What is United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty
• Signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit or the Rio Conference
• Objective – Achieve, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
• The 197 countries that ratified the agreement represent almost universal global involvement.
• It meets yearly to discuss progress and take bold action.
• The Kyoto Protocol and more recent Paris Agreement are other landmark treaties that have emerged from these annual meetings.

Cabinet approves developing of Affordable rental housing Complexes for urban migrants / poor

• This will be the sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY – U)
• Existing vacant government funded housing complexes will be converted in ARHCs through Concession Agreements for 25 years.
• Approximately, three Lakh beneficiaries will be covered initially under ARHCs.
• Govt. will spend Rs 600 Crore in the form of Technology Innovation Grant which will be released for projects using identified innovative technologies for construction.
• Background: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has initiated Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) for urban migrants/poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). The scheme was announced on 14 May, 2020. This scheme seeks to fulfill the vision of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

Approval to ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’

• The Union Cabinet has approved Central Sector Scheme-Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
•  The scheme shall provide a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.
• Rs. 1 lakh Crore will be provided by banks & financial institutions as loans to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project.
• Loans will be disbursed in four years starting with sanction of Rs. 10,000 crore in the current year and Rs. 30,000 crore each in next three financial years.
• All loans will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore.
• Moratorium for repayment may vary subject to minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years.
• Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) will provide credit guarantee coverage to eligible borrowers.

Capital Infusion of three Public Sector General Insurance Companies

• The Union Cabinet approved the capital infusion for an overall value of Rs.12,450 crore in the three Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs)
  • Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OlCL)
  • National Insurance Company Limited (NICL)
  • United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL)
• The process of merger has been ceased so far in view of the current scenario and instead, the focus shall be on their profitable growth.
• The capital infusion will enable the three PSGICs to improve their financial and solvency position, meet the insurance needs of the economy, absorb changes and enhance the capacity to raise resources and improved risk management.

PM Narendra Modi to deliver the inaugural address at India Global Week 2020 Today

•  Shri Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address on Day 1 of India Global Week 2020.
• It is a three – day virtual conference.
• Theme– ‘Be the Revival: India and a Better New World’.
• India Global Week 2020 will have 5000 global participants from 30 nations being addressed by 250 global speakers across 75 sessions.

Bubonic Plague

•  Bayannur, a city in northern China is on high alert after a suspected case.
• The disease killed about 12 million in India when it occurred in 1896.
•  Plague was also known as the ‘Black Death’.
• Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by fleas and rodents. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can jump from animals to humans.
• It mainly results from the bite of an infected flea. It may also result from exposure to the body fluids from a dead plague-infected animal.
• It is one of the three plagues caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis. The other two being Septicaemic plague and Pneumonic plague.
• It is spread by Yersinia pestis bacteria and requires urgent hospitalization. It can kill an adult within 24 hours if not treated in time.
• The plague is a life-threatening disease but if caught early, can be treated with antibiotics.
• It is highly contagious; those who are infected with pneumonic plague are kept in isolation.
• The first official case was reported on 23 September 1896 in the then Bombay.

Current COVID19 Situation in India

QUIZ TIME

Under PMAY – U the vacant government funded housing complexes will be converted in ARHCs through Concession Agreements for how many years?

1. 23 years
2. 24 years
3. 25 years
4. 26 years

Answer – C

Under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund the loans will be provided to?

1. Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
2. Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
3. Self Help Group (SHG)
4. All of the above

Answer – D

The theme for India Global Week 2020 is

1. Be the Revival: India and a Better New World.
2. India and a New World
3. Better India Better World
4. None of the above

Answer – A

Bubonic plague is transmitted by

1. Fleas
2. Rodents
3. Both A and B
4. None

Answer – C

Question of the Day

What is International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

Answer in next session…