• Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked the NITI Aayog to map all the different projects such as Industrial Corridors, Freight Corridors, Defence Corridors, NIMZ (National Industrial Manufacturing Zones) PLI-based industry parks, PM-Mitra parks, Medical & Pharma Parks and Logistic Parks to understand the need for bringing them under PM GatiShakti.
• Chairing the first meeting of the Apex Monitoring Authority constituted to review the activities of National Industrial Corridor Development programme, the finance minister also asked the Shipping Ministry to map out all the seaports connected to various industrial corridors to see whether there are meaningful linkages.
• According to the Finance Minister PM’s GatiShakti National Master Plan was expected to bring about greater coherence in all investments in infrastructure projects.
• The Apex Monitoring Authority comprises the finance minister as Chairperson, Minister-in- charge, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Minister of Railways, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shipping, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, and chief minister(s) of states concerned.

• The 2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report presents updates on the food security and nutrition situation around the world, including the latest estimates of the cost and affordability of a healthy diet. The report also looks at ways in which governments can repurpose their current support to agriculture to reduce the cost of healthy diets, mindful of the limited public resources available in many parts of the world.
• The report was jointly published today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

KEY POINTS:

• As many as 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021 – 46 million people more from a year earlier and 150 million more from 2019.
• After remaining relatively unchanged since 2015, the proportion of people affected by hunger jumped in 2020 and continued to rise in 2021, to 9.8 percent of the world population. This compares with 8 percent in 2019 and 9.3 percent in 2020.
• Around 2.3 billion people in the world (29.3 percent) were moderately or severely food insecure in 2021 – 350 million more compared to before the outbreak of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Nearly 924 million people (11.7 percent of the global population) faced food insecurity at severe levels, an increase of 207 million in two years.
• The gender gap in food insecurity continued to rise in 2021 – 31.9 percent of women in the world were moderately or severely food insecure, compared to 27.6 percent of men – a gap of more than 4 percentage points, compared with 3 percentage points in 2020.
• Almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020, up 112 million from 2019, reflecting the effects of inflation in consumer food prices stemming from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain it.
• An estimated 45 million children under the age of five were suffering from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition, which increases children’s risk of death by up to 12 times. Furthermore, 149 million children under the age of five had stunted growth and development due to a chronic lack of essential nutrients in their diets, while 39 million were overweight.
• Progress is being made on exclusive breastfeeding, with nearly 44 percent of infants under six months of age being exclusively breastfed worldwide in 2020. This is still short of the 50 percent target by 2030. Of great concern, two in three children are not fed the minimum diverse diet they need to grow and develop to their full potential.

Looking forward, projections are that nearly 670 million people (8 percent of the world population) will still be facing hunger in 2030 – even if a global economic recovery is taken into consideration

• UK is an important strategic partner and India shared a multifaceted partnership with UK.
• India said that the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not impact its relationship with UK as both countries share a close multifaceted partnership.
• Notably, India and the UK announced their intention to have a comprehensive free trade agreement during a virtual summit held in May 2021 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then British counterpart Boris Johnson.
• Formal negotiations on the proposed FTA between the two countries started early this year.
• A number of non-tariff barriers, like rules related to investor protection, intellectual property rights, and harmonisation of governance and standards, are among the key sticky points in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India and the United Kingdom target to sign by Diwali this year.
• The UK and India have established the Science and Innovation Council in 2010 to jointly undertake scientific projects.
• The two countries launched the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) in September 2021 to support climate and green energy projects in India.
• India-UK relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, based on a shared commitment towards democracy, fundamental freedoms and multilateralism,

• The Chief Minister of Karnataka had invited the Korean delegation to participate in the Bengaluru Tech Summit and Karnataka Global Investors Meet that are slated to be held in November.
• According to Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok, Korea is keen to further strengthen its economic relations with Karnataka.
• Many startups are eager to invest in Karnataka. Already over 40 Korean companies have a presence here.
• The Korean Consular office has organised a programme– Korea on the move– in Bengaluru, which is drawing a huge response from the people.”
• According to Chief Minister of Karnataka, strengthening of relations between the Republic of Korea, which is a global powerhouse in electronics and automobiles sector, and Karnataka which is a frontline state in technology, would give a boost to the bilateral economy.
• India and Karnataka state are emerging as major economies with skilled human resources. India is a hot favourite as an investment destination.
• Karnataka is at the forefront among the states attracting about 38 per cent of the total FDI flowing into the country,
• Karnataka is the home to the highest number of international R&D centres in the world, it is the global hub of technology-based industries.

• Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal released the first edition of State Ranking Index for NFSA during the conference of Food Ministers of States and Union Territories on Food Nutrition and Security in India organized by Department of Food and Public Distribution at New Delhi.
• Himachal has obtained second position in the special category states and union territories for implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• According to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rajinder Garg that, Himachal Pradesh had scored the second position in the category of small states and despite the logistical limitations and also the state displayed a high degree of accomplishment in competing with the general category states as well.

• Darla gram panchayat in the district has established the Aadi Shiv Dham on barren land at a cost of over Rs 60 lakh. The panchayat started the development of the dham about 18 months ago and it is nearing completion.
• A number of idols of Lord Shiva have been installed in the dham, including a bust of Lord Shiva, Shivalingam, 31-feet Trishul and Nandi on the entrance.
• According to Panchayat Pradhan, the objective of constructing the dham is to establish a religious, cultural and small business centre to attract tourists and generate job opportunities for self-help groups of the area.
• Members of the panchayat approved the proposal to develop the land into a tourist spot and the block development authority also supported the initiative.
• The most of the work was done under MGNREGA and with convergence of other rural development schemes.
• According to Panchayat vice-president, that besides government funding, lakhs of rupees were contributed by locals.

• Reigning youth world champions Alfiya Pathan and Gitika produced sensational performances to win gold medals at the inaugural edition of the Elorda Boxing Cup in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
• Kalaivani Srinivasan and Jamuna Boro signed off with silver.
• With the addition of two gold, two silver and 10 bronze, India concluded its campaign with an overall tally of 14 medals.
• Alfiya got a unanimous 5-0 verdict over Lazzat Kungeibayeva, the 2016 world champion, in the women’s 81kg category final.
• Gitika, clinched a 4-1 victory over compatriot Kalaivani in 48kg category final.

• Tunisia’s world No.2 tennis player Ons Jabeur rallied from a set down to defeat Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at Wimbledon to become the first Arab or North African woman to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal.
• Across both men’s and women’s tennis, Arabs and North Africans were previously winless in major quarterfinals in the Open Era, including two losses by Jabeur herself; she lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open, and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 12 months ago.

• Services activities are on rise as Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 59.2 in June This is highest mark since April 2011. Service sector has a share of over 53 per cent in gross value added. PMI is based on survey and data compiled by S&P Global.
• India’s services activity expanded again in June, with the S&P Global India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) coming in at 59.2.
• A reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity, while a sub-50 print is a sign of contraction.
• Services firms noted a substantial upturn in new work intakes at the end of the first fiscal quarter, with the rate of increase improving to the best in over 11 years.
• According to, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, Demand for services improved to the greatest extent since February 2011, supporting a robust economic expansion for the sector over the first quarter of FY23 and setting the scene for another substantial upturn in output next month.

• The Environment (Protection) Act (EPA)was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing the protection and improvement of the environment.
• The Environment Ministry proposes to soften the provisions of the Environment Protection Act (EPA) by replacing a clause that provides for imprisoning violators with one that only requires them to pay a fine. This, however, doesn’t apply to violations that cause grave injury or loss of life. The proposed fines, in lieu of imprisonment, are also 5-500 times greater than those currently levied.
• The Act currently says that violators will be punishable with imprisonment up to five years or with a fine up to ₹1 lakh, or with both. Were violations to continue, an additional fine of up to ₹5,000 for every day during which such failure or contravention continues after the conviction would be levied. There’s also a provision for jail terms to extend to seven years.
• According to Ministry, the rationale governing the amendments, to decriminalise existing provisions of the EPA to weed out “fear of imprisonment for simple violations”.
• The two major changes proposed are appointing an “adjudication officer” who would decide on a penalty in cases of environmental violations such as reports not being submitted or information not provided when demanded. However, in case of serious violations which lead to grievous injury or loss of life, they shall be covered under the provision of Indian Penal Code, 1860 read with Section 24 of EP Act.
• Funds collected as penalties would be accrued in an “Environmental Protection Fund”.
• In case of contraventions of the Act, the penalties could extend to anywhere from ₹5 lakh to ₹5 crore, the proposal notes.
• The removal of prison terms also applies to the Air Act, that is the cornerstone legislation for dealing with air pollution, and the Water Act, which deals with violations to water bodies.