November 2024

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Daily Current Capsules - 23rd June 2020

NITI Aayog
Launch of Decarbonising Transport in India
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Decarbonising Transport in India project + about ITF + about DTEE) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation + GS II international organisations + government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS
  • NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) will launch the "Decarbonising Transport in India" project on 24 June, with the intention to develop a pathway towards a low-carbon transport system for India.
Know! about the Project
  • The "Decarbonising Transport in India" project will design a tailor-made transport emissions assessment framework for India.
  • It will provide the government with a detailed understanding of current and future transport activity and the related CO2 emissions as a basis for their decision-making.
  • The India project is carried out in the wider context of the International Transport Forum's "Decarbonising Transport" initiative.
  • It is part of the "Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies" (DTEE) family of projects, which supports transport decarbonisation across different world regions.
  • India, Argentina, Azerbaijan, and Morocco are current participants.
  • The DTEE is a collaboration between the ITF and the Wuppertal Institute, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Know! about Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies
  • The ITF's Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies (DTEE) project helps governments of emerging nations to identify ways to reduce their transport CO2 emissions and meet their climate goals.
  • The DTEE project supports transport decarbonisation in Argentina, Azerbaijan, India and Morocco.
  • It is designing a common assessment framework for transport emissions that will cover several transport sub-sectors and transport modes.
  • Country-specific modelling tools and policy scenarios will help the participating governments to implement ambitious CO2-reduction initiatives for their transport sectors.
  • The Decarbonising Transport initiative promotes carbon-neutral mobility to help stop climate change.
  • It provides decision makers with tools to select CO2 mitigation measures that deliver on their climate commitment.
  • The Decarbonising Transport initiative helps governments and industry to translate climate ambitions into actions.
  • The Decarbonising Transport initiative does not advocate specific measures or policies.
  • The Decarbonising Transport initiative was launched in 2016 with core funding from the ITF's Corporate Partnership Board (CPB).
Know! about International Transport Forum (ITF)
  • India has been a member of ITF, an intergovernmental organisation for transport policy, since 2008.
  • The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 60 member countries.
  • It acts as a think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers.
  • ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is administratively integrated with the OECD, yet politically autonomous.
  • The ITF maintains the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD), a comprehensive database of statistics related to road safety. IRTAD also acts as a permanent working group of the ITF.
  • The International Transport Forum was created on 18 May 2006 by ministers from 43 countries.
Additional Info.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. (HQ Paris ,France)
  • It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy and to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all.
  • It was founded in 1961 by 18 European nations, and the United States and Canada to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
  • India is not a member but key partner and it is invited for annual ministerial conference.
  • Generally, OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.
Health Sector
FICCI Launches ‘Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene Expo 2020'; First Virtual International Expo

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020 + about FICCI ) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What's the NEWS
  • The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers inaugurated India's one the largest 1st Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020 .
  • The Expo has been organised by FICCI.
  • The event was inaugurated virtually which will be live daily from 22nd to 26th June, 2020.
Know! all about VH&H Expo 2020
  • The first edition of VH&H Expo 2020 will comprise of five-day comprehensive virtual exhibition on sectors like AYUSH & Wellness, Medical Devices, Medical Textiles and Consumables, Pharmaceuticals and Sanitization.
  • The virtual event will also feature webinars and discuss various issues and opportunities in focus sectors, post COVID-19.
  • This is the first ever largest virtual exhibition in India making a new beginning.
  • This is the new norm, wherein business will happen virtually as Digital India is now making a way forward.
  • VH&H Expo 2020 will comprise of a Dedicated Virtual Exhibition showcasing products and services of over 100 manufacturers.
  • Various webinars and digitally enabled B2B meetings will also be organised between the exhibitors and buyers.
Know! about FICCI
  • Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India.
  • A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India's business and industry.
  • From influencing policy to encouraging debate, engaging with policy makers and civil society, FICCI articulates the views and concerns of industry.
  • FICCI draws its membership from the corporate sector, both private and public, including SMEs and MNCs.
  • The chamber has an indirect membership of over 250,000 companies from various regional chambers of commerce.
  • It is headquartered in the national capital New Delhi and has a presence in 12 states in India and 8 countries across the world
  • FICCI provides a platform for networking and consensus building within and across sectors and is the first port of call for Indian industry, policy makers and the international business community.
Bilateral Relations
India Ideas Summit 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India Idea Summit + about USCC ) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • The two-day India Ideas Summit 2020 is all set to be held virtually on July 21-22, marking its 45th annual meeting, with the focus on geopolitics in the post-COVID-19 world
  • The summit will focus on shifting supply chains, digitization and technology trends, the future of healthcare, and equitable growth.
  • The summit will witness conversations with senior business and government leaders on geopolitics in the post-COVID world, shifting supply chains, digitization and technology trends, the future of healthcare, equitable growth
About the India Ideas Summit
  • The India Ideas Summit is organized by the US India Business Council (USIBC) and is a platform to convene scholars, practitioners, diplomats, and think tanks for high-level dialogue on key issues related to India.
  • Last year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had last year addressed the Summit in Washington at the US Chamber of Commerce on June 12.
Know! about United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) and USIBC
  • The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is a business-oriented American lobbying group.
  • The Chamber is the largest lobbying group in the U.S., spending more money than any other lobbying organization on a yearly basis.
  • The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization to enlighten and encourage the private sectors of both India and United States to enhance investment flows.
Prelims Factoids
Golden Langurs

Relevance IN - Prelims ( all about golden langurs)
What's the NEWS
  • Primatologists have observed that the Gee's golden langur (induce stillbirth of babies killed inside the womb of females, besides practising infanticide
Know! about golden langurs
  • It is an endangered species of monkey, found only in Assam and parts of Bhutan
  • Conservation Status - Endangered

  • Golden langurs are endemic to the semi-evergreen and mixed-deciduous forests straddling India and Bhutan
  • The golden langurs in Assam are hemmed in by three rivers - Brahmaputra in the south, Manas in east and Sonkosh in west.
  • Their northern limit is the range of hills in Bhutan up to 2,400 metres above sea level.
Threats
  • Obstructions such as wires, and gaps in the forest due to felling, have increased the threat of inbreeding among golden langurs
  • Electrocution has also killed the monkeys in groups
  • Their habitat in Assam has been encroached upon and fragmented drastically in the last 30 years
  • They survive mostly on a variety of juicy leaves. But fragmentation of forests and selective logging is making their food scarcer,"
Know! more about golden langur
  • Golden langur also known as simply the golden langur, is an Old World monkey found in a small region of western Assam, India and in the neighbouring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan.
  • It is one of the most endangered primate species of India.
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