ASSAM
Second wave likely to wane in Assam by August end: Experts
With daily Covid cases coming down below 1,000 and positivity rate under 1 per cent in the state, the second wave of Covid-19 may die down by the end of August, said health experts.
Despite a significant dip in the positive cases, still around 20 Covid deaths were being reported in the state daily till recently. The number of fatalities remains a concern, though Barman said the number of Covid deaths has been static of late.
More than Assam, the gateway to the northeast, the bigger worry is other hilly states in the region now. Positivity rate in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, including capital Shillong still remains above 10 per cent, while the positivity rate in most districts of Assam remains within 2 per cent.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Export of Raja Mircha Chilli
For the first time, Nagaland’s King Chilli ‘Raja Mircha’ was exported to London.
About Raja Mircha Chilli:
Nagaland King Chilli, or Raja Mircha belongs to the capsicum genus in the Solanaceae family
The Naga king chilli is widely regarded as the world’s hottest chilli and is consistently ranked among the top five hottest chilies in terms of Scoville Heat Units (SHUs).
Nagaland chillies are also known as Bhoot Jolokia and Ghost Pepper.
It received GI certification in 2008.
INTERNATIONAL
Vaidehi Dongre Crowned as Miss India USA
Vaidehi Dongre, a 25-year-old young lady from Michigan, has been delegated Miss India USA 2021 at the excellence event. Arshi Lalani from Georgia was pronounced the primary next in line and North Carolina’s Mira Kasari was proclaimed the second place.
NATIONAL
Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Amendment
The Rajya Sabha has passed the juvenile justice (care & protection of children) amendment bill. It was previously approved by the lower house in March 2021. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015.
The amendments include authorizing district magistrates (including additional district magistrates) to issue adoption orders under section 61 of the Juvenile Justice Act to ensure that cases are handled quickly and to strengthen accountability.
The District Magistrates have been given additional authority to ensure its smooth implementation and to coordinate efforts in support of children in distress.
Under the amended provisions of the Act, any Child Care Institution must be registered after considering the District Magistrate’s recommendations.
The criteria for appointing members of the Child Welfare Committee have been revised. There are also disqualification criteria for the same.
It has been decided that offences where the maximum sentence is more than 7 years in prison but no minimum sentence has been prescribed or a minimum sentence of less than 7 years is provided will be treated as serious offences under this Act.
IFSCA Regulations 2021 – Financial Services
International Financial Services Centre (Capital Market Intermediaries) Authority Regulations 2021 is in news.
IFSCA proposes enacting a regulatory framework for capital market intermediaries operating in IFSC, with a focus on ease of doing business and in accordance with the fundamental principles established by the International Organization of Securities Commissions.
The proposed IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2021 (Intermediaries Regulations) provide, among other things, for regulatory requirements regarding registration, obligations and responsibilities, inspection, and enforcement of various types of capital market intermediaries such as clearing members, broker dealers, investment bankers, depository participants, portfolio managers, and investment advisers, credit rating agencies, custodians, debenture trustees and account aggregators.
Project BOLD by KVIC and BSF
KVIC and BSF launch Project BOLD in Jaisalmer to combat desertification and boost the rural economy.
About BOLD:
The project called “Bamboo Oasis on Drought Lands” (BOLD) is the first exercise of its kind in India and was launched on July 4, 2021 from the tribal village of Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Project Bold is a one-of-a-kind scientific exercise with the dual national goals of reducing desertification and providing livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural industry.
Its goal is to increase tribal peoples’ income while also addressing environmental concerns.
It is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to reduce land degradation and prevent desertification in the country by establishing bamboo-based green patches of land in arid and semi-arid areas.
The project was initiated by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), which is part of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
It has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo Festival” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
First Stage of Cycles4change Challenge
The list of awardees for the India Cycles4change stage 1 programme was announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Highlights:
The government has bestowed the prestigious title of India’s Top 11 Cycling Pioneers on 11 cities.
The award marks the start of the next season of the Cycles4Change Challenge in India. 107 cities across the country have gathered to test, learn and promote different Cycling -friendly programs.