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Assam Current Affairs – November 8-14, 2018

Posted on November 27, 2018December 11, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – November  8-14, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of November 8-14, 2018 )

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November 8

Arunachal Pradesh Govt and OIL sign pact on petroleum mining

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh signed a petroleum mining lease deed agreement with Oil India Limited (OIL) for the Ningru Block in Namsai and Changlang districts.
Secretary (Geology and Mining) Bidol Tayeng signed the agreement on behalf of the State Government and OIL’s Duliajan (Assam) resident chief executive BP Sharma signed on behalf of the company, in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Chief Secretary Satya Gopal.
The Central Government had granted petroleum mining lease for Ningru to OIL for a period of 20 years, with effect from November 1983.
The company had drilled 14 oil wells within Kumchai area of Ningru, but only one well is producing crude oil.
With constant persuasion by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the lease agreement has been renewed after almost 15 years.

FACTFILE – Oil India Limited (OIL)

OIL is the second largest hydrocarbon exploration and production Indian public sector company with its operational headquarters in Duliajan, Assam, India.
It is a state-owned Navratna under the administrative control of India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with its corporate offices in Noida.
OIL is engaged in the business of exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas, transportation of crude oil and production of liquid petroleum gas.
Oil India Limited was formed by the Burmah Oil Company Limited as its subsidiary in India 1887 to explore in the Assam Basin, India.
Oil India drilled beneath the Digboi seeps and found a giant oil field. Several other oil fields were subsequently found by Oil India Limited in what became India’s first oil production.
As of 2014 the company produced 3.466 MMT of crude oil, 2625.81 MMSCM of natural gas and 46,640 tonnes of LPG.
Most of this was produced from its traditionally rich oil and gas fields concentrated in the Northeastern part of India and contribute around 80% of total oil and gas produced in the region.

Amur Falcon Fest observed in Manipur

A day-long Amur Falcon festival was organized by Rainforest Club of Tamenglong in collaboration with Tamenglong district Forest division. This year’s theme of the festival was “Honour the Treasured Wings.”
Satellite tagging of two birds were done by Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) expert Dr Suresh Kumar and Hungarian ornithologists, Peter Fehervari and Peter Palatitz. They had earlier done it in association with Nagaland Forest department at Doyang in Nagaland five years back to track their migration.
Phalong (Bhalok) village has been declared as Amur Falcon village. And it is also suggested that Tamenglong district should be named as “Amur Falcon District” as the migratory birds come and rest in many villages in the district.
Amur Falcons come to Tamenglong annually during winter to stay and hunt for termites and other pests for a month.

FACTFILE – Amur falcon

The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor of the falcon family.
The Amur falcon breeds in east Asia from the Transbaikalia, Amurland, and northern Mongolian region to parts of North Korea.
They migrate in a broad front through India and Sri Lanka, sometimes further east over Thailand and Cambodia and then over the Arabian Sea, sometimes in passage on the Maldives and other islands to reach southern Africa.
Birds going over India are thought to be aided by strong winds blowing westward. These winds are strong at an altitude of about 3000m and the birds are thought to fly at a height of above 1000m during migration.
In 2012, mass trapping and capture of migrating Amur falcons in Nagaland was reported in the media and a successful campaign was begun to prevent their killing.
As part of this campaign, three birds were fitted with 5 gm satellite transmitters that allowed them to be tracked during their migration.

Meghalaya’s largest apparel manufacturing unit gets operational

The School of Livelihood & Rural Development (SLRD) has ramped its activities with the acquisition of the largest apparel and garment manufacturing unit in Meghalaya, which is located at Hatisil in South West Garo Hills.
The unit covering an area of 45,000 sq ft, the unit was originally set up at a cost of Rs 14.26 crore by Union Ministry of Textiles under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles, i.e. silk, handlooms, handicrafts and apparels and garments.
The facility remained idle for a year and a half while the two different agencies that the unit was allocated to failed to meet their commitment to start production. Meanwhile, production work has finally begun and will be ramped up in stages to meet the market demand.
The centre has three units, two of them housing 105 sewing machines each, and the third one having seventy machines. This would not only require skilled individuals to operate machinery but also people for various aspects of production, packaging, and market linked activities.

India to share talks table with Afghan Taliban at non-official level

India on 8^th November said that it will attend, albeit at a non-official level, a multilateral meeting in Moscow on the Afghanistan issue on Friday where the Afghan Taliban will also be present.
This will be the first time that India will be sharing a talks table with the Afghan Taliban on the issue of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Amar Sinha, former Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry who also served as India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, and T.C.A. Raghavan, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, will represent New Delhi at the Moscow talks.
Russia sent invitations for what is called the “Moscow Format” talks to Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, the US and the Afghan Taliban.
The Indian move came after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in October for the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi and Moscow also resolved to launch joint development and capacity building projects in Afghanistan.

November 9

Cabinet okays privatisation of Guwahati and five other AAI airports

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal to privatise six airports in India, including the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport.
Besides the LGBI Airport, the other AAI airports, which the Union Cabinet has decided to privatise, are Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mengaluru and Thiruvanathapuram Airport.
The proposal has been made to modernise the airports under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to meet international standards.
The government’s decision on privatising these airports comes 12 years after it privatised Delhi and Mumbai airports, which have emerged among the top airports globally.
While the AAI could still hold a minority stake, the chosen private player could hold at least 75 per cent stake. The Delhi and Mumbai airports have been leased to GMR and GVK, which share 45.99 per cent and 38.7 per cent of their revenues with the AAI every year.
The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) will handle the privatisation project, and any issue that is beyond its scope would be dealt with by an empowered group of secretaries. The Empowered Group will be headed by NITI Aayog CEO and the secretaries from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Economic Affairs, and Department of Expenditure.
It is to be pointed out that the PPP model has also worked well for the AAI’s airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cochin and Bengaluru.

National Legal Services Day observed on November 9

National Legal Services Day (NLSD) is observed every year on 9th November to spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
It aims to offer free of charge, proficient and legal services to the people belonging to
weaker sections of society.
It also seeks to make sure availability of free services to weaker section people as well as making them conscious about their rights.
Lok Adalats are organized across the country to make safe the legal system operations and encourages righteousness of people on the equal.
Legal literacy camps and functions are also organized to increase awareness of free legal aid towards every weak citizen of the country.
It was started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 to provide help and support to poor and weaker sections of the society.

Union Cabinet approved for sale of unutilized “Enemy Shares”

The Union Cabinet approved the mechanism and procedure for sale of over 6.5 crore “Enemy Shares” lying unutilised since 1968.
The Cabinet has approved the mechanism and procedure for sale of over 6.5 crore enemy shares of 996 companies worth Rs 3,000 crore which have been lying unutilised since 1968.
A total number of 6,50,75,877 shares in 996 companies of 20,323 shareholders are under the custody of Custodian of Enemy Property of India (CEPI).
Of these 996 companies, 588 are functional or active companies, while 139 of these are listed and the remaining being unlisted.
The process for selling these shares will be approved by the Alternative Mechanism (AM) under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and comprising Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

‘Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh’ to come up in Vizianagaram District

The Union cabinet approved setting up of ‘Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh’. It will be established in Relli village of Vizianagaram District.
The proposed university will come up after necessary amendment in the Central Universities Act.
The ‘Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh’ will be set up in Relli village of Vizianagaram District as provided under the Thirteenth Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Cabinet has also approved the provision of funds of Rs 4.2 billion for the first phase expenditure towards the establishment of the Central Tribal University

India joined Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme of IEA

Recently India joined a member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme (AMFTCP) under the International Energy Agency.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas joined AMFTCP as its 16th member on May 9 this year.
The primary goal of joining AMFTCP by the Ministry of Petroleum is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced motor fuels/ alternate fuels with an aim to bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency in transport sector

FACTFILE – Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme (AMFTCP)

Advanced Motor Fuels (AMF) is one of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) transportation related Technology Collaboration Programmes.
Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs) are multilateral technology initiatives that encourage technology-related activities that support energy security, economic growth and environmental protection.
AMFTCP is an international platform for co-operation among countries to promote cleaner and more energy efficient fuels and vehicle technologies.
The benefits of participation in AMFTCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources. The duplication of efforts is avoided and national R&D capabilities are strengthened . The other member countries of AMFTCP are USA, China, Japan, Canada, Chile, Israel, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Thailand.

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Assam Current Affairs – November 1-7, 2018

Posted on November 26, 2018December 11, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – November  1-7, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of November 1-7, 2018 )

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November 1

Mary Kom named brand ambassador of 10^th Women’s World Championship

Five time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist M C Mary Kom was named as the brand ambassador of the 10th Women’s World Championship to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi from November 15 to 24.
The elite AIBA event will see the highest participation so far as close to 300 pugilists from 70 countries will vie for top honours across 10 weight categories.
Mary Kom, who is seeking her sixth crown will be eyeing her second gold at home since 2006.
Since its inception India had hosted the tournament once in 2006 and had registered the best ever haul of eight medals, including four gold, one silver and three bronze.

FACTFILE – Mary Kom

Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte is an Indian Olympic boxer from Manipur.
She is the only woman to become World Amateur Boxing champion for a record six times, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the seven world championships.
She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning the bronze medal.
She has also been ranked as No. 1 AIBA World Women’s Ranking Light Flyweight category.
She became the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold Medal in the Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea and is the first Indian Woman Boxer to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
On 26 April 2016, Kom was nominated by the President of India as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
In March 2017, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, appointed Mary Kom along with Akhil Kumar as national observers for boxing.

Tea Board bans plucking of tea after December 10 across

The Tea Board of India issued an order to the all the tea manufacturing units of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur to stop plucking of tea leaves from tea gardens so that the quantity of substandard teas can be reduced.
The order, issued for the first time, said the last date for intimation/declaration to the Tea Board by all tea manufacturing units in the Northeast regarding closure of their manufacturing is December 12.
If the order is found to be violated, then the Tea Board may take action under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order.
In Assam, tea fibres are used by many factories for re-manufacturing tea and they even use colour and this type of tea is unsuitable for human consumption as tea fibre is a form of waste product.

FACTFILE – North Eastern Tea Association

The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) is an association of tea producers’, formed in the year 1981, has headquartered at Golaghat of Assam, India.
The association promotes interests of its members, in addition to playing a pivotal for the enrichment of the tea industry in Assam.
It issues advice and the consensus of professional opinions’ of tea producers to its members and associated groups, and to the government about current issues as they arise pertaining to Assam’s tea industry, besides making suggestions for the upscaling of the industry sector.
NETA has recently suggested to move the Tea Board of India’s head office to Guwahati on the basis of the fact that the other five statutory Commodity Boards under the Department of Commerce, Govt. of India – Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Spices and Tobacco are headquartered in the State where the product is mainly grown. Although Assam produces 52.9% of the country’s total tea production as opposed to Bengal which produces 24.8%, the Tea Board is headquartered in Kolkata.
NETA also urged the Tea Board to amend the definition of Small Tea Grower in order to accommodate the one who holds land up to 50.6 hectares as a small tea grower.

FACTFILE – Tea Board of India

The Tea Board of India is a state agency of the Govt of India to promote the cultivation, processing, and domestic trade as well as export of tea from India.
It was established on 1^st April 1954 by the enactment of the Tea Act in 1953 with its headquarters in Kolkata.
The Tea Board India is responsible for the assignment of certification numbers to exports of certain tea merchants.
The Tea Board India’s tasks include endorsement of the diverse production and productivity of tea, financial support of research organisations and the monitoring of advances in tea packaging as it relates to health beneficial aspects.
It coordinates research institutes, the tea trade and government bodies, ensuring the technical support of the tea trade in the global industry.
It has offices in Kolkata, London, Moscow and Dubai.

India jumps to 77^th spot in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings

India leapfrogged to the 77th rank in the World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business rankings, jumping 23 notches from last year.
The report also recognises India as one of the top 10 improvers in this year’s assessment, for the second successive time.
India is the only large country this year to have achieved such a significant shift.
The jump is significant, as it comes after last year’s 30-rung climb when India moved into the top 100 rankings among 190 countries.
India has improved its rank by 53 positions in the last two years, and 65 positions in the last four years (2014-18). A measure to gauge how far an economy’s policies are from global best practices, India’s score improved to 67.23 from 60.76 last year.
India has improved its rank in six out of the 10 indicators and has moved closer to international best practices on seven out of 10 indicators.

Point2Remember – Top 10 economies

New Zealand
Singapore
Denmark
Hong Kong SAR, China
Republic of Korea
Georgia
Norway
United States
United Kingdom
FYR Macedonia.

FACTFILE – Ease of doing business index

The ease of doing business index is created by Simeon Djankov at the World Bank Group. The academic research for the report was done jointly with professors Oliver Hart and Andrei Shleifer.
Higher rankings (a low numerical value) indicate better, usually simpler, regulations for businesses and stronger protections of property rights.
Empirical research funded by the World Bank to justify their work show that the economic growth impact of improving these regulations is strong.
A nation’s ranking on the index is based on the average of 10 subindices:
- Starting a business – Procedures, time, cost and minimum capital to open a new business
- Dealing with construction permits – Procedures, time and cost to build a warehouse
- Getting electricity – procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain a new permanent electricity connection
- Registering property – Procedures, time and cost to register commercial real estate
- Getting credit – Strength of legal rights index, depth of credit information index
- Protecting investors – Indices on the extent of disclosure, extent of director liability and ease of shareholder suits
- Paying taxes – Number of taxes paid, hours per year spent preparing tax returns and total tax payable as share of gross profit
- Trading across borders – Number of documents, cost and time necessary to export and import
- Enforcing contracts – Procedures, time and cost to enforce a debt contract
- Resolving insolvency – The time, cost and recovery rate (%) under bankruptcy proceeding

Cabinet approves India-Morocco Agreement on criminal matters

The Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Approved an agreement between India and Morocco on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters aimed at increasing effectiveness in investigation and prosecution.
The agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco in investigation and prosecution of crime, tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation or proceeds and instruments of crime.
It will further be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organised criminals and terrorists, which in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of internal security.

FACTFILE – India–Morocco relations

India and Morocco have enjoyed cordial and friendly relations and over the years bilateral relations have witnessed significant depth and growth
Morocco has an embassy in New Delhi. It also has an Honorary Consul based in Mumbai. India operates an embassy in Rabat.
Both nations are part of the Non-Aligned Movement.
In the United Nations, India supported the decolonisation of Morocco and the Moroccan freedom movement.
India recognised Morocco on June 20, 1956 and established relations in 1957.

FACTFILE – Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is a country located in the far west of North Africa with an area of 710,850 km2 (274,460 sq mi).
Its capital is Rabat, the largest city Casablanca.
It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, bordered to the east by Algeria and to the south by Mauritania.
Morocco is a member of the Arab League, the Union for the Mediterranean and the African Union. It has the fifth largest economy of Africa.

November 2

World’s tallest Chenrezig Shingkham Riwo Potala statue unveiled in West Sikkim

The Buddhist pilgrimage site at Pelling in West Sikkim is all set to attract tourists as the world’s tallest 137-feet Chenrezig statue is opened in the site.
Sikkim Government has been planning to promote the State as a Buddhist pilgrimage tourism circuit. A destination park with the 41.758 m tall statue of Chenrezig and a new complex with a skywalk, café and a gallery have been built at Sangha Choeling in Pelling at a cost of Rs 46.65 crore.
The Chief Minister of Sikkim promoted the idea of making the state a Shingkham or a Buddhist paradise, by building the statues of Lord Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava and Chenrezig. Sikkim has two additional Buddhist pilgrimage circuits in south Sikkim.
CM Chamling stated that Sikkim has become a ‘Cheosam’ (altar) completed with the statues of Lord Buddha at Tathagata Tsal in Rabongla, Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse and Chenrezig at Sanghachoeling. He urged that the people of Sikkim to take ownership and responsibility to protect and maintain these holy places.

Hojai’s Ajmal Foundation receives ASSOCHAM’s best NGO Award

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has awarded Hojai’s Ajmal Foundation in the category of the best NGO, Skill Development-2017-18 during Summit-cum-Awards on Skilling India from Skills to Employability organised by ASSOCHAM in New Delhi.
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Anantkumar Hegde, handed over the award (Best NGO – Skill Development Award Gold Trophy 2017-18) to Ajmal Foundation representatives.
Ajmal Foundation has completed a number of Government projects under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Rural Development & Ministry of Minority Affairs of Government of India and various departments of Government of Assam and Meghalaya in different States of the country including Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
Ajmal Foundation is also implementing two more projects namely ‘Nai Manzil’ and DDU-GKY with a target of training and placement of 1940 and 800 youths respectively in the State of Assam and Meghalaya.

FACTFILE – ASSOCHAM

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India is one of the apex trade associations of India.
The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between issues and initiatives.
ASSOCHAM was established in 1921 by promoter chambers, representing all regions of India.
The Association’s head office is located in New Delhi and regional offices are located in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
ASSOCHAM members represent the Trade (national and international), Industry (domestic and international) and Professionals (E.g.: CAs, lawyers, consultants)

Union Home Ministry approved Safe City project for Lucknow

The Union Home Ministry approved a Safe City project for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs.194.44 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund Scheme. The project would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with Centre and State sharing the funding in 60:40 ratio.
Under this project, Lucknow will have integrated control room, special unit for women protection and pink out posts to tackle atrocities against women, special desks for women in each police stations in the city.
This approval is a part of MHA’s plans to implement Safe City projects in eight selected cities, namely, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow under Nirbhaya Fund with the purpose of strengthening safety and security of women in public places.
The projects are being implemented in consultation with Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Urban Development,Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology, respective Municipal & Police Commissioners of the cities and civil society organisations.

IIT-Madras develops India’s first microprocessor Shakti

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM) have designed and booted up India’s first microprocessor, Shakti, which could be used in mobile computing and other devices.
The Shakti microprocessor can be used in low-power wireless systems and networking systems besides reducing reliance on imported microprocessors in communication and defence sectors.
The microprocessor can be used by others as it is on par with international standards.
The Shakti family of processors was fabricated at Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Indian Space Research Organizations (ISRO) in Chandigarh, making it the first ‘RISC V Microprocessor’ to be completely designed and made in India.
The other crucial aspect of such an indigenous design, development and fabricating approach is reducing the risk of deploying systems that may be infected with back-doors and hardware Trojans.
This development will assume huge significance when systems based on Shakti processors are adopted by strategic sectors such as defence, nuclear power installations, government agencies and departments.
India has now attained independence in designing, developing and fabricating end-to-end systems within the country, leading to self-sufficiency.

India-Japan begins joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2018’

The armies of India and Japan began a first-of-its-kind joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ at Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram, to build and promote relations between the forces of the two countries in addition to exchanging skills and experiences.
Approximately one platoon strength each of Japanese and Indian contingents took part in the 14-day exercise.
The Japanese contingent is being represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion while the Indian side is being represented by Gorkha Rifles.
The exercise will consist of a balance of indoor classes and outdoor training activities. Due emphasis will be laid on enhancing tactical skills to fight against global terrorism and on increasing interoperability between forces of both countries which is crucial for the success of any joint operation.

FACTFILE – Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), Vairengte, Mizoram

CIJWS is a training and research establishment of the Indian Army specialising in unconventional warfare, especially counter-insurgency and guerrilla warfare.
It is one of the premier counter-insurgency training institutions in the world.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, then the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-IN-C) of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, was the first proponent for the institute as a counter-insurgency unit to train soldiers came about following the government response to the Mizo militancy in the 1960s.
CIJWS was established in 1967 as the Jungle Training School in Meghalaya and in 1968, the designation was changed to Eastern Command Counter Insurgency Training School.
On 1 May 1970, it was upgraded to a Category A Training Establishment of the Indian Army, given its current name and relocated to Vairengte.
CIJWS has hosted visiting military units for training from the United States, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, United Kingdom, Israel, France, Bangladesh and many other nations.

Point2Remember – Kaziranga Special Jungle Warfare Training School in Assam.

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Assam Current Affairs October 29-31, 2018

Posted on November 5, 2018November 8, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam - October 29-31, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 29-31, 2018 )

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October 29

Manipur tops the medal tally in 1st North East Olympic Games 2018

Assam came second in the 1st North East Olympic Games 2018 held in Imphal. Final medal tally is as follows

Rank	Participating State	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Manipur	79	47	31	157
2	Assam	45	52	41	138
3	Arunachal Pradesh	18	20	38	76
4	Mizoram	08	15	29	52
5	Nagaland	06	09	26	41
6	Meghalaya	03	08	29	40
7	Sikkim	01	06	18	25
8	Tripura	00	03	17	20

Justice A. S. Bopanna is the new Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court

Justice A. S. Bopanna is appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
He was administered the oath of office by Governor Jagdish Mukhi. Justice Bopanna took over the charge from acting chief justice AK Goswami.

BIOGRAPHY – Justice AS Bopanna

Justice Bopanna enrolled as an advocate in 1984 and practised civil, Constitutional, company, service and labour matters in the High Court as well as in the Civil and Labour Courts.
He also worked as legal advisor to central public sector undertakings and as additional central government standing counsel from 1999 to 2005.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2006, and permanent judge in 2007

Arunachal Pradesh government signed a MoU with the British Council

The Arunachal Pradesh government signed a MoU with The British Council here to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation.
This MoU with the British Council which will enhance the opportunities for young people in Arunachal Pradesh and connect them to international expertise and ideas.
The MoU was signed by Tayek Talom, Director of Higher and Technical Education of Arunachal Pradesh, and Alan Gemmell, Director, British Council India, on the sidelines of the Tawang Festival.
As per the MOU, as many as 50 faculty members from government higher education institutions will be trained by the British Council every year, starting from December.
Further, 50 students of higher and technical education institutes will be trained in English language skills annually.

BSES launches rooftop solar initiative Phase 2 in Delhi

The second phase of Delhi power distribution company BSES’ Solar City Initiative was launched by Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain on 28^th
This phase, which will cover the Shakur Basti area, follows the success of the first phase started by the company in Dwarka where around 100 housing societies and apartment complexes have signed up for the initiative.
The Shakur Basti area is home to several colonies and has a substantial rooftop solar potential of around 15 MWp. BRPL (BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd) is targeting to realise around 5 MWp of rooftop net metering from the area by 2019-20.
Under the first phase in Dwarka, around 25 societies having installed solar capacity of 1.5 MWp have already been energised or are about to be energised. The work at the remaining societies is at different stages.
The rooftop soalr tariff identified through competitive bidding in the case of Dwarka residents was Rs 2.66/kWh (kilowatt hour) net of generation based incentive and is around Rs 2.50/kWh less than the electricity tariff.
The Solar City initiative, launched in January, is being implemented by BRPL in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ India) under its Indo-German Solar Partnership project.

India, Russia, Iran to meet on North-South Corridor

India, Russia and Iran will hold a trilateral meeting on the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) on November 23 to make the 7,200-km-long ship, road, and rail route operational soon.
The corridor is an important initiative taken by India, Russia and Iran to promote transport cooperation and to enhance connectivity with central Asian countries.
The INSTC is the shortest multimodal transportation route linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf via Iran to Russia and North Europe.
The estimated capacity of the corridor is 20 to 30 million tonnes of goods per year and will reduce time and cost by 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

FACTFILE – International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200 km multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.
The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc.
Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014, the first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas and the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali.
This will also synchronize with the Ashgabat agreement, a Multimodal transport agreement for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

October 30

Assam Govt planning to take over tea garden hospitals

Assam state government is planning to take over the hospitals of tea gardens in the state and put in place a new health model to narrow down the healthcare gaps.
According to a survey by the Regional Resource Centre for North Eastern States of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, 649 tea estates had hospitals run by the TE managements, but the status of healthcare in those hospitals was unsatisfactory.
The in-patient department was absent in 45% of the tea garden hospitals and functional labour rooms are absent in 54% of the gardens. Newborn care facilities are not available in most of the hospitals. Doctors were not available in 38% of these hospitals.
State government is considering to run them through the National Health Mission. The government has also decided to provide General Nursing and Midwifery training to tea tribes girls who can later be deployed at the TE hospitals.
Assam Tea Employees Provident Fund Organisation has also proposed to set up four 100-bed specialty hospitals in the State, with special focus on maternity services. The hospitals will be set up on PPP mode, and the government will have to shell out around Rs 20 crore on each hospital every year, according to preliminary estimates.

India’s first engine-less train ‘Train 18’ unveiled

The Rs 100-crore indigenously developed high-tech, energy-efficient, self-propelled or engineless train was flagged off by Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani here on 29^th
India’s first trainset — Train 18 — will be a game-changer for the Indian Railways. The train was developed at nearly half the cost that is normally incurred for such development.
The train with a capacity to touch speed of 160 kmph will replace the Shatabdi Express.
With 16 coaches, the train will have the same passenger carrying capacity. There are now separate power cars. But it is about 15-20 per cent energy efficient and leaves less carbon footprint.
The trainset was conceived, designed and developed in about 18 months’ time as against the industry norm of about 3-4 years.
The trainset has aerodynamically designed driver cabins at both ends for quicker turnaround at destinations.
The train sports advanced regenerative braking system which saves power.

FACTFILE – Train 18

Train 18 is an Indian semi-high speed train and India’s first engine-less train.
It is also the first train to be designed and built entirely in India.
It was designed and built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai under the Indian government’s Make in India Initiative over a span of 18 months.
The unit cost of the first rake was given as ₹100 crore (US$14 million), though the unit cost is expected to go down with subsequent production. It is estimated to be 40% less costly than a similar train imported from Europe.
The first set of trains will run between New Delhi and Bhopal, replacing the Delhi–Bhopal Shatabdi Express, which has been running for thirty years and reducing travel time along the route by 15 percent.
At an operating speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph), it will outpace the Shatabdi Express by 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph).
Train 18’s exterior appearance has been likened to that of a bullet train, with an aerodynamic narrowing of each end of the train.
Indian Railways and ICF are also planning the development of Train 20, another semi-high speed train that will replace the Rajdhani Express.

India and Qatar establish joint commission

India and Qatar recently established a joint commission to review all bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Both countries have decided to establish a joint commission to strengthen the relations between the two countries in various fields with a view to further the common interests of their two friendly peoples.
The joint commission will be charged with the following tasks: formulating the required basis to strengthen the relations between the two countries particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, technological, information technology and educational fields; following up the implementation of the agreements concluded between the two countries; finding suitable solutions for the resulting problems of the implementation thereof; facilitating the exchange of information and expertise, and encouraging bilateral consultation in service of cooperation between the two countries.
The commission will be co-chaired by the Ministers of External Affairs and Foreign Affairs of the two countries or their representatives and may include representatives of the sectors concerned with bilateral cooperation in both the countries.

FACTFILE – Qatar

The State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
Its sole land border is with neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchy Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. An arm of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby Bahrain.
Qatar’s total population is 2.6 million comprising of just around 313,000 Qatari citizens and rest 2.3 million are expatriates.
The country has the highest per capita income in the world, backed by the world’s third-largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves.
Qatar is regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development.
Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971.
Qatar emerged as a significant power in the Arab world, through its globally expanding media group, Al Jazeera Media Network.

India, Japan to enter into $75 billion currency swap agreement

India and Japan on Monday decided to enter into a $75-billion bilateral currency swap agreement which is expected to bring stability in foreign exchange and capital markets in the country.
The swap arrangement was 50 per cent higher than the previous such agreement between the two countries. The $75-billion agreement was one of the largest swap arrangements in the world.
The decision to conclude the arrangement was taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan where he discussed a range of issues with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
With the arrangement in place, prospects of India would further improve in tapping foreign capital for country’s developmental needs.
Further India and Japan will start a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue involving their respective foreign and defence ministers to work for peace and stability in the world.

FACTFILE – ‘Foreign Currency Swap’

It is an agreement to exchange currency between two foreign parties.
The agreement consists of swapping principal and interest payments on a loan made in one currency for principal and interest payments of a loan of equal value in another currency.
The purpose of engaging in a currency swap is to procure loans in foreign currency at more favorable interest rates than if borrowing directly in a foreign market.
The World Bank first introduced currency swaps in 1981 to obtain German marks and Swiss francs.
Each party continues to pay interest on the swapped principal amounts throughout the length of the loan and when the swap is over, principal amounts are exchanged once more at a pre-agreed rate or the spot rate.

October 31

Indian Army and Chinese Army hold meet at Bum-La of Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army held military border personnel meeting on the Chinese side at Bum-La.
The meeting followed after 11 PLA troopers had intruded in the Upper Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month.
The Indian delegation was led by Brigadier Zubin Bhatnagar. Senior Colonel Yao Shi Cheng led the PLA team.
Both sides highlighted importance of such meetings for maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The BPM mechanism in Bum-La sector was established in 1990, for enhancing interaction between the border guarding troops of the two sides.
The delegations interacted in a friendly environment and parted with a feeling of commitment towards enhancing cooperation and maintaining the peace along the LAC.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the agreements and protocols signed between their governments to maintain peace and tranquillity along the borders.

Prime Minister Modi unveils world’s tallest statue ‘Statue of Unity’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the world’s tallest statue, the ‘Statue of Unity’, built as a tribute to the freedom fighter icon Sardar Vallabhai Patel, on 31^st
The 182-meter statue is built at Sadhu Bet Island in Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat, at a cost of about Rs.3,000 crore.
The project also includes a memorial park at the base of the statue, a visitor facilitation centre and a reception desk.
The statue is 29 metres taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha (153 metres) and almost twice as high as the 93-metre Statue of Liberty in New York.
The construction was started on 31 October 2014 and completed in mid-October 2018. It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar.

FACTFILE – Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Patel was an Indian politician and served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.
He was a founding father of the Republic of India who played a leading role in the country’s struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation.
His commitment to national integration in the newly independent country was total and uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet “Iron Man of India”.
He is also remembered as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for having established the modern all-India services system.

India’s 1^st container movement on inland waterways begins

India’s first container vessel movement on the river Ganga (National Waterways-I) began on 30^th October, with the Inland Waterways Authority of India transporting container cargo belonging to the food and beverages giant PepsiCo (India) from Kolkata to Varanasi.
Union Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna along with IWAI Chairman Pravir Pandey flagged off the vessel carrying the consignment in the presence of PepsiCo representatives.
Cargo movement to the east and northeastern states will become easier with the new mode of transportation through waterways.
Development of multi-modal hubs within three years will lead to considerable increase in volume of cargo movement through waterways.
The central government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) under Jal Marg Vikas Project form Haldia to Varanasi (1,390 km) at about Rs 5,369 crore with the technical and financial assistance from the World Bank.
The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with a capacity of 1,500-2,000 DWT.
IWAI officials said container cargo transport reduces handling cost, allows for easier modal shift, decreases pilferage and damage, besides enabling cargo owners to lessen their carbon footprints.

IBM to acquire Red Hat for $34 billion

IBM announced to acquire Open Source Solutions leader Red Hat for a sum of $34 billion, in a deal which will make IBM dominant in the emerging $1 trillion Hybrid Cloud market.
IBM’s biggest acquisition will provide open approach to Cloud, featuring unprecedented security and portability across multiple clouds. Red Hat will operate as a distinct unit within IBM’s Hybrid Cloud team.
IBM’s and Red Hat’s partnership has spanned 20 years, with IBM serving as an early supporter of Linux, collaborating with Red Hat to help develop and grow enterprise-grade Linux and enterprise Kubernetes and hybrid cloud solutions to customers.
This acquisition is the third-biggest in the history of US technology, after the $67 billion merger between Dell and EMC in 2016 and JDS Uniphase’s $41 billion acquisition of optical-component firm SDL in 2000.

FACTFILE – Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid cloud is a computing environment which combines a public cloud and a private cloud by allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
When computing and processing demand fluctuates, hybrid cloud computing gives businesses the ability to seamlessly scale their on-premises infrastructure up to the public cloud to handle any overflow
Organisations gain the flexibility and computing power of the public cloud for basic and non-sensitive computing tasks, and at the same time, securely keeps business-critical applications and data on-premises, behind a company firewall.
It can allows companies to scale computing resources and also eliminates the need to make massive capital expenditures to handle short-term spikes in demand.
Oragnisations pay only for resources they temporarily use instead of having to purchase, programme and maintain additional resources which could remain idle over long periods of time.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 22-28, 2018

Posted on November 3, 2018February 10, 2019 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – October  22-28, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 22-28, 2018 )

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October 22

Assam’s Golap Rabha won Mr World 2018 title

Assam’s Golap Rabha won the Mr World 2018 title in the WBBF Championship of Bodybuilding competition, held from October 19 to October 21, 2018.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated Golap Rabha for his feat in the WBBF Championship which made the State proud and lent fresh momentum to bodybuilding as sports discipline in the State.
Gopal Rabha hails from Boko in Kamrup district of Assam.
The World Fitness Federation (WFF), which promotes classic or athletic bodybuilding with a focus on the aesthetic quality of the physique as opposed to just muscularity, under which World Body Building Federation or WBFF operates, is an international bodybuilding organisation formed in 1968.

India, Myanmar review ties, sign Port Operator Agreement

India and Myanmar reviewed all matters related to their bilateral ties, including the Rohingya refugees crisis, and signed a crucial MoU for the appointment of an operator of port that will boost connectivity.
In December 2017, India and Myanmar signed an MoU to develop Rakhine state.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and U Win Khant, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications, signed the MoU for the appointment of a private port operator for the operation and maintenance of Sittwe Port, Paletwa Inland Water Terminal and associated facilities that are part of the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project.
The project connects Sittwe Port with Mizoram state in northeastern India.
This agreement signing will enhance Myanmar’s connectivity including with India and add to the development of the whole region, particularly in the Rakhine and Chin states of Myanmar, which is a significant step in the implementation of India’s Act East Policy.

FACTFILE – Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a project that will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea.
In Myanmar, it will then link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa, Chin State via the Kaladan river boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India.
The project is expected to be operational only by 2019-2020 as all components of the project, including Sittwe port and power, river dredging, Paletwa jetty, have been completed, except the under construction Zorinpui-Paletwaa road.

NASSCOM inks pact with Hiroshima for Japan-India IT corridor

Indian IT industry’s apex body Nasscom has entered into a partnership with the Hiroshima government for co-creating a Japan-India IT Corridor that could be at the forefront of promoting business-to-business cooperation and talent transfer from India to Japan.
The primary objective of this IT corridor will be to facilitate partnerships between Indian and Japanese companies.
The project will start from early 2019, adding that t
Indian companies with expertise on the software will help Japanese manufacturing companies adopt digital transformation and help them create innovative product and solutions lines.

FACTFILE – NASSCOM

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) is a trade association of Indian Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
NASSCOM was established in 1988 as a non-profit organisation.

Point2Remember –

V.R Mohan Reddy (Chairman)
Keshav R. Murugesh (Vice Chairman)
Debjani Ghosh (President)

US Embassy launches mentorship programmes for Indian women entrepreneurs

The US Embassy along with TiE Global launched two programmes to provide mentorship to 30 young, innovative women from across India to help them scale up their enterprises.
An event “Women Entrepreneurs Conclave 2.0 – Engaged and Empowered” was held in New Delhi. A top-three scale-up fellows will be sponsored for a visit to the US as AIRSWEEE Global Fellows and will be mentored by a host US organisation that will provide them a window to global best practices.
The US State Department will fund the All India Roadshow on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship (AIRSWEEE) Scale-Up Fellows programme.

October 23

INSA Teachers Award for Tezpur University Prof Ashis Mukherjee

Ashis K. Mukherjee, Dean, Research and Development of Tezpur University has won the prestigious INSA Teachers Award 2018.
The award has been honoured to Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee for his consistent and high level of teaching, and inspiring students to take up careers in Science and Technology.
The award by Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi is one of the highest recognition for science and technology teachers in the country.

BIOGRAPHY – Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee

Mukherjee has also received Doctor of Science (D. Sc.) in Biotechnology from Calcutta University, Kolkata in this year.
He is warded the Visitor’s Award for Research in Basic and Applied Sciences-2018 from President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi
He is also winner of Tata Innovation Fellowship (2017-18) by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

Point2Remember – Tezpur University has been ranked 146th in BRICS countries university ranking in 2018 by QS. In India, TU ranks 36th position out of 75 higher learning institutions.

India, China sign first security cooperation agreement

India and China recently signed a first-ever agreement on security cooperation which will strengthen and consolidate assistance in counter-terrorism, organised crimes, drug control, human trafficking and exchange of information, marking a new beginning between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and China’s State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi.
The agreement followed the first high-level meeting on bilateral security cooperation co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and Zhao, who was heading a delegation of over 30 Chinese diplomats.
Zhao is on a visit to India from October 21 to 25.
The two sides discussed counter-terrorism cooperation, and welcomed increased cooperation between the two countries in the area of security during the meeting.

India wins UNCTAD’s Investment Promotion Award for efforts to boost investments in renewable energy sector

Agencies from Bahrain, India, Lesotho and South Africa have been awarded the UN Investment Promotion Awards (IPAs) for excellence in boosting investment helping countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The prizes were presented on 22^nd October on the opening day of the 2018 World Investment Forum, organized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and taking place in Geneva from October 22-26.
The awards showcase best practices in attracting investment into SDG-related projects that can inspire investment promotion practitioners in developing and developed countries.
Invest India received its award for excellence in servicing and supporting a major global wind turbines company in the establishment of a blade manufacturing plant in India while committing to train local staff and produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy.
The IPA Awards have been given annually since 2002 as part of UNCTAD’s investment promotion and facilitation program.
The award was received by Deepak Bagla, the CEO of Invest India, at the inaugurations of the World Investment Forum organised by the UN Convention on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
UNCTAD said that award recognizes “the excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

NITI Aayog hosts lecture on Artificial Intelligence

The NITI Aayog hosted the fourth edition of its annual lecture series here which focused on leveraging artificial intelligence for inclusive growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the lecture in which the keynote address was delivered by NVIDIA Corporation’s President and Co-Founder Jensen Huang.
Modi congratulated Jensen Huang, Founder, President and CEO of NVIDIA for an insightful talk on ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Inclusive Growth’ at the NITI Aayog lecture.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge is now World’s longest sea crossing

Chinese President Xi Jinping has opened the world’s longest sea crossing bridge, which connects Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai.
The bridge spans 55km and costs about $20billion.
Designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, it was built using 400,000 tonnes of steel, enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers.
The bridge–tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands.
It is both the longest sea crossing and the longest fixed link on earth.
About 30km of its total length crosses the sea of the Pearl River delta and a 6.7 km section in the middle dips into an undersea tunnel that runs between two artificial islands, to facilitate passage of ships.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 15-21, 2018

Posted on October 25, 2018November 8, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – October  15-21, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 15-21, 2018 )

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October 15

Sikkim wins the Future Policy Award 2018

Sikkim beat out 51 other nominees from 25 countries for the Future Policy Award 2018, the world’s best laws and policies promoting agro-ecology.
The “100 per cent organic state” Sikkim, the first in the world, will get the “Oscar for best policies” at a UN ceremony in Rome and it bolsters efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.
This year’s award is co-organised by the FAO, the World Future Council (WFC) and IFOAM-Organics International.
Sikkim is the first organic state in the world, having all of its farmland as certified organic. At the same time, Sikkim’s approach reaches beyond organic production and has proven truly transformational for the state and its citizens.
The policy implemented a phase out of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 19, 2016 declared Sikkim as the first organic state in the country, and expected it to become the harbinger of organic farming not only in India but around the world.

Textile Tourism Complex to be setup in Meghalaya

Union Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta announced that Union Govt. will provide funds of Rs 7.8 crore for setting up a Textile Tourism Complex in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
The production of mulberry, berry and muga in Meghalaya, has now risen to 1,000 metric ton from 500 metric tons in 2014.
Union Government also sanctioned an amount close to Rs 43 crore under the Integrated Sericulture Development Project and the Intensive Bivoltine Sericulture Development Project, to Meghalaya in the last few years, to develop the textile sector in the region.
A apparel manufacturing centre is built at Rs. 14 crore at Ampati, Garo Hills, which would further garments production for exporting across the globe.

India record best-ever show at Asian Para Games with 72 medals

India ended the 2018 Asian Para Games on a high after bagging a total of 72 medals, their best show in the event’s history.
India clinched 15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze medals to finish the campaign at the ninth place.
In the last edition in 2014, India had won just 33 medals (3 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze).
China topped the competition with 172 gold, 88 silver and 59 bronze followed by South Korea (53 gold, 25 silver and 47 bronze) and Iran (51, 42, 43).

FACTFILE – The 2018 Asian Para

The 2018 Asian Para or the 3rd Asian Para Games, was a pan-Asian multi-sport event that held from 6 to 13 October 2018 in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta.
The event paralleled the 2018 Asian Games and was held for Asian athletes with disability.
As is the tradition of the event, since 2010, the Asian Para Games are usually held after every Asian Games in the same host country.
Indonesia signed the Asian Para Games host city contract, having confirmed as host city of the 2018 Asian Games in October 2014.
Before the Asian Para Games were held, FESPIC Games existed and was participated by athletes from the Asia Pacific region. The FESPIC Games was first held in 1975 in Oita, Japan with 18 participating nations.
The inaugural Asian Para Games was held in 2010 in Guangzhou, China after the formation of the Asian Paralympic Council. The 2^nd edition was held in 2014 South Korea.

India, China launch training programme for Afghan diplomats

India and China launched a joint programme to train Afghan diplomats in pursuance of an understanding between the two countries to undertake joint projects in the war-torn nation.
At their informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, China, in April 2018, agreed to jointly implement projects in Afghanistan as part of a rebuilding process in what was seen as a fresh impetus to ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
The summit was held held after Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a 73-day face-off at Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction last year.
The seeds for joint cooperation in Afghanistan were sown at the meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of China when they met in Wuhan in April 2018
Development partnership, based on the priorities of the government and the people of Afghanistan, has been the cornerstone of multifaceted bilateral cooperation
India had embarked on an ambitious development partnership programme with Afghanistan with a commitment of over $3 billion.
High priority was being accorded to enable Afghanistan tap the true potential of its talented youth.
The capacity-building programme was being implemented through scholarships and training programmes for over 3,500 Afghan nationals every year in India.

October 16

Sheorartal is Cachar’s cleanest village under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ drive

Sheorartal is the cleanest village in Cachar district of Assam. Kachari people belonging to around 150 families in the village at Hawaithang Forest Range under Dholai constituency around 50 km from Silchar next to the Assam -Mizoram border have set an example by helping each other to earn the recognition of the cleanest village in the district under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ drive.
Among 1015 villages in the district, Sheorartal village stands out to be the most consistent village where the people and the NGO worked in tandem towards cleanliness.

FACTFILE – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2018

A janandolan for Swachhata was observed in the run-up to the 4th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) from September 15th to October 2nd 2018.
All NGOs, schools, colleges, social, cultural and political leaders, corporates, government officials, collectors and sarpanches, are requested to participate in Swachhata Hi Seva and Shramdaan activities during this period.

FACTFILE – Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

Swachh Bharat Mission is a nation-wide campaign in India for the period 2014 to 2019 that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas.
The objectives of Swachh Bharat include eliminating open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets and establishing an accountable mechanism of monitoring toilet use.
Run by the Government of India, the mission aims to achieve an “open-defecation free” (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing 90 million toilets in rural India at a projected cost of ₹1.96 lakh crore (US$30 billion).
The mission will also contribute to India reaching Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 (SDG 6).

Industrial Disputes (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2017 gets President’s nod

President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the Industrial Disputes (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2017 to replace the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and will enable companies to retrench up to 300 employees without seeking prior approval of the Assam Government.
The Assam Govt Bill is aimed to achieve the objective of ease of doing business, as companies will be allowed to retrench up to 300 employees instead of 100, as per the existing legislation, without seeking prior approval of the government.
The compensation to a retrenched labourer will be 60 days’ salary instead of the present 15 days’ salary.

RBI data localization deadline unlikely to be extended

The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are not in favour of extending the deadline to store payments data locally, effectively ending all speculation and lobbying by multinational companies.
The central bank has mandated that all payment firms, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Paypal, should store their India-related data locally.
The deadline for submission of compliance reports by these firms ended on Monday, 15 October.
Google and WhatsApp were also mandated to store data locally for their payments-related businesses.
Though more than 60 companies have complied with the RBI directive, some of the big global entities operating in India had sought relaxation from the central bank.

FACTFILE – Data localization

Data Localisation is the act of storing data on any device that is physically present within the borders of a specific country where the data was generated.
Free flow of digital data, especially data which could impact government operations or operations in a region, is restricted by some governments.

Maryse Conde as awarded the New Academy Prize in Literature

Guadeloupean author Maryse Conde was awarded the New Academy Prize in Literature, an alternative award formed in protest to Nobel Literature Prize. She has authored around 20 novels, including Desirada, Segu and Crossing the Mangrove.
Her writings mostly describe ravages of colonialism and post-colonial chaos in language which is both precise and overwhelming.

FACTFILE – New Academy Prize in Literature

New Academy Prize in Literature was formed by New Academy consisting of more than 100 Swedish writers, artists and journalists in protest to denounce Swedish Academy, which selects Nobel laureates.
The Swedish Academy was plunged into turmoil in 2017 over its ties to Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault, who was jailed for two years in early October for rape.

Stanford University is World’s Most Innovative University

Stanford University is adjudged as the World’s Most Innovative University by a rating conducted by Reuters news agency.
The Reuters’ top 100 World’s Most Innovative University ranking recognises universities for their work in inventing new technologies, advance science and power new markets and industries and as expected no Indian university was could make the cut.
In the top 100 list, 48 universities from North America find mention on the list, 23 Asian universities, 27 from Europe and 2 from the Middle East only, and has no mention of universities from South America and Africa.
46 US universities, five Chinese varsities were among the top 100.
Stanford University is followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University respectively.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 8-14, 2018

Posted on October 23, 2018November 8, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – October  8-14, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 8-14, 2018 )

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October 8

Assam bags Swachh Survekshan Grameen special award Award

Assam bagged a special award for its standout performance in the North East region, in the recently-concluded Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 conducted throughout the country by the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen.
The award was presented by Uma Bharti, Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation at an event organised on the occasion of Rashtriya Swachhata Divas held at the PravasiBharatiya Kendra, New Delhi on October 2.
SwachhSurvekshanGrameen is a survey conducted for rural cleanliness in order to rank all districts and States on the basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation.
The ranking is based on a comprehensive set of cleanliness parameters, survey of public places, citizens’ perception of ‘swachhata’ (cleanliness) and their recommendations for the improvement of the programme, and data from the Swachh Bharat Mission in rural areas.
Assam has initiated a number of innovative ideas which have contributed to the mission’s success. Some of the notable milestones of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Assam have been the Cleanest Village Award, Daan Toilet, and Mission Sambhav which covered 33 districts, reaching out to one lakh families, and which initiated the construction of 1,12,748 toilets on a single day, out of which 994 were donated.

FACTFILE – Swachh Sarvekshan Grameen-2018

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) has commissioned “Swachh Sarvekshan Grameen-2018” (SSG, 2018) to develop ranking of all districts of India on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sanitation parameters.
This ranking will be based on a comprehensive set of parameters including district-level surveys of public places like schools, Anganwadis, PHCs, Haat bazaars, Panchayat and citizen’s perception of Swachhata and their recommendations for improvement of the program and data from the SBM-G IMIS.

Top States & Districts

Top 3 States-1) Haryana, 2) Gujarat 3) Maharashtra
Top 3 Districts 1) Satara, Maharashtra 2) Rewari, Haryana 3) Pedapalli, Telangana

India-Japan maritime exercise commences at Visakhapatnam

The 3rd edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) commenced at Visakhapatnam on 7^th October following the arrival of Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships Kaga and Inazuma in the Andhra Pradesh port city.
The exercise to be held till October 15 aims to “enhance interoperability, improve understanding and imbibe the best practices” followed by the two forces.
The Indian Navy is represented by three indigenously designed and built warships and a fleet tanker.
The ships are multipurpose stealth frigate INS Satpura, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kadmatt, missile corvette and fleet tanker INS Shakti.
In addition, one submarine, one P8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and a number of integral helicopters will also participate.
The Indian ships will operate under the command of Rear Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet.
The drill will include a ‘harbour phase’ and a ‘sea phase’ of four days each. The harbour phase of the exercise scheduled from October 7 to October 10, will include professional and social interactions between ships’ crews, sports fixtures and operational planning for the sea phase. The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in December 2013 off Chennai coast. The JMSDF is a regular participant in the Malabar series of exercises between Indian and US navies.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 85th anniversary on October 8

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 85th anniversary on, October 8. The celebrations were marked by a stellar show in the skies by various aircraft at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad.
The air display commenced at 8 AM with flag bearing skydivers of famous AKASH GANGA Team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies.
Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932 with a mission to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.

FACTFILE – Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the airforces of the world.
Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honored India’s aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal.
After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India.
The enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 stipulated out their auxiliary status and enforced the adoption of the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, brevets and insignia.

Women achievers meet at UN Forum in Bengaluru

Over a dozen women achievers from different walks of life participated in a day-long festival at a UN Forum. The event brought together a diverse group of exemplary women from all walks of life on a platform for social media site Facebook and UN Women forum.
Created and curated by veteran journalist Barkha Dutta for ‘We The Women’ forum, the fest themed on #openingdoors and #breakingbarriers was marked by dialogues on issues such as the fight for women against the religious orthodoxy whether in ending Triple Talaq or demanding the right to enter Sabarimala.
Issues like the battle by Bohri women to end female genital cutting; the new currents and shifts in popular culture and cinema; challenges and struggles of trans-women; life after the end of Section 377 and trials and achievements of women in uniform were also brain-stormed.
The festival also honoured men and women who showed excellence in their areas, taking risks, battling the odds and coming their way to success.

October 9

Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited launches Methanol Cooking Stove project

The State-run Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL), Namrup has launched Asia’s first canister-based green and clean fuel pilot project of ‘Methanol Cooking Stove’. The pilot project was launched under the aegis of NITI Aayog and the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam.
The project was inaugurated by Dr VK Saraswat, member of NITI Aayog and Chairman, Methanol Apex Committee at the Assam Petro Chemicals campus in the presence of Dibrugarh MP RameswarTeli, Deputy Commissioner LayaMadduri and other State Government representatives.
Prasanth Guru Srinivas, Core Committee Member, Methanol and Founder Director, Catalytic Think Tank Forum also attended the programme.
The safe handling canister-based cooking stoves are from Swedish technology and through a technology transfer a largescale cooking stove manufacturing plant will come up in India in the next 18 months.
The cooking medium can directly substitute LPG, kerosene, wood, charcoal and any other fuel for cooking.

FACTFILE – Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited

APL was conceived for productive utilization of natural gas, which was being flared up in the Upper Assam oil fields.
It also aims to meet the requirement of increasing national demand for Methanol and Formalin.
Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited has been manufacturing methanol since the last 30 years and is in the process of upgrading its 100 TPD methanol plant to 600 TPD by December 2019.
The company was set up by the State Government of Assam with joint participation of Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (AIDC) and the public.
Incorporated in 1971, the company was a pioneer in the field as it was the first to manufacture petrochemicals in India using natural gas as feedstock. Commercial production began in 1976.
To augment its capacities to meet increasing demand for its products, a bigger Methanol plant with 100TPD capacity was commissioned in 1989 with technology supplied by ICI, UK and a 100 TPD Formaldehyde Plant in 1998 with technology from Derivados Forestales of Nederland.
This is the first company in the North Eastern region to have a public issue, it is listed in The Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd and The Guwahati Stock Exchange.

Dibrugarh Railway Workshop becomes fully solar powered

The Dibrugarh workshop has become the first Railway workshop of the northeastern region to run fully on solar power.
A one megawatt (MW) peak solar power plant was commissioned in the workshop after which it become fully independent of any form of conventional energy.
So far, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has already installed 2.3 MW of solar energy across various Railway stations, office buildings and even level crossing gates.
Last year, Guwahati Railway Station was made fully solar powered by commissioning a 700 kilowatt peak solar plant with financial support provided by the Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR).
The plant at Dibrugarh workshop, set up at a cost of Rs 8 crore, consists of as many as 3,000 solar panels, all of which have been fixed on the roof of the workshop without consuming any additional space.
The total electricity saving on account of the solar plant will be Rs 2.7 lakh per month.

India, Tajikistan to cooperate on connectivity, counter-terror

India and Tajikistan agreed to work together to boost connectivity and join hands in the fight against terror as they signed eight pacts in various sectors after a meeting between Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon on 8^th
India and Tajikistan can promote the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and other connectivity initiatives such as the development of Chabahar port and the Ashgabat Agreement for smooth transport of goods.
India, Iran and Afghanistan are jointly developing the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran which will be a key link in the INSTC.
Earlier this year, India joined the Ashgabat Agreement which seeks to establish an international transport and transit corridor between Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Kovind and Rahmon emphasised the strong support to development of the International North-South Transport Corridor which will considerably reduce time and cost of transport of merchandise among India, Central Asia, Caucasus and CIS countries

FACTFILE – International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.
The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc.
This will also synchronize with the Ashgabat agreement, a Multimodal transport agreement signed by India, Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Coal India, NLCIL Ltd sign MoU for stepping up solar power generation

Coal India Limited (CIL) and NLC India Limited (NLCIL), formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, on 8^th October signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for formation of a joint venture (JV) company for solar power generation of 3,000 MW and thermal power projects of 2,000 MW capacity.
CIL is tasked to become a net zero energy company by Ministry of Coal, a move which entails the company to generate 3,000 MW of solar power.
The MoU, also extends for 2,000MW of thermal power generation across CIL’s subsidiaries. Solar power projects will be set up in the identified barren and reclaimed free land of the coal miner and also across the country where land is available, requiring around 15,000 acres.
The estimated cost for CIL’s solar power generation is pegged at Rs 12,000 crore.
The JV company to come up on equal equity participation of 50:50 has a time line of 15 months for completion of solar power projects and 60-month period for TPPs.
The projects will be financed through debt equity ratio of 70:30 as per the CERC norms. A concept paper has been initiated by both the companies to get clearance from their respective boards.
The miner’s Director (Technical) Binay Dayal signed the MoU on behalf of CIL while N.N. Maheswar Rao, Director, Technical (Projects & Planning) inked the pact on behalf of NLCIL in the presence of miner’s Chairman Anil Kumar Jha, and Rakesh Kumar Chairman, NLCIL.

China launches new Remote Sensing Satellites

Two remote sensing satellites that will be used for electromagnetic environment surveys were successfully launched on 9^th October from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
The satellites, both belonging to the Yaogan-32 family, were launched by a Long March-2C rocket with an upper stage on its top, at 10.43 a.m.
The satellites have entered the planned orbits. This was the first flight of the upper stage named Yuanzheng-1S, or Expedition-1S.
It cooperated well with the Long March-2C rocket and much improved the carrying capacity of the rocket, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
This launch was the 286th mission of the Long March rocket series.

FACTFILE – Long March rocket series

A Long March rocket or Changzheng rocket in Chinese pinyin is any rocket in a family of expendable launch systems operated by the People’s Republic of China.
Development and design falls under the auspices of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
The rockets are named after the Long March of Chinese communist history.
China used the Long March 1 rocket to launch its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, into Low Earth orbit on April 24, 1970, becoming the fifth nation to achieve independent launch capability.
The Long March 1 was quickly replaced by the Long March 2 family of launchers.
The Shenzhou spacecraft and Chang’e lunar orbiters are also launched on the Long March rocket.
The maximum payload for LEO is 12,000 kilograms (CZ-3B), the maximum payload for GTO is 5,500 kg.
The next generation rocket – Long March 5 variants will offer more payload in the future.
The new generation of Long March rocket family, Long March 5, and its derivations Long March 6, Long March 7 will use LOX and kerosene as core stage and liquid booster propellant, with LOX and LH2 in upper stages.
Long March 11 is a solid-fuel rocket.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 1-7, 2018

Posted on October 11, 2018November 26, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam – October  1-7, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 1-7, 2018 )

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October 1

Over 8,000 children missing in Assam since 2013

As per an assembly reply by Assam’s Parliamentary Affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, around 8,443 children went missing from Assam in the last five years.
The trend of children going missing has been increasing every year in Assam.
Very less number of missing children are recovered. Only 4,377 missing children were recovered in the last five years.
In 2017, 1,839 children went missing and 1,086 missing children were recovered by the police.

Reliance Foundation keen to partner with Meghalaya for sports infrastructure

Nita Ambani said that Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) is keen to partner with Meghalaya government in building sports infrastructure ahead of the National Games in the mountainous state.
It is to be mentioned that Meghalaya will be hosting the National Games 2022 coinciding with the 50th year of the creation of the state.
Nita Ambani is the founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation and also a member of international olympic committee.

FACTFILE – Reliance Foundation Youth Sports

RFYS is an initiative driven by Reliance Foundation, a non-profit and CSR front of the Reliance Group, which focuses on providing a platform for youth sports in India, especially at the school and collegiate level.
Currently, eight cities are a part of the foundation’s long-term goal which aims at establishing a sports association
In 2015, Reliance Foundation had also initiated Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) – a programme to foster football talent in India. The programme was tied to the Indian Super League’s eight cities and the respective teams conduct grassroots initiatives to contribute to the RFYC.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) opens crucial meeting to consider global warming report

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with representatives from 195 countries and leading scientists opened a crucial meeting here to consider its special report on global warming.
The representatives will work with the scientists from 1^stoct to 5^thoct to finalise the Summary for Policymakers of the report, Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways.
The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
The report will analyse the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.
Governments invited the IPCC to prepare the report in 2015 when they adopted the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.
The Paris Agreement sets a long-term goal of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees.

The IPCC was established by the N Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988 to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies.

GST revenue collection for September 2018 month crosses Rs 94,000 crore

GST collection in September unlike August witnessed an upward trend. In September, the revenue collected under GST touched Rs 94,000 crore.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for August was the lowest in the five months so far this fiscal. In July the collection was Rs 96,483 crore, in June it was Rs 95,610 crore, in May Rs 94,016 crore and in April Rs 1.03 lakh crore.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for August was the lowest in the five months so far this fiscal. In July the collection was Rs 96,483 crore, in June it was Rs 95,610 crore, in May Rs 94,016 crore and in April Rs 1.03 lakh crore.
The revenues collected in September, 2018 of Rs 94,442 crore shows an upward trend as compared to August, 2018 collection of Rs. 93,690 crore.
However, compliance improved as 67 lakh GSTR-3B or summary sales returns were filed during August, up from 66 lakh filed in July.

October 2

Assam CM launches Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women in tea gardens

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 1^stOct launched Wage Compensation Scheme for Pregnant Women to bring down the mortality rate among pregnant women in tea garden areas of the state.
Large working labour population in the tea gardens have not been given access to quality healthcare.
The high maternal mortality ratio (MMR) among pregnant women in tea garden areas has been a major cause of worry they have to work through their pregnancy till the time of delivery.
To address this concern, the Wage Compensation Scheme for Pregnant Women will provide a total of Rs 12,000 to each pregnant woman working in the tea gardens.
An amount of over Rs 55 crore has been allotted in the state’s 2018-19 health Budget towards this scheme, which will benefit nearly 48,000 pregnant women of tea garden areas every year.
All temporary, permanent or non-workers living within the tea garden premises will be eligible for the scheme.

Assam Police Day 2018 celebrated on 1^st October

Assam Police Day 2018 celebrated on 1^st October at the 4th battalion of Assam police office in Guwahati’s Kahilipara.
Leading up to the celebrations, Assam police organised awareness programs on cyber crime, use of social media, drug abuse, mob violence, lynching, superstitions and other social issues throughout the state.
The foundation day celebrations also strive to boost relation between police and the general public.
Assam CM said that the State government was taking a lot of steps to modernise the Assam Police, Sonowal said along with infrastructural changes the mentality must also be changed befitting a modern police force. The Cyberdome has been set up in the State to tackle cyber crimes and a lot of other initiatives have been taken to make the Assam Police a smart force.
Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia also highlighted the crucial role played by Assam Police in the fight against insurgency and maintenance of law and order.

FACTFILE – Assam Police

The Assam Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Assam in India.
A regular police force was initiated in Assam by the British after the Treaty of Yandaboo to maintain the law and order.
It functions under the Department of Home Affairs, Assam.
The Headquarters of Assam police is situated in state capital Dispur.
The Assam Police is headed by Director General of Police.

Point2Remember – DGP of Assam Police is Kuladhar Saikia, IPS

India, Uzbekistan sets bilateral trade target of $1 billion

India and Uzbekistan set an annual bilateral trade target of US $1 billion to be achieved in two years and agreed to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts as the two sides signed 17 agreements across a range of sectors following delegation-level talks led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
They also agreed to further strengthen their Strategic Partnership and boost connectivity in a significant manifestation of India’s increasing engagements with Central Asia.
They noted the favourable conditions for investment by Indian companies in Uzbekistan, including in the framework of the special economic zones and free pharmaceutical zones.
Both countries positively assessed the establishment of an Uzbek-Indian Business Council between industry body CII and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan has agreed to be a part of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-modal network of ship, rail and road routes to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and other international forums.
Two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation between their law enforcement agencies and special services, including under the framework of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
The 17 agreements signed between the two sides covered the areas of tourism, military training, law and justice, agriculture, science and innovation, health and pharmaceuticals.

FACTFILE – Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia.
The sovereign state is a secular, unitary constitutional republic.
Uzbekistan is bordered by five landlocked countries: Kazakhstan to the north; Kyrgyzstan to the northeast; Tajikistan to the southeast; Afghanistan to the south; and Turkmenistan to the southwest.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, it declared independence as the Republic of Uzbekistan on 31 August 1991.
Total Area of 448,978 km2 and estimated population in 2017 was 32,979,000
The Registan was the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand of the Timurid dynasty, is in Uzbekistan. And India’s Mughal dynasty is a descendent of the Timurid dynasty.

IMF appoints Gita Gopinath as the Director of Research Department

Gita Gopinath, a well-known educationist and economic adviser to the Kerala government, has been appointed the Director of Research Department of International Monetary Fund.
Announcing her appointment, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said that Gopinath is one of the best economists in the world and her last record is very fantastic and she has a great international experience.

BIOGRAPHY – Gita Gopinath

She has got her Bachelor degree from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi and MA degree from the Delhi School of Economics.
She joined Harvard in 2005, before she was an assistant professor in the University of Chicago.
She is a John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.
She is also the economic adviser to the Chief Minister of Kerala, and according to her life introduction in Harvard, her appointment to this honorary post took place in 2016 and she has been given the rank of Chief Secretary.
She has also been included in the G-20 Advisory Committee of India’s Ministry of Finance as a reputed member.

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Assam Current Affairs September 29-30, 2018

Posted on October 2, 2018November 5, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam - September 29-30, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of September 29-30, 2018 )

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September 29

India, Bangladesh working on Free Trade Agreement

India and Bangladesh are working on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), or free trade agreement (FTA), which would set an example for giving a boost to regional trade in South Asia.
India and Bangladesh have agreed to upgrade trade logistics for seamless movement of cargo and have already identified seven dual hubs, some of which will start working immediately,
The Bangladesh Trade Minister along with a delegation has been invited to visit India in October to discuss the trade and investment potential between the two countries.
The World Bank report – “A Glass Half Full: The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia” – says India’s trade with South Asia at around $19 billion is only 3 per cent of its global trade worth $ 637 billion.
The report also points out that current trade between India and Pakistan at a paltry $2 billion annually, could go up to $37 billion in the absence of artificial barriers.

PM Modi and Cochin Airport awarded with UN’s highest honour ‘Champions of the Earth’ award

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded UN’s highest environmental honour ‘Champions of the Earth’ in the Policy Leadership category, for his leadership in establishing the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single-use plastic in India by 2022.
Cochin International Airport was also honoured with the award in the category of Entrepreneurial Vision, for its use of sustainable energy, along with four other environmental change makers.
The UN Champions of the Earth awards would be presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in US’ New York City, on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly (UNGA).

FACTFILE – UN Champions of the Earth award

Champions of the Earth award is the United Nations highest environmental honour recognizing visionary people and organisations all over the world that exemplify leadership and advocate action on sustainable development, climate change and a life of dignity for all.
To achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals the environment plays a key role. About half of the SDGs are directly environmental or address the sustainability of natural resources: poverty, health, food and agriculture, water and sanitation, human settlements, energy, climate change, sustainable consumption and production, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems.
The award supports this process by illustrating, through the examples of the laureates, that the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient, inclusive and sustainable world is not just possible, but already in progress.

Google and Ministry of Railways launched a project to preserve cultural heritage of the Indian Railways

Google and Ministry of Railways launched a project that aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the Indian Railways. The two-year digitisation project “The Railways-Lifeline of a Nation” is a comprehensive digital document viewable on Google’s Arts and Culture website. It was launched at the National Rail Museum.
The project is divided into “Journeys”, “People”, “Heritage” and “Engineering” sections, each containing visual and textual narratives that rail enthusiasts can access for free.
It comprises photographs, documentaries, text, virtual tours, 360-degree videos, online exhibits, and maps, pertaining to the Indian Railways.
Along with several railway lines, the project also documents stories of 32 railway employees including engineers, ticket checkers, trackmen, and shunters.
The online project will also materialise as digital exhibits at 22 stations in India including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Howrah, Secunderabad and Varanasi
The Indian Railways started its journey in 1853 between Boribunder and Thane, and has expanded to be the fourth largest railway network in the world.

Goa PWD, Portuguese Environment Ministry signs water management deal

The Goa Public Works Department (PWD) and the Portuguese Environment Ministry will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water management.
The main points are water supply operation and energy efficiency and resource valorisation, waste water and sewerage planning, management and technological solutions, asset management procedure and standards, energy management operational workflows, operational data and information management.
Fernandes, who is on a two-day visit to Goa, is slated to visit water filtration facilities in the state.

September 30

Myanmar-India border trade reached $87 million since April, 2018

Border trade between Myanmar and India reached $87 million as of September 21 during the six-month transitional period which started in April, 2018.
The six-month transitional gap aroused as Myanmar changed its fiscal year period from April-March to October-September beginning 2018-19.
The country’s total border trade with India during this period saw a sharp increase of $54 million, compared to the same period of last fiscal 2017-18 when it was $33 million.
From April to September this year, the country’s exports to India through the border gates totaled $78 million and imports totaled $9 million.
Myanmar has been conducting trade with India via the Tamu and Reed border gates.

FACTFILE – Myanmar-India Economic relations

India is the largest market for Burmese exports, buying about US$ 220 million worth of goods in 2000; India’s exports to Burma stood at US$75.36 million.
India is Burma’s 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, China and Singapore, and second largest export market after Thailand, absorbing 25 percent of its total exports.
India is also the seventh most important source of Burma’s imports.
The Indian government has worked to extend air, land and sea routes to strengthen trade links with Myanmar and establish a gas pipeline.

Infrastructure initiatives – In 2001, India and Burma inaugurated 250 kilometre Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo highway, popularly called the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road, aimed to provide a major strategic and commercial transport route connecting North-East India, and South Asia as a whole, to Southeast Asia.

India-Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Highway

India and Myanmar have agreed to a 4-lane, 3200 km triangular highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand. The route, runs from India’s northeastern states into Myanmar, where over 1,600 km of roads were built or improved.
The route begins from Guwahati in India and connects to Mandalay in Myanmar, route continues to Yangon in Myanmar and then to Mae Sot in Thailand, which then continues to Bangkok.
This will eventually be extended to Cambodia and Vietnam under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation within the wider framework of Asian Highway Network.
This is aimed at creating a new economic zone ranging from Kolkata on the Bay of Bengal to Ho Chi Minh City on the South China Sea.

Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Route

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea; it will then link Sittwe seaport to Lashio in Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route and then from Lashio on to Mizoram in India by road transport.

Union Government sets up panel to review The Competition Act, 2002

Union government has constituted a panel to review the competition law, the committee would review the Competition Act, Rules & Regulations, in view of changing business environment and bring necessary changes, if required.
The nine-member committee chaired by Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivas includes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) Chairperson MS Sahoo and Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) acting chairperson Sudhir Mittal.
Announcing the setting up of the Competition Law Review Committee, the government said it is in pursuance of its objective of ensuring that legislation is in sync with the needs of strong economic fundamentals.
The committee would also look into international best practices in the competition fields, especially anti-trust laws, merger guidelines and handling cross border competition issues. Further, it would study ‘the regulatory regimes, institutional mechanisms and government policies which overlap with the Competition Act’.
The committee would submit its report within three months from the date of its first meeting.
Khaitan & Co’s Haigreve Khaitan, IKDHVAJ Advisers LLP’s Harsha Vardhana Singh and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co’s Pallavi Shardul Shroff are among the panel members. Other members are S Chakravarthy, Honorary Visiting Professor at ASCII, Aditya Bhattacharjea, Professor of Economics at Delhi School of Economics and Joint Secretary (Competition) from the Corporate Affairs Ministry.

FACTFILE – The Competition Act, 2002

The Competition Act, 2002 was enacted by the Parliament of India and it governs Indian competition law.
It replaced the archaic The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969.
Under this legislation, the Competition Commission of India was established to prevent the activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.
It is a tool to implement and enforce competition policy and to prevent and punish anti-competitive business practices by firms and unnecessary Government interference in the market.
This act extends to entire India except Jammu and Kashmir.
The Act’s main objectives are –
- To prohibit the agreements or practices that restricts free trading and also the competition between two business entities,
- To ban the abusive situation of the market monopoly,
- To provide the opportunity to the entrepreneur for the competition in the market,
- To have the international support and enforcement network across the world,
- To prevent from anti-competition practices and to promote a fair and healthy competition in the market.

App e-Niyantron launched in Golaghat district

The Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat district Gaurav Bothra formally launched an e-Niyantron App (application) for controlling the speed limit of vehicles plying on National Highway-37 adjacent to Kaziranga National Park at Bokakhat.
This application was developed basically to control the speed of vehicles plying on NH-37 especially during the flood season as most wild animals, including rhinos, deer and elephants prefer to cross towards the southern side of NH-37 and move to the foothills of Karbi Anglong for shelter. But at times the fleeing animals are hit and killed by speeding vehicles.
Forest staff deployed at one end of the highway would insert the registration number of the vehicle once it enters the corridor zone and this registration number would then automatically be reflected in the mobile app (e-Niyantron) of another forest staff guarding another location adjacent to Kaziranga National Park.
If the vehicle reaches the other end before the prescribed speed limit, then penalty can be imposed on the vehicle which violates the rule.
This application is better than the manual time card method which forest staff used to issue during floods in the world-famed Kaziranga National Park.

China to host Fifth World Internet Conference

China will hold the fifth World Internet Conference (WIC) in November which is expected to be attended by delegates from several countries and international organisations.
The conference, scheduled to run from November 7-9, will be held in the river town of Wuzhen, eastern China’s Zhejiang Province.
This year’s WIC is themed “creating a digital world for mutual trust and collective governance — toward a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
The conference has invited guests from governments, international organisations, companies, technology communities and non-governmental organisations.
It will further enhance the establishment of an Internet development outlook characterised by mutual trust and collective governance among countries worldwide.
It will further enhance the establishment of an Internet development outlook characterised by mutual trust and collective governance among countries worldwide.
A total of 19 sub-forums are scheduled, revolving around five themes of “innovation-driven development,” “universal security,” “openness and inclusiveness,” “in pursuit of a better life” and “common prosperity.”
The sub-forums will cover topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and the digital Silk Road.
World Internet Development Report 2018 and China Internet Development Report 2018 will be released to showcase the latest academic research results in the Internet sector at home and abroad.
The event is co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province.

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Assam Current Affairs September 22-28, 2018

Posted on October 2, 2018October 8, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam September 22-28, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of September 22-28, 2018 )

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September 22

Arunachal Pradesh CM launches universal healthcare scheme

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu dedicated the Chief Minister Aarogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) a universal healthcare scheme of the state government to the people of the state.
The launching of the health insurance scheme in this frontier state coincides with the nationwide launch of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana.
The state s healthcare scheme will be dovetailed with the centre s PMJAY scheme with Rs 50 crore earmarked to provide cashless treatment of Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
The state s healthcare scheme will provide coverage to those beneficiaries left out in the PMJAY scheme.
About 88 928 families as per 2011 Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) in Arunachal are eligible for PMJAY scheme out of 3.05 lakhs families.

Maharashtra to start a new Cyber University

Maharashtra Government is setting up a new Cyber University dedicated to mitigating cyber threats. It will train 3,000 professionals to fight online space cyber-attacks, internet crimes and conduct cyber forensics.
The Cyber University will provide for and prepare internet professionals on lines of Microsoft Certified Professional Program.
It will conduct courses in data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain, AI, cyber forensics and cyber investigations.
It will also impart training in 15 other Internet of Things (IoT) areas such as Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For this university, state government will provide different levels of training and enable affiliated colleges to impart certification for the 15 courses.
The current demand of cyber professionals hovers around 30 lakh. The university will be a remedy for this by providing required human resource and bridge skill gap.

271 million people moved out of poverty in India, UNDP estimates

India has made momentous progress in reducing multidimensional poverty with its incidence almost halving between 2005-6 and 2015-16 climbing down to 27.5 per cent from 54.7 per cent according to estimates from the 2018 global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
Among South Asian countries only Maldives has a lower headcount ratio than India at 1.9 per cent with Nepal (35.3) Bangladesh (41.1) and Pakistan (43.9) having higher incidences of multidimensional poverty.
Across states castes religions and ages -are still the poorest they have also experienced the biggest reductions in MPI through the decade showing that they have been “catching up”
Pockets of poverty are found across India but multidimensional poverty is particularly acute — and significant — in the four states of Bihar Jharkhand Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These accounted for 196 million MPI poor people — more than half of all MPI poor in India.
But there was also progress. Jharkhand made the biggest strides among all states in reducing multidimensional poverty with Arunachal Pradesh Bihar Chhattisgarh and Nagaland only slightly behind.
Delhi Kerala and Goa have the lowest incidence of multidimensional poverty.
Despite the massive gains made in reducing multidimensional poverty 364 million Indians continue to experience acute deprivations in health nutrition schooling and sanitation.
Globally around 1.3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty which is almost a quarter of the population of the 104 countries for which the 2018 MPI is calculated.
Of these 1.3 billion almost half — 46 per cent — are thought to be living in severe poverty and are deprived in at least half of the dimensions covered in the MPI.

FACTFILE – Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is an international measure of acute poverty covering over 100 developing countries. It complements traditional income-based poverty measures by capturing the severe deprivations that each person faces at the same time with respect to education, health and living standards.
The MPI assesses poverty at the individual level. If someone is deprived in a third or more of ten (weighted) indicators, the global index identifies them as ‘MPI poor’, and the extent or intensity of their poverty is measured by the number of deprivations they are experiencing.
Multidimensional Poverty Index(MPI) was developed in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme, and uses different factors to determine poverty beyond income-based lists.
It replaced the previous Human Poverty Index. The global MPI is released annually by OPHI and the results published on its website.
The MPI looks beyond income to understand how people experience poverty in multiple and simultaneous ways. It identifies how people are being left behind across three key dimensions: health education and living standards and 10 indicators – nutrition child mortality years of schooling school attendance sanitation cooking fuel drinking water electricity housing and assets.

Germany rolls out world’s first hydrogen-powered train

Germany has rolled out world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train. These locomotives named iLint trains and emit zero emissions, making them eco-friendly.
This train technology offers greener and quieter alternative to diesel on non-electrified railway lines.
These hydrogen trains are manufactured by French TGV-maker Alstom and are commercially running on 100km route between towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany.

FACTFILE – Hydrogen trains

Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen.
This conversion process only emits steam and water, thus producing zero emissions.
Excess energy produced is stored in lithium-ion batteries on board. These trains also make very little noise.
Moreover, hydrogen fuel cells have advantages over batteries. Instead of recharging, they can easily be refueled like gas or diesel engine.
It is also easier to build refueling infrastructure for these trains at railway stations.
These trains can run for around 1,000 km on a single tank of hydrogen, similar to the range of diesel trains.
These trains offer attractive prospect to many cities scrambling to combat air pollution.

September 23

Meghalaya Cabinet approves state education policy

The Meghalaya Cabinet approved the State Education Policy after 46 years of statehood. The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, also approved a proposal to bring an official resolution in the Assembly on the need to to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The resolution will be tabled by the government during the ongoing autumn session of the 10th Meghalaya Assembly.
Meghalaya has been without education policy for over 46 years after the state was created in 1972.
The first draft State Education Policy, 2018 was based on a comprehensive analysis of the education sector in the state and evolved out of numerous consultations held with national and state level experts, practitioners, administrators, and key stakeholders.
The education policy, which was finalised by a 24-member Task Force, would also address the problem of having different categories of schools and teachers in the state.

Indian satellite-linked GPS module launched for Navigation

Ramakrishna Electro Component Pvt Ltd Group (REC), an India-based semiconductor distribution company, launched a Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), the first of its kind module that will primarily use an Indian satellite for navigation.
The company’s UTRAQ brand which is manufactured by Shanghai Mobiletek is an endeavour to provide an alternative to the Indian customers from the currently used GPS application that is working on US Satellites.
Major change anticipating is that the VTS industry will be changing their designs as in the coming year it will be mandatory from the government to use Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) device.
Two UTRAQ models L100 and L110 were launched and are planning to start mass production of the products soon in India under ‘Make In India’ programme.

FACTFILE – Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC (NAVigation with Indian Constellation), is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.
It covers India and a region extending 1,500 km (930 mi) around it, with plans for further extension. An Extended Service Area lies between the primary service area and a rectangle area enclosed by the 30th parallel south to the 50th parallel north and the 30th meridian east to the 130th meridian east, 1,500–6,000 km beyond borders.
The system at present consists of a constellation of seven satellites, with two additional satellites on ground as stand-by.
NAVIC will provide two levels of service, the “standard positioning service”, which will be open for civilian use, and a “restricted service” (an encrypted one) for authorized users (including military).
There are plans to expand NavIC system by increasing constellation size from 7 to 11

Tamil Nadu Govt. started scheme for protection of exotic Neela Kurinji plants

Tamil Nadu government has announced a Scheme for the protection of exotic Neelakurinji (Strobilanthus kunthianus) plants that flower only once in 12 years.
This scheme comes following complaints that these rare and ecologically unique flowers are being packaged and sold on the commercial basis.

FACTFILE – Neelakurinji plant

Neelakurinji is a tropical plant species, it is native to the Shola forests in Western Ghats and is also found in Shevroys Hills in Eastern Ghats, Anamalai hills and Sanduru hills.
The flowers of Neelakurinji are purple-blue in colour and because of these flowers, Nilgiri hills on the southern tip of Western Ghats are called blue mountains.
It is a rarest of rare plant species that grows in Western Ghats and does not grow in any other part of the world has been categorized as an endangered species.

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Assam Current Affairs September 15-21, 2018

Posted on September 21, 2018October 8, 2018 by admin

Current Affairs Assam –  September 15-21, 2018

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of September 15-21, 2018 )

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September 15

Over 37 lakh women benefited under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

More than 37 lakh women have been benefited across the country under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maternity scheme, Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana, said Ministry of Women and Child Development.
A fund of Rs 1,168.63 crore has been disbursed so far and more than 48 lakh women have enrolled under the scheme till September 13.
As per the of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Uttar Pradesh has been ranked best among the top performing states, with around 6 lakh beneficiaries out of more than 8 lakh enrolled women.
Madhya Pradesh has the second most women enrolled under the scheme which is around 7 lakh while beneficiaries paid stood near to 6 lakh. Followed by MP is Rajasthan which has around 5 lakh women enrolled while paid is close to 4 lakh.

FACTFILE – Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY),

Previously Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana (IGMSY), is a maternity benefit program run by the government of India.
It was introduced in 2010 and is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for the first live birth. It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices.
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries get Rs. 5,000 after delivery of a child in an institution like a hospital and the remaining cash incentive of Rs. 1,000 is given as maternity benefit under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for a Rs. 6,000.
In 2013, the scheme was brought under the National Food Security Act, 2013 to implement the provision of cash maternity benefit of ₹6,000 (US$84) stated in the Act.
Presently, the scheme is implemented on a pilot basis in 53 selected districts and proposals are under consideration to scale it up to 200 additional ‘high burden districts’ in 2015-16.

Delhi signs MoU with Seoul on environment transport

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government on environment, transport, education, solid waste management, infrastructure, public health among others.
The MoU was signed in South Korea’s capital Seoul.
Air pollution is a major issue faced by Delhi today and our government is very serious in tackling this menace.
Delhi faces smog every winter sometimes very severe.

Union Ministry of Tourism inaugurated First Tribal Circuit Project in Chhattisgarh

Union Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated India’s first Tribal Circuit Project connecting 13 tourism sites in Chhattisgarh under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The circuit connects Jashpur, Kunkuri, Mainpat, Kamleshpur, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodadadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiya Nawagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, and Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh.

FACTFILE – Tribal Circuit Project

It is carrying out an array of activities for development and promotion of tourism in the tribal region.
Major components sanctioned under tribal circuit project in Chhattisgarh includes developing eco log huts, craft haats, souvenir shops, open amphitheatre, tribal interpretation centres, workshop centres, tourist amenities centres, viewpoints, nature trails, solar illuminations etc.
These components will improve the existing tourist facilities, enhance the overall tourist experience and help in getting more visitors which in return will increase job opportunities in the area.
Chhattisgarh was considered for the first Tribal Circuit theme for acknowledging the sovereignty of tribes and to promote the rich and diverse primitive assets in the state.
Chhattisgarh is known for its exceptional scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. Tribes make up over one-third of state population who have retained their culture and traditions for centuries.
Under Tribal Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Tourism Ministry has sanctioned four projects to Nagaland, Telangana and Chhattisgarh for Rs. 381.37 crore.

FACTFILE – Swadesh Darshan scheme

The scheme was launched by Union Tourism Ministry with an objective to develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
These tourist circuits will be developed on principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.
Under this scheme, 13 thematic circuits have been identified for development, viz. Buddhist Circuit, North-East India Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit.
It is 100% centrally funded scheme for the project components undertaken for public funding.
It also has a provision for leveraging voluntary funding under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and corporate sector.
The funding of projects under this scheme varies from state to state.
It is finalised on the basis of detailed project reports prepared by Programme Management Consultant (PMC) which is a national level consultant for implementing the scheme.
So far, Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 74 projects worth Rs. 5997.47 crore to 31 states and Union Territories under this scheme.

Agri. Ministry launched Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund Scheme

Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 10881 crore, to boost the dairy sector. First installment of Rs. 440 crore was given to National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

FACTFILE – Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) Scheme

It is managed by NDDB and will be implemented from 2017-18 to 2028-29.
Milk unions, multi-state milk cooperatives, state dairy federations, milk producer companies and NDDB subsidiaries can avail financial assistance under this scheme.
It will be also used for creation, modernisation and expansion of processing infrastructure and manufacturing faculties for value-added dairy products.
The scheme will provide direct and indirect employment to many skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers and benefit 95,00,000 farmers in about 50,000 villages.

September 16

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer observed on 16^th September

The International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer is observed every year on 16^th September for the preservation of the Ozone Layer. Theme for this year’s Day is ‘Keep Cool and Carry On: The Montreal Protocol’.
It aims to spread awareness of the depletion of the Ozone Layer and search for solutions to preserve it.
The day was designated by UN General Assembly on December 19, 1994. Its observance commemorates the date in 1987 on which Montreal Protocol was signed on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

FACTFILE – Ozone Layer

The Ozone layer is a blanket of Ozone gas which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation of Sun and thus helping preserve life on the planet.
Stratospheric Ozone is not harmful but its presence on land it is harmful.
The main causes of ozone depletion are manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants and foam-blowing agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons), which are called as Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS).

FACTFILE -Montreal Protocol or Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

It is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out production of numerous Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) that are responsible for ozone depletion.
It was agreed on 26 August 1987 in Montreal, Canada and entered into force on 26 August 1989.
Under this protocol, production and consumption of key ODSs like chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), Methyl Chloroform, CTC halons and Methyl Bromide have been phased-out globally.
It is legally binding on the member countries.
It has been ratified by 197 parties making it a universally ratified protocol in UN history.
It is also a highly successful international arrangement, as it has phased-out more than 95% of the ODS so far as per its main mandate in less than 30 years of its existence, which helped in recovering the ozone hole in Antarctica.

FACTFILE – Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer

It is a multilateral environmental agreement agreed upon at the 1985 Vienna Conference and entered into force in 1988.
It is one of the most successful treaties of all time in terms of universality.
It acted as a framework for international efforts to protect the fragile ozone layer.
These are laid out in accompanying Montreal Protocol.

PM Narendra Modi launches nationwide ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva Movement, which is organized as run up to the fourth anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission on 2^nd
The mass movement will strengthen the efforts to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Clean India.

FACTFILE – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Mission is a campaign in India that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, smaller towns, and rural areas.
The mission aims to achieve an Open-Defecation Free (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing 90 million toilets in rural India at a projected cost of ₹1.96 lakh crore (US$30 billion).
The mission will also help India reaching Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 (SDG 6).

FACTFILE – Sustainable Development Goal (SGD)

Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6 or SDG 6), one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN in 2015. It calls for clean water and sanitation for all people.
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” It has eight targets to be achieved by at least 2030.
SDG6 has eight targets. Six of them are to be achieved by the year 2030, one by the year 2020 and one has no target year. In total there are 11 indicators for SDG6.

Cabinet Committee approves 100% electrification of Railways by 2021-22

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for electrification of all broad gauge routes of Indian Railways by the year 2021-22.
The 100% electrification will reduce use of imported fossil fuels thereby improve energy security. Reduction in consumption of high speed diesel oil will also result in reduction of GHG emissions, thus, reduce environmental impact of Railways.
Currently, around 48% of the country’s 61,680 km broad gauge railway network is electrified. And this approval is to covers only electrifying remaining 13,675 kilometers (16,540 track kilometers), and it does not cover 3,479 km of metre gauge and 2,209 of broad gauge network.
After completing the electrification, India will be having second largest electrified railway networks in the world after China, which has 87,000 km electrified network (around 68% of its network) and only large railway with 100 % electrification.

DRDO successfully flight-tests man-portable anti-tank missile

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has conducted the first successful test firing of a new indigenously designed and developed man portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) at the Ahmednagar test range. It was followed by another MPATGM test launch on September 16.
The two missions on 15 and 16 September 2018 have been successfully flight tested for different ranges including the maximum range capability.
The MPATGM is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which has been under development by DRDO in partnership with Indian defense contractor VEM Technologies Ltd. since 2015. Fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, the MPATGM reportedly boasts a top attack capability and has a maximum engagement range of about 2.5 kilometers.

FACTFILE – The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

DRDO is charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.
It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation.
It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
With a network of 52 laboratories, which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.
DRDO is India’s largest and most diverse research organization, having around 5,000 scientists belonging to the Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel.

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Arunachal Pradesh Govt and OIL sign pact on petroleum mining

Amur Falcon Fest observed in Manipur

Meghalaya’s largest apparel manufacturing unit gets operational

India to share talks table with Afghan Taliban at non-official level

Cabinet okays privatisation of Guwahati and five other AAI airports

National Legal Services Day observed on November 9

Union Cabinet approved for sale of unutilized “Enemy Shares”

‘Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh’ to come up in Vizianagaram District

India joined Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme of IEA

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Mary Kom named brand ambassador of 10th Women’s World Championship

Tea Board bans plucking of tea after December 10 across

India jumps to 77th spot in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings

Cabinet approves India-Morocco Agreement on criminal matters

World’s tallest Chenrezig Shingkham Riwo Potala statue unveiled in West Sikkim

Hojai’s Ajmal Foundation receives ASSOCHAM’s best NGO Award

Union Home Ministry approved Safe City project for Lucknow

IIT-Madras develops India’s first microprocessor Shakti

India-Japan begins joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2018’

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Justice A. S. Bopanna is the new Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court

Arunachal Pradesh government signed a MoU with the British Council

BSES launches rooftop solar initiative Phase 2 in Delhi

India, Russia, Iran to meet on North-South Corridor

Assam Govt planning to take over tea garden hospitals

India’s first engine-less train ‘Train 18’ unveiled

India and Qatar establish joint commission

India, Japan to enter into $75 billion currency swap agreement

Indian Army and Chinese Army hold meet at Bum-La of Arunachal Pradesh

Prime Minister Modi unveils world’s tallest statue ‘Statue of Unity’

India’s 1st container movement on inland waterways begins

IBM to acquire Red Hat for $34 billion

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Assam’s Golap Rabha won Mr World 2018 title

India, Myanmar review ties, sign Port Operator Agreement

NASSCOM inks pact with Hiroshima for Japan-India IT corridor

US Embassy launches mentorship programmes for Indian women entrepreneurs

INSA Teachers Award for Tezpur University Prof Ashis Mukherjee

India, China sign first security cooperation agreement

India wins UNCTAD’s Investment Promotion Award for efforts to boost investments in renewable energy sector

NITI Aayog hosts lecture on Artificial Intelligence

Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge is now World’s longest sea crossing

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Sikkim wins the Future Policy Award 2018

Textile Tourism Complex to be setup in Meghalaya

India record best-ever show at Asian Para Games with 72 medals

India, China launch training programme for Afghan diplomats

Sheorartal is Cachar’s cleanest village under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ drive

FACTFILE – Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2018

Industrial Disputes (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2017 gets President’s nod

RBI data localization deadline unlikely to be extended

Maryse Conde as awarded the New Academy Prize in Literature

Stanford University is World’s Most Innovative University

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Assam bags Swachh Survekshan Grameen special award Award

India-Japan maritime exercise commences at Visakhapatnam

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 85th anniversary on October 8

Women achievers meet at UN Forum in Bengaluru

Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited launches Methanol Cooking Stove project

Dibrugarh Railway Workshop becomes fully solar powered

India, Tajikistan to cooperate on connectivity, counter-terror

Coal India, NLCIL Ltd sign MoU for stepping up solar power generation

China launches new Remote Sensing Satellites

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Over 8,000 children missing in Assam since 2013

Reliance Foundation keen to partner with Meghalaya for sports infrastructure

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) opens crucial meeting to consider global warming report

GST revenue collection for September 2018 month crosses Rs 94,000 crore

Assam CM launches Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women in tea gardens

Assam Police Day 2018 celebrated on 1st October

India, Uzbekistan sets bilateral trade target of $1 billion

IMF appoints Gita Gopinath as the Director of Research Department

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Mary Kom named brand ambassador of 10^th Women’s World Championship

India jumps to 77^th spot in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings

India’s 1^st container movement on inland waterways begins

Assam Police Day 2018 celebrated on 1^st October

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer observed on 16^th September