Automotive technology e-portals from International Centre of Automotive Technology (ICAT)

NATIONAL NEWS

High-level segment of UN ECOSOC took place at United Nations, New York

• The High-level segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session held at the United Nations in New York.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered keynote address virtually at the session.
• The theme of the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC this year is “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.
• This year marks the 75^th anniversary of founding of United Nations.

Fact: UN headquarters – New York, USA

          Secretary General - António Guterres

Automotive technology e-portals from International Centre of Automotive Technology (ICAT)

• Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) has released five portals to embark the mission to promote innovation, R&D and product development in India in various fields.
• The five portals by various organisations are namely,

                                         BHEL for power sector equipment,

                                         HMT for machine tools,

                                         CMFTI for manufacturing technology,

                                         ICAT and ARAI for automotive sector.

• The objective of these portals is to create an ecosystem, which will bring together solution seekers and problem solvers of various sectors.
• ICAT is developing technology platform for automotive industry called ASPIRE - Automotive Solutions Portal for Industry, Research and Education.
• Ultimately these portals targets to promote the Indian Automotive Industry to become more self-reliant by introducing it to more innovative global technologies.

PM SVANidhi launched to bring Microcredit facility for street vendors

• A mobile application of PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi was launched to bring micro-credit facility for street vendors at their doorsteps.
• It aims to provide user-friendly digital interface for lending institutions and their field functionaries for sourcing and processing loan applications of street vendors under the scheme.
• The app is developed to enhance the use of digital technology and will enable field functionaries to ensure maximum coverage of the scheme.

Fact: Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry – Durga Shankar Mishra.

Government approves Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone

• The government has approved the Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone, informed by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar.
• This approval is to make the execution of the Chaardhaam Project faster and to enhance the conservation of ecology and developmental activities.
• Chaardhaam Project is an under construction two-lane express National Highway project in Uttarakhand which connects Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
• Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs has chaired the meeting on CHAARDHAAM all-weather road project in the State of Uttarakhand via Video Conference on July 17^th 2020.

Fact: Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs – Nitin Gadkari.

South Central Railway’s Ongole Sub-Division Office bags WATER HEROES AWARD

• The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, has given the WATER HEROES AWARD to the Ongole Sub-Division Office of Vijayawada Division, Andhra Pradesh of South Central Railway.
• Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India has organized a contest for the period from 1st September, 2019 to 30th June 2020 in order to honour the efforts in connection with water conservation and sustainable development of water resources.
• The Ongole Sub-Division Office has bagged the award for the month of April 2020.

Fact: Union Minister of Jal Shakti - Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India’s CERT and Israel’s INCD inked MoU to expand cooperation in cyber security

• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a unit of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• The MoU is signed to further expand their collaboration in dealing with cyber threats in cooperation, mutual commitment and exchange of information.
• This agreement was made following the increase in digitization of the world during this global lockdown.

Fact: Headquarters of CERT-In – New Delhi.

UN designated Pakistan Taliban leader Noor Mehsud as global terrorist

• United Nations has designated Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group’s leader Noor Wali Mehsud, as a global terrorist.
• This was announced after he has participated in the financing, planning and perpetrating acts on behalf of and in support of entities associated with al-Qaida.
• Noor Wali Mehsud was added to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List by the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee.

RANKINGS

India Ranked 3rd in 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index

• According to the “Cushman & Wakefield’s 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI)” India has ranked 3^rd in the list of most-suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in terms of cost competitiveness and operating conditions.
• Cushman & Wakefield plc is a global commercial real estate services firm.
• China tops the index followed by the United States at the 2^nd position.
• In terms of Cost, India is at the 3^rd position after China and Vietnam, whereas in terms of risk factor India ranked 30^th which was topped by Canada.

Fact: Cushman & Wakefield Headquarters - Chicago, Illinois, United States (US)

Global Skills Index 2020 Report

• The global skills index report benchmarks the skill proficiency for 60 countries, 10 industries and 11 fields of study in the domain of Data Science, Business and Technology.
• “Coursera”, World’s largest online learning platform, prepares the report of Global Skills Index 2020.
• India’s ranks in the index:

                             Ranked 51 globally in the Data Science Domain.

                             Ranked 34 globally in the Business Domain.

                             In the Technology domain, India secured 40^th rank globally.

ECONOMIC NEWS

NABARD Launched Development Projects worth Rs 44 lakhs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched development projects of Rs 44 lakhs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to enhance the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• The development projects include formation and development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in promoting rural entrepreneurship at the micro level.
• NABARD has also collaborated with the Centre of Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) to conduct agricultural programmes with an amount of Rs 20 lakh.
• NABARD has also sanctioned Rs 795 crore to West Bengal for Reconstructing Infrastructure Damaged by Cyclone Amphan.
• This was sanctioned once after the state governments appeal to the NABARD for Rs 1,028 crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Fact: Headquarters of NABARD – Mumbai, Maharashtra

          Chairman– G R Chintala