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National Current Affairs June 3rd Week 2016
Category : National Current Affairs
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1) Commerce & Industry Ministry aims to establish India as a hub for world class Designing.
  • Commerce & Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has given her approval to begin academic session for National Institute of Design (NID), Kurukshetra from 2016-17. NID, Vijayawada also began its academic session. The Commerce Minister had approved setting up of 4 new NIDs in Hyderabad, Goa, Varanasi and Jaipur.
  • The aim is to establish India as a hub for world class designing & NIDs shall play a crucial role by providing the skills to empower our human capital towards world class designing.
 
2) Union HRD Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani launches a new initiative `Vidyanjali` to involve volunteers into co-scholastic activities of schools.
  • Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani dedicated ‘Vidyanjali’- a school volunteer programme to the nation at New Delhi.
  • Vidyanjali is a step forward in creating an ecosystem, wherein education will be attached with imbibing knowledge and improving learning output. There is an ingrained sense of participation and willingness within the people of this country to contribute towards nation building.
  • This programme will install fresh enthusiasm in school children to take up reading and will re-energize the teaching-learning process at schools. And also emphasized upon the significance of providing timely remedial support to improve the learning outcomes of school children, thereby reducing the number of school drop outs.
 
3) Shri Piyush Goyal Launches Ujala Scheme in Goa and Vidyut Pravah & Urja Mobile App.
  • Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Shri Piyush Goyal launched ‘URJA’- Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan Mobile app in South Goa. The app is providing information of IT enabled towns on important parameters which concern the consumers like outage information, timely release of connections, addressing complaints, power reliability etc.
  • The Union Minister also launched the Pradhan Mantri UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for all) Yojana in Goa with a target of replacing approximately 15 lakh LED bulbs, impacting nearly 5 lakh households. Under the scheme, consumers are entitled to 3 LED bulbs of 9W each at a subsidized rate of Rs.25/, as against a market price of Rs. 300-350.
  • The Union Minister also launched ``Vidyut Pravah`` App at the event.
  • The scope of “DEEP” (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) e-Bidding and e-Reverse Auction Portal has been further expanded by covering banking mechanism and the medium term procurement of Power. The Government will soon start 100 percent smart metering to curb the menace of power theft. Currently there is a loss around 24 to 26 percent due to theft of Power.
4) Railways start social media system for grievance.
  • Railways minister Suresh Prabhu launched integrated social media platform - Facebook & Twitter - for faster and real-time redressed of passengers` grievances.
  • All Facebook users to interact with us on this platform and contribute to improve the services of Railways. Railways has been successfully handling more than 7000 tweets daily of various nature such as complaints, suggestions or assistance.
  • A system has been put in place to analyze the Facebook Post and the same will be forwarded internally to the concerned divisional railways manager (DRM) by the staff working round the clock in the social media cell at Railway Board.
  • Prompt action taken by the DRM on the grievance will be posted on the same page. This will be monitored at the Railway Board level in order to ensure that the grievances are redressed by the respective DRMs satisfactorily.
  • The Management Information System (MIS) reports generated through this platform will be used for the system improvement of the Railways in due course.
 
5) Grievance redressal app for panchayats in Bengal.
  • West Bengal Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee inaugurated a grievance redressed mechanism app, ‘Panchayat Pratikar’. An initiative under the World Bank project for the institutional strengthening of Gram Panchayats (ISGP) in Bengal, the project will allow users to submit complaints in three ways - a toll free number, the website and the app.
  • It is the first of its kind in the country. It will be effective for people under gram panchayats, blocks and zilla parishads. The people had to travel across districts just to put in a complaint, and even after that, they sometimes became untraceable. To decrease these incidents, and for better transparency, we have introduced this app.
  • All complaints would be recorded, a reply would be given on the mobile and a redressal would be provided within 72 working hours.
6) Karnataka government bans electronic cigarettes.
  • The State government imposed a ban on sale (including online) and use of e-cigarettes in the State, based on the recommendations of the State high powered committee on tobacco control.
  • The sale of nicotine, apart from tobacco products under Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), is permitted only for tobacco cessation in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
7) Haryana bans sale of paint thinner in bottles.
  • A ban has been imposed on the sale of correction fluid and thinner in bottles in Haryana with the government saying strict action will be taken against those found violating the orders.
  • Correction fluid and thinner are used as nail polish removers by women, which has toxic chemicals. These are also used in offices, but were reportedly being misused by children as intoxicating substance or drug, giving them stimulating effect like drugs on its inhalation. In order to protect them, law was amended.
  • In future, sale of correction fluid and thinner would be permitted in the form of pens or similar devices which allow limited amount of chemicals to come out. Mandatory warning should also be printed on them.
8) Maharashtra government to use plastic wastes to build roads.
  • Maharashtra government has decided to use plastic waste along with tar in a bid to improve the durability and longevity of asphalt roads and reduce soil pollution.
  • The Centre in its recommendations has stated that using plastic waste along with tar to build roads improves the quality. It also helps reduce soil pollution caused by plastic. Thus, the state government has decided to include plastic waste along with tar while building roads.
  • The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute has assured the government that roads built by using plastic waste along with tar will be of better quality and cheaper.
9) Government to give unique ID cards to disabled persons.
  • India is in the process of implementing a project to provide a unique ID card to persons with disabilities aimed at creating a national data base that will enable the government to have real time information on their level of education, income and employment status.
  • Data and statistics on persons with disabilities are key to their inclusion in the implementation of the Agenda 2030. The Indian government is in the process of implementing the ‘Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities’ project with a view to create a national data base for persons with disabilities, and issue them an unique ID card.
10) Union Cabinet approved Bill to fast track recovery of bad loans.
  • The Union Cabinet approved a bill seeking to amend the debt recovery laws with an overall objective of improving the ease of doing business.
  • Cabinet approves ex facto The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, 2016.
  • The bill aims to improve ease of doing business, facilitate investment leading to higher economic growth and development.
  • The government has come up with this legislation at a time when there is mounting concerns over loan recovery in view of stressed assets to the tune of over Rs 8 lakh crore in the banking system.
  • Around 70,000 cases are pending in debt recovery tribunals (DRT) and the proposed amendments would facilitate expeditious disposal of recovery applications.
 
11) Kiran Bedi launches a mobile app to help senior citizens in distress.
Help Age India has launched a security app for elders in connection with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
  • The ``HelpAge SOS App`` was launched by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi at Raj Nivas.
  • The app provides for an SOS-Save our seniors button to immediately reach to the counselor desk of Help Age for rendering emergency help and assistance, apart from health related information. It has 24x7 functionality and aims at helping elders in distress at any given time.
  • The app has been launched in English and Hindi and other languages will follow. The app is GPS enabled and picks up the location of the caller and will dial into the particular State Office.
12) Yog Geet Released by Ayush Minister Shri Shripad Yesso Naik.
  • The celebration of International Day of Yoga – 2016 a Yog Geet (Song) was released by the Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH Sh. Shripad Naik at New Delhi. This song is of 3 minutes and 15 seconds in Hindi language.
  • As part of celebration of 2nd International Day of Yoga a National level competition for selection of a Yog Geet was organized by the Ministry of AYUSH. About one thousand entries were received for Yog Geet.
 
13) 4800 villages in Gujarat declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
  • The State Principal Secretary, Sanitation, Ms. Jayanti Ravi, apprised the Central team about various initiatives being taken by the State in this regard. The State has achieved a sanitation coverage of 73.75%, and 4800 villages in Gujarat have declared themselves as ODF.
 
14) Non Resident Indians (NRIs) can now join and subscribe to NPS online through eNPS.
  • NRIs have a pivotal role to play in the Indian economy. India has the second-largest Diaspora in the world, with around 29 million people living in over 200 countries and out of these 25% live in the Gulf countries.
  • Most of the Indians going to the Gulf and some other countries go for employment and return to India after having worked abroad for a certain period.
  • NPS can provide a long term solution to their old age income security. NPS has been available to NRIs for some time through Bank offices and now, to further ease the process of joining, eNPS is being extended to Non-Resident Indian subscribers.
  • NRIs can now open NPS Accounts online if they have Aadhaar Card or PAN card.
  • Both Repatriable and Non-Repatriable schemes will greatly appeal to NRIs who intend to return to India after their employment abroad, in view of their attractive returns, low cost, flexibility and their being regulated by the PFRDA, a Regulator established by the Central Government.
 
15) Karnataka, Goa sign pact to join Uday scheme: Piyush Goyal.
  • KARNATAKA and Goa have signed an agreement to join the UDAY scheme meant for the revival of discoms that may result in a total gain of about Rs. 4,570 crore to both the states over next 3 years.
  • Power Ministry would soon approach the Cabinet to seek approval for enabling private sector electricity distribution companies (discoms) to get operational benefits of the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY).
  • Under this scheme for reviving financially stressed electricity distribution utilities, state governments takeover 75 per cent of the debt with the electricity distribution utilities. The remaining debt is issued as discom bonds, backed by state governments.
 
16) UGC approves new guidelines for Deemed universities.
  • The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved new regulations for Deemed Universities as per which there will be no bar on the number of off-campus centers such institutions may set up, though quality has to be assured.
  • The new guidelines for Deemed Universities which was announced by HRD minister Smriti Irani. It has also been decided that Universities will not be able to charge more than Rs. 10,000 at the time of counseling.
  • There is no cap on the number of off-campus centers an institution may set up but quality has to be of the highest order.
  • The new regulations also allow setting up of off-campus centers abroad but for that additional permission of the MHA and MEA would be needed.
17) Rajnath approves setting up central marine force.
  • A central marine police force to protect sea, coast, ports and vital institutions along country`s 7,517 km long coastline may come up in near future.
  • India has a 7,517 km coastline, which is dotted with 12 major ports and 187 minor or intermediate ports.
  • Indian Navy is responsible for overall maritime security including coastal and offshore security. Indian coasts are guarded by a 3-tier system of State Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.
  • Indian Coast Guard looks after the security of country`s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that stretches up to 200 nautical miles from the coast.
 
18) National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016: Salient Features.
  • The Minister of Civil Aviation Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju released the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 in New Delhi. This is the first time since independence that an integrated Civil Aviation Policy has been brought out by the Ministry.
  • The policy aims to take flying to the masses by making it affordable and convenient, establish an integrated eco-system which will lead to significant growth of the civil aviation sector to promote tourism, employment and balanced regional growth, enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development and enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and e-governance.
 
19) Government clears Rs. 300 crore under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
  • Trying to reach out to the religious pilgrims in Uttar Pradesh, the central government cleared tourism projects worth over Rs. 300 crore "in-principle" in Uttar Pradesh under the Ramayan and Krishna Circuits.
  • The decision was taken at the first meeting of National Committee on Ramayan Circuit and National Committee on Krishna Circuit held under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union Tourism Ministry.
 
20) Bihar to step up Sanitation efforts as part of Swachh Bharat.
  • The Government of Bihar, as part of a focused strategy to step up Sanitation efforts in the State under the Swachh Bharat Mission, held a workshop on Sanitation for all District Collectors of the State.
  • Ms. M. Geetha, Mission Director, Chhattisgarh shared experiences from her State at the workshop as Chattisgarh is a State known for pioneering the community approach to sanitation in the country.
  • The workshop also included deliberations on various issues, such as institutional arrangements, processes, human and social capital requirement, streamlining fund flow, integration with health and other interventions, mechanisms for ODF verification etc. Discussions were also held on Namami Gange implementation and urban sanitation issues.
 
21) Textiles Minister dedicates five Solarised Community Centers and 100 Shelter Homes for benefit of wool growers in Ladakh.
  • The Union Textiles Minister Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar dedicated five Solarised Community Centre and 100 shelter homes for the benefit of the nomads (wool-growers) involved in Pashmina sheep rearing, in very hard conditions; in Ladakh region.
  • The Minister travelled six hours by road in Karzok and Samad in the Changthang area to interact with the nomads. During the interaction, the Minister announced that all other kinds of help in respect of marketing of raw pashmina and linking pashmina products with tourism would be facilitated by Government of India.
  • The Minister also informed that during the last two years, animal productivity (average pashmina yield) has gone up by 9.30%. 
22) Delhi govt to disburse social security pensions every month.
  • In a major relief to over 6 lakh beneficiaries of old age, disability and widow pensions, the Delhi government has decided to disburse these every month.
  • The Delhi government disburses Rs. 1500 to each beneficiary under all the three categories. However, it makes a distinction between old people with those between 60 and 70 years of age entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 1000 and those above 70 getting Rs. 1500.
23) Punjab became first state in India to provide free treatment to confirmed cases of Hepatitis C.
  • Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has launched a special fund called ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund’ to provide free treatment for patients affected by Hepatitis C.
  • Punjab has become the first state in the country to provide free treatment to confirmed cases of Hepatitis C.
 
24) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IWAI and IPGPL on the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project.
  • The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar was conceptualized and is being administered by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) with a view to facilitate connectivity between the mainland and the North Eastern States of the country through maritime shipping, inland waterways and roads of Myanmar.
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between IWAI and IPGPL for implementation of the following three additional works, which are independent of the on-going works and are estimated to cost Rs. 476 crore.
  • Container handling facilities at Sittwe & Paletwa
  • Operation & Maintenance of the completed works
  • Wrecks removed in Sittwe Port basin area
  • IWAI shall remain as the overall PDC to MEA for implementation of PORT & IWT component of Kaladan project.
25) Promoting Cargo transport through Coastal Shipping and Inland Waterways.
  • The Ministry of Shipping organized a National workshop on ‘Promotion of Modal Shift of Cargo to Coastal Shipping and Inland Waterways’ at New Delhi. The workshop was attended by representatives of various stakeholders viz Indian National Ship-owners Association (INSA), ICC Shipping Association (ICCSA), Shipping companies, shippers, logistics companies, freight forwarders and government officials.
  • The participants deliberated on the ways and means to promote coastal shipping and water transportation and make it competitive to roads and railways transportation.
  • The stakeholders were unanimous that even though use of waterways, as a mode of transportation, is fuel-efficient, environment – friendly, and capable of easing traffic congestion on road and railways additional there are impediments existing in the form of inadequate infrastructure and higher costs due to multiple handling of cargo at the first and the last mile which prevents modal shift of cargo transportation from road and railways towards waterway transportation.
26) No Fee for MSME Registration.
  • Udyog Aadhar Memorandum is the only form of registration for MSMEs in India and there is no fee for the registration. This has been clarified in view of some complaints received by the ministry, regarding fee charged by certain agencies for facilitating the registration.
  • Udyog Aadhar Memorandum can be done only on the portal http://www.udyogaadharmemorandum.gov.in created by the Ministry. There is no fee charged for this purpose. The filling process is simple and the entrepreneurs can register without seeking any third party assistance.
 
27) Himachal government launches skill development project.
  • Himachal Pradesh government launched a Rs. 640 crore project for skill development under which multipurpose training and marketing centers would be developed in rural areas as per the needs of local youths.
  • Training would be provided by government institutes and departments, private sector and industries/industrial associations under the project which is launched with external assistance from Asian Development Bank.
  • These centers would be monitored by District Skill Development Centre and to facilitate ITI students, equivalency would be granted in respect of trade and apprenticeship certificates being awarded by National Council of Vocational Training for the purpose of seeking admission in colleges.
28) Arun Jaitley Lays Foundation Stone For New Campus Of IIM-Amritsar.
  • Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley laid the foundation stone for a new campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Amritsar.
  • This would be the institute’s own campus, the 15th Indian Institute of Management in the country, which has been so far operating from a temporary facility.
  • Education and Agriculture have to go hand in hand for the country’s development as has been the case in countries like Japan and South Korea.
29) PM Modi releases stamps on Surya Namaskara.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi released commemorative postage stamps on `Surya Namaskar` in New Delhi. Yoga asana `Surya Namaskar` has been excluded from this year`s International Yoga Day celebrations the government has released a postage stamp.
 
30) Government releases draft National Forest Policy.
  • The government has made public its draft National Forest Policy, to replace the one crafted in 1988. Incorporating consequences of climate change but entirely ignoring one of the three forest related laws, the Forest Rights Act.
  • The policy brings new focus to plantations, growing trees outside forest lands and wood industry. The policy continues with the national goal of a minimum of one-third of the geographical area under forest or tree cover. But it does away with the goal for hill and mountainous regions to maintain two-thirds of the geographical area under forest cover.
31) Union Government bans use of Potassium Bromate as food additive.
  • The government banned the use of potassium bromate as a food additive following a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study that found its presence in bread caused cancer.
  • A CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate.
32) Delhi starts portal to facilitate student loans.
  • Delhi government launches online application portal for Higher Education and Skill Development Guarantee scheme. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the online application portal to facilitate loans to students who wish to pursue higher studies in Delhi after graduating from Class XII.
  • Conceived and developed by the Directorate of Higher Education, the scheme will serve as an encouragement to students who are otherwise unable to pursue education due to lack of financial means.
 
33) Madhya Pradesh inks MoU with Chinese firm on $1 billion investment.
  • Madhya Pradesh signed a MoU worth 1 billion dollars with Sany group of China.
  • The Chinese company evinced interest in investment in 500 MW wind energy sector and building industrial infrastructure.
 
34) Delhi launches project to ease school admissions.
  • With an aim to facilitate a hassle free procurement of certain certificates needed for school admissions, Delhi government launched a pilot project to eliminate the need of visiting the district magistrate’s office.
  • The scheme will help students and their parents from unnecessary hassles in securing certificate. It was decided to train one teacher/IT person from each school in various aspects of e-district project which are already functioning successfully in Delhi. 
35) Withdrawal of the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
  • The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has decided to withdraw the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which had been introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill had been examined by the Standing Committee of Parliament which had made a number of recommendations for changing the provisions of the Bill.
 
36) Cabinet approved.
  • Special package for employment generation and promotion of exports in Textile and Apparel sector.
  • MoU between India and Germany on technology resourcing in manufacturing, including sub-sectors of Capital Goods.
  • Protocol amending the Agreement for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with Belgium.
  • Four laning of Hubli-Hospet Section of NH-63 in Karnataka.
  • Tax and Production Incentives for Job Creation in Garment Manufacturing Sector.
 
37) Amendment in Rule 114H of Income-tax Rules, 1962.
  • The Rule 114H of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (the Rules) has been amended vide Notification No.48/2016 [S.O.2151 (E)].
  • In order to provide sufficient time to the reporting Financial Institutions for completing the due diligence procedure in respect of other reportable account referred to in Rule 114H (3) (d) (ii).
 
38) Establishment of Fund of Funds for funding support to Start-ups.
  • The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of "Fund of Funds for Startups" (FFS) at Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for contribution to various Alternative Investment Funds (AIF), registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) which would extend funding support to Startups. This is in line with the Start up India Action Plan unveiled by Government in 2016.
  • The corpus of FFS is Rs. 10000 crore which shall be built up over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles subject to progress of the scheme and availability of funds.
39) Union Minister of Human Resource Development announces new UGC foreign academic collaboration regulations.
  • Indian Universities and Colleges, having the highest grade of accreditation/ threshold accreditation, will now be able to apply online to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for starting twinning and collaborative arrangement with quality Foreign Educational Institutions (FEIs) in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to the award of a degree.
  • The collaborating FEI can be indicated on the degree, the logo and primacy being of the Indian institution. Credits from collaborating FEI when jointly signed by the IEI shall form part of the transcript. FEI may also sign the transcript/ credit issued by the IEI.
 
40) Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu Flags Off Various New Train Services.
  • Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu in a programme held at Rail Bhawan flagged off and dedicated following new trains services to the nation.
  • Inauguration of Tr. No. 13205/13206 Danapur - Saharsa `Janhit Express` (Daily).
  • Extension of Tr. No. 15283/15284 Jaynagar - Saharsa Janki Express Up to Katihar (Daily).
  • Extension of Tr. No. 18697/18698 Patna - Murliganj Koshi Express up to Purnea Court (Daily).
  • Extension of 53581/53582 Jasidih-Chandan Passenger train Upto Banka. (First Passenger Train between newly constructed Chandan-Banka lines).
 
41) Aadhaar to be linked with caste, domicile certificates.
  • All state governments have been asked to link Aadhaar with caste and domicile certificates to be issued to school students, as part of a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Centre.
  • Certificates are issued within 60 days time to the students when they are studying in Class V or VIII.
42) Jaitley released silver coin to mark Martyrdom Day of Banda Singh Bahadur.
  • Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley released commemorative silver coin to mark the 300th Martyrdom Day of Banda Singh Bahadur.
  • Bahadur is considered to be first sovereign ruler of Punjab. Need to educate people about the rich history and tradition of Punjab including its leaders like Banda Singh Bahadur.
 
43) Maharashtra Government grants minority status to Jews.
  • Jews in Maharashtra are now a minority community. The State Cabinet approved the decision to grant minority status to the Jews, a demand pending for many years. The decision is based on the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission Act, 2004.
  • The minority status will also help to identify the problems of the community, and the government can come up with schemes to resolve them.
44) Cabinet approves biggest ever spectrum auction.
  • Paving the way for the largest-ever spectrum auction in the country, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the sale of all available spectrum a move that could potentially fetch the exchequer about Rs. 5.5 lakh crore going by the reserve price.
  • The auction in which about 2000 MHz of airwaves will be put up for sale is likely to be conducted. The government had earned revenues of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore from the auctions held last year.
45) Maharashtra to set up anti-terrorism school for cops.
  • To enable the police force and the administration to effectively combat the challenges posed by naxalites, the Maharashtra government decided to set up a special training institute at Nagpur. The state government will operate and oversee its functioning and an IPS officer will be specially deployed.
  • The Counter-Insurgency and Anti- Terrorism School will be set up at Suraburdi in Nagpur; will impart unconventional training to police force that has many challenges in the region.
46) `Make in India` conference on Enabling Spacecraft Systems Realization through Industries.
  • The ``Make in India`` Conference on Enabling Spacecraft Systems Realization through Industries (ESSRI - 2016) was organized at ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore.
  • The Conference was organized to elicit industry support for spacecraft realization on an end-to-end basis to meet the rapidly increasing national demand for space based services and the realization of Prime Minister’s objective of ``Make in India``.
  • The requirements of ISRO with respect to hardware, technologies, quality and delivery schedule and what was essential for them to be qualified vendors of ISRO.
 
47) Foundation of Advanced Technology Research Centre Laid in Kolkata.
  • Heralding a new era of DRDO-Academia Partnership, Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jadavpur University (JU), Kolkata to establish the Jagadish Chandra Bose Centre for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT).
  • The Centre will strengthen DRDO’s relationship with Jadavpur University and with other academic research institutions in the region. DRDO scientists and engineers will get the opportunity to work with the faculty and scholars of the university towards addressing scientific problems and finding innovative solutions.
 
48) Pilot Programme to run two wheelers on CNG launched by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan & Shri Prakash Javadekar.
  • Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (I/C) Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State (I/C) for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar launched first of its kind Pilot Programme in the country to run two wheelers on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in New Delhi.
  • The scooters are being retrofitted with CNG kit manufactured by M/s Ituk Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd. The type approval of the CNG kit has been taken from Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) as well as Transport Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
  • The performance of 50 CNG retrofitted two wheelers would be closely monitored in terms of efficiency, emissions, etc. during the pilot phase by all the stakeholders and the learning from this project would be used to develop the roadmap for introduction of CNG in two wheeler segment across the nation.