60µg/m3 and behind only Faridabad (103µg/m3) and Byrnihat in Meghalaya (140µg/m3), the analysis revealed.
The most polluted city was Byrnihat in Meghalaya, and the second most polluted city was Faridabad in the National Capital Region.
UGRO Capital and SIDBI Forge Co-Lending Partnership
UGRO Capital, a data-tech non-banking financial company (NBFC), entered into a co-lending agreement with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to provide timely and affordable credit to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative aligns with the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) co-lending framework, aimed at enhancing priority-sector lending by combining the strengths of banks and NBFCs.
Prakash Kumar, Deputy Managing Director of SIDBI, emphasized that this partnership aligns with SIDBI's mission to expand its reach and impact through strategic collaborations. The co-lending arrangement with UGRO Capital is expected to deliver affordable business loans to MSMEs.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India. It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India headquartered at Lucknow and having its offices all over the country.
SIDBI was established on April 2, 1990, by Government of India, as a wholly owned subsidiary of IDBI Bank. It was delinked from IDBI on March 27, 2000.
Govt Extends Minimum Public Shareholding Deadline for PSUs till August 2026
The government extended until August 2026 the deadline for central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) and public sector financial institutions to adhere to the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norm.
According to a Finance Ministry memorandum, the government granted an exemption in the public interest and allowed CPSEs, public sector banks and financial institutions until August 1, 2026, to increase their public shareholding to at least 25 per cent.
India Retains Eighth Position in Global Agriculture Exports in 2023
India held onto its position as the world's eighth-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2023, despite a decline in exports from $55 billion in 2022 to $51 billion. This stability came amid a general decrease in agricultural exports among seven of the top ten exporting nations.
The WTO's Trade Statistics 2023 report highlights that only three countries among the top ten, Brazil, the European Union (EU), and Thailand, increased their agricultural exports in 2023. Brazil saw an increase of 6% to $157 billion, maintaining its third place, while the EU's exports rose by 5% to $836 billion, preserving its top spot. Thailand's exports grew by 0.2%, although it remains outside the top three.
The United States, despite a decrease to $198 billion, retained its second position. China, holding the fourth spot, saw a minor drop to $95 billion. Other countries in the top ten include Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, and Australia.
Earth's Endangered Species Might Be Sent to the Moon in 'Noah's Ark' To Avoid Extinction
In an effort to save endangered species from possible catastrophic occurrences on Earth, scientists announced an ambitious plan to store their DNA on the moon. In the unlikely event that these species go extinct on Earth, the imagined lunar "Noah's Ark" would serve as a backup for their preservation.
The idea is to build a biorepository-a dedicated space on the moon-to house frozen biological materials. Live tissue samples from a variety of animal species would be stored in this facility, acting as a backup in the event that these species became extinct.
The north or south poles of the moon, where craters cast a constant shadow and the temperature stays extremely freezing at about -200 degree Celsius, would be the perfect place for this biorepository.
Swapnil Kusale Wins India's Third Shooting Bronze at Paris Olympics
Swapnil Kusale the 28-year-old from Kolhapur, won a bronze medal in the men's 50m 3P final at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in Paris Olympics.
Last year (2023), Kusale was in the lead in the 50m 3P final in Hangzhou Asian Games before a 7.6 in standing series saw him finish fourth. But the Indian paired up with Akhil Sheoran and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar to win the gold.
In a pivotal move towards empowering women entrepreneurs and spurring economic growth, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) unveiled the Women Entrepreneurship Program. This program is designed to address the distinct challenges that women face when starting and growing businesses.
In partnership with Britannia Industries Limited, the initiative will also offer financial grants and feature their products and services on the Skill India Digital Hub, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs. At the launch of this program, Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship said that it is our privilege that Britannia has partnered with us, focusing on women entrepreneurship.
This initiative aims to empower approximately 25 lakh women across India, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to start and grow successful businesses.
The program has been launched with the introduction of complimentary self-learning basic entrepreneurship courses available in multiple languages on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).
India, Vietnam Sign Several MoUs to Enhance Bilateral Ties
India and Vietnam adopted an action plan to expand their strategic ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to work jointly for a rules-based Indo-Pacific and asserting that New Delhi supports development and not expansionism in remarks that came amid concerns over China's military posturing in the region.
The two sides signed six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and finalised three other documents to broadbase cooperation in a range of areas following wide-ranging talks between PM Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
It was also decided that India will provide USD 300 million credit line to Vietnam primarily to strengthen the Southeast Asian nation's maritime security.
An agreement was sealed between the central banks of the two countries for rolling out digital payment connectivity.
Gujarat Unveils GRIT: A New Era in State-Level Policy Planning
In a significant move towards enhancing Gujarat's development trajectory, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the creation of the Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT), a state-level think tank modelled after the NITI Aayog. This announcement came during the NITI Aayog governing council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a new chapter in Gujarat's approach to policy formulation and implementation.
Indian Armed Forces Gets the First Woman Director General of Medical Service
Lieutenant General Sadhna Saxena Nair became the first woman to be appointed the Director General of Medical Services. She is also the first woman to serve as the Director of General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) as well as the first woman to be the Principal Medical Officer of the Western Air Command.
Previously, Lt Gen Nair was nominated as an expert member of the prestigious Dr Kasturirangan Committee for drafting part of the medical education component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2019.
For her meritorious service, she has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Western Air Command (WAC) as well as the Vishisht Seva Medal by the Hon'ble President of India.
Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera 22nd Director General of Assam Rifles
Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera took over as the 22nd Director General of the Assam Rifles known by the sobriquet of 'Sentinels of the North-East'.
He has varied and rich professional experience of Assam Rifles and the North East region, having served extensively in North East including being Inspector General in Assam Rifles at Nagaland.
MRPL Wins Greentech Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling Award
The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) was awarded the prestigious Greentech Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling Award in the Circular Economy Leadership category. This recognition highlights MRPL's significant achievements in managing hazardous and other types of waste in an environmentally friendly manner, emphasizing circular economy practices.
The award underscores MRPL's commitment to maintaining a robust waste management system, focusing on recycling and reusing hazardous waste, and recovering precious metals through recycling processes. Notably, the company achieved zero waste disposal to landfills during the fiscal year 2023-24.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha Inaugurates J&K Film Conclave, Unveils J&K Film Policy 2024
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the J&K Film Conclave, organised by Department of Information & Public Relations and also unveiled J&K Film Policy 2024 and launched a slew of initiatives including single window portal for film shooting permissions and subsidies, J&K Film Screening Series and frames of Transformation Photography competition.
The J&K Film Policy 2024 unveiled will attract, support and facilitate regional, national and international film production in the UT.
"The film-friendly and pragmatic J&K film policy will ensure that heaven on earth is truly a heaven for filmmakers. We will provide high-impact infrastructure, support in sourcing locations and a large pool of professionals, financial incentives to make the filming more attractive in J&K," he said.
While highlighting the J&K Film Policy, Sinha said that it also provides added incentives for films in local languages, thereby promoting regional cinema of J&K.
IIT Kanpur and NYU Tandon Team up for Seven Cutting-edge Research Projects
IIT Kanpur announced a collaboration with the New York University Tandon School of Engineering to advance seven groundbreaking research projects. This partnership, which began in September 2023, focuses on cybersecurity, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and wireless communications.
The collaboration follows US President Joe Biden's visit to the G20 Summit in New Delhi and the Association of American Universities' initiative to foster international partnerships.
This collaboration, funded by both institutions and supported by NYU Tandon's Centers for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications and Cybersecurity, aims to deliver technological innovations with a global impact.
India and WHO Sign Landmark Agreement for Global Traditional Medicine Centre
The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and the World Health Organization signed a crucial Donor Agreement. This agreement outlines the financial terms for implementing the activities of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
The signing ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials:
H.E. Mr. Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Geneva (signing on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush)
Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and Life Course (signing on behalf of WHO)
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of Ayush (joined virtually)
Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i. of WHO GTMC (event moderator)
Dr. Razia Pendse, Chef de Cabinet, representing the Director-General of WHO (delivered vote of thanks)
The Donor Agreement represents a significant financial commitment from the Government of India to support traditional medicine on a global scale.
Rashtriya Hindi Vigyan Sammelan 2024: Promoting Scientific Research in Hindi
The Rashtriya Hindi Vigyan Sammelan 2024, which concluded on July 31, continued its tradition as a prominent conference aimed at promoting scientific research in Hindi. Organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal, in collaboration with various institutions including Vijnana Bharati Madhya Bharat Province, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, the event served as a platform for presenting and discussing scientific work in Hindi.
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who emphasised the significance of advancing knowledge and science in one's own language. He expressed hope for the conference to evolve into an international event, underscoring the potential of achieving global recognition through knowledge and science communicated in Hindi.
Port Blair Seaport Now Allows E-visa Entry, Boosting Andaman's Yacht Tourism Potential
The Ministry of Home Affairs approved Port Blair seaport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as an authorised Integrated Check Posts (ICP) for entry of foreign nationals holding e-visa.
Apart from Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, now anyone holding an e-visa will be allowed to enter India at five other major Indian seaports including Mumbai, Cochin in Kerala, Mormugao in Goa, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and New Mangalore in Karnataka, the order said.
India International Hospitality Expo 2024
The India International Hospitality Expo (IHE) 2024, set to take place from August 3 to 6 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR, is on track to become a landmark event in the hospitality sector. With over 1000 exhibitors and an anticipated attendance of more than 20,000 B2B buyers, this seventh edition promises to be a significant event, showcasing a wide range of products and services from luxury hotels, resorts, restaurants, and more.
IHE 2024 is enhanced by its co-location with four major hospitality-related events: Catering Asia, Tent Décor Asia, and AYURYOG EXPO. This integration provides a comprehensive solution for diverse industry needs, offering insights into the latest trends and technologies while facilitating valuable connections.
Vietnam has been designated as the Partner Country for this edition, bringing a cross-cultural dimension to the event.
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