07-07-23 Daily-Punjab-PPSC Current Affairs

Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday instructed all District Social Security Officers in the state to collect income documents from original old-age pension beneficiaries within 15 days to ensure that the pension benefits are provided exclusively to those who are genuinely in need and eligible.

The Minister said that during pension-related actions taken, it was discovered that out of the J Form holders, 63,424 individuals are receiving old-age pension from the Department despite having an annual income exceeding Rs 60,000. However, for old-age pension, the beneficiarys annual income should not exceed Rs 60,000.

The Minister emphasized that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is dedicated to creating a Corruption-free state.

Many pensioners in the Department are farmers. The Punjab State Mandi Board issues J Forms to farmers, providing information about their income from crop sales. To accurately determine their annual income, the Department compared the data with that of the Punjab State Mandi Board, she added.

Gujarat is among the top 10 states in India in deposits per capita, according to data from theReserve Bank Of India.

The states deposits per capita is Rs 97,000, ninth highest among the major states of India as of March 31, 2023. While the per capita deposits of several smaller states and Union territories are higher, among the major states, Gujarat stands ninth.

Gujarat is behind Delhi (Rs 3.94 lakh), Goa (Rs 3.92 lakh), Haryana (Rs 1.64 lakh),Punjab(Rs 1.51 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh), Uttarakhand (Rs 1.24 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 1.24 lakh) andKerala(Rs 1.02 lakh) on this parameter.

According to the latest report from the Gujarat state-level bankers committee (SLBC), aggregate deposits at banks in the state including scheduled , cooperative and small finance banks, stood at Rs 10.76 lakh crore.

The state is also aggressively opening Jan Dhan accounts under the Financial Inclusion scheme.

The Centre announced plans to set up its first campus of the prestigious IIT outside India in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The foreign campus will be set by the IIT Madras and programmes for the campus will be launched in October this year keeping in mind the parameters of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which focuses on internationalisation and recommends high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.

This PARTNERSHIP will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region.

The setting up of the IIT Campus is expected to enhance Indias reputation globally and its diplomatic relationships and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras.

The United Arab Emirates pledged to give USD 15 million to help rebuild the Jenin refugee camp after the most intense Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades.

The funding promise comes after the two-day offensive destroyed the camps narrow roads and alleyways.

The operation, meant to crack down on Palestinian militants after a series of recent attacks on Israelis, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes.

Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the fighting.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency reported that the would be granted to UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, to rebuild damaged homes and businesses and for the agencys Services.

UNRWA has struggled recently to raise the funding it needs to keep its day-to-day operations helping millions of people across the Middle East. Israels fierce incursion this week saw bulldozers tearing through streets to clear a path for the hundreds of soldiers deployed. Israel withdrew its troops on Wednesday, revealing a scene of destruction.

Children experienced the highest number of grave violations in conflicts verified by the United Nations in 2022, with the conflicts between Israeli and Palestinians and in Congo and Somalia putting the most youngsters in peril, the UN childrens agency said.

UNICEF also expressed particular concern about their plight in Haiti, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ukraine, where Russia has been put on the UN blacklist.

India and France on Thursday reviewed the entire spectrum of their strategic and DEFENCE ties during talks here between National Security Advisor(NSA)Ajit Doval and Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic advisor to the French President. The visiting dignitary also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi before returning to Paris.

Doval and Bonne also reportedly prepared the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Paris on July 13-14. He is the guest of honour for national day of France this year. Both the countries this year are celebrating 25 years of their strategic PARTNERSHIP. Besides focussing on their bilateral ties, Doval and Bonne also reportedly discussed the aftereffect of the ongoing Ukraine conflict and situation in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China adopting an aggressive stance in the region. India and France share long defence ties and the latter is now keen to impart technology for the jet engine for the twin-engine combat fighter jet planned by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).