Indian’s funds in Swiss banks jumps over Rs 30 lakh crore in 2021
Funds parked by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks, including through India-based branches and other financial institutions, jumped to a 14-year-high of 3.83 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 30,500 crore) in 2021, according to annual data from Switzerland’s central bank. The rise in aggregate funds of Indian clients with Swiss banks, from 2.55 billion Swiss francs (Rs 20,700 crore) at the end of 2020, marks the second consecutive year of increase.
Key points:
In terms of assets (or funds due from customers), Indian clients accounted for CHF 4.68 billion at the end of 2021, up nearly 10 per cent. This included dues from Indian customer’s worth about CHF 323 million after a rise of 25 per cent during the year.
The UK has topped the charts for foreign clients’ money in Swiss banks at CHF 379 billion, followed by the US (CHF 168 billion) at the second place – the only two countries with 100-billion-plus client funds.
Others in the top 10 were West Indies, Germany, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Bahamas, the Netherlands, Cayman Islands and Cyprus respectively.
India was placed at 44th place, ahead of countries like Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Bahrain, Oman, New Zealand, Norway, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hungary and Finland.
In BRICS nations, India stood below Russia (15th place) and China (24th), but above South Africa and Brazil.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
Swiss National Bank Chairman of the Governing Board: Thomas J. Jordan;
Swiss National Bank Head Offices: Berne, Zurich;
Swiss National Bank Founded: 1854.
‘Shabash Mithu’: A biopic on former Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj
Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji has dropped the trailer of “Shabaash Mithu”, a Taapsee Pannu-starrer biopic on former India women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj. The film is set to hit theatres on July 15. The film has been written by Priyan Aven who makes her debut as a screenplay writer with Shabaash Mithu. Amit Trivedi has provided music for the film with lyrics by Swanand Kirkire, Kausar Munir and Raghav M. Kumar, and sound designed by Academy Award winner Rasool Pookutty.
The trailer shows glimpses from the inspirational life of Mithali, the highest run scorer in international women’s cricket and an inspiration for several budding women cricketers in India. It shows Mithali’s journey not only as a cricketer but also as a woman sportsperson fighting for parity in a male-dominated sport.
‘Single-Use Plastic’ use to banned by Union Govt. from 1st July, 2022
‘Single-Use Plastic’ use to be outflow from July 1st, 2022 by the Union government. Single-use plastics, particularly those made of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, will be illegal to produce, import, stock, distribute, sell, and use starting on July 1, 2022, nationwide. A national task group has also been established by the Environment Ministry to make coordinated efforts in this area.
Key Points:
According to a response submitted by Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Choubey in Parliament, fourteen states and UTs have joined the special task force by July 23.
The Delhi Environment Department will also launch a campaign on July 1 to guarantee compliance with the ban on 19 single-use plastics in the national capital, and any producers, suppliers, stockists, dealers, or sellers found in violation of the restrictions would be shut down.
The manufacturing, importation, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of certain single-use plastic (SUP) goods, such as candy sticks, plates, cups, and cutlery, have been outlawed as of July 1, 2022, according to the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which were announced by the Center.
Background of the Decision:
India will completely phase out single-use plastics by 2022, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 2018 announcement.
India led the development of a resolution at the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019, recognizing the urgent need for the international community to pay attention to this issue.
From September 30, 2021, plastic carry bags will have a thickness of 75 microns; by December 31, 2022, it will be 120 microns.
An approach to policy known as “extended producer responsibility” requires companies to handle the disposal of their own products once consumers have declared them to be useless.
In order to eliminate SUP and effectively implement the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the Center had previously requested that states and union territories form a special task force under the direction of the chief secretary or the administrator.
List of items Identified as SUP:
Earbuds, plastic balloon sticks, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, and banners made of less than 100 micron thick are among the 19 items identified as SUP.
India’s first ‘Balika Panchayat’ constituted in five villages of Gujarat
The country’s first-ever, ‘Balika Panchayat’, has started in five villages of Gujarat’s Kutch district. The initiative aims to promote the social and political development of the girls and ensure their active participation in politics. The Panchayat has started in Kunaria, Maska, Motagua, and Vadsar villages of the Kutch district. This initiative has been taken by the Women and Child Development Welfare Department of the Gujarat Government under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is also planning to begin the girl panchayat across the country.
About the “Balika Panchayat”:
“Balika Panchayat” is managed by people in the 11-21 age group and its main objective is to promote the social and political development of the girl child and to remove the evil practices from the society such as child marriage, and the dowry system. The main objective of panchayat is that the girls should move forward in politics. In Balika panchayat, the member is nominated just like Gram panchayat.
Ruchira Kamboj named as next Permanent Representative of India to the UN
Senior Diplomat Ruchira Kamboj, currently Indian ambassador to Bhutan, has been appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York. She will succeed TS Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the United Nation. Ministry of External Affairs said, Ruchira Kamboj is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
During her career:
Kamboj, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987, was the All India women’s topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch and the topper of the 1987 Foreign Service batch.
She began her diplomatic journey in Paris, France, where she was posted as the Third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France from 1989-91 and learnt French there.
She has been Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO in Paris, Indian High Commissioner in South Africa, and Chief of Protocol in New Delhi.
From 2011-2014, she was India’s Chief of Protocol, the first and only woman diplomat so far in the Indian government to have held this position.
She has also served in Mauritius, Cape Town in South Africa as India’s Consul General, and at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Mongolia’s Khuvsgul lake added to UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves
Khuvsul Lake National Park of Mangolia has been added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO. The decision was made during the 34th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme taking place in Paris, France. Khuvsgul Lake is located in the northern Mongolian province of Khuvsgul near the Russian border, holding nearly 70 per cent of Mongolia’s fresh water, or 0.4 per cent of the world’s total.
About Khuvsgul Lake:
The Khuvsgul Lake is located in northern Mongolian province of Khuvsgul, near to Russian border. It holds 70 per cent of freshwater of Mongolia or accounts for 0.4 per cent of world’s total. This lake is located around 1645 meters above the sea level. The lake is 1,645 meters above sea level, 136 km long and 262 meters deep. A total of nine sites from Mongolia have so far been registered in the network, according to the ministry. It is the largest fresh water lake of Mongolia, by volume. In terms of area, it is the second largest lake in Mongolia. The lake is located at about 200 km west of Lake Baikal. It is nicknamed as “Younger sister” of two “sister lakes”. It freezes over completely in winter.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves:
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO covers internationally designated protected areas called as biosphere reserves. There reserves are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between nature and people. They are created under Man and the Biosphere Programme. It comprises of dynamic and interactive network of sites. It works to foster harmonious integration of people and nature to attain sustainable development by means of participatory dialogue, poverty reduction, knowledge sharing, human well-being improvements, and respect for cultural values.