NCERT & Rotary India to Telecast e-learning Content for Class 1-12 on all NCERT TV Channels
- To ensure that ‘e-learning reaches children across the country with NCERT approved content’.
- Under Vidya Daan 2.0 Rotary International will provide the e – content in Hindi language to NCERT for classes I to XII for all subjects.
- They will also provide the Teacher Training and professional trainings as well.
- MHRD have been working on integration of technology in education through various schemes and initiatives like Operation Digital Board, DIKSHA, E – Pathshala, SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA.
- The Minister said that through e-learning we want to fulfill prime minister’s vision of ‘one nation one digital platform’.
Efforts to enhance cultivation of ‘Heeng’ and ‘Saffron’
- In India, the annual demand for Saffron spice is 100 tons/year but its avg. production is about 6-7 tons/year. Hence a large amount of Saffron is being imported.
- Similarly, there is no production of heeng in India and currently about 1200 tons of raw heeng worth Rs 600 crore is being imported from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
- To increase the prod’n. of these two spices in India, the Inst. of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) and the Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, have forged strategic and implementation partnership.
- This will provide immense benefits by way of increased farm income, livelihood promotion, and rural development.
- Introduction of these crops will reduce the import.
- CSIR-IHBT will provide technical know-how to the farmers, impart training to state agriculture department officers and farmers, and set up corm and seed production centres of Saffron and heeng, respectively, in the state.
- A tissue-culture lab will be Estd. for large-scale prod’n of quality planting material of these crops.
India’s Forex Reserves at All Time High at $493.48 Billion Amid Covid Economic Crisis
- Forex Res. include gold, SDRs (Special Drawing Rights of the IMF) & Foreign Currency Assets.
- Foreign Currency Assets include Capital Inflows to the capital market, FDI & external commercial borrowings.
- RBI Functions as the custodian & manager of FR & operates the overall policy framework agreed upon with the govt.
- Reason
for Rise in Forex:
- Rise in Foreign Portfolio Investors & FDIs.
- Fall in global crude oil prices.
- Decline in Foreign travels – Decline in $ outflows.
- Significance
of Rising Forex:
- Comfort to Govt. & RBI to manage internal economic issues.
- Enough to cover the import bill of 1 year of India.
Sovereign Rating Downgrade Created ‘Six Fallen Angels’ in India
- Six Fallen Angels: Companies in the Non-financial sector whose ratings have dipped to just one notch away from being considered junk.
- This was said by the report released by Moody’s Investors Service.
- The six companies are: IOC, HPCL, OIL, Petronet LNG, BPCL & ONGC.
Current COVID19 Situation in India
QUIZ TIME
Which of the following does not export ‘Heeng’ to India?
- Iran
- Uzbekistan
- Afghanistan
- Malaysia
Answer: D
Who acts as the custodian & manager for the Forex Reserves of India?
- RBI
- World Bank
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Finance & Corporate Affairs
Answer: A
What among the following is NOT the reason for current surge in the Forex Reserves of India?
- Rise in Foreign Portfolio Investors & FDIs
- Fall in global crude oil prices
- Decline in Foreign travels – Decline in $ outflows
- Covid Special Economic Package by the Union Govt.
Answer: D