GOA

Govt to infuse new life into old cashew plantations

With the state posting annual increase in the cashew production, the government is all set to rejuvenate about 5,000 hectares of old cashew plantations in next 10 years to further increase the yield of cashew in Goa.

The department of agriculture will implement the cashew plantation rejuvenation scheme under the National Horticulture Mission.

Presently, the total area with the Goa Forest Development Corporation under cashew cultivation is 8,971.037 hectares.

During the year 2017-18, the cashew production in Goa was 28,012 tonne as compared to 24,396 tonne in 2016-17 and 17,549 in 2015-2016.

The corporation does not harvest but auctions the cashew plantation. In 2017-18, Rs 2,02,01,005 was the total amount received, while the revenue was about Rs 2,252 per hectare.

The cashew stem borer is the major problem in many cashew plantations, and if this pest infestation if left untreated then it results in death of the tree.

It has been roughly estimated that up to 10 per cent mortality can occur in such neglected cashew plantations annually.

Through its schemes and initiatives, the agriculture directorate has been making efforts to control these pests as assistance up to 75 per cent of cost towards purchase of pesticides, fungicides, bio-control agents – maximum up to Rs 4,500 per ha limited to Rs 18,000 or 4 ha per beneficiary – is provided the under state sector scheme to cashew cultivators, pertaining to crop production input management.

INTERNATIONAL

Vienna ranked as most liveable city in the world

The Austrian capital, Vienna, has beaten Australia’s Melbourne to be named the world’s most liveable city.

It’s the first time a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey.

The worldwide league table ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.

· India to participate in SCO Peace Mission 2018 exercise at Russia

India will participate for the first timein the joint SCO Peace Mission Exercise, a part of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiatives, being conducted by Central Military Commission of Russia from August 22-29 at Chebarkul.
India became a full member of the SCO in June 2017.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is aneight-member multilateral organization, established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
8 members of SCO are:- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

· India released 470 Million Nepali Rupees Grant for Terai Roads Project in Nepal

Indian Ambassadorto Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of the grant to Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal, Madhusudan Adhikari in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The amount has been released to maintain fund liquidity for the ongoing construction of 14 road packages under Postal Highway Project.

NATIONAL

NITI Aayog launches “Pitch to MOVE”

NITI Aayog has launched “Pitch to MOVE” – a mobility pitch competition that aims to provide budding entrepreneurs of India a unique opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a distinguished jury.

Startups working in the various fields of mobility can pitch their ideas to industry leaders and Venture Capitalists for raising investments.

Winners of the event will be felicitated by Hon’ble PM during the Global Mobility Summit.

“Pitch to MOVE” is organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Invest India and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) as a part of a series of engaging featured events in the run up to the main event.

· Haryana to inaugurate its first licensed Hisar Airport

The airport will be inaugurated on August 15 by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
The team informed that the airport selected by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS-UDAN Scheme in which one airline namely M/s Pinnacle Airways Limited have bid for two routes namely Delhi-Hisar and Hisar-Chandigarh.

· State Bank of India ranked As Indias Most Patriotic Brand

According to a survey conducted by UK-based online market research data, companies followed by Tata Motors, Patanjali, Reliance Jio and BSNL.
The survey, which covered 152 brandsacross 11 categories, is based on data collected online by YouGov Omnibus among 1,193 respondents in the country.

Indias first genetic bank for wildlife conservation inaugurated in Hyderabad

It is India’s first genetic resource bank where the genetic material will be stored for posterity which will further the cause of conservation of endangered species.
It is equipped with sophisticated equipment to preserve the genetic resources that could be utilized to virtually resurrect an animal species.
Laboratory of Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES)developed a universal DNA based marker for identification of wild animals from parts and remains.

CJI launches mobile apps for e-filing of cases

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra inaugurated three apps along with Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Justices Madan B. Lokur and A.M. Khanwilkar.

Chief Justice Misra said the services provided by the apps include e-filing along with user manual, e-payment options, National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NTSEP).

· Rifleman Aurangzeb, Major Aditya Kumar conferred to Shaurya Chakra

President Ram Nath Kovind approved these names on the eve of Independence Day along with three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 93 Sena Medals (Gallantry) and, 11 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry).
He also conferred Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Group Captain Abhishek Sharma, Squadron Leader Vernon Desmond Keane and Sergeant Shashidhar P Prasad.

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