UPSC EXAM QUIZ 07.10.2024

Explanation:

• Ecomark labeling system will promote eco-friendly products in categories like food, cosmetics, soaps, and electronics, etc.It aligns with the principle of LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment), focusing on sustainability and resource efficiency.

Key Points of Ecomark Regulations

LIFE Principles

• The Ecomark labelling system aims to promote sustainability and resource efficiency in line with the principle of LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

Grant Criteria

• The product must be licensed or certified to conform to Indian Standards under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act and/or Quality Control Orders.
• The products must meet the criteria specified in the regulations with respect to resource consumption and environmental impacts.

Explanation:

• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the results of the Annual Industry Survey (ASI) for the financial year 2022-23. This survey helps in understanding the structure, growth of industries and changes in their various economic parameters.

Key Highlights of the ASI Report 2022-23

Employment Growth in Manufacturing

• The ASI indicates that employment in manufacturing grew by 7.5% from 1.72 crore in 2021-22 to 1.84 crore in 2022-23, the highest rate of growth in the last 12 years.
• In 2022-23, the manufacturing sector created 13 lakh jobs, an increase from 11 lakh in FY22.

Gross Value Added (GVA) and Output Growth

• The manufacturing GVA grew robustly by 7.3%, reaching Rs 21.97 lakh crore in 2022-23, up from Rs 20.47 lakh crore in 2021-22.
• The total industrial input increased by 24.4%, while the output grew by 21.5% in the sector in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22, reflecting a significant rebound in manufacturing activities.

Explanation:

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) Tracker has revealed that only 10% of nations have met their biodiversity commitments ahead of COP16.
• The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) Tracker is a new measure developed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
• It monitors countries' progress in preparing NBSAPs in line with the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-15) of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in December 2022.

Explanation:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development projects worth Rs 56,000 cr in Maharashtra.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a day-long visit to Maharashtra.
• He launched various initiatives related to the agricultural and animal husbandry sectors worth around 23,300 crore rupees.
• He also inaugurates the Banjara Virasat Museum. It presents the rich heritage of the Banjara community.
• He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over 32,800 crore rupees at Thane.
• Prime Minister also released the 18th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
• He also dedicated more than 7,500 projects to the nation under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• He also launched the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and indigenous sex-sorted semen technology.
• He also dedicated five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 megawatts across Maharashtra.
• He also laid the foundation stone of the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project.

Explanation:

• India has become the fourth country to surpass 700 billion US dollars in foreign reserves.
• China, Japan, and Switzerland are the other countries having more than 700 billion dollars in Forex reserves.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves touched a new all-time high of 704.885 billion dollars for the week ending September 27.
• The sharp increase in forex reserves will strengthen India’s ability to tackle global economic uncertainties.
• It will also provide greater stability to its currency in the volatile international markets.
• India’s gold reserves rose 2.184 billion to 65.796 billion dollars.