PUNJAB

Punjab adopts new post-matric scholarship plan, but with rider

Punjab has decided to adopt Centre’s revised Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students announced in December last year, but has sought its implementation from retrospective effect.

It wants the scheme to be implemented from 2017-18, instead of 2020-21. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also written to the Centre in this regard. Around Rs 1,200 crore is pending with the Centre under the centrally sponsored scheme for three years, as it had discontinued the previous scholarship scheme in 2017.

Since SC scholarship scheme has the potential to snowball into a major political issue for Dalit vote bank in the state, the state government does not want to take the risk and has asked the Centre to pay 60 per cent of the scheme for the three years (2017-18 to 2019-20) as it was ready to release 40 per cent of its share.

Around Rs1,200 crore is pending with the Centre under the centrally sponsored scheme for three years, as the state had discontinued the previous scholarship scheme in 2017.

INTERNATIONAL

UK applying to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP

The UK is applying to join a free trade area made up of 11 Asia and Pacific nations, under its post-Brexit plans.’’

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement formed in 2018 which includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. ‘‘

In total, it covers a market of around 500 million people, generating more than 13% of the world’s income.

Corruption Perception Index 2020 by Transparency International

Corruption Perception Index 2020 has been released is prepared by Transparency International. It is a comprehensive index from 12 surveys that rank countries around the world.

It has become a benchmark for measuring corrupt perceptions and is used by analysts and investors.

The index is also based on expert opinions on corruption in the public sector and takes into account a series of factors, such as whether government leaders are responsible or unpunished for corruption, the prevalence of bribery, and whether public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.

According to experts and businessmen, it ranks public sector corruption in 180 countries and regions.

It uses a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 is badly damaged and 100 is very clean.

India has slipped 6 places this year, ranking 86th.

India’s score is lower than the average score of the Asia-Pacific region (31 countries) and the global average.

India’s overall score is also 2 points lower than China, and China ranks 78th. The first place on the list is New Zealand and Denmark (88 each).

NATIONAL

Centre Approves ‘Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

The Central Government has approved ‘Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme’ (SISFS),

The program aims to provide financial assistance to start-ups for product trials, market-entry, proof of concept, prototype development and commercialization. ‘‘

The total budget allocated under this is Rs 945 crore. ‘‘

The scheme will become operational from April 1, 2021. ‘‘

The scheme will be implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DIIT). ‘‘

The funds under the scheme will be disbursed through the selected incubators across the country.

VP M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ in National Capital

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav, a National Tribal Festival at Dilli Haat in INA in the National Capital.

It will continue till 15th of this month. The Aadi Mahotsav – A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts, Cuisine and Commerce is a successful annual initiative that was commenced in 2017.

The festival was an attempt to familiarise the people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of the tribal communities across the country, in one place.

Around one thousand tribal artisans, artists and chefs from more than 20 States of the country will participate and provide a glimpse of their rich traditional culture.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), as the nodal agency under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has been working to improve the income and livelihoods of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and traditions.

Smriti Irani inaugurates 8th India International Silk Fair

Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the 8th India International Silk Fair on Virtual Portal.

The fair is considered to be India’s biggest silk fair, being held under one roof on Indian Silk Export Promotion Council’s virtual platform.

The five days event is being held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.

India has a long history of silk production and is the 2nd largest producer of Silk.

India is the only country in the world which produces all the four major varieties of silk – Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga.

CSIRs Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Completes 20 years

CSIR’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) completes 20 years. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is India’s digital knowledge repository of traditional knowledge.

Gk bit:Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL):

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is India’s digital knowledge repository of traditional knowledge, especially knowledge about medicinal plants and formulations used in the Indian medical system.

It was established in 2001 by the Ministry of Ayush and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The purpose of the library is to protect the country’s ancient and traditional knowledge of the country from biopiracy and unethical patents, by documenting it electronically and classifying with the international patent classification system.

It also helps to promote modern research based on traditional knowledge because it simplifies the acquisition of these extensive remedies or practical knowledge.

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