[CA] July 10, 2020 Headlines

BLUIS

Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, launched the Bhubaneswar Land Use Intelligence System (BLUIS), a flagship development of the General Administration and Public grievances departments. Odisha becomes the first state in India to use high resolution satellite imagery utilising space technology and artificial intelligence to monitor government lands. BLUIS is a web and mobile based solution to monitor the unauthorised change of land use and to prevent the encroachment of government lands.

TAMIL NADU TOPS IN MARKET BORROWINGS

According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Tamil Nadu has topped market borrowings among States in India with a collection of Rs.30,500 crore in the fiscal 2020-21(FY 21). Tamil Nadu accounted for 17% of the borrowings done through the issue of bonds (known as state development loans), has been followed by Maharashtra ₹25,500 crore (14%), Andhra Pradesh ₹17,000 crore (9%), Rajasthan ₹17,000 crore (9%).

AMAZONIA – 1

The first earth observation satellite to be entirely developed by Brazil will be launch by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellite is known by the name ‘Amazonia-1’. The exact launch date of Amazonia-1 hasn’t been confirmed yet by ISRO but as per media reports, the launch will take place next month (August 2020).

CHINA PLANS TO BUILD 6 – 8 NUCLEAR REACTORS

China reportedly had 46 nuclear reactors active. These 46 nuclear reactors provided a power capacity of 42.8 GW. At the end of May 2020, the Nuclear Capacity of China was at 48.8 GW. By 2035, China Nuclear Energy Association has set a target to achieve about 200 GW nuclear power capacities either in operation or under construction. By the end of 2020, China’s target for installed nuclear capacity was 58 GW. Further, until 2025, the China Nuclear Energy Association has planned to build 6-8 nuclear reactors every year.

INDIA GLOBAL WEEK 2020

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi has addressed the inaugural session of 3-day virtual India Global week 2020 based on the theme ‘Be The Revival: India and a Better New World’ organized in UK (United Kingdom) by India Inc. Group, the UK-headquartered media house, with the aim to connect global leaders and captains of industry to discuss aspects relating to opportunities in India as well as the global economic revival post-coronavirus (COVID-19). The event witnessed the participation of 5,000 global leaders from 30 nations and is being addressed by 250 global speakers in 75 sessions that cover subject areas such as geopolitics, business, emerging technologies, banking and finance, pharma, defence and security, and arts and culture.

SURESH MATHUR PANEL

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed a 9- member working group under the chairmanship of Suresh Mathur, Executive Director of IRDAI to look into the possibility of setting up ‘Pandemic Risk Pool’ to deal with the various risks arising out of a pandemic -like health emergencies & recommend the structure and operating model for the Pool within 8 weeks.

OPEN SKY POLICY

The United Arab Emirates has said that it is keen to have an open-sky agreement with India. It asked India to look at Open-sky policy separately from fifth and sixth freedoms (of air).  The issue of fifth and sixth freedoms of air has been a sore point between airlines in India and the UAE. India has already signed open sky agreements with Greece, Jamaica, Guyana, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Sri Lanka. [Click for more details on this...]

11 STATES OPPOSE TO ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT BILL, 2020

All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) claimed that as many as 11 states and one union territory have opposed many provisions of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. The states (opposing the provisions of the bill) are Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Punjab. The union territory, which opposed the bill, is Puducherry.