Urban local bodies reforms
Goa has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan and Telangana have already completed this feat.
On completion of Urban Local Bodies reform, these four states have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs.7,481 crore through Open Market Borrowings.
Read More: Urban Local Bodies reform
Polity
India-China disengagement agreement: Border standoff 2020-21
Troops from both sides have started disengaging from the Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh, the disengagement process seems restricted to the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.
China will pull its troops on the north bank towards the east of Finger 8. Similarly, India will also position its forces at its permanent base at the Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3. Similar action will be taken by both the parties in the south bank area as well.
The area between Finger 3 and Finger 8 will become a no-patrolling zone temporarily, till both sides reach an agreement through military and diplomatic discussions.
Read More: India-China Border standoff 2020-21
International Relations
India to be largest source of energy demand by 2040
According to India Energy Outlook 2021, released by International Energy Agency(IEA) - India's energy consumption is expected to nearly double by 2040, as the nation's GDP is expected to expand to USD 8.6 trillion.
The India Energy Outlook 2021 says that - India will make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25% over the next two decades, as it overtakes the European Union as the world?s third-biggest energy consumer by 2030.
The World Energy Outlook is also released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) annually, the report is considered as the most authoritative source for global energy projections and strategic insight on the future of energy and energy related emissions.
The International Energy Agency is a Paris based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
It works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy to its 30 member countries, 8 association countries and beyond.
It has four main areas of focus namely - Energy security, Economic development, Environmental awareness and Engagement worldwide. India became an associate member of the International Energy Agency in 2017.
Economy
Privatise two PSU banks this financial year
The Budget proposes to privatise two PSU banks this financial year, it will free up the government, from continuing to provide equity support to the banks year after year.
Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was also Finance Minister, decided to nationalise the 14 largest private banks on July 19, 1969. The idea was to align the banking sector with the socialistic approach of the then government. State Bank of India had been nationalised in 1955 itself, and the insurance sector in 1956.
Many committees had proposed bringing down the government stake in public banks below 51%: The Narasimham Committee proposed 33% and the P J Nayak Committee suggested below 50%.
Economy
Babur cruise missile
Pakistan successfully test-fired a short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of hitting land and sea targets with "high precision" up to 490 km.
International Relations
China's Tianwen-1 and UAE's Hope probe
In a country's first independent mission to the red planet - an uncrewed Chinese spacecraft successfully entered orbit around Mars after a 6.5 month journey from Earth.
Tianwen-1, or "Questions to Heaven", the name of a Chinese poem written two millennia ago, is China's first independent mission to the planet after a probe co-launched with Russia failed.
The Hope spacecraft launched by the United Arab Emirates successfully entered the planet's orbit - it will not make a landing but will orbit Mars gathering data on its weather and atmosphere.
The UAE has become the fifth country after the US, Russia, the EU, and India, to reach the Martian orbit. The unmanned spacecraft called "Al-Amal" - the Arabic word for hope, was launched from Tanegashima in Japan.
The aircraft launched by China arrived at the planet successfully, a day after the Hope spacecraft made it successfully.
Science & Tech
