October 12th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
2. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA)
3. Jal Jeevan Mission: Lab on wheels
4. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

1. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Context:

ADB and India sign a $270 million loan.

Details:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $270 million loan to develop water supply and integrated stormwater and sewage management infrastructure and strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) for improved service delivery in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• This is additional financing to scale up the scope of the ongoing Madhya Pradesh Urban Services Improvement Project, which was approved in 2017.
• India also signed another loan agreement with ADB for $300 million for developing Rajasthan’s secondary towns.

Read more about the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the linked article.

2. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA)

Context:

Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog begins a nationwide campaign to celebrate “Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan” – Promoting extensive use of cow-dung/Panchgavya products this Diwali Festival.

About the Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan:

• Through this campaign, the RKA is promoting extensive use of cow-dung/Panchgavya products during this Diwali Festival.
• Manufacture of cow dung based diyas, candles, dhoop, agarbatti, shubh-labh, swastik, samrani, hardboard, wall-piece, paper-weight, havan samagri, idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi for this year’s Diwali festival has already started.
• Apart from generating business opportunities for thousands of cow-based entrepreneurs/farmers, the use of cow-dung products will lead to a cleaner and healthier environment.
• By providing an environmentally friendly alternative to Chinese made Diyas, the campaign will boost the ‘Make in India’ vision also.

About Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA):

• The Government of India has constituted the “Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog” to organize animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and to take steps for preserving and improving breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
• The Aayog is a high powered permanent apex advisory body with the mandate to help the Central Government to develop appropriate programmes for conservation, sustainable development and genetic upgradation of indigenous breeds of cows.
• Functions of RKA:
  • The Aayog will review existing laws, policies as well as suggest measures for optimum economic utilization of cow wealth for enhanced production and productivity, leading to higher farm income and better quality of life for the dairy farmers.
  • It also aims at the transmission and application of improved technology and management practices at the farmers’ doorstep through coordination with dairy cooperatives, farmer producer companies and dairy industry as well as research institutions.
  • It will advise and guide the Central Government and State Governments on policy matters concerning conservation, protection, development and welfare of cows and their progeny.
  • Promotion of schemes to encourage the use of organic manure and recommend suitable measures including incentive schemes for use of dung or urine of cow in organic manure by farmers to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers.
  • The Aayog will also make provisions for solutions to the problems related to abandoned cows in the country by providing technical inputs to Gaushalas, Gosadans and pinjarapoles.
  • In the area affected by famine, drought or other natural calamities, guide in setting up cattle camps for the aforesaid purposes in the affected area and to take steps to prevent migration or smuggling of cows from such affected areas.
  • Develop pastures or grazing lands and to associate with institutions or other bodies whether private or public, for the purpose of developing pastures and Gauchars.
  • RKA will also work to create an enabling environment to attract investment for improving infrastructure supporting, milk production, processing, value addition and marketing in the sector.
• Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog will function as an integral part of Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

3. Jal Jeevan Mission: Lab on wheels

Context:

Haryana Government Launches State of the Art Mobile Water Testing Laboratory Van.

Details:

• The Govt. of Haryana has launched a state-of-the-art Mobile Water Testing Laboratory Van, fully equipped with a multi-parameter system containing analyzers/sensors/probes/instruments meant for water testing.
• Water quality in the state of Haryana is mainly affected by constituents like total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, nitrate, iron and alkalinity.
• The mobile water testing laboratory is expected to be an effective mode of surveillance of drinking water quality in rural areas of the state.
• It will help in quickly identifying the water quality problem on the spot at the site.

Read more on the Jal Jeevan Mission in the linked article.

4. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Context:

7^th Justice Ministers’ Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States to be hosted by Union Law Minister.

Details:

• In the Seventh Meeting of the Ministers of Justice of the SCO, Member States shall further deliberate on areas of cooperation; creating favourable conditions for resolving disputes; and implementation of the Action Plan of the Working Groups of Experts on Forensic Activities and Legal Services.

Read more on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

October 12th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here