GOA

Installation of bio-toilets to begin by November

In a move to make the state open defecation free (ODF), the Goa State Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC) will start installing bio-toilets in identified individual households and public places within the next two months so as to meet its deadline of December 19.

The Corporation has recently floated tender inviting technical and financial bids for the supply, installation and maintenance of over 60,000 bio-toilets in the state. The total cost of the project is Rs 280 crore with each toilet costing between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 depending upon its quality.

A bio-toilet is a complete waste management solution which reduces solid human waste to bio-gas and water, with the help of a bacterial inoculum. Biological decomposition of human waste is done in bio-digester tanks with the help of anaerobic bacteria.

According to the figures from Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), there is a requirement to provide atleast 3,011 individual household toilets in urban areas and the exact figure from the panchayat department on number of individual household toilets required in the villages is still awaited.

INTERNATIONAL

Curtain Raiser :Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Exercise KAZIND 2018

Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Army Exercise ‘KAZIND’ will be conducted between the Indian and Kazakhstan Army from 10 to 23 Sep 2018 in Otar region, Kazakhstan.

This is the third joint military exercise between the two countries which have a history of extensive cooperation in the defence arena.

The second edition of the exercise was held in India last year.

The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral Army to Army relations and exchange skills and experiences between Kazakhstan Army and the Indian Army.

India on track to buy 18 bullet trains from Japan for Rs 7,000 crore

India will purchase 18 bullet train sets from Japan at a total cost of about Rs 7,000 crore in a deal that includes a pledge to transfer technology for local production.

Each train will have 10 coaches and would be able to cruise at the speed of 350 km per hour.

The country’s first bullet train is likely to start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad by the end of 2022.

The 508-km, high speed train corridor is being built with Japanese assistance.

· World’s first lion cubs born via artificial insemination

In a world first achievement, a lioness at the Ukutula Conservation Center and Biobank in South Africa‘s North West province has given birth to two cubs conceived via non-surgical artificial insemination, using fresh semen from an adult male lion at the same facility.
The research is a breakthrough for saving endangered specieslike tiger and snow leopard.

IAF & French Air force Conduct Basic Training in India

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 at Darwin, Australia.

Sixteen different nations from across the globe, including French Air Force (FAF) participated in this exercise.

On the return leg, Rafale fighter aircraft and transport aircraft of FAF staged through Air Force Station, Gwalior and Air Force Station, Agra from 01 – 04 Sep 18.

NATIONAL

· Amazon India made its e-commerce website and mobile application available in Hindi

Amazon Indiaannounced that its e-commerce website and mobile application is now made available in Hindi. Other online players like also Paytm Mall offer users the option to use Hindi as a language. However, Flipkart is available only in English.
The launch of the Hindi shopping experience is to bring the next 100 million customers online. This first Indian language launch by Amazon will enable Hindi-preferring customers to shop in their preferred language.

· National Nutrition Month being celebrated across Country in the month of September

The National Nutrition Month (September) is being celebrated across the country to mark the fight against malnutrition.
During this month, various programmes have been organized by the Women and Child Development Ministry to spread broad awareness on the issues related to malnutrition like stunting, undernutrition, anemia and low birth weight in children.

· Total state fiscal deficits to rise by 20bps to 2.8% in FY19′

The aggregate fiscal deficit of the states is likely to moderate to 2.8 per cent of GDP, 20 bps higher than the budgeted target, on the back of the states likely achieving a zero revenue balance to GDP ratio in FY19, said a report.

The agency has revised downward the aggregate debt/GDP estimate to 24.4 per cent for FY19 from its earlier estimate of 25.8 per cent. The states have budgeted debt/GDP at 24.3 per cent for FY19, marginally higher than 24 per cent in FY18.

The states have budgeted their combined gross market borrowings at Rs 4,40,720 crore in FY19. But the agency estimates the borrowings to be higher at Rs 4,65,280 crore this fiscal.

The states’ aggregate market borrowings rose to Rs 1.1 trillion during April to July 2018, from Rs 98,200 crore over April to July 2017.

· Smriti Irani inaugurated ‘digital village’ in Amethi

Union textiles minister Smriti Irani inaugurated a ‘digital village’ in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Under the digital village project, there would be 206 programmes available for the people including a Wi-Fi Chaupal, LED bulb manufacturing, a unit to make sanitary pads and PM digital literacy initiative.

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