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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 04 October 2020

::NATIONAL::

Government to focus on linking textile industry with latest technology

Prime Minister NarendraModi has said that the textiles sector is a key sector that will help build an AtmanirbharBharat or self-reliant India. Mr Modi said, the government is particularly focussing on skills upgradation, financial assistance and integrating the sector with latest technology.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing an International Webinar on Textile Traditions organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations - ICCR today. He said, to assist our weavers in continuing to make world class products, we want to learn global best practices and also our best practices. He said, the exchange of ideas and sharing of best practices in this webinar will create new avenues for collaboration.
Mr Modi said, the textile sector has always brought opportunities and domestically, the sector is among the highest job providers in India. He said, Internationally,textiles helped the country to build trade and cultural relations with the world. He said, Indian textiles are highly valued globally and have also got enriched with customs, crafts, products and techniques of other cultures.
Prime Minister NarendraModi said, world over, the textile sector employs many women and thus, a vibrant textile sector will add strength to efforts of women empowerment. He said, we need to prepare for our future in challenging times.
He also added that textile traditions of the country have showcased powerful ideas and principles like diversity and adaptability, self-reliance, skill and innovation and these principles have become even more relevant now.

Survey finds hygiene and immunity taking priority in food habits

As work and life adjust to a new normal, people are looking for long-term solutions that incorporate hygiene and mindful practices into food habits, according to insights drawn from a survey of 150 food experts across the country.
The interactive session is part of the conversation series “Rise of the Culinary Explorer” and the survey was done for the third edition of the Godrej Food Trends Report.
Moderator Ruth Dsouza, an independent food writer, opened the discussion on the changing practices during the pandemic.
Health and hygiene are the primary concerns among consumers today, said Kamal Nandi, business head, Godrej Appliances.Appliances specially designed for fermentation and germination at home were being sought after.

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::ECONOMY::

Centre to waive off compound interest on loans upto 2crore

In a relief to individual borrowers and medium and small industries, the Centre has agreed in the Supreme Court to waive compound interest (interest on interest) charged on loans of up to two crore rupees for a six-month moratorium period announced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said, the government will seek due authorization from Parliament for making appropriate grants in this regard and the endeavour shall be over and above the support of 3.7 lakh crore rupees to MSMEs, 70,000 crore rupees for home loans already extended through the GaribKalyan and Atmanirbhar packages announced by the government earlier.
In an affidavit filed by the Finance Ministry, it said, the government has decided that the relief on waiver of compound interest during the six-month moratorium period shall be limited to the most vulnerable category of borrowers.
This category of borrowers, in whose case, the compounding of interest will be waived, would be MSME loans and personal loans of up to two crore rupees, it said.
The loans were categorized into eight categories by the government including MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), education, housing, consumer durable, credit card dues, auto, personal, and consumption.

C & I ministry moots quality improvement to boost exports

Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal on Saturday stressed that quality, technology and scale of production would help India take its annual exports to $1 trillion and not government subsidies.
He exhorted exporters and the industry as a whole to target $1 trillion worth of shipments.
“Why can’t we aim for $1 trillion exports from India. We certainly can. I see no reason, [why] we cannot. For that we need to be clear on actionable items [and] subsidies are never going to get us there, I am very very clear about that,” he said.
“At least in my six years of engagement, I have not found subsidies to be the solution for India’s problems. I think it’s quality, technology, growth, scale; and sometimes for a short period you may need to give a little thrust or support.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

New Caledonia votes on referendum for independence

The French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia votes in a referendum on independence on Sunday, with voters expected to reject breaking away from France after almost 170 years despite rising support for the move.
The referendum is part of a carefully negotiated de-colonisation plan agreed in 1998, known as the Noumea Accord, designed to put an end to a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population, and the descendants of European settlers known as “Caldoches”.
Violence in the 1980s culminated in a drawn-out hostage crisis in 1988 that saw 19 separatists killed on one side, and six police and special forces on the other.
It will be the second time the archipelago goes to the polls to decide on its fate in two years, after a first referendum in 2018 resulted in status quo with 56.7% of the vote. But the result still marked a shift towards pro-independence sympathies, raising campaigners’ hopes that this time it could manage to break free.

India-Myanmar discuss bilateral relations in foreign office consultations

The 19th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Myanmar was held through virtual mode today. The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Harsh VardhanShringla and the Myanmar delegation was led by Permanent Secretary, U Soe Han.
During the consultations, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of relations, including border cooperation and the ongoing restoration work on earthquake damaged pagodas in Bagan.
Cooperation in regional and multilateral fora was also discussed. Both sides expressed satisfaction that despite the ongoing COVID pandemic, meetings in several areas, including power, energy etchave been held through virtual mode, reflecting the depth of the bilateral engagement.
It was noted that the next Joint Trade Committee Ministerial Meeting to be held on October 20, will be useful in further strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations.
Foreign Secretary reiterated the priority India attaches to its partnership with Myanmar in accordance with India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.

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::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Study finds three foldincrease in leopard capture and translocation

A study conducted across Karnataka indicates that the policy guidelines brought out by the government to mitigate human-leopard conflict and discourage translocation of the animal have had little impact on the ground.
The number of leopards captured per month increased more than threefold (from 1.5 to 4.6) after the human-leopard policy guidelines were brought out in 2011. Similarly, there was a threefold increase in the number of leopards translocated per month (from 1 to 3.5).
Sanjay Gubbi of the Nature Conservation Foundation, who led the study in the State, said the guidelines for human-leopard conflict management were brought out in April 2011 to reduce conflict with leopards, discourage their translocation, and suggest improved ways of handling emergency conflict situations.
These findings have been published in a paper, ‘Policy to on-ground action: Evaluating a conflict policy guideline for leopards in India’, in the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy.
Taking Karnataka as a case study, the researchers analysed pre- and post-guidelines leopard captures, reasons for the captures, and the outcome for the captured leopards.
The study indicated that of the 80 leopards translocated to reserved/State/minor forests, most releases were to the Kemphole Reserved Forest (16.2%), followed by the Devarayanadurga State Forest (7.5%) and the Bukkapatna State Forest (5%).
Though eight reasons were attributed to capture and translocation of leopards, the main justification was livestock depredation (38.1%), said Mr.Gubbi.

::SPORTS::

NCA concludes seminar for women coaches

The National Cricket Academy (NCA) recently concluded a seven-week series of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) seminars for women coaches across the country.
It was conducted by the Coach Education department of the NCA, led by SujithSomasundar and supported by AtulGaikwad, Apurva Desai and RajibDutta.
Twenty-Four BCCI Level 2 certified coaches and former India cricketers with BCCI level 1 certifications participated.Topics included skill acquisition, modern coaching concepts, the art and science of fast bowling, etc.

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