Karnataka has begun releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam and Kabini reservoir, following a directive from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dam :
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and TransUnion CIBIL launched the SEHER program. WEP is a public-private partnership platform incubated at NITI Aayog aiming at empowering women entrepreneurs What is the SEHER program..? The SEHER program aims to empower women entrepreneurs in India with financial literacy and business skills. It focuses on improving awareness about accessing and managing credit, helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses and contributing to economic development. India has 63 million micro, small, and medium enterprises, with 20% owned by women, employing 27 million people. Accelerating women’s entrepreneurship could create over 30 million new women-owned enterprises and 150 to 170 million more jobs. SEHER Program is part of WEP’s Financing Women Collaborative (FWC), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at accelerating access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
The RBI is concerned about banks with high Credit-Deposit (CD) ratios, notably exceeding the industry average of 80%. What are Credit-Deposit (CD) ratios..? The Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio is a financial metric that shows the percentage of a bank’s total deposits that are given out as loans. A higher CD ratio indicates that a larger portion of the bank’s deposits is being used for lending, which can impact liquidity and credit risk. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to narrow the gap between credit and deposit growth, aiming to reduce the CD ratio. According to the RBI’s Financial Stability Report, the CD ratio has risen steadily, reaching 78.8% by December 2023. Over 75% of banks with CD ratios above 75% are private sector banks. Reasons for high CD ratios include robust credit growth, particularly in retail and MSME sectors, coupled with slower deposit growth due to competitive pressures and shifts in customer savings behaviour towards investments. High CD ratios can pressure Net Interest Margins (NIM), increase liquidity risk, and elevate credit risk for banks.
INDIA- THAILAND JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE MAITREE Exercise MAITREE, conducted annually since 2006, alternates between India and Thailand. This exercise is crucial for both nations facing terrorism threats, especially in southern Thailand regions like Satun, Patthalung, and Bangkok, which are prone to attacks. The exercise includes company-level joint training on insurgency and counter-terrorism in jungle and urban scenarios, enhancing defence cooperation and bilateral relations between the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army. Additionally, the Royal Thailand Navy and Indian Navy have conducted Coordinated Patrols (CORPATs) in the Indian Ocean since 2005. मैत्री अभ्यास 2006 से प्रतिवर्ष आयोजित किया जाता है, जो भारत और थाईलैंड के बीच वैकल्पिक रूप से आयोजित किया जाता है। यह अभ्यास आतंकवाद के खतरों का सामना कर रहे दोनों देशों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है, विशेष रूप से सातुन, पत्थलंग और बैंकॉक जैसे दक्षिणी थाईलैंड क्षेत्रों में, जहां हमलों का खतरा रहता है। इस अभ्यास में जंगल और शहरी परिदृश्यों में उग्रवाद और आतंकवाद-निरोध पर कंपनी-स्तरीय संयुक्त प्रशिक्षण, भारतीय सेना और रॉयल थाईलैंड सेना के बीच रक्षा सहयोग और द्विपक्षीय संबंधों को बढ़ाना शामिल है। इसके अतिरिक्त, रॉयल थाईलैंड नौसेना और भारतीय नौसेना ने 2005 से हिंद महासागर में समन्वित गश्ती (कॉर्पैट) का संचालन किया है।
Constitutional right to a speedy trial Source: Hindustan Times Context: The Supreme Court of India emphasized the constitutional right to a speedy trial under Article 21, rebuking the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for delays in a counterfeit currency case. The bench stressed that the right to a speedy trial applies regardless of the crime’s severity, criticizing the NIA for repeated delays in submitting its counter affidavit. The Supreme Court’s decision highlighted the importance of a speedy trial, referencing past rulings such as Kartar Singh Vs State of Punjab (1994), Hussainara Khatoon (I) Vs Home Secretary, State of Bihar, and Abdul under Article 21. त्वरित सुनवाई का संवैधानिक अधिकार संदर्भ: भारत के सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने जाली मुद्रा मामले में देरी के लिए राष्ट्रीय जांच एजेंसी (एनआईए) को फटकार लगाते हुए अनुच्छेद 21 के तहत त्वरित सुनवाई के संवैधानिक अधिकार पर जोर दिया। पीठ ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि त्वरित सुनवाई का अधिकार अपराध की गंभीरता की परवाह किए बिना लागू होता है, और जवाबी हलफनामा दाखिल करने में बार-बार देरी के लिए एनआईए की आलोचना की। सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले ने त्वरित सुनवाई के महत्व पर प्रकाश डाला, जिसमें करतार सिंह बनाम पंजाब राज्य (1994), हुसैनारा खातून (आई) बनाम गृह सचिव, बिहार राज्य और अनुच्छेद 21 के तहत अब्दुल जैसे पिछले फैसलों का संदर्भ दिया गया।
Denmark to Introduce World’s First CO2 Tax on Farms Source: Economic Times Context: Denmark will impose a tax on livestock CO2 emissions from 2030, the first country to do so, aiming to meet its 2030 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels. The government reached a compromise with farmers, industry, labour unions, and environmental groups. The tax will start at 300 Danish crowns per tonne of CO2, rising to 750 crowns by 2035, with income tax deductions and subsidies to support farmers. This initiative is expected to inspire similar actions in other countries. About Denmark : Denmark is a Nordic country, part of the Jutland Peninsula, shares a territorial boundary with Germany to the south and is bordered by the North Sea on the west coast and Kattegat Bay on the east coast. Geographically, Denmark is an archipelago of around 400 islands, with Zealand being the largest.
Denmark to Introduce World’s First CO2 Tax on Farms Read More »
Rhisotope Project Source : TH Context: South African scientists make rhino horns radioactive to curb poaching About the Rhisotope Project: The Rhisotope Project, initiated in 2021 by Prof. James Larkin, involves inserting measured quantities of radioisotopes into the horns of live rhinos.Aim : By embedding “two tiny little radioactive chips” into the horn, the project aims to render the horn “useless” and “poisonous for human consumption.”The final phase includes follow-up care and blood samples to ensure animal protection. The radioactive material lasts five years, proving more cost-effective than dehorning every 18 months.Benefits: The procedure, conducted on sedated rhinos, is safe, with radiation doses low enough not to harm their health or the environment.Additionally, radioactively treated horns are more likely to be detected at international borders, increasing the chances of exposing and prosecuting smuggling syndicates under anti-terrorism laws. Need: Rhinoceros horns are highly sought after on black markets, where their price by weight rivals that of gold and cocaine.Previous anti-poaching strategies like dehorning and poisoning horns have failed to deter poachers.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Mutual Evaluation Report Syllabus: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate Source: The Hindu Context: The Mutual Evaluation Report of India, adopted at the FATF plenary in Singapore from June 26 to 28, places India in the “regular follow-up” category, a status shared by only four other G-20 countries. This distinction highlights India’s significant progress in combating money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF). About Financial Action Task Force (FATF): FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.Objective: To establish international standards, and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.Origin: It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris to develop policies against money laundering. In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing.Headquarters: Paris, France.FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such. India became a member of FATF in 2010.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Mutual Evaluation Report Read More »
Namaqualand (Africa) Source: Science Daily Context: Scientists recently discovered that termite mounds along the Buffels River in Namaqualand are the world’s oldest inhabited, dating back 34,000 years. What is Namaqualand ? 1. Namaqualand is a desert region in southwestern Africa, extending from the Karas region in Namibia to the Northern Cape province in South Africa. It stretches from the Namib Desert in the west to the Kalahari Desert in the east.The northern part, known as Great Namaqualand, is in Namibia, while the southern part, called Little Namaqualand, is in South Africa. 2. This arid area is known for its succulents and spectacular spring wildflower blooms following winter rains. Historically, the Nama people lived there, mining copper and, later, diamonds were discovered in the early 1900s.
