In recent events, Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected for a continuing five-year term at the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Since 2015, Pavadia has been actively involved as a member of the INCB and served as second vice-president and chair of the standing committee on estimates from 2015 and 2017 respectively.
The INCB, established in 1968, operates as an independent, quasi-judicial expert body. It primarily monitors the implementation of United Nations international drug control conventions. The INCB consists of 13 members, each elected for a period of five years. These members function impartially, independently of their respective governments.
India’s Victory at the United Nations
This re-election is seen as another victory for India at the United Nations platform. India’s growing global influence can be perceived with the successful re-election of Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice in 2017. In the forthcoming election, India is fielding a candidate for the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Triple Increase in B2B Tech Start-ups in 5 Years
A joint study conducted by NetApp and Zinnov has reported that B2B technology start-ups in India have more than tripled, growing from 900 to over 3,200 in just five years.
Key Highlights of the Study
Several factors have contributed to this growth. A major one includes the sudden need for digital transformation across various sectors like enterprises, financial institutions, hospitals, government, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), among others. About 70% of these B2B start-ups are concentrated in sectors such as enterprise technology, financial technology, and health technology.
Within the B2B technology domain, ‘advanced tech start-ups’, dealing with 3D printing, blockchain and robotic process automation, have shown a higher growth rate compared to the overall technology start-up segment.
Bengaluru has emerged as the top city for B2B technology start-ups, closely followed by Delhi NCR and Mumbai. These three cities alone account for approximately 60% of all B2B technology start-ups. The study also revealed that corporate incubators and accelerators are becoming the backbone of start-up technology.
B2B vs B2G vs B2C
The term B2B refers to the exchange of products, services or information between two companies. On the other hand, B2G stands for business conducted between private sector firms and Governments, and B2C refers to commerce transactions where companies sell products or services directly to consumers.
Kalasa-Banduri Project
Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) is presently in charge of implementing the Kalasa-Banduri project, valued at roughly ₹850 crores. Through this project, water supply will be provided to Belagavi and Dharwad districts of Karnataka.
Properties of the Kalasa-Banduri Project
| Dam Construction | River Diversion | Water Supply Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of the Mahadayi river | Diverting 7.56 TMC of water to the Malaprabha river (Krishna river tributary) | Dharwad, Belagavi, and Gadag districts |
The project has faced legal disputes between the governments of Karnataka and Goa over the distribution of water from the Mahadayi river. Nearly 4 sq.km of forestland within Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, an eco-sensitive zone, is expected to be submerged due to dam construction across the Haltara, Kalasa, and Banduri streams of the Mahadayi river.
Honouring Indian UN Personnels for their Sacrifice
Recently, Indian police officer Jitender Kumar, who was deployed to the UN mission in Congo, and Shikha Garg, a UN development programme consultant attached with India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, were honoured by the UN for their sacrifice in line of duty. The annual Memorial Service for Fallen Staff, held in New York, paid tribute to the 115 colleagues who lost their lives serving the United Nations from the start of last year till March end. The United Nations Peacekeeping works towards helping conflict-ridden countries establish lasting peace, employing civilian, police and military personnel.