The 7th Economic Census was launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) in Delhi.
The ministry has tied up with Common Service Centre (CSC), an SPV under Ministry of Electronics and IT to carry out the census.
It is expected to be completed by March 2020.
One of the main aims of the Economic Census is preparation of a National Business Register which can be linked with existing databases at the central and state government levels.
The economic census was started in the year 1977 in collaboration with States/UTs.
The subsequent Censuses were conducted in the years 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2013.
The 7th economic census is the first one being done using digital platform which has reduced time for survey to 6 months from 2 years earlier.
It will cover all households/establishments engaged in non-agricultural economic activities including construction.
But it will not cover public administration, defence and compulsory social security.
Population Census 2011 will form the primary geographical unit for this.
It will provide disaggregated information on various operational and structural aspects of all establishments in the country.
SAANS Initiative
Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) is an initiative under National Health Mission.
It is to accelerate action to reduce deaths due to Childhood Pneumonia.
Under this, the government is targeting a reduction in pneumonia-caused deaths by 2025 to less than 3 deaths out of 1000 live births.
Under SAANS, health and wellness centres can use pulse oximeter (device to monitor oxygen saturation) to identify low oxygen levels in the blood of a child, and if required, treat him by use of oxygen cylinders.
A health campaign will be conducted to mobilise people to create awareness.
As per Health Management Information System (HMIS) data, Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of pneumonia-caused child deaths, followed by Gujarat.
International Geological Congress
International Geological Congress (IGC) is the prestigious global platform for advancement of Earth Science.
It was founded as a non-profit scientific and educational organization in 1878 but came under the aegis of International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in 1961.
Since 1961, the meetings of IGC are held in collaboration and under scientific sponsorship of IUGS.
So far 35 congresses have been held throughout the world at 3 to 5-year intervals.
The last session (35th) was held in Capetown, South Africa in 2016.
This time (36th) congress is going to be held in Delhi, India with the theme "Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Future".
India had already hosted a congress in 1964 (24th congress). Thus, India becomes the first Asian country to host the event twice.
The 36th IGC is funded by the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
It is supported by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the science academies of Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Geological Survey of India is the nodal agency for organizing the event.
International workshop on “Energy Efficient Cooling”
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), as part of “Energy Conservation Week (9 – 14th Dec)”, conducted an International Workshop on “Energy Efficient Cooling” in New Delhi.
It was organised in association with International Energy Agency (IEA), under SEAD initiative of Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).
Its objective was to chart out steps towards accelerating the development and deployment of efficient cooling appliances, equipment and systems.
The event highlighted action plans, international best policy practices, measures to stimulate innovation and deliberations on steps forward.
BEE is a statuary body under the Ministry of Power.
SEAD Initiative of CEM
Clean Energy Ministerial is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy.
At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference of parties in Copenhagen in December 2009, Clean Energy Ministerial meeting was proposed by U.S. Secretary of Energy.
It is focused on three global climate and energy policy goals - Improve energy efficiency worldwide, Enhance clean energy supply, Expand clean energy access.
The framework for the CEM was adopted at the 7th CEM meeting in 2016.
The 10th CEM meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada in 2019.
SEAD initiative - The Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) of CEM is a voluntary collaboration among governments to promote use of energy efficient appliances worldwide.
It is a task of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC).
Presently, there are 18 participating governments to this initiative.
If all SEAD governments were to adopt current policy best practices for product energy efficiency standards, 2,000 TWh of annual electricity could be saved in 2030, equal to the energy generated by 650 mid-sized power plants.
Virtual Police Station
The Virtual Police Station is an initiative by the Andhra Pradesh government.
It is to demystify the police station and acquaint the public with the functioning of a police station electronically without visiting it physically.
It will set up in the educational institutions as a pilot project and it will educate public about the functioning of police stations and how to file a FIR.
