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INDIAN AFFAIRS- JANUARY 26TH, 2019 Dharmendra Pradhan

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INDIAN AFFAIRS- JANUARY 26TH, 2019 Dharmendra pradhan launches new reforms to strengthen Jan Shikshan Santhans On January 24,2019,Dharmendra Pradhan,Minister of skill development implemented new reforms for Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) to enhance skill ecosystem and entrepreneurship in most of the remotest areas of India under centre’s flagship programme Skill India at the National Conference for Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSSs) in NewDelhi. Guidelines made: i. Aligning of JSS program and curriculum to Nationwide Talent Qualification Framework (NSQF) to enhance teaching. ii. Decentralisation of powers for JSSs by supplying additional accountability and independence to district administration iii. To identify and endorse common skills in the district iv. Evidence based evaluation procedure v. Straightforward online certification vi. Linking JSS to Community Finance Administration program (PFMS) to manage transparency and accountability of the ecosystem vii. School for trainers to enhance their capacity through Countrywide Capabilities Coaching Institutes (NSTIs). New portal: The Ministry also released the new JSS site (www.jss.gov.in) which will furnish information and facts on action ideas, databases of beneficiaries and stakeholders, details of finance and expenditure and other ongoing development projects that are on process. About Jan Shikshan Santhans: Previously known as Shramik Vidyapeeth was renamed as Jan Shikshan Santhans in april,2000.It is successful in providing skill development programmes to every remote areas of the country for past 50 years. Centre decided to renovate 400 abandoned airstrips Jharkhand is the first state to develop one such strip On January 25,2019, The Centre decided to renovate and develop around 400 abandoned airstrips across the country to strengthen air-connectivity,and Jharkhand is the first state to develop airstrip in Dhalbhumgarh . i. Airports Authority of India prepared a Memorandum of Understanding with a motive to renovate air strips and asked for support from all the 29 states and seven Union Territories. ii. Modern airport at Dhalbhumgarh is to be renovated with the initial amount of 100cr and would be completed in 18 months Important facts about Jharkhand: ♦ Capital: Ranchi ♦ Chief minister: Raghubar Das Second edition of Tamil Nadu Global Investor Meet 2019 held in Chennai On 23rd January 2019, the second edition of Tamil Nadu government’s ambitious two-day Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2019 which aimed at showcasing the state’s potential business opportunities and wooing investment was inaugurated at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The event was attended by over 250 companies from 10 countries. The Investors Meet Concluded on 24th January 2019. Key Points: i. The event was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapadi Palaniswami in the presence of Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Pannerselvam and Industries Minister of Tamil Nadu M.C. Sampath. ii. This year focus will be given on key 12 sectors including automobile, textiles, aerospace, agro and food processing, pharmaceutical and chemicals, tourism, housing and construction, Electronics and hardware, Skill Development, Heavy Engineering, MSMEs and Information and Technology. iii. The objective of the event is to position Tamil Nadu as the investor’s choice besides showcasing its potential business opportunities. Rs.75 crore had been allocated by the state government to conduct the two-day event. iv. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu attended the valedictory session on 24th January, 2019. v. The event had managed to exceed the target investment of Rs 2 lakh crore and has witnessed the signing of 304 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 3.4 lakh crore with promise of job opportunities for about 10.5 lakh people in the state. vi. There was special focus on MSMEs this year for which over 32,206 crore rupees of investment has been committed. vii. Besides an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) arm has committed an investment of Rs 27,450 crore for a project and power PSU NLC is investing Rs 23,800 crore. viii. Some of the other investment commitments are explained below: o CPCL will invest Rs 7,400 crore in Nagapattinam district for a petroleum refinery. o Automobile giant Hyundai to invest Rs 7,000 crore for the expansion and to commence the manufacture of electric cars in Tamil Nadu. o MRF will invest Rs 2,100 crore to expand the existing establishments in Perambalur and Vellore districts. o Foxconn agreed to invest Rs 2,500 crore to manufacture the premium brand smart phones in the state. o GSE Avigna has signed MoU for setting up a mega food park with an investment of 2,000 crore rupees. o Adani group has committed to invest Rs 10,000 crore for the expansion of Kattupalli Port, north of Chennai. o PSA France will invest Rs 1,250 crore for manufacturing of Peugeot cars in Tiruvallur district o Eicher Motor is planning an expansion plan worth Rs 1,500 crore. Background Information: The first edition of GIM held in 2015 had attracted 98 MoUs worth Rs 2.42 lakh crore. About Tamil Nadu: ♦ Chief Minister: Edapadi Palaniswami ♦ Deputy Chief Minister: O. Pannerselvam ♦ Governor: Banwarilal Purohit ♦ Capital: Chennai. Nigrani, Nireekshan and Nakabandi-Exervise Sea Vigil From 22nd January 2019, India’s largest-ever Coastal Defence Exercise, Exercise Sea Vigil was conducted over an intense 36-hour period across all nine Coastal States and four Union Territories.The Exercise was concluded on 23rd January 2019. Key Points: i. The exercise which witnessed the utilisation of India’s entire Coastal Security apparatus was co- planned and led by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. ii. All the Central and State agencies including the MHA,MoD,Customs,CISF,Dept of Fisheries,DGLL,DG Shipping,Port authorities and the Coastal police of all participating states participated and supported the exercise. iii. The exercise was planned in two Phases. In Phase –I, Nigrani (a near-unbroken surveillance net along the entire coast of India and outlying islands) and Nireekshan (multi-agency teams deployment to check and audit important landing points including Fish Landing Centres and Vulnerable areas and important installations along the coast as well as in the hinterland) was conducted. iv. The Phase II of the exercise saw attempts to penetrate and land dummy explosives by designated ‘RED’ forces comprising teams drawn from the Navy Coast Guard, Police and CISF. v. In Phase II of the exercise Nakabandi was undertaken in which many attacks were allowed to go- through to test robustness of Police. vi. The exercise Sea Vigil 2019 which saw the largest mobilisation of maritime and coastal security machinery in India would now be conducted every two years besides the Sagar Kavach series of exercises. About Indian Navy: ♦ Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Sunil Lanba ♦ Headquarters: New Delhi About Indian Coast Guard: ♦ Director General: Rajendra Singh ♦ Headquarters: New Delhi BANKING & FINANCE Health research money increased by Rs 147 crore in India On January 23,2019, G-Finder a project tracked on global investments into research and development (R&D) for neglected diseases by Indian Council of Medical Research was (ICMR) increased by Rs 147 crore. i. India attained 4th position,US become the largest funder,on research and development,which is followed by UK. ii. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) increased its funding for research and development for dengue and leptospirosis by Rs 6.5 crore and Rs 9.1 crore respectively. iii. Over all the amount invested on research and development reached the height of USD 3.5 billion this year. BUSINESS & ECONOMY BIS in Collaboration with IAF Releases New Standard for Bio-Jet Fuel On 24th January 2019, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in collaboration with Indian Air Force (IAF) released a new standard for Aviation Turbine Fuels (ATF) which can be used as bio- jet fuel on all military and civilian aircraft. Key Points: i. The new specifications will allow Indian standards of bio-jet fuel to align with current international standards. ii. A committee comprising of domain experts was tasked to originate the required standards. It formulated Indian Standard IS 17081:2019 Aviation Turbine Fuel (Kerosene Type, Jet A- 1) containing Synthesised Hydrocarbons, after a series of deliberations over the past nine months. iii. The new standards were released by Air Marshal RKS Shera AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in- Charge Maintenance, Indian Air Force and Mrs Surina Rajan, Director General Bureau of Indian Standards, at Air HQs. iv. With the new standard, the oil companies would be enabled to manufacture bio-jet fuel for the Indian aviation industry. v. This standard could reduce the carbon emissions and help India become a green fuel production hub in line with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which is released by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is to be adopted by 2027. About India Air Force: ♦ Chief of the Air Staff: Birender Singh Dhanoa ♦ Headquarters: New Delhi About International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO): ♦ Headquarters: Montreal, Canada ♦ Secretary General: Dr. Fang Liu ♦ President: Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu China to become world’s biggest retail market in 2019: Research firms eMarket On 24th January 2019, Research firm eMarket predicted that China will become world’s biggest retail market in 2019. According to the report, the sale boom is a result of China’s rising incomes and thriving e-commerce. Key Points i. The report says China will overtake US in 2019 and total retail sales will grow 7.5% to reach 5.636 trillion USD in 2019, while US will grow 3.3% to 5.529 trillion. ii. One- fifth of the country’s total sales in 2018 was from e-commerce which is a major driver of China’s retail economy. iii. As per predictions US share of the global e-commerce market is expected to drop to 15 percent by 2022.
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