Yearly Review of Government Policies and Schemes 2018 - Current Affairs Capsule in PDF January 2018
SBI to launch credit card for farmers o The State Bank of India, through its subsidiary SBI Cards & Payments Services Pvt Ltd, will offer credit cards to farmers. o The project has been initiated on a pilot basis in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and depending on the success of the pilot run, it will be launched nationally. o The new credit cards for the farmers will have a credit limit with a credit period of 45 days Scheme for Power supply o Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur launched integrated power development scheme at Nagrota Bagwan to provide 24x7 power supply in 54 towns of the state. o This will include strengthening of power distribution system, setting up new transformers. o The scheme envisages to strengthen the basic infrastructure and upgradation of power supply and sub stations. Punjab launches benefits under MGSVY o Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh launched the release of benefits under 'Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana'. o It is aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of the society. o He appealed to the state's debt-ridden farmers not to commit suicide. MIS portal for Anganwadi Training Prog.
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o Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shri Rakesh Srivastava launched the Management Information System (MIS) portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme in New Delhi. o Ministry of Women and Child Development with NIC, has developed MIS. o The first phase of the portal will enable NGOs to submit proposal to the respective States/UTs. The URL is http://icds-trg.nic.in. 'one district, one product' scheme in UP o The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved 'one district, one product' scheme to promote products indigenous to every district. o Implementation of the One District, One Product will boost economic development of the state, and also help in generation of five lakh new jobs annually. o Under this, one product indigenous to every district would be showcased at the three-day UP Diwas event. 4 schemes to promote young scientists-1 o The government announced four new schemes to promote young scientists and researchers. o Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence Scheme will connect the educators to leading public funded institutions like IIT, IISc to pursue research. o The 2nd scheme Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship offers support to 100 PhD scholars for training in universities/laboratories abroad up to 12 months. 4 schemes to promote young scientists-2 o The third scheme --Distinguished Investigator Award -- offers a maximum of 100 fellowships to principal investigators of Science and Engineering Research Board/Department of Science and Technology projects.
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o The fourth scheme 'Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR)' aims to encourage science writing. The scheme seeks to tap the potential of over 20,000 PhD scholars. UDAN Phase-II o Around 40%, or 129, of the 325 air routes awarded under the second phase of the regional connectivity scheme were for Northeastern and hill states. o These include strategic airports such as Kargil in Jammu & Kashmir, Pakyong in Sikkim where civilian air connectivity will be provided for the first time. o UDAN was launched on 27 April 2017. Nutrition scheme for HIV +tve children o Himachal Pradesh launched nutrition scheme for children affected by HIV under which they would be provided nutritional supplement. o The initiative would go a long way providing nutritional supplement & it would boost immunity of around 400 youth up to 18 years of age, who had been tested positive for HIV. o In addition, awareness campaign should be intensified in schools and colleges. Ganga Gram Project launched o The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation launched ‘Ganga Gram’ – a project for sanitation based integrated development of all 4470 villages along the River Ganga. o The Ganga Gram Swachhta Sammelan was attended by more than 1400 delegates including 500 village sarpanches. o Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is the nodal agency for implementation of the Ganga Gram Project. Manipur launches health assurance scheme
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o Manipur CM N Biren Singh launched the Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT), a pioneering health assurance scheme for the poor and disabled people. o 10 advanced life support ambulances will be given as gift of Statehood Day to Manipur. o The CMHT will provide cashless treatment to the poor at government hospitals, health centres and other empanelled selected private hospitals. Star ratings for garbage free cities o Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage-Free Cities’. o The star-rating initiative, will rate cities on a seven-star rating system based on multiple cleanliness indicators for solid waste management. o Cities can be rated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 star based on their compliance with the protocol conditions. Kejriwal launches Girl Child Week o Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launched Girl Child Week programme to celebrate the girl child and spread awareness on gender equality. o The Girl Child Week is held from 18 January to 24 January 2018. o 24 January is celebrated as National Girl Child Day. o The Girl Child Week is organised by NGO Alliance Defending Freedom India and PC&PNDT Cell of Directorate of Family Welfare of Delhi government. Odisha plans to complete EWDS by 2018 o The Odisha government has planned to commission Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) in coastal areas of 6 districts by March 2018. o This is a part of World Bank-supported National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. Total cost of the project is Rs 75 crore. o This system will send disaster warning messages to all mobile phone subscribers in the area that is to be affected by a disaster. 4 | P a g e
PMSMA crosses 1 crore mark o J P Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare has stated that antenatal check-ups under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has crossed 1cr mark. o PMSMA was launched in 2016 with an objective to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women. o Under this, quality antenatal checkups are provided to pregnant women on the 9th of every month at PMSAM sites. Govt. announces List of 9 Smart Cities o Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the list of nine new Smart Cities, which have emerged winners in Round 4. o These cities are, Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Erode in TN, Diu in Daman & Diu, Bihar Sharif in Bihar, Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Kavaratti in Lakshadweep. Odisha launches MMKSJ o On January 15, 2018, Odisha State Government announced ‘Mukahyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Jojana’ (MMKSJ), under which artists from across the state will get a monthly assistance of Rs 1200. o This scheme of giving Rs 1200 per month as artist assistance was announced by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik. o Around 50000 artists across Odisha will be benefited from this scheme. Kerala opted out of aspirational scheme o West Bengal, Kerala and Odisha have opted out of the Central Government’s Transformation of Aspirational Districts scheme. o Aspirational districts refer to selected 115 backward districts that are lagging on specific development parameters. o Central Government has undertaken a major policy initiative for rapid transformation of these districts. 5 | P a g e
‘I4Fund call for proposal’ website o The ‘I4Fund Call for Proposal’ was announced with the joint launch of the website and the unveiling of the brochure by the two PMs. o The "India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)" was announced in July, 2017. o Under this, the Department of Science and Technology, India and the National Innovation Authority of Israel have established a 40 million US dollar Fund. Punjab inks MoU with IOC o Punjab State Government signed a MoU with the Indian Oil Corporation to set up bio-gas and bio-CNG plants in the state. o The MoU with IOC was signed by Punjab Bureau of Industrial Promotion and Punjab Energy Development Agency in presence of Punjab CM Amarinder Singh. o This agreement is in line with Punjab State Government’s efforts to find sustainable solutions to paddy straw burning Rs 68,270 crore invested in development o According to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Rs 68,270 crore were released under various schemes across the country from 2014-15 till November 2017. o Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the government funding. o Swachh Bharat Mission, PMAY, AMRUT are some of the missions which have been funded. Rajasthan to digitise historical records o With an aim to protect old and fragile documents, the Rajasthan government is digitising 10,000 pages daily to preserve administrative and historical records of Rajputana's princely states.
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o The move will further boost the state government's effort to use technology to improve the lives of people. o The online records will help research scholars, administrative departments of state government. Free treatment for Hepatitis C o The health ministry is set to roll out a National Programme for Control of Viral Hepatitis from the 2018-19 financial year. o With the focus on Hepatitis C, an anti-viral treatment that costs $63,000- 94,000 for the full course in the US and Europe will be provided free at all government health set-ups. o Hepatitis C is caused by a blood-borne virus which affects the liver. Cabinet approves continuation of MPLADS o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme till the term of the 14th Finance Commission i.e. 31.03.2020. o The Scheme would entail an annual allocation of Rs. 3,950 crore and a total outlay of Rs. 11,850 crores. o MPLADS is a scheme formulated by Government of India on 23 December 1993. FDI Policies Further Liberalized o Cabinet has given its approval to a number of amendments to the FDI Policy. These are as follows: o 100% FDI under automatic route for Single Brand Retail Trading & Construction Development. o Foreign airlines allowed to invest up to 49% under approval route in Air India. o FIIs/FPIs allowed investing in Power Exchanges through primary market. Govt. approval no longer required for FDI in SBRT. Fixed term for Members of the Nat. Trust 7 | P a g e
o The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to amend Section 4(1) and Section 5(1) of the National Trust for the Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities. o It will fix the term of the Chairperson & Members of the Board of National Trust for 3 years. o National Trust is a statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. UIDAI Introduces ‘Virtual ID’ o The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a concept of 'Virtual ID' to further strengthen privacy and security of Aadhaar number holders. o The Aadhaar number holder can use 'Virtual ID' in place of an Aadhaar number whenever authentication or KYC services are performed. o Aadhaar card holder can generate the Virtual ID from UIDAI website. BharatNet covers 1 lakh Panchayats o The government said it had laid optical fiber in more than 1 lakh gram panchayats, completing the first phase of the BharatNet project. o It forms the backbone of the Digital India initiative. o The project aims to bring high-speed broadband to all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) through the optical fiber. The project was earlier called the National Optical Fibre Network. New Online Vendor Reg System by Railways o Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), the research arm of Ministry of Railways, has launched 'New Online Vendor Registration System'. o This new system provides major improvements and big changes in the registration system over the earlier system. o This system was evolved by Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal. Haryana launches HRP portal 8 | P a g e
o Haryana has become the first state in the country to launch high risk pregnancy (HRP) portal. o This portal not only helps in early identification of high-risk pregnancy cases but also ensures their timely referral to the civil hospitals for further management and delivery by specialists. o The initiative had been lauded by the Niti Ayog and the Union ministry of health and family welfare. Assam inaugurates skill dev. centres o With an aim to promote skill development in northeast India, the centre and the states have been rolling out various projects. o Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated various skill development centres across the state. o Sonowal recently inaugurated around 249 skill centres in the state to impart vocational training to the native youth and help them become financially independent. Railways to equip stations with Wi-Fi o All railway stations nearly 8,500 across the country, will be equipped with Wi-Fi facilities at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. o As part of the government's ambitious Digital India initiative, it has currently commissioned Wi-Fi services at 216 major stations. o Digital India is a campaign launched by the GoI to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically. HP govt to set up Gudiya helpline o Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the government would set up 'Gudiya helpline' for reporting crime against women. o They have adopted the policy of zero tolerance. o Special women cells would be created in the state to deal with crime against women.
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o ’Gudiya’ is a nickname given to the 16-year-old victim of rape and murder in Kotkhai town. The incident took place in 2017. APY subscriber base touches 80 lakh-mark o PFRDA-run Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has reached a subscriber base of 80 lakh. o Uttar Pradesh is the highest contributing state at 11.41 lakh APY subscribers, followed by Bihar and Tamil Nadu at 8.87 lakh and 6.60 lakh respectively. o Atal Pension Yojana is a government-backed pension scheme in India targeted at the unorganised sector. It was launched in the year 2015. 10 Rs note to have Sun Temple o The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) presented the new Rs 10 banknote under the Mahatma Gandhi (New) series. o The back of the note features motif of Sun Temple in Konark, 'depicting the country's cultural heritage'. o Dimensions of the note are 63mmx123mm, as opposed to the older notes 63mmx137mm. o It also has Swachh Bharat logo with the slogan. Centre introduces 7.75% savings bonds o The Centre has announced the introduction of 7.75% savings bonds designed to help citizens invest in a taxable instrument, without any monetary ceiling. o The bonds are open to investment by individuals, including joint holdings and HUFs. o The bonds will be issued at par, that is, at ₹ 100 and would be issued for a minimum amount of and in multiples of ₹ 1,000. Over 2.55 crore children vaccinated o The four phases of Mission Indradhanush has reached 2.55 crore children and around 68.7 lakh pregnant women in 528 districts across the country. 10 | P a g e
o MI is a vaccination programme to ensure that children under the age of 2 and pregnant women are immunised against seven life-threatening diseases. o The word represents 7 vaccines that are currently included in the Universal Immunisation Programme. Government launches MyGov platform o The government has launched MyGov platform where interested people can give their considered view on the subject. o The platform invites citizens, members of civil society, journalists etc to give their suggestions. o The platform with people asking for different sorts of changes they would like to see in the coming days. Ministries join hands for Railways proj. o Three Union ministries have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the co-financing of ‘Technology Mission for Indian Railways’, says Ashwani Lohani, chairman, Railway Board. o MoU will facilitate co-financing of TMIR by investment sharing for railway projects. o The mission will take up R&D projects in the areas of heavy haul, safety, energy, environment and urban railways. Namami Gange projects approved by NMCG o National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved five projects of worth Rs. 295.01 crore. o Three projects pertain to sewage management in West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 278.6 crore, one relates to sewage management in Uttarakhand and one project is related to ghat improvement works in Varanasi. o NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council which was set up in October 2016. 11 | P a g e
1st digital Online Oncology Tutorial o The Health Ministry launched the country’s first digital online oncology tutorial series designed in collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre. o The series is aimed at educating doctors in early detection, prevention, palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various forms of cancers. o Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. 'Swachh Sarvekshan 2018' o The world's biggest cleanliness survey 'Swachh Sarvekshan Survey 2018' was launched in India. o It will be conducted from the 4th of January to 10th of March. o The cleanliness survey was launched in 2016 as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The main objective of Swachh Survekshan is to encourage large- scale citizen participation and create awareness. Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela 2017-18 o Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela 2017-18’ at a function held at Sarbananda Singha auditorium in Tinsukia, Assam. o During the launch, Sarbananda Sonowal distributed cheques to beneficiaries. o Under this scheme, people belonging to tea community who opened bank accounts during demonetisation will be credited Rs 2500 in their accounts. Solar plants mandatory in new buildings o The Haryana government has mandated installation of Solar Photovoltaic Power plant in new buildings as per specified norms. o This has been done in a move to conserve electricity and use it efficiently. o The government says the move aims to efficient use of electricity and its conservation in the state. Solar-based irrigation schemes: Haryana 12 | P a g e
o Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar directed the state irrigation department to implement the integrated solar-based micro irrigation scheme in all districts of Haryana. o Mr. Khattar has constituted a committee headed by Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency chairman to form a strategy to execute this scheme. o This scheme will save electricity and water. ‘Electoral Bonds’ Scheme o The Centre unveiled the ‘Electoral Bonds’ scheme, which seeks to ensure the flow of clean money to political parties, without revealing the donors’ names. o The electoral bonds will be a bearer instrument in the nature of a Promissory Note and an interest-free banking instrument. o The bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples of Rs1,000; Rs10,000; Rs1 lakh; Rs10 lakh; and Rs1 crore. Assam launches free CT Scan service o Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched a free CT Scan service under at Shri Shri Pitambar Dev Goswami Civil Hospital in Majuli island. o It is launched under ‘Chief Minister Free Diagnostic Services’. o Majuli is world’s largest river island. It is also the home constituency of Sonowal. Allied and Healthcare database portal o Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare launched the Allied and Healthcare Professionals’ database portal. o It is a part of Ministry’s commitment to ensure better systems for the healthcare workforce in the country. o This portal is a measure to track and reach out to all the allied and healthcare professionals in the country. The link to the website portal is a2hp.mohfw.gov.in. 13 | P a g e
Karnataka to obtain electric vehicles o Karnataka would obtain electric vehicles under the Centre's FAME-India scheme. o Karnataka is set to procure and ply 40 electric buses, 100 four wheelers and 500 three wheelers along with setting up of charging infrastructure. o Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, for promoting eco-friendly vehicles. Saubhagya Yojana launched by Jharkhand o Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das launched "Saubhagya Yojana". o It is a programme that would provide electricity to all the 29,376 villages in the state. o Das said people would get electricity 24x7, which would not only change the life of the people in the villages but also there would be a change in their thought, economic condition, education of their children and lift irrigation for the farmers. WCD Ministry Inaugurated Portal NARI o Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi inaugurated an online portal NARI in New Delhi for the empowerment of women. o The portal will provide women with easy access to information on government schemes and initiatives for women. o The portal summarises over 350 government schemes and other important information. MoU to lay optical fiber network o Chhattisgarh signed a MoU with the Centre for the second phase of the Bharat Net project under which 5987 village panchayats will be connected through optical fiber network. o The MoU will pave the way for laying 32,466 kms of optical fiber cable in 5987 Gram Panchayats of the state. 14 | P a g e
o National Optical Fiber Network was created for providing Broadband connectivity to Panchayats. Bhavantar Bharpai scheme in Haryana o To counter farm distress, Haryana government has launched Bhavantar Bharpai scheme (or the price deficit compensation scheme for vegetables). o It is set on the lines of Minimum Support Price-type (MSP) formula for four vegetable crops, namely, potato, onion, cauliflower and tomato. o The launch of the scheme is aimed at ensuring income of up to Rs 48,000 to 56,000 per acre to farmers.
February 2018
2nd Project Of Swajal Yojana launched o Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Uma Bharti launched the Swajal pilot project at Village Bhikampura in Rajasthan. o Besides ensuring the availability of clean drinking water to every household round the year, the project would also generate employment. o Swajal is a community-owned drinking water programme for sustained drinking water supply. EPFO Introduces UAN- Aadhar Linking Facility o Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced UAN- Aadhaar linking facility for the convenience of members using EPFO Link in UMANG Mobile App. o The facility on e-KYC Portal has further added a new feature to link UAN with Aadhaar online using biometric credentials. o For using this facility with UMANG APP, member will have to provide his/her UAN. Modi launches Amma two-wheeler scheme
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o PM Modi kickstarted the subsidised Amma two-wheeler scheme meant for working women, on the occasion of former Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s 70th birth anniversary. o As part of the scheme, every beneficiary in the state of Tamil Nadu will be given 50% of the cost of a two- wheeler or a grant of ₹ 25,000. o Each year, one lakh working women would be covered under this scheme. Kids aged less than 5 yrs to get blue Aadhaar o UIDAI tweeted that children below the age of five years will receive a blue- coloured 'Baal Aadhaar' card. o While the Baal Aadhaar will not carry biometric details of the child, it will be updated with the information after the child crosses the age of five. o Several schools across Delhi have reportedly made children's Aadhaar numbers mandatory for admissions. First sale of electoral bonds from March 1 o The first sale of electoral bonds will start from March 1 for a period of 10 days at 4 main branches of SBI in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. o These bonds will have a life of 15 days, and a citizen of India or an entity incorporated or established in the country can purchase them. o Bonds can be bought for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 cr. Modi to inaugurate first ever TB India summit o India is all set to organise a mega India TB summit from March 13-16. o All chief ministers will be invited and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first of its kind event which is aimed at generating sufficient momentum for his vision of a TB free India by 2025. o It is five years ahead of the global TB elimination target of 2030. Parivartan scheme launched in Haryana o Haryana launched Parivartan scheme designed to address 10 issues.
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o The 10 issues include facilitation of financing, making agriculture profitable & sustainable, improving health services, implementing Swachh Bharat, decongesting market areas, engaging the youth, checking air pollution, ensuring availability of identity-related services, effective policing, and ensuring road order and conduct. 60,000-crore fund for urban housing scheme o The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) with Rs 60,000 crore in its kitty. o The fund will be situated in Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. o The Ministry has so far sanctioned 39.4 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Government Extends Anti-Narcotics Scheme o The government has extended the anti-narcotics scheme for 3 more years to combat illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substance. o The purpose of the scheme is to assist states and Union Territories, which are contributing in controlling the inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking. o The scheme was first launched in 2004 for a period of five years. No GST on food served to patients in hospital o The government has clarified that the food served to patients admitted to the hospital is part of healthcare services and is therefore exempt from GST. o However, the food served by the hospital to patients who are not admitted will be taxable. o Also, there will be no GST levied on services provided by doctors, consultants, and technicians at the hospital. WB Becomes 1st State To Opt Out Of ‘Modicare’ o Bengal CM Mamata has opted out of Centre’s ‘Modicare’ scheme. She said state already has a scheme of its own. 17 | P a g e
o This makes West Bengal the first state to withdraw from the ambitious programme. o Arun Jaitley had announced the NHPS on February 1, making it the biggest global plan to provide quality health cover to a population larger than the combined citizenry of the US, UK, Germany & France. J'khand govt push for SHGs manufacturing pads o The Jharkhand government will purchase sanitary napkins from SHGs for distribution among schoolgirls, Chief Minister Raghubar Das has said. o Government had during the recent budget session taken this decision to empower women working in SHGs. o The state government’s move comes at a time when people have been actively participating in actor Akshay Kumar’s ‘Pad Man Challenge’ on social media. Air dispensary set to take off in Northeast o The air dispensary service in the North East, which is the “brain child” of the Manipur Governor Najma Heptula, will be commissioned soon in Manipur and Meghalaya. o Governor Ms. Heptulla said that she first came to know of the air dispensary in Australia during a visit there. o Doctors and paramedics will rush in helicopters to hard to access villages to attend to the patients. Tribal areas to soon get bike ambulances o Buoyed by the response to the free bike ambulance service in Mumbai, the State government is planning to expand the fleet and run similar services in tribal-dominated regions. o The Maharastra government is planning to launch 30 additional ambulance bikes, out of which 10 will be used in Mumbai. o The emergency first responder service is available through the ‘108’ helpline. 18 | P a g e
NHAI To Start 'Pay As You Use' Pilot Project o The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will start a pilot project called "pay as you use" on the Delhi-Mumbai Highway. o It will study and implement the ability of the system in the country. o The project to be run for one year involves implementing a satellite-based electronic toll collection system running on GPS/GSM technology for around 500 commercial vehicles. RK Singh Launches ASH TRACK Mobile App o Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh, launched a Web-based monitoring System and a Fly Ash mobile application named ASH TRACK. o These platforms will enable better management of the ash produced by thermal power plants. o It will provide an interface between fly ash producers (Thermal Power Plants) and potential ash users. Goa to launch bike ambulances in the state o Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is planning to launch 20 bike ambulances to deal with casualties in the state's tourism belt. o The ambulances will be equipped with basic life-saving equipment and two oxygen cylinders to serve as rapid service at places where four-wheeler ambulances cannot reach. o A total of 100 bike ambulances will be introduced in the next six months. ₹ 1,650cr allotted for PM Research Fellow plan o The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows' scheme at a cost of ₹ 1,650 crore for a period of seven years starting 2018-2019. o Under the scheme, students pursuing PhD in IITs and IISc will be offered fellowships worth ₹ 70,000-80,000 per month for five years. o A total of 3,000 fellows will be selected for the fellowship. 19 | P a g e
Ujjwala Yojana to benefit 8 crore women now o The Union Cabinet took a slew of decisions across sectors. o The Cabinet also approved the increase in the target for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, meant to provide LPG connections to rural women, to eight crore from the earlier five crore, adding that this has to be achieved by 2020. o It also approved an additional allocation for the scheme of ₹ 4,800 crore. Haryana to set up ‘Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran’ o In an attempt to increase farm productivity and farmers’ income, the Haryana government announced the setting up of ‘Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran’. o The Pradhikaran will undertake all possible measures to enhance farm productivity and mitigate the physical, financial and psychological distress of farm households. o It will maintain projects thorough the Agriculture Advisory Council. UP Government launches DASTAK Campaign o UP State government in association with UNICEF has launched massive door to door campaign DASTAK to eradicate deadly Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis disease in the state. o DASTAK stands for 'Darwaja Khatkhatao, AES aur JE ko bhagao'. o In DASTAK campaign, whole state machinery with the help of UNICEF will now literally go door to door in 38 JES and AE affected districts. Gobardhan Yojana launched to support farmers o Haryana launched the 'Gobardhan Yojana' to provide organic manure and cow urine with an aim to benefit farmers, CM Manohar Lal Khattar said. o A provision of Rs 11 crore has been made to provide benefits of various projects under this scheme. o The Yojana would help in doubling the income of farmers and next time, the MSP would be given with additional benefit of 50% over the cost of production. 20 | P a g e
FSSAI asks states to ensure 'hygenic' prasad o The country’s food safety regulator has asked the states to roll out a project to ensure that devotees were served safe prasad at places of worship. o FSSAI said these places are requested to roll out the project BHOG. o Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, or BHOG, is a part of FSSAI’s safe and nutritious food bouquet of initiatives launched a year ago. Scheme for promoting solar power production o Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahaabhiyan or KUSUM scheme would provide extra income to farmers when by selling the power to the grid. o It will help in de-dieselising the farm sector. o The scheme will promote energy efficiency and water conservation. o The Centre will spend ₹ 48,000 crore on the ten-year scheme which was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19. Gobar-Dhan Scheme to be launched o In an effort to make the villages open defecation free and improving the lives of villagers, the Finance Minister announced the launch of Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN). o Jaitley added that this will manage and convert cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, bio-gas and bio-CNG. o He announced that 187 projects have been sanctioned under Namami Gange Programme New interest rates for senior citizens o Mr. Jaitley made an effort to ease the cash flows of senior citizens that are largely dependent on interest income. o The exemption limit on interest income on bank and post office deposits has been raised from ₹ 10,000 to ₹ 50,000 a year. o The deduction available for health insurance premium and medical expenditure has been raised from ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 50,000. 'ModiCare' - World's Biggest Health Plan 21 | P a g e
o India will have the world's largest healthcare programme for half a billion of its poorest citizens. o The plan was soon dubbed "NaMoCare" by BJP president Amit Shah and "ModiCare" by many online. o The government's new national health protection scheme will cover 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, Mr Jaitley said. o Each family would be entitled to up to Rs. 5 lakh every year. FY19 revenue loss estimated at 7K cr o In a big boost to the small and medium enterprises, Arun Jaitley announced a reduction in corporate tax rate from existing 30% to 25%, for companies with turnover of up to Rs 250 crore. o The decision will benefit the entire class of MSME that account for almost 99% of companies filing their tax returns. o But it will lead to an estimated revenue loss of Rs 7,000 cr in the financial year 2018-19 Govt to spend ₹ 2.95 lakh cr on defence o The government hiked the defence budget for the next financial year to ₹ 2.95 lakh crore, a nearly 7.81% increase from last year. o This includes nearly ₹ 1 lakh crore allotted for capital expenditure including modernisation. o The share of the defence budget in terms of GDP has slipped to 1.57%, the lowest since the 1962 Indo-China war. India will grow at 7.2-7.5% o Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that India is expected to register a growth rate of 7.2-7.5% in the second half of the current fiscal. o While unveiling the Budget 2018-19, he said, India has grown on an average of 7.5 percent in the first three years of the current government and has become a $2.5 trillion economy. o India is expected to become 5th largest economy soon, he said. 22 | P a g e
₹ 2,000 cr fund for agriculture market o Arun Jaitely said that this year's Budget will focus on strengthening agriculture and the rural economy. o The Finance Minister says that APMCs will be linked with ENAM. The government will develop 22,000 Gramin agricultural markets. o Minimum Support Price shall be increased by 1.5 times. Operation Green will be launched for agriculture and the Minister allocates ₹ 500 crore for this. Govt to construct 2 cr toilets in 2 yrs o The government is targeting to construct two crore new toilets in the next financial year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced during his budget speech. o Speaking about the ‘Swacch Bharat Mission’ he said that already 6 crore toilets have been built as part of the mission. o Jaitley has allocated Rs. 22,356.6 crore for SBM, a 6.89% decrease from last year's allocation of Rs 24,011.18 crore. Govt allots ₹ 56k cr for SC welfare o Arun Jaitley announced ₹ 56,619 crore for SC welfare and ₹ 39,135 crore for ST welfare. o Every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people will have an 'Ekalavya' model residential school by 2022. o Ekalavya Model Residential School is a scheme for model residential school for Indian tribals across India. It was established by the Tribal Ministry, Government of India. ₹ 14.3 lakh cr to be spent on rural infra o Arun Jaitley said that the government has allocated ₹ 14.3 lakh crore to be spent for rural infrastructure. o He said every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people will have a model residential school by 2022. 23 | P a g e
o He added social security will be provided to aged, widows, and orphaned children. 8 cr women to get free LPG connections o While presenting the Union Budget 2018 in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that eight crore poor women will be provided with free LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme. o The Minister added that the Saubhagya scheme will provide power to four crore families and that the government will spend ₹ 16,000 crore on this scheme. World's largest govt-funded health prog o Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced the world's largest government-funded healthcare programme with ₹ 5 lakh annual cover per family for 10 crore poor families. o The government also allocated ₹ 1200 crore for construction of 1.5 lakh new healthcare centres. o Jaitley also announced setting up of 24 new government medical colleges and hospitals by upgrading existing district hospitals.
March 2018
Govt clears restructuring of NSDF, NSDC o The government approved the restructuring of National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). o The move will strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework. o NSDC and NSDF were set up by the Ministry of Finance and registered in July 2008 and January 2009 respectively for implementing coordinated action for skill development. Cabinet enhanced the coverage of PMRPY
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o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for enhancing the scope of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY). o The informal sector workers would get social safety net and there would be more job creation. o In this scheme, Government is paying the 8.33% contribution of Employers to the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) in respect of new employees. Cabinet approved Nutrient Based Subsidy o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) and City Compost Scheme beyond 12th Five Year plan till 2019-20. o Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 21 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers. o The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme. LTCG tax & other taxes to begin from April 1 o Several budget proposals, including the reintroduction of the tax on long- term capital gains (LTCG) exceeding Rs. 1 lakh from the sale of shares, will come into effect from April 1. o The 2018-19 Budget had reintroduced 10% tax on long-term capital gains. o Tax proposals like the reduced corporate tax of 25% on businesses on turnover of up to Rs. 250 crore will come into effect. PFMS got record volume of digital transaction o Public Financial Management System (PFMS) achieved a historical record- breaking volume of Digital Transactions on 28th March. o PFMS provides a platform for efficient management of funds through tracking of funds and real-time reporting of expenditure and receipts. o PFMS is an ambitious project of Government of India being implemented by Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance. Tripura to set up crime wing of state police 25 | P a g e
o The Tripura government has decided to set up a "well-equipped" crime branch under the state police to deal with unlawful activities such as drug and narcotics peddling. o The new wing will be modelled after Delhi Police's crime branch. o The crime branch would exclusively deal with crimes like drug peddling, indulging in social unrest and crimes on women. Assam launched toll free women's helpline o The Assam government launched "181-Sakhi toll-free women's helpline" to tackle the recent spurt in crime in the state. o This is a scheme of universalization of women helpline and is launched under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. o This service intends to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence. Cabinet approved scheme for School Education o The Cabinet has approved an Integrated Scheme on School Education by combining Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2020. o The aim is to support the States in universalizing access to school education from pre-nursery to XII across India. o The main emphasis of the scheme is to improve the quality of school education. EPFO launches portal for pensioners o EPFO has launched the pensioner’s portal through which all EPFO pensioners may get the details of pension-related information. o The pensioner’s portal is a service where details like pension payment order number, payment order details, passbook information and other related information are available. o It provides help to pensioners to know the status of their life certificate. 26 | P a g e
CCEA approved Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme and continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme. o The scheme will cover loans for pursuing professional and technical courses to promote quality education. o It will provide education loans to ten lakh students during this period. MP govt launches ‘Kadaknath’ app o The Madhya Pradesh government has come up with a mobile application to market rare chicken breed — the “Kadaknath”. o The “MP Kadaknath” mobile app aims to connect poultries that sale the breed with people from other parts of the country. o Kadaknath breed is known for its taste and nutritional value, especially high percentage of protein. UP passes stringent crime control bill o The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has passed a stringent bill to curb organised crime and deal strictly with terrorism. o The UPCOC Bill seeks to act against those using explosives or firearms or any other violent means or damaging life and property or involved in anti- national or destructive activities. o The bill provides for punishments from minimum 3 years' imprisonment to capital punishment. Ministry of Power partners with Skill India o Ministry of Power partnered with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to train the manpower in six states for speedy implementation of its Saubhagya scheme. o The scheme aims to achieve universal household electrification in all parts of the country. 27 | P a g e
o To support the scheme, the training program has been launched in Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. IM-PDS approved for implementation o A new central sector scheme namely “Integrated Management of Public Distribution System” has been approved for implementation during 2018- 19 and 2019-20. o The key objectives of the scheme are to integrate PDS systems of States/UTs with Central System, the introduction of National Portability etc. o The new scheme will bring more transparency and efficiency in distribution of foodgrains. NITI Aayog Signs SOI with SAP o NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission signed a Statement of Intent with SAP to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. o SAP will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories for 5 years to nurture the science, technology, engineering and maths learning among school children. o This will enable students to learn advanced topics relevant to digital transformation and the Internet of Things. 3.21 lakh houses under PMAY(U) o The Centre has approved construction of over 3.21 lakh houses for urban poor under its flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). o Haryana was sanctioned the highest number of houses for construction, followed by West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Mizoram. o The projects were sanctioned across 523 cities in various states. “E-Tribes India” Launched o The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India’s (TRIFED) websites- www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in and Retail Inventory Software and M- commerce app. 28 | P a g e
o TRIFED has developed its own website i.e., tribesindia.com for sale of all its products and to tap m-commerce. o ‘Tribes India’ Banners at Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM will be launched. Mission Sambhav launched in Assam o Assam Chief Minister launched the 'Mission Sambhav' campaign, which aims at spreading the message of toilet construction in 33 districts of the state. o The central theme of the campaign is to reach out to more than one lakh families without a toilet, on a single day. o The scheme aims to promote mass mobilisation through public representatives, local units of security forces, NGOs, and colleges High Courts to have 'Justice Clocks' o The Centre will soon install ‘Justice Clocks’ — LED message display boards — in all 24 High Courts. o The clocks will display the daily rate of disposal of cases, the number of pending cases and the individual rank of each of these courts. o A model of this ‘clock’ was first installed in the Delhi office of the justice department. o The aim is also to create a competition among the courts. N-TB app to help TB patients with diet o N-TB, an app for TB patients, was launched on March 24, World Tuberculosis Day. o N-TB allows healthcare workers who handle TB patients calculate the right BMI and nutrition levels. o It is based on the Guidance Document on nutritional care and support for patients with tuberculosis in India that was released by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme. UIDAI to roll out face recognition for AADHAR
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o The Unique Identification Authority of India has announced to roll-out face authentication feature by July 1, 2018, to add another layer of security for inclusive authentication of Aadhaar card holders. o It will provide additional choice to those facing issues with their fingerprint or iris authentication. o Face authentication will only be used along with the previous authentication tool. MHRD has approved ‘Study in India’ programme o Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved ‘Study in India’ programme. o The ‘Study in India’ programme’s primary objective is to target foreign students by branding India as an attractive education destination. o The move is aimed to improve the global ranking of Indian educational institutes. o Under the programme, meritorious students will be provided with fee waiver and scholarship. SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2018 in New Delhi o The SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2018 in New Delhi is organized by Ministry of Rural Development. o The SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2018 provides rural women producers with a national platform and an opportunity to showcase their products and seek buyers. o The Ministry will also bring out a directory of the products of all the women who will be showcasing their products at the Mela. MEA's 'Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar' launched o The External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the External Affairs ministry launched an initiative, "Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar" in Hyderabad.
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o The initiative is part of the enhanced public diplomacy outreach to take the objectives of the foreign policy to the common people. o The initiative involves MEA's engagement with the regional media based in different cities across India . AAP govt presented its first ‘Green Budget’ o The AAP government presented its Rs 53,000 crore budget for 2018-19 in the Assembly, which laid emphasis on environment, health, education and water. o This is the first “Green budget” of the government for effective containment of pollution in the city. o They also proposed to set aside Rs 1000 crore for repair and maintenance of smaller roads owned by the municipal corporations of the city. Govt. to fund education of martyrs' children o The government will now fully fund the education of martyrs' children. o Before this, the education of these children was funded, but only up to Rs 10,000 a month. o The concession applies to the children of officers from the armed forces, 'persons below officer rank' missing in action, and those disabled or killed in action. o This scheme covers around 3,400 children. 'Indian Sign Language Dictionary' Launched o “First Indian Sign Language Dictionary of 3000 words” was launched by Government of India on 23rd March. o The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. o The basic aim of developing the Indian Sign Language Dictionary is to remove communications barriers between the deaf and hearing communities. Assam to start NRC verification from April 2 31 | P a g e
o The verification of citizenship documents of 29 lakh married women for updating the 1951 National Register of Citizens, will begin in Assam on April 2. o Each woman will be asked to produce whatever evidence she can gather, oral or written. o The other major process of verifying the family tree of those yet to be included in NRC had begun on February 17. One app, 1000 services: mKeralam o Kerala government has launched "mKeralam", an app that will serve as a single window for accessing thousands of government services. o The app has been developed by the Kerala State Information Technology Mission, and will initially offer 100 citizen-oriented public services of 20 departments. o The services accessible via mKeralam are available through 'www.kerala.gov.in'. Payment of Gratuity Amendment bill passed o The Rajya Sabha passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) bill. o The bill would enhance the ceiling of tax-free gratuity to Rs 20 lakh from existing Rs 10 lakh for employers under the Payment of Gratuity Act. o It is applicable to employees, who have completed at least five years of continuous service in an establishment that has 10 or more persons. Govt launches free wi-fi service in Udwada o The government has launched free wi-fi service for Sansad Adarsh Gram, Udwada in Valsad district of Gujarat. o The village has been adopted by Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Smriti Irani under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. o The free wi-fi service will be provided by BSNL in partnership with QuadGen. o The wi-fi service will cover nearly 90% of the village. 32 | P a g e
India to open 18 Missions in Africa o The Union Cabinet on 21st March has approved the opening of 18 new Indian Missions in 18 African countries. o This will enhance India's diplomatic outreach in the African continent and allow India to engage with Indian diaspora in African countries. o The 18 missions will be opened over a four-year period between 2018 to 2021.
IRCTC introduces billing through PoS in train
o Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced billing through Point of Sale (POS) hand-held machines in trains to check overcharging by vendors. o IRCTC has already introduced POS machines in New Delhi-Karnataka Express on a pilot basis. o The POS billing machines will be introduced in trains in a phased manner. Integrated Scheme for silk industry approved o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry. o The core objective of the scheme is to improve the productivity and quality of silk through R&D intervention. o The approved proposal includes provision for the brand promotion of Indian silk through quality certification by "Silk Mark". Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat – NHPM o The Union Cabinet has approved the launch of a new Centrally Sponsored Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). o The scheme has the benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.
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o The target beneficiaries of the proposed scheme will be more than 10 crore families belonging to poor and vulnerable population based on SECC database. Cabinet approves NEIDS 2017 o The Union Cabinet has approved the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017. o In order to promote employment in the North East States, Government is incentivizing primarily the MSME Sector through this scheme. o The newly introduced scheme shall promote industrialization in the States of the North Eastern Region and will boost employment and income generation. Delhi launched app to find singing talent o The Delhi government launched a mobile app called "Delhi's Date with Democracy". o It's aim is to allow applicants from all parts of the city to showcase their talent. o "There is no age limit and interested candidates can start sending their entries in both categories- singing and dancing, from tomorrow onwards," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. Govt extends fixed term employment facility o The government has extended the facility of hiring workers on fixed-term employment to all sectors for improving the ease of doing business for companies. o This facility was available only to the apparel manufacturing sector as per the Industrial Establishment (Standing Order) 1946. o The fixed term employment was defined as a workman who is employed on a contract basis for a fixed period. Plastic Park in Jharkhand approved
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o The Government of India has approved the setting up of a 'Plastic Park' in Deoghar District in Jharkhand. o A range of polymer products including woven sacks, moulded furniture, water tanks, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc would be manufactured in this plastic park. o A plastic recycling unit will also be set up at Deoghar to tackle the menace of plastic waste. Kerala to get tribal instructors for literacy o In a first, Kerala government will rope in qualified tribal instructors to impart literacy in their respective settlements in a bid to improve literacy rates among tribal populations. o The instructors will teach people who are above 15 years of age, Director of Kerala literacy mission PS Sreekala said. o Around 370 instructors for 100 villages have been appointed for the initiative. First National Workshop on POSHAN Abhiyaan o The first National workshop on POSHAN Abhiyan involving all the states and union territories was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi. o The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising the day-long workshop with participation from all the states/UTs. o POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018 by the Prime Minister in Jhunjhunu. Odisha to collaborate with RIMES o The Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) will collaborate with the Thailand-based Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for strengthening its early warning services and enhancing preparedness for management of hazards in the State. o OSDMA and RIMES would forge a partnership in the field of drought monitoring. 35 | P a g e
o RIMES is already working with the Tamil Nadu. LaQshya programme launched o The Union Health Ministry announced the launch of LaQshya, a programme aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity operation theatre. o The programme will improve the quality of care maternity operation theatres, and obstetrics Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units. o The programme aims at implementing ‘fast-track’ interventions for achieving results within 18 months NITI Aayog to release SATH-E Roadmaps o NITI Aayog will release comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiative ‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education’ project at NITI Aayog. o SATHE will introduce System-wide Governance Transformation in School Education. o These roadmaps present customized, action-oriented programmes, outlining interventions at the individual, district and State level. Urea subsidy to continue till 2020 o The Cabinet has approved the continuation of the urea subsidy till 2020. The government also approved implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for disbursement of fertiliser subsidy. o The Centre subsidises the difference between the cost of delivered fertilisers at the retail store and the MRP paid by farmers. o The subsidy scheme will ensure that urea is available to the farmers. HRD Ministry to set up ‘Innovation Cell’ o The Human Resource Development Ministry would soon set up "innovation cell" that would explore ideas to strengthen innovation efforts in education. o The “Innovation Cell” would be headed by a scientist and would be comprised of a senior ministry official and young professionals. 36 | P a g e
o The move comes after India’s ranking in the Global Innovation index Ranking moved up to 60 in 2017 from 66 in 2016 NCRB launches Mobile App useful for Citizens o The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) has introduced Citizen Services Mobile App, which is a bouquet of 9 police related services. o These services will provide a smooth interface between Citizens and Police. o Another feature of the App also enables a complainant to download FIR. o States/UTs can host this App on their platform through which citizens can register Police Complaint. Switch to e-vehicles: Govt to all departments o The Power Ministry has directed all central government departments and PSUs in the National Capital Region to switch to e-vehicles for local use. o The move comes as the government plans to have 30% of the total vehicle fleet in the country running on batteries by 2030. o Charging facilities for such vehicles are being installed at various locations, the ministry added. Delhi women safety app fail to serve purpose o The women safety app 'Himmat' has failed to serve its purpose as it has only 30,821 registered users out of Delhi's population of 1.9 crore, a parliamentary panel said. o The panel identified the app's complex registration process and non- availability in Hindi as the reasons for its limited number of users. o 'Himmat' app was launched by the Delhi Police in 2015. M.P. to map ‘happiness quotient’ o Madhya Pradesh will carry out a study to find how happy people are. o The ‘happiness quotient’ of people became a global talking point when Bhutan came out with a ‘happiness index’ and linked it to development, which is otherwise based on GDP numbers.
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o The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government had set up the ‘Anand Vibhag’, or the happiness department, in 2016. National e-Mobility Programme launched o The objective of the National e-Mobility Programme is to provide an impetus to the entire e-mobility ecosystem including vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure companies, fleet operators etc. o The Programme will be implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) which will procure electric cars. o The electric cars will replace existing diesel and petrol vehicles.
Karnataka flag unveiled o The Karnataka Chief Minister unveiled the State flag (nada dhwaja) for Karnataka. o The yellow-white-red flag has the State emblem "Gandaberunda" at the centre. o If approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the second State to have a flag after Jammu and Kashmir. o The proposal will be now sent to the Union Home Ministry for approval since a State has no powers to announce its own flag. Union govt to set up Arbitration Council o In an effort to make India a global hub for arbitration, the government will set up an Arbitration Council that will grade institutions that offer alternative dispute resolution mechanism for commercial disputes. o The proposal to set up council is a part of the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill, 2018. o The proposed council will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. 'Freight village' in Varanasi o The government is planning to develop a "freight village" in Varanasi.
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o The freight village to be developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) would reduce logistics cost in the eastern transport corridor and its influence zone. o It envisages the establishment of multimodal logistics hub in Varanasi to promote the use of waterway transport on river Ganga. Government launches ‘SUVIDHA’ o The government announced the launch of ‘Suvidha’, the 100% Oxo- biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). o SUVIDHA napkins would be physically available at all Janaushadhi Kendras in the country by May 28, 2018 – World Menstrual Hygiene Day. o It would ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for the underprivileged Women of India.
‘WINGS INDIA 2018’ Event o The four-day biennial event ‘WINGS INDIA 2018', jointly organized by Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India and FICCI took off in Hyderabad. o WINGS INDIA 2018 is a platform for interactions, forging alliances, investments and air connectivity between the States and the global aviation players & stakeholders. o The theme of the event is ‘India-Global Aviation Hub’. Udyam Sakhi Portal Launched for women o The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched Udyam Sakhi Portal for women entrepreneurs of India on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
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o The portal's aim is to nurture entrepreneurship and create business models for low-cost products and services in order to empower women. o The portal provides assistance for entrepreneurship learning tools, providing mentors etc. Coastal Berth Scheme o The Government has extended the period of Coastal Berth Scheme beyond 12th Five Year Plan i.e from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2020. o The scope of the scheme has also been enlarged to cover the cost of preparation of Detail Project Report (DPR) and capital dredging at Major Ports. o The Scheme provides financial assistance to Major/Non-Major Ports/ State Maritime Board/ State Governments. PM expands Beti Bachao Beti Padhao o On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the PM expanded "National Nutrition Mission" (NNM), and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. o The BBBP programme has been expanded from the existing 161 to 640 districts of India. o NNM aim is to reduce under-nutrition, low birth weight, anaemia among young children, women and adolescent girls. DA hiked to 7% for central govt employees o The Cabinet approved a hike in Dearness Allowance to central government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners from 5% to 7%, with effect from January 1, 2018. o It represents an increase of 2%. o The hike is expected to benefit 48.41 lakh central government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners. o The impact on the exchequer over the DA hike will be ₹ 6,077 crore per annum. 40 | P a g e
Women SHGs to be trained in making LED lights o Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat launched a programme for women self-help groups at Thano. o The 5-day programme named LED Gram Light Training programme will train 50 women from 10 SHGS in making LED bulbs, tubelights and chandeliers and help them stand on their own feet. o It will boost the sale of local products and will also help in stoping sale of Chinese items of home decor. Delhi’s Women’s Day gift: panic buttons o On the International Women’s Day, the Delhi government has announced a project under which state-run buses would be installed with Panic Alarm Systems. o Each bus is equipped with 4 panic buttons that cover the entire length of the vehicle. o A loud beeping alarm will be activated for 40 seconds on pressing the button. o On hearing the alarm, the driver would stop the bus and identify the problem Fighting Air Pollution o To support the efforts of the Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution. o Cabinet approved a scheme for the promotion of agricultural mechanisation for in-situ management of crop residue. o The key component of this scheme is to establish a Farm Machinery Bank for Custom Hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery. Swachh Shakti 2018 o The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, is organizing a Women’s Convention – called
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Swachh Shakti 2018 on International Women’s Day on 8th March at Lucknow. o Uttar Pradesh will be hosting Swachh Shakti 2018 as the largest State in the country. o Swachh Shakti 2018 will provide momentum to the sanitation coverage in Uttar Pradesh. NITI Aayog to launch WEP on Women’s Day o NITI Aayog will launch its Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) on 8th March, on the occasion of the International Women's Day. o Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) would provide a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem where women do not face any gender-based barriers. o The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Women and Entrepreneurship’ which will be launched in partnership with United Nations. Kollam to bring all food biz under FSSA o Kollam will become the first district in India to bring all food business operators under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA). o Bakeries, auditoriums, hospitals, schools, charity organisations, public distribution chains, hostels have been included. o Factories operating in the cashew sector and ice plants in the fishing sector have been put through the licencse process. Rs. 5600 Cr sanctioned Under Darshan Scheme o Rs. 5638.87 cr was sanctioned since 2014-15 till date under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Min of Tourism. o Under the scheme, 13 thematic circuits have been identified for development. o Under PRASHAD scheme, 23 projects have been sanctioned to 15 States for a total amount of Rs.687.92 cr. 42 | P a g e
o The objective of the PRASHAD is of holistic development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destination. MP announces ₹ 12,000 on childbirth for poor o On his 59th birthday, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the state government will give ₹ 12,000 on the birth of a child in a poor family. o Chouhan said ₹ 5,000 will also be provided for the last rites of a poor person. o Government will also provide Rs 2 lakh through insurance to people who died a natural death before reaching 60 years of age. Karnataka Unveils 'Arogya Karnataka' o Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah unveiled a healthcare scheme named 'Arogya Karnataka' aimed at benefitting about 1.43 crore households in the state. o It will provide quality primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to both BPL and above-poverty-line (APL) families in the state. o Through the scheme, all the BPL households will get free treatment at government hospitals while for APL households. Odisha launches 'Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas' prog o Odisha has launched a Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas (Our Village, our development) to reach out to the people in rural areas and involve themselves in the developmental activities. o CM flagged off wi-fi enabled mobile video wall vans through which people can send their grievances directly to the CM’s office. o With this initiative the administration will solve the the grievances of the people quickly. 1st Mega Food Park Inaugurated In Maharashtra o The first Mega Food Park in the state of Maharashtra, Satara Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Village Degaon, District Satara was inaugurated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries. 43 | P a g e
o This is the 10th Mega Food Park being operationalized in the country. o Satara Mega Food Park has been set up in 64 acres of land at a cost of Rs. 139.30 crore. e-com portal, mobile app for fishermen o CMFRI has come up with a solution to help fishermen fetch better price for their catch without depending on middlemen. o The institute has developed a multi-vendor e-commerce website & mobile app to help fish farmers & fishermen sell their catch directly to customers online. o The website, www.marinefishsales.com, and mobile app, marinefishsales, were developed under NICRA project of the CMFRI. Cops Eye: New app to help police o Madurai police have come up with a new app “Cops Eye.” o Based on face recognition feature, it would help them detect people with criminal backgrounds by clicking photographs. o The data of 2,000 criminals has their names, photographs and details of criminal cases.Taking photograph of any person whose data is available with the centralised criminal analysing system will give all particulars.
April 2018
Gujarat to launch water conservation project o The Gujarat Government will start a month-long initiative from May 1 to increase its water conservation capacity. o Tasks like deepening ponds, desilting water reservoirs and check dams & repairing Narmada canal networks will be undertaken during the 31-day statewide "Sujalam Sufalam Water Conservation Initiative". o The government aims to increase rain water conservation capacity in the state.
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Delhi govt to set up Rogi Kalyan Samiti o Delhi government has decided to set up ‘Rogi Kalyan Samitis’ in each constituency and ‘Jan Swasthaya Samitis’ in dispensaries and clinics. o These Assembly Rogi Kalyan Samitis will play advisory role and will assist health facilities, develop and customise strategies. o 'Assembly Rogi Kalyan Samiti’ and ‘Jan Swasthaya Samiti’ will be provided Rs 3 lakh per annum as grand-in aid. Agri Minister launched portal to export seeds o Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a portal to facilitate export-import of seeds and planting material. o A seed import-export portal has been developed for making the trade process easy. o With the launch of this portal, all organisations importing-exporting seeds will not be required to submit their applications in 20 copies. Cabinet approves MSP for Raw Jute o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for the increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute. o The increased MSP is based on recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. o The Jute Corporation of India will be the Central Nodal Agency to undertake price support operations at MSP in the Jute growing states. Cabinet approves Schedules Areas in Rajasthan o Cabinet approved inclusion of some areas in Rajasthan under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution so that the tribals living there can avail benefit of protective measures under its provisions. o The Cabinet revoked the Constitution order (CO) dated February 12, 1981 and promulgated a new CO.
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o No additional funds are required as to be expended on account of the declaration of Scheduled Areas. National Bamboo Mission restructured o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Bamboo Mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. o The mission is to ensure holistic development of the bamboo sector. o The Mission will focus on the development of bamboo in limited states where it has social, commercial and economical advantage, particularly in the North Eastern region. HRD Ministry launches Unnat Bharat Abhiyan-2 o Human Resource Development Ministry launched the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan-2 in New Delhi. o Under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, students from 750 higher educational institutions from across the country will adopt villages and visit them. o Under the scheme, the institutions have been selected on a Challenge Mode and has been extended to 750 reputed Higher Educational Institutes. M-Awas for allotment of Govt. homes o Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (I/C) launched a Mobile App (m-Awas) for allotment of Government accommodations in General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA). o The application has been developed by NIC. o The dedicated application of online allotment i.e. e-Awas will support this App. o The app is user friendly and can be made operative from an android mobile phone. Kerala CM launched Pravasi Pension Scheme o Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched Pravasi pension scheme.
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o The scheme gives those hailing from Kerala but living outside the state or country, a pension of 2,000 a month. o People over the age of 60 years are eligible for the pension. o The scheme is not applicable for state and central government employees. Govt to relax Restricted Area Permit regime o The Restricted Area Permit regime in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep will be relaxed for tourism promotion. o This was decided during the third meeting of Island Development Agency chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. o The Island Development Agency reviewed the progress made towards preparation of Development Plans for identified Islands. Government Approved Death Penalty For Rapists o Centre has approved an ordinance to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to provide for death penalty for rape of children below the age of 12. o The move comes in the wake of public outrage over the Kathua rape & murder case where the victim was a minor. o Cabinet also decided to raise the minimum jail term for rapists to 10 years if the victims are over 16 yrs old. 2% quota for Sports persons in govt jobs o Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced 2% reservation in state government jobs for sportspersons. o Rao extended this sporting gesture while felicitating a group of 18 members, who participated in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast. o Currently 2% seats in educational institutions were reserved for sportspersons. Central Project Monitoring Unit for e-Vidhan
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o Union Minister Vijay Goel inaugurated the new office of Central Project Monitoring Unit for the e-Vidhan project of the Govt at the Parliament House Annexe. o It was done as a part of Swachhata Pakhwada being observed by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs from 16th to 30th April, 2018. o e-Vidhan is a mission mode project to digitize & make functioning of State Legislatures in India paperless. Deposits in Jan Dhan account cross Rs 80,000cr o Total deposits in Jan Dhan accounts has crossed Rs 80,000 crore mark with more people joining the flagship financial inclusion programme. o The deposits, which have been steadily rising since March 2017, were at Rs 80,545.70 crore on April 11, 2018. o Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana accounts had come into focus during the demonetisation period when the deposits witnessed a meteoric rise. Cabinet approved restructured scheme o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a restructured Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan aimed at building infrastructure & stepping up initiatives for e-governance. o The scheme will extend to all states & UTs & will include institutions of rural local govt in non-Part IX areas, where panchayats do not exist. o PM Modi will launch the scheme on National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24. Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance 2018 o Cabinet has approved promulgation of an ordinance that will empower govt to attach properties both within the country & overseas of fugitive economic offenders. o It seeks to confiscate properties of economic offenders like Nirav Modi who have left the country to avoid facing criminal prosecution.
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o Only those cases where amount involved is more than Rs.100cr will be covered under this ordinance Initiative for control of viral hepatitis o The Health Ministry has decided to roll out an initiative for prevention and control of viral hepatitis. o Under the initiative, the ministry intends to scale up to 100 treatment and 665 testing centres over a period of next three years in all states. o Viral hepatitis is recognised as a public health problem worldwide. India is committed to ending viral hepatitis by 2030. Chhattisgarh to Distribute Free Smartphones o Chhattisgarh govt. will start distributing smartphones to over 50 lakh people for free from May under the Sanchar Kranti Yojana. o Under the scheme, 40 lakh phones will be given to women heads of households in villages having population of more than 1,000. o Smartphones will help to apprise people with the government's welfare schemes and about the processes to avail benefits. Naidu launched cashless health scheme o Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has launched a health scheme of the Assam government that offers free medical care of up to 2 lakh rupees. o The cashless scheme Atal Amrit Abhiyan offers free medical care of up to Rs. 2 lakh for every individual from Below and Above Poverty Line families. o The scheme will cover 92% of Assam's population with annual income below 5 lakh rupees. DARPAN-PLI App launched by Manoj Sinha o MoS for Communication, Manoj Sinha launched DARPAN-Postal Life Insurance App in New Delhi. o The App will help in collection of premium for Postal & Rural postal life insurance policies at Branch Post offices anywhere in India, with online updation of policies. 49 | P a g e
o It will help Department of Posts in providing better after-sales service to customers, particularly those living in rural areas. Pilgrimage train flagged off from Sambalpur o A special pilgrimage train for senior citizens, under the 'Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana', has been flagged off from Sambalpur station by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. o The train will take senior citizens to Shirdi, Nasik and Trimbakeshwar during the seven-day tour. o The Odisha government has signed an MoU with the IRCTC for the pilgrimage plan. Target revised for PMGSY from 2022 to 2019 o The Government has said that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is well on its way to achieve the target by March 2019. o The scheme, since its inception in 2000, has been able to provide connectivity to more than One lakh fifty thousand habitations. o This centrally sponsored programme is implemented in partnership with the respective state governments. LED bulbs under UJALA scheme to be Star rated o All new LED bulbs distributed under the UJALA scheme after July 1 will have to be BEE Star Rated. o This move is being implemented in a bid to weed out poor quality bulbs that have pilfered into the government’s LED distribution programme run by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). o The BEE Star Rating will add another layer of quality check for the bulbs being distributed. GNFC’s Neem project in UP o Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GNFC) started its socio-economic Neem Project in Amethi District, Uttar Pradesh. o GNFC intends to collect 8,000 to 10,000 MT Neem seeds from the State. 50 | P a g e
o Using Neem as a key ingredient, GNFC has started producing Neem oil- based products such as Neem soap, handwash, shampoo etc. East Godavari with complete LED street light o East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh is all set to become the country’s first ‘LED street light district’. o The rural LED street lighting programme in the district entailing the installation of around 3.1 lakh LED street lights has been completed. o The Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) is supporting the LED project which has been completed in five months. PM Ujwala Yojana Launched in Telangana o Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched in the state of Telangana on the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. o The initiative is in line with Governments aim to eradicate energy poverty, thereby promoting economic empowerment. o On 20th April 2018, ‘Ujjwala Diwas’ will be celebrated by way of PM Ujjwala Panchayats in which large number of LPG connections will be distributed. Modi inaugurated 1st health centre o Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first health centre under Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Bijapur. o He also inaugurated the first phase of the Bastar Internet scheme under which a 40,000-km-long network of fibre optics cable would be spread across the seven districts of the tribal region. o The districts are Bijapur, Narayanpur, Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Sukma and Dantewada. Govt to launch first tranche of GSB for FY19 o The government will launch the first tranche of sovereign gold bonds for the current fiscal on April 16, offering a 2.5% annual interest to investors. o The latest issuance of bonds is part of the government’s efforts to garner as much as Rs 5,000 crore from all the three gold schemes this fiscal. 51 | P a g e
o The sovereign gold bond scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late 2015. Rajnath Singh launched e-FRRO For Foreigners o Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the web-based application e-FRRO (e-Foreigners Regional Registration Office) scheme. o Under which foreigners can avail, various visa and immigration-related services online. o This scheme is aimed at building a centralised, transparent online platform for foreigners to avail of visa-related services. Tribal development centre in Maharashtra o The Maharashtra government has set up an institution known as Quality Evaluation for Sustainable Transformation centre (QUEST). o The QUEST will evaluate and quantify special development budget allocations and their impact on tribal development. o The state has taken the initiative to bring greater accountability in spending and management of dedicated funds allocated for tribal welfare. 6th edition of Heat Action Plan launched o Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in partnership with civil society groups launched 6th edition of Heat Action Plan to protect city dwellers from scorching temperatures. o The plan has an early warning system used during heat waves and a robust public education campaign about how to avoid harm from excessive heat. o Ahmedabad was the first city to prepare and implement heat action plan. Dedicated defence, aerospace SME fund o Department of Defence Production announced the creation of a dedicated defence and aerospace small and medium enterprises (SME) fund. o This fund would help channelise investments into the two defence corridors announced by the Government in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
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o The fund is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India where a minority stake could be taken by investors. Oil, finance ministers can award oil blocks o The Cabinet allowed Ministers of Finance and Petroleum to award oil and gas blocks to winners in the ongoing auction. o Till now, only the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister had the powers to approve the award of a block or area for the exploration and production of oil and gas. o The two Ministers will approve the award based on the recommendations of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. Government to install water ATMs in Haryana o The Haryana government has prepared Water ATM Policy to provide clean drinking water to people at public places in cities. o Under this policy, public places such as bus-stands, railway stations, parks, bus stops, parking areas and markets would be identified. o There would be a distance of 400 meters between two water ATMs which could be adjusted according to the convenience of people. FSSAI launches Project Dhoop o Food safety regulator FSSAI launched an initiative Project Dhoop to encourage schools to shift their morning assembly to around noon-time to ensure maximum absorption of Vitamin D in students through natural sunlight. o The move comes in the backdrop of rising incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in the country. o The initiative urges schools to conduct their morning assembly between 11 am & 1 pm New website & App of NCSK launched
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o The new Website and Mobile App of the ‘National Commission for Safai Karamcharis’ (NCSK) was launched by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. o The new website and Mobile App will help the Commission in addressing the grievances/complaints of petitioners in an efficient manner. o The new website is as per the Government of India Guidelines for official websites. Goa govt to launch app-based taxi service o The Goa government has decided to launch its own app-based taxi service to some key tourist destinations in the coastal state. o The state-run Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) invited the taxi operators to register with the new mobile application-based transport service. o Currently, the tourist taxi operators run their businesses individually in Goa. Fast-track court to try drug cases in Manipur o Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh inaugurated a special court at Cheirap Court Complex in Imphal to try drug-related cases. o The fast-track court will facilitate the speedy trial of offences relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. o Similar court to try Crime Against Women was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister on June 27 last year. Andhra Pradesh to get happiness department o The Andhra Pradesh government will soon constitute a Happiness Commission that will take up a series of programmes to promote “happiness” in the state. o The commission, which will work under the department of planning, will be headed by Chief Minister.
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o AP became the second state in the country to introduce an exclusive ministry for happiness in April 2017. Madhya Pradesh is the first state. UIDAI puts digitally signed QR code o The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has brought in secure digitally-signed QR code on eAadhaar that will contain the photograph of the Aadhaar holder to facilitate better offline verification of an individual. o A QR code is a form of a barcode which contains machine-readable information. o eAadhaar is the electronic version of Aadhaar that can be downloaded from UIDAI website. First Meeting of the NE NITI Forum o The first meeting of Newly constituted NITI Forum for North East will be held in Agartala, Tripura on 10 April 2018. o The forum will be co-chaired by the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER). o The ‘NITI Forum for North East’ was constituted in February 2018 with an aim to ensure sustainable economic growth of the North Eastern Region of India. Haryana Govt. to support TB patients o Haryana government has decided to provide special benefits, including nutritional support, to tuberculosis patients in an effort to eliminate the infectious disease by 2025. o The government would provide nutritional support of Rs 500 per month during treatment to notified TB patients. o Free services would be provided to TB patients in government hospitals of Haryana, including X-Ray. Free chemotherapy in 10 Maharashtra districts o The Maharashtra state government will introduce free chemotherapy facility in 10 districts from June. 55 | P a g e
o This facility will be made available at district hospitals of Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Pune, Amravati, Jalgaon, Nashik, Wardha, Satara, Bhandara and Akola in the first phase. o The initiative would help patients save in lodging and travelling expenses. PM Ujjwala Yojana inaugurated in Delhi o Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme in Delhi on 7th April and distributed new LPG connections and cylinders to beneficiaries here. o During the event, about 400 LPG connections were handed over to families belonging to below poverty line category. o The PMUY was launched at Yamuna Sports Complex in the national capital. Uttarakhand’s 2nd mega food park inaugurated o Union Minister for Food Processing Industries inaugurated the second mega food park in Uttarakhand at Mahuakhera Ganj village, Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district. o The first Mega Food Park in the state located at Haridwar has already become operational. o The mega food park would have a central processing centre as well as well as three Primary Processing Centres. Tripura launches state version of PMKVY o Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has launched the state component of Pradhanmantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) in Agartala. o He has assured that the target to give training to more than 1 lakh 16,000 youths by 2020 will be achieved. o Tripura is the first state in the country to implement pilot project for accreditation for skilled candidates. Mudra Yojana completes 3 years o PM expressed delight over the completion of three years of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) 56 | P a g e
o The scheme was introduced to cater to entrepreneurs who are either in their early stage or require lesser funds in order to get their business running. o The PMMY was launched on April 8, 2015 with an aim to provide loans upto Rs 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small or micro enterprises. Gobar-dhan Yojana to be launched o 'Gobar-dhan Yojana', the central scheme for managing and converting cattle dung into manure and biogas, is about to be launched. o The scheme will be launched at national level from Karnal in Haryana on April 30. o Under this scheme, one village in every district of the country would be selected for its implementation. TN Govt Launches "Uzhavan" App for Farmers o Tamil Nadu government has launched the bi-lingual "Uzhavan" (farmer) app that will allow ryots to have access to nine types of services. o The app can be used by farmers to get information on farm subsidies, book farm equipment and details about crop insurance. o The app is available in Tamil and English language & includes information on the availability of seeds and fertilisers at stores. Tobacco products to show helpline number o All tobacco products will have a national toll-free number printed on them from September tto assist users to quit the addiction. o The toll-free number will help in creating awareness among tobacco users and give them access to counselling services to effect behaviour change. o The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified new sets of health warnings for all tobacco product packs. Ganga Hariteema Yojana launched in UP o In Uttar Pradesh, "Ganga Hariteema Yojana" (Ganga Greenery Scheme) has been launched in 27 districts of the state located on the bank of river Ganga.
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o The objectives of the schemes include enhancing green cover in the catchment areas of the river Ganga and to control the land erosion. o Plantation will be carried out in one-kilometre areas from the banks of the river under the scheme. Mahila Shakti Kendra to empower rural women o The government of India has approved a new scheme namely Mahila Shakti Kendra for 2017-18 up to 2019-20 to empower rural women through community participation. o The scheme is envisaged to work at various levels, and at the National level and State level. o Under the Scheme, State Resource Centre for Women is provided for all States/UTs & District Level Centre for Women to 640 districts. "Gram Swaraj Abhiyan" on Ambedkar Jayanti o The Prime Minister has announced that on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti a “Gram Swaraj Abhiyan” would be organised starting from 14th April to 5th May 2018. o This Abhiyan will reach out to poor households, spreading awareness about government welfare schemes and other initiatives. o Universal coverage under 7 welfare programmes in 21058 villages has been contemplated under this Abhiyan. Khadi Store Locator App launched o The Minister of State for MSME, Giriraj Singh launched a mobile phone application for locating 4,000 Khadi stores in the country. o There are more than 8,000 Khadi stores in India, the rest of stores will also be available on the store locator by the end of April. o The Khadi and Village Industries products are manufactured by about 7 lakh privately owned household units. Maharashtra govt & Centre signs MoU with WB
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o The Government of India, Government of Maharashtra and the World Bank signed a US$ 420 million project to help Small and Marginal farmers in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra. o The project will help in increasing climate resilient practices in agriculture. o The project will help the farmers in reducing risks of climate-related crop failure and increase their income. TRAI suggests access points for Wi-Fi o TRAI has proposed the concept of Public Data Office Providers, aimed at enhancing Wi-Fi connectivity and cutting internet costs by up to 90%. o TRAI recommended an ambitious model of a public Wi-Fi grid that also aims to push broadband proliferation in the country. o The grid or the mesh conceptualised by TRAI entails multiple providers coming together on one platform. “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” at Bijapur launched o The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has approved establishment of the first multipurpose “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” on the pilot basis for establishment in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. o The Kendra will provide skill and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing facility. o The Kendra will have processing facility for Tamarind brick making & Mahua flower storage facility. Ministry of Coal launched UTTAM APP o Ministry of Coal launched 'UTTAM App' for Coal Quality Monitoring. o UTTAM stands for – Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal (uttam.coalindia.in). o The Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited (CIL) developed UTTAM, aims to provide an App for all citizens and coal consumers to monitor the process of Third Party Sampling of coal across CIL subsidiaries. Cabinet approves rightsizing the CCI 59 | P a g e
o The Cabinet approved rightsizing of Competition Commission of India (CCI) by halving the number of its members to three. o CCI currently has one chairperson and six members. It will now have one chairperson and three members. o This would lead to “faster turnaround in hearings” that is expected to result in speedier approvals. Cabinet approved Human Rights Bill, 2018 o The Union Cabinet approved the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018 for better protection and promotion of human rights in the country. o The Amendment will strengthen the Human Rights Institutions of India for the effective discharge of their mandates, roles and responsibilities. o It proposes to add a woman member in the composition of the human rights commission. Mechanism to address taxpayers grievances o The government will put in place an IT-Grievance Redressal Mechanism to address the difficulties faced by a section of taxpayers owing to technical glitches on the GST portal. o The IT Grievance Redressal committee will examine and approve the solutions for an identified issue. o If a taxpayer faces problem due to failure of power supply, this mechanism shall not be available. Govt. signed 16 APAs in March 2018 o The Central Board of Direct Taxes entered into 14 Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements and 2 Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APA) during the month of March 2018. o The APAs pertain to sectors like Telecommunication, IT, Automobile, Manufacturing and Banking, Finance & Insurance.
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o The APA scheme launched by Government provides certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing. DG Safeguards to come under commerce ministry o The Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) will soon be shifted to the commerce ministry. o It is a part of government's plan to create a single authority for imposing trade remedies to protect domestic industry. o As per the plan, the government would merge DGS with the Directorate General of Antidumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), the investigating arm of the commerce ministry. Sikkim will give pension to organic farmers o Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling announced monthly pension of 1000 rupees for farmers engaged in organic farming in the state. o Sikking government has banned sale and consumption of non-organic agricultural and horticultural products. o Organic farming doesn't involve the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. o Sikkim is the first fully organic state in the country. Initiatives for ease of exports launched o Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu launched digital initiatives for ease of exports. o Under the digital initiatives, the Minister launched three portals, namely Safe Food Export Traceability Portal, One Laboratory One Assessment Portal and Monitoring Export Alerts Portal. o The portals will bring together all regulators, accreditation bodies and other stakeholders at one place. Subscribers under APY surpasses 97 lakh
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o The government revealed that at the end of Financial Year 2017-18, 97.05 lakh subscribers have enrolled under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) scheme. o The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has taken various initiatives for the expansion and ease of operations under the APY. o Under the scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs.1000 to Rs.5000 per month. States allowed to set up crop insurance firms o The Centre has allowed states to set up their own insurance companies for implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). o Launched in April 2016, PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest against non-preventable natural risks. o Presently, five public sector insurers and 13 private insurance companies are empanelled for implementation of the scheme. 'Rupashree' scheme launched in West Bengal o The West Bengal government has rolled out Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dream project 'Rupashree' which provides one-time financial support to the marriages of poor women. o 'Rupashree' scheme follows the chief minister's ambitious 'Kanyashree' project which has drawn global applause. o Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 25,000 will be credited to her bank account before her marriage.
May 2018
Guidelines for Adventure Tourism launched o The Government is for the first time issuing guidelines for Adventure Tourism in India.
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o The guidelines on Safety and Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India have been formulated along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India. o The aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute safety guidelines in a better manner. Sikkim govt approves MSP organic commodities o Sikkim government has approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various organic horticultural commodities, mostly vegetables, being produced in the state in order to protect the interests of the farming community. o The Sikkimese farmers will get differential MSP for the organic commodities. o Sikkim government had banned sale of 27 non-organic food products in the state from April 1, 2018. Power Minister R K Singh launched PRAAPTI o Power Minister R K Singh has launched web portal and App called PRAAPTI. o ‘Praapti’ stands for ‘Payment ratification and analysis in power procurement for bringing transparency in involving of generators’. o It aims to bring transparency in power purchase transactions between Generators and power distribution company- Discoms. Odisha police, UNICEF join hands o Odisha government launched ‘Paree Pain Katha Tiye’ (A word for the little angel), an awareness campaign against child sexual abuse. o UNICEF and the State police have joined hands for the campaign to create the awareness on the importance of preventing child sexual abuse. o In each district, the campaign will be led by the Superintendent of Police and District Collector. Haryana constitutes Animal Welfare Board 63 | P a g e
o Haryana Government has constituted the State Animal Welfare Board for Animal Welfare. o The Board has been constituted under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. o The Director General, Animal Husbandry and Dairying would be the member secretary of the Animal Welfare Board. Gujarat launches policy to reuse waste water o The Gujarat government unveiled its 'Reuse of Treated Waste Water Policy' which aims to reduce the state's dependence on fresh water sources like the Narmada river. o The policy will promote the use of treated waste water and will see the setting up of sewage treatment plants. o The treated water would be used in industrial units, thermal power plants, gardening and in the construction sector. Tripura govt to phase out plastic carry bags o The Tripura government has set August 15 as the deadline to phase out plastic carry bags. o The government, as part of the ‘Himalayan Cleanup’ programme, urged people to replace their plastic bags with biodegradable ones. o The Himalayan Cleanup campaign has been launched by a Delhi-based organization in 12 mountain states in the country to end plastic pollution in the hilly areas. HP govt to promote organic farming o The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to promote organic farming in a big way and plans to adopt an integrated approach for promoting organic and zero budget natural farming system. o The government has introduced 'Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisaan Yojana' (PKKKY).
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o PKKKY will enhance agricultural income by adopting low-cost climate- resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming System. MHA creates new division for women safety o Ministry of Home Affairs has created a new division to deal with all issues of women safety in coordination with relevant ministries, departments and state governments. o Punya Srivastava has been appointed as the Joint Secretary to head this division. o The division will deal with all schemes under NIRBHAYA fund and Crimes against women, SCs & STs, children & elderly persons among others. Insurance cover for all Telangana farmers o Telangana government has announced that it would provide life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh each to all farmers in the state. o The Telangana government has tied up with LIC for implementation of the scheme. o Irrespective of the reasons due to which a farmer dies, the insured amount of Rs 5 lakh shall be paid to the nominee proposed by the insured farmer within 10 days of the claim. ‘Nidaan’ software for disease monitoring o A new software, ‘Nidaan’, has been launched in Rajasthan for presumptive diagnosis and monitoring of seasonal and non-communicable diseases. o “Nidaan” will facilitate online entries of as many as 46 diseases and healthcare services available for their treatment in different institutions. o It is expected to help in formulation of specific action plans for control of diseases. Samagra Shiksha scheme for school education o HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched Samagra Shiksha scheme for school education from pre-school to senior secondary levels.
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o The scheme focuses on improving quality of education, enhancing learning outcomes & using technology to empower children & teachers. o The scheme will enhance the use of digital technology in education through smart classroom & digital boards. ‘My MP Rojgar Portal’ launched o Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched the "My MP Rojgar Portal" in Bhopal under ‘Pahal’, which is a Mukhyamantri Career Counselling programme. o This portal will provide jobs to youth as per their skills, interests and educational qualifications. o The portal has been developed under Youth Empowerment Mission by the Madhya Pradesh Skill Development and Employment Generation Board. Universal service obligation fund approved o The Union cabinet has approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) supported scheme to provide mobile services in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas. o Up to 4,072 towers will be set up in 96 districts of 10 states affected with the Left Wing Extremism. o The tower locations have been proposed for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana. Amendments to bankruptcy code cleared o Cabinet has cleared amendments to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, incorporating changes suggested by a government appointed panel. o The panel had suggested that home buyers should be treated as financial creditors, which will allow them to equitably participate in an insolvency resolution process. o The panel has also suggested relaxations for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises under the IBC. Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana 66 | P a g e
o Haryana government is going to launch Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana for the safety of girls. o Under this scheme, all the girl students will get free travel facility from their home to their educational institutions. o The primary objective of this scheme is to ensure that the girls feel secure at public places, workplaces and while traveling. Free treatment for victims of road accident o Gujarat government has decided to take the financial responsibility of the accident cases within its state limits. o The government will provide up to Rs. 50,000 in medical treatment for the first 48 hours for each individual who meets with a road accident in the state. o The free treatment will entail the initial first aid, X-ray, treatment in ICU along with all the other emergency facilities. India Post customises affordable life policies o India Post plays an important role in financial services, reaching out in the rural areas with its large and efficient network. o Postal Life Insurance extended insurance cover to the rural population under the banner ‘Rural Postal Life Insurance' (RPLI) in 1995. o This scheme is primarily meant for people residing in rural areas, especially women and small and marginal farmers. Centre launches clean-up drive for beaches o The Union Environment Ministry has launched a drive aimed at cleaning 24 beaches and water bodies as well as 24 polluted river stretches in the run-up to the World Environment Day on June 5. o The theme of the World Environment Day, to be hosted by India this year, is ‘Beat plastic pollution’. o The Ministry has formed 19 teams to implement the campaign. Govt. creates DG for trade remedies 67 | P a g e
o Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification for a unified Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). o DGTR will be the apex national authority for all trade remedial measures including anti-dumping, countervailing duties and safeguard measures. o It will also provide trade defence support to domestic industry and to exporters in trade remedy investigations instituted by other countries. Govt allows eSIMs, hikes connections limit o The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allowed the use of e- SIMs while issuing guidelines for the same. o The eSIMs will be installed in the device and details of service providers can be updated in it when buying a new connection. o The DoT has enhanced the number of connections per user to 18. Cabinet okays defence spectrum budget hike o The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved increasing the budget for laying of 'alternative communication network' for defence services. o The alternative communications network is being set up in lieu of airwaves vacated by the Defence Ministry for civilian use. o The project is being implemented by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Coal linkage rationalisation for IPPs o The government has issued the guidelines to allow power producers to swap coal supply assurances against lowering tariffs. o The one-time process will be available only to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) having coal linkages through the allotment route. o Coal India, South Eastern Coalfields, and the Central Electricity Authority will jointly undertake this exercise. New method to solve PSU disputes
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o Cabinet has approved a mechanism within the government for speedy resolution of commercial disputes of central public sector enterprises without cases going to courts. o A new two-tier mechanism will be put in place of the existing Permanent Machinery of Arbitration mechanism to resolve such commercial disputes. o Cabinet decision is based on the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries. Cabinet okays Micro Irrigation fund o Union Cabinet has approved corpus of Rs 5,000 crore for setting up of a dedicated “Micro Irrigation Fund” with NABARD under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. o The fund seeks to provide states financial assistance on concessional rate of interest to promote micro-irrigation. o The lending rate under MIF has been proposed at 3% lower than the cost of raising the fund by NABARD. Prabhu launched Intellectual Property mascot o Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu launched the Intellectual Property mascot – IP Nani at the conference on National Intellectual Property Rights Policy. o The mascot will spread awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights among people, especially children. o The character is also in line with World Intellectual Property Organization’s campaign for the World IP Day. Cabinet approves National Biofuel Policy o Cabinet has approved National Policy on Biofuels which allows doping of ethanol produced from damaged foodgrains, rotten potatoes, corn & sugar beet with petrol. o The Policy categorizes biofuels as 1st Generation, which produces bio- ethanol from molasses & bio-diesel from non-edible oilseeds. 69 | P a g e
o 2nd Generation ethanol can be produced from municipal solid waste & 3rd Generation fuels like bio-CNG Government approved to set up AIIMS at Deoghar o The Centre has approved setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Deoghar in Jharkhand. o The institute will have residential complexes and allied facilities and services on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi. o The AIIMS at Deoghar will have 20 speciality/super speciality departments, including 15 operation theatres. Meeting of stakeholders on 'Samarth' held o A meeting of stakeholders on Samarth – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector under the Skill India Mission was held on 14th May. o The broad objective of the new scheme is to skill the youth for gainful and sustainable employment in the textile sector covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving. o The scheme targets to train 10 lakh persons. Government unveiled Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy o Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy. o The objective of the policy is to provide a framework for the promotion of large grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure and land. o It also aims at reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability. 4 states ink MoUs with Centre on health o The states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttarakhand agreed to implement the ambitious national health protection mission (NHPM). o NHPM aims to provide an annual coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family. 70 | P a g e
o The scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational categories of urban workers' families. o It will be cashless and paperless access to services. Environment Ministry launched GSDP o The Union Environment Ministry launched its full-fledged Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) that aims to train over 5.5 lakh workers in environment and forest sectors in the country through 30 courses by 2021. o Environment minister Harsh Vardhan also unveiled a related mobile app (GSDP-ENVIS). o The GSDP was launched last year as a pilot project in 10 districts of the country. Govt to link 200 more mandis to eNAM o The government will link additional 200 wholesale mandis to the online trading platform eNAM this fiscal and also encourage inter-mandi transactions. o Online trading on the eNAM platform can be done through the website, trading platform or the Mobile App. o At present, 585 regulated mandis in 14 States are linked with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) launched in April 2016. DNA data banks to be set up o DNA databanks will be set up at the national and state level to store profiles, according to a draft bill on DNA technology being finalised by the Law Ministry. o The draft bill also states that all DNA data including DNA profiles, DNA samples, and records, will only be used for identification of the person. o The Department of Biotechnology was consulted by the law panel to draft the bill. Scheme for sexual assault, acid attack victims 71 | P a g e
o Supreme Court has approved 'Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018' a scheme for mandatory grant of compensation to victims of sexual assault & acid attack. o The scheme has been prepared by National Legal Services Authority in consultation with Centre. o A victim of gangrape would now get a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh up to a max of Rs 10 lakh. Centre to double credit guarantee to MSMEs o The Union Government announced that it would double the credit guarantee for 2018-19 under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). o This will tackle the trade finance woes of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). o The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Small Industries Development Bank of India has established CGTMSE. I&B ministry to set up web portal o The information and broadcasting ministry will set up a dedicated web portal to disseminate information on filming facilities available in the country. o The portal will also provide an overview of such locations. Applications for shooting permission will be accepted through the site. o The portal will allow online payments and issuing permissions. Govt set to expand Buddhist tourism circuit o The government will expand the ‘Buddhist Circuit’ will now be expanded to 21 other states. o The Ministry of Tourism has identified stupas and viharas in these states, around which small intra-state Buddhist zones will be developed. o Earlier envisaged by the government as mainly comprising seven major Buddhist pilgrimage sites, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar only. 72 | P a g e
Govt departments earmark Rs 16,500 cr for SBM o A sum of Rs 16,500 cr has been earmarked by 71 ministries & departments of the govt for implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2018- 19. o The amount is over & above the budget of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation for SBM (Gramin) & Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for SBM (Urban). o SBM aims to clean up the streets, roads & infrastructure of India's cities & rural areas. Top 30 innovations showcased at marathon o To identify India’s best student innovators, Atal Tinkering Labs of the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog organized an Atal Tinkering Marathon. o It was a 6-month long challenge across 6 different areas, namely, clean energy, water resources, waste management, healthcare, smart mobility and agri-tech. o The goal of the student innovator programme is to test the innovations in the community. India’s clean energy capacity touches 70 GW o Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has stated that India’s installed clean energy capacity has already touched 70 GW as per data compiled on March 31, 2018. o 100 billion units of electricity was generated through renewables during last fiscal, which also is the highest ever so far. o R K Singh has reaffirmed government’s commitment to meet target of having 175 GW by 2022. Kerala Government to provide free internet o The Kerala Government will set up a Joint Venture company to launch its new optic fibre network.
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o The Kerala Fibre Optic Network Limited will implement the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project. o The K-FON initiative is being implemented to provide speedy internet connectivity to government offices and educational institutions and to the public at an affordable rate. Easier credit norms for small farmers o The government has streamlined lending norms in schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to boost institutional credit flow to small and marginal farmers. o Under revised guidelines, standard security requirements, such as hypothecation of crops, now do not apply to loans of up to Rs1 lakh. o Under KCC, small farmers can avail of a “flexible limit” of between Rs10,000 and Rs50,000. Delhi government amended Minimum Wages Act o President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Delhi government's Bill to amend the Minimum Wages Act. o Under the amended act, employers violating labour rules in the city will now face fine ranging from Rupees 20,000-50,000 and jail term between one to three years. o For an unskilled worker, the minimum wages is Rs 13,350 per month while for semi-skilled, it is Rs 14,698. MeitY launched internship scheme o Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MeitY) has launched ‘Digital India Internship Scheme’ portal in which a token of ₹ 10,000 will also be offered to interns as remuneration per month. o The internship scheme will enable the young students to learn closely about working of the transformative initiative of Digital India. o The 2-month internship will start from June 2018. Telangana govt to launch Rythu Bandhu scheme 74 | P a g e
o Telangana Government launched the "Rythu Bandhu Scheme" (Farmers’ investment support scheme) at Karimnagar district on 10th May. o Under the scheme, the farmers will get ₹ 4,000 each an acre in the Kharif and Rabi seasons to take care of the credit needs ahead of the farm seasons. o The government has excluded about 11 lakh tenant farmers from the scheme. Draft of Telecom Interconnection released o The Indian telecom regulator released the draft amendment of telecommunication interconnection. o TRAI has set time-frame for provisioning of ports for initial interconnection and augmentation to be increased to a maximum 42 working days. o The draft said a service provider may request the other service provider for additional ports at a Point of Interconnection (POI). Green licence plates for e-vehicles o To promote electric vehicles in India, the government has approved green licence plates bearing numbers in white fonts for private e-vehicles & yellow for taxis. o The purpose behind distinctive number plates is their easy identification for preferential treatment in parking beside other proposed benefits like concessional toll. o India at present has 1 to 1.5 lakh electric vehicles. Panel for time-bound release of MPLADS funds o The parliamentary panel on Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds has recommended that amounts donated by lawmakers for rehabilitation work after natural disasters should be disbursed within two weeks. o The panel was headed by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai. o A Member of Parliament gets Rs. 5 crore a year to spend on local area development. 75 | P a g e
New norms for labeling food planned o Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released new draft regulations on food packaging. o All packaged food with at least 5% content from genetically engineered sources need to be labeled so. o Foods that exceed norms of sugar and fat will need to carry ‘red’ and ‘green’ labels specifying the extent to which they do so. Government to expand Van Dhan Vikas Kendras o Tribal Affairs Ministry will expand Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Tribal Districts across the country. o The aim of the establishment of these Kendras is to provide skill upgradation and capacity building training to increase the incomes of tribals. o Van Dhan Vikas Kendra was launched at Bijapur, Chattisgarh on 14th April 2018 for training, providing equipment and tools for primary level processing CBDT notifies DTAA between India and Kuwait o The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified a protocol to amend the existing double taxation avoidance pact (DTAA) between India and Kuwait. o It had entered into force on March 26, updating the provisions in the DTAA. o The protocol, which was signed on January 15, 2017, was notified on May 4 this year. o India and Kuwait had signed a double taxation avoidance pact on June 15, 2006. Sensitization Meeting of Stakeholders held o The 'first sensitization meeting of stakeholders to make Delhi a model Accessible city' was held in the national capital on May 7.
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o The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities took this initiative to coordinate the meeting of all key stakeholders, sensitize them about the legal mandates. o Delhi being the capital city of the country is proposed to be selected for this drive. Loan agreement with WB for POSHAN Abhiyaan o India has signed a loan deal worth $200 million with World Bank for National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan). o The loan would help Government in achieving its goal of reducing stunting in children 0-6 years of age from 38.4% to 25% by 2022. o POSHAN scheme launched by PM Modi on March 8, 2018, aims to ensure holistic development & adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers & children. 100 One Stop centres for distressed women o Centre has approved setting up of 100 additional One-Stop centres in 9 states to help violence affected women. o States in which these centres will be set up are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, MP, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu & UP. o These centres aim to facilitate integrated services for violence affected women like police assistance, social counseling, medical & legal aid. HRD announces 75 NRC for teachers o Human Resource Development Ministry has launched a major and unique initiative of online professional development of 1.5 million higher education faculty using the Massive Open Online Courses platform SWAYAM. o In the 1st phase, 75 discipline-specific National Resource Centres have been identified. o NRC are tasked to prepare online training material with a focus on new and emerging trends. Chhattisgarh to recruit transgender in police 77 | P a g e
o To promote gender equality, Chhattisgarh govt has decided to recruit transgender in the police force. o Chhattisgarh is the first state to recruit transgenders for police while Tamil Nadu is the first state to hire India's first transgender police officer. o In 2014, Supreme Court declared transgender people as the 3rd gender & ruled that they have equal privilege over the fundamental rights. Google to set up 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in AP o Google India has partnered with Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited to set up Wi-Fi stations in all the Gram Panchayats of the state. o It will install 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots by December 2018. o In 2016, Google had installed public Wi-Fi networks at 100 railway stations and is now working to expand the project to as many as 400 stations by 2018 end. NPS subscribers allowed to withdraw fund o Pension fund regulator PFRDA has said National Pension System (NPS) subscribers will now have the option to partially withdraw funds. o Funds can be used for setting up new business or pursuing higher education. o NPS and Atal Pension Yojana, both regulated by the PFRDA, currently have a cumulative subscriber base of over 2.13 crore with total asset under management of over Rs 2.38 lakh crore. Maha launched mobile weather information app o Maharashtra Chief Minister launched 'MahaVedh', a mobile application which provides weather-related information to farmers. o The application will provide real-time information on temperature, humidity and a forecast for 15 days. o The application will also provide forecasts of lightning. Online system for grant of security clearance
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o An online system for grant of security clearance to international conferences, seminars and workshops organised in India was launched by the Home Ministry. o The online portal "https://conference.mha.gov.in" was launched by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. o Obtaining clearances for organising a conference, issue of conference visa to foreign delegates was an offline procedure till now. Government aid to reduce sugarcane dues o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to provide financial assistance of Rs. 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills. o This will help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers. o The assistance shall be paid directly to the farmers on behalf of the mills. 'Go to Village' mission launched in Manipur o Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched 'Go to Village' mission throughout the state of Manipur. o The mission was launched on May 2 in 60 villages of all the 60 Assembly constituencies. o The mission is aimed at identifying the eligible and deserving beneficiaries in every corner of the state and delivering government services at their doorstep. Govt doubles PMVVY pension investment limit o The government has doubled the investment limit to Rs 15 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana (PMVVY) pension scheme and extended the subscription period by two years till March 31, 2020. o PMVVY is for senior citizens and was available from 4th May 2017 to 3rd May 2018. o The scheme provides an assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of return of 8% per annum for ten years. 79 | P a g e
Cabinet renames minority development programme o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has renamed the Multi-sectoral Development Programme as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram. o The restructured programme aims to provide better socioeconomic infrastructure facilities to minority communities, particularly in the field of education, health & skill development. o The scheme would extend to 308 districts compared to 196 districts at present. Maharashtra to issue land document online o Maharashtra has become the first state in India to provide digitally-signed land record receipts (also known as 7/12 receipts). o The 7/12 receipt is extensively used by farmers for loan agreements, crop survey and for availing of government facilities. o Earlier the hand-written 7/12 receipts were prepared by talathis, who solely had the power to make changes in the documents. Krishonnati Yojana to be continued o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved continuation of Umbrella Scheme Green Revolution - Krishonnati Yojana in the Agriculture Sector beyond 12th Five Year Plan to 2019-20. o Umbrella scheme comprises of 11 Schemes. o The schemes aim to develop the agriculture & allied sector in a holistic & scientific manner to increase the income of farmers by enhancing production & productivity. Scheme to strengthen healthcare infra extended o Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana beyond the 12th Five Year Plan to 2019-20 with a financial outlay of Rs 14,832 cr. o PMSSY aims at correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary health care facilities in different parts of the country. 80 | P a g e
o Under this scheme, new AIIMS are established & govt medical colleges are upgraded. DoT releases draft National Telecom Policy o The draft of National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2018 aka National Digital Communications Policy 2018 has been uploaded for public consultations on the Department of Telecom's (DoT). o One of the key strategies in the draft talks of recognising spectrum as a key natural resource for public benefit o The draft proposes one Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022. Commission clears connectivity in flights o The Telecom Commission on May 1st approved the TRAI's recommendations for offering voice and data services in flights within Indian airspace. o The operation of Mobile Communication on Aircraft should be permitted with a minimum height restriction of 3,000 meters in Indian airspace. o In January, TRAI had recommended mobile communication on domestic and international flights in India. Telecom sector to get ombudsman o In a move aimed at empowering mobile consumers, the Telecom Commission cleared a proposal for creation of an Ombudsman under the sector regulator to resolve subscriber complaints. o As per the decision of Telecom Commission, the Ombudsman will be created by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). o The TRAI will be free to set up as many Ombudsman as per requirement. Government to host farmers welfare workshops o In an outreach to farmers, the Government is organising 'Kisan Kalyan Karyashala' at the block level across the country on 2nd May. o The workshops will be part of the ongoing 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan'. 81 | P a g e
o 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' is a rural-centric campaign that had started on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, and will end on May 5. Swachh Bharat Summer Internship commenced o The Swachh Bharat Summer Internship commenced from 1st May. o The programme aims to engage millions of youngsters across the country, to encourage them to contribute to the Swachh Bharat Mission. o Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a novel and first of its kind initiative. Gobardhan Yojana launched from Haryana o Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation launched the Gobardhan scheme from Haryana's Karnal district on 30th April. o The scheme would focus on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, biogas and bio-CNG. o The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme was first announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in budget. o
June 2018
Govt proposes to set up 3,000 Van Dhan Kendras o The government has proposed to set up 3,000 Van Dhan Kendras involving 30,000 self-help groups across the country under the Van Dhan Scheme. o It aims to skill up-gradation and capacity building training for value addition of forest produce. o Van Dhan Mission is an initiative for targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing non-timber forest produces. SKY Scheme for farmers to generate solar power
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o The Gujarat government has launched a solar power scheme for farmers - Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY). o Under the scheme farmers would not only be able to generate electricity for their captive consumption but will also be able to sell the surplus power to the grid and earn an extra buck. o The extra electricity given to grid would be purchased at a rate of Rs7 per unit for a period of 7 years. Draft of cross-border insolvency norms o The Ministry of Corporate Affairs is planning to introduce a globally accepted and well-recognised cross-border insolvency framework. o It will be fine-tuned to suit the needs of aspirational Indian economy. o The Government has taken initiative for Cross-Border Insolvency within the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (the Code) to provide a comprehensive legal framework. Nepal, Bhutan spend more than India on health o India spends 1% of its gross domestic product on public health. o According to the National Health Profile 2018 report, there is one allopathic doctor for 11,082 people in the country’s villages. o Low-income nations like Bhutan and Nepal spend 2.5% and 1.1% of its GDP respectively on public health. o India aims to increase its public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP by 2025. Punjab launched Mobile App- 'I-Hariyali' o The Punjab Government has launched a mobile application named ‘i- Hariyali’ aimed at increasing the state's green cover. o The mobile application would enable the users to order free plant saplings. o The 'i-Hariyali' app, under ‘Mission Tandarust Punjab’ can be downloaded from the app store for free. Shillong get selected as 100th Smart City 83 | P a g e
o Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya has been selected as 100th Smart City. o Till now, 99 smart cities had been selected in four rounds of competition and with this announcement, selection of 100 cities has been completed under the Smart Cities Mission. o The total proposed investment in the finally selected 100 cities would be Rs.2,05,018 crores. India BPO promotion scheme o The Union government is planning to expand its BPO promotion scheme under the Digital India initiative. o The government has proposed to more than double the number of seats under the scheme. o The India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS), envisaged under Digital India Programme, seeks to incentivize establishment of 48,300 seats in respect of BPO/ITES operations across the country. 20 States sign MoU for Ayushman Bharat o Shri J P Nadda, exchanged the MoU with the State Health Ministers of 20 States marking their commitment towards the launch of the Ayushman Bharat. o It will be cashless and paperless access to services. Upto Rs. 5 lakhs per year will be available for the beneficiary families. o Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. Swajal launched in 115 Aspirational Districts o Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation announced that Swajal Yojana will be launched in 115 Aspirational Districts of India. o It will involve an outlay of Rs 700 crores through flexi-funds. o Swajal is a community-owned drinking water programme for sustained drinking water supply launched in 2018. 84 | P a g e
o Swajal pilot project was launched at Village Bhikampura, Karauli, Rajasthan. Three Solar Power Projects dedicated to nation o Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated NLCIL’s three 100 MW Solar Power Projects for commercial operation and dedicated these projects to the Nation. o The Solar Power projects are situated at Thoppalaakkarai and Sethupuram in Virudhunagar District and Sellaiya Sezhiyanallur in Tirunelveli District. o The power produced from these units will be given to TANGEDCO at a cost of Rs.4.41/- per unit. PM dedicated expanded Bhilai Plant to Nation o PM Modi inaugurated the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Naya Raipur Smart City, Chhattisgarh. o Prime Minister dedicated the modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant, to the nation. o He laid the foundation stone for IIT Bhilai. o He also unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of phase-2 of BharatNet. o The Prime Minister inaugurated air services between Jagdalpur and Raipur. New Telecom Policy by July o Communications minister Manoj Sinha has announced that new telecom policy is likely to be in place by July 2018. o The government on May 1 had released the draft National Telecom Policy 2018 aiming to attract investment of $100 billion (roughly Rs. 6.7 lakh crores) in the Digital Communications sector. o Govt. also aims to reform the licencing and regulatory regime to promote ease of business. States sign MoU with govt on NHPS o Twenty states have signed memorandums of understanding with the Centre to implement the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS). 85 | P a g e
o The NHPS will cost the exchequer Rs 120 billion. o The Union government has said it will provide 60 per cent of the funds, and the state governments are expected to pool in the remaining 40 per cent. Cabinet approves Bill for dam safety o The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal for enactment of a new Dam Safety Bill, 2018. o The Bill seeks to establish a national regulatory body for dam safety and create a database of the existing dams. o India has more than 5,200 large dams and another 450 are under construction. New scheme by MP Chief Minister o Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the state will give ₹ 2 lakh to poor families whose heads die before the age of 60. o He further said that in case the head of the family dies in an accident, the state will give ₹ 4 lakh to the families. o He also announced waiver on previous electricity bills. Composite Water Management Index by NITI Aayog o NITI Aayog has come up with the Composite Water Management Index as a useful tool to assess and improve the performance in the efficient management of water resources. o This index is an attempt to inspire States and UTs towards efficient and optimal utilization of water. o The index would provide useful information for the States and also for the concerned Central Departments. 'Utsonmobile' app developed by CRIS o CRIS has developed a mobile-based application ‘utsonmobile'. o The ‘utsonmobile’ application enables booking & cancellation of unreserved tickets, issue and renewal of season and platform tickets, check & load R- 86 | P a g e
wallet balance & helps maintain user profile management and booking history. o The 'utsonmobile' application is very handy, free and is available for both Android and Windows smartphone. Solar Charkha Mission to be launched o The Solar Charkha Mission of the Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), will be launched by the President, Ram Nath Kovind on June 27, 2018, in New Delhi. o The Mission will cover 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans. o The Mission has been approved by the Government of India and will disburse subsidy of Rs. 550 crore to the artisans. Cabinet approved 'Three Year Action Plan' o Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Three Year Action Plan (2017-2020) of the scheme for Agricultural Education Division and ICAR Institutes with an outlay of Rs.2225.46 crore. o It comprises of: "Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India" o The scheme is aimed to generate quality human resources from the institutions of higher agricultural education Govt. to raise pension limit under APY o Government is considering a proposal to raise the pension limit under Atal Pension Yojana to up to ₹ 10,000 per month from the existing slab of up to ₹ 5,000. o Pension is given by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. o Currently, the age of entering APY is from 18-40 years but an increase in the same by another 10 years from 18-50 years will help in expanding the subscriber base 87 | P a g e
33% increase in carpet area of houses o Government has approved a 33% increase in carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under its affordable housing scheme PMAY-U. o The carpet area of a house has been enhanced to 160 sq m from 120 sq m for Middle Income Group-I, while it has been increased to 200 sq m from 150 sq m in case of MIG II. o Under MIG-I, 4% interest subsidy is available on loan up to Rs 9 lakh for people. Odisha announced health care assistance o Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced that the state government would launch a new scheme which will provide health care assistance of Rs 5 lakh per family in government hospitals to around 3.5 crore people. o CM announced that the "Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana" will be launched on August 15. o It will provide health care benefits to around 3.5 crore people from over 70 lakh families in the state. 3,000 additional Atal Tinkering Labs announced o NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission has selected 3,000 additional schools for the establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs. o It brings the total number of ATL schools to 5,441. o The selected schools shall receive a grant of Rs 20 lakh spread over the next five years to establish Atal Tinkering Labs for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among secondary school children across India. Safer train rides for women with Vahini o Women can now look forward to safer journeys, with the Waltair division of ECoR deploying the Subhadra Vahini at the railway station. o Vahini is a first-of-its-kind all-female group of 32 railway personnel comprising 16 from the RPF and an equal number from the commercial wing of the division. 88 | P a g e
o It has a Facebook page at https://subhadravahiniteamwaltair, while the WhatsApp number is 8978080777 Ministry to study marine litter issue o The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences will begin work on gauging marine litter and their sources along the country’s coastline. o The country had joined the United Nations’ ‘Clean Seas’ programme. o India and the US had signed a MoU in 2008 to have scientific and technical cooperation in Earth observations and Earth sciences. Railways launch 'Menu On Rails’ App o The Ministry of Railways launched a new app called 'Menu On Rails’ through which passengers can see meals on offer onboard trains. o The 'Menu on Rails' is developed by IRCTC for creating awareness about the food items served to passengers on their rail journey. o At present, for mail and express trains, food items are covered in four categories namely beverages, breakfast, meals and a-la-carte. ₹ 500 crore credit enhancement fund o The government is set to unveil a ₹ 500-crore credit enhancement fund in July to facilitate infrastructure investments by insurance and pension funds. o The fund was first announced in the Budget for fiscal year 2016-17. o The initial corpus of the fund, to be sponsored by IIFCL (India Infrastructure Finance Company), will be ₹ 500 crore, and it will operate as a non-banking finance company. All CSCs to be Business Correspondents o Minister for Electronics & IT and Law Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar launched major services in a conference organized by CSC SPV. o Through Wi-Fi facility, people in 5,000 villages can now enjoy Internet connectivity. Wi-Fi Choupal aims to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in the country. 89 | P a g e
o MoU between CSC and IRCTC was signed and CSR Support by IndusInd Bank is also agreed. PM’s maternity scheme benefits 23.6 lakh o Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), the government has provided cash incentives to nearly 23.6 lakh beneficiaries out of an estimated 51.6 lakh a year. o The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2017. o Under the scheme, pregnant women and lactating mothers are offered a cash incentive of Rs. 6,000 on the birth of their first child. Supply chain of Jan Aushadhi stores o The government is strengthening back-end supply chain of over 3,600 Jan Aushadhi stores to ensure availability of low-cost generic medicines o It plans to set up warehouses to serve as regional hubs to these stores to boost supplies. o Each store is being connected via a software system to track the real-time position of medicines so that there is no paucity of drugs at any location. Govt to showcase mineral blocks o The mines ministry in July will showcase mineral blocks to be auctioned in the current financial year to attract potential investors. o The minister of mines has decided to organise 4th National Conclave on Mines and Minerals for showcasing blocks which will be auctioned by the states. o The Centre has asked the states to give representations for showcasing blocks that would be auctioned. 8 States to implement ‘Ayushman Bharat’ o Eight States and four Union Territories have signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry to implement the government’s ambitious national health protection mission — Ayushman Bharat.
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o Ayushman Bharat aims to provide a cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family annually to 10 crore vulnerable families. o The scheme will be available at the point of service in public and private empanelled hospitals. Consortium to help women entrepreneurs o The UN India Business Forum and the Women Entrepreneurial Platform of NITI Aayog formed a consortium to reduce gender disparities in start-up investments. o It will provide mentorship and networking opportunities and accelerating financial and market linkages for women entrepreneurs. o The consortium aims to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship by creating an enabling ecosystem for investments. Min of Water Resources accepts major projects o The Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has accepted two major irrigation/multipurpose projects and four flood management schemes/master plans. o The Kaleshwaram Project of Telangana and The Upper Pravara (Nilwande- II) Project of Maharashtra are two projects. o The Advisory Committee met in Central Water Commission, New Delhi. Punjab govt launches Business First Portal o In a major step to give a big push towards the ease of doing business in Punjab, the state government has launched a "Business First Portal". o The online portal will facilitate the industrialists for Regulatory Clearances and Fiscal Approvals, real-time tracking of applications at common platform. o Regulatory clearances of all other departments would be integrated in the portal. Centre approved plan for solar street lights 91 | P a g e
o Union Cabinet has approved a ₹ 637-crore plan which includes installing 3 lakh solar street lights throughout the country, especially northeastern states and Maoist-affected districts. o It also includes distributing 25 lakh solar study lamps to all the students in such areas. o Further, the Centre is planning a second phase to build stand-alone solar power plants where grid supply is unreliable. India's Maternal Mortality Ratio drops to 130 o Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda said India has seen a decline in its Maternal Mortality Ratio from 139 to 130. o India's MMR has significantly fallen from 167 in 2011-13 to the present figure of 130, as per the latest Sample Registration System figures. o Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented various schemes to increase access to quality healthcare WB approves 6,000 crore Atal Bhujal Yojana o The World Bank has approved Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), a Rs.6000 crore Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. o The scheme is to be implemented over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. o The scheme aims to improve groundwater management in priority areas in the country through community participation. New course under GIAN launched o NITI Aayog has launched a new course on ‘Urban Analytics – Evaluating and Measuring Sustainability of Cities’ at IIT, Roorkee. o The course was launched under Global Initiative on Academic Network (GIAN).
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o The course will provide an understanding and analysis on the urbanisation and its impacts that would help in evaluating the conditions of sustainability in Indian cities. Fortified rice to be distributed through PDS o Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announced that his Ministry will be distributing fortified rice through the public distribution system. o He once again promised that the prices of grains supplied through the PDS would not be increased till June 2019. o Fortified foods are foods to which extra nutrients have been added. Examples - vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin D, folic acid, iodine & iron. Ganga Praharis to educate people about Ganga o A group of 427 trained volunteers, called Ganga Praharis, are reaching to every house in areas along river Ganga to educate them about the importance of protecting river’s bio-diversity. o They are spread over Ganga basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. o They are roped-in by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun under National Mission for Clean Ganga. 'JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA' launched o The government has launched the ‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’, the Oxo- biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under the PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. o The affordable sanitary napkins will now become available at over 3600 Janaushadhi Kendras. o ‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’ comes with a special additive, which makes Sanitary napkin biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded. Govt announced package for sugarcane farmers
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o The Centre has announced a comprehensive package of more than ₹ 8,000 crore to provide relief to sugarcane farmers and to clear their dues, which have crossed over ₹ 22,000 crore. o The interventions include increase in customs duty on import of sugar, removal of custom duty on export of sugar, and the creation of buffer stock at the cost of ₹ 1,200 crore. Ban proposed on obscene depiction of women o The Ministry of Women and Child Development has proposed to ban obscene depiction of women on the Internet and through SMS/MMS by amending the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986. o The Ministry has also suggested that stricter punishments be awarded for such crimes. o It has also proposed setting up a Central authority under the National Commission of Women. TN to ban on disposable plastic from 2019 o Tamil Nadu government announced a ban on manufacture, sales, storage and usage of disposable plastic across State with effective from January 1, 2019. o However, the ban excludes using disposable plastic for packaging milk, curd, oil and medical utilities. o The ban was primarily on plastic carry bags, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic flags, small plastic sachets used in packaging water. NBFC for food processing sector o Food Processing Ministry will soon create its new financial institution which will exclusively fund food processing projects and create capacity building in the field of risk assessment and lending to food processing sector. o The Agro-Processing Financial Institution will be a non-banking financial institution. o The government is likely to hold a minority stake in this NBFC. 94 | P a g e
Telangana, LIC sign MoU for life insurance o Telangana government and the LIC signed a MoU for the implementation of a Rs five lakh life insurance scheme for the benefit of farmers in the state. o The scheme will be implemented from August 15. o The agriculture department alone would implement the scheme and the AEOs (Agriculture Extension Officers) should get the insurance papers filled up by farmers before August 15. KKA being implemented in 25 villages o The Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ welfare has launched the Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan (KKA) from 1st June 2018 till 31st July 2018. o The Abhiyan will aid, assist and advice farmers on how to improve their farming techniques and raise their incomes. o The Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan will be undertaken in 25 Villages with more than 1000 population each in Aspirational Districts. Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic Pollution o A ‘Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic Pollution’ was adopted. Efforts would be made to make the 500-metre area around the 17th-century monument litter-free. o Steps would also be taken to phase out single-use plastic there. o Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said India and the whole world was grappling with pollution due to plastics. Maharashtra govt unveils ‘sandbox’ o The Maharashtra Government has announced the opening up of a ‘sandbox’ to boost start-ups. o Sandbox is seen as a safe zone to test financial innovation which sees a limited rollout of new products to select customers. o Reserve Bank panel had recommended introducing a “regulatory sandbox” to foster financial technology innovation. Andhra introduces scheme for natural farming 95 | P a g e
o The Andhra Pradesh government launched a Zero Based Natural Farming (ZBNF) scale-out scheme, aimed at benefitting around six million farmers by 2024. o The state agriculture department also signed a MoU in this regard, with the Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF). o The SIFF will extend financial and investment support to the farmers. Odisha govt launches health insurance scheme o The Odisha government launched a health insurance scheme, called "Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana". for working journalists. o In the first phase, as many as 3,233 working journalists will get health insurance coverage up to Rs 2 lakh a year. o At least five members of the journalists family will be covered under the scheme. o The scribes will get their health insurance card. Benami transactions informants reward scheme o A new reward scheme titled “Benami Transactions Informants Reward Scheme, 2018”, has been issued by the Income Tax Department. o The scheme is aimed at encouraging people to give information about benami transactions and properties as well as income earned on such properties. o Under the Scheme, a person can get reward up to Rs. 1 crore for giving specific information in prescribed manner. Revised Income Tax informants reward scheme o A new reward scheme titled “Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme, 2018” has been issued by the Income Tax Department. o Under the scheme, a person can get reward up to Rs. 50 lakh for giving specific information about substantial evasion of tax on income or assets in India which are actionable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. o Foreigners will also be eligible for the reward under this scheme. 96 | P a g e
Government introduces new scheme SevaBhojYojna o The Ministry of Culture, Government of India has introduced a new scheme called ‘SevaBhojYojna’. o The scheme envisages to reimburse the CGST and IGST on purchase of raw items which go into preparation of food offered free of cost by religious institutions. o The objective of the scheme is to lessen the financial burden of such Charitable Religious Institutions who provide Food free of cost. Government to immunize all healthcare workers o Government has decided to vaccinate all healthcare workers, involved in conducting deliveries, giving injections and exposed to blood or blood products, for Hepatitis-B. o Hepatitis-B is a viral infection that attacks the liver & can cause both acute and chronic disease. o The virus is highly contagious and is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. Home Minister launches Online Analytical Tool o Union Home Minister launched an Online Analytical Tool to facilitate closer monitoring of the flow and utilisation of foreign contributions received by various organisations. o This web-based tool enables decision-makers in various Departments of Government to scrutinise source of foreign funds and their actual use in India. o It has analytical features to conduct data mining and exploration. Haryana to have one-stop centres for women o Each district of Haryana will now get one-stop centres (OSCs) to facilitate integrated services for women affected by violence. o The aim of these centres is to facilitate integrated services for women affected by violence. 97 | P a g e
o These services would include police assistance, medical aid, psycho-social counselling etc. o One stop centre is 100% centrally sponsored scheme under the Nirbhaya Fund. Govt approves construction of 1.5 lakh houses o The Centre has approved construction of 1.5 lakh houses for urban poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). o The approval was given in the 34th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee. o Under the PMAY(U), the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry targets construction of 1.2 crore houses for urban poor by 2022. PM Modi launched 3 Indian digital payment apps o Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Rupay Card, Bhim app and UPI enabled remittance App by State Bank of India in Singapore. o The RuPay digital payments system was linked up with Singapore's 33-year- old Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS). o Singapore branch of the SBI is the first to launch this new mode of remittance in collaboration with NPCI.
July 2018
Chattisgarh CM to launch 'Mobile Tihar' o Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh launched the ‘Mobile Tihar’ (Mobile Festival) under the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (SKY). o The scheme is for distribution of smart-phone to women and students in the station covering 45 lakh women and 5 lakh students. o Under the programme, 460,000 students of Chhattisgarh's colleges and 4 million women staying in rural areas will be given smartphones.
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LS passes bill to revamp homoeopathy council o A bill seeking to replace the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) with a board of governors and aimed at bringing accountability and quality in homoeopathy education system was passed by the Lok Sabha. o The government will reconstitute the CCH within a year. o As per the bill, the members of the board of governor will replace the existing functionaries of the CCH. Bill for merger of subsidiary banks with SBI o The Parliament has passed the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017 with the Lok Sabha approving the amendments sent by the Rajya Sabha. o Under it, the 5 associates banks that were merged are State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore. o The merger of these banks is in effect from 1st April, 2018. Env survey to be conducted in 55 districts o In a first, around 55 districts across the country have been identified in 2018-19 for conducting an environmental survey covering various parameters like flora, fauna and pollution. o The National Environment Survey is being undertaken for the first time by the government in India. o National Environment Survey is proposed under the ongoing Environmental Information System Scheme. IT ministry launches "e-Aksharayan" o The IT ministry launched a desktop software "e-Aksharayan" to enable editing of text printed on scanned documents. o The software can be downloaded for free from its website. o The software supports editing in seven Indian languages - Hindi, Bangla, Malayalam, Gurmukhi, Tamil, Kannada & Assamese. 99 | P a g e
Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill passed in LS o The Lok Sabha has passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018 which replaces the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on April 21 2018. o The bill stipulates punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12 years and death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years. o The investigation of all cases of rape has to be completed within 2 months. DAC gives nod to strategic partnership model o Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the implementation guidelines for the Strategic Partnership Model to ensure timely delivery of equipment to the Armed Forces. o The approval was given at the meeting of DAC chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. o The first project will be 111 utility twin-engine helicopters worth an estimated Rs 21,000 crore for the Indian Navy. Govt to launch 2nd oil, gas field auction o The government plans to launch the auction of 60 oil and gas fields being offered in the second round of bidding for Discovered Small Field on August 9, 2018. o The fields are being offered in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kutch & Cambay shallow waters, Mumbai offshore, Assam and Tripura, Mahanadi shallow water, Andhra Pradesh and KG offshore. o The fields hold an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of oil. CRIF under Finance Ministry domain o Work related to the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) has been taken away from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. o It will now be under the Department of Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry.
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o Budget 2018 amended the Central Road Fund Act, 2000, and renamed the Central Road Fund the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund. Meghalaya launches milk mission, bull fair o The Meghalaya government launched 'Meghalaya Milk Mission' and First Meghalaya Bull Fair on 28th July, 2018. o The Mission aims to plug the demand and supply gap in the availability of per capita milk, to generate alternate livelihoods for the rural people through the dairy sector and to create and revive dairy co-operatives. o The Mission will benefit 2,000 farmers in the next 4 years. Modi launches 81 investment projects o PM Modi launched 81 investment projects worth over ₹ 60,000 crore for Uttar Pradesh at a ground-breaking event. o The projects are expected to give a big boost to industrialisation in the state and have the potentials of creating over 2 lakh jobs. o Around 80 leading industrialists, including Gautam Adani participated in the event, which comes close on the heels of ‘Investors Summit’. Govt notifies ethanol-making from sugarcane o The government has notified a decision to allow sugar mills to manufacture ethanol directly from sugarcane juice or intermediate product called B- molasses. o The sugarcane control order of 1966 has been amended in this regard. o So far, mills were allowed to manufacture ethanol from by-product called C-molasses, after sugar was taken out while processing raw cane juice. Assam to implement Pranam Scheme o Assam government has decided to implement PRANAM (Parent Responsibility & Norms for Accountability and Monitoring) Scheme that aims to ensure that government staff take care of their parents & physically challenged siblings.
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o It mandates deduction of 10-15% of the gross salary of employees who do not take care of their parents & disabled siblings. o It will come into force from October 2, 2018. National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme o A National Viral Hepatitis control programme was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. o The programme was launched on World Hepatitis Day with an aim to combat viral hepatitis and reduce mortality and morbidity associated with it. o It has been launched in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 2030. Law to tackle problems in NRI marriages o Centre is in the process of framing a new law to tackle problems in NRI marriages. o Government will make a law, 'Summons and Warrants Against Indian People Living Abroad', which will make provision of confiscating property of NRIs who have abandoned their wives in India & illegally married abroad. o It will enable online serving of summons/warrants against NRIs who have abandoned their wives. Projects for 6,320 km roads awarded o Projects for constructing 6,320 km of road have been awarded under the first phase of the Bharatmala project. o Under the first phase, a total of 34,800 km of road, including 10,000 km of residual NHDP (National Highway Development Project) have been approved for development. o The first phase of Bharatmala is to be implemented during the period from 2017-18 to 2021-22. 102 | P a g e
Railways to launch ‘Mission Satyanishtha’ o All the 13 lakh employees of the Indian Railways will take turns to swear an oath publicly to “bring about integrity” and “eradicate corruption”. o Termed “Mission Satyanishtha”, the program will involve railwaymen attending formal training course on probity and integrity in public life. o Railway Board members and all senior officers of the ministry will swear the oath of ethics and integrity. Govt approves new scheme to empower women o The government has approved a new scheme to empower rural women through community participation. o The cost for implementing the scheme, Mahila Shakti Kendra, from 2017- 18 up to 2019-20 would be shared in the 60:40 ratio between the Centre and states. o The scheme is envisaged to work at the national level and state level to governments on issues related to women. Gujarat govt announces sanitation policy o The Gujarat government came out with an 'Urban Sanitation and Cleanliness Policy' for better management of solid and liquid waste in cities. o Among other things, the policy aims at complete abolition of manual scavenging. o A system to convert solid waste into fuel to generate "green energy" will be set up. "Innovate India Platform" launched o Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog & MyGov launched “Innovate India Platform”. o The #InnovateIndia MyGov-AIM portal creates the much-needed innovations platform for registering both grassroots and deep-tech innovators at a national level.
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o With the launch of the platform Indians will be able to upload and rate their/organizations innovation on the platform. Lok Sabha passes anti-trafficking Bill o The Lok Sabha passed the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018. o The Bill proposes establishing a National Anti-Trafficking Bureau (NATB) for coordinating and monitoring of trafficking cases. o The Bill lays down a stringent punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment for aggravated forms of trafficking. NITI Aayog mulls using PSUs’ CSR funds o The NITI Aayog is seeking to realign the deployment of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in accordance with the pressing requirements in aspirational districts. o The transformation of aspirational districts is a flagship initiative of the Centre in partnership with State governments, anchored at the NITI Aayog. West Bengal may soon be renamed Bangla o The West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to change the state's name to 'Bangla' from West Bengal. o The resolution will now be sent to the Home Ministry for approval. o In August 2016, the Bengal government had passed a resolution to give three new names to the state: 'Bengal' in English, 'Bangla' in Bengali and 'Bangal' in Hindi. Government amends definition of hydrocarbon o The government has amended the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules 1959 to include shale in the definition of petroleum. o The change would allow private companies to explore and produce the resource in the blocks they already operate.
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o It would help in enhancing domestic exploration and production of hydrocarbons and increasing India's energy security and reducing dependency on imports. Free WiFi services for villages o All villages adopted by the Member of Parliaments under 'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna', will be provided free WiFi services across India by the Government. o The government has proposed to set up 25000 WiFi hotspots at existing rural exchanges of BSNL. o The government has targeted to link each of the 2.5 lakh gram panchayats of India through optical fibre network under Bharat Net Project. Kovind to launch Sanchar Kranti Yojna o President Ram Nath Kovind will launch Chhattisgarh government's Sanchar Kranti Yojna at Jagdalpur in the Naxal-affected Bastar region. o Under the scheme, 50 lakh smartphones will be distributed free of cost to the people. o President Ram Nath Kovind is on a two-day trip to Chhattisgarh’s Bastar range. Parliament passes fugitive offenders bill o Parliament has given its nod to legislation that will help the government to bring back fugitives to stand trial in India. o The bill empowers the government to attach properties of fugitives who run away from the country after committing tax and loan related offences. o The Bill enables action against economic offenders committing offences worth Rs.100 crore and above. Meeting of Nat Council under POSHAN Abhiyaan o Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India has organised the 2nd meeting of National Council on India’s Nutrition
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Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan on 24th July 2018 in New Dehli under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. o The month of September to be celebrated as National Nutrition Month every year. o POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018. WCD Ministry launches ‘#Childline1098’ Contest o The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a contest, #Childline1098, inviting people to share images of the Childline 1098 logo that they spot at unique locations and send it with a tagline. o The contest has been organised to mark 'World Day against Trafficking in Persons' on July 30. o The Childline has been operating at 450 locations across the country. Tamil Nadu unveils draft forest policy o The Tamil Nadu government has rolled out the draft state Forest Policy aimed at preserving forests and wildlife, conservation of ecosystems, and climate change mitigation among others in the state. o The policy seeks the involvement of local tribal communities in protection, conservation and wildlife management. o Tamil Nadu has about 30.92 percent of the forest declared as 'protected areas'. Nearly 2.67 lakh more houses sanctioned o The Centre approved construction of nearly 2.67 lakh more affordable houses for the poor in 10 states under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Urban). o The approval was given in a meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee of PMAY(U), which was held under the chairmanship of Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra. U.P. submits draft of Taj vision document 106 | P a g e
o The Uttar Pradesh government handed over to the Supreme Court its draft of a vision document proposing to declare the Taj Mahal complex a no- plastic zone. o The Supreme Court has been monitoring the development in the area to protect the UNESCO world heritage structure. o The draft recommended a comprehensive traffic management plan along the Yamuna river- front. Lok Sabha clears amendment Bill o The Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018, that seeks to punish bribe-givers and bribe-takers. o The Bill provides for a jail term of three to seven years, besides a fine, to those convicted of taking bribes and those giving bribes to public officials. o It extends the ambit of public servants who would be protected by sanction from prosecution. Odisha CM launches 'Green Mahanadi Mission' o Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the 'Green Mahanadi Mission', a plantation drive under which 2 crore saplings will be planted in the Mahanadi river basin. o The objective of the mission is to stop soil erosion on river banks and recharge the groundwater reserve. o The volunteers will plant fruit-bearing trees like mango, jackfruit & jamun within 1 km radius of the river bank. Gadkari kicks off work on road projects in MP o Union roads minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stones for over Rs 35.8 billion of roads projects in Madhya Pradesh. o The minister said work on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway passing through Jaipur and the Bhopal-Indore Expressway and the Chambal Expressway will start soon.
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o The minister also inaugurated the upgraded Shivpuri-Guna, Guna-Biora, Lakhanadoan-Chhapara roads. First-ever tribal atlas of Odisha released o Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released the first tribal atlas of Odisha, a set of maps and statistics highlighting the tribal demography of the state. o The atlas has been prepared by the SC & ST Research and Training Institute in collaboration with the Academy of Tribal Language and Culture. o The atlas has been brought out utilising the data of Census 2011 and other relevant statistics. 'Bijli Mitra' Mobile app in Rajasthan o Farmers in Rajasthan will soon be able to get their defunct transformers replaced within six hours of registering a complaint through a mobile app. o The government decided to introduce mobile app 'Bijli Mitra' so that farmers can register their complaint. o The scheme was being launched on a pilot basis from Jhalawara in Rajasthan. Lok Sabha passes NCTE amendment bill o The Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act. o It will provide post-facto approval to those approved institutions which are funded by the Centre or states but do not have recognition under the 1993 law. o This has been done as a one-time measure to ensure that the future of students studying in these institutions is not jeopardised. LS passes Bill on cheque bounce cases o The Lok Sabha passed the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill that allows a court hearing a cheque bounce case to direct the drawer to pay interim compensation to the person who filed the complaint. o The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in January, 2018. 108 | P a g e
o The interim compensation, to be paid within 60 days of the court’s order, can be up to 20% of the value of the cheque. RS members can now submit notices through app o Rajya Sabha members can now submit notices to raise discussions or questions from anywhere with the launch of a new app. o The 'secure e-Notices' application can be used to submit online notices for raising issues under rules for Question Hour, Zero Hour, Special Mention, Calling Attention and Short Duration Discussion. o The existing system of giving physical notices would also continue. Bihar Govt. passes new liquor Amendment law o The Bihar Government unanimously passed an amendment law on liquor prohibition in the monsoon session of the state assembly. o The amendment has been passed by voice vote in the assembly. o Bihar implemented total ban on any type of liquor since 5 April 2016. Minimum annual deposit requirement slashed o The government has reduced the minimum annual deposit requirement for accounts under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana to Rs. 250. o The move will enable more people to take advantage of the girl child savings scheme. o The government has amended the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules, 2016 for the purpose. The minimum initial deposit to open the account earlier was Rs. 1000. New cell to resolve child custody disputes o A mediation cell would be set up under the apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), to resolve child custody disputes arising from cases of transnational marital discord. o The Ministry of Women and Child Development has in-principle decided to establish a Mediation Cell under the NCPCR chairperson. Student Police Cadet Programme to be launched 109 | P a g e
o Home Minister Rajnath Singh will launch Student Police Cadet Programme in Gurugram. o The programme seeks to build a bridge between the Police and the larger community through school students by inculcating values and ethics in them. o The initiative seeks to cover broadly two kinds of topics: crime prevention and control, and values and ethics. Special Package for Irrigation Projects o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of Centrally Sponsored-Scheme for completion of 83 Minor Irrigation projects and 8 major/medium irrigation projects of Marathawada, Vidharbha and drought prone areas of the rest of Maharashtra. o Completion of these projects will ensure assured source of water to the farmers in the command area of these projects. RTE amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha o The Lok Sabha passed The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill 2017 which allows detention of school students in class 5 and 8. o The original RTE Act stipulated that no child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education. o The original RTE Act came into force on April 1, 2010. Continuation of scholarships for minorities o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for Continuation of Pre-Matric, Post Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes for the students belonging to the six notified Minority Communities.
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o The 6 notified minority communities are Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi. o These Schemes shall be implemented through the National Scholarship Portal. National database for gun licence holders o From April 2019, names of all arms licence holders, new or old, will be included in a national database and they will be issued a unique identification number (UIN). o The move is aimed at keeping a tab on authorised private gun holders. o Every licensing and renewing authority will have to enter the data in the National Database of Arms Licences system, which will generate a UIN. SBI ‘kisan mela’ on July 18 o State Bank of India (SBI) will organise ‘kisan melas’ in 875 rural and semi- urban branches spread across Karnataka on July 18. o It is an initiative of the bank to connect with farmers and resolve their grievances. o The bank also plans to offer Kisan Credit Cards to farmers. The bank will also make farmers aware of the benefits of timely renewal of KCC account & usage of KCC Rupay Card. Assam's anti-witch hunting bill o President Ram Nath Kovind has approved the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015, converting it to an Act. o The bill has been converted into an Act after almost three years it was passed by Assam's state assembly on August 13, 2015. o It imposes imprisonment of up to seven years, along with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, for branding someone as witch. CIC launches bilingual mobile app o The Central Information Commission (CIC) has launched an updated version of its mobile application in Hindi. 111 | P a g e
o RTI applicants can submit their second appeal or complaint and link papers in both the languages i.e. in Hindi and English, through this app. o Using this app, people can get real-time status in both the Hindi and English languages. 'Paudhagiri' campaign launched in Haryana o Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the 'Paudhagiri' campaign, aimed at increasing the green cover in the state. o Under this campaign, 22 lakh students from class 6 to 12 of all government and private schools in Haryana will plant a sapling each during three months of monsoon. o The student will get Rs 300 per year for 3 years for looking after a sapling planted by him or her. T-Hub to host country’s 1st Defence incubator o India's first Defence incubators will come up in Hyderabad, which is India’s missile development centre. o The T-Hub is India's largest incubator that will be funded through the Ministry’s Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme. o The iDEX will be funded and managed by a Defence Innovation Organisation. o Initially, a corpus of ₹ 100 crore has been created by two PSUs--HAL and BEL. Men’s hockey team to be a part of TOPS o The Mission Olympic Cell of Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has included Men’s Hockey team under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). o The 18 team members will be provided with a monthly allowance of Rs. 50,000 each.
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o TOPS was launched in 2015 by Ministry of Sports with National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the aim supporting potential medal prospects for Olympics. Army, FTII to provide acting courses in J&K o Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has joined hands with the Indian Army to provide acting courses for the youth of J&K. o Renowned actor Gufi Paintal was invited as a special guest faculty to mentor the youth for the course. o The youth trained by the Army in theatre and art earlier this year also witnessed the creative rendition of the budding artists. Odisha Govt constitutes Heritage Cabinet o The Odisha Government constituted Heritage Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to preserve the history and culture of Odisha. o The Cabinet comprises eight members, including the Chief Minister. o While the Chief Secretary will be Secretary of Heritage Cabinet, Secretary in the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will be the convenor. "I Am Not Afraid Of English" campaign o The Haryana Education Department has launched ''I am not afraid of English'' initiative to promote English language right from Class 1 in the state's primary schools. o The initiative is aimed at capacity building of teachers to enable them to help the students to learn, read, write and speak English. o To start with, a booklet containing 1,000 sentences/phrases has been prepared. Govt launches Swachh Survekshan Grameen o The government has launched Swachh Survekshan Grameen, which will attempt to rank all 698 districts in the country on prevalent levels of cleanliness in the rural areas. 113 | P a g e
o The parameters of assessment will be availability of toilets, usage of toilets, hygiene of toilets and status of littering among others. o It will be done through an independent survey agency. Use of Aadhaar only ‘desirable, not must’ o Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that furnishing Aadhaar as an identity proof for availing benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme is "desirable and not must." o It also said that there shall be no denial of benefits for the want of Aadhaar. o The scheme, launched under the National Health Protection Mission was announced during the 2018-19 budget and will be launched on August 15. Aadhaar must for health mission cover o The government has mandated the use of Aadhaar card for administering its massive Ayushman Bharat, or National Health Mission, that assures a ₹ 5 lakh health cover to 10 crore families. o While possessing an Aadhaar card isn’t mandatory to avail services, a proof of enrolment, or request for enrolment, is mandatory. o The Ayushman Bharat is scheduled to roll out in August 2018. Internet to remain free and fair in India o Internet will remain free and fair in India as the telecom commission has approved net neutrality. o Net neutrality requires service providers to treat all internet traffic equally & prohibits discrimination in the treatment of content. o Some mission-critical applications or services like remote surgery and autonomous cars will, however, be kept out of the purview of net neutrality framework. CM approves yatra scheme o The Delhi government would send 77,000 senior citizens along with one adult attendant each on all-expenses paid pilgrimages every year.
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o Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved the Mukhyamantri Tirth yatra Yojana. o The government would also pay for one attendant over the age of 18 years to accompany each senior citizen. o The pilgrims would be selected through a draw of lots. ‘CITIIS’ Challenge Announced by MoHUA o The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced a new 'Cities Investment To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain' (CITIIS) challenge to identify top projects in 15 of the 100 selected smart cities. o The projects will receive an additional funding of approximately ₹ 80 crore each. o The new funding will be financed by a €100 million loan from the French government. Govt launches LAP and TPS for 25 smart cities o To fast track the resolution of area based infrastructure issues, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Local Area Plan (LAP) and Town Plan Schemes (TPS) for 25 smart cities in the country. o Under which the ministry will provide Rs 2 crore as central assistance to every city for planned urban expansion. o The LAP and TPS has been formulated under AMRUT. Smart Cities fellowship launched o Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched Smart Cities fellowship and internship programmes. o The internship and fellowship would provide the youth with an opportunity to experience various aspects of urban planning and governance. o The ‘Interns’ shall be a part of the Smart Cities Mission. 51 lakh houses approved in 3 years under PMAY o More than 51 lakh dwelling units have been sanctioned by the government under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban) in last 3 years. 115 | P a g e
o This jump is a huge one in comparison to the erstwhile housing scheme, under which only 12.4 lakh houses were approved in 9 years. o Out of these 51 lakh houses, over 8 lakh houses have already been completed. PM laid foundation for urban infra projects o PM Modi laid the foundation stone of 13 Urban Infrastructure projects for the State of Rajasthan. o Some of the major projects are integrated infrastructure project for Udaipur, elevated road project for Ajmer and water and sewage projects. o The Central Water Commission gave hydrological clearance to Rajasthan’s first interlinking of rivers project — Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). Himachal banned sale of thermocol cutlery o The Himachal Pradesh government has banned the use and sale of thermocol cutlery including cups, plates, glasses, spoons or any other item in the state. o Those violating the order will be fined according to the quantity of the thermocol. o The state government has set a deadline of three months for manufacturers to dispose of their stocks. Delhi Police to control CCTV project o A panel set up by Delhi L-G Anil Baijal has said Delhi government's flagship CCTV project will not be controlled by the AAP government but will be under the L-G via Delhi Police. o Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called the panel "illegal" and directed PWD Secretary Manoj Parida to propose the installation of one lakh cameras in the next cabinet meeting. Government launches 'technology challenge'
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o To eliminate human entry into septic tanks for cleaning, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a 'technology challenge' seeking suitable solutions. o The challenge is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention to be held on 2 October. o The proposals will be adopted on the basis of operational effectiveness, life of machinery, & ease of use among others. Subsidy on rooftop solar power installations o Himachal Pradesh government has announced a subsidy of 10% or Rs. 4,000 per Kilowatt, whichever is less, for installation of solar power plants at the rooftop of their buildings. o This subsidy would be additional to the subsidy given by Central government. o The subsidy amount would be deposited directly to the bank account of the consumer through Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Authority. WB announces 'one person, one car' policy o In an attempt to cut the costs incurred by the state over travel expenses of ministers and bureaucrats, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the 'one person, one car' policy. o Further mandating economy class travel in low-cost airlines for all domestic air trips, she added that foreign travels will be sanctioned only by her. Delhi launched it’s first Cyber Forensic van o First cyber Forensic van of Delhi police was launched to help people in cyber crimes especially for the senior citizens who are the soft targets of cyber crimes. o Home Ministry is planning to launch an online cybercrime portal where people can file a complaint online. o The Van will be available on 24x7 basis. Punjab orders mandatory dope test 117 | P a g e
o Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a mandatory dope test for all government employees, including police personnel, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service. o Drug screening will be mandatory in cases of promotions, and also be a part of annual medical examinations. o The state's Chief Secretary has been asked to issue an order. Boost to Higher Education o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal for expanding the scope of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). o HEFA's scope expanded to meet the rising financial requirements of educational infrastructure in the country. o HEFA is a Non Profit, Non Banking Financing Company for mobilising extra-budgetary resources. CCI launched an Online Guidance System o The Competition Commission of India (CCI) launched an Online Guidance System for determining notifiability of merger & acquisitions. o The Guidance System has been named as “Do It Yourself (DIY): A notifiability check for mergers & acquisitions under the Competition Act, 2002”. o It is a part of CCI’s outreach initiatives and measures to simplify compliance requirements regarding combinations. CMSMS and ‘Khan Prahari’ App launched o Shri Piyush Goyal launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application ‘Khan Prahari’. o It is developed by CMPDI, Ranchi a Subsidiary of CIL and Bhaskarcharya Institute of Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG). o The basic objective of CMSMS is reporting, monitoring and taking suitable action on unauthorised coal mining activities. Extension of RRBs' recapitalisation scheme 118 | P a g e
o The Cabinet has approved the extension of the scheme of recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks, RRBs for the next three years upto 2019-20. o This will enable the RRBs to maintain the minimum prescribed Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio, CRAR of 9%. o There are 56 RRBs functioning in the country. As on 31st March, 2017(Prov.), the total credit given by RRBs is Rs.2,28,599 crore. DNA Technology Regulation Bill, 2018 o The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018. o The bill aims to expand the application of DNA based forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system of the country. o Bill's provisions will enable the cross-matching between persons who have been reported missing. Govt approves hike in Minimum Support Price o The Centre approved the raise in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops in line with its budget announcement to ensure that farmers get at least 1.5 times of the production cost. o The MSP for paddy has been hiked to around ₹ 1,750 per quintal from previous year's ₹ 1,550 and corn increased to ₹ 1,700 from ₹ 1,131. o The MSP of cotton (medium staple) has been increased to Rs 5,150. Special drive launched by Gujarat CM o CM of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani launched a special drive called ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ to eradicate malnutrition among children. o ‘Purna’ project was also launched under this drive for malnutrition girls under the age group of 14-18 years. o Nutritious food will be served to these children through Anganwadi centres and Rs 270 crore has been allocated by the government to control malnutrition in girls. UP Government announced new policy 119 | P a g e
o UP Government announced a new Defence Manufacturing Policy, called ‘UP Defence Aerospace Unit and Employment Generating Policy, 2018’. o The policy is for the entrepreneurs who are willing to invest and would project an investment of Rs. 50,000 crores for upcoming 5 years. o The policy is also expected to generate 2.5 lakh jobs. KVIC launches e-marketing system o The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched its e- marketing system named Khadi Institution Management and Information System (KIMIS) in New Delhi. o This software will give real-time data of sales and will also give the updated status of stocks of khadi bhawans and godowns. o KVIC IT team has developed this foolproof software.
August 2018
Trade Cooperation Framework approved o The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for the trade cooperation framework between India and Rwanda. o The trade cooperation framework was signed on 23rd July, 2018. o The trade cooperation framework will facilitate better trade and economic relations between the two countries. Cabinet approved MoU between India and USA o The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Federal Insurance Office, USA. o The MoU includes an exchange of information and research assistance with respect to each Authority’s overview and other lawful responsibilities. o IRDAI is a body set up under the IRDA Act, 1999. Right to offend is protected under free speech
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o The Law Commission emphasised that the expression of a thought that is not in agreement with the the country or the policy of the ruling government doesn't come under the umbrella of sedition. o The commission is headed by Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan, a former judge of the Supreme Court. o He was appointed Chairman of the 21st Law Commission on 10 March, 2018. Launch of National Mission on GeM o National Mission on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) will be launched on 5th September 2018. o The aim of the National Mission is to promote inclusiveness, transparency and efficiency in public procurement and achieve cashless, contact less and paperless transaction. o This will increase overall efficiency and lead to cost saving on government expenditure in procurement. HRD ministry brings Atal rankings o The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry on August 30, 2018 launched the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARRIA) and the Innovation Cell. o The rankings will promote a culture of innovation and research in higher education. o The primary mandate of Innovation Cell is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas. NMCG Approves 150 Cr projects o National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved projects worth nearly Rs 150 crores in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal under the Namami Gange programme. o These projects include interception and diversion works where small rivers, rivulets, and drains empty into the main river. 121 | P a g e
o These projects also include Sewage Treatment Plant and development of Ghats. Cabinet approves O-SMART scheme o Cabinet approved implementation of an umbrella scheme-Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART). o The scheme covers a total of 16 sub-projects, which address ocean development activities such as services, technology, resources, and science. o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the scheme implementation at an overall cost of Rs 1623 Cr. Cabinet approves additional 2% DA o The Union Cabinet approved the additional Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners. o The DA and DR will increase by 2% over the existing rate of 7% of the Basic Pay/Pension w.e.f 01.07.2018 o This will benefit about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 62.03 lakh pensioners. ADB sign $375mn loan for Irrigation o The government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $375 million loan agreement to expand irrigation networks and system efficiency of Madhya Pradesh. o The project will develop 125,000 hectares of new, highly efficient and climate resilient irrigation networks. o The project aims to double farming incomes by benefiting over 800,000 people in Madhya Pradesh. 'Smart India Hackathon 2019' launched o Union HRD Minister launched the third edition of World’s Biggest Open Innovation Model 'Smart India Hackathon' 2019 in New Delhi.
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o SIH-2019 is an initiative that provides students with a platform to solve some of the pressing problems we face in our daily lives. o For the 1st time, private industry/organisations and NGOs can also send their problem statements to students. Odisha inks MoU for malaria-free state o Odisha government signed a MoU with an America-based agency ‘Malaria No More’ and Indian agency ‘Malaria Elimination Trust’ to make the state malaria-free. o The two agencies will prepare the roadmap for public awareness and will work with the various organization in the state. o Earlier this year 1.13 crore mosquito nets medicated with larvicides were distributed in the state. $250 mn to support electricity distribution o The Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and World Bank signed a $250 Million agreement to support electricity distribution sector reforms in Rajasthan. o It is the second electricity distribution reform policy for Rajasthan. The first closed in March 2017. o The program will support the distribution sector, provide incentives to employees, reducing the costs of energy procurement etc. World Bank signed $300mn agreement with India o The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $220 million Loan Agreement and $80 million Guarantee Agreement for the India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program. o The program will be implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). o It will help to avoid lifetime emissions of 170 million tons of CO2 by replacing traditional machinery with energy efficient equipment. ₹ 9000 cr for Indore-Manmad rail project 123 | P a g e
o The Shipping and Railway ministries along with M.P and Maharashtra government signed a pact to implement around ₹ 9,000 crores in Indore- Manmad rail project. o The project is estimated to result in cumulative net economic benefits of Rs 15,000 crore in the first 10 years of operations. o The project will reduce the distance from Mumbai/Pune to key Central India locations by 171 km. 2 new projects for Punjab, Tripura under SDS o The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned two new projects under Heritage and North East Circuits of Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) in Punjab and Tripura. o 'Swadesh Darshan' is the scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for the development of thematic circuits in the country. o The first project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme 'North East Circuit: Imphal and Khongjom' was inaugurated in Manipur. Odisha launches "Mu Hero, Mu Odisha" programme o Odisha government launched a programme aimed at identifying and giving recognition to the young achievers of the state. o The name of the programme is "Mu Hero, Mu Odisha" (I am Hero-I am Odisha) programme. o The programme will be conducted by the Biju Yuva Vahini (BYV) members. o The BYV members are volunteers of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs of the state government. PM Jan Arogya Yojana logo unveiled o Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched the logo for flagship health insurance scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat' in New Delhi. o Under 'Ayushman Bharat' more than 10 crore poor & vulnerable families will get the benefit with an insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. o The health insurance scheme will be launched on Septemeber 25. 124 | P a g e
Govt announces regulations for drones o The government has announced regulations for safe usage of drones. o The Ministry of Civil Aviation has finalised a national drone policy o The regulations will be effective from 1st of December 2018. o During daytime flights, drones can be flown to a height of up to 400 ft. o The use of drones by civilians is currently restricted by the Directorate General of Civilian Aviation. Government unveils sports policy for CPSEs o The Government of India launched a policy framework for the promotion of sports in CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises). o The policy will support CPSEs for recreation, positive health, competitive excellence and social harmony. o CPSEs will allocate a specific budget for sports activities as per their capability and financial strength. 'FAME India II' will be launched on Sept 7 o The 2nd phase of the 'FAME India' scheme will be launched on September 7, 2018. o The scheme for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FAME) India was introduced in a bid to incentivise sales and manufacturing of electric vehicles in the country. o FAME II will offer subsidies to all categories of electric vehicles including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers. Govt approves 1.12 lakh more houses o The Government of India has approved construction of nearly 1.12 lakh more affordable houses for urban poor in eight states under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY). o The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is mandated to implement the PMAY scheme.
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o PMAY is an initiative by Government of India in which affordable housing will be provided to the urban poor by 31 March 2022. UIDAI makes facial recognition mandatory o UIDAI has made facial recognition mandatory for every authentication that requires Aadhaar. o This will come along with the process that identifies an individual based on fingerprints or iris scans. o Services like purchasing a new mobile SIM, bank account opening, the public distribution system, which commonly uses Aadhaar authentication will now have to implement this added security feature. Government to develop Logistics Portal o A National Logistics Portal (NLP) is being developed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to ensure ease of trading in the international and domestic markets. o The portal will link all the stakeholders of EXIM, domestic trade and movement and all trade activities on a single platform. o The NLP will be implemented in phases. Bhamashah Techno Hub to be inaugurated in Raj o Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje inaugurated the Bhamashah Techno Hub on 23rd August 2018. o The hub will provide free space, easier funding avenues and mentorship to startups. o The Rajasthan government has already announced setting up of a Rs 500- crore startup fund -- Bhamashah Techno Fund. o The hub would be able to accommodate over 700 startup ventures. FSSAI notifies standards for Honey o Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come out with food safety standards for honey and its products, in a bid to curb adulteration. 126 | P a g e
o As per the FSSAI notification, honey should comply with 18 parameters like that of sucrose content, glucose ratio, pollen count, foreign oligosaccharides among others. o The FSSAI has fixed maximum 5% limit for sucrose content in the honey. Swachh to target open urination too o Under new norms, cities and towns wanting to be declared ODF+ (Open Defecation Free Plus) must also be free of public urination and not just open defecation. o This is the first time that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) is officially including the elimination of public urination in its agenda. o The ODF+ and ODF++ protocols were released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. NCRB to track plaints on sexual violence o The Government of India has designated National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) as nodal agency for monitoring the complaints received on a government portal that records child sexual violence videos. o The NCRB would coordinate with service providers such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp ask them to block malicious videos and contents. o NCRB is a crime record agency of Government of India. Govt unveils draft UDAN scheme for int routes o The Ministry of Civil Aviation has prepared a draft scheme document for “UDAN International”. o The scheme is designed for State governments that are keen to promote air connectivity on international routes identified by them and for which they are willing to provide subsidy to airlines. o Airports Authority of India will determine a subsidy amount per seat and invite bids from domestic carrier. Naya Raipur to be named Atal Nagar
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o The Government of Chhattisgarh decided to name Naya Raipur, the upcoming capital city of the Chhattisgarh, as 'Atal Nagar' in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. o Besides the capital, several other government institutions and projects will be named after Vajpayee. o Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as the Prime Minister of India. September to be observed as Nutrition Month o September will be observed as Nutrition Month with the aim of reaching every household with the message of nutrition — ‘har ghar poshan tyohar’. o The month-long intensive campaign will promote antenatal care, breastfeeding, fight anemia, convey messages about the importance of nutrition for girls and the right age of marriage and also promote hygiene and sanitation. NOTA option cannot be permitted in RS polls o The Supreme Court scrapped the use of ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) option in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. o SC held that the NOTA option is meant only for universal adult suffrage and direct elections and not polls held by the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote as done in the Rajya Sabha. Kerala floods a 'calamity of severe nature' o The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Kerala floods a “calamity of severe nature”. o When a calamity is declared to be of 'rare severity/severe nature,' support to the government of the affected state is provided at the national level. o The Centre also considers additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). New pictorial warning for tobacco products
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o The Union Health Ministry issued enhanced pictorial warnings to be printed on packets of cigarette and other tobacco products, highlighting the ill-effects of tobacco consumption. o These new pictorial warnings will be used from September 1, 2018. o The government released two separate set of images. The first set will be used on tobacco products from September 1,2018 for a period of 12 months. States come together to fight drug menace o Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Chandigarh will set up a centralised secretariat at Panchkula to tackle the drug menace in the country’s northern region. o The decision was taken at the regional conference of the Chief Ministers organised by Haryana government. o Nodal officers from each State will be deputed for sharing intelligence and information. East-Coast freight corridor to come in 2019 o India's third freight corridor is likely to come up between Kharagpur and Vijaywada sections. o The project, which is also called the East Coast Corridor, will be 1,114 km in length and is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project of Indian Railways. o The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd has sent a proposal to Indian Railways to undertake the 3rd freight corridor project. India bans pet coke import for use as fuel o The Government of India banned the import of petcoke for use as fuel but allowed import of the product by some industries, which will use it as feedstock. o It is allowed only for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide and gasification industries which uses pet coke as feedstock. o India imports about half of its annual petcoke consumption mainly from the United States. 129 | P a g e
Govt launches 'Digital northeast vision' o The Central Government launched the 'Digital Northeast Vision Document 2022' in Guwahati. o North East Indian region has become the newest member of the Centre's flagship programme 'Digital India' initiative. o 'Digital Northeast India Vision 2022' envisages in implementing the initiative throughout the North East through optimum utilization of information, communication, and technology. Railways launches “Digital Screens” o The Ministry of Railway has launched digital screens to spread awareness among public about the heritage of Indian Railways. o The project aims at showcasing the legacy of Indian Railways through one to two minute-long movie clips on digital LED screens. o In addition, QR code based posters on Railway Heritage are also being displayed at these stations. Madhya Pradesh Launches "Dial 100" Police App o Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 15th August launched Dial 100 Mobile app. o The App will help the needy at the time of emergency. o As soon as police receive a call through Dial 100 application, Madhya Pradesh Police will reach the location as soon as possible. Government portal starts advocacy drive o The government has started an advocacy drive based on ‘learning material’ offered by WhatsApp to create awareness among students, government officials and others around the issue of fake news. o The campaign, being run by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing on a portal — 'infosecawareness.in'. o It is targeted at school children and youth as well as government officials. Telangana launches two Human Welfare Schemes 130 | P a g e
o Telangana government launched two major schemes - free eye screening for all citizens and life insurance for farmers on 15th August, 2018. o Under ''Kanti Velugu'' (Eye Sight), the entire population of 3.7 crore will be provided free eye care. o ''Rytu Bima'' (Farmer insurance) is aimed at providing life insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh to every farmer. Permanent commission for women in armed force o Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that women officers in India's armed forces would now have the option to take up permanent commission through the Short Service Commission. o As per the Short Service Commission, a woman officer can serve for 10-14 years. o The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy also grant permanent commission to women officers. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan unveiled o Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of world's largest government-funded programme - the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan. o It will be launched on the birth anniversary of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay on 25th September. o The government has decided to provide 5 lakh rupees health care insurance coverage for the poor and vulnerable. Odisha CM launches health scheme o Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the start of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), an universal health coverage scheme in the state on 15th August 2018. o The scheme would benefit 70 lakh families. o Under the scheme, secondary and tertiary chashless health care assistance will be provided up to Rs 5 lakh per family per annum. 131 | P a g e
New concession model for greenfield airports o The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed a new financial model for building greenfield airports. o Under new model, the concession fee given by the airport operator to the concessioning authority will be based on a ‘per passenger aeronautical model’. o The new model will be followed for building the Jewar airport in Uttar Pradesh. o The new model will encourage increased private investment. Scheme for monitoring drugs safety aspects o The AYUSH Ministry introduced a new central sector scheme for monitoring of the safety aspects of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and documenting their adverse effects. o The ministry introduced the scheme for promoting pharmacovigilance of these drugs. o All India Institute of Ayurveda was designated as the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. WB govt lifts income ceiling for ‘Kanyashree’ o The West Bengal government has widened the reach of its flagship women welfare scheme ‘Kanyashree’ by lifting the ceiling on annual family income. o As per the scheme, unmarried girls above 13 years are offered cash incentive for remaining unmarried till 18. o Kanyashree was launched in 2013 to prevent child marriage in economically weaker sections with an annual household income of ₹ 1.2 lakh. NITI Aayog launches “Pitch to MOVE” o NITI Aayog has launched “Pitch to MOVE” - a mobility pitch competition. o The aim is to provide budding entrepreneurs of India a unique opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a distinguished jury.
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o “Pitch to MOVE” is organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Invest India and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. SC launches 3 application for litigants o The Supreme Court launched three applications to facilitate e-filing of cases, making digital payments and service of judicial notices through smartphones. o SC launched E-courts services, E-pay and NSTEP (National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes) applications. o The Chief Justice of India said that these applications would help the litigants. Rajnath inaugurates NDMC Smart City projects o Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated various initiatives as part of smart city project of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on 13th August, 2018. o The facilities inaugurated includes smart poles with free wi-fi, 360 degree cameras and environmental sensors, solar tree with the LED lights, mobile charging points, ideation centre for promoting smart city entrepreneurs. Hry to launch Ayushman Bharat in 22 districts o Haryana will launch its pilot health project Ayushman Bharat Haryana from August 15, 2018 in 22 district hospitals, one ESI and one medical college. o Under this scheme medical facility upto Rs 5 lakh will be provided for free to 15.50 lakh families. o Initially this facility will be provided in government hospitals, which would later be started in empanelled private hospitals. First project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme o The first project under the central government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme, 'North East Circuit: Imphal and Khongjom', will be inaugurated by Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla on 14th August, 2018. o The project covers 2 sites - Kangla Fort and Khongjom. 133 | P a g e
o 'Swadesh Darshan' is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for the development of thematic circuits in the country. Centre unlocks 66000 crore green fund o The Centre has unlocked more than 66,000 crore rupees to increase the country’s forest cover. o The fund is an accumulated amount of money which user agencies have been depositing as compensation for diverting forest land for non-forest purposes. o As per the rules about 80% of the total money will be used by the states for plantation and other green projects. Farmer can avail Rs 1.50 lakh loan waiver o The Maharashtra government has expanded the scope of the loan waiver scheme. o The government has now extended the benefits to every member of the farmer's family in case of a separate loan account. o Earlier, the state government had considered the farmer's family as one unit and considered it eligible to claim waiver of Rs 1.50 lakh agricultural debt. Proposal for setting up of water aerodrome o Civil Aviation Ministry has approved a proposal for setting up of water aerodromes in the country. o In the first phase, Chilika Lake in Odisha, Sardar Sarovar Dam and Sabarmati river front Ahmedabad in Gujarat have been identified for construction of water aerodromes. o Under the proposal, water aerodrome will be set up near locations of tourist and religious importance. Modi launched the digital platform Parivesh o Modi launched the digital platform the “Pro Active and Responsive facilitation by interactive and Virtuous Environment Single window Hub” (Parivesh). 134 | P a g e
o It is an initiative of the Environment Ministry. o Through this portal, environmental clearances for forest and climate- related issues will be done easily. He also gave clearance to the first project which is being built in Odisha via Parivesh. Exhibition inaugurated by Ministry of Culture o An exhibition entitled ‘Prathibandhit Sahitya mein Swatantrata Sangram’ (Freedom Movement through Proscribed Literature) was inaugurated on 10th August in the premises of National Archives of India, in New Delhi. o The Exhibition was based on the unique collection of proscribed literature. o It is being organised by Ministry of Culture. 12 modern biofuel refineries to come up o Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 12 modern biofuel refineries worth ten thousand crore rupees will be established across the country. o This will provide employment to 1.5 lakh youth. o He was addressing an event on the occasion of World Biofuel Day 2018 in New Delhi. o The Prime Minister said the government is targeting ten percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2022 and 20 percent by 2030. Lok Sabha passes bills to amend GST laws o The Lok Sabha passed four bills amending laws relating to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). o The Central GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Integrated GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, The Union Territory GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the GST (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2018 got the Lok Sabha’s nod. o The provisions will allow taxpayers to amend their tax returns in order to rectify errors. Scheme to provide pulses to states for PDS
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o The Government decided to sell nearly 3.5 million tonnes of pulses to states at Rs 15 per kg lower price than the wholesale rate for distribution under public distribution system (PDS) and other welfare schemes. o The decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. o The Centre will provide 3.48 million tonnes of pulses to state governments from its stock. ‘One District one Product’ Summit inaugurated o The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) Summit on August 10, 2018 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. o The scheme aims at promoting one traditional industry in every district such as lock industry in Aligarh, silk-weaving in Varanasi and biscuit- making in Amethi. o Under ODOP, Rs 250 crore loans will be disbursed to start-ups. Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao Contest o The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation announced the winners for the first fortnight of the 'Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao' contest that was launched on 10th July 2018. o The winners will be given prize amount of Rs 25,000/, Rs 15,000/- and Rs 10,000/- respectively. o The objective of the contest is to spread awareness about water conservation. Nod for three changes to triple talaq Bill o The Cabinet approved three crucial amendments to the triple talaq Bill. o The cabinet has approved amendments which mandate that the FIR be either filed by the victim of triple talaq or immediate blood relations.
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o Giving instant triple talaq will continue to be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. Cabinet extends PMGSY o The government approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) beyond the 12th five year plan period. o The decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs would help in connecting 38,412 habitations. o PMGSY was launched on December 25, 2000, with the objective to provide All-Weather road connectivity to the rural areas. Nod for four more NDRF battalions o The government approved a proposal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to raise four more battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). o Two of the four battalions will initially be raised in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and one each in the Border Security Force and Assam Rifles. o The NDRF was created in 2006 and has currently 12 battalions stationed across the country. DNA Technology Regulation Bill introduced o The government introduced DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018 in the Lok Sabha. o The Bill seeks to provide regulation for the use and application of DNA Technology for establishing the identity of certain categories of persons including the victims, offenders, suspects, under trials, missing persons and others. Govt will launch SBM ODF+ and ODF++ Protocol o The Government will launch ODF+ and ODF++ Protocol on August 10, 2018.
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o SBM (Swach Bharat Mission) ODF+ protocol focuses on sustaining community public toilet usage by ensuring their functionality, cleanliness, and maintenance. o SBM ODF++ will focus on achieving sanitation sustainability by addressing complete sanitation value chain and disposal of faecal sludge and septage. Suresh launches Mobile App Niryat Mitra o Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Aviation Suresh Prabhu launched 'Niryat Mitra – mobile App' in New Delhi. o The app developed by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations is available both on Android and on IOS platforms. o It provides the wide range of information required to undertake international trade right from the policy provisions for export and import, applicable GST rate. NRIs cannot file RTI applications: Government o Non-Resident Indians cannot file Right to Information (RTI) applications to seek governance-related information from the Central government departments. o Only citizens of India have the right to seek information under the provisions of Right to Information Act, 2005. o Subject to the provisions of the Act, the citizens of India could file the online application under the RTI Act, 2005. Govt. asks citizens not to use plastic flags o The Centre has urged all citizens not to use national flag made up of plastic. o The States were told to ensure strict compliance of the provisions contained in the ‘Flag Code of India, 2002’ and ‘The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. o The advisory said on important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are to be used by the public. Government raises duty on textile products 138 | P a g e
o India doubled import duties on 328 textile products to 20%, as the world’s largest cotton producer sought to curb soaring imports from China. o The government in July had doubled import duty on over 50 textile products — including jackets, suits and carpets — to 20%. o Import duty is a tax collected on imports and some exports by a country's customs authorities. MHADA to rope private landowners for PMAY o The Maharashtra government to rope in private landowners to collaborate with Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to implement the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas. o Private landowners having more than 10 acres of land are eligible to participate in the scheme. o The MHADA will construct houses for economically weaker sections and lower income groups. Lok Sabha approves additional expenditure o The Lok Sabha approved the first batch of supplementary demands for grants envisaging a gross additional outgo of Rs 11,697.92 crore for the current fiscal. o The additional grant required to meet the required expenditure of the government is called Supplementary Grants. o These grants are presented and passed by the Parliament before the end of the financial year. Parliament passes Immovable Property Bill o Parliament passed a bill to amend the regulations governing the compensation payable for acquisition of immovable property by the Centre for defence and security purposes. o The bill seeks to amend a provision to allow the Centre to re-issue the notice of acquisition to ensure that the property owner gets an opportunity to be heard. 139 | P a g e
o The amendments included changing the year of the Bill. TRAI launches DND, MyCall on UMANG platform o The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched the Do not Call (DND) 2.0 and MyCall apps with the Unified Mobile Application for New- Age Governance (UMANG) platform. o UMANG provides a single platform for all Indian citizens to access, pan- India, e-Gov services. o MyCall is an intuitive and user-friendly application for crowd-sourced voice call quality monitoring. Access to Andamans eased o Foreigners no longer need a Restricted Areas Permit to visit 29 inhabited islands in the Andaman and Nicobar chain. o The Union Home Ministry decided to lift restrictions as the government intends to boost tourism. o The 29 inhabited islands have been excluded from the restricted area permit notified under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, till December 31, 2022. MoA signed for funding Irrigation Projects o A revised Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed amongst Government of India, NABARD and National Water Development Agency. o The MoA was signed to fund the central share of 99 prioritized irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). o Under PMKSY, 99 ongoing irrigation projects were identified for completion in mission mode by December 2019. Govt extends e-visa facility to 165 countries o Seeking to promote tourism, the government has extended e-visa facility for citizens of 165 countries at 25 airports and five seaports. o The government has launched the 'Incredible India 2.0' campaign, marking a shift from generic promotions to market-specific promotional plans. 140 | P a g e
o A 24X7 toll free multi-lingual tourist helpline has also been put in place as part of the efforts. Scope of HEFA expanded with capital expansion o The Government has approved the authorised equity capital expansion of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) to Rs.10,000 crore. o The Union Cabinet had approved HEFA in September 2016 as a Special Purpose Vehicle with a Canara Bank. o All Centrally Funded Educational Institutions in Higher Education, School Education and Medical Education sectors are eligible to avail of loans through HEFA. Rajya Sabha gives nod for NCBC Bill o The Bill extending constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was cleared by the Rajya Sabha on 6th August 2018. o The Lok Sabha had passed the proposed law on August 2, 2018 with more than a two-thirds majority. o The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on April 5, 2017. Amendment in LS to make adoption easier o The government introduced an amendment to the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015, in the Lok Sabha on 6th August 2018. o The amendment will empower District Magistrates with the authority to grant adoption orders. o The Union Cabinet had approved amendments proposed by the Women and Child Development Ministry in July 2018. o The amendment states the objective is to avoid the pendency of cases. BIMS & Bhoomi Rashi-PFMS linkage launched o The Government of India launched the Bidder Information Management System (BIMS) and Bhoomi Rashi and PFMS linkage. 141 | P a g e
o BIMS is aimed at streamlining the process of pre-qualification of bidders for EPC Mode of contracts for National Highway works. o Bhoomi Rashi, the portal developed by MoRTH and NIC, comprises the entire revenue data of the country, right down to 6.4 lakh villages. Startup India’s Academia Alliance Programme o To fulfil the Government of India’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country, Startup India launched the "Startup Academia Alliance programme". o The programme is a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains. o The programme aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications. Defence India Startup Challenge launched o Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched defence India startup challenge in Bengaluru. o The highlight of the event was the launch of 11 challenges by MoD now thrown open to provide solutions in the startup ecosystem. o The launch of challenges will provide the fillip to the innovation potential in the country, partnering with the best minds nationally and internationally. Fugitive Offenders Bill gets president’s nod o President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, that will deter offenders to evade legal process in India and flee the country. o The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 25 July 2018 and by the Lok Sabha on 19 July 2018. o The Bill allows designated special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender and and to confiscate his property. Gujarat to implement Ayushman Bharat programme 142 | P a g e
o Gujarat government will implement the Centre's Bharat Ayushman programme which is expected to roll out across the country this August 2018. o The Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Scheme aims to provide medical coverage to over 10 crore poor families. o The medical coverage is up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Govt approves projects under ‘IMPRINT-2’ o Government has approved 122 new research projects of 112 crore rupees under its Impacting Research Innovation and Technology ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme. o The initiative aims to advance research in energy, security, and healthcare domains in the higher education institutions. o IMPRINT is MHRD supported Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to address the major science and engineering challenges. Scheme for girl child launched o Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’. o The ambitious scheme will provide Rs. 54,100 from the birth of a girl child till she graduates. o The ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’ will be run by three departments — education, health and social welfare. o Over 3.12 lakh girls will be covered under the scheme in the current financial year. 10,000 jobs to be created under NHPS o 10,000 new jobs will be created with the implementation of the Centre's ambitious Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB- NHPM), provides a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually to 10 crore poor families. 143 | P a g e
o Health Ministry has signed a pact with the Skill Development Ministry for the recruitment of 1 lakh 'Ayushman Mitras' and will be deployed at Govt & Private hospital . Ministers’ panel approves GST discounts o A Group of State Finance Ministers on GST discount gave its nod for incentivising digital payments through a cash back mechanism. o As much as 20% of total GST paid up to ₹ 100 per transaction would be provided as cash back on payments made through RuPay cards, BHIM App and UPI. o This move will benefit RuPay card holders as well as BHIM App users. 'Shor nahin' mobile app launched in HP o Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched 'horn not ok' awareness campaign and 'shor nahin' (no noise) mobile application. o The 'shor nahin' mobile application can be used by the general public to report cases of noise pollution. o As part of the first phase, the campaign has been launched in Shimla and Manali. 5 crore gas connections under Ujjwala Yojana o Loksabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan handed over 5 croreth LPG connection under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) achieving the target in 28 months. o PMUY was launched on 1st May 2016 and it is implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. o Through PMUY, initially, 5 crore BPL households were targeted for providing deposit free LPG connections to BPL households by 31st March 2019. Paryatan Parv to be organized by tourism min
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o The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with other Central Ministries, State Governments and Stakeholders is organizing a “Paryatan Parv” across the country from the 16th to 27th September 2018. o It is being organized with the objective of drawing focus on the benefits of tourism. o The Paryatan Parv shall conclude with the World Tourism Day celebrations on 27th September 2018. LS passes National Sports University Bill o The Lok Sabha on 3rd August, 2018 passed a Bill establishing a National Sports University in Manipur as part of a vision to enhance country’s standing in sports. o The National Sports University Bill, 2018, which sought to replace an Ordinance promulgated on May 31, was passed by a voice vote. o The legislation was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2017. Karnataka launched "Swachhameva Jayate" o Karnataka government launched "Swachhameva Jayate”, a campaign in rural areas to take a pledge on cleanliness. o Logo of the campaign released by Department of Rural Development includes a boy and a girl standing in front of the map of Karnataka. o The campaign coincides with the "Swachh Survekshan Grameen" survey by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. AP launches 'Mukhya Mantri-Yuva Nestham' o The Andhra Pradesh government has launched 'Mukhya Mantri-Yuva Nestham', a scheme through which an allowance of Rs 1000 per month will be provided to unemployed youth in the state. o About 12 lakh youths in the age group of 22-35 years will get the benefit of the scheme. o The scheme will be extended to all those eligible even if there are more than one beneficiary in a family. 145 | P a g e
Statutory status for BCs panel o The Lok Sabha passed the 123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill providing for a National Commission for Backward Classes as a constitutional body. o A constitutional amendment under Article 368 needs to be passed by both Houses separately with a special majority. o The Bill as passed by the Lower House inserts Article 338 B in the Constitution. SAATHI Initiative Launched o Ministry of textiles and Ministry of Power launched SAATHI (Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help Small Industries) initiative in the power loom sector. o Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) will replace old electric motors with new IE3 motors. o The use of these efficient equipments will result in energy savings and cost savings to the unit owners. New policy for unconventional hydrocarbons o The Cabinet approved a policy framework for hydrocarbons' exploration, permitting private companies to exploit unconventional hydrocarbons, including shale gas and coal bed methane (CBM), from their existing acreages. o Prior to this, field operators were not allowed to explore unconventional hydrocarbons. o An additional 10% profit petroleum will be levied for new CBM discoveries. Government extended the CFS o The government extended the Concessional Financing Scheme (CFS) till 2023 to support Indian entities bidding for important infrastructure projects abroad. o Under the scheme, the government provides the counter-guarantee and interest equalisation to EXIM bank. 146 | P a g e
o Also, the scheme will now cover all Indian entities, compared to the earlier stipulation of minimum 75% Indian shareholding. Cabinet clears changes to GST laws o The Cabinet approved amendments to the GST laws, including the hike in turnover threshold for businesses to avail the composition scheme to Rs 1.5 crore. o The amendments will allow employers to claim input tax credit on facilities like food, transport and insurance provided to employees. o Besides, businesses with turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore would be eligible for availing composition scheme. Cabinet approves stringent anti-piracy law o The Union Cabinet approved a bill providing for death penalty or life imprisonment to those involved in piracy at sea. o The proposed anti maritime piracy law is aimed at promoting the safety and security of India's maritime trade. o The government is bringing the law as part of commitment made by India while signing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982. Scheme to reimburse taxes on food o The Ministry of Culture launched a scheme to reimburse central share of CGST and IGST on food, prasad, langar or bhandara offered by religious and charitable institutions. o The Ministry of Culture came out with the scheme, Seva Bhoj Yojana. o Such institutions shall have to first register with Darpan Portal of NITI Aayog and get Unique ID generated by it. Cabinet okays 51% stake for LIC in IDBI o The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the government’s decision to reduce its stake in IDBI Bank below 50%, with Life Insurance Corporation raising stake in the bank to 51%. 147 | P a g e
o The boards of IDBI Bank and LIC have both given their approval for the deal. o Currently, LIC holds 7.98% stake in the debt-ridden public sector bank. o Post the transaction, IDBI Bank would become a subsidiary of LIC. LS passes commercial courts Bill o The Lok Sabha passed the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018. o It will designate some courts as commercial courts for speedy disposal of commercial disputes. o It will reduce the pecuniary jurisdiction of these courts from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 3 lakh. o The bill is aimed at improving the ease of doing business in India. Bill cleared to restore SC/ST Act provisions o The Centre has decided to introduce a Bill to restore the original provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. o The Cabinet had given its nod to the Amendment Bill and the government would try to introduce it in Parliament during the ongoing session. o The Amendment Bill seeks to insert 3 new clauses after Section 18 of the original Act. IWAI launches Dedicated Portal for cargo o The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) launched a dedicated portal to connect cargo owners and shippers with real time data on availability of vessels. o Named as the 'Forum of Cargo-Owners and Logistics-Operators', the link of the portal is available on the homepage of IWAI. o It has been designed and developed by the in-house IT Department and the Traffic Wing of IWAI Largest pan-India rural sanitation survey 148 | P a g e
o The largest pan-India rural sanitation survey will commenced on 1st August 2018 under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. o It will also rank districts based on their sanitation level. o The criteria set for ranking includes construction and use of toilets under the Swach Bharat Mission- Gramin, direct observation of sanitation at public places and feedback from citizens. CSCs to implement Ayushman Bharat o Common Service Center (CSC) and National Health Accounts (NHA) signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme through three-lakh CSCs across the country. o Ayushman Bharat is the National Health Protection Scheme, which will provide coverage of up to ₹ 5 lakh. o According to the MoU, a beneficiary can now visit the nearby CSC to get the benefit of this scheme. Rajasthan first to implement biofuel policy o Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on biofuels unveiled by the Centre in May 2018. o The state will lay emphasis on increasing production of oilseeds. o It will establish a Centre for Excellence in Udaipur to promote research in the fields of alternative fuels and energy resources. Lok Sabha passes IBC amendment bill o The Lok Sabha has passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill 2018. o The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to clarify that allottees under a real estate project should be treated as financial creditors. o Financial creditors will be able to decide the future of defaulting builders alongside their lenders.
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Rail Heritage Digitisation Project launced o Minister of Railways, Shri Piyush Goyal has launched “Rail Heritage Digitisation Project” of Indian Railways in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture. o The project is first of its kind in India, to showcase the country’s Rail Heritage to the National and International audience. o Under the project, 22 digital screens will be set up across different locations for showcasing this project.
Govt launched Agmark online system o The government launched an online platform for processing applications related to quality certification mark ‘Agmark’ for agricultural products. o Agmark is certification mark that assures conformity to a set of standards approved by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection. o In the new online application system, there are provisions for online receipt of fees from the applicants. CoE for Data Analytics and DigiVaarta o National Informatics Centre (NIC) and National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) have jointly set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for data analytics to support the government. o The Centre of Excellence for Data Analytics (CEDA) was launched on 28th September 2018. o NIC is a technology advisor and ICT solution provider to Government at all levels. 'Incredible India' Mobile App launched o The Union Tourism Minister, K.J. Alphons on the World Tourism Day launched the 'Incredible India' Mobile App. o The app showcases India as a holistic destination, revolving around major experiences, such as spirituality, heritage, culture, yoga, wellness etc.
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o The app has been developed by Tech Mahindra. o The app is equipped with features to assist the traveler in each phase of their journey. Centre steps up grant for disaster fund o The government of India has enhanced its contribution in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from 75% to 90% with effect from April 2018. o As per revised guidelines, the government of India will contribute 90% while states will contribute 10% to the relief fund. o SDRF was established at the state level to meet the rescue and relief expenditure of disaster-affected states. Government launched Financial Inclusion Index o The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley, launched the Financial Inclusion Index. o The index will have three measurement dimensions: (i) Access to financial services (ii) Usage of financial services and (3) Quality. o The various components of the index will also help to measure financial services for use of internal policy making. MHA merges police forces in 6 UTs o Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified new rules merging police forces in 6 Union Territories. o The National Capital Territory of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh (Police Service) Rules, 2018, was notified on September 25 2018. o The police officers, who are not direct IPS recruits, could be posted in any of the 6 UTs. Ordinance to dissolve MCI passed by President o President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to promulgate an Ordinance to set up a committee to run the Medical Council of India (MCI).
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o The committee will have a 7-member Board of Governors led by NITI Aayog Member Dr V.K. Paul. o The Bill provides for simplification of procedures and is aimed at spurring rapid growth in the number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats in the country. Finance Ministry launches Jan Dhan Darshak App o Finance Ministry has launched Mobile Application 'Jan Dhan Darshak' as a Part of Financial Inclusion. o This App will provide guidance to the common people in locating a financial service touch point at a given location in the country. o Department of Financial Services (DFS) and National Informatics Centre (NIC) have jointly developed the app Jan Dhan Darshak. Cabinet approved Digital Communications Policy o The Union Cabinet has approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018) and re-designation of the Telecom Commission as the "Digital Communications Commission”. o The policy aims to facilitate India’s effective participation in the global digital economy. o The policy also aims to ensure digital sovereignty and the objectives are to be achieved by 2022. Proposal to convert GSTN into govt entity o The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to convert GST Network (GSTN) into a 100% government-owned company. o GSTN provides IT infrastructure for the new indirect tax regime. o After restructuring of GSTN, ownership will be equally divided between the Centre and states. o Currently, the Centre and states together hold 49% stake in the GST Network. Financial assistance for canal approved 152 | P a g e
o Union Cabinet approved Central Assistance of Rs. 620.42 Crore and Rs. 205.758 Crore for implementation of relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal and Sirhind Feeder Canal respectively. o Implementation of these twin projects would help in addressing the problem of water-logging in South-West Punjab. o Funding to the Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind feeder shall be made through NABARD. Scheme for acid attack victims o The Haryana govt approved financial assistance to women and girl acid attack victims scheme. o Under this scheme, the survivors of the crime after 2 May 2011 will be eligible for the monthly pension. o Either the victim herself or her legal guardian can apply to the district social welfare officer for relief. o The financial assistance will be given on the basis of the percentage of disability. Helpline for tobacco users o India has become the first and only SAARC country to have a quit- line number on tobacco products. o India is the fourth country in Asia after Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to have this government helpline for those looking at quitting tobacco. o The quit-line number will be printed on all tobacco products manufactured after September 1, 2018. Panel approves nutrition norms o The National Technical Board on Nutrition has recommended that severely malnourished children must be fed freshly cooked food prepared from locally available cereals, pulses and vegetables.
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o The measures are part of the community-based health management of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition. o The guidelines outline the role of Anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives. 'Mysuraksha' app launched in Mysuru o The Mysuru city police have launched 'Mysuraksha' app to ensure the safety and security of auto and cab passengers. o The passengers can scan the QR (Quick Response) code printed on autos and cabs that will have the details of the vehicle and the driver. o If the passengers encounter any trouble, they can transmit the details to the police control room just by pressing the SOS button. E-com have to deduct 1% in supplier payment o E-commerce firms from 1 October 2018, will have to deduct 1% tax collected at source (TCS) under GST, before making payments to their suppliers. o The Finance Ministry notified TCS at the rate of 0.50% of the net value of intra-State taxable supplies made through e-commerce portals. o States too would follow suit and notify levy of 0.50% SGST on intra- State supplies Govt partners with Dell and Tata Trusts o The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare exchanged the MoUs with the Tata Trusts and Dell. o The MoU has been signed to provide a technological platform for nationwide prevention, control, screening and management program of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). o The aim is to bring healthcare technology transformation in 'Comprehensive Primary Health Care NCD program' under Ayushman Bharat. 154 | P a g e
Govt launches online database of sex offenders o Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched India’s first ever online and centralised National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) in New Delhi. o The database will have a record of the name, photographs, address, fingerprint and other details of convicted sexual offenders. o The NDSO data will be available only to law enforcement agencies for tracking and investigating cases of sexual offences. Increase in honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha o The Union Cabinet has approved an increase in the honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha workers which will become effective October. o Anganwadi workers receiving Rs 3,000 per month will now get Rs 4,500. Similarly, those at mini-Anganwadi centres receiving Rs 2,200 per month will now get Rs 3,500. o The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month. CCEA approves rail line fom Budni to Indore o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a 205.5 km new rail line connecting Budni to Indore in Madhya Pradesh. o The main purpose of this project is the development of backward areas and reduction in travel time from Indore to Jabalpur as well as from Indore to Mumbai. o The project which is expected to be completed by 2024-2025. Health Ministry introduces budget dashboard o Ministry of Health has introduced 'budget dashboard', an internal web portal comprising information on budget, expenditure and bill payment positions.
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o The dashboard incorporates features for Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Health Research. o The dashboard also has unique features for bill position of all India pay and accounts offices and reflects the reason for the return of bills. CCEA approves new cost for dam safety project o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the revised cost estimate of a project to improve the safety of 198 dams across the country. o The project will improve the safety and operational performance of dams. o The scheme envisages rehabilitation of 198 existing dam projects located in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. Ordinance on instant triple talaq cleared o The Union Cabinet cleared an ordinance to make instant triple talaq a criminal offence. o However, the amended triple talaq bill provides for additional safeguards, including a provision for bail to an accused before the start of the trial. o The Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill makes instant triple talaq illegal and imposes a jail term of up to three years. 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna' rolled Out o The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved a new scheme- 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna' for Insured Persons covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act. o This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement. 156 | P a g e
o The ESIC also approved the proposal for increasing the funeral expenses. Document on cooling action plan by India o Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan released world's first draft on Cooling Action Plan. o The plan gives thrust to actions for securing both environmental and socio-economic benefits. o The plan lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand, thus helping in reducing emissions. o On the event Union minister also released a booklet on ‘Montreal Protocol – India’s Success Story’. Govt launched ‘e-Sahaj’ portal o The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched an online ‘e-Sahaj’ portal for grant of Security Clearance. o The portal will facilitate an applicant to submit the application online and also to view the status of his application from time to time. o MHA is the nodal Ministry for security clearances before the issue of license/permit, permission, contract etc, to companies/ bidders/individuals. Government modifies PMFBY norms o Government modified operational guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). o According to new norms crop insurance companies delaying claim payouts beyond two months from the prescribed will have to pay 12 per cent interest to farmers. o The new operational guidelines come into force from the Rabi season, which commences on October 1. NABARD Approves Rs 65,635 Crore Loan
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o The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has approved Rs 65,634.93 crore loan so far to 93 prioritized irrigation projects. o The projects are under the government's flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). o The NABARD is funding the central and state share of 99 prioritized irrigation projects under the PMKSY through long-term irrigation fund (LTIF). No withholding tax on interest of masala bonds o The Central Board of Direct Taxes said 'no withholding tax' will apply on interest payments made by an Indian company or a business trust to a non-resident. o This is in respect to the offshore rupee-denominated bonds issued between September 17, 2018, and March 31, 2019. o The move is expected to incentivise foreign exchange inflows into India through low-cost offshore rupee-denominated bonds. Merger of BoB, Vijaya & Dena banks proposed o The government of India proposed the merger of state-owned Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank to create India’s third-largest bank. o The decision was taken at the meeting of a panel, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, which oversees merger proposals of state-owned banks. o The other members of the panel include Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 3400 Test Practice Centres inaugurated o The Union Minister HRD has inaugurated a network of more than 3,400 Test Practice Centres (TPCs) spread across the 622 Districts in the country. 158 | P a g e
o These test centres have been set up to facilitate students appearing in entrance examinations for Higher Education to hold practice sessions. o The TPCs will provide Mock Tests to the candidates of JEE (Main) and UGC-NET examinations. U.P. to launch first-ever dial-FIR o The Uttar Pradesh Police is set to launch a first of its kind 'dial-FIR scheme' in the country where a common man can register regular crimes without going to a police station. o Besides this, the Uttar Pradesh Police is also expanding the counter-terror combat and response grid in the State. o The aim is to enhance the strength of the ATS both qualitatively and quantitatively. 'Swacch Dhara' started in Amaravati o Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu flagged off the 'Swachh Dhara' programme. o The programme aims to provide clean drinking water across the state. o As part of the scheme, tankers providing water across the state will be cleaned periodically through a six-layered cleaning process. o The cleaning process involves the use of ultraviolet radiation to kill bacteria. Government moves to stabilise rupee-II o The government will take steps to attract more Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) into the corporate debt market. o The government will review the mandatory hedging condition for infrastructure loans borrowed under the external commercial borrowing (ECB) route. o Manufacturing companies borrowing up to $50 million through ECBs will be able to do so only for a 1-year term. Government moves to stabilise rupee-I 159 | P a g e
o The government announced a set of five measures aimed at supporting the rupee. o The government will take steps to reduce non-essential imports and increase exports. o To push Indian corporates to take the masala bond route, the government has exempted all such bond issues until March 31, 2019, from withholding tax. 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement on Sept 15 o The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement on September 15, 2018. o The 'Swachhata Hi Seva movement' aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta or cleanliness. o It is being organized in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, on October 2nd, 2018. Govt. launches program on energy efficiency o Ministry of Power launched an ambitious program to encourage the deployment of Energy Efficient chiller systems in the country. o The Chiller Star Labelling Program has been formulated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). o The program envisages providing star rating in terms of its energy performance. Bengal scheme to combat human trafficking o The West Bengal government has launched a scheme, 'Swayangsiddha', in different districts of the State. o The scheme will combat human trafficking. o Swayangsiddha means self-reliance and will be executed by the West Bengal Police. o The scheme aims to empower young boys and girls to make informed choices so that they are less vulnerable to trafficking and child marriage. 160 | P a g e
Policy to enhance oil production approved o The Cabinet has approved the policy framework to encourage measures for increasing oil and gas production from ageing fields. o Oil and natural gas production worth ₹ 50 lakh crore is expected to be unlocked from this policy. o The Policy offers a 50% discount on cess charged for crude oil production and 75% discount on royalty charged for gas production. Cabinet approved EXIM's blockchain research o The Cabinet approved a joint research on the distributed ledger and blockchain technology by Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) with member-banks of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). o Blockchain is a digitised, decentralised ledger to record real-time transactions across borders. o Exim Bank promotes India's international trade through competitive financing. Tamil Nadu bans e-cigarettes o The Tamil Nadu government has prohibited the manufacture, sale (including online sale), distribution, trade, display, marketing, import and possession of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, popularly known as e-cigarettes. o The use of e-cigarettes causes adverse health effects due to second-hand exposure to metals like nickel and chromium. o These pose a risk to non-smokers and bystanders. National Scholarship Portal App launched o Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi launched the country's first National Scholarship Portal Mobile App in New Delhi. o Portal will ensure a smooth, accessible and hassle-free scholarship system for students belonging to poor and weaker sections. 161 | P a g e
o The portal will help in strengthening a transparent mechanism for the scholarships. WCD issues advisory against 'Momo challenge' o The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) issued an advisory against the 'Momo challenge'. o Momo is a social media account on WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, which uses the image of a horror artwork to induce curiosity among children, challenging them to communicate with an unknown number. o The challenge consists of a variety of self-harming dares and ends with a suicide challenge. AP Govt to give Rs 1000 to unemployed youth o Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the launch of 'Yuva Nestam Scheme' on October 2, 2018. o Under the scheme, unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 would be given to unemployed youth of the state. o The scheme's major motive is to empower the youth by providing skill development, self-employment opportunities. EC removes NOTA for Rajya Sabha elections o Election commission issued an advisory prohibiting 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) option from the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. o The EC issued an advisory regarding the same to Chief Electoral Officer of all states and Union Territories. o Supreme Court has directed that NOTA option should not be applied for elections to Council of State. 12 special courts set up to try MPs, MLAs o The government informed the Supreme Court that 12 special courts have been set up across 11 States exclusively to try sitting MPs and MLAs. 162 | P a g e
o The special court in each State would have jurisdiction over the entire State. o Supreme Court had on December 14, 2017, ordered that special courts be set up across the country to fast-track the long-pending trials of lawmakers. Railway minister launched "Rail Sahyog" o Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched a web portal 'Rail Sahyog' on 11 September 2018. o It is a platform for the corporates and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to contribute to the creation of amenities at Railway stations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. o The companies desirous of contributing can register their requests on the portal. HIV and AIDS Act 2017 comes into force o The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced implementation of the HIV and AIDS Act, 2017 starting from 10, Sept 2018. o The act was passed on 20, April 2017, prohibits discrimination against people with HIV in terms of treatment, employment and workplace. o The government also issued guidelines with respect to HIV and AIDS- related diagnostic facilities Aadhar not mandatory for International Parcel o According to the Department of Posts, Aadhaar is not mandatory for booking international parcel but is one of the optional identity documents. o It is mandatory to produce an acceptable identity proof for transactions like booking an International Parcel or International EMS (Merchandise) for safety and security reasons. o All such documents are only required for office record. 163 | P a g e
Third party audit of food businesses o The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has envisaged audits of food business operators by third party private auditing agencies recognised by the regulator. o The FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulation, 2018. o The third party agencies will be working in close coordination with the government food safety department. Odisha plans to set up 17 digital dispensaries o Seventeen digital dispensaries are going to be established in remote and inaccessible areas of Odisha’s Ganjam district to provide primary medical support. o The digital dispensaries will provide outpatient department services through online video consultation with doctors. o The units will also serve as basic pathological testing laboratories and generic medicine-dispensing centres. J&K 3rd state to adopt RADMS o Jammu and Kashmir became the third state in the country to use the 'Road Accident Data Management System' (RADMS) for standard and accurate data on road accidents. o RADMS is a geographical information system (GIS) solution for identification of black spots, wrong driving practices, road infrastructure. o In 2015, the 'Supreme Court committee on road safety' had mandated all states to use RADMS. 'Startup India Telangana Yatra' from Sept 15 o The Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) is launching 'Startup India Telangana Yatra' from September 15, 2018. o Startup Yatra will promote entrepreneurship in Tier II and III cities of Telangana. 164 | P a g e
o The 'Startup Yatra' will spread awareness about the State Innovation Policy and the initiatives taken by the Telangana government. Delhi government launched 'Dial 1076' service o Delhi government launched helpline number '1076' that will allow people to reach various government facilities at their door-steps. o Delhi government will provide 100 services from 40 departments such as driving license, ration card, new water connection, domicile etc at home with an extra charge of Rs. 50. o For this scheme, 11 call centers have been set up in 11 districts of the city. Child cancer to be covered under PMJAY o The government of India has said that the treatment of childhood cancer will be covered under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). o The scheme will provide health insurance cover of five lakh rupees to poor families. o Below the Poverty line (BPL) and lower-middle-class families will benefit from the scheme. o Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be launched on September 25, 2018. Power Sector Subsidy to be under DBT o The Centre has proposed a major reform in the power sector in a draft amendment to Electricity Act, 2003. o Making DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) only way to provide subsidy to any category of consumer by State govt. o The Centre expects that the discoms would not accumulate debt henceforth If consumer get subsidy directly in bank accounts via DBT. Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign launch on 15 Sept
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o ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2018’ a Jan Andolan for Swachhata to be observed in the run-up to the 4th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) from 15th September to 2nd October 2018. o SHS aims at accelerating the Jan-Andolan for realizing the vision of a Clean India. o The launch of the campaign will be done through video conference at more than 15 locations across the country. Sikkim's data sharing & access portal launched o The first data sharing and access portal of Sikkim has been launched by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. o The data sharing and accessibility platform will improve access to information and specify new data sets and records to be collected and published. o The platform is intended to be used by all state government departments and PSUs. Odisha House nod for Legislative Council o A resolution seeking creation of a Legislative Council in Odisha was passed in the State Assembly on 6th September, 2018. o The resolution will be sent to the Centre for approval of Parliament to facilitate creation of the Legislative Council. o A proposal for creation of the Legislative Council in Odisha was passed by the State Cabinet on August 24, 2018. Indian Railways launched 'Aapoorti' mobile app o Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched a new mobile application named "AAPOORTI' of the Indian Railways e-procurement system. o The new application would provide information and data related to e- tendering and e-auction related activities of the Railways. o The app has also been provided with user manuals of Indian Railways’ e- procurement system. 166 | P a g e
Govt. grants ‘trust’ status to Bharat Ke Veer o The government has granted the status of a 'trust' to 'Bharat Ke Veer', a private initiative promoted by actor Akshay Kumar. o The trust will help families of paramilitary personnel killed in action. o Contributions to Bharat Ke Veer have been exempted from Income Tax. o Akshay Kumar and former national badminton champion Pullela Gopichand have been included as trustees. EVs, CNG vehicles don’t need permits o Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that no permits would be required for vehicles running on alternative fuel, including CNG, ethanol and electric vehicles. o The move is expected to boost the demand for such vehicles in the country. o A permit is an instrument issued by a State or Regional Transport Authority authorizing the use of a motor vehicle as a transport vehicle. Temasek inked pact to invest $400 mn in NIIF o Singapore-based global investment firm Temasek has signed an agreement to invest up to $400 million in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India. o Temasek will join as an investor in NIIF’s Master Fund. o The fund invests in core infrastructure sectors in India with a focus on transportation, energy and urban infrastructure. Monetary limit for filing cases in DRT doubled o The government doubled the pecuniary limit to Rs 20 lakh for filing loan recovery application in the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT) by banks and financial institutions. o The move is aimed at helping reduce pendency of cases in DRTs. o There are 39 DRTs in the country.
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o Any bank or financial institution or a consortium of banks cannot approach DRTs if the amount due is less than Rs 20 lakh. Telangana recommends dissolution of Assembly o The Telangana State Cabinet has recommended the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. o The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet that was chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. o Elections to the Telangana Assembly were held in April and May of 2014 as part of the polls to the Assembly of the then united Andhra Pradesh. Tourism Ministry gave funds to Kerala o Ministry of Tourism sanctioned Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for development of a rural circuit in Kerala. o Under this project, the Tourism Ministry will be developing three cruises. o The project will be focusing on the development of water-based thematic cruise experiences in and around Valapattanam and Kuppam Rivers of Kannur District. Govt makes PMJDY open-ended scheme o The government decided to make the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) an open-ended scheme, meaning that it will continue indefinitely. o The PMJDY was launched in August 2014 for a period of four years as a national mission for financial inclusion. o The government has decided to double the overdraft facility from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. Govt approved continuation of IDWH scheme o The government has approved the continuation of the centrally-sponsored umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) till 2019-20. 168 | P a g e
o The main aim of this scheme is to boost tiger and elephant conservation efforts. o The scheme consists of centrally sponsored schemes of Project Tiger (CSS-PT), Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) and Project Elephant (CSS-PE). SC approves scheme for rape survivors o Supreme Court has approved that a rape survivor will get a mandatory minimum compensation of Rs 4 lakh and Rs 5 lakh in case of gang rape. o This will be implemented from October 2 in accordance with a scheme framed by the 'National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)'. o At present grant to rape survivors varies from Rs 10,000 in Odisha to Rs 10 lakh in Goa. 3 Haryana govt schools selected for SVP o The Government of India has selected 3 government schools of Haryana for the ‘Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar’ (SVP) for the year 2017-18. o The SVP was instituted in 2016-17 by the Union government to recognise, inspire and celebrate excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene practices in government elementary and secondary schools. o The awards are given at the district, state and national levels. Rajasthan govt to provide free mobile phones o Rajasthan government will soon distribute mobile phones to women, who fall under the Below Poverty Line (BPL), under the Bhamashah Yojana. o The scheme aims to transfer financial and non-financial benefits of governmental schemes in a transparent manner. o The state government will also provide free Wifi facilities to as many as 5,000 gram panchayats. Coffee Connect mobile app launched
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o Minister for Commerce & Industry, Suresh Prabhu launched Coffee Connect - India coffee field force app and Coffee KrishiTharanga - digital mobile extension services for coffee stakeholders. o The mobile app Coffee Connect has been developed to improve the work efficiency. o The Coffee KrishiTharanga services are aimed at providing customized information and services. Government drafts rules for e-pharmacies o The Union Health Ministry has released the draft rules on sale of drugs by e-pharmacies with an aim to regulate online sale of medicines across the country. o It aims at providing patients access to genuine drugs from authentic online portals. o The draft rules state that no person will distribute or sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale of drugs through e-pharmacy portal unless registered. Edu loan interest subsidy portal opens o Canara Bank, the nodal bank, has opened the portal for claiming interest subsidy on education loan for the financial year 2017-18 from September 1, 2018. o It will be open till September 28. o The Central sector interest subsidy (CSIS) scheme was implemented by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. o Tamil Nadu is one of the top States in availing education loans. IWAI released ship designs for Ganga river o Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) made public 13 standardised ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on the Ganga river. o The designs will remove ambiguity on the class and type of vessels that can sail on river Ganga with efficient manoeuvrability. o The designs will lead to reduced fuel costs and in turn lesser logistics costs. 170 | P a g e
Krishna Kutir inaugurated at Vrindavan o The Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, inaugurated the ‘Krishna Kutir’ in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. o Krishna Kutir is a special home for 1000 widows set up by the Ministry of Women & Child Development under Swadhar Greh scheme of the Ministry. o The construction of the home has been funded by Central Government. o It will be managed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. “Mil -Banche” programme to be organised in MP o In Madhya Pradesh, “Mil -Banche”, an interactive programme between schools and society is being organised. o This programme is being organised for the multi-dimensional development of children through language skill up-gradation, reading other books in addition to textbooks. o It will also help in developing an interest in understanding and other co- curricular activities in government schools. Census 2021 to collect OBC data, use maps o Census 2021 will for the first time collect data on Other Backward Classes (OBC). o The exercise will involve 25 lakh trained enumerators and the use of “maps/geo-referencing at the time of house listing is also under consideration. o The decision to count the OBCs in the next Census was to get a correct perspective on the social status in the country.
October 2018
New telecom policy notified by government o The government of India has notified the new telecom policy on 29th October 2018.
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o It has renamed the Telecom Commission as the 'Digital Communications Commission'. o Under the new telecom policy, the government plans to optimally price spectrum, review levies such as license fees and spectrum usage charge. o Among the chief aims of the policy is data security of the country. Electoral bonds sale to begin from November 1 o The sixth phase of sale of electoral bonds will take place from 1 November to 10 November 2018. o State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorised to issue and encash electoral bonds through its 29 authorised branches. o These bonds have a life of 15 days from the date of issue. o Eligible political parties are allowed to encash electoral bonds only through their bank accounts. Govt. notified rules on granting citizenship o The Union Home Ministry has empowered the Collectors in seven states to accept online applications to grant citizenship to 'minorities' from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh living in India. o Collectors in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi will grant citizenship and naturalisation certificates to the minorities. HRD Ministry launched two web portals o Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar launched the web portal of two schemes on 25 October 2018. o 'Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences' (IMPRESS) and 'Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration' (SPARC) were the two schemes of whose portal were launched. o The objective of IMPRESS is to identify and fund research proposals in social sciences. Creation of FIDF approved by Union Cabinet 172 | P a g e
o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the creation of special Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). o FIDF would provide concessional finance to State Governments / UTs and State entities, cooperatives, individuals and entrepreneurs etc. o The credit from the fund will help generate over 9.40 lakh direct and indirect jobs for fishermen. Appointment of Adjudicating Authority approved o The government of India approved setting up of Appellate Tribunal and Adjudicating Authority for speedy disposal of cases related to benami transactions. o The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal will be based in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. o Appointment of the Adjudicating Authority would provide first stage review of administrative action under benami transactions act. Railways’ UTS app will be launched on 1 Nov o The railways 'UTS mobile' app for buying unreserved tickets online will be available nationwide from 1 November 2018. o It was first launched in Mumbai because a large number of people travel in locals. o After Mumbai, it was started in Delhi-Palwal and Chennai city. o As of now railway has already implemented the scheme in 15 of its zones. 'Main Nahin Hum' portal launched o Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Main Nahin Hum' portal on 24 October 2018. o The portal, which works on the theme 'Self4Society', will enable IT professionals and organisations to bring together their efforts towards social causes on one platform.
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o The portal is expected to help catalyse greater collaboration towards the service of the weaker sections of society. Hry to introduce livestock veterinary scheme o The Haryana Government has decided to introduce the 'Pashu Sanjeevni Sewa' scheme on 23 October 2018. o Under the scheme, free of cost health care services would be made available to livestock in the state through mobile veterinary clinics. o The service will be first started in all the blocks of Jind, Yamunanagar and Nuh districts. Special courts notified for benami cases o The Finance Ministry has issued the notification for setting up Sessions Courts in all states and union territories. o The Session court will act as Special Courts for the trial of offences under the benami transaction law. o Benami transaction refers to transactions made in a fictitious name, or the owner is not aware of the ownership of the property. NITI Aayog launched guidelines for PPP in NCD o NITI Aayog launched the model guidelines for Public - Private partnership in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) on 17 October 2018. o As per the guidelines, the private partner will invest in upgrading, building and deploying human resources. o They will be responsible for operational management and service delivery. o All service in NCD care facility will be offered by a single entity. A government app to rope in volunteers o Professionals keen on doing volunteer work will be provided a platform by the government through an app. o The app named '#Self4Society' has been developed by MyGov. o The app will have incentives, gamification and intra and inter-company competitions, and social networking. 174 | P a g e
o Initially this will be aimed at IT companies. West Bengal govt. extends food security o The West Bengal government has ensured food security to more than 8.5 crore people of the State under the ‘Khadya Sathi’ scheme. o As per this scheme, people would get rice and wheat at Rs 2 per kg. o The Khadya Sathi Scheme was launched on January 27, 2016. o Special assistance is also being given to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas besides Aila-affected areas and farmers of Singur. 'Youth Learner Licence' programme launched o The government of India launched the 'Youth Road Safety Learners Licence' programme in New Delhi on 15 October 2018. o The aim is to bring a formal and structured training program for young, first-time drivers as they apply for learner’s license. o The programme is an initiative to be run in collaboration with Diageo India and the Institute of Road Traffic Education. Award scheme launched under 'Saubhagya' o Government has announced 100 crore rupee award scheme under Saubhagya scheme. o Awards would be provided for achieving 100% household electrification at DISCOM/Power Department level of the States. o Saubhagya was launched in September 2017 to achieve the goal of universal household electrification in the country by 31st March 2019. Online portal for grant of IEM and IL o Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has developed a new online portal for facilitating the filing of online applications for IEM and Industrial Licence (IL) under Arms Act as well as Industries (Development & Regulation)[I(D&R)] Act, 1951 at https://services.dipp.gov.in. o This portal will be available for public with effect from 16th October 2018 for filing application. 175 | P a g e
Centre approved land pooling policy for Delhi o The government of India has approved a land pooling policy for Delhi. o The policy was approved by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the chairmanship of Lt Governor Anil Baijal in September 2018. o Under the policy, agencies will develop infrastructures like roads, schools, hospitals, community centres and stadia on part of the pooled land Punjab govt released 3 apps o Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched three mobile apps aimed at checking crop residue burning. o The apps also aim to create awareness about the effects of crop residue burning on the environment and human health. o The three Android mobile applications have been developed by Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC). o The three apps are i-Khet Machine, e-PEHaL and e-Prevent. Govt package for footwear and leather sector o The Central Government has approved a special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. o The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme - Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme (IFLADP) with an approved expenditure of Rs. 2600 Crore for 2017-20. o The scheme aims at development of infrastructure for the leather sector. Online Assurances Monitoring System inaugurated o Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel inaugurated the Online Assurances Monitoring System (OAMS). o OAMS has been developed by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. o This system has made the information regarding assurances given on the floor of the Houses of Parliament paperless and available in digital format. Cabinet approved the merger of NCVT & NSDA
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o The Union Cabinet has approved the merger of the regulatory institutions in the skills space - National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA). o The new merged will be named as National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). o NCVET will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training. Govt sets ‘minimum river flows’ for the Ganga o The government of India had notified the minimum 'environmental flows' for Ganga river. o Environmental flows are the acceptable flow regimes that are required to maintain a river in the desired environmental state or predetermined state. o The upper stretches of the Ganga would have to maintain 20% of the monthly average flow between November and March. 'India for Humanity' initiative launched o The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched 'India for Humanity' initiative. o Under the initiative MEA will partner with a charitable organisation for holding artificial limb fitment camps in various countries. o The camps will initially be held in 12 countries identified through Indian missions. o MEA is partnering with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti known for its 'Jaipur Foot'. Mobile Health app launched by IAF o The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched an innovative mobile health App named ‘MedWatch’. o The app is conceived by the doctors of IAF and developed in house by Directorate of Information Technology (DIT).
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o ‘MedWatch’ will provide correct, scientific and authentic health information to air warriors and all citizens of India. K'taka govt unveils 'Unnati' scheme o Karnataka Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge unveiled the 'Unnati Scheme'. o The scheme will identify and promote entrepreneurs from SC and ST background. o The govt will invest up to Rs 20 crore to create the end-to-end support infrastructure for startups and entrepreneurs o The department will provide up to Rs 50 lakh to winning entrepreneurs to develop tech-based solutions. Govt issued Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme o The government of India has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bond- 2018- 19. o The scheme retains the incentives offered in the earlier tranche—2.5% interest rate and capital gains tax exemption on redemption. o The tenor of the bond will be for a period of 8 years with an exit option in the 5th, 6th and 7th year. o The gold bonds will be sold every month from October 2018 to February 2019. Arunachal govt launched scheme for farmers o Arunachal Pradesh government launched two schemes for farmers to increase production and their income on 8 October 2018. o The two schemes are the Chief Minister's Sashakt Kisan Yojana (CMSKY) and the Chief Ministers Krishi Samuh Yojana (CMKSY). o The CMSKY would subsume three programmes - Employment Generation Scheme, Agri-Mechanization Programme and Flagship Programme on Tea and Rubber Odisha launched 'Nirman Kusuma' programme 178 | P a g e
o Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 'Nirman Kusuma' programme on 6 October 2018. o It will provide financial assistance to the children of the construction workers for their education in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics. o An ITI student will be entitled to get financial assistance of Rs. 23,600, a diploma student to get Rs. 26,300 per annum. Crop damaged by animal attacks under PMFBY o The government has decided to cover damages to crops in wild animal attacks under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna in select districts on an experimental basis. o The government also brought certain horticultural crops on an experimental basis under the PMFBY. o Also, damage to crops in events like water logging, landslide, hailstorms etc are also being covered now under new provisions. Aviation Min released the policy on Digi Yatra o The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu released the policy on biometric based digital processing of passengers at airports called “Digi Yatra”. o Digi Yatra Central Platform will be operational by end of February 2019. o Bangalore & Hyderabad International Airports will be ready with pilot implementation by the end of February 2019. Cabinet hikes MSP of Rabi crops o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Rabi crops. o Increased MSP for the current financial year will be marketed in the 2019- 20 season. o The MSP of wheat has been raised by 105 rupees per quintal o Safflower by 845 rupees per quintal 179 | P a g e
o Barley by 30 rupees per quintal o Masur by 225 per quintal o Gram by 220 per quintal Nagaland CM launches vaccination campaign o Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) in the state. o The campaign targets to vaccinate 4.72 lakh children in the age group of 9 months to 15 years. o The vaccination will help children in battling Measles and Rubella and reduce mortality caused by these diseases. Odisha launched own food security scheme o The Odisha government has launched its own food security scheme on 2 October 2018. o The scheme will be benefiting 25 lakh people who were left out of the National Food Security Act. o The beneficiaries will get 5 kg of rice per person per month at the rate of Rs. 1 per kg. o Each poor man will get 5 kg of rice per month as per the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Assam government launched pension scheme o Assam government launched pension scheme covering all senior citizens of the state. o The name of the pension scheme is 'Swahid Kushal Konwar Sarbajanin Briddha Pension Achoni'. o All senior citizens above 60 years of age are entitled to get the benefit of the scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their bank accounts. PPC launched on 2nd October 2018
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o The Central government launched its People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) for panchayats from October 2, 2018, with the slogan "Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas". o During the campaign, structured Gram Sabha meetings will be held for preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for the next financial year 2019-2020. o GPDP aims to strengthen the role of elected Panchayat leaders and Women. Niwari is 52nd district of MP o The Madhya Pradesh government announced the creation of a new district 'Niwari'. o The new district would include three tehsils of the present Tikamgarh district - Niwari, Orchha, and Prithvipur. o The government's decision came into effect from October 1. o The district has been carved out of the Tikamgarh district. SATAT initiative launched by Petroleum Min o The government of India launched 'SATAT' initiative to promote Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) as an alternative fuel. o The initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs. o Use of CBG will also help bring down dependency on crude oil imports. Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women o Assam government launched a wage compensation scheme for Pregnant Women in tea gardens of the state. o The scheme will provide better health and nutrition supplements to the pregnant women. o An amount of Rs.12,000 will be given to the pregnant woman to take care of herself and unborn baby.
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o The wage compensation scheme will reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the tea areas of Assam. Livestock census commenced from Oct. 1 o The 20th Livestock Census will be conducted in all States and Union Territories from October 1, 2018. o The 20th Livestock Census would, for the first time, capture breed-wise headcount of livestock and poultry o The Census would help in identifying the threatened indigenous breeds. o The exercise would also cover fisheries.
November 2018
Passport Seva Project launched o The government of India launched 'Passport Seva Project' (PSP) in major consulates in the United States. o The aim is to simplify the overall passport applications procedure and reduce the turnaround time for applicants from 10 days to 48 hours or less. o PSP prints Indian passports in the US and reduces turnaround for applicants. Bhasha Sangam launched by HRD ministry o The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has launched an initiative called 'Bhasha Sangam'. o 'Bhasha Sangam' is a programme for schools and educational institutions to provide multilingual exposure to students in Indian languages. o The initiative was launched under 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' on 22 November 2018 and will continue till the 21 December 2018. Single emergency number '112' launched in HP o On 28 November 2018, Himachal Pradesh became the first state to launch a pan-India single emergency number '112'.
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o Under this project, an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) has been established in Shimla along with 12 district command centres (DCCs). o The ERC has been integrated with police (100), fire (101), health (108), and women (1090) helpline numbers to provide emergency services. Government of India launched 'IDSP' initiative o On 26 November 2018, the government of India has launched the initiative called 'Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme' (IDSP) of 'Integrated Health Information Platform'. o The initiative has been launched in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Telangana, & Uttar Pradesh. o The initiative will provide near-real-time data to policymakers for monitoring public health. 'Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti' launched o Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has formally launched ‘Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti’ on 27 November 2018. o The aim of the mission is to promote self-reliance in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in defence. o Under the mission, 10,000 personnel of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will be trained on IPR. No homework for students of classes I & II o According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) order, there will be no homework for students of classes I and II. o The order also said that there will be prescribed weight limit of school bags for each class. o The weight of school bags for students of classes I and II should not exceed 1.5 kg, while the school bag of students of class III to V should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg. 'Tourist Police' launched in Nagaland 183 | P a g e
o Nagaland's Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio launched 'Nagaland Tourist Police' on 26 November 2018. o It will work for the safety and security of the tourists and report any crime against them to the nearest police station. o Nagaland is the second state in the North East to introduce tourist police. o Arunachal Pradesh is the first state in the North East to introduce tourist police. Public bicycle sharing project & app launched o Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched a public bicycle sharing project and a mobile app on 26 November 2018. o The bicycle sharing project and the mobile app is named 'Mo Cycle'. o The project will provide mobile app-based services to users to locate and use a bicycle. o The 'Mo Cycle' system will help in reducing traffic congestion, enhance space efficiency, and improve air quality. 'PAiSA' launched by government of India o The government of India launched 'PAiSA - Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access' on 26 November 2018. o The portal is a centralised electronic platform for processing interest subvention on bank loans to beneficiaries under 'Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana'. o The web platform has been designed and developed by 'Allahabad Bank' which is the Nodal bank. Govt hikes outlay for FAME India scheme o The Ministry of Finance has enhanced the total outlay on the first phase of the 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles' (FAME India) scheme from Rs 795 crore to Rs 895 crore. o The aim of the scheme is to incentivise the production and promotion of eco-friendly vehicles. 184 | P a g e
o The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Non-transport usage of quadricycles allowed o The government of India has declared quadricycle as a 'non-transport vehicle' under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. o This will provide a safe and cheap mode of transport for the last mile connectivity. o A non-transport vehicle is a vehicle whose usage is allowed under personal capacity only. o A quadricycle is a vehicle with the size of a three-wheeler but has four tyres and is fully covered. Cabinet approved 'ACROSS' scheme o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved continuation of 'Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services' (ACROSS) during 2017-2020. o ACROSS scheme consists of 9 sub-programmes o It will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. o The objective of the ACROSS scheme is to provide a reliable weather and climate forecast for the betterment of society. OBC sub-quota panel's term extended o The term of the commission examining the issue of sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the central list has been extended till May 31, 2019. o The decision was approved by the Union Cabinet on 22 November 2018 o The commission was formed in October 2017. o The five-member panel is headed by Justice (retd.) G Rohini. Kartarpur corridor project approved
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o Union Cabinet has approved building and development of the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to International Border. o It will provide a smooth and easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur throughout the year. o Kartarpur corridor project will be funded by the Central Government. Government makes jute packaging mandatory o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to expand the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material Act, 1987. o The CCEA approved that 100% food grains and 20% sugar shall be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags. o The decision will give an impetus to the diversification of the jute industry. Himachal govt approved Sashakt Mahila Yojna o The Himachal Pradesh government has approved to implement 'Sashakt Mahila Yojna' in the state. o The scheme will empower rural women by providing them with an interface for socio-economic development. o The scheme will link rural women with sustainable livelihood opportunities and also improve their skill by imparting training. Bhadohi got 'export excellence' tag o Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh has got the 'export excellence' tag from the Government of India. o It is known for its hand-woven carpets around the world. o Under the tag, carpet makers will get financial assistance from the central government to procure modern machines and improve export infrastructure. o The status was granted by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Commerce Ministry. 186 | P a g e
‘Bhudaar’ portal launched in Andhra Pradesh o Andhra Pradesh launched 'Bhudaar' portal which makes land records available to people with unique identification numbers. o The 'Bhudaar' is an 11-digit unique identification code assigned to each agriculture land holding and rural and urban properties in the state. o Two types of Bhudaar cards are available including e-Bhudaar an M- Bhudaar. IIC Program launched by HRD ministry o The 'Institution’s Innovation Council' (IIC) program under 'Innovation cell' of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) was launched in New Delhi on 21 November 2018. o The purpose of formation of network of IICs is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas. o MHRD has established the 'Innovation cell' at AICTE. Himachal to set up 'Gau Sewa Aayog' o The Himachal Pradesh government decided to set up a 'Gau Sewa Aayog' for preservation, protection and welfare of cows in the state. o The Aayog will regulate institutions like cow sheds and shelters, besides the 'gau vigyan kendras' and the community animal-rearing centres. o The Aayog would also cater to the problem of abandoned cows. Report on IPRS released by Commerce Ministry o The report on 'Industrial Park Rating System' (IPRS) was released on 19 November 2018. o The report was prepared by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry. o The IPRS is being developed to assess industrial parks in the country. o Development of IPRS would help increase the competitiveness of industries and promotion of the manufacturing sector. AirSewa 2.0 portal and app unveiled 187 | P a g e
o The Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced the upgraded version of AirSewa 2.0 web portal and mobile app for air travellers. o Major improvements include features such as secure sign-up and log-in with social media, chatbot for travellers support, and improved grievance management. o The web portal and application will help to capture air travellers’ feedback for policy interventions. 'Ease of Doing Business Challenge' launched o The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launched the 'Ease of Doing Business Grand Challenge' on 19 November 2018. o The objective of this challenge is to invite innovative ideas based on Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain and other cutting-edge technology to reform Government processes. o The platform for the Grand Challenge is the Startup India Portal. New open online learning programme launched o The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has rolled out its Online Open Learning training platform named 'KOOL'. o The platform can be used to train teachers, students and the general public. o KOOL has been designed in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) model. o KOOL has an array of features for learners in the form of animated learning assistants and video tutorials. Odisha govt announced new Biotechnology Policy o Odisha government announced a new 'Biotechnology Policy 2018' to attract investments in the sector at the Make in Odisha Conclave on 15 November 2018. o As per the policy, all biotechnology units shall be allotted land at a concessional rate as per the Industrial Policy Resolution of the state government. o An additional subsidy of 25% shall be available to reputed anchor tenants. 188 | P a g e
'Gau Samridhi scheme' launched in Kerala o Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the 'Gau Samridhi Plus Scheme' on 16 November 2018. o The government subsidised scheme will give insurance coverage to dairy farmers at low premium rates. o The farmers belonging to the general category will be getting 50% subsidy on premiums while those belonging to scheduled caste & scheduled tribe category would get a 70% subsidy on the premium. 1,023 fast track courts to be set up o The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to use 'Nirbhaya Fund' to set up 1,023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) to dispose of pending cases of rape of children and women. o In the first phase, 777 FTSCs may be set up in nine states, and in the second phase, 246 FTSCs will be set up. o The 'Nirbhaya Fund' was announced by the Government of India in 2013. 2 North East Circuits inaugurated in Arunachal o Two projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme were inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh on 15 November 2018. o These projects are 'Bhalukpong- Bomdila - Tawang Project' & 'Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha Project'. o Swadesh Darshan scheme is the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Tourism for the development of thematic circuits in the country Delhi Police launched e-learning site 'NIPUN' o Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik has launched the e-Learning portal of Delhi Police called 'NIPUN' on 14 November 2018. o The e-learning portal aims to give online training and information through specialised courses designed by experts in the field.
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o The website will also act as a tool for feedback mechanism and bridge communication gap. Scheme for cooperative startups launched o Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched 'Yuva Sahakar- Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme' on 14 November 2018. o The aim is to provide cheaper loans to startups in the cooperative sector and those having innovative projects costing up to Rs 3 crore. o The scheme will be implemented by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). LEAP & ARPIT initiative launched by MHRD o On 13 November 2018, Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched two new initiatives: Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) and Annual Refresher Programme In Teaching (ARPIT). o ARPIT is an initiative of online professional development of 15 lakh higher education faculty. o LEAP is a 3 weeks flagship leadership development training programme for 2nd level academic functionaries. Cabinet approves a Central Tribal University o On 8 November 2018, the Union Cabinet approved setting up of a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. o The 'Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh' will be set up in Vizianagaram District as provided under the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. o It also approved the funds of Rs. 420 crore for the establishment of the Central Tribal University. Mechanism for sale of enemy shares approved o On 8 November 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the mechanism and procedure for sale of the enemy shares. 190 | P a g e
o The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has been authorised to sell the shares. o According to Enemy Property Act, 1968, 'Enemy property' refers to any property belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm. Filling of Padur strategic reserve approved o The Union Cabinet has approved the filling of Padur Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) at Padur, Karnataka by overseas National Oil Companies (NOCs). o The SPR facility at Padur is an underground rock cavern with a total capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes. o The filling of the SPR is being undertaken to reduce budgetary support of Government of India. Six airports set to be privatised o The Union Cabinet gave an 'in principle' approval for operating, managing and developing six non-metro airports under Public-Private Partnership (PPP). o The airports which will be privatised are Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru. o At present, airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin are managed under the PPP model. Defence ministry enhanced financial power o The Defence Ministry has enhanced financial powers to Vice Chiefs of the armed forces. o The Vice Chiefs will be able to exercise financial powers up to five times more than the existing powers with an enhanced ceiling of 500 crore rupees. o The move is aimed at expediting the decision-making process involved in the procurements for the Armed Forces. Meghalaya announces Aqua Mission 2.0 191 | P a g e
o The Meghalaya Government announced `378 crore investment in the State’s flagship aquaculture mission named 'Meghalaya State Aqua Mission 2.0'. o The aim of the mission is to cut down fish imports into the State. o Under the mission, willing partners will need to contribute only 15% while another 25% will be credit linkages and the rest 60% Government assistance. Online portal to promote women farmer launched o The Women and Child Development Ministry have set up an online marketing portal. o Named 'Mahila-E-Haat', the portal was launched ahead of the 'Women of India National Organic Festival, 2018'. o The portal is a unique online platform where the women organic farmers and entrepreneurs from across the country can display their products. Government released funds to six border states o The government of India has released over 113 crore rupees to six border states to meet special development needs of people living in isolated locations. o The amount was released to Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP). o BADP schemes include construction of primary health centres, schools, community centres etc. Guidelines for 'Operation Greens' issued o Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has approved the operationalisation strategy for Operation Greens. o Operation Greens was announced in the Budget speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of Rs 500 crores.
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o It was launched to stabilise the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops and to ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility. World Toilet Day Contest announced o Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has announced Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest for districts and States. o The purpose of the Contest is to encourage all districts in India to re- intensify the sanitation movement with a special focus on Open Defecation Free-ODF Sustainability. o The Contest does not apply to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Cabinet approved to open ISA membership o The Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for opening up the International Solar Alliance (ISA) membership to all countries that are members of the United Nations on 1 November 2018. o It will move a resolution in the first assembly for amending the framework agreement of the ISA. o The ISA is an alliance of more than 121 countries initiated by India. Over 1.2 cr subscribers join APY o More than one crore twenty lakh subscribers have joined Atal Pension Yojana (APY). o More than 27 lakh new subscribers have joined the scheme during the current financial year. o States, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka are the top contributors in the Atal Pension Yojana enrollment. Ordinance to amend Companies Act approved o The government of India has promulgated the Companies Amendment Ordinance, 2018 to promote Ease of Doing Business with better corporate compliance. 193 | P a g e
o President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the promulgation of the Ordinance. o The main amendments in the Act include shifting of the jurisdiction of 16 types of corporate offences from the Special Courts to in-house adjudication. 'Soura Jalanidhi' scheme launched in Odisha o Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the 'Soura Jalanidhi' scheme on 30 October 2018. o Its aims is to increase the use of solar energy for helping farmers in irrigating their land. o 'Soura Jalanidhi', is a dug well based solar pump irrigation system in convergence mode. o 5000 solar pumps will be given to Odisha farmers at a subsidy of 90% to irrigate 2,500 acres of land. PM launched 'Support and Outreach' initiative o Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Central governments 'Support and Outreach' initiative for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on 2 November 2018. o The 'Support and Outreach' programme will run for the next 100 days, covering the entire country. o It is expected to provide greater synergy to the efforts being made for MSME sector. MHA approves 'Safe City Project' for Lucknow o The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved a 'Safe City project' for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs.194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme. o The Safe city proposal for Lucknow will be implemented by Uttar Pradesh Police, assisted by the Municipal bodies and city transport authorities.
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o The Safe City project for Lucknow also envisages gender sensitization awareness campaigns. FP-LMIS inaugurated in Haryana o The Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP- LMIS) has been inaugurated in Haryana on 31 October 2018. o It will ensure availability, supply and monitoring of family planning services from the state level to the Accredited Social Health Activists' (ASHA) level. o It would provide online information about medicines and family planning commodities. ‘Saubhagya Raths’ inaugurated in J&K o Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik flagged off ‘Saubhagya Raths’ for 20 districts to identify households without electricity on 31 October 2018. o Officials onboard these ‘Saubhagya Raths’ will survey areas in their respective jurisdiction with an aim to achieve 100% electrification of households. o ‘Saubhagya Raths’ will traverse each district for one month till November 30, 2018.
December 2018
485 schemes launched under 'Digital Haryana'
o Haryana government launched 485 schemes under the 'Digital Haryana' initiative on 25 December 2018. o Haryana became the first state in India, where 4000 'Atal Seva Kendras' in rural areas, 22 at district headquarters, 51 at the sub-divisional level, & 20 'Antyodya Saral Kendras' at Tehsil level, has been launched simultaneously. o A toll-free Antyodaya Helpline number was also inaugurated.
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'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' launched
o 'Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' was launched in Uttarakhand on 25 December 2018. o Under the scheme, each household in the state will be able to avail medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh annually. o The scheme will benefit 23 lakh households and cover 1,350 critical diseases. o A total of 99 government and 66 private hospitals have been selected under the scheme.
MSMEs Ministry to establish governing council
o The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has proposed to establish a governing council to ensure the efficient delivery of all export-related interventions. o The step is a part of its action plan to boost shipments from micro, small and medium enterprises. o The governing council shall be chaired by Secretary, MSME and co-chaired by Development Commissioner in MSME Ministry.
MSAMB appoints officers to facilitate trade
o Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to appoint out-of- state trade representatives.
o The Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) appointed six trade representatives to promote trade in semi-perishable commodities.
o They will also collect relevant market information.
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o They have been posted in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
UP approves setting up of 2 development boards
o The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet gave its approval for setting up of development boards for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal.
o It will be chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
o Both boards will be formed for 3 years.
o The Chairperson of the board will select two Vice-Chairmen, 11 non- government members and two experts for each board.
Government to make all meters smart prepaid
o Ministry of Power, Government of India has decided to make all meters smart prepaid in 3 years from 1st April 2019.
o Advantages of this step: Reduction of AT&C losses, better health of Discoms, energy conservation, ease of bill payments, and doing away with the paper bills.
o Consumers need not to pay the whole month's bill in one go instead they can pay as per their requirements.
Govt Policies & Schemes - II (17-22 Dec 2018)
o The Civil Aviation Ministry & Airports Authority of India launched the 'GAS 2019' app on 19 December 2018.
o The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the 'Asiatic Lion Conservation Project' on 20 December 2018.
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o 'iGOT' (Integrated Government Online Training Programme), developed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, was launched on 20 December 2018.
Govt Policies & Schemes - I (17-22 Dec 2018)
o The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of two new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Madurai, Tamil Nadu and Bibinagar, Telangana.
o The Assam government launched 3 schemes for farmers: Assam Farmers’ Credit Subsidy Scheme, Assam Farmers’ Interest Relief Scheme, and Assam Farmers’ Incentive Scheme.
o Haryana government launched the 'Shiksha Setu' app on 18 December 2018.
CDSCO issues guidelines for 'Isotretinoin'
o The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) issued safety guidelines for 'Isotretinoin'.
o It is an oral drug, which is used in the treatment of severe acne.
o It may be sold by retailers only against a dermatologist’s prescription.
o Isotretinoin capsules of 10 mg/20 mg were approved by CDSCO in 2002 for the treatment of cystic and conglobate acne.
Queue management system & Social CRM launched
o The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan launched various digital customer initiatives for Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) on 21 December 2018.
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o The initiatives are CNG Queue Management System (QMS) and Social CRM.
o CNG Queue Management System through 'OORJA' mobile application would provide information regarding the average waiting time at the CNG station.
Odisha government announces 'KALIA' scheme
o On 21 December 2018, Odisha government announced a Rs 10,000-crore scheme for the overall development of farmers in the state.
o The name of the scheme is 'Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation' (KALIA) scheme.
o An amount of Rs 10,000 per family at the rate of Rs 5,000 each for Kharif and Rabi seasons shall be provided as financial assistance for taking up cultivation.
Jharkhand announces Rs 2,250-Crore scheme
o Jharkhand government announced an Rs 2,250-crore scheme to help 22.76 lakh medium and marginal farmers of the state.
o The name of the scheme is Mukhya Mantri Krishi Yojana.
o Under the scheme, 22.76 lakh medium and marginal farmers will get Rs 5,000 per acre from 2019.
o The scheme will help farmers procure seeds, fertilizers, and other requirements for agriculture purposes.
Haryana to set up Herbal Corporation
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o On 20 December 2018, Haryana's Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the setting up of the 'Haryana Herbal Corporation'.
o The aim of the corporation is to promote Ayurveda and herbal medicines in the state.
o It will also act as a catalyst for developing Morni area of the district as an organic cluster and setting up of a world-class nursery for the herbal plant.
Tembhu irrigation scheme approved by Maha Govt
o The Maharashtra government approved a sum of Rs 4,089 crore for the 'Tembhu lift irrigation' scheme in Satara district.
o The irrigation project will benefit the drought-prone areas of Satara, Solapur and Sangli districts.
o The scheme is about constructing barrages on the river Krishna near Tembhu village and lifting 22 billion cubic feet water to irrigate 80,000- hectare areas.
Meghalaya launches health insurance
o Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the 'Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme' (MHIS-IV) on 20 December 2018.
o MHIS-IV is merged with the government of India's Ayushman Bharat scheme.
o The MHIS-IV targets to cover more than 8 lakh households offering over 2300 medical and surgical packages and up to Rs 5 lakh per family.
o The new scheme will be functional from 1 February 2019.
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o The Assam government has approved the release of the second installment of the 'Chah Bagicha (tea estate) Dhan Puraskar Mela'.
o Rs 2500 will be deposit in each bank accounts of tea garden workers that were opened just after the demonetisation in 2016.
o This amount is the second installment of the Rs 5,000 incentive announced in the budget for 2017-18.
Govt to set up panel to look into tax issues
o The government of India will set up an expert committee to look into all the taxation issues being faced by start-ups and angel investors.
o The committee of experts from IITs and IIMs will make recommendations on individual cases of recognised startups.
o The notification for the formation of the committee will be issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) shortly.
Govt online training programme launched
o 'iGOT' (Integrated Government Online Training Programme) was launched on 20 December 2018.
o It was developed by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
o It will augment the existing training mechanism, provided to government servants, with online module-based training coupled with certification.
Conservation project for lions launched
o The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the 'Asiatic Lion Conservation Project' on 20 December 2018. 201 | P a g e
o The aim of the project is to protect and conserve the world's last ranging free population of Asiatic Lion and its associated ecosystem.
o The project will be funded from the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- 'Development of Wildlife Habitat' (CSS-DWH).
All computers now under govt. watch
o The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept, monitor, and decrypt 'any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer'.
o The MHA gave the authorisation under 69 (1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
o The agencies are the Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate etc.
MSME Ministry to set up 20 technology centers
o The government of India will set up 20 additional technology centres to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
o These centres support MSMEs by giving them access to advanced manufacturing technologies, skilling manpower and providing technical and business advisory support.
o Currently, 10 such centres are operational in different states of the country.
Mobile app for global aviation summit launched
o The Civil Aviation Ministry along with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) launched the app named 'GAS 2019' on 19 December 2018.
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o The app is for the 'Global Aviation Summit' will be held in Mumbai on January 2019.
o The app enables users to interact with the co-delegates and speakers besides providing a platform for networking through personal and group chats.
Assam govt announced 3 schemes for farmers
o Assam government has announced 3 schemes for the welfare of farmers on 19 December 2018.
o The 3 schemes are the Assam Farmers’ Credit Subsidy Scheme (AFCSS), Assam Farmers’ Interest Relief Scheme (AFIRS), and Assam Farmers’ Incentive Scheme (AFIS).
o Under AFCSS, farmers who took loans from banks and whatever amount they repaid, 25% of the money will be reimbursed by the state government.
Strategy Document for New India released
o NITI Aayog unveiled its comprehensive national strategy for New India, which defines clear objectives for 2022-23.
o The Strategy Document advocates empowering and encouraging women to participate in all sectors of the economy, to build a strong and inclusive New India.
o It vouches for the transformation of the rural economy.
Govt. approves new tourist routes in Ladakh
o The Home Ministry approved new tourist and trekking routes in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
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o The aim is to promote adventure tourism and enhance economic activities in Ladakh.
o The proposed routes include the Merak-Lema Bend and the Chusul- Kartsangla-Mahe.
o The Phyang-Dokla-HunderDok-Hunde is one of the proposed trekking routes.
'Shiksha Setu' app launched by Haryana govt.
o The Haryana government launched the 'Shiksha Setu' app on 18 December 2018.
o The app will provide students information on attendance, fee, online admission, and scholarships of all government colleges of the state.
o The app will provide instant updates of important notices, circulars and other programmes to students and teachers.
o The students will also get information on assignments.
Cabinet approves establishment of 2 new AIIMS
o The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of two new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Madurai, Tamil Nadu and Bibinagar, Telangana.
o The AIIMS will be set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
o Establishment of new AIIMS involves creation of Hospital, Teaching Block for medical & nursing courses, residential complex and allied facilities/services.
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Ramayana Circuit: 15 Destinations identified
o As per the Tourism Ministry, fifteen destinations have been identified for development under the Ramayana Circuit.
o Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the ministry.
o Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur, & Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh is among the destinations identified for development under the Ramayana Circuit.
CCEA approves setting up of tribal schools
o The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle approval for setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribals.
o The schools will be set up in every block with more than 50% Scheduled Tribes population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
o It has also approved the constitution of an autonomous society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to run the schools.
CCEA approves extending Ujjwala LPG scheme
o On 17 December 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the expansion of beneficiaries list under 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana'.
o The scheme, launched in 2016, originally targeted giving LPG connections to mostly rural women members of below the poverty line (BPL) households.
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o The list was later expanded to include all SC/ST households and forest dwellers among others.
Govt. notifies rules for mobile phone services
o On 16 December 2018, the government of India notified rules for providing in-flight & maritime mobile phone services.
o Indian and foreign airlines and shipping companies operating in the country can provide in-flight and maritime voice and data services with a valid Indian telecom licence holder.
o The connectivity can be provided using telecom networks on the ground as well as using satellite.
Govt Policies & Schemes- II (10-15 Dec 2018)
o The government of India notified the medical devices like nebulizers, blood pressure monitors, digital thermometers, and glucometers as 'drugs' under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
o The government of India raised its contribution from 10% to 14% in the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
o The government of India has formulated a 'Crisis Management Plan' to counter cyber attacks and cyber terrorism.
Govt Policies & Schemes- I (10-15 Dec 2018)
o Indian Ports Association under the guidance of the Ministry of Shipping launched the Port Community System 'PCS1x' on 11 December 2018.
o The Ministry of Power launched 'ECO Niwas Samhita 2018' on 14 December 2018.
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o The Agriculture Ministry launched the online portal 'Ensure' to connect with direct benefit transfer and provide a simple, useful and transparent system to the beneficiary
Railways offers 25% discount
o The railways will give a discount of 25% on the extant haulage rate per Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit (TEU) on the transport of empty containers as well as empty flat container wagons.
o It is expected to enhance the efficient handling of traffic at ports and attract a larger share of container traffic to rail.
o It will help to load more commodity at an economical rate.
Delhi Police launches 'Prahari' scheme
o Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the 'Prahari' scheme in the southwest district of Delhi on 14 December 2018.
o The aim of the scheme is to prevent crime and maintain law and order.
o Under the scheme, civic personnel such as chowkidars and security guards, deployed in commercial and VIP areas, will act as the eyes and ears of the police for prevention of crime.
'ECO Niwas Samhita 2018' launched
o The Ministry of Power launched 'ECO Niwas Samhita 2018' on 14 December 2018.
o It is an Energy Conservation Building Code for Residential Buildings (ECBC-R).
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o The objective is to benefit the occupants and environment by promoting energy efficiency in the design and construction of homes, apartments and townships.
o The Code is expected to assist a large number of architects and builders.
Govt of India to set up NMDPC under DIPP
o The government of India announced setting up of a 'National Medical Devices Promotion Council' (NMDPC) under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
o The Council will be headed by Secretary of DIPP.
o It will act as a promotion and developmental body for the Indian Medical Devices Industry (MDI).
Kovind launched app for farmers in Myanmar
o President Ram Nath Kovind launched a mobile app developed for farmers in Myanmar and dedicated a centre and a bio park to promote agriculture research and education to the people.
o App provides crop and livestock knowledge and information apart from cropping guidelines based on location.
o The app links farmers with more than 2,000 experts.
Govt formulates 'Crisis Management Plan'
o The government of India has formulated a 'Crisis Management Plan' to counter cyber attacks and cyber terrorism.
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o The Government of India has empanelled 76 security audit organisations to ensure information security.
'Operation Minimum wage' launched in Delhi
o Delhi Government launched 'Operation Minimum Wages' on 10 December 2018.
o Under the operation, an employer who does not pay minimum wages may be fined or can face three years of jail.
o The Delhi government fixed the minimum wage for the unskilled labourers at Rs 14,000 per month while that for semi-skilled at Rs 15,400 per month, and for the skilled, it at Rs 16,962 per month.
Online portal 'Ensure' launched
o The Agriculture Ministry launched the online portal 'Ensure' to connect with direct benefit transfer and provide a simple, useful and transparent system to the beneficiary on 12 December 2018.
o The portal has been developed by NABARD.
o It is operated under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.
o Through this portal, the flow of information/funds will be quicker.
Indian Ports Association launched ‘PCS 1x’
o Indian Ports Association under the guidance of the Ministry of Shipping launched the Port Community System 'PCS1x' on 11 December 2018.
o This system will enable trade to have an improved communication with the customs. 209 | P a g e
o It is a cloud-based technology with a user-friendly interface.
o The platform offers services such as notification engine, workflow, mobile application, track and trace.
Government contribution to NPS raised to 14%
o The government of India announced a slew of changes to the National Pension Scheme (NPS) on 10 December 2018.
o Central Government contribution has been raised to 14% from 10% in NPS.
o The tax exemption limit for lump sum withdrawal on exit from NPS has been enhanced to 60%.
o The NPS was introduced for central government employees who joined service on or after 1 January 2004.
Government notifies medical devices as drugs
o The government of India notified commonly used medical devices like nebulizers, blood pressure monitors, digital thermometers, and glucometers as 'drugs' under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
o It will enable the government to ensure their quality and performance.
o The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) will regulate the import, manufacture and sale of these devices from January 2020.
Govt Policies & Schemes - II (3 - 8 Dec 2018)
o 'Peoples Empowerment Enabling Transparency and Accountability' (PEETHA) programme was launched in Odisha.
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o Gangotri & Yamunotri in Uttarakhand, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, & Parasnath in Jharkhand have been included in the 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation & Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive' (PRASAD) scheme.
o The Union Cabinet approved the 'Shahpurkandi Dam Project' in Punjab on Ravi river.
Govt Policies & Schemes - I (3 - 8 Dec 2018)
o Pan-India single emergency number '112' under 'Emergency Response Support System' (ERSS) was launched in Nagaland on 1 December 2018.
o The Civil Aviation Ministry launched the 'Digital Sky Platform' for the registration of drones and their operators on 1 December 2018.
o Maharashtra government launched an initiative called 'State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation' (SMART).
Tourism Ministry formulates guideline for OTAs
o The Ministry of Tourism has formulated the guidelines for approval and reapproval of Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs) on 7 December 2018.
o This is a voluntary scheme open to bonafide online travel aggregators to bring them on a common platform in the organised sector.
o The guidelines will come out by 31 December 2019.
o OTA is an intermediary or an agent, selling travel products and services.
National challenge for Youth launched
o A National Challenge for Youths named 'Ideate for India - Creative Solutions using Technology' was launched on 6 December 2018.
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o The aim of this challenge is to give school students across the country a platform and opportunity to become solution creators for the problems.
o The Challenge has been designed and launched by the National e- Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics & IT.
Govt. approves freight village in Varanasi
o The Ministry of Shipping approved a freight village in Varanasi on 6 December 2018.
o It will boost the professional logistics industry in Varanasi.
o It will be developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
o A freight village is a designated area where facilities for various modes of transportation, distribution of goods and other logistics are available on a large scale.
Union Cabinet approves NM-ICPS
o The Union Cabinet approved the 'National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems' (NM-ICPS) on 6 December 2018.
o The Mission addresses the various requirements of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and associated technologies.
o The mission will be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology.
o A CPS is a mechanism that is controlled or monitored by computer-based algorithms.
Cabinet approves 'Shahpurkandi Dam project'
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o The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of 'Shahpurkandi Dam Project' in Punjab on Ravi river.
o Implementation of this project would help in minimising the wastage of water of the Ravi river.
o On completion of the project, an additional Irrigation Potential of 5000 hectares in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K would be created.
o The project would be completed by June 2022.
Cabinet approves agri export policy
o The Union Cabinet approved the Agriculture Export Policy on 6 December 2018.
o The new policy aims to double India's farm exports to $60 billion by 2022
o It is aimed at boosting exports of agriculture commodities such as tea, coffee and rice and increase the country's share in global agri-trade.
o The policy is also expected to provide an institutional mechanism to tackle market barriers.
Maharashtra CM launched 'SMART' initiative
o Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched a unique initiative called 'State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation' (SMART) on 5 December 2018.
o The aim of the 'SMART' initiative is to revamp agricultural value chains, with a special focus on marginal farmers across 1,000 villages.
o The initiative is assisted by the World Bank.
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Free pilgrimage scheme launched by Delhi CM
o Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the 'Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana' on 5 December 2018.
o Under the scheme, a city resident above 60 years will be eligible to take free pilgrimage along with his or her spouse.
o The Delhi government will bear the expenses of pilgrims every year.
o It has also signed a MoU with the railways to cater to the pilgrims availing the scheme.
Government of India notifies dual-fuel usage
o Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified dual-fuel usage for agricultural and construction equipment vehicles.
o These include tractors, power tillers, construction equipment vehicles and combine harvesters which have originally been manufactured as dual- fuel with diesel as the primary fuel
o This move will help in reducing both cost and pollution.
Gangotri, Yamunotri included under 'PRASAD'
o The government of India has included Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttrarakhand, Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and Parasnath in Jharkhand under the 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive' (PRASAD) scheme.
o 'PRASAD' is a central scheme to develop pilgrimage and heritage destinations in the country.
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Swadesh Darshan proj. inaugurated in Nagaland
o Project 'Development of Tribal Circuit: Peren-Kohima-Wokha Project' was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri Neiphiu Rio.
o This is the first project to be implemented in the state under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
o Under the project the ministry has developed facilities like tribal tourist village, open-air theatre, cafeteria, helipad etc.
AB-PMJAY scheme launched in Jammu & Kashmir
o Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik launched the 'Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (AB-PMJAY) scheme on 1 December 2018.
o The scheme will benefit over 31 lakh residents in the state.
o The AB-PMJAY is the world’s largest healthcare scheme which aims at providing coverage of Rs 5 lakh per entitled family annually.
'PEETHA' programme launched in Odisha
o Odisha's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the 'Peoples Empowerment Enabling Transparency and Accountability' (PEETHA) programme on 3 December 2018.
o The aim of the programme is to create transparency and awareness of various government schemes.
o 'PEETHA' is a sub-scheme of the Odisha government's flagship 'Ama Gaon Ama Bikas Yojana'.
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o The Civil Aviation Ministry launched the 'Digital Sky Platform' for the registration of drones and their operators on 1 December 2018.
o To get permissions to fly drones, operators or remote pilots will have to file a flight plan.
o Payments for Unmanned Aerial Operator's Permit and Unique Identification Numbers (UIN) will be accepted through the Bharat Kosh (bharatkosh.gov.in) portal.
ERSS launched in Nagaland
o Pan-India single emergency number '112' under 'Emergency Response Support System' (ERSS) was launched in Nagaland on 1 December 2018.
o It will connect to Police, Fire, Health and other helplines.
o Nagaland is the first amongst the North-Eastern States and the second State in India to launch the emergency number '112'.
o Himachal Pradesh is the first state to launch the emergency number ‘112’.
Government Schemes - II (26 Nov 18 - 1 Dec 18)
o Odisha government launched a public bicycle sharing project and a mobile app named ‘Mo Cycle' on 26 November 2018.
o On 26 November 2018, the government of India has launched the initiative called 'Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme' (IDSP) in 7 states.
o The Ministry of Human Resource Development has launched an initiative called 'Bhasha Sangam' for schools and educational institutions.
Government Schemes - I (26 Nov 18 - 1 Dec 18)
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o The government of India launched 'PAiSA - Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access' on 26 November 2018.
o Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched ‘Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti’ on 27 November 2018.
o On 28 November 2018, Himachal Pradesh became the first state to launch a pan-India single emergency number '112'.
Defence Ministry approved military procurement
o The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accorded approval for the acquisition of defence equipment worth 3000 crores on 1 December 2018.
o The DAC granted approval for procurement of indigenous Brahmos Missiles for two Indian Navy Ships to be built in Russia.
o The DAC also approved the procurement of Armoured Recovery Vehicles for the Indian Army.
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