समाचार विश्लेषण
- 18 अप्रैल 2020
- 32 मिनट पढ़ा
भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था
एनबीएफसी को तरलता बूस्ट
क्यों समाचार में
भारतीय रिजर्व बैंक (आरबीआई) को तरलता समर्थन प्रदान करने के उपायों के एक मेजबान की घोषणा की है गैर बैंकिंग वित्तीय कंपनियां (एनबीएफसी) के अलावा उन्हें वाणिज्यिक रियल एस्टेट सेक्टर के लिए बढ़ा ऋण के लिए कुछ लाभ देने से।
प्रमुख बिंदु
- टीएलटीआरओ २.०
- उपयुक्त आकार की किस्तों में RBI 50,000 रुपये की कुल राशि के लिए लक्षित दीर्घकालिक रेपो परिचालन (TLTRO 2.0) का आयोजन करेगा ।
- बैंकों को निवेश ग्रेड बॉन्ड, कमर्शियल पेपर और गैर-परिवर्तनीय डिबेंचर के NBTs में TLTRO 2.0 के तहत प्राप्त धन का निवेश करना होगा।
- RBI ने निर्धारित किया कि छोटे और मध्यम आकार के NBFC और माइक्रो फाइनेंस इंस्टीट्यूशंस (MFI) को कम से कम 50% फंड प्राप्त करना चाहिए ।
- इस सुविधा के तहत बैंकों द्वारा किए गए निवेश को 'हेल्ड-टू-मेच्योरिटी' (HTM) के रूप में वर्गीकृत किया जाएगा , यहां तक कि कुल निवेश का 25% से अधिक HTM पोर्टफोलियो में शामिल करने की अनुमति दी गई है।
- परिपक्वता प्रतिभूतियों के लिए प्रतिभूतियां ऐसी प्रतिभूतियां हैं जिन्हें कंपनियां परिपक्व होने तक खरीदने और रखने का इरादा रखती हैं।
- इससे एनबीएफसी और एमएफआई को कुछ हद तक होने वाली तरलता की समस्या को दूर करने में मदद मिलेगी ।
- एनबीएफसी को तरलता के दबाव का सामना करना पड़ रहा है क्योंकि बैंकों ने इन संस्थाओं को कोई पुनर्भुगतान स्थगन नहीं बढ़ाया है, भले ही एनबीएफसी को अपने उधारकर्ताओं के लिए समान प्रदान करना पड़े।
- पुनर्वित्त सुविधा: आरबीआई ने राष्ट्रीय कृषि और ग्रामीण विकास (नाबार्ड) , भारतीय लघु उद्योग विकास बैंक (सिडबी) और राष्ट्रीय आवास बैंक (एनएचबी) को ref 50,000 करोड़ की विशेष पुनर्वित्त सुविधा प्रदान करने का निर्णय लिया है। सेक्टोरल क्रेडिट जरूरतों को पूरा करें। इसमें शामिल होगा:
- क्षेत्रीय ग्रामीण बैंकों (आरआरबी) , सहकारी बैंकों और माइक्रोफाइनेंस संस्थानों (एमएफआई) को पुनर्वित्त करने के लिए नाबार्ड को 25,000 करोड़ रुपये ।
- BI ऋण देने / पुनर्वित्त के लिए सिडबी को 15,000 करोड़।
- हाउसिंग फाइनेंस कंपनियों (HFC) को समर्थन देने के लिए NHB को NH 10,000 करोड़।
- रियल एस्टेट सेक्टर को ऋणों का विस्तार: RBI ने NBFC द्वारा ऋणों के विस्तार की अनुमति दी है ताकि पुनर्गठन के बिना एक वर्ष तक वाणिज्यिक अचल संपत्ति परियोजनाओं में देरी हो सके।
लक्षित दीर्घकालिक रेपो परिचालन
- LTRO एक ऐसा उपकरण है जो बैंकोंको आरबीआई से रेपो रेट पर एक से तीन साल के फंड को उधार देता है, जैसे कि संपार्श्विक के रूप में सरकारी प्रतिभूति प्रदान करता है।
- इसे 'लक्षित' LTRO कहा जाता है क्योंकि इस मामले में, RBI चाहता है कि बैंक इस विकल्प के तहत निधियों का चयन करें, विशेष रूप से निवेश-ग्रेड बॉन्ड में निवेश किया जाए ।
- TLTRO को RBI द्वारा वित्तीय संस्थानों सहित, कोविद -19 प्रकोप के मद्देनजर अपने नकदी प्रवाह मुद्दों का प्रबंधन करने में मदद करने के लिए पेश किया गया था ।
ध्यान दें
- इन्वेस्टमेंट-ग्रेड बॉन्ड: यह बॉन्ड को दर्शाने के लिए उपयोग किया जाने वाला एक बॉन्ड वर्गीकरण है जो अन्य बॉन्ड की तुलना में अपेक्षाकृत कम क्रेडिट जोखिम रखता है।
- वाणिज्यिक पत्र (CP) एक अल्पकालिक ऋण साधन है जो कंपनियों द्वारा आम तौर पर एक वर्ष तक की अवधि के लिए धन जुटाने के लिए जारी किया जाता है।
- गैर-परिवर्तनीय डिबेंचर: वे डिबेंचर जिन्हें शेयरों में परिवर्तित नहीं किया जा सकता है।
नेशनल हाउसिंग बैंक
- एनएचबी एक वैधानिक संगठन है जिसे 9 जुलाई 1988 को राष्ट्रीय आवास बैंक अधिनियम, 1987 के तहत स्थापित किया गया था।
- यह देश में आवास क्षेत्र और आरबीआई की पूर्ण स्वामित्व वाली सहायक कंपनी के लिए शीर्ष स्तर की वित्तीय संस्था है ।
- NHB का उद्देश्य हाउसिंग फाइनेंस इंस्टीट्यूशंस को बढ़ावा देना है और ऐसे संस्थानों को वित्तीय और अन्य सहायता प्रदान करता है।
गैर-बैंकिंग वित्तीय कंपनी
- एनबीएफसी कंपनी अधिनियम, 1956 के तहत पंजीकृत कंपनी है ।
- यह ऋण या अग्रिम, शेयरों / शेयरों / बॉन्ड / डिबेंचर / प्रतिभूतियों के अधिग्रहण के लिए सरकार या स्थानीय प्राधिकरण द्वारा जारी किए गए हैं या प्रकृति, पट्टे, खरीद, बीमा व्यवसाय, चिट व्यवसाय के अन्य विपणन योग्य प्रतिभूतियों ।
- लेकिन, इसमें कोई भी संस्था शामिल नहीं है जिसका मुख्य व्यवसाय कृषि गतिविधि, औद्योगिक गतिविधि, किसी सामान की खरीद (बिक्री) या प्रतिभूतियों के अलावा) है या किसी भी सेवा और अचल संपत्ति की बिक्री / खरीद / निर्माण प्रदान करता है।
- एक गैर-बैंकिंग संस्थान जो एक कंपनी है और किसी भी योजना के तहत जमा राशि प्राप्त करने का मुख्य व्यवसाय है या एकमुश्त या किस्तों में योगदान के माध्यम से या किसी अन्य तरीके से, यह भी एक गैर-बैंकिंग वित्तीय कंपनी है। बैंकिंग कंपनी)।
- एनबीएफसी की विशेषताएं
- एनबीएफसी मांग जमा स्वीकार नहीं कर सकता।
- एनबीएफसी भुगतान और निपटान प्रणाली का हिस्सा नहीं बनते हैं और स्वयं चेक जारी नहीं कर सकते हैं।
- एनबीएफसी के जमाकर्ताओं को जमा बीमा और क्रेडिट गारंटी निगम की जमा बीमा सुविधा उपलब्ध नहीं है।
भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था
राज्यों का अर्थोपाय अग्रिम उधार
क्यों समाचार में
हाल ही में, केरल, पंजाब और बिहार जैसे राज्यों ने कहा है कि भारतीय रिज़र्व बैंक (RBI ) ने 30 मार्च, 2020 की सीमा की तुलना में तरीकों और साधन अग्रिमों (WMA) के तहत 60% अधिक उधार लेने की अनुमति देने का निर्णय लिया है, जो राज्यों के बढ़ते खर्चों को देखते हुए अपर्याप्त है। कोविद -19 महामारी का मुकाबला करने के लिए ।
प्रमुख बिंदु
- राज्यों ने तरीकों और मीन्स एडवांस (डब्ल्यूएमए) के तहत 60% अधिक उधारी की अनुमति देने के लिए आरबीआई के कदम का स्वागत किया , लेकिन कहा कि यह एक अस्थायी राहत है और राज्यों के सामने राजकोषीय संकट का केवल मामूली प्रभाव पड़ेगा।
- वे कह रहे हैं कि वे तरीकों और साधनों के लिए लंबे समय तक नहीं जा सकते हैं और अपने खर्च को काफी हद तक कम करना होगा क्योंकि उनके पास राजस्व वृद्धि के लिए कई रास्ते नहीं बचे हैं।
- उन्होंने कहा कि बैंक अपनी तरलता वरीयता के कारण लंबी अवधि के लिए बड़ी मात्रा में धन देने को तैयार नहीं हैं।
- उन्होंने केंद्र सरकार से राजकोषीय जवाबदेही और बजट प्रबंधन (FRBM) अधिनियम के तहत जीएसडीपी (सकल राज्य घरेलू उत्पाद) के 3% पर राज्यों की राजकोषीय उधार सीमा को बढ़ाने की मांग की ।
- केंद्र राजकोषीय उत्तरदायित्व और बजट प्रबंधन अधिनियम, 2003 की धारा 5 (3) को लागू कर सकता है , जो आरबीआई को "केंद्र सरकार की प्रतिभूतियों के प्राथमिक मुद्दों की सदस्यता" देता है।
- अन्य बातों के अलावा, "युद्ध का कार्य" और "राष्ट्रीय आपदा"।
- RBI केंद्रीय बाजार के साथ-साथ राज्य सरकार की प्रतिभूतियों की बिक्री और बिक्री में वृद्धि कर सकता है ।
तरीके और साधन अग्रिम (WMA)
- डब्ल्यूएमए अल्पकालिक ऋण सुविधाएं हैं जो केंद्र और राज्यों को व्यय और प्राप्तियों के बीच अस्थायी बेमेल को पाटने के लिए आरबीआई से धन उधार लेने की अनुमति देती हैं ।
- WMA पर ब्याज दर RBI की रेपो दर है।
- रेपो दर मूल रूप से वह दर है जिस पर RBI बैंकों को अल्पकालिक धन उधार देता है।
- डब्ल्यूएमए ऋणों का तीन महीने का कार्यकाल होता है।
- राज्यों को 21 दिनों की ओवरड्राफ्ट सुविधा (डब्ल्यूएमए सीमा से अधिक उधार लेने) की अनुमति है।
राजकोषीय उत्तरदायित्व और बजट प्रबंधन (FRBM) अधिनियम, 2003
- एफआरबीएम अधिनियम को 2003 में संसद द्वारा राजकोषीय अनुशासन को संस्थागत बनाने, राजकोषीय घाटे को कम करने और व्यापक आर्थिक प्रबंधन में सुधार के लिए लागू किया गया था।
- सरकार को 2008-09 तक राजस्व घाटे को कम करने और राजकोषीय घाटे को जीडीपी के 3% तक कटौती करने की आवश्यकता थी, इस प्रकार राजकोषीय अनुशासन की बहुत आवश्यकता थी।
- Fiscal deficit is the total expenditure excluding revenue receipts, loan recoveries and receipts from disinvestment etc. It is a measure of the government borrowing in a year.
- The Act applies only to the central government and the States have to enact suitable legislation to adopt the rules under the FRBM Act.
- The implementation of the Act was put on hold in 2007-08 due to the global financial crisis and the need for fiscal stimulus.
- In 2012, the FRBM Act was amended and it was decided that the FRBM Act would target an effective revenue deficit in place of revenue deficit.
- Effective revenue deficit excludes capital expenditure from revenue deficit and thus provides space to the government to spend on formation of capital assets.
- In 2017, the FRBM Review Committee headed by former Revenue Secretary, NK Singh submitted its report to the Central Government. Few important recommendations being-
- A debt to GDP ratio of 60% should be targeted with a 40% limit for the centre and 20% limit for the states;
- Creation of an autonomous Fiscal Council;
- An “escape clause”, i.e. the government can deviate from the targets in case of a national calamity, national security, etc.
- The government used an escape route in its Budget for FY20, by taking a deviation of 0.5 percentage points from the fiscal deficit targets set out earlier.
- During the presentation of the Budget 2020-21, the government fixed the fiscal deficit target for the year 2020-21 at 3.5% of the GDP.
Biodiversity & Environment
India’s Water Woes
Why in News
Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has issued an advisory to state governments asking them to ensure safe drinking water supply and management during the nationwide lockdown that has been extended to 3rd May, 2020.
Key Points
- Advisory:
- State governments need to assess the requirements of water purifying chemicals, including chlorine tablets, bleaching powder, sodium hypochlorite solution and alum and use them wherever necessary.
- These purifying products are classified under the list of essential commodities (Essential Commodities Act, 1955)
- For ensuring social distancing, states are recommended to increase water supply hours if demand goes up and people come to fetch water from the public stand post.
- State governments need to assess the requirements of water purifying chemicals, including chlorine tablets, bleaching powder, sodium hypochlorite solution and alum and use them wherever necessary.
- Reasons Behind the Advisory
- The urgent need to ensure the availability of safe potable water to all citizens, mainly in the rural areas where medical sanitisers may not be available, has been highlighted in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- In the list of preventive measures for controlling the spread of coronavirus, frequent washing of hands with frothing soaps is the most efficient and effective measure.
Water Crisis of India
- India has been facing the challenge of lack of access to clean water for several years.
- Falling groundwater levels, drought, increasing demand from agriculture and industry, pollution and poor water resource management are few other challenges which will intensify with the changing climate.
- According to the data of the Ministry of Water Resources in 2017, (merged into the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019) average annual per capita water availability fell from 1820 cubic meters assessed in 2001 to to 1545 cubic meters in 2011.
- The data also highlighted the possibility of it reducing further to 1341 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respectively.
- The ministry also held that the water availability of water stressed/water scarce regions of the country is much below the national average due to the high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation.
- Water Stressed Condition: Where annual per-capita water availability is less than 1700 cubic meters.
- Water Scarcity Condition: Where annual per- capita water availability is below 1000 cubic meters.
- According to the Global Annual Report, 2018 by the WaterAid, the water and sanitation advocacy group, India ranked at the top of 10 countries with lowest access to clean water close to home, with 16.3 crore people not having such access.
- However, the government's efforts (such as Jal Jeevan Mission) in solving the water crisis have been appreciated as well. It has been highlighted that despite facing several challenges, India is one of the world’s most-improved nations for reaching the most people with clean water.
Water in the Constitution
- In the Constitution, water is a matter included in Entry 17 of List-II i.e. State List. This entry is subject to the provision of Entry 56 of List-I i.e. Union List.
- Under Article 246, the Indian Constitution allocates responsibilities of the States and the Centre into three lists– Union List, State List and Concurrent List.
- Most of the rivers in the country give rise to inter-state differences and disputes (Article 262) on the regulation and development of waters of these rivers.
Geography
Godavari Valley Area and Covid-19
Why in News
Recently, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court for directing the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct Covid-19 tests among the tribal population living along the Godavari river valley area.
Key Points
- The petition said the Godavari river valley area, where the tribal people live is close to the Polavaram irrigation project area.
- The Godavari river valley area spreads across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- The Covid-19 lockdown has been blatantly violated for the construction of the Polavaram irrigation project on Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.
- A large number of migrant workers are still working on the project site without sanitisers and masks. These workers lived in close proximity to the tribal population.
- Lack of awareness among the tribal people, who live in dense forest and other scheduled areas of the river valley, made them more prone to Covid-19 infections.
- Konda reddis, Koyas and Kolam are the popular tribes living in godavari valley.
- Konda reddis and Kolam are part of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
Polavaram Irrigation Project
- Polavaram Project is located in Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari, near Polavaram village.
- It is a multi-purpose irrigation project as the project once completed will provide Irrigation benefits and will generate HydroElectric Power. In addition, this project will also supply drinking water.
- It will facilitate an inter-basin transfer to the Krishna river basin through its Right canal.
- It will also provide indirect benefits such as development of Pisciculture (breeding and rearing of fish), tourism and urbanisation.
- The Project has been accorded national project status by the union government in 2014 (under Section-90 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014).
Godavari River
- Source: Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
- Drainage Basin: The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.
- Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.
Governance
Rental Waivers to STPI Units
Why in News
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has decided to provide rental waiver to small Information Technology (IT) units operating out of the Software Technology Parks of India.
- This would provide a major boost to the IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) sector amid Covid-19 lockdown.
Key Points
- Most of the IT units are either MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) or startups.
- Benefit of the Rental Waiver:
- This initiative will provide benefit to nearly 200 IT-ITeS MSMEs, operating from the 60 STPI centres.
- This effort is also in the larger interest of around 3,000 IT-ITeS employees who are directly supported by MSME and startup units.
- Cost to the Government: The total cost of the rent waiver to these units for the four months from March 1 to June 30, 2020 is estimated to be around Rs. 5 crore.
Software Technology Parks of India
- Software Technology Parks of India was set up in 1991 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- STPI’s main objective has been the promotion of software exports from the country.
- The services rendered by STPI for the software exporting community have been statutory services, data communications services, incubation facilities, training and value added services.
- STPI has played a key developmental role in the promotion of software exports with a special focus on SMEs and startup units.
- STPI has been implementing the Software Technology Park (STP) scheme and the Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) scheme for the promotion of IT/ITES industry.
- STP Scheme is a unique scheme, designed to promote the software industry and growth of startups and SMEs without any locational constraints. A company can set up an STP unit anywhere in India.
- The EHTP Scheme is a 100% Export Oriented Scheme for undertaking manufacturing of electronic hardware equipment and other items in India.
- At present, more than 5,000 units are registered with STPI.
- It has 60 centres across the country including a mix of tier 1 cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata and tier 2 cities like Nagpur, Warangal, and Surat.
Indian Economy
Export Curbs on Paracetamol Formulations Removed
Why in News
The Centre has permitted the export of formulations (medicinal products) made from Paracetamol. However, the restriction on export of Paracetamol Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) will continue.
- The API is the part of any drug that produces the intended effects.
Key Points
- Paracetamol and its formulations were among the 13 APIs and their formulations that figured in the March 3,2020 notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
- The formulations made from Paracetamol, including FDC (Fixed Dose Combinations), under any ITCHS code have been made free for export with immediate effect.
- FDC: Two or more drugs contained in a single dosage form, such as a capsule or tablet.
- An example of a FDC HIV drug is Atripla (a combination of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). By reducing the number of pills a person must take each day, fixed-dose combination drugs can help improve adherence to an HIV treatment regimen.
- ITCHS codes are better known as Indian Trade Clarification (ITC) and are based on the Harmonized System (HS) of Coding.
- These were adopted in India for import-export operations.
- Indian custom uses an eight digit ITC (HS) code to suit the national trade requirements.
- FDC: Two or more drugs contained in a single dosage form, such as a capsule or tablet.
- The decision allowing export of formulations made from Paracetamol has come after permitting shipment of antimalarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to the United States (US) and several other countries.
- The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) of India wanted the Centre to resume export of Paracetamol APIs too.
- The Pharmaexcil was established in 2004 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to promote pharma exports.
Paracetamol
- Paracetamol is a common fever medication globally.
- Paracetamol is the most sought after and widely used drug ever since the Covid-19 outbreak.
- According to sources, India is among the leading manufacturers of Paracetamol globally.
- The production capacity is estimated to be 5,000 tonnes a month.
- From an export perspective, it is a low value, high volume product.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
- DGFT is the main governing body in matters related to Exim (Export-Import) Policy.
- It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- The main objective of it under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 is to provide the development and regulation of foreign trade by facilitating imports into, and augmenting exports from India.
- Foreign Trade Act has replaced the earlier law known as the Imports and Exports (Control) Act 1947.
International Relations
Plenary Meeting of IMFC
Why in News
Recently, the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs attended the plenary meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) through video-conferencing.
Key Points
- This meeting’s Global Policy Agenda was “Exceptional Times – Exceptional Action”.
- The IMFC was updated by the members on the actions and measures taken by the member countries to combat Covid-19.
- The members remarked on IMF’s crisis-response package to address global liquidity and members’ financing needs.
- India also highlighted that the IMF has always played a pivotal role in maintaining stability of the international monetary and financial system and that it should continue rendering this critical role to the global financial architecture.
- Measures taken by India to respond to the health crisis and to mitigate its impact were highlighted. Few of them are:
- India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Allocation of $2 Billion (₹15,000 crore) by the Government of India for strengthening the healthcare system.
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana: Announcement of a scheme of social support measures amounting to $23 Billion (₹1.70 lakh crore) to alleviate the hardship of the poor and the vulnerable.
- Provision of relief to firms in statutory and regulatory compliance matters.
- Easing of monetary policy by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and three-month moratorium on loan instalments.
- Creating a Covid-19 Emergency Fund for the SAARC region.
International Monetary and Financial Committee
- It is the Ministerial-level committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- It meets twice a year, once during the Fund-Bank Annual Meetings in October and once during the Spring Meetings in April.
- This year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the meeting took place through video-conference.
- Functions:
- It discusses the management of the international monetary and financial system.
- It advises the IMF on any other matters of common concern affecting the global economy.
- IMFC has 24 members, drawn from the pool of 189 governors, and represents all member countries. India is one of the current members.
- It operates on consensus, including on the selection of its chairman.
Important Facts For Prelims
Special Drawing Rights: IMF
Why in News
Recently, the Finance Minister of India opposed a general allocation of new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because it might not be effective in easing Covid-19 driven financial pressures.
- The Finance Minister was concerned that such a major liquidity injection could produce potentially costly side-effects if countries used the funds for irrelevant purposes.
- The new SDR allocation will provide all 189 members with new foreign exchange reserves with no conditions.
Key Points
- The SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. SDRs can be exchanged for these currencies.
- The SDR serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international organizations.
- The currency value of the SDR is determined by summing the values in U.S. dollars, based on market exchange rates, of a SDR basket of currencies.
- The SDR basket of currencies includes the U.S. dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling and the Chinese renminbi (included in 2016).
- The SDR currency value is calculated daily (except on IMF holidays or whenever the IMF is closed for business) and the valuation basket is reviewed and adjusted every five years.
- Quota (the amount contributed to the IMF) of a country is denominated (expressed) in SDRs.
- Members’ voting power is related directly to their quotas.
- India's Foreign exchange reserves also incorporate SDR.
Important Facts For Prelims
World Heritage Day
- Every year 18th April is celebrated as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or the World Heritage Day.
- The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) established the day in 1982 and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved it in 1983.
- Since then, it has been a day to celebrate and promote cultural heritage, and an opportunity to raise awareness about its diversity, its relevance, how vulnerable it can be and what the needs and benefits of its conservation are.
- Theme for 2020: Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility.
International Council on Monuments and Sites
- It is a global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO.
- Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites.
- It is an Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.
- As such, it reviews the nominations of cultural world heritage and ensures the conservation status of properties.
- India has 38 world heritage sites that include 30 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.
- As such, it reviews the nominations of cultural world heritage and ensures the conservation status of properties.
- Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of initial conversations between architects, historians and international experts that began in the early twentieth century and that materialized in the adoption of the Venice Charter in 1964.
Important Facts For Prelims
Kisan Rath App
Why in News
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched ‘Kisan Rath’ mobile application (app) to facilitate transportation of foodgrains and perishable during lockdown.
- The application has been developed by the National Informatics Centre -NIC (backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).
- It will be available in eight languages initially, including english and hindi.
Key Points
- The app is expected to connect farmers and traders to a network of more than 5 lakh trucks and 20,000 tractors.
- It is meant to help farmers and traders who are searching for vehicles to move produce. This includes:
- Primary transport from the farm to the mandis, local warehouses or the collection centres of farmer producer organisations.
- स्थानीय मंडियों से अंतर-और अंतर-राज्य मंडियों, प्रसंस्करण इकाइयों, रेलवे स्टेशनों, गोदामों या थोक विक्रेताओं के लिए माध्यमिक परिवहन ।
- सरकार कृषि-खेती से संबंधित गतिविधियों के लिए राष्ट्रव्यापी लॉकडाउन में छूट प्रदान कर दी है पता समस्याओं कृषक समुदाय द्वारा पेश आ रही करने की दृष्टि से और संबद्ध गतिविधियों।
- ऐप खाद्य अपव्यय में कमी को प्राप्त करने के अलावा किसानों और व्यापारियों के लिए प्रतिस्पर्धी दरों पर समय पर परिवहन सेवा के प्रावधान की दिशा में एक कदम होगा ।
- इससे किसानों को उपज के बेहतर दाम सुनिश्चित करने में मदद मिलेगी ।
