12 June, 2021
1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India has released an independent report and lauded Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) as ‘a successful model of local area development’.As per the report, ADP should serve as a best practice for other countries where regional disparities are persisting with respect to development. Report highlights, ADP has made concerted efforts due to which neglected districts in remote locations and those districts affected by Left Wing Extremism are on positive trajectory of growth with more growth and development in last three years. Health & nutrition, education, and agriculture & water resources have registered massive improvements.
2. As per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), May 2021 received second highest rainfall in 121 years. Highest rainfall attributes to two back-to-back cyclones and western disturbances. IMD also highlights, average maximum temperature of 34.18 degrees Celsius over India this May was fourth lowest since 1901. In 1917, India had recorded lowest ever temperature May as 32.68 degrees Celsius. Temperature was also lowest since 1977 when it was recorded as 33.84 degrees Celsius.No significant heat wave spell was observed during may over any parts of India.
3. India’s export of agricultural and allied products in 2020-21 have increased by 17.34 percent. It now equals to USD 41.25 billion. As per commerce secretary Anup Wadhawan, this growth momentum in Agri export is expected to be sustained during current fiscal as well. India experienced huge growth in the export of cereals, wheat, millets, non-basmati rice, maize and other coarse grains. Exports have taken place from several clusters for first time. For example, export of fresh vegetables & mangoes from Varanasi and black Rice from Chandauli. Exports of agricultural products (excluding marine and plantation products) increased by 28.36 per cent in 2020-21 as opposed to USD 23.23 billion in 2019-20.
4. Assam Government has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park which was the last remaining stretches of the Assam Valley tropical wet evergreen forests. This notification comes four days after creating 422-sq. km Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district of Assam. Assam now has the third most National Parks (7) in India. Madhya Pradesh with 12 national parks maintains the top slot and it is followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands having 9 national parks.
5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has changed some rules regarding cash withdrawal from automated teller machine (ATM). Bank customers can now do five free financial and non-financial transactions every month from their own bank ATMs, ATM card holders can do three free financial and non-financial transactions in metro centres while five in non-metro transaction from other bank ATMs, Interchange fee per transaction changed from Rs 15 to Rs 17 for financial transactions while from Rs 5 to Rs 6 for non-financial transactions in effect from August 1, 2021, Bank customer will have to pay Rs 21 (currently it is Rs 20) for each ATM cash withdrawal beyond free transaction limit in effect from January 1, 2022.
