GUJARAT

Centre extends Rs 731 cr assistance, Rs 1,484 cr loan for Narmada works

In a boost to the Sardar Sarovar Yojana, the central government has approved assistance of Rs 730.90 crore for construction of canals.
The central government had approved the assistance under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for the year 2018-19.

The Centre has also approved a loan of Rs 1,484.39 crore for the Sardar Sarovar project from the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) scheme for 15 years at an interest rate of six per cent. These funds will help in increasing the pace of the project’s work.

According to the state government, out of the estimated canal length of 71,748 km, works of 50,121 km had been completed last year and work on 12,642 km was in progress.

INTERNATIONAL

Global Finance names DBS world’s best bank

DBS Bank has become the first Singaporean and Asian winner of Global Finance Magazine’s Best Bank in the World Award, unseating last year’s winner ING.

This came after DBS was named Asia’s top bank in May, replacing 2017 winner ICBC, in the magazine’s annual World’s Best Bank awards.

India and the World Bank sign $300 Million Agreement for India’s Energy Efficiency Program

The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $220 million Loan Agreement and a $80 million Guarantee Agreement for the India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program.

The Program, to be implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), will help scale-up the deployment of energy saving measures in residential and public sectors, strengthen EESL’s institutional capacity, and enhance its access to commercial financing.

The investments under the Program are expected to avoid lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of 170 million tons of CO2, and contribute to avoiding an estimated 10 GW of additional generation capacity

NATIONAL

· Cabinet approved Rs.1,623 crore to set up more disaster warning systems

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared at an outlay of 1,623 croreto get more disaster warning systems and desalination plants along Indian coasts. The system will be functioning under the programme called O-SMART (Ocean Services,Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science). O-SMART is monitored by the Union earth sciences ministry.

O-SMART provides economic benefits to a number of user communities in the coastal and ocean sectors, namely, fisheries, offshore industry, coastal States, defence, shipping, ports, etc.

ISRO to send first Indian into Space by 2022

As announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address, India’s first Indian human mission will be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh.

The programme will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission.

So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions.

· Third Edition Of Worlds Biggest Open Innovation Model Smart India Hackathon 2019 launched

It is a nationwide initiative to provide students a platform to solve some of the pressing problems we face in our daily lives, and thus inculcate a culture of product innovation and a mindset of problem-solving.
For the first time, Private industry/ organizations and NGOs can also send their problem statements to students under SIH-2019.

· India’s first interstate connected wind power project commissioned in Bhuj

126 MW wind power capacity, part of country’s first Inter State Transmission System(ISTS) auction, is commissioned in Bhuj, Gujarat.
The energy generated from this project is being purchased by Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
This was a 1,000 MW bid for projects to be connected on ISTS (inter-state transmission system) wherein power generated from one state (renewable resource rich state) could be transmitted to other renewable deficient states.

· Manjit Singh wins India’s first gold in 800m since 1982 Asiad

India’s 28-year-old sprinterManjit Singhwon the gold medal in the men’s 800m event at the 2018 Asian Games, securing the ninth gold for the country.
Another Indian sprinter Jinson Johnson, who is ranked first in Asia, won the silver medal at the same event.
Manjit clocked 1:46.15 while Johnson clocked 1:46.35 to make it a memorable double for India.
Manjit’s gold was also the first after Charles Bor romeo’s feat in the 1982 Asian Games.

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