ASSAM

50% of Assam’s adult popn yet to be given vaccines

Erratic supply of vaccines has slowed down the pace of immunisation to the extent that if the third wave were to hit the state in August, about 50% of Assam’s adult population would be vulnerable as they have not been fully vaccinated.

Amid third wave concerns, the Meghalaya government upped its vaccination drive by roping in community and religious leaders in the hill state to overcome hesitancy. Tripura is in a better position because it has the highest vaccination record of its targeted population. Assam being the gateway to the northeast, the shortage of vaccines has become a matter of concern.
Statistics furnished by the immunization office in Assam showed 87.58 lakh people have been vaccinated. By Saturday evening, a total of 72.32 lakh of the 2.37 crore 18+ population got the first shot. This accounts for 31% of the eligible population. On the other hand, only 15.26 lakh beneficiaries have received the second shot.

In Meghalaya, chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who had flagged the shortage as a ‘big concern’ for the state during the video-meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has urged all eligible citizens to take the vaccine even as the state government has been strengthening and upgrading health infrastructure to deal with a possible third wave.

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

India has consistent policy to treat Dalai Lama as an honoured guest: MEA

India has a consistent policy of treating the Dalai Lama as a respected religious leader and an honoured guest in the country, the ministry of external affairs said.

The assertion, in response to a question, came two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up the Tibetan spiritual leader and greeted him on his 86th birthday.

The 14th Dalai Lama has made India his home since fleeing China in 1959. The Chinese government officials and the Dalai Lama or his representatives have not met in formal negotiations since 2010.
Beijing has in the past accused the Dalai Lama of indulging in “separatist” activities and trying to split Tibet and considers him as a divisive figure.

INTERNATIONAL

India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation

The Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between India and Italy held its 21st session.

Highlights:

♦ The India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation held its 21st session virtually.

♦ Both sides held extensive discussions on bilateral trade and investment, as well as economic cooperation in the fields of food processing, textiles, leather, railways, start-ups, and the promotion of SMEs, all of which play an important role in economic growth and job creation.

♦ Bilateral market access issues and non-tariff barriers were also discussed in order to facilitate trade and investment.

LEAF Coalition Announced

At the Leaders Summit on Climate 2021, the LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance) Coalition was announced. It will be one of the most significant public-private partnerships in the history of tropical forest conservation. It intends to raise at least USD 1 billion in funding for countries that are committed to protecting their tropical forests.

About LEAF Coalition:

♦ It is a collaboration of the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

♦ To participate, a country must meet certain predetermined conditions imposed by the Coalition.

♦ LEAF will employ the results-based financing model.

♦ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation:

♦ REDD+ seeks to mitigate climate change by incentivizing forest conservation.

♦ It monetizes the value of carbon locked up in most developing countries’ tropical forests, propelling these countries to help mitigate climate change.

♦ The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established REDD+.

NATIONAL

STI-Led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan

The BRICS countries have agreed to India’s proposed BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021-24), led by STI.

Highlights:

♦ India proposed the Action Plan at the 12th Meeting of the BRICS S&T Steering Committee.

♦ India has proposed plans to promote the sharing of experiences in mutual innovation ecosystems and networks of innovators and entrepreneurs.

♦ The BRICS Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Partnership (STIEP) Working Group would work out the specifics of the Action Plan.

♦ In July 2021, the Department of Science and Technology of India hosted the twelfth meeting of the BRICS Science and Technology Steering Committee. BRICS science ministries and agencies participated in the meeting.

♦ In addition, all countries agreed on the thematic areas proposed by India for the Sixth BRICS Conference of Young Scientists to be held in Bangalore from September 13 to 16, 2021.

♦ The conclave will cover three topics: healthcare, energy solutions, and cyber-physical systems (CPS) and their applications.

DPE is now Under Finance Ministry

The Government of India has determined to carry Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) beneath the finance ministry. DPE was beforehand underneath the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. It has been added beneath the finance minister in a bid to ease coordination involving future disinvestment plans. The Finance ministry now contains six departments, after the inclusion of DPE.

Other five departments are:
♦ Department of Economic Affairs,
♦ Department of Expenditure,
♦ Department of Revenue,
♦ Department of Investment & Public Asset Management and
♦ Department of Financial Services.

GoI Organised a Webinar on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, organised a webinar on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.’

About ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ programme:

♦ On the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 140th birth anniversary, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the initiative “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” on October 31, 2015.

♦ It is carried out under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Education.

♦ The scheme was established to celebrate India’s cultural vibrancy while also establishing a strong mechanism to instil nationalism and cultural awareness among our country’s citizens.

♦ Through the concept of state/UT pairing, it aims to improve interaction and mutual understanding between people from different states/UTs.

♦ Several initiatives have been launched as part of the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme.

♦ Thus, the scheme strengthens sentimental bonds between people from different states and fosters a sense of ‘One Nation’ among all citizens of the country.

About Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav:

♦ It is a series of activities organized by the Indian government to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

♦ In the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari, it will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav.

♦ It is based on five pillars, namely free struggle, 75-year-old ideas, 75-year-old achievements, 75-year-old actions and 75-year-old determination, as a guiding force for progress, inspired by dreams and duties.

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