Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 04 Jul 2023
- 5 min read
Political Parties Shift to Online Financial Reporting
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced an online web portal for political parties to file their financial accounts electronically. This initiative aims to simplify the process of submitting Contribution Reports, Audited Annual Accounts, and Election Expenditure Statements, as required by the Representation of People's Act, 1951. The ECI emphasizes the importance of compliance and transparency in financial disclosures, urging political parties to adhere to democratic principles. For those opting not to file online, written justifications must be provided, and the ECI will publish both the reports and the explanations on their platform.
ECI is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. It was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950 (celebrated as national voters' day). The secretariat of the commission is in New Delhi.
Read more: Election Commission of India
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: eSARAS App
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has taken a significant step towards supporting women in Self-help Groups (SHGs) by launching the eSARAS mobile App. This app aims to enhance the marketing initiatives for products made by SHGs. Additionally, the eSARAS fulfillment centre, managed by the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC), a Not for Profit Company constituted jointly by Ministry of Rural Development and Tata Trust, will handle the processing, packaging, and shipping of products purchased through the eSARAS Portal and App. This provides a user-friendly platform for promoting authentic handicrafts and handlooms but also ensures efficient logistics to deliver online orders directly to customers' doorsteps.
Read more: Self Help Groups
Neeraj Chopra Finishes 1st at Lausanne Diamond League 2023
Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medalist, clinched first place in the javelin event in the Lausanne Diamond League 2023 by achieving a remarkable throw of 87.66 m. The Lausanne meet was Neeraj Chopra’s second competition of the season and the first since the Doha Diamond League.
Lausanne Diamond League 2023 was the sixth meet of the Diamond League athletics series, which took place at the Athletissima stadium in Switzerland.
Read more: Olympics
Indian Refiners Shift to Chinese Yuan for Russian Oil Payments
Indian refiners have turned to the Chinese yuan as an alternative payment method for oil imports from Russia. Indian Oil Corporation, the largest buyer of Russian crude oil in India, became the first state refiner to do so. Western sanctions imposed on Russia following the Russia Ukraine tussle have prompted Russia and its customers to seek alternatives to the U.S. dollar for settling payments.
China, as Russia's top crude supplier, has already shifted to yuan payments for most of its energy imports from Russia. India, now the largest buyer of seaborne Russian oil, has taken the lead in diversifying payment options. While the exact extent of Russian oil purchased by Indian refiners with yuan remains unclear, this development reflects a strategic shift in payment methods amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Read more: Russia Ukraine tussle.
Data Carbon Ladder
Scientists have developed a tool called the Data Carbon Ladder, which enables businesses to calculate the carbon emissions associated with their digital data. With the global data volume projected to exceed 180 zettabytes by 2025 and doubling every two years, understanding the carbon dioxide output of digital data is crucial.
The tool addresses a critical oversight in global decarbonization policies by considering the carbon footprint of data, an often-neglected factor. Data centers, responsible for 2.5% to 3.7% of all human-induced carbon dioxide emissions, surpass the aviation industry's emissions (2.1%). By utilizing this tool, businesses and organizations can improve the sustainability of their data projects, minimizing their environmental impact and creating more efficient and eco-friendly solutions.
Read more: Carbon emissions, Decarbonization
