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National Current Affairs July 2nd Week 2018
Category : National Current Affairs
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1. South Korean President Moon Jae-In On 4-Day Visit To India

India’s latest frontline warship INS Trikand has reached Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit, authorities here said on Sunday. The Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed the state-of-the-art warship in accordance with naval traditions yesterday.

Senior Indian officers, including Assistant Defence Adviser of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka—Lieutenant Colonel Ravi Shekhar Mishra—held discussions on matters of mutual interest with their Lankan counterparts.

The ship’s crew will play a friendly football match with the Sri Lanka Navy.

INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface. 

 

2. Indian Warship INS Trikand Reaches Sri Lanka In Goodwill Visit.

India’s latest frontline warship INS Trikand has reached Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit, authorities here said on Sunday. The Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed the state-of-the-art warship in accordance with naval traditions yesterday.

Senior Indian officers, including Assistant Defence Adviser of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka—Lieutenant Colonel Ravi Shekhar Mishra—held discussions on matters of mutual interest with their Lankan counterparts.

The ship’s crew will play a friendly football match with the Sri Lanka Navy.

INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface. PTI

 

3. PM Modi Inaugurated World`s Largest Mobile Factory In Noida.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will jointly inaugurate the new 35-acre Samsung Electronics facility in Uttar Pradesh`s Noida, world`s largest mobile factory, on Monday. 

Modi and the South Korean President will land together at a quickly-prepared helipad adjacent to the factory to officially inaugurate it today. 

On Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Noida in the afternoon and took stock of the preparations. He reviewed the security arrangement of route from which the PM will be travelling to the venue. After reaching the venue at Sector-81, he held a meeting with the administration and police officials for about an hour.

Senior ministers like Satish Mahana, MLA Pankaj Singh, district magistrate BN Singh were also present in the meeting in which Yogi instructed the officials of maintain tight security.

 

4. Government Sets Noise Standards For Airports Across India.

The Union environment ministry has issued a notification setting noise standards for all airports across the country. The limits, however, exclude defence aircrafts, and those that are landing and taking-off.

The notification, issued on June 18, states that noise standards within the overall boundary for various airports are equivalent and applicable as ‘Industrial Zones’. “The noise limits specified shall replace and supersede the ambient air quality in respect of noise limits of existing zones: silence, residential, and commercial areas,” the notification read undersigned by Dr. A Senthil Vel, scientist, ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) that termed the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2018.

The rules state that busy airports — a civil airport with more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year (take-off or a landing) – should not exceed noise levels beyond 75 dB(A) Leq (decibels) during the day time (6am to 10pm) and 65 dBA during the night (10pm to 6am). All other airports — an airport having more than 15,000 but less than 50,000 movements annually — should not exceed levels beyond 65 dBA during the day and 60 dBA during the night. Proposed airports however, are excluded so far.

DB (A) Leq denotes the time weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale ‘A’ which is relatable to human hearing. “This means that the average noise levels during the time from of 16 hour-interval are considered for time weighted average in airport noise zones, which should not exceed the prescribed limits. Levels need to be measured at different points of an airport boundary and then averaged,” said a senior official from the MoEFCC.

 

5. Ministry Of Housing And Urban Affairs Launched ISCF And ISCI Program.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the principal Federal agency responsible for programs concerned with the Nation`s housing needs, fair housing opportunities, and improvement and development of the Nation`s communities.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Department administers a wide variety of programs, including: Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance programs that help families become homeowners and facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of rental units; rental assistance programs for lower- income families who otherwise could not afford decent housing; the Government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities program that helps ensure an adequate supply of mortgage credit; programs to combat housing discrimination and affirmatively further fair housing; programs that aid community and neighborhood development and preservation; and programs to help protect the homebuyer in the marketplace. The Department also takes steps to encourage a strong private sector housing industry that can produce affordable housing; and to stimulate private sector initiatives, public/private sector partnerships, and public entrepreneurship.

 

6. India & South Korea Signed 5 MoUs In Field Of Science And Technology.

India and South Korea today signed five MoUs in the field of Science and Technology. Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan and his South Korean counterpart,Mr. You Young Min signed three MoUs for (i) Programme of Cooperation 2018-21; (ii) Establishment of Future Strategy Group; (iii) Cooperation in Biotechnology & Bioeconomy. The MoU on Establishment of Future Strategy Group was signed by Indian Science & Technology and Commerce Ministers, while on the Korean side, it was signed by Science and ICT and Trade Ministers.

Two other MoUs were signed between Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and South Korean National Research Council for Science & Technology and IIT Mumbai and Korea Institute of Science &Technology,to further accelerate future-oriented cooperation in their respective sectors.The MoUs were signed at the conclusion of the 4th India-Korea Science & Technology Ministers Steering Committee Meeting.

In his opening remarks, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “India can lead the newly industrialising countries in developing and adopting affordable technologies and processes, and demonstrate a growth path and low energy consumption pattern that would be more sustainable than that of the industrial countries.”

 

7. NITI Aayog Released Paper On ‘National Health Stack’.

The central government think tank NITI Aayog has unveiled the blue print of National Health Stack (NHS), a shared digital healthcare infrastructure. The blue print is in line with the implementation of the Centre’s flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat and other public healthcare programmes in the country.

The government’s flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat aims to provide a coverage of INR 5 Lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore poor families. The Aayog has invited comments from all stakeholders on the consultation paper. The stakeholders can send their comments by August 1, 2018.

According to a consultation paper titled ‘National Health Stack Strategy an Approach’, the National Health Stack will facilitate collection of comprehensive healthcare data across the country.

This will allow policy makers to further build their projections around upcoming outcomes, experiment with new services as well as fill the existing gaps in the Indian healthcare industry among others.

 

8. Indian Railways Introduces 1st Double Stack Dwarf Container Service.

In a bid to capture lost traffic and to enhance its freight revenue through new delivery model for domestic cargo, Indian Railways has introduced Double Stack Dwarf Container Services. The freight train was flagged off recently, July 7, from Western Railway’s Rajkot railway station on its maiden commercial run. The train, booked from the Reliance Rail Siding at Kanalus to Rewari in Haryana, was loaded with 82 containers of Polypropylene Granules. 

Indian Railways has received increased revenue of Rs 18.50 lakhs due to this Double Stacked Dwarf Container service, said a Ministry of Railways statement. The Double Stacked Container, which is 6 ft 4 inches in height and can run on electrified tracks, can hold a capacity of 30,500 kgs. 

In comparison with regular containers, these containers are 662 mm short but 162 mm wider, said the statement, adding that the dwarf containers can hold a volume of approximately 67% more when compared to traditional containers. 

The regular double stack ISO containers can run only on few chosen routes on Indian Railways, but these short-heighted Double Containers can run on most tracks very easily. These containers in double stack formation can run under 25kV overhead lines. With the use of these double-stack dwarf containers, the cost of the unit will be significantly reduced due to the rail transport being cheaper than the road, said the statement.

Currently, `Low Density Products`, such as plastic granules, PVC polyester fabric, white goods, FMCG products, polyethylene, auto car, etc. are being transported mostly by road, but due to low cost of transportation in dwarf containers, Indian Railways now offers a viable transport.

 

9. India, South Korea Ink 11 MoUs.

After inking 11 MoUs and agreements alongside pledging to raise bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, India and South Korea on Tuesday also agreed to construct a monument in Ayodhya to commemorate Korean connections with the Hindu holy city.

Currently, the bilateral trade between the two countries stands at $20.8 billion, with the balance heavily tilted towards South Korea. At the end of the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in, both sides also announced to explore a tripartite partnership for development in third countries, beginning with capacity building programmes in Afghanistan. India is already executing various development related programmes in Afghanistan.

The agreements signed between the countries included accelerating negotiations to upgrade a `comprehensive economic partnership agreement` signed in 2009, as well as expand cooperation in railways, healthcare, telecommunications and cyber security. A joint statement issued at the end of talks said the two countries have also signed an Early Harvest Package for upgrading the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), by identifying key areas for trade liberalisation. Addressing a joint press meet, Modi said that Korean companies have made large-scale investments in India. "South Korean companies have participated in our Make in India programme and also created jobs. Because of the commitment of the companies towards maintaining quality, they have become household names," he said. The South Korean President said that it was the right time to take bilateral relationship to the next level. He said that he was committed to raise Korea`s relations with India to the level as those with four major powers around the Korean peninsula.

Modi also announced that both sides have also agreed to expedite work to upgrade the monument of Queen Suriratna (Hur Hwang-ok) in Ayodhya as a joint project. Every year hundreds of South Korean tourists throng Ayodhya, to pay their tributes to the legendary Queen Hur Hwang-ok. According to legend, the Queen, also known as Princess Suriratna, was the princess of Ayodhya before she went to South Korea and married King Kim Suro of Karak Clan in 48 AD.

 

10. M. Venkaiah Naidu Becomes 1st Chairman Of Rajya Sabha To Sign MOU.

Rajya Sabha has, for the first time in 76 years since it came into being, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a foreign counterpart for promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue.

2. Shri Venkaiah Naidu, has, in the process, become the first Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sign such an agreement when he inked an MOU with the visiting President of the Senate of the Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Bernard Makuza, here today.

3. The MOU with 6 articles of cooperation seeks to promote Inter-Parliamentary dialogue, Capacity building of parliamentary staff, Organisation of conferences, forums, seminars, staff attachment programmes, workshops and exchanges, Collaboration in mutual interest in regional and international multilateral parliamentary bodies in furtherance of bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries.

4. Shri Naidu and Mr. Makuza discussed issues of bilateral interest and the opportunities for cooperation for mutual benefit. He complimented the people and the Parliament of Rwanda for having 60% of women legislatures.

5. Shri Naidu complimented Rwanda for being elected as the Chair of the African Union in January this year and for successfully hosting in capital Kigali of the Assembly of the African Union in March that resulted in the signing of the African Continent Free Trade Agreement.

6. Mr. Makuza explained the special role of the Senate of Rwanda in monitoring and punishing those responsible for the genocide policy in the country that resulted in the killing of about one million people and also overseeing implementation of the social justice programmes.

7. The three Senator delegation from Rwanda led by Shri Makuza is the first such a delegation exclusively from the Upper House of any country to visit India. The members of the delegation include Senators Ms. Gertrude Kazarwa, Deputy Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Political Affairs and Good Governance and Ms. Therese Kagoyire Vishagara, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security. The delegation is visiting India during 09 to 11, July 2018.

8. Shri Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary General and other senior officials of Rajya Sabha were present during the discussion and signing of MOU.

 

11. India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre Inaugurated.

The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and South Korean Small and Medium Business Corporation (SMC) on Tuesday inaugurated the India-Korea Technology Exchange Centre in an effort to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME) segment.

The inauguration comes in the backdrop of a large Korean delegation led by South Korean president Moon Jae-in visiting India, with over 11 agreements signed between the two countries.

According to officials, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the NSIC and SMB to further enhance cooperation in the segment.  

Addressing the event, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the first India-Korea working group on the MSME sector was established on March 31, 2017, whereby both sides had discussed various measures to boost bilateral cooperation in the MSME sector.

“We are aware that there lie immense opportunities for cooperation in the MSME sector between India and Korea. The small and medium business units from both countries can learn a lot from each other,” Singh said.

 

12. Microsoft And Rajasthan Sign MoU For Free Digital Training To College Students.

Microsoft today signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government to provide free digital training to 9,500 college students in one year. The initiative was taken for the enhancement of digital learning and capacity building of college students in the state, higher education minister Kiran Maheshwari said on the MoU signing. “Today is time of technology and speed and those who are not updated will be outdated therefore the government has taken a new initiative to increase digital learning of college students,” the minister said.

The commissioner of college education Ashutosh A T Pednekar informed that the company will run MS office specialist training programme in 50 government colleges from August which will benefit 9,500 students. A spokesperson of the department informed that the MoU was signed for one year. Successful participants will also be given certificates, he said. The department few months back had signed MoU with IGNOU for nearly two dozen courses on skill development in which 16,500 students are enrolled.

 

13. India’s 1st Private UAV Factory To Come Up In Kota.

India’s first private sector unit for manufacturing unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and light bullet proof vehicles (LBPV) will be set up by DCM Shriram Industries Group on the campus of Shriram Rayons in Kota.

Shriram Rayons, a company of DCM Shriram Industries Group, manufactures rayon tyrecord in Kota for last 54 years.

“The company on July 5 this year obtained a licence from the centre to manufacture two defence products namely UAV and LBPV,” claimed Vinod Kumar Jaitley, the senior vice president and plant head, Shriram Rayons told HT.

“The UAV and LBPV have been indigenously designed and developed by the DCM Shriram Industries Group,” Jaitley said, adding that Shriram Rayons’ Kota unit, spread in 11 acres, will be the country’s first private sector company to manufacture UAVs and LBPVs. “Total 3000 LBPVs and 500 UAVs will be manufactured annually once the plant is set up and starts its manufacturing,” he said.

These UAVs and LBPVs are likely to be used by defence and para-military forces in the country. “UAVs will be like larger drones, which will help in surveillance, while LBPV will protect defence and para-military forces against light automatic weapon fire, IED blasts and small grenade attack,” Jaitley said. “The UAVs will be able to fly to a height of 500 to 2000 km, while LBPVs can operate in difficult terrains and has off-road abilities,” he added.

Jaitley said the company is committed to roll out first samples of the defence products within next 18 months time. He said there will be three-layer security at the plant.

DCM Industries Group, a 124-year-old company, decided to venture into defence equipment manufacturing after the union government introduced ‘Defence Procurement Procedure 2016’. The new defence unit of Shriram Rayons in Kota is being set up under ‘Make in India’ initiative of the union government.

 

14. Global Innovation Index: Switzerland Tops, India Ranks 57th.

Disruptive Ereignisse und Technologien wälzen heute komplette Märkte um, mit weitreichenden Konsequenzen für Branchen und Unternehmen. Die tiefgreifenden Effekte von Globalisierung und Digitalisierung wirken in praktisch alle Bereiche der Wertschöpfung hinein. In der Produktion, der Lieferkette, dem Marketing oder in der Verwaltung – der Zwang zur steten Transformation ist quasi allgegenwärtig. In der Folge dienen klassische Geschäftsmodelle aus. Produktlebenszyklen verkürzen sich rasant, Dienstleistungen verändern sich im Eiltempo. Mehr denn je bedeutet Konkurrenzfähigkeit auch rasche Wandlungsfähigkeit.

Für Unternehmen heißt das: Wollen sie überdurchschnittlich wachsen und Marktvorteile beim Werben um Kunden erreichen, müssen sie sich laufend neu erfinden. Dafür ist ein kontinuierliches und fruchtbares Innovationsmanagement unerlässlich – in großen Konzernen ebenso wie in kleinen Betrieben. Doch daran mangelt es häufig. Und das hat Gründe.

So liegt internes Know-how oft brach oder wird nicht effektiv genutzt. Silostrukturen führen zu ineffizienten und schwer durchschaubaren Prozessen. Ein betriebliches Vorschlagwesen ist nicht oder nur unterentwickelt vorhanden. Das Management bindet die Belegschaft unzureichend in den Innovationsprozess ein – und bremst damit engagierte und kreative Mitarbeiter aus, anstatt ihr schöpferisches Talent zu fördern und sie zu wertvollen Innovatoren zu machen.

Ein wirkungsvolles Ideenmanagement hingegen weckt und kanalisiert die kollektive Intelligenz der Mitarbeiter. Im besten Fall zapft es darüber hinaus äußere Quellen an und verwandelt die vielseitig gewonnenen Anregungen in disruptive Innovationsideen. Die Methode Open Innovation erfüllt diese Bedingungen. Sie bindet externe Partner schnell, effizient und kollaborativ in den unternehmenseigenen Innovationsprozess ein.

 

15. India, UK Sign Agreement On Exchange Of Experience By Legal Professionals.

India and the United Kingdom signed an agreement on exchange of experience by legal professionals and government functionaries for resolution of disputes before various courts and tribunals.

The agreement was signed by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and UK`s Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke in London during the former`s visit this week.

The MoU sought to enhance bilateral cooperation in legal affairs which would provide a framework for promoting greater cooperation between the judicial and legal professionals in both countries through exchange of expertise and training.

The two countries would also exchange information regarding current issues of international significance. The MoU also provided for establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee to facilitate such an exchange, a statement said.

The MoU was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week .

"The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution of disputes before various courts and  tribunals," another statement issued after the Cabinet meet last week had said.

 

16. PM Modi Inaugurates New Headquarters Building Of ASI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) here today.

The ASI`s new headquarters at Tilak Marg here has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting.

 

It will include a central archaeological library with a collection of about 1.5 lakh books and journals, a brief statement issued by the PMO said.

 

17. Gujarat Approves Rs 39-Crore ‘Seema Darshan’ Project.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has given in-principle approval for the 39-crore rupees ‘Seema Darshan’ project for developing more infrastructure facilities from T-Junction to Zero Point at Nadabet near Suigam in Banaskantha district to instil patriotism through a unique Gujarat initiative for border tourism.

Presiding over the Seema Darshan Review Meeting at Gandhinagar yesterday, he said the project being developed on Wagah Border pattern, entails an exhibition hall, a parade ground with amphitheatre for 5,000 people. The meeting decided to send a proposal to the Union Home and Tourism Ministries for financial assistance.

AIR correspondent report that the phase-1 of the project worth 22-crore was launched on December 24, 2016. Nearly one lakh tourists-youth have already participated in watching the border in an atmosphere surcharged with excitement at Seema Darshan. The viewers can watch the border where the Gujarat’s seacoast meets the landmass. The project demonstrates  BSF jawans’ tryst with protecting the border as round-the-clock sentinels.

The project will encourage local economic activity in the Rann region, alongside visit to adjoining flamingo and wild ass sanctuaries.

 

18. 1st India Tourism Mart To Be Held In New Delhi.

To increase tourist footfalls, India will organise its first-ever India Tourism Mart (ITM) for three days from September 16. To be held at Vigyan Bhawan in the capital, it would be similar to major international travel marts organised by many countries.

It is expected to provide a platform for all stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry to interact and create business opportunities, an official statement said on Monday.

The event will be organised by the Tourism Ministry, in partnership with the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) with the support of States/UTs, said KJ Alphons, Minister of State (In charge) for Tourism, during a press conference. “India with its great potential in tourism and hospitality sector needs to increase the foreign tourist footfall and reap the benefits,” he said.

The Minister added that the Tourism Ministry has been conducting road-shows abroad, releasing and theme- based promotional videos. the ITM 2018 will be a big step to attract visitors from all over the world.

He said that through ITM 2018, India can showcase its many of its little-known destinations to the world, especially to emerging tourism markets like China, Latin America, and Japan.

“With this event, the government’s aim to increase the tourist footfall to double in the next three years shall be fulfilled,” he added.

 

19. NABARD Foundation Day: 12 July.

 

The regional office (RO) of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) here on Thursday celebrated the bank’s 37th foundation day. Among others, Finance Secretary YW Ringu and Jt RCS RD Thungon took part in the celebration.

NABARD RO General Manager Gyanendra Mani narrated the bank’s journey since its establishment in 1982, and reiterated its commitment to bringing sustainable growth along with inclusive rural development in Arunachal Pradesh.

Thungon highlighted the NABARD’s role in the evolution of cooperative societies through computerization of the LAMPS in the state. He expressed happiness over increased economic activities in the state through various programmes being implemented by the NABARD.

“However, there is need for increased awareness programmes, so as to reach out to maximum rural population,” he said.

Ringu stressed on the importance of empowering SHGs and farmers’ clubs through developmental initiatives of the NABARD, and advised the SHG members and farmers present to avail of “maximum possible benefits of these schemes, and in the process become better entrepreneurs.”

She also stressed on the importance of time and quality management. The SHG members and farmers participating in the function narrated about farm and non-farm activities undertaken by them, and also the experience of working with SHGs.

 

20. MoU On Defence Salary Package Signed Between Indian Army And SBI.

 

The Indian Army on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank of India on defence salary package.

The first MoU between SBI and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was renewed on 23 February, 2015. According to Indian Army, the revised MoU is tailor-made to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and their families.

"A number of additional facilities have been incorporated in the revised MoU which include free personal accident death cover, free permanent total disablement cover and other accidental benefits to the deceased soldier and family. This MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who are having their accounts with SBI. The MoU will be valid till 3 January, 2019 and continuation thereafter will be subject to review/renewal," the Indian Army said in a statement.

The signing-in ceremony was chaired by Adjutant General Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar and was attended by top officials of SBI headed by Shri PK Gupta, Managing Director (Retail and Development Banking), SBI.

 

21. Railways Launched Its 1st Consolidated Bridge Management System.

 

Days after a bridge in Mumbai collapsed on a railway track, the railways yesterday launched its first consolidated Bridge Management System (IR-BMS), a web-enabled IT application to store data on its 1.5 lakh bridges. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal yesterday launched BMS for "meaningful assimilation, analysis and dissemination of information related to various activities" about its bridges, a statement from the national transporter said.

The web-based platform will show the bridge master data, works data, information regarding inspection/monitoring and maintenance of the bridges and other essentials.

Goyal at the launch, also felicitated artists whose work at seven railway stations across the country won them the top prize in the national transporter`s in-house station beautification contest.

This innovative competition was organised among zonal railways in December 2017.

Balharshah and Chandrapur railway stations in Maharashtra from the Central Railway were awarded the first prize while Madhubani station of the East Central Railway and Madurai station of Southern Railway were the co-winners of the second prize.

Gandhidham station of the Western Railway, Kota station of the West Central Railway and Secunderabad station of the South Central Railway were joint winners of the third prize.

 

22. South Korean President Moon Jae-In`s Visit To India: Complete Highlights.

 

outh Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in India on a three-day visit on Sunday.

This is Moon`s first-ever state visit to India after he took over as the President last year.

Moon, accompanied by wife Kim Jung-sook, was received by Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General (retd) VK Singh.

The South Korean President is leading a delegation comprising senior members of his cabinet, officials as well as industry captains.

During his visit, Moon will attend an India-Korea Business Forum on July 9.

On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Moon will together visit the Gandhi Smriti. Thereafter, they will also visit a Samsung plant in Noida.

Moon will be accorded with a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on July 10. Prime Minister Modi will then hold official talks with the South Korean President in Hyderabad House, which will be followed by lunch.

The two leaders will also address the India-South Korea CEOs Roundtable. Some agreements are also expected to be signed.

In the evening, Moon will meet President Ram Nath Kovind who will also host a banquet for the visiting dignitary and his delegation at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In the morning of July 11, Moon will depart from New Delhi.

Prime Minister Modi had visited Seoul in May 2015. His visit helped elevate India-South Korea relations to a `Special Strategic Partnership`.

 

23. Telecom Commission Of India Approves Net Neutrality.

 

Eight months after India’s telecom regulator came out swinging heavily in favour of the principle of net neutrality, the department of telecommunications (DoT) has finally agreed to adopt the same.

The recommendations proposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in November 2017 would prohibit Internet service providers (ISPs) from engaging in “any form of discrimination or interference” in the treatment of online content.

ISPs will also not be able to engage in practices such as “blocking, degrading, slowing down or granting preferential speeds or treatment to any content”.

The Telecom Commission (TC), the highest-decision making body within the DoT, on Wednesday approved the new neutrality rules, the new telecom policy and a host of other proposals that had come up for discussion.

 

24. Madhya Pradesh CM Inaugurated NTPC`s Solar Plant.

 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Wednesday dedicated to the state, state-run power giant NTPC`s 250 MW Solar Power Plant in Suwasra, District Mandsaur.

This project has been set up by NTPC at an investment of about Rs 1,500 crore mainly on non-agricultural land and generation of electricity has been achieved without affecting the natural eco-system with zero carbon emission, an NTPC statement said.

Under the Make in India initiative, this is one of the biggest solar plant developed using domestically manufactured Solar cells and modules.

The Project has been commissioned in June 2017 and generated electricity is being supplied for consumption in Madhya Pradesh, the sole beneficiary.

 

25.Ministry Of Drinking Water And Sanitation Launches `Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018`.

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Friday launched a rural cleanliness programme, the `Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018`, to rank all states and districts on the basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation.

"The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) has commissioned the survey on rural cleanliness and this ranking will be based on district-level surveys of public places like schools, anganwadis, haat-bazaars, panchayats and citizen`s perception of Swachhta. Top performing states and districts will be awarded on October 2," secretary of the ministry of drinking water and sanitation, Parameshwaran Iyer, said.

The rankings will take a set of comprehensive cleanliness parameters into account. The criteria include a survey of public places, citizens` perspective of cleanliness, their recommendations and data from Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The programme plans to survey 6,800 villages in 680 districts across the country. It also plans to cover 34,000 public places in the villages.

According to the ministry, to take feedback from citizens on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, around 55,000 citizens would be interviewed and their views on sanitation issues would be taken. The ministry has engaged a private organization for the survey.

According to ministry officials, the information would be obtained from its Integrated Management Information System (IMIS). "A mobile app and an online platform would be set up to collect information from citizens," a ministry official said. 

 

26. Ministry Of Mines Organized 4th National Conclave On Mines & Minerals.

The Ministry of Mines organized the 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals on 13th July 2018 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. State Mining ministers, officials of central ministries including Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), officials of the state government, CEOs of mining industries, industry associations, academic institutions and others participated in the conclave.

Union Minister of Mines and Union Minister of State for Mines were present in the conclave along with 6 state Mining Ministers, CEO NITI Aayog and Union Steel Secretary. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the chief guest of the conclave. He emphasized on the importance of mining in the state of Madhya Pradesh and acknowledged the efforts of Ministry of Mines in bringing transparency in the mining sector. Minister of state for Mines Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Choudhary emphasized the underlying importance of the mining sector as it provides basic raw materials to many important industries.

The Minister of Mines, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, in his address highlighted the notable turnaround ever since the government took initiative for policy reforms which is evident from the robust growth of 6% of the mineral production in terms of volume and 23.4% in terms of value. With average annual accrual of Rs 6000 crore and present accumulated fund of Rs 19,500 crores, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has ushered in the positive perception about mining industry by way of developmental works for the people and area affected by mining. He expressed his happiness over the fact that out of the 43 mines auctioned under the new auction regime, 2 have become operational and 9 more blocks are likely to be operational in this year.

 

27. Odisha Government Constitutes Heritage Cabinet.

The State Government on Thursday constituted Heritage Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to preserve the history and culture of Odisha. A notification in this regard was issued by the Parliamentary Affairs Department on Thursday. The Cabinet comprises eight members, including the Chief Minister. The other members are Ministers of Finance, Odia Language, Literature and Culture and Tourism, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, SC/ST Development, Higher Education, School and Mass Education and Electronics and Information.

While the Chief Secretary will be Secretary of Heritage Cabinet, Secretary in the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will be the convenor. Secretaries of all the departments concerned will be special invitees. The State Cabinet at its meeting held at Puri on December 26 last year had decided to set up the Heritage Cabinet.

Its aim is to spread and preserve history and culture of Odisha and enrich Odia language further. The notification said the Heritage Cabinet will maintain coordination between the institutions and departments working to preserve and spread Odia language, culture and literature. It will also prepare policies, and prepare and approve short-term and longterm plans.

 

28. ASI Lifts Ban On Photography At Protected Monuments.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued orders to allow photography within the premises of centrally protected monuments, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned the logic behind the existing restrictions at an event.

Photography will be allowed in all of the monuments and archaeological sites administered by the ASI, except the mausoleum at Taj Mahal, the Ajanta Caves and the Leh Palace, the order said.

The ASI administers and manages 3,686 ancient monuments and archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.

Union minister Mahesh Sharma tweeted, “Inspired by the vision of hon’ble PM and his guidance this morning...it has been decided to allow photography within the premises of all centrally protected monuments, except Ajanta Caves, Leh Palace and mausoleum of Taj Mahal.”

The PM, while inaugurating Dharovar Bhawan, a new building at the ASI’s headquarters, on Thursday questioned why the ASI prohibits people from taking photographs at certain monuments when technology allowed satellites to take pictures from far away.

He said he felt that restricting people from clicking photographs was not right. Professional photographers, historians and academicians were required to take permission from the ASI under a 2016 order and they stand to gain the most by today’s order.

In 2016, the ASI made it mandatory for photographers to be licensed to operate commercially in protected monuments.