Daily News Prescription - 1st September, 2021

The Hindu

GS1: Geography

• IMD forecast foiled by 24% rain shortfall According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), far from the forecast of a “normal” monsoon in August, India ended the month with a 24% shortfall.

GS2: Polity

• In a first, nine SC judges take oath in one stroke Chief Justice of India read out the oath of allegiance to the Constitution to nine new judges of the Supreme Court.

GS2: Governance

• Two years since NRC draft, lakhs still in limbo More than 19 lakh were left out of the complete draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on August 31, 2019, update is still stalling.
• The next step in democratic evolution is overdue. The time has come to learn to listen well, not just speak well; and to conduct dialogues, not debates.

GS2: International Relations

• UNSC resolution addresses ‘key concerns’ on Afghanistan: India. The abstention of two “P-5” countries, Russia and China, from the India-led United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2593.
• Concerns over Afghanistan’s membership in SAARC arise. With uncertainty hanging over the international representation of Afghanistan under the Taliban, a question has risen over the membership of the country in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
• China opens first road-rail transport link to the Indian Ocean. China launched a new road rail transportation channel through Myanmar to the Indian Ocean.
• Vaccine pioneer wins Ramon Magsaysay award. A Bangladeshi vaccine scientist and a microfinance pioneer from Pakistan were among the five recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award.
• It’s time to build BRICS better. The grouping succeeded up to a point but it now confronts multiple challenges.

GS2: Government Scheme

• Nyay to be Cong. pivot in Uttarakhand The Congress campaign in the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly election will centre on “Nyay”, the minimum income guarantee programme.

GS3: Economy

• Economy grows 20.1% in Q1, lags pre-pandemic level India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 20.1% in the first quarter of 2021-22, compared with the 24.4% contraction recorded in the corresponding quarter a year ago.
• Core sector logs 9.4% growth Output from India’s eight core sectors grew by 9.4% in July from a year earlier, a marginal uptick from June’s 9.3% pace.
• Overseas settlement of G-sec deals on anvil: Das The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to enable international settlement of transactions in government securities (G-secs) through International Central Securities Depositories (ICSDs).
• Fiscal deficit touches 21.3% of target The Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at ₹3.21 lakh crore or 21.3% of the budget estimates at the end of July, as per data released by the Controller General of Accounts.
• Govt. to make flexible engines mandatory Union Transport Minister said India will make it mandatory for auto manufacturers to offer vehicles running 100% on biofuels in the next six months.
• FinMin releases ₹13,386 cr. as grant to RLBs The Finance Ministry said it had released ₹13,386 crore to 25 States to provide grants to rural local bodies (RLBs).
• Lucas TVS to build Li-ion battery unit for ₹2,500 cr. Lucas TVS Ltd. and U.S.-based 24M Technologies Inc. are setting up a ₹2,500-crore factory near Chennai for making semi-solid lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells.

 

Indian Express

GS2: Governance

• Govt. back new IT rules: They empower the audience. Defending the applicability of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on news websites, the Centre told the Delhi High Court that the regulations seek to prevent misuse of freedom of press.

GS2: Education

• A happier school The Samagra Shiksha scheme aims to make learning equitable and joyful and to bring synchronicity in the experience of both teachers and learners.

GS3: Economy

• First time in 35 years, Kargil’s fresh apricots go global. Fresh Apricots from Kargil district in the union territory of Ladakh have for the first time in 35 years found their way to the international market.
• How to read Q1 GDP data. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the GDP data for the first quarter of the current financial year (2021-22).
• From 15 sept: Bharat series of All India vehicle registration number. Relocating a car or a two-wheeler to another state may often be a pain. One has to get an NOC from the current state and then re-register the vehicle in the next state.
• Loan guarantees scheme to make healthcare infra grid wave ready: FM Centre announced government-guaranteed loans for Covid-affected sectors would help in building healthcare infrastructure and related capacity to help deal with a possible third wave.
• Terms of Recovery. The sectoral breakup of the GDP data shows that despite concerns over the dramatic spread of the virus in rural areas, agriculture has continued to hold up.
• Truth about asset monetisation The use of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIT) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), which, like mutual funds, pool investments, which then flow to infrastructure and real estate, will allow the people of India and prominent financial investors to invest in our national assets.

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