Bihar Affairs
At 69.2 yrs, life expectancy in state less than natl avg
Life expectancy of people inBiharat 69.2 years is less than the national Average of 69.7 years. Also, Bihar and Jharkhand are the only exceptions in the country where life expectancy of female is less than the male.
As per the sample registration survey (SRS)-based Abridged Life Tables (2015-19) released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner earlier this week, while the life expectancy at the time of birth in India was 69.7 years, it was 69.2 years in Bihar, which ranked sixth from the bottom.
Delhi and Kerala topped the list with a life expectancy of 75.9 years and 75.2 years, respectively. Chhattisgarh was at the bottom. However, compared to its own previous data, Bihar has seen a marginal increase in life expectancy. For instance, for the period between 2014-18, life expectancy in the state was 69.1 years and then it increased to 69.2 years for 2015-19.
Bihar and Jharkhand were the only exceptions where the female life expectancy at the time of birth was less than the male Population. The other other big states and union territories had recorded more life expectancy for female, which on an average was two years more than the male.
National and International Affairs
ISRO: PSLV Orbital Experimental Module
The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module is a platform which will perform in-orbit experiments through the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket.
It is a four-stage rocket in which first three spent stages will drop into the ocean and the final stage will end up as space junk after launching the satellite into orbit.
However, in PSLV-C53 mission, spent final stage will be used as a stabilised platform for performing the experiments.
POEM comprises of a dedicated Guidance and Control (NGC) system for Attitude stabilisation.
Harnessing Green Hydrogen report by Niti Aayog
Governments think tank published its report titled Harnessing Green Hydrogen- Opportunities for Deep Decarbonisation in India. This report has been prepared in collaboration with Delhi-based think tank RMI India.
In its report, NITI Aayog has recommended to reduce or exempt the GST & Custom duties on production of green hydrogen, in order to boost the production in India.
It also proposed to set up green hydrogen corridors as well as offer grants to start-ups that are working on green hydrogen solutions domestically.
According to it, government should focus on bringing a cost reduction pathway for green hydrogen production in country.
Take-Home Ration (THR) report by WFP
-WEP report on Take-Home Ration, presents a set of good and innovative practices that have been adopted by states & UTs, in implementation of Take-Home Ration value chain.
Take-Home ration is provided by Government of India, under Supplementary Nutrition component of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
It is provided to fill the gap in nutrition amongchildren, and pregnant & lactating Women (PLW).
It suggests to build a robust system for procurement, standardized process, full coverage, Supply Chain Management & monitoring to ensure complete transparency, sustainability, leverages local ties, and bring a culture of collaboration and trust within a community.
MHI- MSDE sign MoU to facilitate training in Engineering Trades
Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) and Ministry of Skill development & (MSDE) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for creating a collaborative ecosystem, which will imparting skill development training in Capital Goods sector.
PARTNERSHIP between MHI and MSDE aims to facilitate training in several engineering trades.
Training will be facilitated through Qualification Packs (QPs), that have been developed by MHI related Sector Skill Councils (such as Infrastructure, Automotive, Instrumentation and Capital Goods).
Such QPs have been developed under phase two of the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in Capital Goods Sector.
National Health Claims Exchange for Health claims
The National Health Authority (NHA) and IRDAI has decided to develop a National Health Claims Exchange.
The National Health Claims Exchange will be developed as a digital platform, for settling the health claims.
National Health Authority implements Indias public health Insurance or assurance scheme called Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
Asia Pacific Sustainability Index 2021
In the index, four Indian cities viz., Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai, have been ranked among top 20 sustainable cities.
In it, 36 cities were ranked on the basis of Urbanisation pressure, carbon emissions, Climate risk, and government initiatives.
Index has been topped by Singapore.
It is followed by Sydney, Wellington, Perth, and Melbourne.
These are the top five green-rated cities in commercial real estate in Asia-Pacific region.
Among the Indian cities, Bengaluru was ranked first. While in the Asia-Pacific region, it has been ranked 14th.