July 1st Current Affairs

1. MoU between India and Nepal.

IN NEWS:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India and the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Nepal in 17 November 2020 and 4 January 2021 respectively.

KEY POINTS:

• Objectives:Collaboration on joint research activities of mutual interest such as cross-border health issues, Ayurveda/traditional medicine  and medicinal plants, climate change and health, non-communicable diseases, mental Health, Population based cancer registry, tropical diseases (Vector borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, malaria, JE etc.), Influenza, Clinical Trial Registry, health research ethics, Capacity building through exchange of knowledge, skills tools and fellows and Collaboration for adoption of tools, guidelines, protocols and best practices related to health research.
• Each Party shall fund the components of the research approved under this MoU to be conducted in their country or may apply jointly for third party funding.
• For the exchange of scientists under approved collaborative projects, the sending Party shall bear the cost of travel of visiting scientists whereas the receiving Party will provide the accommodation and living expenses of the scientist/researcher.
• Commitment of funds for workshops/meetings and research projects may be decided from time to time as per the funds available at that time.
• Arrangements to implement and execute all these activities shall be agreed to by the Parties prior to commencement of the activity.

SOURCE:PIB

2. NTPC Limited first energy company to declare its Energy Compact Goals

IN NEWS:

• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has become the first energy company in the Indian energy domain to declare its Energy Compact Goals as part of UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).
• NTPC is India’s largest power generating company which is under the Ministry of Power.
• The United Nations is set to convene a high-level dialogue (HLD) in September, 2021 to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

KEY POINTS:

About Energy Compacts

• It is a platform to unite and connect commitments and actions.
• They are being mobilized by UN-Energy throughout the current Decade of Action.
• They form part of commitments that will advance progress on one or more of SDG7’s three core targets.
• SDG7 calls for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030.
• SDG 7 three core targets: Access to energy, Renewable energy, Energy efficiency.
• These are voluntary commitments from Member States and non-state actors

About NTPC Energy Compact Goals

• It has set a target to install 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.
• It is also aiming at 10% reduction in net energy intensity by 2032.
• NTPC has declared that it will form at least 2 international alliances/groups to facilitate clean energy research and promote sustainability in the energy value chain by 2025.

SOURCE:TH

3. World Bank Support to India’s Informal Working Class

IN NEWS:

• The World Bank has approved a USD 500 million loan programme to support India’s informal working class to overcome the current pandemic distress.
• The loan will create greater flexibility for states to cope with the ongoing pandemic, future climate and disaster shocks.

KEY POINTS:

World Bank’s Financial Support:

• Of the USD 500 million commitment, USD 112.50 million will be financed by its concessionary lending arm International Development Association (IDA) and the rest will be a loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
• The loan has a maturity period of 18.5 years including a grace period of five years.

Fundings Since Start of Pandemic:

• In 2020, provided immediate emergency relief cash transfers to about 320 million individual bank accounts identified through pre-existing national social protection schemes.
• Also an additional food rations for about 80 crore individuals.

Significance:

• States can now access flexible funding from disaster response funds to design and implement appropriate social protection responses.
• The funds will be utilised in social protection programmes for urban informal workers, gig-workers, and migrants.
• A gig worker is indulged in the gig economy which is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements.
• It is aimed at building the resilience of economies and livelihoods of communities.
• Investments at the municipal level will promote National Digital Urban Mission that will create a shared digital infrastructure for people living in urban areas and will scale up urban safety nets and social insurance for informal workers.

SOURCE:IE

4. Kalbeliya Dance

IN NEWS:

Recently, due to Covid-19-Pandemic an app called chendavia is gaining popularity among the students of kalbeliya dance.

KEY POINTS:

• Kalbeliya dances are an expression of the Kalbelia community’s traditional way of life.
• It is associated with a Rajasthani tribe of the same name.
• It was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in 2010.
• UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance.
• It was established in 2008 when the Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect.
• The dance form consists of swirling; graceful movements that make this dance a treat to behold.
• The movements associated with the Kalbelia also make it one of the most sensuous forms of folk dance in India.
• It is generally performed for any joyous celebration and is considered to be an integral part of the Kalbeliya culture.
• Another unique aspect of the Kalbelia dance is that it is only performed by women while the men play the instruments and provide the music.

SOURCE:TH