Bihar Affairs
Nitish Kumar flays his deputys claim, pitches for special status to Bihar
While pitching strongly for special category status toBihar, CMNitish Kumar virtually expressed displeasure with deputy CM Renu Devi, who is from the alliance partner BJP.
Nitish, taking a cue from the report with regard to Bihar, also said: It is clear from the Niti Aayog report that Bihar needs more Money and fund for its development. With the special status, the State Government will have to spend less money as its share in the centrally sponsored schemes. I will keep placing the demand strongly.
Incidentally, in the last four months, Niti Aayog in its reports issued since September has rated Bihar poorly on the parameters of development defined by it. Last month, the Niti Aayog had put Bihar at the bottom among all other states in Sustainable Development goals (SDG) targets aimed at improving the standard of living of households.
National and International Affairs
India launches Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo System (SMART)
India successfully launched Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo System (SMART) from Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast.
During the mission, full range capability of the missile was successfully demonstrated.
SMART system has been designed for enhancing anti-submarine warfare capability far beyond the conventional range of torpedo.
This was a textbook launch, in which entire trajectory of the test was monitored by the electro optic telemetry system and several range radars, including down range instrumentation & down range ships.
SMART carried a torpedo, release mechanisms and parachute delivery system.It was launched from a ground mobile launcher and can cover a range of distances.
The DEFENCE Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed the weapon for INDIAN NAVY.
SMART is a next-generation, missile based standoff torpedo delivery system. It has been designed to enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability. Missile will work beyond the conventional range of the torpedo. It is a canister-based missile system comprising of advanced two-staged solid propulsion, precision inertial and electromechanical actuators.
Asian Development Outlook report- Update
The Asian released its Asian Development Outlook Report and reduced its Growth forecasts for developing Asia for year 2021.
This move came in line with the uncertainty that new Omicron coronavirus variant has brought.
ADB now sees 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 7.0% for developing Asia, as opposed to 7.1% forecast.
For 2022, it forecasted the growth of 5.3%.
Most of developing Asias subregions are expected to grow slower than previous forecast in 2021.
ADB has projected Chinas growth as 8.0% in 2021 and will slow down to 5.3% in 2022. Chinas economy, which staged an impressive rebound from last years pandemic slump, has lost momentum in recent months as it grapples with surging prices, a slowing manufacturing sector, debt problems in the property market and persistent COVID-19 outbreaks.
National Summit on Agro and Food Processing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the valedictory session of National Summit on Agro & Food Processing.
His summit is being organised as part of Vibrant Gujarat Summit which is scheduled to be held in Anand, Gujarat from December 14 to December 16.
Conference will be witnessed and attended by 5000 farmers.
80 central institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ATMA Network in states and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will also connect farmers to witness this event live.
During the event, farmers will get to know and learn about practice and benefits of Natural Farming.
Government has also implemented Zero Budget Natural Farming as a promising tool for minimizing the dependence of farmers on purchased inputs and reducing the cost of <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture by using traditional field-based technologies. It emphasizes on shifting agriculture practices from mono-crops to diversified multi-crops system. Cow and its dung & urine play an important role in making inputs like Beejamrit, Jivamrit and Ghanjivamrit, on the farm.
US, Australia, Japan to jointly fund undersea cable in Pacific
Western Allies namely, the United States, Australia and Japan have announced to jointly fund the construction of an undersea cable in the Pacific Ocean.
The undersea cable in the pacific will be used to boost Internet access in three small Pacific countries, since the Western allies seek to counter increasing Chinese influence in this region.
Allies will develop the cable for providing faster internet to Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
This service will support the increased economic Growth, help in improving living standards and drive development opportunities, as the region is recovering from harsh impacts of COVID-19.
A submarine communications cable is laid on sea bed in between land-based stations in a bid to carry Telecommunication signals across ocean & sea stretches.
India votes against UNSC resolution to securitise climate action
India voted against a UN Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution to securitise <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change.
The draft resolution linkedclimate changewith global security challenges.
India argued that; this move seeks to undermine the hard-won consensus which was reached at the recent Glasgow Summit.
The new climate agreement was accepted by the negotiators from around 200 countries, after the COP26 summit, which recognises Indias intervention to phase down rather than phase out the fossil fuels.
The draft resolution was moved jointly by Niger and Ireland.
It called the UN Secretary General Antonion Guterres to integrate climate-related security risk into comprehensive conflict-prevention strategies, as central component.