1. China central bank launches digital yuan wallet apps for Android, iOS
China has released pilot versions of its digital yuan wallet application on mobile phone app stores as the country’s central bank steps up its push to develop its own digital currency.
The “e-CNY (Pilot Version)” app, developed by the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) digital currency research institute, was available for download on Chinese Android and Apple app stores on Tuesday in Shanghai.
2. Government to launch Brand India Campaign to boost exports
The commerce ministry is planning to launch Brand India Campaign to give momentum to exports of both services and products in new markets.
This campaign would serve as an “umbrella campaign” for promoting goods and services exported by India.
In the initial stage, the campaign would focus on Indian exports in specific sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles, plantation products (tea, coffee, spices), education, healthcare, pharma, and engineering.
It would essentially focus on quality, heritage, technology, value, and innovation.
3. Karnataka’s first LNG terminal to come up in Mangaluru
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based LNG Alliance Company for setting up the State’s first LNG Terminal in Mangaluru.
The terminal will be set up in association with New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) with an investment of ₹2,250 crore.
The project will come up as part of the Union Government’s plan to boost the alternative fuel market to achieve net zero carbon by 2070.
4.Sri Lanka clears Trincomalee oil tank farm deal with India
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a milestone deal to modernise most of its strategic petroleum storehouses jointly with India.
The Trincomalee oil tank farm consisting of 100 oil storage tanks will involve three agreements. In one lease pertaining to modernising 61 British-era tanks, Indian Oil Corporation will hold a minority stake of 49 per cent with the rest for Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which will also operate the remaining tanks.
5.CSC to undertake 1st-ever cultural survey of villages
The Union Ministry of Culture has partnered with the Common Services Centres (CSC), a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), to undertake the first-ever cultural survey of India’s villages.
The survey titled ‘Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar’ seeks to document the cultural identity at the village level by involving citizens to share what makes their village, block, or district unique. The exercise is expected to be completed by mid-2022. As per the agreement signed between the Culture Ministry and CSC, the latter will develop a mobile application and train the village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) in conducting the survey. Over 4 lakh VLEs, managing the CSCs across the country, will conduct the survey in 6.38 lakh villages and upload the details on the application.
6. Himachal Pradesh declared first smoke-free state in country
Himachal Pradesh had been declared a smoke free state in compliance with Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
More than 2,500 panchayats in the state have passed a resolution for compliance with COTPA provisions.
7. India’s first cryptocurrency index IC15 Launched
Global cryptocurrency super app Cryptowire has launched a crypto index in India to monitor the performance of the 15 most traded cryptocurrencies, listed on leading exchanges in the world. The cryptocurrency index is known as IC15.