ASSAM
Assam budget: Rs 1 lakh for every Covid victim’s family, phones for pupils
Assam’s first woman finance minister Ajanta Neog tabled a Rs 566.20-crore deficit budget in the assembly with a range of bold initiatives like financial help of Rs 1 lakh to each family that has lost their members to Covid-19 and smartphones to about eight lakh Class IX and X students of government schools to bridge the digital divide created by the pandemic.
“The financial assistance to Covid-hit families, which is the first-of-its-kind in the country, proves our firm resolve to be with our people during these difficult times. The scheme will immediately cost the exchequer around Rs 40 crore,” Neog said.
The budget proposed to start the process of recruitment of one lakh educated youths of the state in the government sector.
The budget also proposed piped water supply schemes to cover all 805 tea gardens in the state within a year. This initiative will benefit more than 2,69,648 families. “In due course, we will also provide piped gas supply to tea garden households, starting with the upper Assam districts first,” Neog said.
The state government also proposed to constitute an agriculture commission under a scientist of international repute to focus on issues related to agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy sector in Assam. She said the commission will study and suggest measures for achieving self-sufficiency in the field of agriculture, milk, egg and pork production, identify constraints and devise a roadmap to achieve the goals in five years.
The government also proposed to establish a state university in Karbi Anglong and establish new wildlife safari and rescue center at Silchar and Dibrugarh.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Tripura asks central minister to clear pending projects
Union tribal welfare minister Arun Munda has reviewed the ongoing projects and schemes undertaken for the development of indigenous community of Tripura especially for Autonomous District Council areas during his two-day state visit, state tribal welfare minister Mevar Kr Jamatia said.
Munda had presided over a major review meeting on the progress in implementation of various schemes, including projects like Van Dhan Vikash Karyakram. The matters of forest rights act and tribal sub-plan were also discussed in the meeting and the progress of Tripura had impressed him, he claimed.
While emphasising on sanctioning the pending projects of the state, Jamatia requested Munda to ensure the introduction of 125th constitutional (Amendment) Bill regarding empowerment of Tripura ADC and formation of the Tripura Territorial Council in the upcoming Parliament session slated to start from July 19, which has been pending for a long time.
INTERNATIONAL
OECD – G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal
The G20/OECD Inclusive Framework Tax Agreement has been signed by India.
Highlights:
Most members of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework for Basic Erosion and Profit Shifting, including India, passed a high-level statement containing an outline of a consensus solution to the taxation challenges posed by the digitalization of the economy.
The proposed solution is consists of two components:
Pillar One, which consists of re-allocating an additional share of profit to market jurisdictions; and
Pillar Two, which consists of a minimum tax and is subject to tax rules.
Some significant issues, such as profit allocation and the scope of subject to tax rules, remain unresolved and must be addressed.
Furthermore, the proposal’s technical details will be worked out in the coming months, with a consensus agreement expected by October 2021.
Methane in the Moons of Saturn
By flying through the plumes of Saturn’s moons (Titan and Enceladus), NASA’s Cassini spacecraft discovered an abnormally high concentration of methane, as well as carbon dioxide and dihydrogen
Highlights:
It discovered methane in Titan’s atmosphere and a liquid ocean with erupting plumes of gas and water on Enceladus.
An international research team used new statistical methods to determine whether methanogenesis, or microbe-produced methane, could explain the molecular hydrogen and methane.
Tallest Sandcastle in the World – Denmark
A sandcastle made in Denmark has entered into new Guinness World Record for being the tallest sandcastle in the world.
Highlights:
The triangular-shaped sandcastle has been constructed in the town of Blokhus in Denmark. It stands at the height of 21.16 metres (69.4 feet). This new structure is 3.5m taller than the preceding report held with the aid of a sandcastle measuring 17.66 m in Germany in 2019. Dutch creator, Wilfred Stijger, was once assisted through 30 of the world’s first-class sand sculptors. The shape is built in the form of a triangle to avoid collapsing like many others have. A wood structure used to be built around it to enable the artist to carve the top-notch figures in the sand.
NATIONAL
Ashadhi Bij – Kutchi New Year
On the occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the people.
About Ashadhi Bij:
♦ Ashadhi Bij is an auspicious day for agricultural communities in northern India, espicially Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and other places.
♦ The festival takes place on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu calendar’s Ashadha month.
♦ The festival, known as the Kutchi New Year, is associated with the start of the rains in Gujarat’s Kutch region.
♦ During this festival, farmers, astrologers, and others forecast the monsoon to determine which crop will be the most productive in the coming season.
Five Portals on the AYUSH Sector Launched
The Union Minister of Ayush launched five important portals and issued four publications.
Highlights:
♦ Ayurveda Dataset on Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI): The CTRI is a primary Clinical Trials Registry under the WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The creation of an Ayurveda Dataset in CTRI makes it easier to use Ayurvedic terminologies to record clinical studies based on Ayurvedic interventions. This will increase the global visibility of Ayurveda-based clinical trials.
♦ CCRAS-RMIS: Research Management Information System is a one-stop solution for Ayurveda-based research and development. The portal provides free reference material, research tools, and clinical and scientific advice. It was created in collaboration with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
♦ E-Medha (electronic Medical Heritage Accession) Portal: NIC’s e-granthalaya platform provides online public access to a catalogue of over 12000 Indian medical heritage books.
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