Daily News - Wednesday, 28 August 2024
FSSAI says committee should look into use of pesticides (mint)
India's national food regulator, FSSAI, has proposed forming an inter-ministerial committee to address concerns over pesticide use in the country's agriculture, prompted by both domestic food safety worries and pressures from EU trade negotiators to lower pesticide residues in exports. The committee will focus on reducing pesticide use, ensuring it stays within safe limits, and promoting sustainable farming practices to protect consumer health. Additionally, the need to explore alternative methods to pesticide spraying and encourage organic farming was highlighted as part of the strategy to mitigate health risks.
Need to focus on climate justice, says Pralhad Joshi (mint)
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized the importance of "climate justice" in the fight against climate change, advocating for a gradual energy transition to allow industries time to adapt while ensuring access to affordable energy. Speaking at the Mint Sustainability Summit, he highlighted India's significant progress in renewable energy, with a 165% increase in installed capacity over the past decade, and ambitious future goals including 1,800 GW of non-fossil energy by 2047 and a strong focus on green hydrogen production. Joshi also linked India's sustainability efforts to its broader vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, projecting substantial economic growth and job creation in the renewable energy sector.
India faces challenges to lift non-farm jobs: Moody’s (The Hindu)
Moody's Ratings noted that India's substantial infrastructure spending of ₹11.11 lakh crore this year is expected to improve the business environment, attract private investments, and create jobs in higher-paying sectors. However, challenges such as low participation in higher education, significant gender gaps, and a high employment rate in agriculture compared to other G-20 countries could limit the growth of non-agriculture jobs and household incomes. Additionally, Moody's highlighted that India's high unemployment rate and weak real wage growth could further constrain consumption growth.
ZF Wind Power to add capacity in TN for ₹450 crore (The Hindu)
ZF Wind Power, part of the ZF Group, is expanding its Coimbatore plant's annual gearbox manufacturing capacity from 9 GW to 12 GW, supported by a ₹450 crore investment, with the project expected to be completed by the end of next year. The plant, which produced 50 GW of gearbox capacity over the last 15 years, aims to achieve the same output in just the next five years, bolstered by the installation of a new 13 MW test rig. ZF Wind Power is also preparing to meet the demand for repowering low-capacity wind turbines in India and is encouraging local suppliers to invest in the country to support this expansion.
GCCs in India offering higher salaries than IT (The Asian Age)
Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India are offering 12-20% higher salaries compared to the IT services sector, particularly at entry and mid-levels, reflecting their growing dominance in the talent market as they attract top talent for expansion. The number of GCCs is expected to grow significantly, with 800 new centres anticipated in the next 5-6 years, and there is a trend towards establishing these centres in tier-II cities, indicating geographical diversification. Despite the increasing presence of women in GCCs, expected to reach 35% by 2027, a gender pay gap of 10-17% persists, while cloud investments and tech integration are set to drive significant economic and employment growth across both tech and non-tech sectors.
