The Union government has set up a panel for better coordination among the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG),the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC) and the state governments. The panel will assist in speeding up hydrocarbon exploration-related clearances.The panel has Cabinet Secretary as chairman and secretaries of home,petroleum and environment will be… Continue reading Panel formed for better coordination among petrol, environment ministries
Author: ForumIAS
ASEAN vows to tackle ocean waste
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) has vowed to fight against plastic pollution in the ocean as their leaders adopted a joint declaration during the 34th Asean summit in Bangkok. The Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region was adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN countries which includes four of the world’s… Continue reading ASEAN vows to tackle ocean waste
Odisha comes up with a flood atlas, aided by satellite imagery
Odisha Chief Minister has released a unique flood hazard atlas which is expected to help the State manage floods more efficiently. The flood hazard atlas system takes into account the flood inundation data captured through satellite imagery over the period from 2001 to 2018. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research… Continue reading Odisha comes up with a flood atlas, aided by satellite imagery
Shefali Juneja appointed India’s representative to ICAO
Government has appointed Shefali Juneja as India’s representative in the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating and regulating international air travel. ICAO was established in 1944 by Convention on International Civil Aviation(Chicago Convention).It is headquartered in Quebec,Canada. It codifies the principles… Continue reading Shefali Juneja appointed India’s representative to ICAO
Rajasthan nod to Ayushman Bharat
The Rajasthan government has given an official go ahead to implement the Central government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(AB-PMJAY). AB-PMJAY will be integrated with Rajasthan’s existing state health scheme,Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana(BSBY). Rajasthan is currently providing benefits to 97 lakh families under the state scheme.This leaves only Delhi,Telangana,Odisha and West… Continue reading Rajasthan nod to Ayushman Bharat
From Japan, a museum of peace built on memories of WWII
Japan has gifted Manipur a museum of peace to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal.It is one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War. The Imphal Peace Museum was inaugurated at Red Hill about 20 km southwest of Manipur’s capital Imphal.The museum is funded by the Nippon Foundation. Some 70,000… Continue reading From Japan, a museum of peace built on memories of WWII
Barmer oil refinery back on track
Rajasthan Chief Minister has set a target for the completion of the Barmer oil refinery project within four years. Barmer Refinery is an upcoming public sector refinery and petrochemical complex which will have a total processing capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum (Mmtpa). The refinery will be built 5km away from Pachpadra village… Continue reading Barmer oil refinery back on track
Bhubaneswar becomes 0.5 degree C hotter due to urbanisation
The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Bhubaneswar has documented how urbanisation of cities in the last decade can sharply increase the local temperature. The study has found out that the local surface temperature in large cities in Odisha such as Cuttack and Bhubaneswar has increased by as much as 40-50% during the period… Continue reading Bhubaneswar becomes 0.5 degree C hotter due to urbanisation
Tea Association seeks curbs on extension of tea-growing areas
The Tea Association of India(TAI) has urged State governments to restrict new lands being brought under tea cultivation for at least five years in order to bring a balance in tea demand and supply. TAI has pointed out that the economic sustainability of the organised tea plantation sector was in jeopardy due to shrinking margins… Continue reading Tea Association seeks curbs on extension of tea-growing areas
Banks may extend foreign currency loans for exporters
Commerce and Industry Minister has said that the ministry is in talks with banks to see ways to extend foreign currency loans to exporters. The minister has also said Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) can play a role of credit enhancement agency for exporters. He has asked ECGC to come up with a… Continue reading Banks may extend foreign currency loans for exporters

