
RAJASTHAN
- Family planning slips in state
- Rajasthan has slipped on the family planning front despite efforts by the state health department, with 32 districts showing negative trends, according to the latest review report of the programme.
- Methods of contraception include sterilisation, IUD (intrauterine device) insertion, PPIUCD (postpartum Intrauterine contraceptive device) insertion, oral pills and condoms.
- The report said sterilisation decreased in the state during 2017-18 by 10.65%, IUD insertion by 21.23%, PPIUCD insertion by 8.55%, condom users by 15.41% and oral pill (OP) users by 20.79%. Sterilisation data shows that against the target of 350,000 in 2017-18, the health department could achieve 249860 (71.49%). In2016-17, the achievement was 82.14%.
- Of the 34 districts, Ajmer and Jaipur-ii showed positive trends on sterilisation. Pali district of western Rajasthan is at the bottom with 29.39% decrease on sterilisation, and the chief minister’s home district Jhalawar recorded 22.91% decline.
- Baran is on the top with 94.91% achievement against the allotted target, but it registered 3.98% fall compared to last year. Rajsamand district is at the bottom during 2017-18, with an achievement of 36.40%.
- Male sterilisation recorded a sharp drop. Data revealed that male sterilisation in the state was 8,140 in 2010-11, but it dropped to 2553 in 2017-18.
- users decreased by 20.79 percentage points. Against the target of 495,977, the health department could achieve 323,131 (65.15%) in 2017-18.
- Six districts have shown positive trends on OP users. Against the target of 9472, Dungarpur scored 11945 (126.10%). Jalore is at the bottom with a decrease of 61.25%.
- Against the target of 427,106 on IUD insertions, the health department achieved 418155 (97.90%). Sirohi achieved more than 6.24% of the target. Barmer is at the bottom, recording a decline of 41.89 percentage points, the report said.
INTERNATIONAL
· Google has revealed about the AI chips for its data centres
- At Google Cloud Next ’18 conferencein San Francisco, Google revealed that it has gone beyond and building an artificial intelligence (AI) chips for its data centres.
- The aim is to help the customers in developing and deploying intelligent connected devices at scale. The first one was ‘Edge TPU,’ a new hardware chip, so small that four of them can fit on a U.S penny, Injong Rhee, VP, IoT, Google Cloud, demonstrated on the stage.
· India and US to hold first ’22 dialogue’ in September: USA
- United States of Americalooking forward to the “two-plus-two”dialogue with India in New Delhi in September.
- The two countries are close to signing the long-pending foundational agreements that will make it easier for the US to share classified information and undertake logistical activities together.
- The September meeting will be the first “two-plus-two” dialogue between India and the United States.
- It was announced last year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump.
NATIONAL
· India into deep ocean exploration
- Indiahas allocated 8,000 crore for a deep ocean exploration. This plan will extend for 5 years. The Union Earth Sciences Ministry revealed the blueprint of the ‘Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)’. The plan includes an offshore desalination plant based on tidal energy and developing a submersible vehicle that can go to a depth of at least 6,000 metres with three people on board.
Deep Ocean Mission will focus on advanced technologies that will be used for deep-sea mining, underwater vehicles, underwater robotics and ocean climate change advisory services.
- Committee to address the issues of Stressed Thermal Power Projects
- Stressed Thermal Power Assets are a cause of concern for the Country.
- With a view to resolve the stress and revive such assets, the Government has decided to set up a High Level Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary with representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal and the lenders having major exposure to the power sector.
- The Committee would look into the various issues with a view to resolve them and maximise the efficiency of investment.
- Amul awarded marketer of year
- Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), the marketers of the popular Amul brand of milk and dairy products, was awarded the ‘Marketer of the Year’ award by the International Advertising Association of India (IAAI).
- Amul, the brand worth Rs 41,000 crore, is marketed by the GCMMF, the biggest cooperative owned 89.4 11.4 132.3c6.3 23.7 24.8 41.5 48.3 47.8C117.2 448 288 448 288 448s170.8 0 213.4-11.5c23.5-6.3 42-24.2 48.3-47.8 11.4-42.9 11.4-132.3 11.4-132.3s0-89.4-11.4-132.3zm-317.5 213.5V175.2l142.7 81.2-142.7 81.2z"/> Subscribe on YouTube