Current Affairs Assam – October 2017 e-Magazine
October 13
Banks to act as Aadhaar service provider in State
Though the Government of Assam has decided to start the process of issuing Aadhaar cards to the citizens from December, all the commercial banks have been authorised to act as service providers for issuing the unique identification cards to their account holders.
Government of India has directed all the banks to link all the accounts with the unique identification numbers by December 31, a decision was taken to authorise the banks to operate as service providers so that the account holders can get their Aadhaar cards. All the banks have been asked to operate at least in 10 percent of their branches as the service providing agencies for the benefit of the account holders.
The banks would collect the relevant data, including identity and address proof, photographs, fingerprints, photos of the eyes of the customers, etc. A bank official would act as the verification officer to verify the documents before sending all the data to the UIDAI. The UIDAI, in turn, will verify the documents and data before issuing Aadhaar cards.
US to withdraw from UNESCO
The United States announced that it will withdraw from the UNESCO, accusing the UN’s cultural body of “anti-Israel” stance.The withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2018. The US will remain a full member of UNESCO until that time.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organisation, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO,” State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
The Department of State notified United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation Director-General Irina Bokova of the US decision to withdraw from the organisation and to seek to establish a permanent observer mission to UNESCO.
Paris-based UNESCO, which began work in 1946, is known for designating World Heritage sites.
FACTFILE – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
- Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
- It is the successor of the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
- UNESCO has 195 member states and ten associate members.
- UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and communication/information. Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programs, international science programs, the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press, regional and cultural history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity, translations of world literature, international cooperation agreements to secure the world’s cultural and natural heritage (World Heritage Sites) and to preserve human rights, and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide.
- It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.
- UNESCO’s aim is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information”.
- The broad goals and objectives of the international community – as set out in the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO strategies and activities.
October 14
India to boost infrastructure along China border
The Defence Ministry has decided to significantly enhance infrastructure along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-Indian border, including around the areas of dispute.
The decision was taken at the Army’s commanders conference which extensively deliberated on the Doklam face-off with China besides analysing all possible security challenges on the northern border.
Director General Staff Duties Lt Gen Vijay Singh, briefing on the outcome of the conclave which was attended by top defence ministry officials among others, said it was decided that there would be considerable “heft” towards road construction activities in the northern sector.
Aadhaar helped govt save $9 bn, says Nandan Nilekani
The Indian government’s Aadhaar card scheme, which has enrolled more than one billion people, has helped the exchequer save about USD 9 billion by eliminating fraud in beneficiary lists, its architect Nandan Nilekani has said.
The system, launched by the previous UPA government, has been “enthusiastically” supported by the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, said the 62-year-old non-executive chairman of Infosys – India’s second largest software services firm.
It has really been a bipartisan thing, Nilekani said while participating in a World Bank panel discussion on Digital Economy for Development.
He said that it is easier for the developing countries to leapfrog by building a right digital infrastructure.Aadhaar now has more than a billion people registered on its system.
“We have about half a billion people who have connected their ID directly to a bank account. The government has transferred about USD 12 billion into bank accounts electronically in real time to the world’s largest cash transfer system.
October 15
‘Smart fencing’ project can be extended to Indo-Bangla border
The Government of India has started the process of implementing the ‘Smart fencing’ project in the areas considered most vulnerable along the international border with Pakistan, and if this project is successful, it can be extended to the eastern border with Bangladesh.However, use of some available modern technology has already improved border management in this part of the country and some new addition of technology is in the pipeline.
Extensive use of modern technology has improved border management considerably along the international border with Bangladesh and it has acted as force multiplier. The hand-held thermal imagers used by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along the Indo-Bangladesh border has improved the performance of the border guarding force. The device can detect movement of any living object within a range of five kilometres and if any such movement is noticed, the quick reaction teams can move out immediately to the location.
Meanwhile, giving details of the concept of smart fencing, sources revealed that it is a comprehensive integrated border management system. The first step will be installation of radars, which would detect any movement from a distance, and this would be followed by installation of infrared devices and sensors. Control rooms with quick reaction teams will be created and whenever any movement along the border is detected, such teams will rush out to deal with any attempt by foreigners to sneak into India. The smart fencing project also has installation of cobra wires to make the international border fencing more formidable.
The pilot project for implementation of the smart fencing scheme has started in Jammu sector and in a portion of Punjab, as these places are considered most vulnerable for infiltration of antinational elements and terrorists from Pakistan.
Centre to develop education, technology in Northeast
The Centre is determined to bring parity in education and technology between the region and other parts of the country, Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
Inaugurating the India International Science Festival 2017 (IISF) being attended by scientists, academicians, experts, technocrats and students from India and abroad, Dr Vardhan said that the Northeast has been identified for special attention.
Dr Vardhan said that science teachers from the Northeast have been invited to the festival to interact with teachers from all over the country. “We want to bring parity in education and technology between the Northeast and other parts of the country,” he said.
The National Science Teachers’ Workshop at IISF 2017 will provide a platform for innovative, dedicated, and passionate teachers to share the experiences and learn the innovative methods of science teaching. About 125 teachers from the northeastern region will be participating in the workshop, Dr Vardhan said.
The minister said he would like to emphasise that for India’s neighbourhood, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, a unique model of need-based entity to entity cooperation has been judiciously adopted.
Vanuatu became the First Nation to accept bitcoin as Payment for its Citizenship Program
Vanuatu, a South Pacific archipelago, has become the first nation to accept Bitcoins as payment for its ‘investment citizenship’ program. A family of up to four can receive Vanuatu passports by paying the Bitcoin equivalent of $280,000 (₹1.8 crore). Vanuatu citizenship allows individuals to reside on the island, and travel to over 100 countries without a visa.
