1) Himachal Pradesh decides to amend hydro policy 2006.
- The State cabinet gave its go-ahead to amend the Hydropower Policy 2006 to allow transfer of up to 49 per cent equity shares of Himachali people to non-Himachalis at any stage after allotment of up to 2 MW projects and full disinvestment after two years of its commissioning.
- Also, in case of bonafide Himachalis to whom projects up to 2 MW to 5 MW capacity had been allotted, could sell or transfer 51 per cent share to non-Himachali people at any stage after allotment of projects and full disinvestment after two years of commissioning of the project.
- The Cabinet also gave its approval to a proposal to give a number of units of electricity, free of cost to the families affected by Hydro projects as per the tariff determined by Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) from time to time.
2) Centre approves chopper service for J&K, Himachal.
- The Centre approved operation of subsidised helicopter services in 10 sectors each in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to connect inaccessible destinations.
- Srinagar-Kargil, Srinagar-Drass, Kargil-Padum-Leh, Leh-Lingshed and Srinagar-Leh are the five probable sectors where the helicopter services will be functional in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The most inaccessible destination points should be chosen and the scheme can be extended to other additional sectors at a later date depending upon the assessment of the justifiable needs of the local population.
3) Govt approves 6 start-up centres.
- The Central government has approved six proposals to set up centres of excellence to promote and fund start-ups under the National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovation (NIDHI), a programme steered by the Department of Science and Technology.
- The proposals for six centres of excellence that were approved by the National Expert Advisory Committee include SINE-IIT Bombay, Venture Center-NCL Pune, CIIE-IIM Ahmadabad and a research park at IIT-Gandhinagar.
- The government has earmarked Rs. 500 crore to scale up the start-up eco system, under which seed funding of up to Rs. 10 lakh will be given to develop a prototype and access fabrication facilities in incubators.
4) Union Minister of Human Resource Development inaugurates the National Conference for awareness on National Academic Depository.
- A National Conference for awareness on National Academic Depository was inaugurated by Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Human Resource Development in New Delhi.
- Establishment of a National Academic Depository is a step towards the Digital India vision. The Union Minister called upon all participants to resolve to target year 2017 to roll out use of National Academic Depository.
- The technology has become all pervasive in all walks of life, whether it is shopping, booking railways ticket, banking or mobile recharge; we have witnessed a huge transformation in the way we used to function.
5) Mehbooba launches `CM scooty scheme` for girls in J&K.
- Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti launched `CM Scooty Scheme` for college-going girls from weaker sections.
- She distributed 150 scooties each at Government College for Women, Parade, and Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.
- J&K government to invest in you (girl students), your education and future because only you can free this world, country and state of unrest.
6) Railways to implement Flexi Fare system in Rajdhani, Shatabdi & Duronto trains.
- The Railways introduced the surge pricing system on the Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains.
- Under the new `flexi fare system`, usually followed by airlines, the base fare of tickets will increase with the rising demand. The new fare structure will, however, not be applicable to 1AC and executive class coaches.
- The base fares will increase 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of berths sold. Fares can go up to a maximum of 1.5 times the original base fare.
7) DoT unveils new norms on SIM upgradation.
- The Department of Telecom has come out with new guidelines on SIM upgradation to 3G or 4G from 2G, which can be activated only with a clear go-ahead from mobile users and on their request.
- The subscriber shall generate request for SIM upgradation to the licensee through customer care or online via the website or point of sale of the licensee.
- To upgrade the SIM card, the subscriber will have to generate a request through customer care or online or point of sale of the company. Once the request is received, the operator will issue a new SIM card to the subscriber.
8) Gujarat CM dedicates 2 Mbps connectivity to 6,000 villages.
- Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani launched the most high speed digital connectivity (GSVAN) project for connecting 6,000 villages, and expressed commitment to extend its services to 18,000 villages.
- Gujarat has marched towards digital revolution by providing connectivity facility to 6,000 villages after achievement of e-Gram Vishwagram to realize Digital India vision.
9) Dutch assistance to clean the Yamuna.
- A consortium of scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) and The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) are teaming up with their peers from the Delft University of Technology, Wageningten University and the Vrije Unversiteit in the Netherlands to set up a network of sewage treatment plants that will clean wastewater in Delhi’s Barapullah drain, which is reportedly responsible for 30 per cent of the pollution of the Yamuna.
- The project, which is expected to reach full capacity within five years, can then clean up to a million litres of toxic drain water a day.
- Dutch government and industry and India’s Department of Biotechnology, the Rs. 21 crore projects is unique according to those involved as it will use filtration membranes developed by Indian scientists and employ a new anaerobic sewage treatment process.
10) Odisha Govt. launches construction workers pension scheme.
- The state government goes all out to gain favour of the rural voters by doling out freebies and launching populist schemes.
- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched construction workers pension scheme that ensures financial assistance of Rs. 300 per month to all registered construction workers after attaining the age of 60 years and Rs. 500 for construction workers of more than 80 years.
11) MEA launches online module for Indian students studying abroad.
- In the absence of any data on Indian students studying abroad, the government has launched a registration module for them so they could be reached in case of emergency.
- In case of any emergency, our Embassy will be able to reach you. While abroad - Indian Embassy is your family.
12) NHPC, BHEL ink pact for renovation of Baira Siul power plant.
- State-owned NHPC entered a pact with BHEL for renovation and modernisation of 180 MW Baira Siul power stations in Himachal Pradesh.
- Baira Siul will be NHPC’s first power station where R&M works will be undertaken for the purpose of life extension of the generating station.
- The scope of the agreement includes electromechanical works package comprising supply, installation, commissioning of turbines and accessories and dismantling of the existing system.
- BHEL has been NHPC`s long-standing partner and 11 power stations of NHPC have used BHEL machinery.