SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS PM attends Sahkar Sammelan on the occasion of birth centenary of Laxmanrao Inamdar Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that our country is a “Bahuratna Vasundhara” where many people have made great contributions across regions and time periods. ● He said that while some of them become well known and are talked about by the media, there are many others who make valuable contributions, even though they remain largely unknown. NATIONAL ● The Prime Minister said that Vakil Saheb Laxmanrao Inamdar was one NEWS such person. ● The Prime Minister emphasized that the first principle of the cooperative movement is to unite everyone, even while remaining anonymous. ● He said that Shri Inamdar had imbibed this principle, and his life is a source of inspiration. ● The Prime Minister spoke of the goals such doubling farmers‟ income by 2022, and balanced development in rural and urban areas. ● He said the cooperative movement can play a key role in the achievement of these objectives. ● The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of preserving the “spirit” in the cooperative movement, which he said is still largely intact in the rural areas. New Campus of Indian Aviation Academy Inaugurated Today The Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju today inaugurated the new state of the art campus of Indian Aviation Academy (IAA) in New NATIONAL Delhi. NEWS ● With the inauguration of this new world class campus, the IAA academy aims to enhance and augment its training and hostel capabilities to more than double. ● Speaking on the occasion Shri Raju said that with its enhanced strength the IAA academy would go a long way in meeting the growing demand for skilled manpower in the aviation sector. ● The Indian Aviation Academy was constituted under the aegis of NIAMAR www.toprankers.com Page 1 of 6 https://www.facebook.com/TopRankersPage/ SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS (National Institute of Aviation Management and research Society) on 22nd July, 2010 as a joint training academy of Airports Authority of India, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Directorate General of Civil Aviation. ● The aim of the academy is to provide training and conduct research and consultancy services in various areas of the aviation sector, like Airports and Aviation Management, Safety Regulations, Security and other related areas. ● IAA runs training programmes in Airports Operations & Aviation Safety, Airport Engineering & Planning, Air Cargo Management, Environment concerns in Aviation, besides regulatory training through DGCA and Security training through BCAS. ● AAI also offers internationally recognised aviation accredited programmes to participant across the globe in cooperation with ICAO, IATA and ACI. ● AAI has also acquired full membership of ICAO Trainair Plus programme. Union Home Minister inaugurates two-day NHRC National Seminar on Good Governance, Development and Human Rights The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said that in Indian culture, the focus has always been on duties and not on rights; if everybody attends to his duties, the NATIONAL rights of all automatically get protected. NEWS ● He was addressing at a National seminar on Good Governance, Development and Human Rights, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here today. ● He said that the concept of Human Rights in the centuries old Indian ethos is rooted in peace, unlike the West where it shaped up with conflict post- World War-II. ● The concept of protection of Human Rights in India is linked with the wellbeing of the whole universe, wherein all elements live in mutual coexistence peacefully. ● This, he said, reflects even in our spiritual and divine invocations. ● Referring to the issue of governance, Shri Rajnath Singh said that any sovereign nation is free to take action against illegal migrants. ● He said that the issue of deportation of Rohingyas for India is not a matter of ego and confrontation but of principles. ● Those who, in the name of human rights, are expressing concern on the rights of others should bother first for the rights of the citizens of India. www.toprankers.com Page 2 of 6 https://www.facebook.com/TopRankersPage/ SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ● The citizens of the country have the first right on its resources and not the illegal migrants. ● Rohingyas are illegal migrants; they are not refugees for which a process is required to be completed, which they never followed. “Hunar Haat” to be organised in Puducherry from 24th to 30th September 2017 by Ministry of Minority Affairs Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said that Ministry of Minority Affairs is organising “Hunar Haat” at Puducherry, one of renowned centre of art & culture, from 24th to 30th September, 2017 to provide market and opportunity to master artisans belonging to the Minority communities. ● Shri Naqvi said that “Hunar Haat”, organised by Minority Affairs Ministry earlier at different places, have been very successful and encouraging for master artisans belonging to the poor sections of the Minorities. ● Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and NATIONAL Puducherry Chief Minister Shri V Narayanasamy will inaugurate the “Hunar NEWS Haat”, to be organised at Craft Bazaar, Gandhi Thidal Beach, Goubert Avenue, Puducherry. ● Master artisans from 16 states would be showcasing their traditional talent. ● Artisans will bring for display and sale, a wide variety of traditional and rare Handicraft and Handloom items which include Hyderabad Pearl, Wrought Iron & Wood Carving, wooden and sandalwood items, hand-made jewellery, Tie and Die, Kantha Embroidered Jean bags, Handloom Bed Sheets, Ceramic/Clay items, Black Stone Pottery, Hand Embroidery, Chikankari, Leather items. PM to lay foundation stone of STP to be built at Varanasi under Namami Gange Programme Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a 50 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) based on Hybrid Annuity-PPP model in Ramana in Varanasi on September 22, 2017. NATIONAL NEWS ● This is the first time ever that Hybrid Annuity-PPP model is adopted in sewage sector. www.toprankers.com Page 3 of 6 https://www.facebook.com/TopRankersPage/ SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS ● It is a major step forward in realising the dream of Nirmal Ganga under Namami Gange programme. ● The work to construct, operate and maintain the 50 MLD STP in Varanasi has been awarded to a consortium led by Essel Infra Projects Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 153.16 crore. ● The Government of India had accorded Cabinet approval to implement the Hybrid Annuity based PPP model with 100% central sector funding. ● Under this model, the development, operation and maintenance of the STP will be undertaken by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) at the local level. ● As per this model, 40% of the Capital cost would be paid during construction while the remaining 60% of the cost will be paid over the life of the project as annuities along with operation and maintenance cost (O&M) expenses for the next 15 years. Centre announces new PPP Policy to promote private investments in affordable housing Central Government today announced a new PPP Policy for Affordable Housing that allows extending central assistance of up to Rs.2.50 lakh per each house to be built by private builders even on private lands besides opening up immense potential for private investments in affordable housing projects on government lands in urban areas. ● Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri announced this policy that gives eight PPP (Public Private Partnership) options for private sector to invest in affordable housing segment. ● He was addressing the „Real Estate & Infrastructure Investors Summit- NATIONAL 2017‟ organized by real estate body NAREDCO in Mumbai. NEWS ● Shri Puri explained that this policy seeks to assign risks among the government, developers and financial institutions, to those who can manage them the best besides leveraging under utilized and unutilized private and public lands towards meeting the Housing for All target by 2022. ● The two PPP models for private investments in affordable housing on private lands include extending central assistance of about Rs.2.50 lakh per each house as interest subsidy on bank loans as upfront payment under the Credit Linked Subsidy Component (CLSS) component of Pradhan Mantri Awas yojana (Urban). ● Under the second option, central assistance of Rs.1.50 lakh per each house to be built on private lands would be provided, in case the beneficiaries do not intend to take bank loans. ● Shri Puri stated that eight PPP options, including six for promoting affordable housing with private investments using government lands have www.toprankers.com Page 4 of 6 https://www.facebook.com/TopRankersPage/ SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS been evolved after extensive consultations with States, promoter bodies and other stakeholders. ● DBT Model: Under this option, private builders can design, build and transfer houses built on government lands to public authorities. ● Government land is to be allocated based on the least cost of construction. Andhra Pradesh to be declared ODF by March 2018 Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, announced that Andhra Pradesh will be declared ODF by March 2018. ● This was announced during a Collectors‟ Conference in Vijayawada, as a part of the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign. ● Adding momentum to this drive more than 2 lakhs toilet pits were dug on 17th September in Madhya Pradesh. NATIONAL ● These are targeted to be converted into one lakh toilets by 2nd October. NEWS ● In Maharashtra, the focus has been on Shramdaan and IPC, during the week. ● In J&K, the administration and masses came together to make their areas swachh. ● Cleanliness Drive was carried out in important and iconic places and Solid and Liquid Resource Management activities were undertaken in in Mizoram. ● Solid and Liquid Resource Management was also the key focus in Chhattisgarh.