Telangana Affairs
Telangana likely to hike its welfare dole in this years budget by Rs 30,000 crore
With the assembly slated for next year, the State Government is set to focus its attention on welfare schemes and subsidies. Sources said budget allocations for welfare schemes are likely to see a quantum leap by at least another Rs 30,000 crore in the 2022-23 state budget.
The state government is already spending Rs 58,000 crore annually on various welfare schemes and subsidies. Following allocation of another Rs 30,000 crore,Telanganawill emerge as the only state in the country to spend about Rs 90,000 crore on welfare schemes and subsidies, sources said. Chief ministerK Chandrasekhar Raoand Industry ministerKT Rama Raohave often claimed that Telangana is the only state implementing various schemes by allocating huge funds in the budget.
In the next seven years, government wants to cover 17 lakh Dalit families in the state. In the current years budget, government had allocated only Rs 1,000 crore under CMs Dalit Empowerment programme. Another major programme on governments radar is second phase of sheep distribution programme. Though it was announced a few months ago, the second phase is yet to be kicked off.
National and International Affairs
Electronic Goods India’s Exports
In December 2021, India’s electronic goods exports totaled USD 1.67 billion. It increased by 33.99 percent compared to December 2020 exports of USD 1.25 billion.
Highlights:
From April to December 2021, the electronic sector’s exports increased by 49 percent, reaching USD 11.0 billion, up from USD 7.4 billion in 2020.
Exports of Electronic Goods increased by 26% and 131 percent, respectively, from USD 8.8 billion in April-December 2019 to USD 4.8 billion in April-December 2014.
Mobile phones account for a significant portion of India’s electronic goods exports.
IT Hardware, such as laptops and tablets; Industrial electronics; Consumer electronics, such as TVs and audio; LED Lighting; Strategic electronics, Auto electronics, electronic components, Telecom equipment, wearables, and audio devices; and Strategic electronics, Auto electronics, electronic components, Telecom equipment, wearables, and audio devices.
Google To Invest $1 Billion In Airtel
Bharti Airtel and Google have launched long-term cooperation to help India’s digital ecosystem grow faster.
Highlights:
Bharti Airtel and Google have launched long-term cooperation to help India’s digital ecosystem grow faster.
Google would spend $1 billion in Airtel as part of the agreement. Google would invest USD 700 million to acquire a 1.28 percent interest in Bharti Airtel Ltd.
The remaining USD 300 million will be used to fund multi-year commercial agreements with Airtel, including products developed in collaboration between the two tech giants.
Global Private Banking Awards 2021
HDFC Bank is voted Best Private Bank in India at the Global Private Banking Awards 2021.
Highlights:
At the ‘Global Private Banking Awards 2021,’ organized by Professional Wealth Management (PWM) in a virtual ceremony, HDFC Bank was voted the ‘Best Private Bank’ in India.
The Financial Times Group publishes PWM, a wealth management magazine. The prize was presented to assist in accelerating significant trends, such as digitization, Communication, and in ESG initiatives (environmental, social, and Governance).
PWM received over 120 submissions for the Global Private Banking Awards 2021, of which 16 judges judged from four continents.
World Gold Council: Gold Demand Trends 2021
According to the World Gold Council, global gold demand jumps 10% to 4,021 tonnes.
Highlights:
According to the World Gold Council’s (WGC) publication ‘Gold Demand Trends 2021,’ worldwide gold demand increased 10% to 4,021.3 tonnes in 2021.
Overall gold demand in 2020 was 3,658.8 tonnes, which was impacted by the Covid-19-related interruptions.
The demand for gold was driven mainly by central bank purchases in the fourth quarter of 2021 and a rebound in jewelry purchasing, primarily in India and China.
On the back of improved consumer optimism and pent-up demand following the Covid-19-related disruptions, India’s gold consumption increased to 797.3 tonnes in 2021. The optimistic trend is expected to continue this year.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov: World Rapid Chess Champion 2021
The World Rapid Chess Championship 2021 was won by Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Highlights:
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) in a tiebreaker to win the World Rapid Chess Championship 2021 and dethrone Magnus Carlsen, the current World Number 1.
Magnus Carlsen won the FIDE Championship in 2020. Nodirbek took Home the title and a $60,000 prize after losing only one match to Ukrainian Anton Korobov and tying in five others.
The Mard Uglon (“Brave Son”) Presidential medal was presented to the Uzbeki Grand Master (GM).