Current affairs 19 May 2023

UNEP suggests measures to reduce 80% of world's plastic pollution by 2040.

• According to the UNEP report, Turning Off The Tap, plastic pollution across the world can be reduced by up to 80% by 2040, if companies and countries make policy and market shifts using existing technologies.
• The magnitude and nature of changes required to end plastic pollution and to create a circular economy to replace the widespread use of single-use plastics and their inappropriate disposal.
• About 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year.

Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran honored with France's highest civilian award.

• Tata Sons chairman, N Chandrasekaran (59) was conferred with France's highest civilian honor, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.
• He was awarded for his role in developing and fostering commercial links between India and France.
• N Chandrasekaran was appointed the chairman of Tata Sons in 2017 and later, was given a second term in the role for another five years.

HPCL to set up Rs 500 cr ethanol plant in Una.

• Himachal Pradesh CM, Sukhvinder Sukhu has informed that an ethanol plant would be set up in Una district by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) with an outlay of Rs 500 crore.
• The government will invest 50% equity in the project and would extend cooperation to the company for setting up the plant.
• The plant would provide employment and self-employment opportunities to the local people and farmers from Kangra, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur.

Cabinet approves Rs 1.08 lakh crore fertiliser subsidy for April-September kharif season.

• The Union Cabinet on May 17 approved an Rs 1.08 lakh crore package for fertiliser subsidy for the April-September kharif season.
• Of the Rs 1.08 lakh crore subsidy, Rs 70,000 crore is for urea and Rs 38,000 crore for Di-ammonium Phosphate, or DAP.
• As per the 2023-24 Budget documents, the revised estimate for the fertiliser subsidy given in 2022-23 is Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
• However the Centre's fertiliser subsidy bill in 2022-23 was Rs 2.54 lakh crore.
• Currently, the price of urea is Rs 276 per bag and the price of DAP is Rs 1,350 per bag. The subsidy is likely to benefit around 12 crore farmers.

Online education program "Pahal" for rural children inaugurated.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Durga Shankar Mishra has inaugurated an online rural education program Pahal at Government UP Sainik Inter College, Sarojini Nagar.
• The Department of secondary education has prepared this program in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
• Free online education will be provided at 10 government secondary schools in the initial phase.
• The rural area students will be able to get the latest information related to science and mathematics.