1) World Standards Day observed on 14th October
•World Standards Day or International Standards Day is observed globally on 14 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among consumers, regulators and industry.
•World Standards Day 2021 theme is “Standards for sustainable development goals – shared vision for a better world”.
2) International E-Waste Day: 14 October
•The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated on 14 October every year since 2018, to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates. 2021 is the fourth edition of the International E-Waste Day. This year’s International E-Waste Day will focus on the crucial part each of us has in making circularity a reality for e-products.
•The theme for 2021 IEWD is “Consumer is the key to Circular Economy!”. The day was developed in 2018 by the WEEE Forum, an international association of e-waste collection schemes, with the support of its members.
3) PM Modi inaugurates Rs 100 lakh crore PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan
•With the vision of holistic and integrated infrastructure development in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan, from Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The Rs 100 lakh crore PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan aims to provide multi-modal connectivity to economic zones in the country.
4) India’s first Atal Community Innovation Center launched in Jaipur
•India’s 1st Atal Community Innovation Center (ACIC) was inaugurated at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur (VGU). It will be the first centre in the country to be set up by the Government of India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog.
5) Centre accords “Maharatna” status to state-owned PFC Ltd
•The Government of India has accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to the state-owned Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC). The new status will give PFC greater operational and financial autonomy. PFC was incorporated in 1986, as an Indian financial institution under the ownership of the Ministry of Power. It is the largest Infrastructure Finance Company in India, exclusively dedicated to Power Sector.
•The grant of ‘Maharatna’ status to PFC will impart enhanced powers to the PFC Board while taking financial decisions. The Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad, subject to a ceiling of 15% of the Net Worth of the concerned CPSE, limited to Rs.5,000 crore in one project. The Board can also structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and Human Resource Management and Training. They can also enter into technology Joint Ventures or other strategic alliances among others.
6) India Ranks Third in 2021 EY Index
•India has retained the third position in the 58th Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) released by the consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY). According to the report, the US, mainland China and India continue to retain the top three rankings and Indonesia is a new entrant to the RECAI.
•The 2021 RECAI ranks the world’s top 40 global markets (nations) on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities. With the environment, social and governance (ESG) measures soaring to the top of the agenda for companies and investors, RECAI also highlights that corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) are emerging as a key driver of clean energy growth.
7) ADB Raises 2019–2030 Climate Financing Goal to $100 Billion
•The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced an increase in its climate financing goals 2019-2030 for developing member countries (DMCs) by $20 billion to $100 billion. Earlier in 2018, ADB had announced an $80 billion goal for climate financing for developing countries in Asia during 2019-2030. The additional $20 billion in financing support will be used for climate mitigation efforts including low-carbon energy sources, climate adaptation projects and private sector projects.
•The fight against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific, and we are committed to serving as a climate bank and a long-term climate partner for our region. The Manila-based lender will plan for climate adaptation financing of $34 billion, including agriculture, urban and water adaptation projects.
8) IMF Projects Indian Economy to grow at 9.5% in FY22
•The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated the Indian economy to grow by 9.5% in the current fiscal year, i.e 2021-22 (FY22) and 8.5% in FY23 (2022-23), in its latest World Economic Outlook report, released on October 12, 2021. Meanwhile, IMF expects the global gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 4.9% in 2022.
•In its World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF has maintained India’s gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for next financial year at 8.5 per cent, unchanged from its July projections. The WEO, titled ‘Recovery During a Pandemic Health Concerns, Supply Disruptions, and Price Pressures’, has forecast world economic growth at 4.9 per cent for 2022, the same as earlier.
