National Events During July to December Mid-2016

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Today we, Arun Academy providing list of most Important National events during July to December Mid-2016. National current events related questions are frequently asked in most of the competitive exams. This will be very useful for forthcoming Bank Clerk Mains exam, Railways and TNPSC Group exams too. NATIONAL

 13 districts in Madhya Pradesh will be covered under upcoming phase of Government's Mission Indradhanush initiative aimed at full immunization of all children in country.  2016 Hemis festival held at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir ), to celebrate birthday of Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). He is believed to be local savior who banished demons and evil spirits.  2nd unit of India’s largest nuclear power plant, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu became operational. It now has 2 unit of 1000 MW each. Both units of the Kudankulam plant have been made at a cost of over Rs. 22,000 crore.  Kudankulam Nuclear Plant's Technology is backed by Russia. This atomic reactor will provide electricity to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Karnataka.  India currently operates 21 reactors that can generate 5,780 MW of electricity besides giving India its atomic weapons. India hopes to generate 63,000 MW of nuclear power by 2032.  UNESCO  Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) in Sikkim named First Indian world heritage site to qualify in Mixed Category Both Natural and Cultural.  Archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) in Bihar.  Capitol Complex in Chandigarh also made it to the list, thus bringing all three nominations this session into the heritage roll of honour.  This is first time that any country got three sites inscribed in the Word Heritage List at a single session of the committee meeting  India now has 35 sites, including 27 cultural properties, seven natural sites and one mixed site, notified as World Heritage Sites.  Other UNESCO world heritage sites declared during same session Ani (Turkey), Qanat (Iran), Artificial islets of Nan Madol (Micronesia), Stecci Sites (Bosnia, central and western Montenegro, southern Croatia and western Serbia), Ancient Philippi (Spain), Antequera Dolmens (Spain), Gorhams Cave Complex (Britain).  Turkish musician Kudsi Erguner was appointed as the UNESCO Artist for Peace by the DirectorGeneral of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.  Besides, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also listed SwissFrench architect Le Corbusiers works among its World Heritage Sites list.  Le Corbusier's works were added in list in recognition of his contribution in modern architectural movement after World War I. His 17 sites across spread across seven countries France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, Japan and India have been added in the World Heritage Sites list.  4th Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival held in Guwahati (Assam). This festival pays homage to rich culture of northeast India and is dedicated to film fraternity of region.  6th Indian Languages Festivals (ILF) Samanvay 2016 will be held in New Delhi in November 2016 with theme Language as Public Action.  7day long Kharchi Puja festival started at Chaturdas Devta Temple in Old Agartala (Tripura). In this century old festival of Tripura, Puja is offered to headimages of 14 God and Goddesses, that are bought outside only during first week of Shukla Paksha of Ashad of Bengali calendar year.  A Garden Waste Management Unit (GWMU) inaugurated in President’s Estate in Delhi, as part of advancing Swachh Bharat Mission. GWMU will process green waste such as fallen leaves, pruned plant material, cut grass and litter into organic compost.

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 A motorcycle rally named Ride for Accessibility organized in Delhi with a message to empower Divyangs (differently abled persons).  A new study of Prehistoric megaliths indicate that Meghalayas Khasi tribe has been residing in the state since around 1200 BCE. The study was conducted on the megaliths and tools discovered in Meghalayas RiBhoi district. A megalith is a large stone that forms part of a prehistoric monument.  Actor Amitabh Bachchan will be face of city compost campaign under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) to encourage citizens to use compost produced from municipal solid waste.  An Apparel Training Centre established in Kaduna (Nigeria) under Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (Cotton TAP) for Africa which is being implemented by Department of Commerce, Government of India under 2nd India Africa Forum Summit.  Andhra Pradesh government laid foundation stone for a Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises technology centre under Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP) at Pudi in Visakhapatnam district.  Andhra Pradesh government launched Mission Harita Andhra Pradesh, with theme “Green cover for a happy living”. Purpose is to increase green cover in state to 50 % by 2029.  Andhra Pradesh government will conduct a 'Smart Pulse Survey' for collecting socioeconomic data of 1.48 crore households in the state.  As per Government, Majority of glaciers in India including Gangotri are retreating (melting) at varying rates ranging from 5 to 20 metre per year due to global warming.  As per the data under Census 2011, details of Work Participation Rate (WPR) amongst major religious groups are Major religious groups WPR Hinduism 41% Islam 32.6% (Lowest) Christianity 41.9% Sikhism 36.3% Buddhist 43.1% Jains 35.5% Other religions and persuasions 48.5% Religion not stated 31.3% All 39.8% The recruitment of minorities in Government, Public Sector Banks, Public Sector Undertakings was 8.57% in 201415.  Bihar government lifted ban on sale and consumption of toddy (palm wine) in state.  Byculla Zoo in Mumbai became first Indian zoo to have Penguins, after 8 Humboldt penguins bought in from Seoul (South Korea).  Cleanliness report of Railway stations  Gujarat has 5 out of top 10 cleanest stations and Bihar has 5 out of top 10 dirtiest stations in India.  5 cleanest stations Beas (Punjab), Gandhidham (Gujarat), Vasco Da Gama (Goa), Jamnagar (Gujarat), Kumbakonam (Tamilnadu).  5 dirtiest stations Madhubani (Bihar), Ballia (UP), Bhaktiyarpur (Bihar), Raichur (Karnataka), Shahganj (UP).  Election Commission of India (ECI) launched National Electoral Roll Purification (NERP) 2016. 2016 motto of ECI is “No voter to be left behind”. NERP 2016 aims to improve health of electoral rolls (ERs) and optimize polling station (PS) location and area.  Elephant Dakshayani in Travancore Devasom Board will enter Guinness World Records as oldest living elephant (86 years age).

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 Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) recommended a green cess of 2022 percent on diesel vehicles. EPCA is a Supreme court appointed Green Panel for Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).  Fortune 500 Companies List 2016  Seven Indian companies have made it to Fortune 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations in terms of revenue Indian Oil Corporation (161st), Reliance Industries (215th), Tata Motors (226th), State Bank of India (232nd), Bharat Petroleum (358th), Hindustan Petroleum (367th) and Rajesh Exports (423rd).  Global top 10 companies Walmart (1st), State Grid (2nd), China National Petroleum (3rd), Sinopec Group (4th), Royal Dutch Shell (5th), Exxon Mobil (6th), Volkswagen (7th), Toyota Motor (8th), Apple (9th) and BP (10th).  The world’s 500 largest companies generated collectively generated 27.6 trillion dollars in revenues and 1.5 trillion dollars in profits in 2015. Together, 2016 Fortune Global 500 companies employ 6.7 crore people worldwide and are represented by 33 countries.  Gangajal delivery scheme has been launched by India Post in Patna (Bihar). Under this scheme, pious Gangajal brought from Gangotri and Rishikesh, would be delivered at doorsteps of people at nominal prices.  Goa government granted scheme for students of local language schools. Under this, aided primary schools having Konkani and Marathi as Medium of Instruction (MoI) will be provided a special grant of Rs.400 per student per month for 10 months in a year.  Government approved Interest Subvention Scheme for farmers for 201617, bearing cost of 18276 Crore Rupees. It will help farmers getting short term crop loan payable within one year up to 3 lakhs Rupees at only 4% per annum.  Government will provide interest subvention of 5% per annum to all farmers for short term crop loan up to 1 year for loan upto 3 lakhs rupees for 201617. Thus, farmers will have to effectively pay only 4% as interest. In case they fail to repay loan in time they would be eligible for interest subvention of 2% as against 5% available above.  Government abolished existing "Separate Guidelines for establishing Joint Venture Companies by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)", that were notified in February 2012. Guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) that which are applicable to all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) will now also be applicable for DPSUs to set up JV companies.  Government approved 1600 crore rupees for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under skill development initiative "Himayat" programme. Under it, youths from J&K would be given training in job intensive vocational courses over next 3 years.  Government approved Bill for change of name of Rajendra Central Agricultural University in Pusa (Bihar) to Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University.  Government approved High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill 2016 to change names of High Courts based on nomenclature of cities they are located in. It will facilitate changing names of ‘Madras High Court' as Chennai High Court and ‘Bombay High Court' as Mumbai High Court respectively.  Government approved National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) for providing apprenticeship training to over 50 lakh youngsters by 201920, with outlay of 10,000 crore rupees.  It will be implemented by Director General of Training (DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).  Government will provide incentives to employers to engaging apprentices and will share 25% of total stipend payable to an apprentice with employers. Government will bear 50% of the total expenditure incurred on providing basic training to an apprentice.  Government approved Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with outlay of 12000 crores, to impart skilling to 1 crore people by 2020. PMKVY will impart fresh training to 60 lakh youths and certify skills of 40 lakh persons acquired nonformally under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

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 Government approved Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 to protect them from discrimination. It will lead greater inclusiveness and will make transgender persons productive members of society.  Government approved amendment in Central Agricultural University Act (CAU) 1992 to include State of Nagaland under jurisdiction of CAU, Imphal. Now, the College of Veterinary Sciences in Nagaland will produce much needed professional manpower in the fields of animal husbandry, which will facilitate socioeconomic growth in region. It will help Nagaland to get the benefit of CAU (Manipur). CAU was established for entire North Eastern Region.  Government approved establishment of a new AIIMS at Bhatinda (Punjab), under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) at a cost of 925 crores.  Government approved establishment of new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), at cost of Rs. 1011 crores.  Government approved incorporation of Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) to push port led economic development under Sagarmala project.  SDC will be under Ministry of Shipping and It will provide equity support to the project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and funding support to the residual projects under Sagarmala Programme.  Government approved joint issue of postage stamps between Department of Posts of India and Portugal.  Government approved renaming Mhow railway station in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh after BR Ambedkar as he was born there.  Government approved revised cost estimate for Rs. 3727.30 crore for National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP). NATRIP is an important Initiative by Government for establishment of global test centres in India. This will address R&D requirements of the automotive industry.  Government approved revival of 3 fertilizers defunct Fertilizer Units Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL), (ii) Urea unit of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) and (iii) Urea unit of FCIL at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh).  Government approved setting up a Major port at Enayam near Colachel in Tamil Nadu.  Government constituted District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC) for effective development and coordination of Central Government’s programme. It will be known as DISHA and will monitor implementation of 28 schemes and programmes of several Ministries.  Government launched Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) portal (kvk.icar.gov.in), to provide information and advisory to farmers and facilitate online monitoring of KVK activities.  Government launched Transforming India Website (www.transformingindia.mygov.in), a repository for sharing the impact of various governance initiatives with citizens in real time. It was launched by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Law and Justice and Communication and Information Technology.  Government notified UIDAI (Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members) Rules 2016 to give legal status to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). These rules have been framed as per provisions of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016.  Government of Delhi launched online payment system for licensing and registration of Food Business Operators (FBOs).  Government of Himachal Pradesh, NTPC & NHPC signed MoU for setting up Hydro Engineering College in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), to promote technical education in State.  Government will drop 20 out of 106 districts described as being Maoist affected. The list is called Red Corridor. Dropping of these districts from list will result in drying of aid given to these districts (approx 30 crore rupees annually). Red corridor expands in 106 districts of 10 states Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.  Government will provide assistance of 400 crore rupees for developing airports at various locations in Uttar Pradesh.

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 Haryana Government announced to open Yoga centres across all municipal units. 1 yoga centre would be opened in each municipal committee, two within jurisdiction of each municipal council and four in each municipal corporation.  Haryana Government launched Pashudhan Bima Yojana, an insurance cover scheme for cattle breeders in state. Insurance cover will be provided at a premium of Rs 100 for cows, buffaloes, bulls, camels and at Rs 25 for sheep, goat and pig for 3 years.  Haryana Government notified "Freight Assistance Scheme" for exporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) located anywhere in State. It has given time till September 9 to submit claim application for 201516. The decision was taken in view of additional cost borne by MSMEs exporting unit located in state due to large distances from sea ports.  Haryana Government will introduce online filing of Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) through Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) for all its IPS officers, to be recorded online at ips.gov.in.  Haryana's Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with non profit public organization namely Global Village Foundation (GVF) for collaborative studies and research on social and economic public policies.  Human Resource Development Minsitry organised Gun Gaurav event to felicitate 46 students who achieved high marks in XII exams despite adverse conditions.  India's first Centre of Excellence on Internet of Things (CoE– IoT) launched in Bengaluru (Karnataka) jointly set up NASSCOM, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) and Education and Research Network (ERNET). It has been created as a catalyst for developing IoT SME/Startup ecosystem of India to scale for industrial and societal needs. The centre has capacity to incubate 40 startups and allows them to build a prototype and test them.  India's first Commercial Court and Commercial Disputes Resolution Centre inaugurated at Raipur (Chhattisgarh).  India's first multicity marathon The Great India Run started from New Delhi. It will pass through Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and will end at Mumbai on August 6, 2016.  India’s first Green Rail Corridor inaugurated on 114km long RameswaramManamadurai stretch in Tamil Nadu. Green Rail Corridor ensures zero toilet discharge on rail tracks as part of its commitment to clean environment under the ‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ initiative.  India’s first ecourt (paperless court) opened at High Court of Hyderabad (common high court for states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).  International Transgender Arts Festival, a performing arts festival for transgender will be organized at National Gallery for Modern Arts in Bengaluru from July 29 31, 2016.  Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Maharashtra) became first Indian port to implement logistics data bank tagging system of containers, as part of its Ease of Doing Business initiatives.  Jharkhand government will form a separate cell for Primitive Tribes Group (PTG) in Welfare Department.  Joint Venture Agreement Signed between Railways and Haryana Government for expanding Railways network in Haryana.  Karnataka government has recently imposed an unconditional ban on the sale and possession of Chinese manja and other non biodegradable threads used to fly kites.  Kerala Assembly passed Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualifications) Amendment Bill 2016, to pave way for VS Achutanandan's appointment as the Administrative Reforms Committee Chairman with Cabinet rank. Bill seeks to add a subsection that says No person shall be disqualified from being member of legislative assembly (MLA) on grounds that it holds the office of profit in term of being Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission.  Kerala Government constituted a State Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (STAGI) on lines of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). It will advise State government on policies to be adopted and implemented under National Immunisation Programme.

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 Kerala Government launched Kochi Water Metro project, first ever Water Metro project in the country. It project aims to provide water connectivity to people living between islands in the Kochi agglomeration area and city.  Lifeline Express, world's first hospital on a train of Indian Railways has completed 25 years of service to underprivileged masses of rural India. Lifeline Express is also known as the Magic Train of India. It was launched on 16 July 1991.  Lok Sabha passed Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill 2016 for opening six new IITs in Palakkad (Kerala), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Goa, Dharwar (Karnataka), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) and Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) and Bringing Indian School of Mines Dhanbad (Jharkhand) within ambit of parent Act.  Lok Sabha passed National Institute of Technology, Science, Education and Research (Amendment) (NITSER) Bill 2016, that aims to establish a new National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Andhra Pradesh.  Madhya Pradesh became first Indian state in to have ‘Happiness Department’ that will work as knowledge resource centre on subject of happiness on the lines of Bhutan.  Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched a pilot project of e complaint system on an experimental basis in Pune. Citizens can now register a police complaint online at any city police station from anywhere. As per current laws, FIRs have to be registered at police station only.  Maharashtra government crossed target in its initiative for plantation of about 2 crores trees, aimed at benefitting the environment.  Maharashtra police launched four mobile apps for timely intervention into emergency situations Pratisaad Ask, Police Mitra, Vahanchoritakrar and Railway helpline app.  Ministry of Culture will upgrade Infrastructure for one State Central Library and one District Library in each State / Union Territory as a Model Library under National Mission on Libraries (NML).  Ministry of Earth Sciences held its 10th anniversary and Foundation Day. It was established in 2006.  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) to check child diarrhoeal deaths. IDCF drive will be observed from 11th 23rd July 2016, as a cost effective intervention to curb risk of spread of diarrhoea that scales up during monsoon season.  Ministry of Tourism released data on domestic and foreign tourist visits Domestic Tourist Visits  Number of Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) to States and UTs was 14.32 Crores, up from 12.82 Crore in 2014. Tamil Nadu stayed at top in domestic tourism with 3.3 crore domestic visits. Foreign Tourist Visits  India garnered 2.3 crore visits in 2015 as compared to 2.23 crore in 2014.  Tamil Nadu is at top with 46.8 lakh visits. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh secured second and third place. with 44 lakh visits and 31 lakh visits respectively.

 NITI Aayog signed Statement of Intent (SoI) with Intel India to set up 10 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in India to promote creativity and imagination among young innovators. ATL is a part of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and aims to build relevant skill sets among youngsters.  National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) conferred rare and singular species genetic recognition tag to the threatened breed of Kendrapara sheep found in Odisha, under registration number INDIA_SHEEP_1500_KENDRAPADA_14042. It became 42nd sheep breed in India to receive such tag. The genetically rare status will help to boost conservation effort to protect these domesticated threatened sheep.  National EVidhan Academy will be set up in Tapovan (Himachal Pradesh), where Himachal Vidhan Sabha is situated in Dharamshala. The academy will train MPs, MLAs and staff of such institutions from different states.  National Green Tribunal has put ban on over 10 year old diesel vehicles in Delhi.  New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) signed MoU with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Nagpur) to develop 12 sewage treatment plants (STP).  Parliament passed Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2016, aimed at establishment of funds under public accounts of Centre and State levels for compensatory afforestation.

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 It Establishes National Compensatory Afforestation Fund (NCAF) under Public Account of India, and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under Public Account of each state. NCAF will get 10% of funds collected and remaining 90% will go to respective State Fund.  Collected funds will be utilised for afforestation, regeneration of forest ecosystem, wild life protection and forest related infrastructure development. Establishes National and State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authorities to manage the funds.  Parliament passed Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill 2016 to provide statutory status to existing Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad, Haryana. It will provide legislative backing to Regional Centre and also confers upon it status of an institution of national importance.  Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague (Netherlands) ruled against Antrix Corporation in case with Devas Corporation over sharing of spectrum on satellites. Case is  In 2005, Devas Corporation and Antrix Corporation struck a deal which had provided for launch of 2 satellites. These satellites were to establish a hybrid satellite and terrestrial communications network to supply wireless audiovisual, broadband and mobile internet service across India.  But later, Antrix Corporation terminated contract citing changes in Indian policy and that the allocation of Sband Spectrum to companies unconnected with India’s space programme was now regarded as a risk to national security.  Devas moved to PCA, citing Antrix had contended that national security and force majeure issues reasons for termination of deal as “contrived excuses”. It also asked damages of 1.6 billion USD from Indian Government under UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Arbitration Rules.  President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Swami Vivekanand Sabhagar at Kathak Kendra of Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi.  President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a smart model village pilot project, to be implemented in five selected villages in Haryana than later on will be spread across country.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and revival of fertilizer factory which was closed for the last three decades in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh).  Puducherry government will form ‘Swachh Bal Senas’ to make sure cleanliness across union territory.  Punjab Government launched Rapid Rural Police Response System (RRPRS) to ensure prompt and effective police response in 12,000 villages across state.  Railway Ministry flagged off first broad gage train service Tripura Sundari Express from Agartala (Tripura) to Delhi.  Rajasthan become first state in India to introduce minimum wages for part time workers, bringing part time workers in state under Minimum Wages Act 1948. As per new rule, it is now mandatory for employer to pay 50% of the prescribed a day minimum wage to a person who works for less than four hours in a day. Besides, government also increased minimum wages in all categories of scheduled employments by 104 Rupees / month.  Rajasthan government will hold Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) in Jaipur from November 9 11, aimed at doubling income of farmers by 2022. The event will showcase investment opportunities in agricultural sector in state.  Rajya Sabha passed Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2016 that seeks to amend Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986. Key facts are  Prohibition of employment of children below 14 years in all occupations or processes except where child helps his family.  A new category is called adolescent. They are person between 14 and 18 years of age. Employment of adolescents is prohibited in hazardous occupations.  Government may add or omit any hazardous occupation from list included in Bill.  Punishment for employing any child is increased to imprisonment between 6 months to two years (from earlier 3 months one year) or fine of 20,000 to 50,000 Rupees (from earlier 10,000 to 20,000 Rupees).

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 Proposes penalty for employing an adolescent in a hazardous occupation i.e. imprisonment between 6 months and 2 years or a fine of 20,000 to 50,000 Rupees or both.  Ramayana Masam began in Kerala in Malayalam month “Karkidakam”, will end on August 16. The famous Malayalam version of Ramayana titled “Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu” written by Thunchath Ezhuthachan is recited in this month.  Second phase of Haritha Haram programme of Telangana government launched. It aims to plant 46 crore plants to improve green belt.  Strategic Forces Command (SFC) which forms part of National Command Authority (NCA) has been added to Second Schedule of Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005 as a subsection of Section 24 of RTI. Section 24 of RTI exempts security and intelligence establishments from its purview.  Supreme Court ordered restoration of former Chief Minister Nabam Tukis Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh.  Supreme Court quashed Governors decision advancing session of the state assembly by a month, stating that it is violative of Constitution.  Now BJP's government in Arunachal Pradesh, headed by Chief Minister Kalikho Pul will step down and make way for then Congress government headed by Nabam Tuki.  It is first time in history that Supreme Court has put back a state government that had been dismissed by Centre under Presidents rule (under Article 356). Background  In November 2015, 21 of Congress legislators of total 47 rebelled against CM Nabam Tuki. It reduced Congress government to 26 legislators (minority) in 60member assembly. Following it, Government imposed Presidents rule under Article 356 of Constitution on January 26, 2016 and Later, Kalikho Pul was sworn in as 9th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.  Tamil Nadu government launched free bus pass scheme for school and college students for 201617, aimed to benefit students from poor backgrounds.  Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are first states where Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS) will be launched. It will integrate courts, police stations, prosecution, forensic science laboratories and jails.  Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched MySpeed mobile application for measuring real time mobile Internet speed that consumers get.  Tuluni festival is celebrated every year on July 8 by Sumi Naga tribe of Nagaland to mark end of dry season and the beginning of new fruits.  UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared Bihar's ancient site Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara, a World Heritage Site. It is 98 km away from Patna and is second UNESCO Heritage Site in Bihar after Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.  Nalanda Mahavihara was founded by Kumargupta I of the Gupta dynasty in 5th century CE. It was patronized by various rulers including King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (7th century CE) and Pala rulers (8th – 12th century CE) as well as various scholars. About six centuries after Nalandas decline, the site was first discovered and reported by Sir Francis Buchanan.  Uma Bharti, Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation launched 231 projects under ‘Clean Ganga project, as part of Namami Gange Campaign of Government.  West Bengal Government will set up 3 biotechnology hubs in in Bardhaman, Kalimpong and Medinipur districts, to bring more biotechnology innovations.  West Bengal government has set a target to construct toilets across all villages of the state by March 2019 to enable open defecation free (ODF) rural Bengal.  Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi launched a cybercell to check online abuse and harassment of women and children on social media platforms. WCD Ministry has advised women and children to send their complaints, if they are being abused or harassed on social media platforms using the hashtag #IamTrolledHelp.  World Health Organisation 2015 Non communicable Diseases (NCD) Global Survey report  The report highlights need to intensify national action to meet global targets governments have agreed to protect people from heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and lung diseases.

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 Globally, four NCDs, which are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, represent largest cause of death in people aged under 70 years.  World's largest Charkha unveiled at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi. This Charkha is made from high quality Burma teak wood and weighs four tones and is 9 feet wide, 17 feet tall and 30 feet long.  Madhya Pradesh government approved Madhya Pradesh Tax on Entry of Goods in Local Areas Amendment Bill 2016. The Bill seeks to levy 6 percent entry tax on goods brought to local areas for consumption after purchase under ecommerce. The step has taken in wake of losses to the state exchequer due to the online shopping.  Nagaland Government approved 33 % reservation to women in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).  Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa announced Rs 1,000 increase in freedom fighters pension from Rs 11,000.  10-day long Velankanni our lady of health basilica annual feast held at Vellankan shrine in Tamil Nadu.  12 day Sailing campaign Jal Tarang has been started from Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), aimed at strengthening national unity and integrity.  12-day long Krishna Pushkar festival began in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The festival comes once in every 12 years.  2016 Youth Voters’ Festival will be held in Nagaland in September 2016.  3 day long India's International Footwear Fair (IIFF) held in Delhi with 263 companies from India and abroad participating.  Tata Power Solar commissioned a too MW solar project for NTPC in Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh). It is biggest solar project commissioned using domestically manufactured solar cells and modules.  Aadhar linked eSignature facility - eSignDesk has been launched by LegalDesk, a Bengaluru based start-up.  eSignDesk is an initiative of Government to allow all citizens (with Aadhaar) to remotely sign any document. It saves both time and money and also provides security as nobody can forge this signature unlike wet signatures.  Aadi Perukku festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu as a thanksgiving festival to rivers, especially Cauvery river. This festival is celebrated on 18th of Aadi month in Tamil calendar year.  Alibaba Group, along with Crossword and Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust launched Mission Million Books as an initiative inviting Indians to donate textbooks and educational material for underprivileged.  Andhra Pradesh became first state to launch DNA Index System (DIS) for DNA (Deoxyribonucleac acid) profiling of criminals. The system uses latest DNA technology tool (RapidHIT DNA System) developed by IntegenX of USA. It creates DNA profiles within 90 to 120 minutes compared to currently available technologies which take at least two days or more.  Andhra Pradesh government signed MoU with Japan to develop a food value chain in state.  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered an ancient camping site dating 8500 BC in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), indicating humans were camping in the area 10,500 years ago.  Assam Assembly passed Amusements and Betting Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 to boost local film industry.  Bill Proposes to fix service charge at a maximum of Rs 12 per ticket, which is as high as Rs 40 at present.  Raised government tax to 30 % on service charge from earlier 20 %.  A cess of 1 Rupee will be levied on each ticket for creating a welfare fund for film and theatre sectors.  Assam became first state to ratify Goods and Services Tax Constitutional Amendment Bill.  Parliament has cleared GST bill to bring a uniform indirect tax regime in India. Now it awaits ratification of at least 15 states to make it a law. Centre seeks to roll-out GST by April 1, 2017.  Automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd introduced DiGiSENSE as a cloud based technology solution to track vehicle information in real time.  BHEL commissioned second 500 MW thermal unit at Marwa Thermal Power Station in Chhattisgarh.  Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) signed MoU with The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) for promoting renewable energy.  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology

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(SCTIMST) (Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) signed agreemet for developing ‘Deep Brain Stimulator’ (DBS). DBS involves implanting electrodes within certain areas of brain and regular electrical pulses generated by a pacemaker-like device placed under skin in upper chest regulates the abnormal impulses of the brain. DBS is used in typical neurological conditions of Essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and Dystonia.  Bharti Airtel launched 4G services in Kharagpur. Kharagpur is second city in West Bengal to have 4G services.  Bombay High Court ruled that women should be permitted to enter Haji Ali Dargah of Mumbai.  Bombay Stock Exchange signed MoU for co-operation in cyber security with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.  Cabinet approved introducing Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016, to amend Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. This law protects employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’. Proposed amendments -  Increase Maternity Benefit to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for 2 surviving children and 12 weeks for over 2 children.  Mandatory 12 weeks Maternity Benefit to ‘Adopting mother’ and ‘Commissioning mother’.  Facilitate Work from home for women during the time of her maternity.  Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) signed MoU with Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (Tirunelveli) to carry out collaborative research programmes in marine biodiversity.  Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani became first Indian woman to be elected as an individual member of International Olympic Committee (IOC).  Competition Commission of India imposed penalties on Karnataka Chemists and Druggist Association (‘KCDA’) and Lupin Ltd, for being in contravention of provisions of Competition Act 2002.  Defence Ministry sanctioned construction of a National War Memorial and National War Museum in New Delhi.  Delhi High Court ruled that National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi will continue to be a Union Territory (UT) under administrative control of Lt Governor (LG).  Delhi will have a sprawling new Aerospace Museum close to international airport focused on India’s rich aviation history.  Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) organized a 64-day-long theatre festival in Kolkata as biggest theatre festival in World. It will showcase 245 theatres of several groups at Bharatiyam Cultural Multiplex in Kolkata's satellite town Salt Lake.  Festival Amazing North-East...Paradise Unexplored will be held in New Delhi to promote rich folk culture of North-East India.  First Children Court of South India launched at Nampally Criminal Courts Complex in Hyderabad (Telangana) to fast disposal of cases related to children. Telangana is third state to have a child friendly court after Goa and Delhi.  First Indian TV channel on higher education and skill development been launched by Millionlights (education content provider) in partnership with DEN Manoranjan Satellite in Pune (Maharashtra).  Former Cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar selected Donja village in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra for development under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY).  Goa Tourism will organize ‘Freedom Ride’ as an exclusive bike rally on Independence Day (August 15, 2016).  Goa government signed MOU with Google to promote digital literacy and drive digital transformation in Goa.  Government allowed online authentication using Aadhar for new mobile connections. Aadhaar enabled e- KYC seeks to make online process of application and authentication faster and simpler for subscribers.  Government approved Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 to improve road safety scenario. It amends 68 of existing 223 sections of Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) 1988 and proposes hefty penalties on violations of road safety rules. It proposes addition of 28 new sections.  Increases compensation for Hit & Run cases to Rs. 2 lakh from Rs.25000. Adds provision for payment of compensation in road accidents fatalities upto .

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 e-Governance - It focuses on improving delivery of services to the stakeholders using e- Governance. It enables online learning licenses, increases period of driving licenses validity and remove requirements of educational qualifications for transport licenses etc.  Vahan & Sarathi platforms - Proposes to create National Register for Vehicle registration and National Register for Driving Licence through “Sarathi” and “Vahan” platforms. This will facilitate uniformity of the process across the country and bring harmony of the registration and licensing process.  Offences committed Juveniles - Owner or guardian will be deemed guilty in cases of offences by the Juveniles.  Government approved Rs 400 Crore projects under Namami Gange mission, Mostly for Uttar Pradesh (307 Crores).  Government approved amendments in Central List of OBCs (Other Backward Classes) applicable to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.  Government approved introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 to banning commercial surrogacy in India. Bill will ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples.  Government launched Accessible E-Library ‘Sugamya Pustakalaya’ for Divyang under Prime Minister’s Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.  Government launched first phase of Smart Ganga City programme in 10 cities located along River Ganga - Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Varanasi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Lucknow, Patna, Sahibganj and Barrackpore.  Gujarat became first state to distribute 2 crore LED Bulbs under UJALA Under UnnatJyoti programme. Gujarat reached this milestone in just 96 days and over 42 lakh households have already benefitted from scheme.  Gujarat high court removed 10 % reservation quota for economically backward classes (EBCs) in in higher educational institutions and government jobs, by terming Gujarat Unreserved Economically Weaker Sections Ordinance 2016 as unconstitutional. Ordinance was termed unconstitutional as total reservation exceeds in state exceeded 50 % percent cap set by Supreme Court.  HRD Minister Prakas Javedkar inaugurated IIT Raipur in Chhattisgarh at campus of Government Engineering College, Raipur.  Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur launched mobile application '108 HP' to facilitate efficient access to ambulances for medical emergencies.  Human Resource Ministry launched Indian Institute of Techonogy (IIT) Dharwad in Karnataka.  Human Resource and Development Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated transit campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at village Jagti in Jammu.  ICICI Bank signed MoU with Apollo India Credit Opportunity Management LLC and AION Capital Management to set up an asset reconstruction company.  India's First touch and feel garden for visually impaired people in country has been inaugurated near Calicut University campus by Kerala government.  Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) will document stories relating to villages and towns across India into an encyclopedia, aimed at connecting people better with oral and folk traditions. ICHR will also undertake study of princely States of modern India and studies to fill gaps between Harappan civilisation (first Indian urbanisation) and the 6th century BC (second urbanisation).  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur adopted five villages in Uttar Pradesh under Namami Gange programme - Ramel Nagar, Khoyra Katree, Pratapur, Hari Hindpur, and Katri Ladhva Khera.  Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Manipur government signed MoU to provide improved hospitality and tourism services to customers.  Indian Railways partnered with Google for digitizing and showcasing its heritage on digital platforms.  Indian Railways will build India’s longest tunnel and world’s tallest girder rail bridge on Jiribam-Tupul- Imphal new broad gauge railway line in Manipur.

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 111-km long line already has 37 tunnels on it. New tunnel will be 11.55 km long and will surpass Pir Panjal tunnel (Banihal- Qazigund line in J&K ). Rail bridge with height of 141m will surpass the existing tallest bridge in Europe which has a height of 139m.  India’s first BIO-CNG plant producing CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) from agricultural residue inaugurated in Pune (Maharashtra).  India’s first military heritage website “coloursofglory.org” has recently launched by Glory Foundation.  India’s first textile university will be set-up in Surat (Gujarat) with an investment of approx 800-900 crores.  India’s first underground museum will be opened at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in October 2016. Approx Rs. 80 crores were spent in creating this museum.  Kerala govt allotted 10,000 crores for government schools for next 5 years. As part of this, 60,000 new hi- tech class rooms will be set up.  Larsen & Toubro got contract as Implementation Partner to convert Nagpur (Maharashtra), into country's first large-scale integrated Smart City.  Lok Sabha passed Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016 to pave way for employers in textile sector to avail income tax benefits. Bill seeks to amends the Income Tax Act (IT), 1961 and the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. Key Features are -  Amendments to IT Act 1961  In case a public sector company demerges (split) into multiple companies, resultant company will be no longer a public sector company.  Deduction in respect of employment of new employees - limit of employing employee for minimum of 240 days in previous year to obtain a deduction on taxable income has been reduced to 150 days.  Amendments Customs Tariff Act 1975  Customs duty on marble and granite blocks and slabs is increased to 40% from earlier 10%.  MOU signed between National Tiger Conservation Authority and WII (Dehradun) for establishing India’s first tiger cell. It will have a database of tigers as well as DNA and stripes samples from over 50 tiger reserves and will aid conservation efforts.  Maharashta became first state to launch India’s first comprehensive ‘Crime Criminal Tracking Network System’ (CCTNS) in Mumbai, through operationalisation of 34 cyber laboratories across state in order to combat growing cybercrimes. CCTNS is developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) Pune.  Maharashtra Government has unveiled ambitious Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway project in Mumbai. The 46,000-crore rupee ambitious project will create state-of-the art road connectivity within a period of three years and give a fillip to investment in the state.  Maharashtra Government launched Quit India 2 Swaraaj to Suraaj Movement against various social ills during.  On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi had given the clarion call of Quit India at the historic August Kranti Maidan (then called as Gowalia Tank Maidan).  Maharashtra Government will provide upto 1,200 wi-fi hotspots in Mumbai as part of its plans to make Mumbai a wi-fi city by May 2017.  Maharashtra and Telangana signed agreements for irrigation projects to be constructed on Godavari (Medigadda barrage ), Pranahita (Tummadihatti barrage) and Painganga rivers (Chanaka-Korata barrage).  Maharashtra became first state in country to draft its own internal security legislation Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act (MPISA), 2016. It focuses on maintaining law and order and combating terrorism, insurgency, caste-related violence and communalism in state.  Maharashtra became first state to sign an MoU with ministry of civil aviation and Airports Authority of India for Regional Connectivity Scheme to develop 10 airports.  Maharashtra government will transform 1,000 villages with help of corporate sector and civil society over next 5 years.

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 Manipal Technologies Ltd (MTL) secure print solutions organization acquired CrossFraud - an advanced fraud detection and anti-money laundering solution from Bengaluru-based Saraansh Software Solutions.  Material Sciences Firm and Part of Murugappa Group Carborundum Universal inaugurated its highh-end Research and Development centre in its Hosur (Tamil Nadu).  Mega Food Park inaugurated in Jangipur of Murshidabad District of West Bengal.  Minister for Health & Family Welfare J P Nadda inaugurated 3 Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Shillong, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Imphal and All India Institute Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jodhpur, To reduce expenditure incurred by common patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases.  Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in West Bengal, a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to women belonging to 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) households.  PMUY was launched at Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) with an aim to provide LPG connections to 5 Crore BPL households by 2019 and is a part of larger programme of adding 10 Crore new LPG connections by 2019.  Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation launched a short film series An Open Mind, in honour of those who are driving positive behaviour change in their communities across country by helping eliminate open defecation and adopt safe sanitation practices.  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched a mobile app (developed by Facebook for free) that integrates various social media handles of over 170 Indian missions on a common platform.  Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) approved construction of 37013 houses for urban poor in Karnataka and Haryana with an investment of 1491 crore rupees (central assistance of 569 crores).  Ministry of Labour and Employment renamed Central Board for Workers’ Education as “Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development.  Ministry of Mines launched portal for Star Rating of Major Mineral Mines with an aim to promote sustainable mining. Portal was developed by IBM (Indian Bureau sof Mining) through NISG (National Institute of Smart Government), Hyderabad.  Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) allocated Rs. 142.00 crore has been provided for Biogas Programme for 2016- 17, for implementing National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP) for setting up of family type biogas plants in rural and semi-urban areas of the country. A target of 1,00,000 biogas plants has been fixed for the current year.  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a Notification to free e rickshaws and e carts from permit requirements. Now, vehicles registered as e carts / e rickshaws will not require any permits. State Governments can still impose restrictions under appropriate traffic laws on plying of these vehicles in specific areas.  Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) signed MoU with Comic Book Publisher Amar Chitra Katha to publish a special edition of comic book focusing on Swachh Bharat Mission.  Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) e-box in Delhi.  POCSO e-box is an online complaint management system for easy reporting of sexual offences against children and timely action against offenders under POCSO Act, 2012. It is an initiative of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) (www.ncpcr.gov.in).  Mobile application “I Feel Safe” aimed at helping women ensure their safety in Delhi has been launched at Delhi University, powered by Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust.  Motorcycle finance company Bajaj Finance partnered with India Post to facilitate purchase of vehicles in Karnataka.  Myanmar President Htin Kyaw Visited India ad signed 4 agreements with India -  First - construction of 69 bridges on Tamu-Kalewa section of the trilateral highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand.

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 Second - Upgrading Kalewa-Yargi section of trilateral highway.  Third - cooperation in renewable energy  Fourth - cooperation in traditional medicines.  National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) Vadodara signed MoU with Maharaja Sayajirao(MS) University (Vadodara) for awarding MBA degree in specific Railway fields to railway probationary officers belonging to Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) and Indian Railway Store Service (IRSS).  National Association of Software and Services (NASSCOM) launched its startup warehouse at Sunrise Startup Village at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).  National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) sanctioned 26 crore to Punjab government, for tackling waterlogging by constructing lift schemes in low-lying areas, village ponds, and other allied works.  National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) registered 9 new breeds of indigenous farm (livestock and poultry) animals.  9 newly registered breeds are Badri cow (Uttarakhand), Kodi Adu goat (Tamil Nadu), Teressa goat (Nicobar Island), Kendrapada sheep (Odisha), Chevaadu sheep (Tamil Nadu), Nicobari pig (Nicobarlsland), Tenyi Vo pig (Nagaland), Doom pig (Assam) and Kaunayenchicken (Manipur). Total indigenous breeds of livestock in country now reached 160.  National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MOU with IIT-Kharagpur for research project on Laboratory and Field investigations on Paneled Cement Concrete Pavements for Highways.  National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) of Ministry of AYUSH launched National campaign on Medicinal Plants at State Institute of Agriculture Management (Jaipur, Rajasthan).  National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) signed MoU for industrial use of treated water. This helps in establishment of STP in Mathura which will provide treated water for industrial use.  National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) capped prices of 24 essential drugs used for treatment of cancer, HIV, bacterial infections, anxiety and cardiac conditions.  Odisha Government dedicated 100 multi-purpose shelter houses to people of Odisha for use during floods and cyclones, aiming to minimize casualtes during calamities.  Odisha Police Launched Operation Muskan-2 as an initiative to trace missing children and reunite them with parents.  Odisha government launched a website of state's Home department to enable differently-abled persons to interact with website.  Odisha government made Aadhar Card mandatory for procurement of paddy in the state, to maintain transparency and ensure quick payment of dues.  Odisha government will recruit members of transgender community persons as warders in jails, as per directive of Supreme Court.  Online marketplace Amazon launched India’s first dedicate online Telugu book store with a wide selection of over 10,000 Telugu titles.  PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin dedicated first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu to nation, through video conferencing.  It has India’s single largest nuclear generation unit with capacity of 1000 megawatt (MW)  KKNPP is located in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, around 650 km from Chennai.  It is built under India-Russian Nuclear agreement of 1988.  PM Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for the Rs 10,598.98 crore National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) 1,600 MW Telangana Super Thermal Power Project (Phase I) in Ramagundam city. NTPC will establish project in Telengana in two phases - 1600 MW in Phase I and 2400 MW in Phase II. He also launched phase-1 of 'Mission Bhagiratha', a flagship project of Telangana government aimed at providing piped drinking water to every household in state.  PM Narendra Modi launched Saurashtra Narmada Irrigation (SAUNI) Project at Sanosara in Gujarat.  PM Narendra Modi released theme song for Tiranga Yatra to be organised between 16 to 23 August 2016

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across the country to mark 70 years of Independence. Theme song 70 Saal Azadi Yaad Karo Kurbani has been composed by Ghazal Srinivas.  15-day programme Azadi 70- Yaad Karo Kurbani (Freedom Fortnight) on August 9, 2016 to commemorate freedom fighters on 70th year of India’s Independence will startfrom from birth place of Great freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azaz at Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh).  President Pranab Mukherjee has given his approval to set up 6 new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in - Jammu, Tirupati, Palakkad (Kerala), Goa, Dharward (Karnataka) and Bhilai (Chhattisgarh).  This law also brought Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad under its ambit, to be called now as Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbadd.  President also gave his assent for establishment of a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Andhra Pradesh.  President Pranab Mukherjee launched Akashvani Maitree Channel and its website in Bengali language for listeners in West Bengal, Bangladesh and adjoining areas. Akashvani Maitree Channel is an initiative of Kolkata Akashvani Kendra for blending content both from India and Bangladesh and preserving Bengali culture.  Rajasthan become first state to approve sewage and waste water policy.  Rajya Sabha passed Dentists (Amendment) Bill 2016 that seeks to amend Dentists Act 1948. It will also replace Dentists (Amendment) Ordinance 2016. Key Features include introduction of a uniform entrance examination for all dental educational institutions.  Rajya Sabha passed Mental Health Care Bill to provide better healthcare for people suffering from mental illness and also to decriminalise suicide. In case of person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from mental illness at the time of attempting suicide unless proved otherwise. Such person shall not be liable to punishment under section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).  Research and innovation firm Fifth Generation Technologies (specialisation in building real time intelligence solutions) signed agreement with Anna University (Chennai) for conducting research to arrive at a useful prediction of remaining life of critical equipment that are working in high temperature environments.  Researchers from Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) Bhavanagar, (Gujarat) developed photocatalyst that can degrade 3 industrial dyes (methyl orange, methylene blue and reactive black-5) in presence of sunlight. Photocatalyst was developed using titanium dioxide doped with red seaweed polymer carrageenan (a substance extracted from purple and red seaweeds).  Conventionally, titanium dioxide was used for photocatalytic degradation of industrial dyes, but it took long time to degrade dyes.  South Korea will be focus country at 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2016 to be held in Goa in November 2016.  Sreekrishna temple in Guruvayur is included in Tourism Ministry’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).  Supreme Court stated that former Chief Ministers are not entitled for government accommodation for lifetime. Judgment came on a plea filed by Uttar Pradesh-based NGO Lok Prahari.  Tamil Nadu Assembly passed resolution to rename Madras High Court as Tamil Nadu High Court and not as High Court of Chennai as proposed by Central government.  Tamil Nadu government launched an online service for consumers to apply for low-tension service connections, through Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) website.  Telangana government will rearrange its interim borders to create 17 new districts in October 2016.  Telangana signed MOU with Indian Space Research Organisation for setting up a Water Resources Information System (WRIS) on ISRO's ‘Bhuvan’ web portal.  Town and Country Planning (TCP) department of Himachal Pradesh launched citizen governance mobile App “HIM TCP” to take vital services online. This App ensures single point access to services and other functions of department.  Traditional farm festival of Hareli celebrated in Chhattisgarh. It marks beginning of Shravan month (holy

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month of Hindus).  Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu launched Swachh Survekshan-2017 for 500 cities with an idea to make competitive environment to make cities clean.  Uttar Pradesh government approved a Metro Rail project for Allahabad city. Detailed project plan to be laid out later.  West Bengal Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution changing the name of the State to Bengal in English and Bangla in Bengali.  Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi inaugurated Uttarakhand's first animal birth control centre (ABC) in Dehradun. Government will take measures for Birth Control for stray dogs, whose population has been rising in state.  World Bank has sanctioned Rs 980 crore to dredge Brahmaputra River as an initiative to develop waterways to Bangladesh and to other South East Asian countries in a bid to boost trade and industry in the Northeast.  2 world records made by Indian Army DARE DEVILS team of Corps of Signals.  World Record for Longest continuous ride standing on the seat of a motor cycle broken by Capt Manpreet Singh by covering 75.2 Km in 02 : 24 : 12 hours.  World Record for Handle Bar Riding on a Motorcycle under fresh category established by Havildar Sandeep Kumar, covering a distance of 46.9 Km in 01 : 27 : 31 hours  9th India Chem 2016 International Conference inaugurated by Anant Kumar(Minister for Chemicals & Petrochemicals) in Mumbai (Maharashtra). It is organized by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals and FICCI.  Mexico has set up its third consulate in India (and first in South India)in Chennai that will cater to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.  According to Endemic Vascular Plants of India Report by Botanical Survey of India (BSI)  18,259 flowering plants are reported in India, 4,303 (over 23%) are found only in India (endemic to India)  Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number of species with 410, followed by Kerala (357 species) and Maharashtra (278 species).  Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh laid foundation stone of Gokul Gram at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh for conservation and development of native cattle breeds. Government will set up 14 such Grams across country as part of Rashtriya Gokul Mission.  Andhra Pradesh became 2nd state after Gujarat to achieve 100% electrification of households, as per report by JM Financials. About 35% rural households in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Assam still lacked access to power supply.  Annual 5day socio religious Solung festival of Adi tribe started in Arunachal Pradesh.  Arunachal Pradesh’s first Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Store opened in Itanagar.  As per latest National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) sanitation survey in rural areas, Sikkim is cleanest state in India, followed by Kerala, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh. Jharkhand comes last in list of 26 states.  Assam tourism unveiled its new logo with tagline ‘Awesome Assam, aimed at promoting state globally.  Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will link exam forms with Aadhaar card to avoid duplication. It is being done after the recent toppers scam.  Cauvery Supervisory Committee headed by Shashi Shekhar directed Karnataka to release 3000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu.  Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched e nivaran facility for online redressal of taxpayers grievances. These grievances can be related to refunds, Income Tax Returns (ITRs), Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), and Permanent Account Number (PAN).  Centre for Strategic and International Studies (USA)'s report on status of Women's participation in workplaces in India  Sikkim is at top with highest possible 40 points score.  Delhi being at bottom with score of 8.5, reflecting delhi shows worst state for working women among all states in India.

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 India has least rate for women participation in workplaces Just 24 %.  Chandigarh Administration and French Development Agency (AFD) signed MoU on Smart City Project and 'Technical Cooperation' in the field of Sustainable Urban Mobility.  World's largest solar power plant, with an installed capacity of 648MW has been commissioned at Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. It has been Set up by Adani Group, on an area of around 5,000 acres and at total cost of Rs 4,550 crores.  Chhattisgarh Government launched ‘Start Up Chhattisgarh’ programme to encourage entrepreneurs in state.  Chhattisgarh government launched official AIR Regional News Unit (RNU)’s Facebook page at Raipur Radio station.  Coal India Limited (CIL) signed Memorandum of Understanding MoU with Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for effectively monitoring of environment related issues in coal mining projects.  Delhi Police launched mobile application for senior citizens to provide immediate assistance to them in distress.  Delhi government increased retirement age of doctors working in its hospitals to 65 years, from 62 earlier.  Delhi's Race Course Road has now been renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg. It has Official Residence of India's Prime Minister.  Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare) declared India free from Avian Influenza (H5N1).  Department of Posts launched toll free number ‘1924’ to register postal complaints. Service will be operational for 12 hours on working days between 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs.  Department of Telecom (DoT) introduced helpline Urja Mitra for updates about electricity supply. Consumers can now dial 14401 and get update from their respective power distribution companies about outages in their area through ‘Urja Mitra Helpline’.  Finance Ministry decided that sports infrastructure will be included under harmonised master list of infrastructure subsectors.  First Nomad Film Festival 2016 started at India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi to raise awareness and change perceptions regarding denotified tribes. The Chhara tribes were listed as ‘Criminal Tribes’ under 1871 Criminal Tribes Act during the British rule.  First exhibition on childhood cancer awareness held at Taj Mahal in Agra (Uttar Pradesh).  First phase of ESIC (Employees State Insurance Corporation) Pilot Project of Telemedicine Services launched for providing specialist medical services at a distance to insured workers.  Goa Tourism department will host the first of its kind Vintage Bike and Car Festival2016 on October 1, 2016.  Goa will host a bird festival from November 11 to 13 with Goa's state bird Bulbul” as logo for the festival.  Government announced 2,520 cr to be spent on rejuvenation of ghats and infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi City, to make it Suramya, Samunnat, Sanyojit Kashi under Smart City Plan.  Government announced special package of 200 crores for Jammu and Kashmir to engage youth of state in sporting activities.  Government approved 450 crore rupees for Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim under Swadesh Darshan scheme.  Uttarakhand JageshwarDevidhuraKatarmalBaijnath sites with total cost 83 crores.  Coastal circuit (Tamil Nadu) Development of Chennai Mamamallapuram Rameshwaram Manpadu Kanyakumari.  Ramayana Circuit (Uttar Pradesh) Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur.  North East circuit (Sikkim) Development of cultural centre, paragliding centre and craft bazaar for mountaineering and meditation hall.  Heritage Circuit in Madhya Pradesh Developing Tourism Infrastructure Gwalior Orchha Khajuraho Chanderi Bhimbetka Mandu.  Government approved 500 Crores as part of Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) for

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development of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.  Government approved changing name of Gurgaon to ‘Gurugram’. With this, both city and district of Gurgaon would be known as Gurugram.  Government approved direct communication link through a dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) between Chennai (mainland India) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, connecting mainland with Port Blair and five other islands Little Andaman, Havelock, Car Nicobar, Kamorta and Great Nicobar. Estimated cost of project is 1102.38 crores.  Government approved to enact Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill 2016, related to powers of High Courts in respect of claims associated with transport by sea and navigable waterways. It also repealed five obsolete British statues on admiralty jurisdiction in civil matters Admiralty Court Act 1840, Admiralty Court Act 1861, Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890, Colonial Courts of Admiralty (India) Act 1891, and Provisions of Letters Patent 1865.  Government approves subsidized helicopter services in State of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on a pilot basis in 10 sectors, as per stipulation that most inaccessible destination points should be chosen.  Government has approved six proposals to set up centres of excellence to promote and fund startups under National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI) (Department of Science and Technology). Proposals Included SINEIIT Bombay, Venture CenterNCL Pune, CIIEIIM Ahmedabad and a research park at IIT Gandhinagar.  Government launched a new service integration of DigiLocker with Driving Licenses (DL) & Vehicle Registration Certificates (RC). It was Launched by Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari and Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad.  With this integration, people will no longer need to carry around physical copies of their Driving Licences and RCs. Using DigiLocker mobile app, they can instead access digital copies of the same on their mobile phones.  DLs and VRC documents will be now issued directly to the DigiLockers of individuals in digital formats. These digital copies can be shared with other government departments as identity and address proof.  Government release special Commemorative Postage Stamp on occasion of 100th anniversary of Lady Hardinge Medical College (Delhi).  Grand Buddhist festival Naropa which occurs in every 12 years, started at 17th century Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.  Gujarat government signed MoU with Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India (AAI) to develop 11 small airports and airstrips under Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to boost regional air connectivity in State.  Gujarat became third State after Jharkhand and Maharashtra to have signed such agreement under Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).  Gumthala Garhu Village near Pehowa in Kurukshetra district in Haryana became the first Wifi hotspot village in Haryana.  Haryana Government announced Charkhi Dadri as 22nd district. At present, it is part of state’s largest district Bhiwani.  Health Ministry recently launched “Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC)” to eradicate leprosy from India.  Health Ministry will launch Mission Parivar Vikas in 145 districts of 8 States, to improve family planning services. Aim is to reach replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025. States are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam.  Himachal Pradesh cabinet amended Hydropower Policy 2006 in respect to transfer of shares to non Himachalis. Now Himachalis can sell or transfer 49% equity shares to non Himachalis at any stage after allotment of projects upto 2 MW capacity and full disinvestment after two years of commissioning of projects.

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 Himachal Pradesh government notified guidelines for transparent auction and scientific mining and hiked penalty for offences under mining act. Imprisonment up to two years or fine up to 25000 rupees or both has been made for those involved in illegal mining of minerals.  Himachal Pradesh government signed MoU with Singapore government for developing a smart integrated township in Jathiadevi near Shimla airport.  Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid Foundation Stone for construction of Infosys – Red Cross Sarai today at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.  India declared itself free from highly contagious Avian Influenza (H5N1) or bird flu and has notified it to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  Indian Railways launched ‘Yatri Mitra Sewa’, to make rail travel comfortable for elderly, differently abled and ailing travellers.  India's first international conference on cooking gas held in Bhubaneswar (Odisha).  India’s largest civilian research and development agency Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) completed its platinum jubilee (75 years of operations). CSIR became operational on 26 September 1942.  Jammu and Kashmir government launched Scooty for College Girls Scheme. As per the scheme, eligibility for a scooty is based on minimum percentage and annual family income of 65 % and Rs.4 lakh respectively. College going girl students will be given 50 % subsidy on purchase of a Scooty.  Karnataka State Wildlife Board declared Ankasamudra tank in Hagari Bommanahalli taluk as a bird conservation reserve. This is first bird conservation reserve declared in the entire Hyderabad Karnataka region.  Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal laid Foundation Stone of Ludhiana Mega Food Park., to be developed at cost of 117 crores over an area of 100 acres.  Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India signed MOU with Puducherry Government for Regional Connectivity Scheme.  RCS is key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy and would be in operation for 10 years, providing connectivity to unserved and underserved airports of country.  Fare for a 1 hour journey of appx. 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for a 30 minute journey on a helicopter would now be capped at Rs. 2,500.  Puducherry is first Union Territory to have signed RCS. Before Puducherry, states of Gujarat, Jharkhand and Maharashtra have signed this agreement.  Ministry of Civil Aviation approved 4 new airport projects 3 in Andhra Pradesh (Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakallu (Kurnool)) and Kothagudem in Telengana.  Ministry of Civil Aviation prohibited use of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone on board an aircraft. This has been done in light of several incidents globally, involving battery of Samsung Galaxy Note 7.  Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj released Swachh Survekshan for rural India. A total of 22 hill districts and 53 plain areas were assessed under Gramin Swachh Survekshan launched in May 2016.  Mandi was judged as cleanest district in Hills category and Sindhudurg as cleanest in Plains category.  Ministry commissioned Quality Council of India (QCI) to carry out assessment. Each district has been judged on four distinct parameters.  Households having access to safe toilets and using them (toilet usage, water accessibility, safe disposal of waste) (40%)  Households having no litter around (30%)  Public places with no litter in the surrounding (10%)  Households having no stagnant wastewater around (20%)  Ministry of External affairs (MEA) launched a registration module madad.gov.in for Indian students studying abroad so they could be reached in case of emergency.  Ministry of Home Affairs approved use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) shells as an alternative to pellet guns for crowd controlling in Jammu and Kashmir. PAVA sheels also called Nonivamide are chilli

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filled grenades. They are less lethal compared to pellet guns and do not cause physical injury.  Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas launched Gas4India campaign, aimed at promoting use of natural gas in the country.  Ministry of Urban Development shortlisted 27 cities from 12 States in list of 3rd batch of Smart Cities Mission. These cities were shortlisted based on scores obtained in latest round of the Smart City Challenge competition in which total 63 cities had participated. Competition was topped by Amritsar in Punjab. With 5 cities, Maharashtra has the highest number of cities.  Mobile phone Maker Gionee signed MoU with Haryana government to set up manufacturing hub with investment of Rs 500 crore (later would be increased to 1,500 crores).  NHPC (Natinal Hydro Power Corporation) signed pact with BHEL for renovation of 180 MW Baira Siul power station in Himachal Pradesh.  National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved Rs. 10000 crore Ken Betwa river interlinking project. It is India’s first inter State river interlinking project (Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh). Main feature of this project is a 230km long canal and a series of barrages and dams (Makodia and Dhaudhan dams)connecting Ken and Betwa rivers. It will irrigate 3.5 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 14,000 hectares of Uttar Pradesh, in Bundelkhand.  National Mission on Bio-economy launched in Shillong (Meghalaya) by Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) under Ministry of Science and Technology. The purpose of the mission is to boost rural economy by utilizing bio resources.  Noted Yoga Guru and founder of Patanjali group Baba Ramdev laid foundation stone of Patanjali Mega Food and Herbal Park in Outskirts of Nagpur.  Nuakhai, agrarian mass festival of Kosali people celebrated in western Odisha to welcome new rice of the season. Every year, the festival is observed on panchami tithi, the day after Ganesh Chaturthi.  Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced to share his thoughts on different issues through radio for 10 minutes every month, through Biju Goan Radio.  Odisha Government launched Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana (BKRY) for improving Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and Child Sex Ratio (CSR) in the three districts Ganjam, Dhenkanal and Angul.  Odisha government launched pension scheme for construction workers, which will benefit 25 lakh beneficiaries.  Construction workers above 60 years will get pension of Rs 300 / month while workers above 80 years will get pension of 500 / month.  Earlier, Odisha government launched Mahaprayan scheme for taking bodies from hospital to deceased’s house and Biju Kanya Ratna scheme that aims to improve child sex ratio.  Odisha government signed 15 year lease agreement with Falcon Marine Exports for operation of Jagatjore Shrimp Culture Project in coastal Kendrapara district. It will fetch revenue of 13 crore rupees to government.  Paryavaran Bhawan located in CGO Complex (New Delhi) has been renamed as Pandit Deendayal Antyodaya Bhawan, highlighting Antyodaya Philosophy of Pandit Deendayal who advocated upliftment of the poorest strata of the Society.  Patna High Court quashed Bihar government's decision to complete banning liquor in the state, saying that it's is ultra vires to Constitution (beyond state government's legal authority). Liquor ban law was made more stringent after Assembly passed Bihar Excise and Prohibition Bill that stated all adult members of family could be arrested for 7 years if liquor was found stored in house.  Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi launched ‘Shramdaan movement’ as part of Swachh Bharat and Swachh Puducherry initiative.  Rajasthan High Court become Fourth State to provide eStamp facility, after Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh.  Rajasthan became first Indian state to adopt centre’s Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) in all its urban local bodies (ULB). Almost 5 lakh conventional street lights have been replaced with LED street lights across the state.  Rajasthan’s education department partnered with USA based technology firm Cisco to promote digital

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learning across state using virtual digital room solutions.  Southern state of Kerala entered into joint venture agreement with Railways for rail projects in state under 51:49 equity partnership.  Telangana government signed MoU with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to promote education. ISRO will help to improve services of Telangana’s educational channel ‘Mana TV’ by using Satcom.  To boost tourism in State of Jammu & Kashmir, Government extended facility to travel by any airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir on LTC (Leave Travel Concession), under Special Dispensation Scheme for Central Government employees, for upto September 2018.  Uttar Pradesh government appointed Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui as brand ambassador of its flagship programme 'Samajwadi Kisan Beema Yojana'. Scheme provides cashless treatment upto Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs one lakh for organ transplant.  Water Resources Ministry signed MoU with Agriculture Ministry for speedy implementation of Namami Gange programme, by encouraging farmers of over 5,000 villages along Ganga River to take up organic farming to curb pollution caused by chemical fertilisers.  West Bengal government announced to install monorail from Budge Budge in South 24Parganas to Ruby Connector in Kolkata, a 14kilometrelong monorail route. It will cost 4216 crore rupees.  Election Commission of India (ECI) granted national party status to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Party led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after TMC fulfilled required conditions to become a national party after getting status of state party in 4 states.  TMC is ruling West Bengal Government and has its presence in north eastern states Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.  With this , TMC became seventh national party in the country along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM).  If any political party Secures at least 6% of the valid votes polled in any 4 states. itis eligible for getting considered for national party status.  In August 2016, ECI brought changes in Paragraph 6C of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968 to review status of political parties every 10 years, instead of present norm of 5 years.  3 Guinness World Records created at Samajik Adhikarita Shivir and Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fittings of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) Camp in Navsari (Gujarat)  First record Highest number of Oil lamps lit simultaneously at single location, 989 Divyangs came together to set this record.  Second record Biggest Wheelchair Logo, with 1,000 participants in wheelchairs depicted a message saying ‘Happy Birthday PM’ in Tricolour.  world record Most people fitted with Hearing Aid in 8 hours at Single location (600 Hearing Aids Fitted).  104th Indian Science Congress (ISC) 2017 will be held at Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) in January 2017.  43rd edition of India International Knit Fair 2016 held at India Knit Fair Complex in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu.  47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa in November 2016.  Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu announced that South Korean director Im Kwon-taek will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.  5th India International Silk Fair (IISF) 2016 held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.  Abhaneri festival held at Abhaneri village in Dausa (Rajasthan), to promote rural tourism in area.  According to 2011 census data, 61 % of population of Differently abled persons in age-group of 5-19 (65 lakh total) in 2011 were attending educational institutions.  According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi’s air quality is

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very poor. The average (24-hour rolling) of PM2.5 and PM10, suspended respirable pollutants, were recorded as 120.8 and 248 micrograms per cubic metre as against safe limits of 60 and 100.  Andhra Pradesh government signed a FinTech Cooperation agreement with Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to promote innovation in financial services.  As per a study by National Council of Applied Economic Research, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) has played important role in reducing ‘socioeconomic disparities’ existing in maternal care.  BHEL commissioned 660 Mw coal-based supercritical thermal power unit in Uttar Pradesh, at 3x660 Mw Prayagraj super thermal power project in Allahabad district.  Bathukamma floral festival celebrated by Hindu women in Telangana.  Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Revised price will facilitate OMCs to carry out Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme for 2016-17.  Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 (IGIA) achieved Platinum rating from Indian Green Building Council (ICBC).  Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung dissolved Delhi Waqf Board, referring It’s constitution to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for alleged corruption.  Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and World Bank's Ease of Doing Business India Report 2016 -  Andhra Pradesh and Telangana jointly topped Ease of Doing Business Reforms Ranking 2015-16.  States were ranked on their implementation of DIPP-proposed 340-point Business Reform Action Plan in 2015 - 2016. These are broadly under six key categories - tax reforms, single-window systems, environment and labour reforms, construction permits, inspection reforms and commercial disputes and paper-less courts.  Top 10 - Andhra Pradesh (Score 98.78%), Telangana (98.78%), Gujarat (98.21%), Chhattisgarh (97.32%), Madhya Pradesh (97.01%), Haryana (96.95%), Jharkhand (96.57%), Rajasthan (96.43%), Uttarakhand (96.13%) and Maharashtra (92.86).  National implementation average of reforms stands at 48.93%, higher than 2015 national average of 32.  12 states scored over 90 while 17 states / UTs including Kerala, Goa and most north-eastern states score poor 0-40%.  Department of Personnel & Training (Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions) launched Employees Online (EO) App. The mobile application aims to update on Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointments and postings on real time basis and to bring transparency.  Doordarshan signed agreement with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) regarding the transmission of 4 Gyan Darshan Educational channels.  Election Commission of India (ECI) amended Conduct of Election Rules 1961 to facilitate e-transfer of postal ballot.  It will empower a returning officer in any constituency to send postal ballots to an eligible voter by electronic means. It will make voting feasible to all voters who may not vote due to not being physically available at the booth.  Under it, returning officer can send ballot through a web portal with a ‘One Time Password (OTP)’ to voters. Voter needs to download the ballot for voting. The voter after voting will physically return the ballot through post.  It will ease logistical issues involved in ensuring that the ballot paper of the constituency, where a voter is eligible to vote, is sent in time. Thus, it will cut time in transmission of the ballot paper and help the EC overcome logistical problems.  Election Commission of India (ECI) collaborated with Facebook to register young voters in 5 states going to polls in 2017 - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand.  Global Conference to Strengthen Arbitration and Enforcement in India held in Delhi with title - National Initiative On Strengthening Arbitration And Enforcement In India.  Goa Tourism department launched vessels popularly known as ‘Duck Boats’ to boost tourist footfall.

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 Government allowed HLL Lifecare (Miniratna PSU) to sub-lease over 300 acres of land for setting up India’s first Medipark (Medical Park) at Chengalpet near Chennai in Tamil Nadu.  Government announced to set up 30 inland waterways and will soon float invite bids for the same. This move will help to tap the huge potential in the so-far-untapped inland waterways transport segment despite India being endowed with natural rivers suitable for it.  Earlier, Parliament allowed 106 rivers across India to be converted into National Waterways (NWs) in addition to existing 5 such National Waterways.  Government approved 515 crores for development of proposed Sagar Port project in West Bengal.  Government approved Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS).  Government approved establishment of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Jammu in a temporary campus at Old Government College of Engineering & Technology from 2016-17.  Government approved establishment of National Academic Depository (NAD) within next three months. NAD will be rolled out throughout country in 2017-18.  Finance Minister's Budget Speech of 2016-17 included commitment to establish a Digital Depository for school learning certificates, degrees and other academic awards of Higher Education Institutions, on the pattern of a Securities Depository.  NAD would be operationalised by NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures, Limited (CVL).  Academic institutions would be responsible for the authenticity of data digitally uploaded by them into system.  NAD will provide digital or a printed copy of the academic award with security features to students or other authorized users.  Requests for access to academic awards, for example, from potential employers, and academic institutions would be only on the basis of consent of the student.  Government approved formation of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (USER) at Berhampur (Odisha), at cost of Rs 152 crores for initial three years (2016-19).  Seven IISERs are - Berhampur, Tirupati, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali, Kolkata and Pune.  Government brought final draft of National Water Framework Bill 2016 to provide uniform national legal framework to manage water in a better way by proposing model law for all states. However, water being a State subject under VII Schedule of constitution the law will be not binding on States for adoption.  Government constituted a Committee Under Joint Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries (Munialappa) to Monitor situation arising out of avian influenza (H5N8), Also called Bird Flu.  Government decided to establish at least one Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each of districts in country, to provide technical assistance to farmers.  Government held tripartite talks with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) of Manipur to find solution to their long standing demand of homeland and political future.  Government integrated 250 mandis in 10 states with electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM) in first phase. Target is to integrate 585 mandis by March 2018.  Government launched Mining Surveillance System (MSS) as a surveillance network to check illegal mining using latest satellite technology. It is Developed by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in coordination with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG) Gandhinagar.  Government made Aadhaar card mandatory for availing cooking gas (LPG) subsidies after November 2016.  Government reconstituted Inter State Council (ISC) and Standing Committee of ISC  It was reconstituted under Clause 2 of Inter State Council order 1990.  Inter-State Council is a constitutional body to facilitate coordination between states and the centre.  It will be headed by PM Narendra Modi and consists Chief Ministers of all states and Union Territories as members.

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 Six Union Ministers are also members - Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkiah Naidu and Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari.  Standing Committee of the Inter State Council will be headed by Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh.  Government stated that Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have become first States to declare all cities and towns as Open Defecation Free (ODF).  Government will adopt 3 pronged approach to revitalise domestic retail and wholesale trade - Establishing a regulatory body for national internal trade (retail and wholesale), Comprehensive domestic trade policy and Board for Internal Trade.  Domestic trade comprises non-corporate small businesses providing employment to approx 45 crore people. Currently, there is no single regulatory body or Ministry for such six crore small businesses in the country that have collective annual turnover of around Rs. 30 lakh crore.  Government will invest 15000 crore rupees to increase capacity of Panipat refinery in Haryana to 25 Million Tonnes from existing 15 Million Tonnes.  Government will utilise vast network of post offices across the country to sell subsidised pulses.  Haji Ali Dargah Trust granted equal access to women to inner sanctorum of Haji Ali shrine in Mumbai on par with men.  Haryana Government will observe 2017 as Garib Kalyan Varsh, aimed at welfare of poor people and generating employment opportunities.  Haryana government started a ‘Farm Tourism’ scheme to boost tourism. In it, registered farm owners can host tourists as part of holiday packages. This scheme has been started to attract people to villages.  Himachal Pradesh declared India's Second Open Defecation Free State (After Sikkim).  Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India-Pakistan's 3323-km border will be completely sealed by December 2018. Besides, a new concept of Border Security Grid (BSG) has been envisaged, which will take final shape after considering suggestions of all stake holders related to border security.  Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid foundation stone of building for Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under Ministry of Culture at Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh).  India's First International Arbitration Centre inaugurated in Mumbai (Maharashtra), to provide an arbitration platform for Indian business houses to negotiate commercial disputes.  India’s first startup magazine Cofounder, launched by Adhish Verma and Arunraj Rajendran.  India’s first “Design Yatra” started in Kozhikode (Kerala), spread awareness and popularize designs. It will travel to 29 cities by February 2017, covering 15,000 kms. It is launched by the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (HID).  International Energy Agency (IAE) will partner with India to implement its Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) initiative globally for energy savings.  IAE has been impressed with performance of India’s UJALA programme in terms of vastly improving access to LED lighting while reducing costs.  UJALA scheme is implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).  About 4 crore LEDs are distributed under UJALA per month, up from 10 lakh / month in 2014.  International Household Survey Network (IHSN) Toolkit workshop held by Ministry for Statistics and Programme Implementation in Delhi.  Micro data Management Toolkit is open source data, DDI (Data Documentation Initiative) compliant application for cataloguing and dissemination of Metadata & Microdata. The International Household Survey Network (IHSN) is designed to address technical issues facing data producers.  Jharkhand become first state to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in four districts - Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jantara.  Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched paddy cultivation in Aranmula Puncha near Cochin., under

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Harita Keralam project.  Kerala became third Open Defecation Free state after Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) (Gramin).  Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II (KWDT-II) headed by Brijesh Kumar decided to not to relook into allocation of Krishna River water among four states - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Tribunal though decided to confine reallocation of Krishna water to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.  KWDT-II pronounced its judgement on the litigation prompted by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Both states in their petition had sought fresh allocation of Krishna River water among all four riparian states, not just between both of them.  KWDT-II verdict said that Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 was not applicable to all four states, thss river water should be re-allocated between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, from the share of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT)  KWDT was set up by Government in 1969 under Interstate River Water Disputes Act 1956 to resolve disputes between states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and then undivided Andhra Pradesh over sharing of Krishna river water.  Life Expectancy data by Registrar General of India (2010 - 2014),  Jammu and Kashmir has highest Life Expectancy at all ages, except at Birth (At Birth - which Kerala is at top - 74.9 years, . Delhi is second (73.2 years) and Jammu and Kashmir stands third).  Average Life expectancy in India has grown to 67.9 years in 2010-14, UP from 49.7 years in 1970. For males, it is 66.2 years while female are much higher at 69.6 years. About Data -  RGI’s Sample Registration System (SRS) published state level life expectancy data prepared following surveys done between 2010 and 2014, for different ages - o (at birth), 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70.  Madhya Pradesh government will launch Lalima Abhiyan in November 2016, to make state free from anaemia.  Maharashtra Government allocated approx 40 hectare land to Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to build LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) India Project at Dudhala village in Hingoli district.  Maharashtra government launched Kaushalya Setu for accommodting students in skill development courses who failed to clear Class 10th / 12th exam.  Manipur's Human rights activist (Called as Iron Lady) Irom Sharmila announced formation of her political party named Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA).  Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh informed that egg availability in India is 63 per person per year, while it should be about 180 eggs per person per year.  Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti released first installment of Rs. 1500 crore to states as central assistance for 99 prioritized irrigation projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP). Amount is meant for 50 projects in Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana. Total funds required for completion of all 99 projects is 77595 crore.  Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation signed MoU with Common Services Centre (SPV of Ministry of Information Technology) for enabling online submission of applications under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).  Ministry of Housing notified Real Estate (Regulation and Development) (General) Rules 2016, to be applicable to 5 Union Territories - Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Chandigarh.  Ministry of Railways and Urban Development Ministry signed MoU for smart railway stations, valid for 5 years.  Ministry of Railways declared Okha-Kanalus and the Porbandar-Wansjaliya railway sections of Gujarat as

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Green Train Corridors (All trains through these routes will be equipped with bio-toilets).  Ministry of Road Transport & Highways made it mandatory for all automobile manufacturers to provide emission and noise pollution details for every vehicle they produce, from April 2017 onwards. Govt amended Form 22 under Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989 through which manufactures provide the initial certification of compliance of vehicles.  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways launched Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS). It is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in country and rate structural condition of bridges, to help in their timely repair and rehabilitation work. IBMS will have info on over one lakh fifty thousand bridge structures.  Ministry of Science and Technology has launched two new schemes - Biotech KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) and Cattle Genomics in order to apply science to boost rural economy.  Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) - Its purpose is to connect farmers, scientist and science institution across country. Under it, fellowship will be given to women farmers for training and education in farm practice.  Cattle Genomics - It aims at boosting selective breeding of the native livestock more accurately to ensure high-yielding, disease-resistant, resilient livestock.  Ministry of Shipping sanctioned Capital Dredging Project of Ro Pax Ferry Services between Gogha & Dahej, in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat under Sagarmala programme, otal project cost is estimated to be Rs 234 Crore of which 50% will be funded by the Government under Sagarmala.  Ministry of Urban Development approved projects worth 114 crores under HRIDAY scheme for improving infrastructure facilities around core heritage sites in five cities - Varnasi (Uttar Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Dwaraka (Gujarat), Puri (Odisha) and Warangal (Telangana).  National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) Goa has established a high altitude research station in Himalaya called HIMANSH, at a remote region in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.  Himalayan region has largest concentration of glaciers outside polar caps, and is called “Water Tower of Asia”. It is source of 10 major river systems that provide irrigation, power and drinking water for over 70 crore people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  National Seismic Programme (NSP) been launched by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in Odisha to trace hydrocarbon resources like oil and natural gas in Mahanadi basin. NSP will undertake a fresh appraisal in all sedimentary basins across India, for a better understanding of the hydrocarbon potential.  National Summit on Fortification of Food held in New Delhi, to address interventions in combating micronutrient malnutrition in country.  Odisha government launched Madhubabu Aain Sahayata Sibir’ (MASS) scheme to provide legal assistance to deprived sections of the society at the grassroots level. It has been named after Odia lawyer Madhu Babu, who is considered as the first lawyer of Odisha.  PM Narendra Modi announced India's first Railway University will be set up in Vadodara (Gujarat).  PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Shaurya Smarak' war memorial in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.  PM Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of Urja Ganga, ambitious gas pipeline project in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).  Project Is aimed at providing piped cooking (PNG) gas and CNG gas for the vehicles to eastern region of India. It is being implemented by GAIL.  It include Laying a 2,050-km pipeline connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal) by 2018. Under it, overall 20 lakh households will get PNG connections.  Urja Ganga project will augment GAIL’s network of trunk pipelines covering the length of around 11,000 km by 2540 km.  Under this project, work on 2540-km long Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas pipeline project will begin and will be completed between 2018 and 2020.  PM Narendra Modi launched National SC/ST hub and Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for MSMEs at Ludhiana in Punjab. He also dedicated to the nation 3 hydropower projects at Koldam, Parbati and Rampur in Himachal Pradesh.

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 Koldam - 4X 200 MW capacity project executed by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).  Parbati - Stage-Ill project with a capacity of 530 MW of National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC).  Rampur - 412 MW capacity project of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN).  PM Narendra Modi launched campaign #Sandesh2Soldiers, through which people can send their Diwali greetings and messages to soldiers to boost their morale. Messages can be sent via Narendra Modi App, MyGov.in, and All India Radio.  President Pranav Mukherjee inaugurated Sardar Patel Heart Institute at Ankleshwar in Gujarat.  Rajasthan High Court dissolved State Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission as it was constituted without State Assembly enacting any legislation for it.  Researchers from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) Chattisgarh developed a protein-enriched rice variet, with 10% protein content. It is 3% more than what is found in any popular variety and has 30 PPM (parts per million) zinc content.  Safe Motherhood Week Observed in Uttar Pradesh, to decrease 'Mother Mortality Rate' (MMR) and 'Infant Mortality Rate' (IMR).  Second Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) 2016 held in Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.  State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi Visited India and signed three agreements -  Designing an academic and professional building programme for insurance industry of Myanmar.  Cooperation in Power Sector : India has also offered to enhance power supply from Moreh in Manipur to Tamu in Myanmar.  Banking Supervision between RBI and Central Bank of Myanmar.  Supreme Court stayed commercial release of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop till October 17, 2016.  SC reacted on petition filed by Aruna Rodrigues that said that sowing of GM Mustard seeds will be undertaken without relevant tests and without entire bio-safety dossier for commercial launch GM mustard.  Supreme Court widened scope of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 by making it gender-neutral by deletiing words “adult male” before word ‘person’ in Section 2(q) of Act.  Telangana Government in its biggest administrative reform created 21 new districts, taking number of districts to 31 from 10 -  21 new districts are - Siddipet, Jayashankar, Jangaon, Jagtial, Yadadri, Warangal (Rural), Peddapally, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Mancheriyal, Kothagudem, Vikarabad, Rajanna, Asifabad, Suryapet, Wanaparthy, Nirmal, Mahabubabad, Nagarkurnool, Jogulamba and Malkajgiri.  Telangana government organised traditional state festival of 'Bathukamma' and it entered into Guinness Book of World Records, with about ten thousand women participating.  USA lifted Over 20 years old Economic sanctions against Myanmar.  Union Government will fast-track four projects in Indus river basin to increase irrigation area in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by 2 lakh acres. India has decided to exploit to maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab as per Indus Water Treaty (IWT).  Uttarakhand High Court ordered state government to completely ban sale of whitener, after death of a teenager from sniffing an excess of it.  Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has recognised a group of 22 MPs belonging to smaller parties and certain Independents as a consolidated bloc - the United Group. It will be the third largest group of MPs in the Rajya Sabha, after Congress and BJP.  Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year from October 31 across India to promote probity in public life and achieve a corruption free society. 2016 theme is “Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption”.  Women of India Festival 2016 of organic products held in New Delhi.  jump., during 32nd National Junior Athletics Championships in Coimbatore (Tamilnadu).

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 36th India International Trade Fair (IITF) has started at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi (Organized by Ministry of Commerce and Industry)  150 companies from 27 countries are taking part in the fair.  2016 IITF’s partner country is South Korea and focus country is Belarus.  Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand are partner states and Haryana is focus state.  10 day long Losar festival began in Ladakh (J&K), to mark beginning of New Year.  10-day Sangai Festival 2016 held in Manipur with theme Destination Manipur.  World War II Vintage Jeep Rally flagged off from Koirengei Old Air Field.  2 member team of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been sent by UNESCO to Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha), for assessment of biodiversity of unique mangrove ecosystem of park.  2016 Global Citizen India festival held in Mumbai (Maharashtra), to bring together popular culture and public policy.  2016 Great Indian Film and Literature Festival (GIFLIF) will be held at in Gurugram (Haryana) from December 2 to showcase spirit of Indian film and literature.  2016 Urban Mobility India conference held in Gandhinagar (Gujarat), with theme “Planning Mobility for City’s sustainability”.  2nd Windmill Festival (known as India’s first International Children’s festival), will be held at Reliance Jio Garden in Mumbai in January 2017.  51st Annual Conference of Directors-General of Police of States held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad (Telangana).  6th Kathakar: International Storytellers Festival held in New Delhi. It has been Organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).  According to data from Registrar General of India, Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has declined to 887 in 2014 from 898 in 2013 and 909 in 2011.  Highest SRB is in Lakshadweep (1043), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1031) and Arunachal Pradesh (993).  Lowest SRB is in Manipur (684), Rajasthan (799) and Tamil Nadu (834).  After Demonetization, Uttar Pradesh government allowed payment of land registry fee the demonetised 500 and 1000 currency notes.  Aligarh leads 500 cities in undertaking IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Swachh awareness generation activities under Swachh Survekshan2017, launched by Ministry of Urban Development.  IEC performance has been assessed by Ministry while evaluation of other parameters of Swachh Survekshan2017 will be done by Quality Council of India.  Andhra Pradesh Government launched Smart Water Distribution Monitoring application on ourvmc.org. Using this portal , people can check the status of drinking water in water tanks nearby.  As per Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, 272 products have been registered as geographical indications since September 2003.  As per report, India's present installed nuclear power capacity is 5780 MW. It will be enhanced by 1000MW once Kudankulam Unit2' s commercial operations begin by end of 2016.  Asia’s first cycle highway inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh. This 207 km long cycle highway runs between Etawah and Agra. It is approx 7 feet wide and runs parallel to main highway.  Assam's Haflong will host Judima Festival in December 2016.  Bihar government launched Har Ghar Bijli Lagataar programme to provide free electricity connection to 50 lakh households above poverty line.  Bollywood Film Pink, (Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and starring Amitabh Bachchan) has been invited for a special screening at the United Nations head quarters in New York.  Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved setting up 1 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in each of 62 uncovered districts, with an outlay of INR 2,871 crores (upto 202425). Approx 35,000 students will be benefitted from these JNVs, along with permanent employment for 2914 persons.

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 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched portal Parinam Manjusha= to provide easier access to academic documents online.  Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for first time deployed a team of 135 women commandos (232 battalion) in antiNaxal operations in Jharkhand.  Chhattisgarh Government launched Lakshya Bhagirathi campaign to complete 108 identified irrigation projects that could not be completed.  Chhattisgarh became first Indian state to adopt a resolution on demonetization of high-value currency notes.  Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu allowed renaming Chief Minister’s Trophy for Football and Volleyball (men’s and women’s) after martyr Hangpan Dada.  Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju launched AirSewa portal and mobile app as an initiative to offer convenient and Hassle-free air travel experience. It will include mechanism for grievance redressal, flight status information and airport Information etc.  Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched Startup Mentorship Circle as a unique platform to help in connecting startups with global marketplace. Under this, Large corporate houses will mentor 100 startups over 2 years.  Construction of RailcumRoad bridge over Brahmaputra at Bogibeel with linking lines (73 km) is being done at cost of approx 5000 crores, expected to complete in 201718. It will be India's longest railcumroad bridge.  Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) approved guidelines for suspension or banning of business dealings with arms companies, discontinuing Government's imposing blanket bans on armament companies suspected of corruption. Armament companies will be blacklisted only for a year at a time.  Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) signed MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to establish a ‘Joint Advanced Technology Centre’ (JATC). DRDO will support JATC in equipping it with advanced research facilities that will enable faculty and scholars to conduct advanced research and transform the JATC as Centre of Excellence.  Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized about 23.5 metric tonnes of Mandrax Tablets (Methaqualone) from Udaipur (Rajasthan), In one of biggest seizure of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances ever.  DRI is apex counter-smuggling agency of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).  Election Commission of India (ECI) launched online survey for Overseas Indian Citizens in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Aim is to assess awareness about registration and voting process and to also gather opinion about their preferred method of voting. Survey findings may be seen at www.everyvotecounts.in.  Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched 'Kahin BhiKabhi Bhi' medical service for its insured in Delhi region under which beneficiaries can visit daycare units for minor ailments.  First titanium project of India started its test production Ganjam district of Odisha, established by Saraf Group.  It is expected to produce 36,000 tons of titanium slag and 20,000 tons of pig iron per year.  Raw material of plant is ilmenite, which would be procured from Odisha Sands Complex, a unit of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL).  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rolled out a major scheme for strengthening of Food Testing Infrastructure in country, at estimated cost of Rs 482 crores.  Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) held in Jaipur, with focus on doubling income of farmers through suitable technologies and agricultural activities. Australia, Netherland and Israel are international partners of this meet.  Goa will become first Indian state to become cashless from December 31, 2016. People will be able to buy daily use items through Mobile wallets.  Google tied up with Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI), for 360 degree virtual tour of 280odd monuments across India. ASI has allowed Google for creating virtual tour of monuments, to be available in Google maps.

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 Government approval negotiating position adopted by India at 28th Meeting of Parties (MoP) to Montreal Protocol in Kigali (Rwanda).  Kigali meet was held in October 2016 with aim of including HFCs in the list of chemicals under Montreal Protocol.  Montreal Protocol of Vienna Convention for Protection of Ozone Layer which entered force in January 1989, aimed to phase out the ozone depleting substances (ODS).  India negotiated baseline years within a range of 2024 to 2030 for phasing down use of HFCs. India will completely phase down of HFCs in 4 steps 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047. Freeze year for India will be 2028, with a technology review in 2024 to 2025.  China (largest producer of HFCs in world), South Africa and Brazil opted for 202022 baseline. Developed countries will reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 70% in 2029.  Government approved 6 new special economic zona (SEZs) for IT and biotechnology across Telangana, Haryana and Karnataka.  Government approved Assistance of 2000 crores for 36384 displaced families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb in several wars with pakistan till date.  5.5lakh cash benefit per family will be disbursed to displaced families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).  Government approved Merchant Shipping Bill 2016 for introduction in Parliament. It is aimed at simplifyig merchant shipping norms in India. Merchant Shipping Bill 2016 is a revamped version of Merchant Shipping Act 1958. It is aimed at repealing Merchant Shipping Act 1958 and Coasting Vessels Act 1838.  Government approved Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase III, with total cost of Rs 10947 crores. It is expected to be completed in next 5 years during 13th Plan period.  Government approved closure of Kota Unit of Instrumentation Limited and transfer of Its Palakkad Unit to Government of Kerala.  Government approved establishment of National Institute of Sowa Rigpa at Leh (Jammu & Kashmir), at a cost of 100 Crores.  Tibetan Medicine system is known as Sowa Rigpa (Amchi).  Government approved forming special committee for interlinking of rivers in compliance with a 2012 Supreme Court order. Committee will help in monitoring precious projects to be carried out under National Perspective Plan, 1980.  Government approved heavy fine and ban on celebrities who endorse products making unrealistic and dodgy claims. First time offender celebrities to be fined Rs 10 lakh and banned for 1 year. Repeating offenders to be fined Rs 50 lakh and banned for 3 years (No jail term).  Government approved liberalization, simplification and rationalization of existing visa regime in India, to stimulate economic growth and ease travel for foreigners.  Government declared Zakir Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), as an ‘unlawful organisation’ and banned it for five years.  Government is developing a National Data Registry (NDR) to compile metadata of different agencies and reengineer feature data sets for improving their use. Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the nodal coordinating agency of the NDR, that will require all agencies state, private and academic, collecting and storing geospatial data to provide details of data they store.  Government launched Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) to provide free health checkups to pregnant women at government health centres and hospitals.  Objectives of the scheme are Provide healthy life to pregnant women, Lowering maternity mortality rate, Making pregnant women aware of their health issues and diseases and Making sure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby.  Scheme is applicable only for pregnant women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6 months.  Government will bring a new green urban mobility scheme that will have a central assistance of Rs 25000 crore, In order to create non motorized transport infrastructure in cities like footpaths and cycletracks, mainly 6 large cities of India Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

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 Government will open Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Kendra in every Parliamentary Constituency to impart skill training to people and make them employable.  Governmenty approved inclusion of 15 new castes and modification in 13 other castes in Central list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in 8 states Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.  Gujarat government will start Deendayal generic medicine stores to provide 24 hours service and sell around 1000 generic drugs to poor at 40 80 % less rates.  HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated world’s largest digital national building initiative “Smart India Hackathon 2017”. Through this, HRD ministry is keen on reaching out to all technology institutions in India and challenge students to offer innovative solutions to approx 500 daunting problems faced by our nation, which will be published on innovate.mygov.in.  Haryana government made it mandatory to fit auto-dippers in all four wheeled transport vehicles, As per Rule 106 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.  Himachal Pradesh got Centre's approval for pneumonia vaccine by Ministry of Health. Ministry approved introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine under universal immunization programme. Himachal Pradesh will be among 5 states where pneumonia vaccines will be introduced Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh from 2017.  In order to promote research in field of fertilizers, Indian Council for Fertilizers and Nutrient Research (ICFNR) has been set up as an Institution exclusively devoted to promotion of research in fertilizers.  Income Tax department will implement first phase of ‘Project Insight’ from May 2017 to monitor high value transactions, with a view to curbing the circulation of black money. It has IT Contract with L & T Infotech.  Indian Army launched “Operation school chalo” in South Kashmir under a local slogan ‘Chyem ne zaroorat Daulatoubab, Faqat Gochum School te Kitab (I don’t need money and fame, I need books and school’).  Indian Railways will soon introduce TriNetra (terrain imaging for diesel drivers infrared, enhanced optical and radar assisted) system on its trains to reduce train accidents.  Indian archaeologists will use Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to survey archaeological evidence, flora and fauna in ancient Rajgir hills in Bihar, as part of interdisciplinary Rajgir Archaeological Survey Project (RASP).  India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival held at Shillong (Meghalaya). It is widely celebrated in Japan.  India’s longest expressway (302 KM) connecting Agra and Lucknow has been inaugurated, built by Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) in just 23 months. It will cut downtime to reach lucknow from agra by falf (3.5 hours). During inauguration, 6 fighter jets (3 Mirage 2000s and three Sukhois) of Indian Air Force (IAF) touched down on expressway.  Jammu and Kashmir Government launched Jhelum-Tawi flood recovery project to push rehabilitation of infrastructure after 2014 floods in state. India had signed $250 million loan agreement with World Bank for this project.  Jharkhand government created Nizi Niyozan Abhikaran and Gharelu Kamgar (viniyam) vidheyak 2016 as strict law against placement agencies involved in exploiting people on pretext of giving employment outside state.  Kala Utsav 2016, annual festival to celebrate talent of school children all over India, held at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. Students from LehLadakh region of J&K participated for the first time.  Kerala and Tamil Nadu became last states to roll out National Food Security Act (NFSA). With this, NFSA Act has been implemented in all States and Union Territories. 81.34 crore people will now get wheat at Rs. 2/ kg and rice at Rs. 3/ kg.  Maharashtra became first state to adopt Fly Ash Utilization Policy.  It paves way for generating wealth from waste, seeking 100% use of fly ash generated from thermal power plants and biogas plants.  It Facilitates use of fly ash to make bricks, blocks, tiles, wall panels, cement and other construction materials.

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 Maharashtra became first state to have a cyber-police station in each district to take on cyber criminals. State government is converting 42 state-of-the-art cybercrime labs into cyber police stations simultaneously.  Maharashtra government signed agreement with Canada to implement a joint action plan on urban infrastructure development in state.  Ministry of Culture released Commemorative Coin of 500 and a Circulation Coin of 10 on occasion of 500th anniversary of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh).  Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change constituted 4 member team for conservation and management of Loktak Lake in Manipur.  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Healthy India Initiative magazine and No More Tension mobile App, for promotion of health and to strengthen health communications programmes.  Ministry of Home Affairs extended Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh Tirap, Changlang and Longding, as they have been “disturbed area” under Section 3 of AFSPA.  AFSPA has been extended in these districts because Naga underground factions including National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IsakMuivah)/ NSCNIM and NSCN (Khaplang)/NSCNK continues to extort and recruit locals in these districts.  Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has put hold its order imposing a oneday ban on Hindi channel NDTV India (09112016). Ban was imposed over its live coverage of Pathankot terror attack, violating Programme/Advertising Code.  Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued Guidelines for bidding process for setting up of 1000 MW Wind Power Project connected to interstate transmission system (ISTS).  Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has launched of Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (PMYY) to scale up an ecosystem of entrepreneurship for youngsters.  Scheme launched for 5 years period (2016 21) with project cost of 499.94 crore rupees.  It will offer entrepreneurship education and training to around 7 lakh students in 5 years through 3050 Institutes. These institutes will carry out the training through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).  Ministry of Textiles signed agreement with ethnic apparel brand BIBA and launched India Handloom Brand garments at BIBA’s flagship store in New Delhi.  MoU approved among New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (Japan), Indian Ministry of Finance and and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) concerning ICT based Green Hospital at AIIMS in Delhi.  Mobile Application “RMITRA” (Railway Mobile Instant Tracking Response & Assistance) launched by Eastern Railway for security of passengers especially women passengers in Kolkata and suburban areas of the zone.  National Cadet Corps (NCC), largest uniformed youth organisation in world, celebrated 68th Raising Day.  Odisha Government inaugurated 55,000tonne per annum (TPA) Odisha ferrochrome plant set up by Tata Steel at a cost of Rs 542 crore in its Gopalpur Industrial Park in Ganjam .  Odisha Government signed MoU with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) for setting up of four more centres at Angul, Jajpur, Koraput and Sambalpur. Taking number of STPI centres in State to 8, highest in India.  PM Narendra Modi flagged off Humsafar train (equipped with several advacned facilities) between Gorakhpur and Delhi, from Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh).  PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Asia’s largest manmade “Jungle Safari” at Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh. It is 800acre Nandanvan Zoo and Safari.  PM Narendra Modi laid Foundation Stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bathinda (Punjab). AIIMS is currently at 7 locations New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh  PM Narendra Modi launched Indian Police at Your Call mobile app in Hyderabad. The app is a GIS Map based interface for citizens to locate police stations nearby.

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 PM Narendra Modi launched Saur Sujala Yojana in Chhattisgarh. Under this, solar powered irrigation pumps of 3HP and 5HP capacity will be distributed to farmers at subsidised price.  PM Narendra Modi presented Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in Journalism at a function in New Delhi. It acknowledges exceptional work across 28 categories in print, broadcast and online journalism in English, Hindi and regional languages.  Ramnath Goenka was an Indian newspaper publisher. He launched The Indian Express and created Indian Express Group with various English and regional language publications.  Palampur Assembly Constituency became India’s first eassembly constituency at Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. Residents may now know development works going on, and also send their requirement about funds for different schemes in their respective areas online.  President Pranab Mukherjee launched National Student Startup Policy (NSSP), formulated by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). It aims to create 1 lakh technology based student startups and a million employment opportunities within 10 years.  Professional Social Network LinkedIn signed MoU with Ministry of Human Resource Development to create more job opportunities for Indian students. LinkedIn’s ‘Placements’ product will be adopted by all Indian colleges affiliated with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).  Pune-based company Finkick Adventures organized India’s First Underwater Festival, to promote awareness about state of marine life and encourage people to conserve it.  Punjab Government launched Aware and Care campaign by flagging off 100 Information Education Communication (IEC) mobile vans. Aim is to inform people about diseases like cancer, hepatitis-C, cervical cancer and preventive measures to be taken at early stages.  Qaumi Ekta Week (National Integration Week) observed 19 25 November  November 19- National Integration Day.  November 20- Welfare of Minorities Day.  November 21 –Linguistic Harmony Day.  November 22 –Weaker Sections Day.  November 23 –Cultural Unity Day.  November 24 -Women’s Day.  November 25 –Conservation Day.  Rajasthan Government will start Annapurna Rasoi Programme to provide quality meal at less price to weaker section and labourers. Food under this programme will be provided at subsidized rates of breakfast @ rs 5 per plate and lunch/dinner @ rs 8 per plate.  Regional news Unit of Radio Kashmir Jammu started morning news bulletin in Gojri language.  Scientists from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur claimed to discover evidence of lost river Chandrabhaga in Odisha.  Chandrabhaga River is an ancient mythical river believed to have existed about 2 km from 13th century Sun Temple at Konark (built by King Narasimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty in 1255 CE.), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling laid foundation stone of Bhaleydhunga Skywalk Project at Dhapper in Yangang (Sikkim). It will be the world’s highest skywalk at height of 10,300 feet.  Supreme Court banned sale of firecrackers in DelhiNCR in an attempt to keep the rising pollution level of the capital and its surrounding areas under check.  Supreme Court dismissed a plea filed by Tamil Nadu to review a 2014 apex court judgment banning Jallikattu, a Bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu on Mattu Pongal day as a part of Pongal celebrations.  Supreme Court ordered cinema halls to mandatorily play national anthem before every screening of shows, as a measure of showing respect.  Supreme Court ordered search engines Google, Yahoo and Microsoft’s Bing to stop displaying advertisements relating to prenatal sex determination tests.  Supreme Court scrapped Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act 2004, that allows Punjab to stop sharing Ravi, Beas waters with other States. As per SC Supreme Court, Punjab Termination of Water

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Agreements Act 2004 terminate a 1981 agreement entered into among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to reallocate waters of Ravi and Beas.  The Verdict is seen as a Big respite for Haryana that is suffering from lack of water. The SYL (Satluj Yamuna Link) Canal project has been withheld by Punjab for 22 years. This SC decision insists Punjab to complete its share of work on SYL canal as soon as possible.  Telangana government signed MOU with Microsoft Corporation for digital Telangana programme.  Texiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated Apparel & Garment Making Centre at Imphal (Manipur), made under North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS).  Textile Minister Smriti Irani launched Pehchan identity cards seheme for artisans in Ahmedabad (Gujarat).  Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) reported highest cases of breast cancer. It has been termed as country's breast cancer capital, with cases at a record high of 40 per / lakh women.  Trial run of Lucknow Metro train flagged off by UP CM Akhilesh Yadav.  Under program Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP), Government is aiming to enhance freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and infrastructure.  Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched revamped version Toll-free helpline 1947, to help residents get quick access to information about Aadhaar.  Uttarakhand High Court banned any construction activities near glaciers in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand has 968 glaciers spread across 2,857 sq km area. These glaciers are a source of major rivers including Ganga and Yamuna.  Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been designated as Regulatory Authority for Delhi, under Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act 2016.  Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year from October 31 across India to promote probity in public life and achieve a corruption free society. 2016 theme of the week is “Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating Corruption”.  Wangala -annual postharvest festival of Garo tribe, held in Meghalaya.  World Bank’s report- India’s State Level Energy Efficiency Implementation Readiness’  Andhra Pradesh topped with overall score of 42.01 followed by Rajasthan (41.89), Karnataka (39.34) and Maharashtra (39.29).  Andhra Pradesh topped the list by achieving an energy saving of 1,500 million units (MU) i.e. around 650 MW in two years through use of LED lighting.  World’s first Genetic Garden of Halophytes (naturally occurring salt-tolerant plants) inaugurated at Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, set up by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) founded by M S Swaminathan, father of Indian Green Revolution. It will have over 1,600 species belonging to 550 genera and 117 families of Halophytes plants.  World’s largest online homestay marketplace, Airbnb signed MoU with Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) to promote tourism in rural areas, begining in Gujarat.  Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI), consultancy arm of Coal India signed MOU with investment banker SBI Capital Markets.  NIT Agartala signed 3 MoUs with ONGC and NEEPCO busines, for collaborative research in oil sectors and imparting training and conducting short term courses.  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) signed MoU with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for cooperation in zoonoses, anti-microbial resistance, nutrition and pesticide residues.  Ministry of Women and Child Development launched ‘E-BOX’ portal to register complaints of child sexual abuse  Winter Fog Experiment (WIFEX) 2016-17 inaugurated by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) New Delhi. Aimed at better understanding of fog life cycle and improve capability in fog prediction.  Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and Kerala Police organized 45th All India Police Science Congress in Thiruvananthapuram.  Israel's Minister for Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis visited India  Supreme Court approved Government’s Graded Response Action Plan to tackle pollution in Delhi-NCR.

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Enforcement of action plan will be under orders of Environment Pollution (Control and Prevention) Authority (EPCA).  Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram launched Stanpan Suraksha mobile app to promote breastfeeding and keep a tab on inappropriate promotion of baby food items.  Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) recommended one-time licensing for manufacture and sales of drugs, to promote ease of doing business in Pharmaceutical sector by removing need to renewal of licenses for each formulation which takes around 3 years.  India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) Delhi conducted training on Election Management of SAARC Countries.  Supreme Court ruled that horse racing is not animal cruelty and It is different from Jallikattu (Tamilnadu), which has several measures to torture bulls. It was announced by SC on a petition challenging a Rajasthan High Court’s order banning horse races in Rajasthan.  Allahabad High Court ruled that practice of triple talaq (Talaq-e-bidat) among Muslims is unconstitutional and violates rights of women as stated in constitution. High Court also stated that No Personal Law Board is above Constitution, referring to All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).  Kerala Government launched Haritha Keralam Mission for creating new sustainable development perspectives in the state.  In its Global Education Monitoring Report 2016, UNESCO claimed that India will achieve universal primary education by 2050, universal lower secondary education (Grades VI - VIII in case of India) by 2060 and universal upper secondary education (Grades IX-XII in case of India) by 2085.  Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 provides free and universal elementary education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is key vehicle to implement RTE Act.  Gross Enrolment Ratio in India - 1. Primary - 100.08% 2. Upper primary - 91.24% 3. Elementary - 97% 4. Secondary - 78.51 % 5. Higher secondary - 54.21% 6. Secondary and Higher secondary enrolments are taken care under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.  Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) launched tender of 1000 MW capacity for development of grid- connected rooftop solar capacity for Government Departments.  It is a step towards fulfillment of the Government of India’s target for installation of 40 GW rooftop solar power plants by the year 2022.  Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Venkaiah Naidu announced 90% subsidy for North Eastern States and 75% subsidy for other States in setting up of Community Radio Stations. A New dedicated Doordharshan channel ArunPrabha will also be launched in January 2017.  Rajasthan High Court scrapped Rajasthan Special Backward Classes (SBC) Reservation Act 2015 that provided 5% quota to five communities, including Gujjars in jobs and education.  In wake of rising prices and concerns about wheat crop in 2016-17, Government waived import duty on wheat to 0 % (from 10 %) for indefinite period.  Government will soon start water route between Delhi to Agra on Yamuna River, as a less costly means of transportation.  Madhya Pradesh Government launched 5 months long Narmada Seva Yatra to turn Narmada river pollution free. It will cover more than 1900 kilometres in 16 districts and create awareness about conservation of river.  10-days Tripitak Sutrapath Mahotasava has started at Bodhgaya in Bihar.  India will establish a Center of Excellence in Information Technology at Egypt’s oldest and prestigious Al- Azhar University.  First Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) held on banks of river Mandovi in Panaji (Goa).  First ever International Gita Mahotsav-2016 held in Kurukshetra (Haryana).

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 West Bengal government announced to set up special panel to stop child trafficking.  Haryana Government banned carrying arms at wedding ceremonies, in view of security concerns.  National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed Rajasthan government to cancel allotments of salt pans in Sambhar Salt Lake.  A deep water port built in Myanmar’s Sittwe by India is will be started soon. It will open Kolkata-Mizoram trade route via Myanmar.  Sittwe port is starting point for Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar. Once shipments arrive at Sittwe port from Kolkata, they will be transferred to smaller freight carriers which would sail upstream into Mizoram.  It will Provide alternative route to India to ship goods to north-eastern States, which currently depend on thick Siliguri corridor sandwiched between Bhutan and Bangladesh (also called Chicken's Neck of India).  P M Narendra Modi inaugurated India's Largest cheese plant of Banaskantha Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Banas Dairy) in Gujarat.  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items.  This is first time in recent years FSSAI has issued new rule related to packaging of food items. So far, it had focused on setting standards for packaged food.  Use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items is very common in India and it may cause serious health concerns due t contaminated food items by newspaper ink.  Punjab Government launched India’s first amphibious bus project named Harike Cruis, that travels on land and as well as in water. It has been imported from Swedish automobile company Scania. Route of bus includes 13 km ride from Amritsar to Harike wetlands.  Ministry of Tribal Affairs will launch National Resource Centre (NRC) for Tribal Livelihood issues in Bhubaneswar (Odisha), in name of Vanjeevan. It will be launched in collaboration with UNDP and National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC).  Govt. of India tied up with Intel to conduct research work on Water and Air Quality Monitoring (WAQM) initiative. It will consider proposals from academic institutions in area of such online monitoring systems and provide grant-in-aid support to selected projects.  Cyclone Vardah struck coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It is 3rd cyclonic storm of season after Cyclone Kyant and Nada.  Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated 3rd Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), Titled Forming in the pupil of an eye. 90 Days long festival will have artists from 31 nations participating.  Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stones for 17 road projects in Jiribam and Imphal (Manipur). Overall cost is approx 1152 Crores.  Indian Railways announced that reservation of rail tickets for senior citizens will be directly linked to Aadhaar or Unique Identification (UID) cards from 1 April 2017 onwards, making Aadhaar mandatory for availing concessions.  Uttarakhand High Court directed state government to impose ban on sale and consumption of liquor in three districts - Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi.  Supreme Court ordered that income earned by erstwhile rulers of a princely state by renting out their residential palace is not taxable. Their income being exempted under Section 10(19A) of IT Act, 1961.  Campaign 100 Million for 100 Million Campaign organized by Nobel peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, on occasion 0f 81st birthday of President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Aim is to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across world.  Rajya Sabha passed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2014 (repealing Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 -  The bill covers huge spectrum of issues faced by Persons with Disabilities and complies with UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which India became a signatory in 2007. Features of bill Include -

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 Definition of disability - It defines to include 19 conditions as disable and Min 40 % disability is required to be classified as one.  Rights of Equality for persons with disabilities.  Education, skill development and Employment - At least 5% seats in higher education and 5% vacancies must be reserved in government jobs for PWDs.  Legal Capacity - Disabled persons have the equal right to own and inherit movable and immovable property, as well as control their financial affairs in par with others.  Guardianship - District court may order guardianship to disable person if person is unable of taking care of himself.  National and State Commissions for persons with disabilities will be established by central and state governments respectively, along with advisory boards.  21st International Film Festival of Kerala held in Thiruvananthapuram.  Rajasthan government launched mobile App LeZgo, to provide latest information about tourist attractions in Rajasthan (Ajmer and Pushkar Initially).  Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) Hyderabad achieved carbon neutral status. It is first in Asia- Pacific region in 5-15 million passengers per annum category to attain this status. Earlier, Delhi Airport had become first airport in Asia-Pacific to achieve carbon neutral status among all categories.  BHEL commissioned first unit of the 4x30 MW Pulichintala Hydroelectric project (HEP) in Telangana.  UP Eco-tourism organized international festival on birds at National Chambal Sanctuary in Agra, as World’s largest bird festival.  Goa Government launched Yuva Sanchar Yojana, for providing Free Talktime and Internet Data to youth in state. Under this, free 100 minutes talk time and 3 GB Internet data with a SIM card (every month) will be given to youths aged between 16-30 years. Goa government tied up with Vodafone for this scheme.  Uttar Pradesh government tied up with Tata Trusts to leverage digital platforms to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) in state.  New Wagah Like Border viewing point will be opened near Suigam in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district.  Cabinet approved draft Major Port Authorities Bill 2016, aimed to replace Major Port Trusts Act 1963. The bill aims to empower 12 major ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision-making. Features Include -  Compactness -Number of sections reduced 65, from 134.  Board of Port Authority will be delegated full powers to enter into contracts, planning and development, fixing of tariff. Size of Board of Port Authority is reduced to 11 members. Board will include representatives of respective state governments, Ministers along with a member representing employees of Major Ports Authority.  Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) has been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for purposes of bidding for PPP projects.  Independent Review Board is proposed to carry out residual function of the erstwhile TAMP for major ports, including looking into disputes between ports and PPP concessionaires.  Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched website of National Rail Plan 2030 (NRP- 2030) ON url www.nationalrailplan.in.