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National Current Affairs July 1st Week 2018
Category : National Current Affairs
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1. Maharashtra Government Announces `Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana`.

The Maharashtra government announced a new scheme called `Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana`, wherein farmers families where girl children are born will be given saplings for plantation.

An official in the Chief Minister`s Office (CMO) said the scheme is aimed at empowering women and promoting tree plantation. The scheme was approved in the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A farmer family blessed with a girl child between April 1 and March 31 can make an application with the gram panchayat after which they will get 10 saplings free of cost from the forest department.

Beneficiaries will have to plant the saplings between July 1 and 7. "It is expected that the income from these trees will be utilised for safeguarding the future of the girls," the official said. The saplings will be of different varieties, including teakwood, mango, jackfruit, black plum, and tamarind. The scheme will be applicable for a maximum of two girls.

The beneficiaries will also be helped under the horticulture scheme. The official said it is expected that at least two lakh farmers families will benefit from the scheme every year.

 

2. Odisha, RIMES Sign MoU For Effective Disaster Management.

The Odisha government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for effective management of disasters, officials said.

The government also signed three more MoUs that would benefit the farmers and enhance their production.

The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) signed an MoU with RIMES for enhancing early warning system for effective management of all kinds of disasters in the state.

This agreement enables for development and pilot implementation of decision support systems for automating risk assessment, advisory generation and dissemination, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

He said this will empower OSDMA in the assessment and management of risks from flood, tsunami, drought, heat wave, lightning and road accidents.

These tools shall be built with open-source software platforms and public domain data sets, with full involvement of OSDMA and its line departments and collaborating agencies.

Initially, the agreement will remain in force for five years with a cost involvement of about Rs 8 crore.

RIMES and OSDMA collaboration will contribute to global efforts targeted to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems as articulated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

 

3. Bhitarkanika National Park Becomes Largest Habitat Of Endangered Estuarine Crocodiles.

The Bhitarkanika national park has become the largest habitat of the endangered estuarine crocodiles in the country with a record number of their nesting sites spotted in it, a forest official said.

Altogether 101 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles were found this time by enumerators, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya told PTI. Stating that the figure was 80 last year, he said the nesting spots had registered 25 per cent rise this year.

A female crocodile lays 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nests after 70 to 80 days of incubation period, he said. At least 1698 crocodiles, including albino species, were counted this year along the water-bodies of Mahanadi delta region, while the figure recorded last year stood at 1682.

Estuarine crocodiles are also found in West Bengals Sundarban areas having the countrys largest mangrove cover. Besides, the mangrove wetlands in Andaman Islands are home to these species, but those cannot match the density and population of crocodile available in the wild habitats of Bhitarkanika, he said.

 

4. Jharkhand To Set Up Country`s 1st Khadi Mall.

The first `Khadi Mall` of the country will be opened soon, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced on Sunday.

"Within 15 days, land in the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) campus will be made available to the Khadi Board to develop the country`s first Khadi mall," he said while addressing the `Karigar Panchayat` organized by the Khadi Board at the Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium here.

Noting that handicrafts were being accorded priority in the state, Mr Das said: "People in the villages are talented and so far 1.13 lakh artisans have been registered to be trained to make goods as per the needs of the market." 

It will bring a changes in their lives and the government will also provide markets to them, he added.

Mr Das said that the artisans would be provided technological aid for value addition in their products, while rural, urban and tourism `haats` will provide them markets for their goods.

He said that through the initiative of the Khadi Board, many people in the rural area have got jobs and the board was also providing them with markets.

 

5. NRL Becomes 1st Oil PSU To Introduce Online Legal Compliance.

Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) in Assam has become the first oil public sector undertaking (PSU) to adopt an online legal compliance system by introducing `Legatrix`.

`Legatrix` is a onestop solution for effectively managing the organisations legal and regulatory compliances through monitoring control at different levels, a press release said.

It encompasses the requirements of laws like labour, taxation, IT, commercial, export-import, corporate laws and other industry-specific laws, it said.

This initiative augments the NRLs contribution towards the Digital India Mission and induces greater transparency in its operations, the release said.

The cloud-based compliance management system was inaugurated by Managing Director S K Barua at the companys corporate office in Guwahati recently.

 

6. Agriculture Minister Chairs Inter-Session Meeting On `Marine Fisheries-Mariculture In India`.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh has said India will ask Sri Lanka for the release of more than 140 mechanised boats, confiscated and impounded by the Sri Lankan government after their navy arrested fishermen on charges of trespassing.

Talking to the press in Rameswaram on Monday after the Inter-session meeting of the consultative committee on ‘Marine Fisheries – Mariculture in India’, he said the Joint Working Group (JWG), followed by Ministerial meeting, scheduled to be held later this month would take up the issue.

He said the JWG and Ministerial level meetings were scheduled for July 5 and 6 in Colombo, but had to be postponed after the Sri Lankan cabinet reshuffle. The meeting is likely to be held by the end of this month, where India will take up the issue of the boats, the Minister said.

On being asked, Tarun Sridhar, Secretary, Animal Husbandry said considering the complexities of the fishermen issue, the Centre, in consultation with Tamil Nadu government has taken significant steps towards finding a permanent solution .

He said three JWG and Ministerial level meetings have been held so far after the formation of the JWG in November, 2016 to find a solution. After the intervention of the Centre, the Sri Lankan government has released 1,602 fishermen arrested by their navy since May 2014, he said.

 

7. Delhi Government Launches ‘Happiness Curriculum’ For School Students.

The Delhi government on Monday launched a “happiness curriculum” in state-run schools. The Dalai Lama, several government officials, students and teachers were present at the event.

The curriculum will be taught to around eight lakh students from nursery up to Class 8 of all Delhi government schools from the new academic session. The curriculum involves a “happiness period” of 45 minutes and five minutes of meditation before each class.

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said a team of 40 experts framed the curriculum that will include meditation, moral values and mental exercises. “Imagine the impact of involving 10 lakh students and around 50,000 teachers,” Sisodia was quoted as saying by PTI. “It is our belief that the modern day problems like terrorism, corruption and pollution can be solved through schools and a human centric education.”

 

8. Behdienkhlam Festival Concludes In Meghalaya.

The Behdienkhlam Festival of the Raij Tuber, one of the most colourful and the biggest festivals in the Jaintia Hills region concluded on Thursday amidst thousands of spectators from across the state and outside.

Being the biggest of its kind, the Tuber Behdienkhlam has under it over 50-60 villages. The celebration was held at the sacred place called the ‘Bear’ situated in the heart of Tuber village which is about 25 kilometers from Jowai.

The festival was also witnessed by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma besides MLAs and MDCs and top district officials.

On the occasion, Sangma also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the VIP and Public viewing Gallery at Tuber Kmai Shnong to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.50 crores from the Tourism Department.

Meanwhile, members of the Raij Tuber, both young and old, drawn from various villages that falls under the Raij Tuber brought their `rots` and displayed them at the sacred place-at Kmaishnong Tuber.

Altogether there were 61 `rots` finely decorated with colourful hues and built with unique designs brought to the `Bear` with people dancing accompanied by drum beats which held spectators in awe.

The ritual started early in the morning before the `rots` were brought to the `Bear` which includes the `Knia Behkhlam` a ritual where a group of people holding rods made of bamboos used these to chase away plague and evil spirits.

Other rituals include `Pynkem Bhang`, `Iatan Bhang` and `Iaslait` which were performed at the `Bear`.

`Iatan Bhang` akin to the `Tug of War` in which the two teams - one from the `Phang Nein` and the other from `Phang Wah` vied for supremacy.

It is believed that if the team from Phang Nein wins, the year is expected to be good and if the Phang Wah Team wins it means the year will be bad. This year, the match was won by the `Phang Nein` and thus bodes a good year.

 

9. NITI Aayog To Organise India’s First Global Mobility Summit.

Government think tank Niti Aayog will hold on September 7-8 here the India`s first `Global Mobility Summit`, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official release said.

The summit will help drive government`s goal for vehicle electrification, renewable energy integration and job growth and also speed up India`s transition to a clean energy economy.

`MOVE: Global Mobility Summit` will be organised in collaboration with various ministries and industry partners.

Over 1,200 participants from across the world including government leadership, industry leaders, think tank and civil society organisations are likely to attend the summit.

"Nowhere in the world is there greater potential to accelerate the transition to a shared, connected and zero emission society than India," the release said quoting Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

The six themes of the summit are: Asset utilisation and service, comprehensive electrification, alternative energy, reinventing public transit, logistics and goods transport and data analytics and mobility.

 

10. Government Approves Hike In Minimum Support Price For Kharif Crops.

The Centre on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) at which the government will buy all Kharif crops for the 2018-19 season. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), at its meeting, approved the MSP of 14 Kharif (summer-sown) crops.

The government has raised the MSP of the common rice variety by 13 percent. The government had fixed last year’s rice purchase price for the common variety at Rs 1,550 ($22.63) per 100 kilogrammes.

It also raised the support price for a superior rice variety to Rs 1,770, up from Rs 1,590 last year, home minister Rajnath Singh told reporters on Wednesday.

The hike in support prices will not impact food inflation and the government is confident in reining in rising consumer prices, Singh said.

The cabinet also raised the minimum support price for soybean and long staple cotton by 10.3 percent and 20.7 percent, to Rs 3,399 and Rs 5,450 respectively, Singh said.

Analysts and economists have warned the move could help push up inflation, and with a fiscal deficit, prompt India’s central bank to raise interest rates more steeply than expected.

 

11. Important Cabinet Approvals- 04th July 2018.

Cabinet approves accession to WIPO Copyright Treaty, 1996

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4, 2018 approved the proposal submitted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry regarding accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty, 1996 and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty, 1996, which extends coverage of copyright to the internet and digital environment.

The approval is a step towards the objective laid in the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted by the Government on May 12, 2016 which aims to get value for IPRs through commercialization by providing guidance and support to EPR owners about commercial opportunities of e-commerce through Internet and mobile platforms.

 

12. Bengaluru To Get India’s 1st E-Waste Plant.

The country’s first e-waste recycling unit will come up in Bengaluru, Union minister of chemicals and fertilisers Ananth Kumar said on Monday.

The unit, to be set up by the ministry, is likely to be ready in four months, and is in keeping with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan drive, Kumar said. The country’s e-waste generation is on the rise, and estimated to reach 52 lakh tonnes in 2020, indicating a concurrent increase in e-waste recycling units is also required, he said.

A 2016 study by Assocham and KPMG ranked India among the top five countries in e-waste generation, with an estimated 1.85 million tonnes generated annually. According to the study, computers comprised 70% of the total e-waste and telecommunication equipment accounted for 12%. Bengaluru ranked third after Mumbai and Delhi, and generated nearly 92,000 tonnes of ewaste annually.

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13. Piyush Goyal Launches CMSMS And ‘Khan Prahari’ App.

Union Minister of Coal, Railways, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Piyush Goyal launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and Mobile Application ‘Khan Prahari’ developed by CMPDI, Ranchi a Subsidiary of CIL and Bhaskarcharya Institute of Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG) at a ceremony at, New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal said that  illegal mining is a serious problem in the country today, particularly in the areas where coal mining is carried out. Illegal coal mining not only causes a loss to the nation’s resources but is also harmful to the environment. He said that Ministry of Coal is committed to take suitable actions to try to reduce and stop such activities to the extent possible. It is understood that coal is a main source of livelihood for many poor families residing in coal belts, but their sustenance should not be totally dependent on illegal coal mining. It is not only about saving national resources but also about improving the quality of life of those people, he added.

 

14. Insolvency And Bankruptcy Board Of India Amends IBBI Regulations, 2016.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended the rules to mandate resolution professional to appoint two registered valuers to determine the fair value and the liquidation value of the corporate debtor. The resolution professionals will be share these values of the companies under resolution with each member of the committee of creditors, as per the amended rules.

Under the revised framework, the resolution plan — approved by the committee of creditors — should be submitted to the adjudicating authority “at least 15 days before the expiry of the maximum period permitted for the completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process”. The IBBI amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 on Tuesday which came into effect on Wednesday, the finance ministry said in a statement.

“After the receipt of resolution plans, the resolution professional shall provide the fair value and the liquidation value to each member of the committee of creditors in electronic form, on receiving a confidentiality undertaking,” it said. The resolution professional should also submit the information memorandum in electronic form to each member of the committee of creditors within two weeks of appointment.

 

15. Bhutan PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay In India On 3-Day Visit.

Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, will on Thursday arrive in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India. During his visit, Prime Minister of Bhutan will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and hold talks with PM Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other ministers will call on the Prime Minister of Bhutan. According to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) release, India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are characterised by utmost trust and mutual understanding.

This year, both India and Bhutan are commemorating the golden jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. “The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Tobgay, during the Golden Jubilee year, will provide an opportunity to both the sides to hold discussions on issues of mutual interest, and advancing the exemplary ties of friendship for the benefit of the two peoples,” the MEA statement further read.

 

16. MP Government Launches Subsidised Power Scheme ‘Sambal’.

In Madhya Pradesh, the government has launched an outstanding power bill waiver scheme and subsidised power scheme ‘Sambal’ for labourers and poor families. Under the scheme, the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided electricity at a cost of 200 rupees per month. AIR correspondent reports that the objective of this scheme to make sure that all the households have power facility in the state.

One crore 83 lakh workers registered under Sambal Yojana in the state till now. Under this scheme, outstanding electricity bill worth  five thousand 179 crores  rupees is to be waived off. Under the subsidised power  segment of this scheme, registered labourers of the unorganised sector and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided electricity at a cost of 200  rupees per month while Power connection would be provided free of cost to the beneficiaries. Official release said that  in case the bill is lower than 200 rupees, the beneficiary will have to pay the actual bill amount and if the bill amount crossing  200 rupees , then the difference amount would be subsidised by the state government.

 

17. Election Commission Of India Launches `CVigil` App.

The Chief Election Commissioner Shri. O. P. Rawat, along with the Election Commissioners Shri Sunil Arora and Shri Ashok Lavasa launched a mobile app, called `cVIGIL,` on 03 July 2018, for citizens to report any violation of the model code of conduct during elections.

cVIGIL" is a user-friendly and easy to operate Android application. It will be operational only where elections are announced. However, the beta version of the app will be made available for the public and election staff to download so that they can acquaint themselves with its features and also try sending dummy data. Upon successful completion of the trial that is underway, the application will be made available for general use by all, right from the forthcoming Assembly elections in the States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. The practical use of the app during the four-state Assembly polls will also serve as a pilot initiative before it is put to extensive use during the next Lok Sabha General Elections.

The app requires an Android smartphone equipped with a camera, good internet connection and GPS access. The operating system should be Android Jellybean and above. The application supports all the latest Android smartphones.

 

18. Lieutenant Governor Does Not Have Independent Powers: Rules SC.

The Supreme Court today held that Lieutenant Governor  does not have independent decision-making powers, and is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. 

The apex court was ruling on a batch of appeals filed by the Delhi government challenging the High Court`s order holding the LG as the administrative head of the national capital. The judgement pronounced by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, who was heading a five judge Constitution bench, also held that the LG cannot act as an obstructionist. 

The bench said, all decisions of the Council of Ministers must be communicated to the LG but that does not mean his concurrence is required. It said, the LG can refer issues on difference of opinion to the President.

The top court also said, except for three issues, including land and law and order, the Delhi government has the power to legislate and govern on other issues.

 

19. Gujarat CM Launches Special Drive Against Malnutrition: POSHAN Abhiyan.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today launched `Poshan Abhiyan`--a statewide mission to eradicate malnutrition among children by providing them nutritious food through Anganwadi centres.

During the function organised at Gandhinagar, the chief minister also launched `Purna` project to eliminate malnutrition among girls in the age group of 14 to 18, an official release said.

`Purna` stands for Prevention of Under Nutrition and Reduction of Nutritional Anaemia among Adolescent Girls. Rupani said the government has allocated Rs 270 crore to control malnutrition among those girls who he said would become mothers in future.

On the occasion, Rupani urged officials to focus on children, girls and pregnant women of those districts that are still lagging behind in nutrition parameters. Addressing Anganwadi workers, who were watching the live telecast at their respective centres across the state.

Rupani appealed to them to ensure that every newborn and mother get nutritious food for the first 1000 days of the birth.

He added that the nationwide Poshan Mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Rajasthan on March 8 this year. In her address, state Women and Child Development Minister Vibhavariben Dave expressed confidence that Gujarat will lead from the front at a time when the entire country is fighting malnutrition.

She said that as many as 60 lakh beneficiaries would be covered across the state through a network of 53,000 Anganwadi centres under this mission, the release said.

 

20. Higher Education Financing Agency Capital Base Enhanced To Rs.10,000 Crores.

CCEA has also approved proposal for expanding the scope of Higher Education Financing Agency or HEFA by enhancing its capital base to Rs. 10,000 crore and tasking it to mobilise Rs. 1,00,000 crore for Revitalizing Infrastructure and Systems in Education or RISE by 2022.

The modalities for raising money from the market through Government guaranteed bonds and commercial borrowings would be decided in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs.

This would enable HEFA to leverage additional resources from the market to supplement equity, to be deployed to fund the requirements of institutions.

HEFA was set up on 31st  May 2017 by centre as a Non Banking Financing Company for mobilising resources for building  infrastructure in higher educational institutions under Central Govt.

 

21. Animals Declared As ‘Legal Persons’ In Uttarakhand.

The Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday declared the entire animal kingdom, including birds and aquatic animals, as a legal entity having rights of a “living person”, a year after according similar right to Ganga and Yamuna that was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court.

A division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Lok Pal Singh said that in the past, various courts have given similar rights to corporations, Hindu gods, holy scriptures and rivers and in order to ensure the greater good and that to ensure the “greater welfare” of animals they need to be conferred with the status of “legal entity/legal person”.

They can’t be treated merely as “property”, the bench added.

Uttarakhand’s acting chief wildlife warden, Rajeev Bhartari, said he cannot comment on the judgment till he examines it. Principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) Jai Raj welcomed it.

Explaining what a legal entity means, the HC said, “The entity acts like a natural person but only through a designated person, whose acts are processed within the ambit of law”. This means the animal kingdom could be represented by a custodian.

 

22. NSG Becomes 1st Central Force To Opt For E-Ticketing Instead Of Railway Warrant.

ew Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) The National Security Guard will be the first central paramilitary force to opt for e-ticketing instead of the railway warrant under an agreement signed with the IRCTC, a statement from the catering and tourism arm of the railways said today.

A memorandum of understanding was signed today between the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and the NSG at the headquarters of the special force here. This system will eliminate the need of carrying railway warrants by the NSG personnel.

Purchasing tickets through railway warrant system is a cumbersome and lengthy process as it requires the NSG staff to go to a railway reservation counter to exchange a railway warrant to reserve tickets, the statement said.

A railway warrant is a voucher issued for train travel for certain categories such as government employees, security force personnel and retirees at subsidised rates or free of charge, exchangeable for a ticket.

Under the MOU, the IRCTC will be extending the ticketing facility to the NSG headquarters and it may be later provided to the field units. The IRCTC will be extending this scheme through advance deposit to facilitate hassle- free service from payments at the time of online ticket booking.

"The NSG is the first central paramilitary force to opt for e-ticketing in lieu of railway warrants. The IRCTC is also developing an e-ticketing-cum-warrant management system for the Central Reserve Police Force...," the statement said. PTI ASG SC SC.

 

23. Law Commission Recommends Regulating Betting.

The Law Commission on Thursday recommended that gambling and betting on sports, including cricket, be allowed as regulated activities taxable under the direct and indirect tax regimes and used as a source for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

The commission`s report, Legal Framework: Gambling and Sports Betting including Cricket in India, recommends a number of changes in the law for regulating betting and generating tax revenues from it. Parliament may also enact a model law for regulating gambling that may be adopted by the states or in the alternative, Parliament may legislate in exercise of its powers under Articles 249 or 252 of the Constitution.

In case legislation is made under Article 252, states other than the consenting states will be free to adopt the same,it states. The commission has also recommended linking Aadhar or PAN card of an individual indulging in betting and gambling, and making the transaction cashless to regulate illegal activities such as money laundering.

 

24. Nepal, India To Jointly Promote Tourism.

Nepal and India today decided to jointly promote historically and culturally important tourism circuits like the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuit and adventure tourism.

India will also extend all possible cooperation in the domain of human resource development in tourism and hospitality sectors through the intake of Nepali professionals in professional courses in universities and regular exchange of experts and academia, the Indian Embassy here said in a statement.

During a joint meeting of the Nepalese and Indian officials here, both the sides also decided to establish an industry-led Indo-Nepal Tourism Forum with the support of the two governments, it said.

The neighbours "agreed to improve critical tourism enabling infrastructures such as overland road connectivity, further streamline of scheduled bus route operations, including luxury bus coaches" in the Second Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on tourism cooperation between India and Nepal, which concluded here today.

The Nepali delegation was led by Ghanashyam Upadhyaya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and the Indian delegation was led by Tourism Joint Secretary Suman Billa.

 

25. 1st Meeting Of E-Commerce Task Force Held In New Delhi.

Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia chaired the first meeting of the task force on e-commerce in New Delhi yesterday. 

The task force has been set up to recommend a framework for comprehensive national policy on e-commerce.

The meeting was held to take inputs for the proposed policy framework for the sector from other Ministries and Departments, including finance, information technology and telecom and consumer affairs.

The meeting deliberated upon the suggestions emerging from the sub-group meetings held last month. The discussion was held on wide-ranging issues such as cross-border data flows, taxation, trade facilitation, logistics, FDI and competition issues.

The government had in April begun the exercise to frame a national policy on e-commerce. A think-tank was constituted on the issue under the chairmanship of Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu. 

The task force was further divided into nine sub-groups for preparing recommendations for country`s national policy on e-commerce.

 

26. AAI To Set Up Civil Aviation Research Organization In Hyderabad.

In what can be termed as a ‘potential game-changer in Indian Aviation’, Airports Authority of India (AAI) is setting up a world-class Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO) aimed at finding indigenous solutions to meet the challenges posed by the growing air traffic and for enhancing safety, capacity and efficiency of aircraft operations in the country.

Shri.Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industries and civil aviation laid the foundation stone for the futuristic CARO on 5th July 2018 in the presence of prominent people from industry, academia, research institutions and senior AAI officials.

Responding aggressively to the growth challenges through technological advancements in civil aviation, AAI under the leadership of Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, has decided to set up a world -class Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO) at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. Widening its Research & Development (R&D) horizon, this facility, spread across a sprawling area of 27 acres will cater to ANS and Airport/Engineering research. AAI has earmarked a whopping budget outlay of Rs. 1200 Crores for a period of 12 years for R&D.

The state-of-the-art CARO houses world-class infrastructure and is equipped with simulators and is likely to be completed in two to three years’ time.