National
NDDB MRIDA Limited
⇒ Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying here on 25 July 2022 launched NDDB MRIDA Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of National Dairy Development Board to take forward manure management initiatives across the country.
Key Points:
- NDDB has established NDDB MRIDA Limited, an Unlisted Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 2013 on July 1, 2022 as with the paid-up capital of Rs 9.50 crore.
- Shri Sandeep Bharti is newly appointed Managing Director of NDDB MRIDA Limited.
On this occasion, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, MoS, FAHD said this is a first-of-its-kind company focussing on efficient utilisation of dung by creating a manure management value chain which will immensely contribute to enhancing the livelihoods of dairy farmers and at the same time contribute towards Swachh Bharat Mission and promotion of green energy.
Dr L Murugan, MoS, FAHD said the manure management initiatives have potential to generate biogas equivalent to 50 per cent of India’s present LPG consumption & also produce bio slurry equivalent to 44 per cent of India’s NPK requirement.
India adds Wetlands designated as Ramsar sites
⇒ Designation of Ramsar sites would help in conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources.
India is one of the Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. India signed it on 1st February 1982.
- During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, however, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites. During this year itself (2022) a total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites.
- Tamil Nadu has maximum number of Ramsar sites (14 numbers), followed by UP which has 10 numbers of Ramsar sites.
» India has designated five (5) new wetlands of International importance, which include three wetlands in Tamil Nadu, one in Mizoram and one wetland in Madhya Pradesh.
These five Ramsar sites were added on 26 July 2022. Ramsar sites was increased from 49 to 54 Ramsar sites.
- Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
- Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
- Pichavaram Mangrove, Tamil Nadu
- Pala wetland, Mizoram
- Sakhya Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
» On 03 August 2022, India added 10 more wetlands, designated as Ramsar sites, to make total 64 sites covering an area of 12,50,361 ha in the country.
The 10 new sites include Six (6) sites in Tamil Nadu and One (1) each in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
10 New Ramsar sites are:
- Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 72.04 ha
- Satkosia Gorge, Odisha- 98196.72 ha
- Nanda Lake, Goa- 42.01 ha
- Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu – 52671.88 ha
- Ranganathituu BS, Karnataka- 517.70 ha
- Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu- 19.75 ha
- Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 77.19 ha
- Sirpur wetland, Madhya Pradesh- 161 ha
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 40.35 ha
- Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 43.77 ha
Details of 10 Ramsar Sites (Official Link)
» On 13 August 2022, India added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make total 75 Ramsar sites covering an area of 13,26,677 ha in the country in the 75th year of Independence.
The 11 new sites include Four (4) sites in Tamil Nadu, Three (3) in Odisha, Two (2) in Jammu & Kashmir and One (1) each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
11 New Ramsar sites are:
- Tampara Lake, Odisha- 300 ha
- Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha- 65400 ha
- Ansupa Lake, Odisha- 231 ha
- Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh- 822.90 ha
- Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 260.47 ha
- Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu- 94.23 ha
- Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 112.64 ha
- Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu- 96.89 ha
- Thane Creek, Maharashtra- 6521.08 ha
- Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir- 801.82 ha
- Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir- 1675 ha
Details of 11 Ramsar Sites (Official Link)
So far 75 wetlands covering an area of 13,26,677 ha have been designated as Ramsar Sites of International Importance from India.
Sports
FIH Hockey Women's World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022
⇒ The 2022 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup was held from 1 to 17 July 2022 at the Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa in Terrassa, Spain and at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
- It was the 15th edition of the Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup, and was organized by the International Hockey Federation.
Winners:
Defending champions, the Netherlands won the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup for a record ninth time after defeating Argentina 3–1 in the final.
- Australia won the third-place match by defeating Germany 2–1 to claim their first World Cup medal as well.
- Indian women’s team was knocked out of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2022 after losing to Spain 0-1 in their must-win crossover match.
Award:
Player of the Tournament– María José Granatto (Argentina)
Top Goalscorer– Agustina Gorzelany (Argentina)
Goalkeeper of the Tournament– Argentina Belén Succi (Argentina)
Young Player of the Tournament– Charlotte Englebert (Belgium)
Important Day
Income Tax Day or Aaykar Diwas
⇒ The Income Tax department observes July 24 every year as Income Tax Day or ‘Aaykar Diwas’, to commemorate the introduction of provision of income tax in the country.
- The 163rd anniversary of Income Tax Day was observed by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and all its field offices across India on 24 July 2022.
The observance of the Income Tax Day served as an occasion for the Departmental personnel to look back at the journey so far in service to the nation and to re-dedicate themselves to contributing to the growth of the nation.
History:
- On July 24, 1860, Sir James Wilson introduced income tax for the first time in India. Wilson did this to compensate for the losses suffered by the British regime during the first war of independence in 1857.
- The first Income Tax Day or ‘Aaykar Diwas’ was celebrated on July 24, 2010 to mark 150 years of income tax in India.
About ITD:
- Headquartered in New Delhi, the Income Tax department is responsible for direct tax collection for the Government of India.
- It functions under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of finance, and is headed by an apex body called the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).