President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates 73 km long NH in Tripura
In Tripura, President Ram Nath Kovind infrastructure plays a very important role in the development of any state. He was inaugurating a 73 km. long National Highway from Matabari (Udaipur) to Sabroom along the Gomati and South Tripura districts. Addressing a gathering, the President said the Central Government is working on various projects expeditiously under its ‘Act East’ policy in North East Region.
Central Government Constitutes Group To Suggest Changes In SEZ Policy
The Centre constituted a group of eminent persons headed by Bharat Forge’s Baba Kalyani to study the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) policy of the country and suggest measures to make it more relevant for exporters and compatible with World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms. The SEZ Act was passed in 2005 giving tax incentives to investors, but investments in the zone were subsequently brought under the ambit of Minimum Alternate Tax and Dividend Distribution Tax leading to a dwindling in the flow of money into the SEZs
Union Cabinet approves revised guidelines for time-bound closure of sick PSUs
Union Cabinet approved the revised guidelines of the Department of Public Enterprises on the time-bound closure of sick and loss-making Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and disposal of movable and immovable assets. The revised guidelines will reduce delays in implementation of closure plans of sick and loss-making CPSEs. These guidelines provide a broad framework for expeditious completion of various processes and procedures for closure of CPSEs by laying down important milestones in the closure process along with timelines, outlining the responsibilities of the concerned Ministries, Departments and CPSE in the process.
India enters final of Intercontinental Cup Tournament in Football match
India entered the final of the Intercontinental Cup Football tournament beating Kenya 3-0 in Mumbai. Captain Sunil Chhetri’s double strike helped India record a comprehensive victory over Kenya to enter the final. Chhetri earned a penalty and broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, while Jeje Lalpekhlua doubled the home team’s lead with his piledriver in the 71st minute. Chhetri ended it in the best possible manner, scoring in the stoppage time off a Balwant Singh assist, as fans went berserk
Mahatma Gandhi & Nelson Mandela gave hope to those facing injustice, discrimination: Sushma Swaraj
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confessed Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela gave hope to those facing injustice and discrimination. The External Affairs Minister was the keynote speaker at a banquet at Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, marking the 125th anniversary of the day, when on7th June, 1893, Mahatma Gandhi, a young lawyer then, was thrown off a train compartment reserved for whites only.
White House defends tariffs on steel and aluminum imports
The White House defended Trump administration’s move to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, saying these are defensive measures and are not aimed at any individual country. US President Donald Trump brought in tariffs of 25 percent on EU steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum on June 1, citing “national security” interests. White House Director of National Trade Council Peter Navarro told in an interview to a private channel, these tariffs are not aimed at any individual country, whether it is a strategic rival like China or an ally and friend like Canada.
CBI books Pune National Defence Academy’s Principal, some Professors & others for irregularities in appointment of faculty
The CBI registered a case against the Principal of Pune’s National Defence Academy (NDA), a Professor, two Associate Professors and others in selection and appointment of the institute’s faculty. It is alleged that certain faculty members entered into a conspiracy with unknown officials, including those of UPSC and Defence Ministry, and got selected and appointed in different posts of teaching faculty without possessing mandatory teaching or research experience. Searches were also conducted yesterday at the NDA premises including office and residence of the accused which led to the recovery of incriminating documents.
Election Commission of India launches its online RTI Portal
The Election Commission of India launched it’s online RTI Portal. The portal – rti.eci.nic.in will facilitate applicants seeking information under the Right to Information Act. The portal also facilitates online reply to applications and also for making first appeal and reply thereto.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Flags-in NIMAS expedition team to Mt Everest
Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman flagged-in the expedition team to Mt. Everest conducted successfully by National Institute for Mountaineering & Allied Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh in New Delhi. Sitharaman congratulated the team led by Director and Team Leader Col Sarfraz Singh for their remarkable achievement. It is for the first time that any National Institute expedition team has put eight members on the top of Mt.Everest in their maiden attempt. The expedition started from South Ridge of Mt Everest from Nepal side on 02 April 2018 from Lukla to Everest Base camp via Namche. The team scaled Mt.Lobuche in Nepal on 20 April 2018 as part of acclimatization and final conditioning training. The rotational training to higher camps was carried out by the team up to Camp-3 (7200M) from 22 April to 10 May 2018. All the 08 members of the team successfully scaled the peak on 19 and 20 May 2018 without any casualty or cold injury.
Rejecting the existing insurance scheme, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pitches new insurance scheme entitled to the farmers
As a game changer, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rejected the insurance scheme pitched by the center for the farmers by chalking out his own scheme, which entitles farmers to compensation without having to pay any premium. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Under the scheme, farmers would be paid a compensation of seven thousand five hundred rupees per hectare if less than 20% of the standing crop is damaged and ten thousand in case damage is more than 20%. Farmers do not have to pay any premium as per the scheme. The Bihar government also suggested that the new scheme ‘Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojna’ will have a wider coverage than the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ that covers farmers who have taken loans from national and cooperative banks or financial institutions. According to the central scheme, both the state and the center bear 49 percent of the cost of the premium. The Target beneficiaries have to pay the remaining 2%. The center fixes the amount which a state has to pay to insurance companies under this scheme.
World Bank approves Rs 6000 crores for Atal Bhujal Yojana aims to improve groundwater management in country
6000 Crores
The World Bank approved a whopping amount of Rs.6000 crore to Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY). Notably, Atal Bhujal Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation aim to improve groundwater management in priority areas in the country through community participation. Notably, the scheme is to be implemented over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23, with the Rs.6000 crore assistance of World Bank. The priority areas identified under the scheme fall in the states of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These States represent about 25% of the total number of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks in terms of groundwater in India. They also cover two major types of groundwater systems found in India – alluvial and hard rock aquifers- and have varying degrees of institutional readiness and experience in groundwater management.
India hosted 11th edition of Geo Intelligence Asia
The eleventh edition of Geo-Intelligence Asia 2018 was held at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on June 4-5, 2018. The annual event was organized by GeoSpatial Media and Communication in collaboration with Directorate General of Information System as Knowledge Partners and Military Survey as co-organisers. The seminar brought together military, security officials including BSF and police forces, government and industry together to assess the latest technology solutions and discuss and deliberate on the critical role of geospatial technology for safety and security. The seminar included an exhibition comprising stalls of various technological firms dealing with geospatial technologies. The sessions during the seminar covered crucial subjects including enhanced situational awareness for combat, smart cantonments, GIS and logistics, cyber security and LIDAR. The seminar also witnessed thought-provoking sessions, which saw learned speakers put forth their unique perspective and insights on the geospatial intelligence community’s role in defeating threats.
India records 22% reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio since 2013
India registered a significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) recording a 22% reduction in such deaths since 2013. According to the Sample Registration System bulletin released yesterday, the MMR has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016. Union Health Minister JP Nadda said in a tweet that the latest figures reveal that the government has gone beyond the UN Millennium Development Goals of the MMR.
