GOA

• Goa government may take Rs 450 crore hit from mining closure

 

• A mainstay of Goa’s economy, the closure of mining operations is going to hurt the state for the second time in a decade. The Supreme Court’s scathing judgment will extract a heavy economic price and could not only lead to a Rs 400-450 crore revenue loss for the state government over the next two years, but it will also impact allied industries and rural employment.
  Stakeholders estimate that mines and mining equipment could lie unused for the next two years before mining operations resume in the state.
• Iron ore exports have been Goa’s biggest economic contributor after tourism in the past few decades.
• Until 2012, the state was India’s largest exporter of iron ore, exporting as much as 54 million tonnes in a year largely catering to China.

 

• The economic survey shows that Goa earned Rs 244.9 crore just as royalty in 2016-17 from iron ore extraction and exports. Since 2015, when iron ore mining resumed in Goa, the state has collected Rs 118.7 crore for Goa Mineral Ore Permanent Fund.

 

• After the iron ore mining ban was imposed in 2012-13, Goa’s GSDP stood at (minus) -1.96%, but recovered to to 15.3% due to strong tertiary and secondary sector.

 

• It could take as long as two years for mining operations to restart and till then the state’s economy will go through turmoil. Consumer goods, passenger vehicles, real estate, logistics, shipyards and even banks will see a significant impact on their business. 

   

  INTERNATIONAL

   

  ·        Intel sets a Guinness world record with 1,218 drones at 2018 Winter Olympic Games

   

  • The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2018 saw a record-setting performance of 1,218 drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), flying in sync to create huge formations of various Olympic sports and the iconic Olympic rings. This record was set by Intel.
  • The drones set a world record for the ‘most unmanned aerial vehicles airborne simultaneously,’ which was previously held by 500 drones during a 2016 performance in Germany.

   

  ·        Sister of North Korean leader meets the president of South Korea 1st time in the 2018 Winter Olympics

   

   

  • Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister and close adviser, just sat down for a historic meeting with the president of South Korea in the latest surprising development to come out of the North’s decision to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
  • North and South Korea marched together under one flag at the Olympics.

   

  NATIONAL

   

  • Swachh Bharat Sanitation Park” inaugurated in Delhi

   

  • The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Environmental Sanitation Institute and Tata Trusts, has developed a Sanitation Park which was inaugurated in the Capital by Union Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, and Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri ParameswaranIyer.

   

  • The Sanitation Park was developed at CGO Complex in New Delhi with an objective to create awareness on various safe technological options.

   

  • The Park demonstrates various options pertaining to toilet technologies and solid and liquid waste management technologies, with a brief description of these technologies.

   

   

  • Shri RK Singh launches ASH TRACK Mobile App

   

  • Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh, launched a Web based monitoring System and a Fly Ash mobile application named ASH TRACK.

   

  • These platforms will enable better management of the ash produced by thermal power plants by providing an interface between fly ash producers (Thermal Power Plants) and potential ash users such as – road contractors, cement plants etc.

   

   

  • WCD Ministry to set up National Women Entrepreneurship Council

   

  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development is considering to establish National Women Entrepreneurship Council (NWEC).

   

  • NWEC will promote entrepreneurship as it would be the umbrella organization for socio-economic gender parity, financial inclusion and economic empowerment of women in India.

   

  • This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

   

   

  • Reliance Industries wins Golden Peacock Award 2017 for CSR 

   

  • Reliance Industries (RIL) said it has been awarded the Golden Peacock Award 2017 for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

   

  • The award was a recognition of the work done by its CSR arm Reliance Foundation under Founder and Chairman Nita Ambani.

   

  • Golden Peacock Awards, instituted by the Institute Of Directors (IOD) in 1991 in India, are regarded as a benchmark of Corporate Excellence.

   

   

  • Bengaluru to get electric vehicle charging points across the city

   

  • Bengaluru city has the highest number of electric car owners in India, with over 6,000 electric vehicles.
  • Now, the government is planning to install 11public charging points for e-vehicles.
  • The first charging point will be opened for public from February 15th. It is located at the KR Circle at Bescom’s corporate office.
  • Currently, Mahindra is the only manufacturer that commercially sells electric vehicles in India. In the future, manufacturers like Tata, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota and Hyundai have plans to launch electric vehicles in the Indian market too.

   

Final Destination for Goa PSC Notes and Tests, Exclusive coverage of GPSC Prelims and Mains Syllabus, Dedicated Staff and guidence GOAPSC Notes brings Prelims and Mains programs for GOAPSC Prelims and GOAPSC Mains Exam preparation. Various Programs initiated by GOAPSC Notes are as follows:-

• GOAPSC Mains Tests and Notes Program
• GOAPSC Prelims Exam 2024- Test Series and Notes Program
• GOAPSC Prelims and Mains Tests Series and Notes Program
• GOAPSC Detailed Complete Prelims Notes

For any doubt, Just leave us a Chat or Fill us a querry––