July 5
Centre mulls partial repeal of AFSPA in Assam, Arunachal
The Centre is mulling partial repeal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the wake of the improvement in the internal security situation in these two states.
Official sources in the Home Ministry said the security situation was better in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh like never before and the imposition of AFSPA could be further reduced.
A Home Ministry report said that Assam has been most peaceful state in recent years. There was a substantial decline in insurgency-related incidents in 2016 in the State. Elections to the State Assembly were by and large held peacefully in April last year. Security forces have been able to contain activities of militant groups in a major way and the year 2016 witnessed the lowest number of violent incidents since 1997.
There were 75 incidents in 2016 compared to 81 in 2015. At least 51 insurgents were neutralised in security forces operations while 366 insurgents were arrested. Security forces, however, lost four personnel in the operations. In 2016, the number of civilian deaths went up to 29.
Fact File: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA)
- Act of the Parliament of India that grant special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in what each act terms “disturbed areas”.
- According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared ‘disturbed’, the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of 3 months.
- One such Act passed on September 11, 1958 was applicable to the Naga Hills, then part of Assam. In the following decades it spread, one by one, to the other Seven Sister Statesin India’s northeast.
- Another one passed in 1983 and applicable to Punjab and Chandigarhwas withdrawn in 1997, roughly 14 years after it came to force.
- An Act passed in 1990 was applied to Jammu and Kashmirand has been in force since.
- Recently the Tripura state government has decided to withdraw the controversial Act.
- The Acts have received criticism from several sections for alleged concerns about human rights violations in the regions of its enforcement alleged to have happened.
India, Israel now strategic allies
India and Israel elevated their ties to the strategic partnership level, vowing to do “much more together” to combat growing radicalisation and terrorism while pitching for strong action against those financing and providing sanctuaries to terror groups.
The issue of terror and “strategic threats” along with various other topics like cooperation in defence and security, water, agriculture, space and West Asia figured prominently in the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
After the wide-ranging talks, the two sides signed seven pacts covering areas like innovation, water conservation, agriculture and space.
The first Indian prime minister to visit Israel said both the countries live in “complex geographies” and are aware of “strategic threats” to regional peace and stability. Both leaders also committed to cooperate for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International terrorism (CCIT).
India and Israel also agreed to set up a USD 40 million fund for industrial Research and Development, and innovation fund, with both countries contributing USD 20 million each.
UDAY scheme covers 97% of discom debt: Centre
Union Government has announced that 97% of the total outstanding debt of all state power distribution companies (discoms) has been covered under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY).
Current Debt of state-owned discoms
- As on September 30, 2015, the total debt of all state-owned discoms was Rs. 3.95 lakh crore.
- The 26 states and 1 UT which have joined the UDAY scheme account for total outstanding debt of Rs.3.82 lakh crore. Hence, about 97% of the total outstanding debt of all State discoms has been covered under UDAY
- Total liability opted for restructuring by the states through the issuance of bonds was Rs. 2.69 lakh crore. So far, states have already issued bonds of the Rs. 2.09 lakh crore and discoms have issued bonds worth 0.23 lakh crore. Bonds worth Rs. 0.37 lakh crore are yet to be issued by various discoms. Hence, about 86% of the restructurable debt of states has been restructured so far under UDAY.
FACTFILE: Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana(UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs) initiated by the Government of India with the intent to find a permanent solution to the financial mess that the state-run power distribution is in.
It allows state governments, which own the discoms, to take over 75% of their debt as of September 30, 2015, and pay back lenders by selling bonds. Discoms are expected to issue bonds for the remaining 25% of their debt.
Arunachal Pradesh celebrates ‘Dree festival’
The Dree Festival of Arunachal Pradesh is an agricultural festival celebrated by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Every year, it is celebrated on 5th July with the pre-celebration rituals starting from the evening of 4th July.
- It is the biggest festival of the Apatanis and celebrated with zest marked by sacrificial offerings and prayers.
- The main and the biggest celebration of this festival happens at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh.
During the Dree Festival prayers are offered to please the 4 Gods – Tamu, Harniang, Metii, and Danyi to bring in a bountiful harvest season. - The Dree Festival of Arunachal Pradesh is a celebration of the agricultural way of life for the Apatanis.
- Traditional songs and dances are also displayed as part of the Dree celebrations.
- The festival is marked by grand ritual and community feasts served with delicious rice/millet beer.
Karnataka launches ‘Elevate 100’ scheme for start-ups
Karnataka government has launched the ‘Elevate 100’ scheme to identify and nurture innovative start-ups.
It will identify 100 most innovative start-ups in the state to elevate them to the next level of success.
These start-ups will not only be provided funding, but will also be provided technical and business support including access to mentors, networking opportunities, idea.
Karnataka Government has identified 46 start-ups and has sanctioned Rs.15.68 crore. Out of these, 26 start-ups are from the field of biotech and have been sanctioned Rs.10.70 crore, 8 start-ups from tourism have got Rs.1.80 crore and 12 from IT have received Rs. 3.18 crore.
The scheme is the brainchild of the start-up cell, Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS).
July 6
Achal Kumar Joti is the New CEC
Achal Kumar Joti took charge as the 21st Chief Election Commissioner and said the poll panel will vigorously pursue its commitment to hold free, fair, inclusive and credible elections.
He also said that the mission of ‘no voter is left behind’ will continue to be his priority even as focus area will be to actively promote e-governance for holding state and Lok Sabha elections.
Achal Kumar Jyoti is an Election Commissioner of India. He is a retired I.A.S. Officer of 1975 batch from the Gujarat Cadre. He was a former Chief Secretary of Gujarat state. He served as the Chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and Managing Director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL). After retiring as the chief secretary in January 2013, he was appointed as the State Vigilance Commissioner of Gujarat. He is appointed the next Chief Election Commissioner of India on 6th July 2017.
India declares itself free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, India has declared itself free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 and H5N8) and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
India had reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza at various epicenters in Delhi, Gwalior (MP), Rajpura (Punjab), Hissar (Haryana), and many other states during October, 2016 to February, 2017.
According to the ministry, surveillance in the states showed no evidence of presence of Avian Influenza Virus.
India 96th in FIFA World ranking, its best in 21 years
India has moved four places up to the 96th position in the recently released FIFA World ranking on 6th of July 2017.
This is India’s second best ranking and its previous best was the 94th position in February 1996.
India, which had been ranked 100th in the previous list released on 1st June, has won two matches since the last list was published.
India has moved 77 positions up from the 173rd rank on March 2015.
India has been averaging at the 134th rank since the creation of the world ranking system. Among Asian nations, Iran leads at No. 23, one ahead of Africa’s best, Egypt.
July 7
Madrassas come under Secondary Education
The State Government has ordered the merger of the Directorate of Madrassa Education with the Directorate of Secondary Education through a notification issued to this effect on July 1, 2017.
The merger came into effect without any change in the nomenclature of the existing Directorate of Secondary Education and its attached offices. With this, all the offices and staff of the Directorate of Madrassa Education shall automatically be under the administrative control of the Directorate of Secondary Education.
Trilateral Malabar Naval exercise begins
The Trilateral Malabar exercise begins in Chennai on 7th July 2017. Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2017.
It will address the variety of shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific. This exercise helps to advance the level of understanding between Sailors and continuing to strengthen our bonds and personal.
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ships JS Izumo (DDH 183) and JS Sazanami (DD113) and U.S. Navy’s the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with embarked Carrier Air Wing 11; the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), and USS Kidd (DDG 100); a P-8A Poseidon aircraft; and a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, will participate in the exercise.
India ranks 23 of 193 countries on Global Cyber security Index 2017
As per UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Cyber-Security Index, India ranks 23rd out of the 193 countries with a score of 0.683. ITU is a specialised ICT agency under the United Nations that is responsible for allocation global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, along with developing technical network standards.
The top 10 most committed countries to cyber security are Singapore (with a 0.925 score), United States, Malaysia, Oman, Estonia, Mauritius, Australia, Georgia, France and Canada. Russia is ranked 11th.
In addition to showing the overall cybersecurity commitment of ITU’s 193 member-states, the Index also shows the improvement and strengthening of the five pillars of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda: legal, technical, organisational, capacity building and international cooperation.
July 8
India makes impact at G-20 talks on terror
India today said that it had “a major influence” on counter-terrorism discussions at the G-20 Summit here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the key issue with European leaders.
“India had a major influence on counter-terrorism discussions at the G-20 and also played a significant role in talks on trade and investment, migration and climate change,” Arvind Panagariya, sherpa for India at the Summit, said at a media briefing.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said counter-terrorism measures remained in focus during all discussions Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with European leaders at the G-20 Summit.
Modi has been raising the issue of combating terrorism in all his meetings recently with European leaders in the wake of a spate of terror attacks that have struck European countries like Germany, France, the UK and Sweden recently.
1,100 electrocution deaths in State in 10 years
More than 1,100 deaths by electrocution in the last 10 years or so in Assam, besides leaving many others exposed to similar eventualities. Worse, deaths due to lackadaisical management of power lines continue to put citizens in a state of shock year after year.
Records divulged that since 2006, more than 1,100 people have died due to electrocution across the length and breadth of the State, mostly after coming into contact with live wire emerging from unfenced high-voltage transformers, making it more than 100 deaths a year on an average.
While over 1,000 deaths by electrocution were reported between 2006 and 2013, the figure continues to pile up with nearly 150 deaths reported since 2014.
Govt launches IPR awareness scheme for MSMEs, Startups
The ministry of commerce and industry has launched a scheme for awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). It was further step to take forward the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy 2016.
Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM)has launched the ‘Scheme for IPR Awareness Creative India; Innovative India’. The scheme aims at raising IPR awareness amongst students, authors, artists, budding inventors.
It intend to conduct over 4,000 IPR awareness workshops in academic institutions including MSMEs and start-ups which will cover international filing procedures, promotion of Geographical Indications and highlighting the ill-effects of piracy and counterfeiting.
It will promote innovation and entrepreneurship, IPR awareness could be implemented via partner organisations where the complete details can be viewed on the website of department of industrial policy and promotion.