CURRENT AFFAIRS

GK CAPSULE -2

1.     Centre, Maharashtra government and World Bank sign 420 million US dollar project to help small farmers of Marathwada and Vidarbha region.

The Centre, Maharastra Government and the World Bank have signed a 420 million US dollar project to help small and marginal farmers in the Marathwada and Vidarbha region of the state.

§  The project will help in increasing climate resilient practices in agriculture and ensuring that farming continues to remain a financially viable activity for them.

§  The Maharashtra Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture will be implemented in rural areas largely dependent upon rain fed agriculture.

§  The project will take up a series of activities at the farm and watershed level.

2.                 US imposes fresh sanctions on several Russian entities it accuses of profiting from Moscow’s alleged efforts to undermine western democracies; 

The United States imposed fresh sanctions on several Russian entities it accuses of profiting from Moscow’s alleged efforts to undermine western democracies.

§  The sanctions have been imposed on seven Russian businessmen, twelve companies owned by them and 17 senior government officials.

§  The penalties targeted those profiting from Russia’s corrupt system.

§  The move was a response to Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

§  The sanctions are also being imposed because of the actions taken by the Kremlin in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria.

§  Russia described the new sanctions as a new blow to Russia-US relations, adding that Moscow would respond firmly to the move.

3.                 In Uttar Pradesh, Ganga Greenery scheme is being launched in 27 districts of the state located on the bank of river Ganga.

§  Objectives of the scheme include enhancing green cover on the banks of the river Ganga and to control the land erosion.

§  Plantation will be carried out in one kilometre areas from the banks of river under the drive.

§  Special plantation drive with the help of farmers, NGOs, Cooperative Societies, educational institutions and government departments will be carried out in the identified areas in above one thousand villages.

§  The drive will be carried out by September 16 Ozone Day of this year.

§  Individuals will also be encouraged for plantation on their private lands under One Person one tree slogan. 

4.  Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die bringing budget session to an end

§  127 hours 45 minutes of budget time in LS was wasted during the session due to disruptions and the house functioned only for 33 hours 50 minutes.

§  Rajya Sabha Chairman adjourned the House sine die after making a brief observation about its functioning during the second part of the Budget Session.

§  Expressing serious concern, Vice President said 120 hours were lost in the House due to disruptions and asked the members to introspect.

§  The Lok Sabha functioned only four percent while the Rajya Sabha eight percent in the second part of the Budget Session due to frequent disruptions.

§  During the second phase of the Budget session, Parliament passed four bills including Finance bill and the Payments of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

§  Under the Gratuity Bill, the ceiling of gratuity has been enhanced from 10 lakh rupees to 20 lakh rupees for employees falling under the Payment of Gratuity Act.

§  However, the bills were passed without discussion amidst din.

§  The government wanted to pass some key legislations including the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Triple Talaq bill in the session but they could not be taken up due to stalling of proceedings by the opposition.

5.                 Women at Ghagwal in Jammu have started making low cost sanitary pads

They are being assisted by the Department of Rural Development under the Umeed scheme.

§  The State Rural Livelihood Mission has installed a low-cost pad making unit at Gagwal.

§  The women from Self Help Groups of this block are managing the whole process of making sanitary pads and its marketing.

Aim:

§  To ensure menstrual hygiene by selling the sanitary pads for less than a third of the cost of commercial pads, the women will not only sell the sanitary pads to the women at low cost but also earn their livelihood from the business.  

6.                 South Korean court has sentenced former President to 24 years in prison

§  A South Korean court has sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to 24 years in prison after she was found guilty of corruption.

§  The court found her guilty on several corruption charges, abuse of power and coercion in a verdict issued.

§  She was also fined 16 million US dollars.