Gujarat Affairs
Electric vehicles ecosystem takes shapes in Gujarat
Even though electric vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, have been in the market for at least a decade, the uptakes had not been significant despite the subsidies rolled out by state and central governments. However, with growing awareness, the emergence of technologically Sound and efficient vehicles, and the creation of charging , the demand forelectric vehicleshas grown substantially inGujarat.
Riding on increased demand, the state is gradually building a sound ecosystem for manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs). Gujarat is already Home to automobile giants such asTata Motors, Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India Limited, Hero Two-wheelers, and Suzuki Motor Corporation.
Moreover, the demand for EVs is rising across the country as well. New players have entered the field, the established ones are doing robust business, a policy push from the state and central governments is offering sizable subsidies, and startups are driving innovations in EV manufacturing. These factors have led to the setting up of a wholesome EV ecosystem in Gujarat.
In July 2021, the Government of Gujarat announced an EV policy. The policy has fuelled optimism not just in dealers but in manufacturers too. The Gujarat Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 provides a subsidy of up to Rs 20,000 for EVs in the two-wheeler category, Rs 50,000 for three-wheelers, and up to Rs 1.5 lakh for cars. Over and above this, the central government has extended subsidies under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME)-II. The amount of subsidy is based on the battery capacity.
National and International Affairs
Only 56% Of Funds Utilized By States In Last 3 Years For The Nutrition Mission.
State Governments and Union Territories have utilized only 56% of the total budgets released under Poshan Abhiyan or Nutrition Mission in the earlier 3 years.
Highlights:
On December 8, the Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani, mentioned this in Parliament.
The central government emphasized that out of the total share of Rs 5312 between financial years 2019 to 2021, Rs 2985 crore was utilized.
Poshan Abhiyan was established in March 2018 to facilitate stunting, low birth weight, undernutrition challenges by 2% per year.
It also aims to decrease anaemia among young children, women and adolescents by 3% by 2022.
POSHAN Maah was followed in September 2018 to improve nutritional consequences for adolescent girls, children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Art and Surrogacy Bill Passed In Rajya Sabha
On December 8, 2021, the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was passed in Lok Sabha.
Highlights:
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was recently passed in the Lok Sabha which intends to regulate ART but then referred the bill to a standing committee.
ART covers all methods that are used to get pregnant. The procedures shall incorporate handling oocytes (immature eggs) or sperms outside the body.
It shall also involve giving the embryo into the womans body.
The ART Services shall cover the following: Donation of sperm or oocytes, In Vitro Fertilisation – fertilizing an egg and a sperm in the lab, Gestational Surrogacy – child carried by biological mother or surrogate mother.
The bill states that every ART bank or clinic should be listed under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. The bill will authorize the National Registry.
The registry will act as a Database holding details of the hospitals and banks providing ART services.
UNICEF India to roll out five-year plan
UNICEF India is designing an ambitious and innovative five-year programme, comprising of social policy as a priority across all the sectors.
While designing the new programme, UNICEF wanted to talk with all the stakeholders and get details on how what could be done better in the new Environment post COVID-19 and where <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change was a major priority.
Covid-19 and climate change had exacerbated the Learning crisis. Around 286 million children had been affected in India. This number excluded the millions out of school because of several reasons.
Key Findings of the report
In the report, Europe has dominated the ranking in 2021. Global top 10 countries are from this region.
Switzerland has retained its top spot.
The UAE continues have improved its global talent ranking. Ranking has improved by one position to 23rd. In 2019, it was ranked at 30th
In the Arab world, UAE maintained its top position.
In the Middle East & North Africa, UAE maintained its second position, following Israel (first in this region).
The ranking is structured based on three factors:
and development,
Appeal and
Readiness
World Talent Ranking report
IMD World Competitive Centre published its World Talent Ranking Report on December 9, 2021.
This report is annually published by the IMD World Competitive Centre.
Report grades 64 economies on the basis of a range of factors like:
How economies invest in and develop local personnel
Their ability to attract & retain skilled workers, and
Quality of domestic talent pools.
- GPSC Mains 2024 Tests and Notes Program
- GPSC Prelims Exam 2024- Test Series and Notes Program
- GPSC Prelims and Mains 2024 Tests Series and Notes Program
- GPSC Detailed Complete Prelims Notes