RAJASTHAN

Jaipur’s Vishwakarma area most polluted in state, says report
Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) has released the data collected by pollution surveillance centres in eight cities of the state. As per the data, Vishwakarma Industrial Area (VKI) has the highest particle matter (PM 10 rate) in the state.
Jaipur came up as the most polluted city in the desert state, with highest PM 10 level. The international standards of air pollution state that 0-50 (micrograms per cubic meter air) is excellent, 51 – 100 is good and 101 – 150 is lightly polluted.

The PM 10 level in majority of the cities of the state is above 150, which is an alarming situation.

PM 10 contains dust particles, moulds and pollens that entera person’s lungs and can cause various diseases.

Gk bit – particulate matter

PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

PM₁₀: inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and

PM_2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

The particles in the fine fraction which are smaller than 0.1 µm are called ultrafine particles.

Most of the total mass of airborne particulate matter is usually made up of fine particles ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 µUltrafine particles often contribute only a few percent to the total mass, though they are the most numerous, representing over 90% of the number of particles.

INTERNATIONAL

Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Army Exercise ‘KAZIND’ will be conducted between the Indian and Kazakhstan Army from 10 to 23 Sep 2018 in Otar region, Kazakhstan.

This is the third joint military exercise between the two countries which have a history of extensive cooperation in the defence arena.

The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral Army to Army relations and exchange skills and experiences between Kazakhstan Army and the Indian Army.

India will purchase 18 bullet train sets from Japan at a total cost of about Rs 7,000 crore in a deal that includes a pledge to transfer technology for local production.

Each train will have 10 coaches and would be able to cruise at the speed of 350 km per hour.

The country’s first bullet train is likely to start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad by the end of 2022.

· World’s first lion cubs born via artificial insemination

In a world first achievement, a lioness at the Ukutula Conservation Center and Biobank in South Africa‘s North West province has given birth to two cubs conceived via non-surgical artificial insemination, using fresh semen from an adult male lion at the same facility.
The research is a breakthrough for saving endangered specieslike tiger and snow leopard.

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently participated in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 at Darwin, Australia.

Sixteen different nations from across the globe, including French Air Force (FAF) participated in this exercise.

On the return leg, Rafale fighter aircraft and transport aircraft of FAF staged through Air Force Station, Gwalior and Air Force Station, Agra from 01 – 04 Sep 18.

NATIONAL

· Amazon India made its e-commerce website and mobile application available in Hindi

Amazon Indiaannounced that its e-commerce website and mobile application is now made available in Hindi. Other online players like also Paytm Mall offer users the option to use Hindi as a language. However, Flipkart is available only in English.
The launch of the Hindi shopping experience is to bring the next 100 million customers online. This first Indian language launch by Amazon will enable Hindi-preferring customers to shop in their preferred language.

The National Nutrition Month (September) is being celebrated across the country to mark the fight against malnutrition.
During this month, various programmes have been organized by the Women and Child Development Ministry to spread broad awareness on the issues related to malnutrition like stunting, undernutrition, anemia and low birth weight in children.

The aggregate fiscal deficit of the states is likely to moderate to 2.8 per cent of GDP, 20 bps higher than the budgeted target, on the back of the states likely achieving a zero revenue balance to GDP ratio in FY19, said a report.

The agency has revised downward the aggregate debt/GDP estimate to 24.4 per cent for FY19 from its earlier estimate of 25.8 per cent. The states have budgeted debt/GDP at 24.3 per cent for FY19, marginally higher than 24 per cent in FY18.

The states have budgeted their combined gross market borrowings at Rs 4,40,720 crore in FY19. But the agency estimates the borrowings to be higher at Rs 4,65,280 crore this fiscal.

The states’ aggregate market borrowings rose to Rs 1.1 trillion during April to July 2018, from Rs 98,200 crore over April to July 2017.

Union textiles minister Smriti Irani inaugurated a ‘digital village’ in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Under the digital village project, there would be 206 programmes available for the people including a Wi-Fi Chaupal, LED bulb manufacturing, a unit to make sanitary pads and PM digital literacy initiative.