-Ç-C¢√®Ωç 19 -°∂œ-v•-´-J 2017 For All Competitive Exams... Polity and Governance ■ A mobile application has been launched by

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to provide information and facilitate e-payments for Haj pilgrimage in Mumbai. ■ The Supreme Court on 2nd Jan, 2017 stripped BCCI president Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke of their posts and ordered them to 'forthwith cease and desist' from associating with Indian cricket's most powerful body. ■ 'Swachh Survekshan 2017' has been launched to encourage competition to improve sanitation standards; the government has started a survey from 4th Jan, 2017, to rank 500 cities across the country on cleanliness. The survey will be conducted by Quality Council of India.

■ Union Cabinet has approved signing of an

■

■

■

■

Agreement for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors between India and Portugal. The agreement covers various activities in these fields which include exchange of scientific and technical information, trade in plants and plant products, exchange of information in phytosanitary issues, training programmes, seminars and visits of experts and consultants. The Union Govt has asked states not to levy additional charges on e-payments to urban local bodies and also consider rolling out incentives like cash back on utility bills paid through digital means. This is done to motivate all Urban Local Bodies to switch over to electronic transactions for their payments as well as receipts. Bunkar Mitra-Handloom Helpline Centre has been launched where professional queries of weavers will be answered by the experts in the field. The toll free number is 1800-2089988. This helpline will function from 10.00 AM to 6 PM and weavers can call from anywhere in the country. Initially it will provide information in 7 languages - Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada Bengali and will be Assamese and extended further. A web portal and a Mobile App for the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana - UDAY is launched by the Union Govt. With this initiative schemes for recognizing well-performing DISCOMs under UDAY will further encourage other states to join the scheme. For the purpose of proposed Second Diplomatic Enclave, Cabinet has approved transfer of 34.87 hectares land in Dwarka, New Delhi from Delhi Development Authority

Ñ-Ø√-úø’

13

The Supreme Court on 2nd January, 2017, directed the Centre to finalize a scheme providing army personnel better pay, medical facilities, enhanced compensation and a severance grant higher than the Rs.50,000 proposed by the government. This is for the personnel working for the Army in high risk and active field areas such as Rajouri, Jammu and Poonch.

'Swachh Survekshan' conducted by..?

to Land and Development Office (L&DO). Currently, there is one Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, where land has been allotted to the Embassies by L&DO. ■ Government has announced safety audit for all 418 mines in the country. This is in the wake of the open cast coal mine disaster in Jharkhand's Godda district last week (at least 18 people were killed in the incident). The audit would be carried out by DG Mining Safety on a priority basis based on the size of the mines. ■ Union Cabinet has approved signing and ratifying an agreement between India and Uruguay regarding cooperation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters. Uruguay is a member of MERCOSUR, a trading block in Latin America, is an important trading partner of India. ■ Union Govt has announced number of measures for welfare of farmers, small traders, women & senior citizens. Under the measures two housing schemes, tax incentives for small traders, interest rebate for farmers and monetary assistance for pregnant women have been announced. ■ 104th Science Session held at Tirupati from 3rd − 7th Jan 2017. India has prepared a report on Ease of Doing Sciences' − new term invoked. ■ Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Shri Madhukar Gupta with an objective of strengthening border protection and also address the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border. ■ The world's largest LED street light replacement project completed by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in south Delhi wherein two lakh conventional street lights have been replaced with energy efficient LEDs. Presently the second phase of the project has been launched for installation of 75,000 more LED lights in the SDMC area with special focus on the installation of LED light in parks, dark spots and high mast lights. Note: The initiative under the Street Lighting

National Programme being implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited of Ministry of Power, will save 6.10 crore units of electricity per year thus reducing the electricity bill by 54 per cent. ■ The 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) convention held in Bengaluru in 7th − 9th Jan, 2017. The theme this year's PBD is 'Role of Diaspora Youth in the Transformation of India'. PBD is an important platform for engagement of the Central and state governments with the Overseas Indian Community. Note: The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in Bombay on 9 January 1915. ■ As per the Govt report there is 160% rise in killings of Naxals in 2016. The government is redrawing the 'Red Corridor' − the area affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). Note: India has a total of 683 districts and the 106 districts which span 10 States − Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh − constitute the Red

Corridor. Of these, 44 districts are said to be the worst affected. ■ India and Portugal inked seven pacts to expand bilateral engagement in a wide range of areas including defence and security, IT and renewable energy. ■ Aadhar card mandatory for workers enrolled under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in rural area from April 1, 2017. This is done invoking the Section 7 of Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. ■ Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) 10th battalion at Kondapavuluru in Krishna district in AndhraPradesh. The new campus will house the 10th battalion of NDRF and is currently stationed in Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur district, since 15th November 2011. Note: The NDRF battalion is responsible for providing rescue and relief operations during the time of calamities and disasters in Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka states.

Highlights of the Schemes.. New Schemes under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were announced. Presently, 4 % interest relief is given on home loan upto 9 lakh rupees and 3 % cut for home loan upto 12 lakh rupees.

Bonanza for Home Buyers

Subvention on Improvements

Home

Govt to pay interest for 60 days on loans taken by farmers for rabi season from district cooperative banks and primary societies.

Relief to farmers

Fund to NABARD doubled Kisan Credit become RUPAY

Cards

Additional fund of 20,000 crore given to NABARD to give loans to farmers

to

Big boost to MSME sector

to

less

3 crore Kisan Credit Cards will be transformed to RuPay credit cards. Farmers had to go to banks to withdraw money. It will help farmers to sell and buy. For small entrepreneurs, credit guarantee raised from Rs.1 crore to Rs 2 crore. Loans by non-banking financial companies will also be covered in this. Shopkeepers and small businessmen will get more loans because of this. For small businesses, cash credit limit raised to 25 per cent from 20 per cent. Working capital increased to 30 % from the current 20% if the transaction is done via digital mode.

Relief to small traders

Big push Economy

3 % interest relief is available on loan of upto 2 lakh rupees for the construction, renovation and expansion of home in rural areas.

cash

SUPREME COURT

In a bid to promote less cash economy, PM says small traders and businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 2 crore, 6% tax will be levied instead of 8% if they accept payments through banking and digital means.

■ The Supreme Court on 10th Jan, 2017,

Scheme for pregnant women

directed the government to audit nearly 30 lakh NGOs which received public funds but consistently failed to explain how they spent the money. ■ The Supreme Court on 10th Jan, 2017, directed the Kerala government to release the entire compensation to Endosulfan victims (over 5,000 - mostly newborns, and their families) in three months. The apex court has also instructed the State govern-

For pregnant women, a national scheme launched. Would be Mothers will get Rs. 6,000 for their delivery, vaccination, and nutritious meals. This will be transferred straight to their account. This will help in saving lives of mothers and new born kids.

Relief to senior citizens

Senior citizens will be assured 8 per cent interest on their deposits up to Rs 7.5 lakh. Now for the senior citizens the interest rate shall remain fixed at 8 percent for next 10 years. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has lauded Prime Minister Modiís announcements for enhancing economic activities and welfare measures.

ment to approach the Central government, State corporations and entities for the recovery of compensation.