KERALA
World Bank sanctions $125 million loan to Kerala
As part of the state’s Resilient Kerala Program, the World Bank (WB) has sanctioned 125 million USD to the state to support the state’s preparedness against natural disasters, climate change impacts, disease outbreaks and pandemics.
The Resilient Kerala Program will focus on two key areas. First, it will incorporate disaster risk planning in the master plans of urban and local self-governments to ease financial constraints on the state government when faced with unexpected shocks. Second, it will help make the health, water resources management, agriculture and road sectors more resilient to calamities.
The program is part of a programmatic series of the bank-financed operations in the state.
The first Resilient Kerala Development Policy Operation (DPO) approved in June 2019 had undertaken several initiatives. It had helped the state draft a river basin conservation and management act, which will conserve and regulate water resources and ensure their sustainable management, allocation and utilization. It had also introduced climate-resilient agriculture, risk-informed land use and disaster management planning. The program laid the foundations for a five-year state partnership framework.
The support to key sectors under the program include sustainable fiscal and debt management through establishing a debt management unit in the finance department to support the state’s efforts to scale down its debt-to-GSDP ratio to a sustainable trajectory, providing timely and adequate assistance to vulnerable households, disaster and climate-resilient urban development, create resilient public health systems, ensure an integrated and sustainable water resources management, ensure sustainable and resilient food systems and create a climate-resilient road infrastructure.
INTERNATIONAL
India Inequality Report 2021 – Oxfam
Oxfam India’s report entitled “Inequality Report 2021: India’s Unequal Health Care Story” shows that due to the lack of universal health coverage (UHC), socio-economic inequality permeates the health sector and is marginalized.
It provides a comprehensive analysis of health outcomes across different socioeconomic groups in order to assess the level of health inequality that exists in the country.
The findings are primarily based on secondary analysis of the National Family Health Survey rounds 3 and 4 as well as various rounds of the National Sample Survey.
he performance of different groups: the general category performs better than SC and ST; Hindus perform better than Muslims; the rich perform better than the poor; men live better than women; the urban population is better than rural population in all health indicators
Liverpool not s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Liverpool was removed from UNESCO World Heritage sites after being granted the title in 2004. The decision was taken after the UNESCO committee did a secret ballot. They voted in favour of stripping Liverpool of this status.
Liverpool gained its World Heritage status in the year 2004 in recognition of its maritime history. In the 18th & 19th centuries, it was one of the world’s major trading centres.
The heritage list has been designed to preserve and recognize the buildings, monuments and other sites, and this decision to remove Liverpool will puncture a hole in the city’s prestige
NATIONAL
National Broadcasting Day – 23rd July
National Broadcasting Day is designated on July 23 each and every year to celebrate the radio, an essential part of people’s lives in India, both as an accessible medium of entertainment and the news. The first-ever radio broadcast went on air from the Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company in 1927.
The first broadcast of radio was happened on 23 July 1927, from Bombay Station. The Bombay station was then owned by the Indian Broadcasting Company, a private company.
The State took over the broadcasting on 1st April 1930, & renamed it as Indian State Broadcasting Service.
Initially, It was on an experimental basis. It permanently came under government control in the year 1932.
SMILE Scheme – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
The government has devised a plan that includes comprehensive measures to improve the well-being of beggars.
About SMILE:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has developed a scheme called “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise,” which includes a sub-scheme called “Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Involved in Begging.”
The scheme focuses heavily on rehabilitation, medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic links, and so on.
The scheme would be implemented with the help of state/local governments/local urban bodies, non-profit organisations, community-based organisations (CBOs), institutions, and others.
The scheme provides for the use of existing shelters provided by the state/UT government and urban local governments to help people who engage in begging recover
If existing shelter homes are not available, the implementing agencies will establish new dedicated shelter homes.
Fifth Largest Holder – Forex reserves
As of June 25, 2021, India will be the world’s fifth largest holder of forex reserves.
Highlights:
As of June 25, 2021, India’s foreign exchange reserves were 608.99 billion U.S. dollars, and it has become the world’s fifth largest foreign exchange reserve holder after China, Japan, Switzerland and Russia.
In terms of import guarantees over 18 months, India’s foreign exchange reserves are in good condition and provide a buffer against unforeseen external shocks.
The RBI diversifies its forex reserves on a regular basis by expanding operations in the forex swap and repo markets, acquiring gold, and exploring new markets/products while adhering to safety and liquidity standards.
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