NATIONAL

PM launches ‘Swach Bharat Mission-Urban2.0’ and ‘AMRUT-2.0’

• Prime Minister  Narendra Modi launches ‘Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0’ and ‘Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0’ Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
• The major aim of launching the scheme is to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ‘Water Secure’ for the rapidly urbanising India and to achieve Sustainable development goals 2030.

About ‘Swach Bharat Mission-Urban2.0’ :

1. SBM-U 2.0 envisions to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities other than those covered under AMRUT.
2. The Mission will focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilizing the principles of 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), scientific processing of all types of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management.
3. The budget proposed for SBM-U 2.0 is around Rs1.41 lakh crore.
4. It come under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

About ‘AMRUT-2.0’ :

1. AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies by providing about 2.68 crore tap connections and 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing around 2.64 crore sewer/ septage connections.
2. It will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas. It will adopt the principles of circular economy and promote conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies.
3. The Mission will promote data led governance in water management and Technology Sub-Mission to leverage latest global technologies and skills. ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ will be conducted to promote progressive competition among cities.
4. The budget proposed for AMRUT 2.0 is around Rs 2.87 lakh crore.

Time Extension for renewal of FCRA registration certificates

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the last date to apply for renewal of their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act registration certificates.
• The Certificates of the major number of NGO’s are expected to expire on Oct 31, and as per the rules the NGO’s should apply for renewal before 6 months prior to expiry.
• The registered NGO’s can receive foreign contribution for Social, Educational, Religious, economic and Cultural purposes only.
• The FCRA registration is renewed every five years  and should operate and receive the foreign contribution in a new bank account opened in SBI Delhi.

Data from economic advisor shows growth in Core sector

• The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has released Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) for the Month of August, 2021.
• The Index of Eight Core Industries together stood at 133.5 in August 2021, which increased by 11.6 % as compared to the Index ofAugust 2020.
• The production of Coal, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Steel, Cement and Electricity industries increased in August 2021 over the corresponding periodof last year.
• The value of Crude and fertlizer among the core industries alone showed a decline, where value of crude declined by 2.3% and the value for fertilizer declined by 3.1% compared with august 2020 levels.
• The value of coal and natural gas increased by 20.6 respectively, whereas the value for Steel production increased by 5.1%.
• Electricity generation also saw an increase of 15.3%, along with cement which also rose by 36.3% with the August 2020 levels.

India’s Current account deficit saw a lower surplus.

• India’s current account balance recorded a surplus of US$ 6.5 billion (0.9 per cent of GDP) in Q1:2021-22 as against a deficit of US$ 8.1 billion (1.0 per cent of GDP) in Q4:2020-21 and a surplus of US$ 19.1 billion (3.7 per cent of GDP) a year ago [i.e. Q1:2020-21].
• Net services receipts increased, both sequentially and on a year-on-year basis, on the back of robust performance of net exports of computer and business services.
• Private transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, amounted to US$ 20.9 billion, an increase of 14.8 per cent from their level a year ago.
• Net foreign portfolio investment was US$ 0.4 billion as compared with US$ 0.6 billion,Net external commercial borrowings to India recorded inflow of US$ 0.5 billion in Q1:2021-22 as against an outflow of US$ 0.6 billion a year ago.

Free Trade pact between India and Australia by 2022

• India and Australia hav agreed to discuss and conclude a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2022.
• The economic partnership will cover trade in goods and services depending on the goverement procurement, energy and resource logistics.
• This bilatertal trade could double the current level of $26 billion once implemented fully.
• This pact was discussed between Australian Minister forTrade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.