August 09
PM for special initiative to end poverty, illiteracy, graft
Terming corruption, poverty and illiteracy as the greatest challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for special initiatives to end all such ills in the next five years with the pledge of ‘Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge’ (We will do and surely do). Addressing the Lok Sabha on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement, the Prime Minister said from 2017 to 2022 when India turns 75, there is a need to create the same spirit that existed between 1942 and 1947.
Corruption, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition are the greatest challenges that India now needs to overcome and a common resolve is needed for this, he said, adding “We need to bring a positive change in this regard.” “In 1942, the clarion call was ‘Karenge Ya Marenge’ (Do or Die) – today it is ‘Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge.’ The next five years should also be about ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’, a resolve which will lead us to accomplishment,” Modi said.
He said from 1857 to 1942, the move towards freedom was incremental, but the years from 1942 to 1947, were transformative and delivered on the objective. “In 1942, conditions internationally became favourable for India to get independence.
He said the Indian freedom struggle witnessed participation from a wide range of individuals over several years, specially after 1942 responding to the Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call of ‘Do or Die’. “The Quit India movement marked the rise of a new leadership. They supported Mahatma Gandhi during the movement,” he said.
Justice Dipak Misra appointed as 45th Chief Justice of India
President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Justice Dipak Misra (63), senior-most judge of the Supreme Court as the next Chief Justice of India. He will be 45th CJI and succeeds Justice JS Khehar. He will have tenure of over 13 months till October 2018. He will be the third person from Odisha to be appointed the CJI, after Justices Ranganath Misra and G B Pattanaik.
Task force to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis
The Centre has initiated steps to set up a task force to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi settlers in Assam, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha. The government has taken up the issue of illegal immigration with Bangladesh during various bilateral meetings such as Joint Working Group on Security, Director General-level talks between Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh, Home Secretary-level talks, etc., the minister said in reply to a question.
In the last Home Secretary-level talks in December 2016, India expressed concerns over illegal migration from Bangladesh and requested the neighbouring country to share real time information on activities of criminal networks engaged in illegal border crossing. India and Bangladesh have also put in place a coordinated border management plan to address problems arising from illegal border crossing.
India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees and the 1967 Protocol therein. As such, there is no national law on refugees at present. However, a standard operating procedure is in place with effect from December 29, 2011 for dealing with foreign nationals who claim to be refugees. The government grants Long Term Visa (LTV) in deserving cases on the basis of general perceived condition in the home country of the applicant.
According to available estimates, there are around 40,000 Rohingyas living illegally in India. The government has issued detailed instructions for deportation of illegal foreign nationals, including Rohingyas. Deportation of illegally staying foreign nationals is a continuous process and the Central government is vested with powers to deport foreign nationals illegally staying in the country under Section 3(2) (c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
8th Meeting of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process held in New Delhi
The eighth meeting of the Regional Technical Group of Confidence Building Measure on Trade, Commerce & Investment Opportunities under the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was hosted by India in New Delhi.
India, along with 17 countries is seeking to make transit and trade agreements among them more inclusive and comprehensive by expanding them both northwards and southwards, to connect South Asia with Central Asia.
- The participants, besides viewing Afghanistan as a natural bridge in promoting regional connectivity and economic integration, also reviewed steps taken for development of transit and transport through Chabahar Port involving India, Afghanistan and Iran, TAPI gas pipeline, CASA-1000, TAT railway line and Lapis Lazuli corridor.
- Representatives of 17 participating countries and supporting international organisations, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the UAE, Australia, Egypt, Germany, the UK, the US, the EU and the UN, attended the meet.
75th anniversary of Quit India Movement and Azad Hind Fauj
The nation is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. A number of events are being planned to mark the occasion.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon countrymen to start a new India movement “SANKALP SE SIDDHI”- Attainment through Resolve.
- Mr Modi, termed the month of August as a month of revolution as the non-cooperation movement was launched on 1st of August 1920, Quit-India movement on 9th of August 1942 and on 15th August 1947 India became independent.
- The National Archives of India is organizing a special exhibition in New Delhi from today to mark the 75th year of Quit India Movement and Azad Hind Fauj. The two big events of the Indian history will be displayed through thousands of declassified files and documents.
Maharashtra to raise $270 m from Green Climate Fund
The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG) will help the Maharashtra Government raise $270 million from the Green Climate Fund, which will be invested in integrated watershed programmes such as Jalyukt Shivar Yojana.
Green Climate Fund(GCF)
- The Green Climate Fund(GCF) is a fund established within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
- Headquarters of GCF is located in South Korea.
- Green Climate Fund is expected to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance under the UNFCCC, and raise $100 billion a year by 2020.
- Its ultimate aim is to close the gap between water demand and supply by the year 2030.
2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG):
- 2030WRG is hosted by the International Finance Corporation(IFC) and is a public-private-civil society collaboration for water resources reform in developing economies.
- It was launched in 2008 at the World Economic Forum.
August 10
Rs 100 cr allotted to study NE floods
The Centre on Thursday said that Rs 100 crore has been earmarked to find a permanent solution to floods in the Northeastern region. Experts will help find a solution, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said. The Centre proposes to fund a permanent solution to floods in the Northeast including Assam.
The government has adjudged flood as a calamity of “severe nature” in terms of operational guidelines of 2015-16 for constitution and administration of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The Centre has changed the funding pattern from 90:10 to 80:20 for Special Category States like the Northeast states. Suddenly, after the recommendations of NITI Aayog, the funding pattern has been changed. In 2016, the Water Resources Ministry issued a letter with the subject ‘Revised Funding Pattern for Projects Approved under the Flood Management Programme (FMP). It was known as the flagship programme of the Union Government, but after the Narendra Modi government came to power, it referred the FMP to the NITI Aayog. The new funding pattern is applied not just in the new projects, but this is done on the ongoing projects too – the projects that have been sanctioned, the projects on which DPR has been prepared and the projects that have got the Centre’s approval.
Nationwide drive to protect elephant corridors, habitats
A massive awareness-cum-action campaign titled ‘Gaja Yatra’ that focuses on securing degraded elephant corridorsand improving elephant habitat will be launched across the country on World Elephant Day on August 12.
Initiated by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in association with the Government of India’s Project Elephant and Partners, Gaja Yatra will be a 15-month awareness campaign on the shrinking space for India’s wild elephants and the importance of elephant corridors.
One of the biggest events planned around India’s wild elephants, it will take place across multiple cities in India.
In Assam and other parts of the Northeast, elephant habitat and corridors are shrinking drastically in the face of growing encroachment, tree-felling and commercial and industrial activities. This has also led to a spurt in the man-elephant conflict that has been taking a large toll on both elephant and human lives.
Delhi is Asia’s fastest growing city
Delhi will have the fastest growth of any city in Asia, with the economy of the city-state likely to become almost 50% larger in 2021 than it was at the end of last year.
- Indian cities are set to expand the most across the Asian region, with growth speeding up from the past five years, according to a new study from Oxford Economics, which has ranked Asia’s 30 largest cities.
- Ho Chi Minh, the largest metro in Vietnam, was the only non-Indian city in the top five.
Despite a growth rate of 6%, China’s expansion is likely to come down. Its growth is expected at an average rate of 4.2% per year over the next five years up to 2021, compared to 4.5% in 2012-2016.
India ratifies 2nd commitment period of Kyoto Protocol
India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action.
- India became the 80th country to accept the amendment relating to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the international emissions reduction treaty.
Fact File: Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international GHGs emissions reduction treaty linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate.
It commits its Parties by setting internationally binding GHGs emission reduction targets. It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005.
The protocol is based on principle of equity and Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR).
- The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.
- The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005.
The second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol is to be effective during (2013 to 2020.
Kerela, Haryana top Swachh Survekshan sanitation survey
According to the Swachh Survekshan survey, commissioned by the Union Drinking Water and Sanitation ministry, almost all rural households in Kerala and Haryana had access to a toilet.
- The survey conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) with 1.4 lakh households in 4626 villages across all states found 62.45% households in rural India having access to toilets while their usage was 91%.
None of the states had 100% access to toilets.
- North-eastern States of Sikkim, Manipur and Nagaland were top performers with 95% rural households covered by toilets.
- The Himalayan States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand with over 90% toilet coverage of the rural houses.
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are among the worst performers in terms of rural sanitation. In Bihar, only 30% of the rural household had access to toilets while Uttar Pradesh was marginally better at 37%.
August 11
Sensor barriers on NH-37 along KNP
The State Government has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it would follow the recommendations made by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for improving the sensor barriers installed by the State in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP)-stretch of the National Highway (NH)-37 for keeping the speed of the vehicles passing through that stretch of the Highway under control in a bid to reduce the number of cases of knocking down or running over of the KNP wild animals by speeding vehicles.
The State Government made the above statement before the NGT on August 9, in connection with the Original Application No 174 of 2013 in the matter of Rohit Choudhury versus Union of India and others on the issue of Kaziranga National Park (KNP)-stretch of the NH-37.
The recommendations of the WII would be followed and improvements in the sensors would be completed by September 30, 2017 positively in consultation with the WII. Thereafter, the State Government would install more sensor barriers particularly in the areas which are known as animal corridors.
Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) launched
The Government of India to launch a new scheme named “Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY)” as part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
- The Self Help Groups under DAY-NRLM will operate road transport service in backward areas. This will help to provide safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (such as access to markets, education and health) for the overall economic development of backward rural areas.
- The beneficiary SHG member will be provided an interest free loan by the CBO from its Community Investment Fund upto Rs.6.50 lakh for purchase of the vehicle.
FACT FILE: DAY-NRLM
- DAY-NRLM is a poverty alleviation scheme implemented by Union Ministry of Rural Development. It was launched as NRLM in 2011 but was succeeded by Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana in 2016.
- The scheme aims at promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor. The basic idea behind this programme is to organize the poor into SHG (Self Help Groups) groups and make them capable for self-employment.
- It has a special focus on women empowerment including a dedicated component for promoting farm and non-farm based livelihoods for women farmers in rural areas.
- The scheme helps rural poor to set up self-employment ventures by ensuring easy access to credit.
- It is implemented across the country in all States and Union Territories (except Delhi and Chandigarh).
- It is one of the world’s largest initiatives to improve the livelihood of poor. It is supported by World Bank.
E-Shakti initiative of NABARD
E – Shakti is a pilot project of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
- The aim of the initiative is to digitise all SHGs under its Micro Credit and Innovations Department and reduce the drudgery of book keeping and cut the dependence on cash transactions.
- It is initiated to address certain concerns like improving the quality of book keeping of SHGs and to enable banks to take informed credit decisions about the group through a Management Information System (MIS).
FACT FILE: NABARD
- NABARD was established in 1982, as an apex development financial institution in India, on the recommendations of B.Sivaraman Committee.
- The Bank has been entrusted with “matters concerning policy, planning and operations in the field of credit for agricultureand other economic activities in rural areas in India
- Chairman: – Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala
August 12
Venkaiah Naidu sworn in as 15th Vice President of India
M Venkaiah Naidu was sworn in as the 15th vice president of India. President Ramnath Kovind administered the oath of office to Naidu, 68, at a brief ceremony in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan attended by political leaders cutting across party lines.
While he is the 15th vice president, he is the 13th person to hold the constitutional post. His predecessor Hamid Ansari and the first vice president S Radhakrishnan had held the post for two consecutive terms.
After the ceremony, President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi, ex-Vice President Ansari, Vice President Naidu and Advani were seen seated together.
15th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Kathmandu
The Ministerial meeting of the 15th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC, Ministerial meeting held in Kathmandu.
India also identified the energy sector as a key area of cooperation and noted that cross-border exchange of power between India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh is on a rapid upswing.
About BIMSTEC:-
- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia. These are: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
- In 1997, a new sub-regional grouping was formed in Bangkok and given the name BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
- BIMSTEC Headquarters is situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- The main objective of BIMSTEC is technological and economic co-operation among south Asian and south east Asian countries along the coast of the bay of Bengal.
BitBay to launch trading platform for digital currency in India
Poland based bitcoin exchange platform Bitbay, one of the top ten crypto currency trading platforms in the world, has launched a dedicated platform for trade and exchange of digital currencies such as bitcoin, litecoin, ether, Lisk, monero, dash and gamecredits.
The company will also work towards creating awareness about digital currencies and also removing misconceptions related to these currencies in a market like India.
FACT FILE: Digital currency
- Digital currency (digital money or electronic money or electronic currency) is a type of currency that is non-physical, that is no banknotes and coins exist thereof, and which can only be transmitted via electronic means, typically allowing for instantaneous transactions and borderless transfer of ownership.
- Like traditional money, these currencies may be used to buy physical goods and services, but may also be restricted to certain communities such as for use inside an on-line game or social network.
- Another form of electronic money is network money, allowing the transfer of value on computer networks, particularly the Internet. Electronic money is also a claim on a private bank or other financial institution such as bank deposits.
- Digital money can either be centralized, where there is a central point of control over the money supply, or decentralized, where the control over the money supply can come from various sources.