BIHAR

FSSAI report: Bihar ranks lowest in ensuring food safety

Bihar ranked the lowest among the large states in ensuring food safety in 2020-21, according to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) report released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The overall score of the state was 35 whereas Gujarat topped with 75 points.

The third edition of the State Food Safety Index ranked the states on five parameters of food safety, which included human resources and institutional data (20% weightage), compliance (30%), food testing facility (20%), training and capacity building (10%) and consumer empowerment (20%). The ranking is an effort of the Union government to galvanize the states to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens.

The state has secured only 5 points each in human resources and institutional data and food testing facility, 2 in training and capacity building, 11 in compliance and 12 in consumer empowerment. The separate teams of experts for food testing and food & nutrition professionals, in addition to FSSAI officials, conducted the assessment and evaluation in each category. The teams examined the details received and also interacted with the states/UTs through web meetings.

INTERNATIONAL

WHO Tightens Global Air Pollution Standards

The World Health Organisation revised its air quality guidelines for the first time since 2005 in keeping with WHO.

Highlights

Tightening the guidelines, WHO aim to spur countries toward clean energy and stop deaths and illnesses caused by pollution.

The new recommendations mainly target pollutants, including particulate and dioxide, found in fuel emissions.

Air pollution kills a minimum of seven million people prematurely each year.

Even at deficient levels, research has shown air pollution affects all parts of the body, from the brain to a growing baby during a mother’s womb.

COP 26 – India Pushing for Climate Finance, Green Tech Transfer

In the Conference of Parties, India has been stressing and repeating its position on the transfer and finance of green technologies from developed countries to developing ones (COP 26).

Key points:

♦ In November 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) will hold its 26th meeting in Glasgow.

♦ Green technology transfer is seen as critical to achieving an ambitious conclusion at the next climate summit.

♦ Critical climate activities on finance, mitigation, and adaptation were also considered during the meeting to address the global crisis.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was developed as an environment protection convention to address “human interference with the climate system.” It was formed in part by stabilizing the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In 1992, 154 countries signed the agreement at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit.

International start-up hubs ranking 2021

International start-up hubs ranking 2021 was recently compiled and published by Start-up Genome for its annual Global Start-up Ecosystem Report 2021.

As per the comprehensive ranking of international start-ups, London, Mumbai and Bangalore have been featured among the world’s top start-up hubs.

London maintained the second-place ranking along with the New York for second consecutive year, despite Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

Bangalore has also been ranked at 23^rd position, maintaining the position among top 30 global tech hubs.

Delhi was ranked at 36^th

Mumbai has been ranked at first position in the Emerging Ecosystems ranking, outperforming the fast-growing ecosystems in areas of performance, funding, talent and market research.

Karnataka is also the 4th largest technology and innovation cluster in the world and is home to more than 400+ global R & D centres.

NATIONAL

A Unique SPIN Scheme Launched By KVIC

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) kick-started the (SPIN) Strengthening the Potential of India scheme to make potters self-sustainable.

Highlights:

♦ Under SPIN, KVIC will help potters get easy loans from banks which helps to expand their activities and improve their income.

♦ It is directed at sustainable development by creating local self-employment, joined with the Prime Minister’s commitment to “Job to Every Hand” (Har Hath Me Kaam).

♦ It will lessen their dependence on government subsidies and thus make potters self-reliant.

It is a no-subsidy program.

♦ KVIC aids potters to get bank loans under Pradhan Mantri Shishu Mudra Yojana.

♦ No financial burden on the bank.

♦ Beneficiaries can repay the loans in easy instalments.

Leh to host first edition of Himalayan Film Festival

Himalayan Film festival will run for five days from September 24 to 28.

Ladakh is hosting the film festival as part of the celebrations of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.

The 5-day festival will comprise of several segments to capture audience and film buffs alike.

Aim of the festival

The five-day festival is being organised with the aim of creating an interactive and exposure platform in order to promote aspiring local filmmakers as well as to showcase Ladakh as an attractive film destination.

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