NATIONAL AUGUST 2015

NATIONAL AUGUST 2015

• Gujarat to become 1st state to launch ‘agro-solar policy’
   Gujarat is going to become the first state in the country to launch ‘agro-solar policy’ to encourage the farmers to tap the solar energy. The new policy will encourage the farmers to tap energy from sun, which will also help them to earn additional income from power generation companies. 
  
  According to Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute -GERMI, the farmers and power generation companies will be in a win-win situation with generation of solar energy in agricultural fields. 
  
  Farmers can use the solar energy for their own purpose and sell the surplus energy to the state run power generation companies. 
  
  According to the Director of GERMI Mr. T. Harinarayana, power generation companies will set up solar photo voltaic SPV -plants in different farms fields for this purpose. These SPV plants were already tested in different agricultural universities in the State. 
  
  The solar photo-voltaic plant will be set up on poles so that farmers can also grow their crops. Farmers are likely to get 30 to 40 per cent share from the profit of power generation companies. 
  
• Bengal tops the list in human trafficking
  The highest number of cases of human trafficking in the country is from West Bengal, which alone accounts for 20 per cent of all reported cases in India. According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 5,466 cases of human trafficking were recorded in the country in 2014 of which 1,096 were from West Bengal. 
  
  The number of victims of human trafficking is also the highest in the State at 1,200. In all, 8,099 victims of human trafficking were registered in India during 2014. Tamil Nadu recorded the second highest number of 509 cases, less than half of what has been registered in West Bengal. 
  
  Under the category of human trafficking, crimes under Section 370/ 370 A of Indian Penal Code include bringing girls from abroad and procuring, buying and selling girls for prostitution. West Bengal also accounts for the bulk of cases relating to procuring minor girls. 
  
• MoU signed between AP govt & Tata Trust for developing smart villages
  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 24th August released the micro planning development project details prepared by Tata Trust aimed at developing 264 villages in the Vijayawada Lok Sabha Constituency which it has adopted under Corporate Social Responsibility. 
  
  A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Andhra Pradesh government and Tata Trust to this effect in Vijayawada to launch the 'Smart Village' programme. 
  
  Under the micro planning approach, Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Trust announced the project details covering health, nutrition and employability opportunities to be implemented in the adopted villages and the help the Trust would extend towards achieving the goals. 
  
  According to Chandra Babu Naidu, it is for the first time in the country that a corporate house has adopted a Parliamentary Constituency under Corporate Social Responsibility. 
  
  Responding positively to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana' where industrialists were invited to adopt villages Ratan Tata has consented to adopt 264 villages in the Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency at the request of its Lok Sabha Member K. Srinivasa Rao (Nani). 
  
• Indian Army establishes War Museum at Jaisalmer
  In Rajasthan, Indian Army has established ‘Jaisalmer War Museum’ at Military Station of Jaisalmer to showcase the traditional bravery of the Indian Army and also to commemorate the sacrifice of its heroes displaying valour and courage of exceptional order during India’s wars. 
  
  The museum has been established to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration year of 1965 war between India and Pakistan. The museum was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Ashok Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command today. While inaugurating the museum, Lt General Ashok Singh said that Indian army is fully prepared and alert to face any situation. 
  
• Hindu population declined; Muslims increased: 2011 census
  The proportion of Hindu population has declined by 0.7 per cent and Muslim population increased by 0.8 per cent in the country during 2001-2011. The overall growth rate of population during the decade was 17.7 per cent. The growth rate of Hindus was 16.8 per cent, Muslims 24.6, Christians 15.5, Sikh 8.4, Buddhist 6.1 and Jain 5.4 per cent. 
  
  As per data released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on 25th August, Sikh population declined by 0.2 per cent and Buddhist by 0.1 per cent. The data reveals that there has been no significant change in the population of Christians and Jains. 
  
  According to the Census, of the total 121.09 crore population, 96.63 crores are Hindus, 17.22 crores Muslims, 2.78 crore Christians. Sikhs constitutes 2.08 crore in the total population whereas Buddhist 84 lakh, Jains 45 lakh and other religions and persuasions 79 lakh. 
  
• Govt launches 'Sehat' to provide healthcare facilities in rural areas
  The government on 25th August launched a telemedicine initiative Sehat in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals to provide healthcare facilities in rural areas. Under the initiative people will be able to consult doctors through video link and also order generic drugs. The initiative was launched by Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a function in New Delhi. 
  
  According to Mr Prasad the Common Service Centres (CSCs) have been delivering tele-consultation services with support from Apollo and Medanta Hospitals in some areas. With this initiative the tele-consultation services are being extended to 60,000 centres across the country. The CSCs will also provide diagnostic services and promote sale of generic drugs through collaboration with Health Ministry by setting up Jan Aushadhi Stores. 
  
• India to implement Sendai framework for disaster reduction
  Government has said India will implement the Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in letter and spirit. According to Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju India has upscaled its efforts to assist its neighbours and other countries in the field of disaster risk reduction. 
  
  The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted during the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan on March, 2015. Mr Rijiju, the implementation of the Sendai Framework involves adopting integrated and inclusive institutional measures so as to work towards preventing vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery and strengthen resilience. He also said that as a part of Corporate-Social Responsibility, Private Sector can play a big role in disaster preparedness and mitigation planning as well as relief and recovery phase. 
  
• Govt to accord Centre of Excellence status to Adyar Cancer Institute
  The Union Government has agreed to accord the Centre of Excellence status to the pioneering Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai. Giving this information in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa said the premier cancer institute would be upgraded at a cost of Rs 120 crore. She made a total of 22 announcements related to health sector in the House that would cost Rs 500 crore for the exchequer. 
  
• Union Cabinet clears proposal to amend arbitration and conciliation law 
  The Union Cabinet on 26th August cleared a proposal to amend the country's arbitration and conciliation law, with an aim to make settlement of commercial disputes quick and cost-effective. 
  
  The Arbitration and Conciliation Bill, 2015, seeks to make it imperative for arbitrators to settle disputes within 12 months. The period could be extended up to another six months by the parties beyond which any extension could be granted only by a court "on sufficient cause". The Bill has a provision to cut the fees of arbitrators if the court finds that the delay has been caused due to arbitrators. 
  
  It also provides for rewarding arbitrators with extra fees if the matter is disposed of within six months and the parties agree to pay more. 
  
  Giving more teeth to arbitration tribunals, the Bill seeks to empower them to grant all kinds of interim measures that courts provide. This would make tribunals' directives enforceable in the same manner as those of courts. 
  
  The Bill proposes to allow "fast tracking" of arbitration wherein the parties may agree that their dispute be decided with the help of a "fast track procedure". In such cases, disputes have to be resolved within six months. Once a tribunal decides on a case, a challenge thrown to its verdict needs to be decided equally quickly by a court. 
  
  According to the Bill, merely filing of an application to challenge an award would not automatically stay its execution. "Award can only be stayed where the court passed any specific order," it proposes. 
  
• Govt identifies poorest performing districts for focussed healthcare
  Government has identified 184 poorest performing districts across the country for focussed attention on healthcare, involving infusion of resources and conduct of specific programmes. In an international conference Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that….
  • India would reach close to achieving the millennium development goal of reducing under-five mortality rate.
  • India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus much before the global target date of December 2015 and it stands ready to help others in this area.
  • If the current trend of annual decline in under five mortality rate is sustained, India is likely to reach close to achieving the Millennium Development Goals target
  • India needs to institutionalise a system where marginalised communities receive universal health care.
  • Government is committed to ensure that no child in the country dies of a vaccine-preventable disease, to achieve this the largest immunisation drive known as Mission Indradhanush has been launched
  • It seeks to accelerate the annual rate of immunisation from existing 1 per cent to more than 5 per cent per year so as to achieve more than 90 per cent coverage by 2020.
  
  
• Law Commission suggests changes in model BIT draft
  The Law Commission has suggested a host of changes in the model Bilateral Investment Treaty draft to make it more investment friendly and include a confidentiality clause. It has also suggested inclusion of the most favoured nation in the model treaty. It further recommended that the government procurement should not be excluded from the treaty protection. 
  
  The Commission also said it is not necessary to exclude taxation from the purview of the treaty as "power to tax is an integral part of the State's police powers in international law. This power exists independent of a treaty, unless the tax itself is arbitrarily imposed to destroy the State's regulatory freedom". 
  
  The report was submitted to Law Minister Sadananda Gowda by Law Commission Chairman A P Shah. The Union government is expected to come out with a comprehensive model Bilateral Investment Treaty, which will form the basis for renegotiation of the existing pacts and negotiating new ones with different countries. Government had decided to bring in a new framework after several multinational firms invoked bilateral investment protection agreements. 
  
• Delhi registers slight improvement in sex ratio in 2014
  Delhi has registered slight improvement in sex ratio in 2014 as compared to 2013. The number of females per thousand males at birth has increased from 895 in 2013 to 896 in 2014. 
  
  Releasing the Annual report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi- 2014, Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia said that the number of births registered in the city during 2014 were 3.74 lakhs as compared to 3.70 lakhs during 2013. Out of 3.74 lakh births, 52.74 per cent are male while 47.26 per cent. 
  
  Mr Sisodia also informed that Infant Mortality Rate per thousand live births has reduced from 22.37 in 2013 to 21.66 in 2014. As per report, the number of reported registered deaths has gone up from 0.97 lakh in 2013 to 1.21 lakh in 2014.Out of total deaths during 2014, about 62.17 per cent were male and 37.83 per cent were female. 
  
• Law Commission report on early childhood development 
  The Law commission of India has submitted its report titled "Early Childhood Development and Legal Entitlements" to the Union minister of law and justice. The development of young children is increasingly being recognized as a development and human rights issue of critical national importance. 
  
  Early Childhood Development (ECD), spanning from birth to the age of six years is the period that sees the most rapid growth and development of the entire life span. It is during this period that the foundations of cognitive, physical and socio-emotional development, language and personality are laid. It is also the phase of maximum vulnerability as deprivation can seriously impact a child's health and learning potential. 
  
  As per the 2011 Census: 
  • India has 158.7 million children in the age group of 0-6 years, comprising about 16% of the total Indian population.
  • In the period 2008-2013, 43% of India's children under 5 were underweight and 48% had stunted growth.
  • According to a World Bank Report published in 2013, the mortality rate of children under 5 years of age is 53 per 1000 live births and according to a 2013 UNICEF Report, more than 60 million children under 5 are stunted.
  • India has ranked at 112th position in 2012 in the Child Development Index.
  
  However, the State's response to the problem has been slow so far. It was only as a response to rising voices demanding greater attention from the State on the issue of 'Early Childhood Development (ECD)' that the Government came out with the 'Nation Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy, 2013'. 
  
• Land ordinance allowed to lapse
  The Land Acquisition ordinance of the NDA government was allowed to lapse on 28th August with the government issuing executive orders to extend the provisions of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement as mentioned in the 2013 version of the Act to 13 Central Acts like the National Highways Act and the Railways Act. 
  
  The order was issued by the government under the “removal of difficulties” clause (section 113) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR). 
  
  This will allow the government the alternative of not promulgating the land ordinance for the fourth time, allowing land acquisition under 13 Acts not mentioned in the UPA version of the Land Act and also give a free hand to State governments to acquire land under their own laws. 
  
• Govt orders inclusion of 13 central laws within purview of Land Acquisition Act 2013
  The government has issued an order to include 13 Central Acts like National Highway Act, Railways Act and Land Acquisition Mines Act among others to extend benefits to those whose land is acquired under land law. 
  
  The order issued on 29th August is for removal of difficulties clause (Section 113) in the Land Acquisition Act 2013. With removal of the clause it now extends the provisions relating to the determination of compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to all cases of land acquisition under the 13 central acts which were left out in the Land Acquisition Act 2013. 
  
  By issuing the order the government has done away with the need to issue the controversial land ordinance for a record fourth time which will lapse. Since a Joint Committee of Parliament is examining the amended land bill brought in by the NDA government, the order did not touch upon the controversial clauses which were part of the ordinance. 
  
  The Land Acquisition Act 2013 had exempted 13 Central Acts from its purview with the condition that they would be included under the purview of the Act within one year. The NDA's ordinance had brought these 13 acts under the new land law. 
  
• AP Cabinet cancels land for Sompeta thermal power plant
  The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet meeting on 29th August cleared a slew of major land allotments and took some important decisions pertaining to the regularization of houses constructed by below-poverty-line (BPL) families in towns. 
  
  According to Information Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, the Government has cancelled the allotment of 972.69 acres of land for a thermal power plant at Sompeta in Srikakulam district and earmarked it for development of a multi-product industrial zone instead. 
  
  The clearance of 1,102 acres for the establishment of a Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) facility at Chinnatayyur and Kokkiralakonda villages in Chittoor district on lease was the biggest land allotment decision taken by the cabinet. 
  
• NTPC sets a record in single-day power generation
  India's largest power generator NTPC Limited has achieved a record highest single-day electricity generation of over 733 million units. 
  
  According to Power Ministry, the record generation of electricity was achieved on 27th August from NTPC's 18 coal-based power plants, 7 gas-based units and 8 solar and hydro power stations. During last financial year, NTPC contributed 25 per cent of total electricity generated in the country with 16 per cent share of country's total installed capacity. NTPC recorded gross electricity generation of around 241 billion units in 2014-15, registering a growth of 3.42 per cent. 
  
• Harsh Vardhan launches award in honour of M.G.K. Menon
  Union Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan on 28th August launched the first lecture award in honour of renowned physicist M.G.K. Menon. Distinguished for investigations in the field of cosmic ray studies and in particular on the high energy interactions of elementary particles, Menon is presently advisor in the department of space at the Indian Space Research Organisation. 
  
• Taj Mahal gets Twitter account
   The World famous Taj Mahal has become the first historical monument to have an official handle on micro-blogging site Twitter. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav launched the official twitter account of the monument on 15th August. With this Taj Mahal has become the first historical monument in the world to have its own twitter account. 
  
• Panel deprecates Health Ministry's "non-serious" approach in tackling corruption at AIIMS
  A Parliamentary panel has strongly deprecated the non-serious approach of the Union Health Ministry in tackling a number of corruption cases at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. 
  
  It has recommended that the post of a regular Chief Vigilance Officer, CVO at the premier institute be restored. The department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare chaired by MP Satish Chandra Misra has also asked the Ministry to play a proactive role in ensuring expeditious investigations into all the corruption cases at AIIMS and produce an up-to-date status note within three months. The committee noted that despite unraveling of corruption cases at AIIMS at regular intervals, the Ministry has done away with the regular CVO's post at AIIMS and the role of the anti-graft officer has been assigned to a Joint secretary in the Ministry. 
  
  Earlier, Indian Forest Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi was removed from the post of the CVO for allegedly exposing corruption at the AIIMS. He was recently named as one of the winners of Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2015. 
  
• Grama jyothi launched in Telangana
  Telangana Chief Minister KCR has launched Grama Jyothi scheme at Gangadevipalli village in Warangal district on 17th August. This scheme is intended to decentralize the power and for speedy all-round development of villages in the state. Seven committees with specific missions like education, agriculture, basic amenities, drinking water-sanitation, social security- eradicating of poverty and preserving natural resources in each gram panchayat will be formed. 
  
  These committees will meet at regular intervals and conduct Grama Sabhas, where plans for development of their villages will be chalking out. Panchayati Raj Ministry will oversee their development programs and grant sufficient funds for it. CM KCR declared that Rs.25, 000 crores will be spent on this program over next four years period. 
  
  Other important points
  • The scheme is aimed at comprehensive development of rural areas allowing planning and execution of works by villages themselves.
  • The programme had a parallel launch in other districts by Ministers K.T. Rama Rao and P. Mahender Reddy in Ranga Reddy, Etala Rajender in Karimnagar, T. Harish Rao in Medak, G. Jagadish Reddy in Nalgonda, Dr. C. Laxma Reddy in Mahabubnagar and Jogu Ramanna in Adilabad.
  • With the village development committees playing the key role, the focus of the scheme would be at improving the Human Development Index (HDI) by addressing core issues such as roads, drains and sanitation, nutrition and health, drinking water, streetlights, wage employment and green cover.
  
  
• Cochin airport 1st solar powered in India
  Cochin airport becomes the first airport in India to run on solar power; spread over 50 acres project is estimated to generate approximately 50,000 units of electricity daily. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on 18th August inaugurated a 12 MW solar power project for Cochin International Airport. 
  
  The project is reportedly the single largest solar project which has been constructed in an airport in India. It is spread over 50 acres. The project is estimated to generate approximately 50,000 units of electricity daily. 
  
  Through this project, coupled with an earlier installed capacity of 1.1 MW, the CIAL will technically become 'grid power neutral'. 
  
• Rape cases increasing in Delhi: NCRB
  According to the National Crime Records Bureau, for the first time in history, Delhi is officially the “rape capital” of India. Even while the pace of increase in the number of reported rapes in the city has slowed down, the number of such cases proportionate to its women population was higher than for any other city or State last year. 
  
  During the past years, Delhi reported a larger actual number of reported rapes than other cities, but cities in Madhya Pradesh, including Gwalior and Jabalpur, reported higher numbers of rapes proportionate to their populations. 
  
  This year, Delhi is higher in both absolute and proportionate terms, show data from the National Crime Records Bureau released on 17th August. The NCRB collates data from all first information reports filed in police stations across the country. The city reported 1,813 rapes in 2014, up from 1,441 in 2013. While Delhi continues to lead other big cities in the number of reported rapes, the increase in reported cases has tapered after a spike in 2013. 
  
  In Mumbai, while the number of reported rapes was lower, there was a spike between 2013 and 2014, from 391 to 607 cases. Nearly all of India’s custodial rape — 189 of 197 cases — was reported in Uttar Pradesh, which along with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest numbers of gang rapes. 
  
  In the country, as the number of reported crimes against women increased to over 3.3 lakh, or 56 incidents per lakh women, the rate of increase has tapered off. 
  
• NACO signed MoU with 14 depts, ministries to enlighten about AIDS prevention: 
  Union Minister for State for Aayush, Mr Shripad Naik on 19th August informed that the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with 14 Departments and Ministries especially with Department of Youth and Sports and Department of Higher Education to ensure that the young people of the country are enlighten about AIDS prevention. 
  
  Naik participated in International Youth Day event, this yea the national theme for this year is "Kadam Badhaao - A Step towards Change"
  
  On the occasion, a special mobile app for the awareness on AIDS has been launched by Mr Shripad Naik. The app which is developed by NACO on information and locating testing centres will go a long way in informing the young generation about correct information on HIV. 
  
  International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000
  
  International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August. It is meant as an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. During IYD, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organizations take place around the world. 
  
• Green nod for Okhla sanctuary ecosensitive zone, decks cleared for Noida construction 
  The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) on 18th August cleared a proposal to notify certain areas around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), ending the suspense over the status of thousands of ongoing construction projects that lie outside those areas. 
  
  The decision will come as a major relief to thousands of residential and commercial construction projects in Noida, which had been impacted by an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that had barred construction activity within a 10 km radius of the sanctuary till an ESZ was notified. 
  
  The wildlife board, whose mandate is to promote and conserve wildlife, gave its nod to the draft notification issued by the environment ministry last year. The ministry had proposed an area comprising 100 mts from the eastern, western and southern boundaries of the sanctuary, and 1.27 km from the northern boundary, to be declared an eco-sensitive zone. 
  
  When the setting up of ESZs in the country was originally proposed in 2002, it was suggested that all areas within a 10 km radius of a protected area should be declared eco-sensitive. 
  
  Human activities in eco-sensitive zones are restricted and regulated, so that the negative impact of such activities on the fragile ecosystem within the protected areas is minimised. However in 2005, the NBWL had recommended that the delineation of ESZs should actually be site-specific. 
  
  The Uttar Pradesh government had in fact proposed last year that an area of 100 mts on all sides of the sanctuary be declared an ESZ. After the environment ministry had come out with the draft notification last year, the NGT had asked it to consult the wildlife board before issuing the final notification. 
  
  Accordingly, the standing committee of the NBWL met on 18th August to discuss the draft notification and expressed its agreement with it. 
  
  On the same day, the NGT — which was hearing a separate but related case — was informed about the status of the notification. The Tribunal has directed the environment ministry to issue the final notification within three weeks. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the notification would be out within a week. 
  
  Timeline: 
  • 1990: Okhla Bird Sanctuary declared a “protected area” by UP government, but delineation of ecosensitive zone doesn’t take place
  • March 2005: National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) decides that delineation of zone would be site specific, “and regulatory in nature rather than prohibitory”
  • July 11, 2013: Plea to NGT regarding ‘illegal construction’ within eco-sensitive zone put forward by petitioner Amit Kumar
  • October 2013: NGT passes orders that no construction activity will be permitted within 10-km radius of sanctuary
  • January 2014: UP government says eco-sensitive zone around sanctuary should be 100 mts, after stating earlier that it should
  • 1 km April 3, 2014: NGT says new projects within 10-km radius of sanctuary shall not be cleared unless NBWL issues no objection certificate
  • June 10, 2014: Supreme Court dismisses plea by real estate firm Jaypee Infrastructure seeking that Noida Authority grant completion certificates to projects around sanctuary
  • June 27, 2014: A panel — constituted by the ministry and comprising representatives from NCT of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and MoEF — visits area, assesses situation and submits a report to ministry
  • July 2014: Delhi government proposes 100 mt radius as ecosensitive zone
  • September 24, 2014: Draft notification issued on ecosensitive zone
  • August 18, 2015: NBWL standing committee approves draft notification, NGT directs MoEF to finalise it within three weeks
  
  
• India to host summit to end preventable child & maternal deaths
  India will host a two-day summit on 27th of this month, aimed at ending preventable child and maternal deaths. The programme--Call To Action Summit-- will be attended by Health Ministers from 24 countries, state health ministers from India and International academic experts. 
  
  It will provide a platform to deliberate upon the importance of systems, innovations, convergence and evidence in ending preventable maternal and child deaths. 
  
  Health financing and corporate partnership and water, sanitation and nutrition that play a pivotal role in the success of programme delivery and impact, will be discussed comprehensively during the summit. Participating countries will showcase best practices that have helped address bottlenecks in health service delivery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is schedule to inaugurate the summit. 
  
• Railway to set up 400 model stations under PPP mode
  Railway Ministry has decided to set up 400 model stations across the country under the Public Private Partnership mode. According to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, the Joint Venture Company will be set up between the Central and State Governments for implementation of the project. 17 State Governments have already agreed to float the company. Model stations will be set up on fifty-fifty cost sharing basis. The first phase of East-West Metro rail connecting Salt Lake and Howrah will be operational from June 2018. The cost escalated for this project of 735 crore rupees will be borne by the Railways and the work will resume next month. 
  
• Strengthening of drug regulatory system in the country
  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for strengthening the drug regulatory system both at the Central and the State levels at a total cost of Rs.1750 crore. 
  
  The strengthening / up-gradation of the system will be spread over a period of three years. Out of the total amount of Rs 1750 crore, an amount of Rs.900 crore will be spent on strengthening central structures and Rs.850 crore will be made available to the State Governments, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding. 
  
• Govt launches education loan portals
  The government has launched ‘Vidya Lakshmi’, a web-based portal for students seeking educational loans. The portal provides a single window for students to access information and make applications for loans provided by banks as well as government scholarships. 
  
  So far, 13 banks have registered 22 educational loan schemes on the portal and five banks — SBI, IDBI Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India — have integrated their systems with the portal for providing loan processing status to students. The portal has been developed and is being maintained by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure. 
  
• Manipur leads in UAPA cases
  Manipur is leading in UAPA cases. The state, is home to just 0.2 per cent of India’s population, but accounts for nearly 65 per cent of the cases filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the country. 
  
  Of the 975 UAPA cases filed across India in 2014, 630 are from Manipur, with 659 people from the small north-eastern State charged with offences under it, say the latest National Crime Records Bureau figures. 
  
  The Union Home Ministry has banned six Manipur-based organisations under the UAPA.” Not only the number of cases but also the number of organisations banned in Manipur is the highest
  
  The banned organisations are the People’s Liberation Army, the United National Liberation Front, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, the Kangleipak Communist Party, the Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup and the Manipur People’s Liberation Front. 
  
  Manipur is followed by Assam, which has recorded 148 cases under the Act. The two States account for 80 per cent of the UAPA cases. Meghalaya has recorded seven cases. 
  
• In a first, India to host World Employment Conference
  Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), the apex body of the flexi staffing industry, will be hosting the 49th Ciett World Employment Conference (WEC) for the first time in the country in New Delhi, in May 2016. Over 100 delegates, largely from staffing firms which are on the cusp of skilling and employment, from 40 countries are expected to participate. ISF will partner with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the MHRD and the National Skill Development Council for the Conference. 
  
  The country has a workforce of 430 million of which 90 per cent work in the unorganised sector. Of the 40 million people who work in the formal, organised sector, 1.7 million are flexi-workers and ISF members represent 5 lakh of such workers. 
  
• Gauhati HC orders CBI probe against Arunachal CM
  Gauhati High court orders CBI to register a case against the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki and others. Tuki is accused of having violated rules in granting Government contracts to his family members when he was a PWD Minister. The CM allegedly violated norms to allot construction works to his family members during his tenure as PWD minister of the state. 
  
  The Court directed CBI to register a case and conduct an investigation against Tuki, besides Kendriya Vidyalay Sangathan, New Delhi, and the Director of Sports Council, Arunachal Pradesh, in this regard. The Court also asked for lodging an FIR and submit the final report before the special court at Guwahati. The HC issued the verdict after taking into consideration all the materials and records and particularly referring to a 2008 order passed by then Gauhati HC Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice I A Ansari on the issue. 
  
• ‘Fragrances' from North East’ festival
  The Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) is organizing “Fragrances from the North East”, a three-day festival of cinema from the region at Siri Fort Auditorium complex, New Delhi from August 21st – 23rd , 2015. 
  
  Giving an absolute North-Eastern experience to the visitors, the film screenings will be supplemented by cultural programmes, exhibitions of handicrafts and books, food stalls and much more during the festival. The inauguration saw the premiere screening of Manipuri feature film ‘Pallepfam’ which is directed & produced by Wanglen Khundongban which is also his debut film. 
  
  The festival also includes a retrospective of maestro Shri Aribam Syam Sharma from Manipur. Six films including two feature films 'Ishanou' and 'Imagi Ningthem' and four non feature films titled 'Orchids of Manipur', 'The Deer on The Lake','Indigenous Games of Manipur' and 'Yelhou Jagoi' will be screened in the retrospective. 
  
• Centre launches Suraksha Bandhan drive in Mission Mode
   Government has launched Suraksha Bandhan drive in a Mission Mode through participating banks and insurance companies to facilitate enrolment under social security schemes. 
  
  The schemes are Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, PMSBY, and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, PMJJBY. 
  
  The drive launched in the back drop of Raksha Bandhan aims at taking forward the Government’s objective of creating a universal social security system in the country, targeted especially at the poor and the under-privileged. 
  
  Participating Banks supported by the participating Insurance Companies will work towards local outreach, awareness building and enrolment facilitation during this drive. 
  
  The last date for enrollment under the PMSBY and PMJJBY schemes has been extended till 30th of next month and persons enrolling within this period would not be required to submit a certificate of good health for PMJJBY. 
  
  PMSBY enrollment does not in any event require any such certification. The drive will be supported through the Jeevan Suraksha Gift Cheques, which will be available for purchase for 351 rupees in Bank branches by persons wishing to gift them to facilitate one year payment of premium for PMJJBY and PMSBY by the recipient. 
  
  The recipient of the gift cheque would deposit the instrument in his or her bank account for a realizable value of 342 rupees, out of which 12 rupees will be for one year subscription of PMSBY and 330 rupees for PMJJBY. The balance of 9 rupees would be retained by the issuing Bank as a service charge. 
  
• Parliamentary panel on Lokpal gets two months' extension
  The Parliamentary committee examining the Lokpal Bill has got two months' extension till September. This is the second extension given to the panel after it could not finish its work by last month end. 
  
  The 31-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Congress MP EM Sudarsana Natchiappan, is examining the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014. 
  
  The amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 18, last year, after which it was referred to the Committee on December 22. The report has to be submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman Md. Hamid Ansari. 
  
  The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill provides for establishment of an anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into graft charges against public functionaries. 
  
• Govt launches School Nursery Yojana to bring students closer to nature
  Government on 10th August launched the School Nursery Yojana, to bring students closer to nature by involving them in rising of saplings in school nurseries. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said there can be no better combination than that of students and trees. 
  
  He also said that every school must earmark space to prepare a small nursery where the saplings could be planted. The Minister also presented a sapling and a packet of seeds to students from each school for planting in their school. He exhorted the students to take the grown sapling planted by them along with their annual results to their homes. 
  
• IIM-Ahmedabad study shows flaws in BIMARU healthcare facilities
  According to IIM Ahmedabad, the BIMARU states still are lagging behind development. The study by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) mainly discusses aspects of infrastructure, manpower and operational challenges faced in effective provisioning of specialist services through rural health facilities in these states. It pointed out that the efforts made by the government for providing additional manpower support for these services are also not giving desired results. 
  
  One area where the BIMARU states lag significantly is availability of all four specialists including Gynaecologist, Paediatricians, Surgeons and Physicians at Community Health Centres (CHCs) or District Hospitals (DHs). While it is observed that Bihar (34.3 per cent) has a relatively greater proportion of such CHCs, all other states like Rajasthan (8.3 per cent), MP (1.2 per cent) and UP (one per cent) perform quite poor in terms of presence of all four specialists at CHCs,’ said the study. 
  
  As on March 2014, Bihar and UP have only 0.83 and 2.91 specialist doctors per million population in the CHCs, DH and Sub district hospitals (SDHs). While, states like Rajasthan (11.52) and MP (4.36) were in a relatively better condition when compared with national average of 3.98 specialist doctors per million population in CHCs. ‘It is found that number of Community Health Centres per million people is relatively low in UP (3.87) and significantly low in Bihar (0.67) but is higher in MP (4.60) and almost double in Rajasthan (8.26) as compared to the national average (4.43),’ said the study. ‘
  
  It is also observed that all these states including Bihar (17.83), MP (7.53) and UP (3.91), except Rajasthan (61.19) are below the national average (20.74) in terms of total and rural government hospitals per million people,’ it said. 
  
• Rajasthan HC bans Santhara ritual in Jain Community
  Rajasthan High Court on 10th August banned the Santhara ritual prevailing in the Jain Community. Pronouncing its judgment, the court considered it a criminal act amounting to suicide and directed to register cases under section 306 of IPC. The Court banned this ritual, following a Public Interest Litigation filed by human rights activist a decade ago, claiming that the ritual is a social evil and should be considered as a suicide. The ancient ritual, also called Sallekhana, is the voluntary starvation to embrace death. 
  
• SC says Aadhar not mandatory for availing welfare schemes of govt
  The Supreme Court pm 11th August ruled that Aadhar is not mandatory for availing various welfare schemes of the government. The court made it clear that even for availing facilities PDS, kerosene and LPG distribution system the card will not be mandatory. It barred the authorities from sharing personal biometric data collected for enrollment under the scheme. 
  
  A three-judge bench took on record Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi's statement to this effect. The court said the Centre shall give wide publicity through electronic and print media that the card is not mandatory to avail the schemes. The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhar scheme. 
  
  It directed that the information received by UIDAI shall not be used for any other purposes, except in criminal investigation with the permission of the court. A Constitution bench of the apex court will also decide the larger question of whether collecting biometric data for preparing Aadhar cards infringed an individual's privacy and if right to privacy was a fundamental right. 
  
• Cabinet approves spectrum sharing guidelines
  The Cabinet on 12th August gave its approval to the guidelines on spectrum sharing based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI. The decision is part of Government’s commitment to improve spectral efficiency and quality of service. 
  
  As per the guidelines, spectrum sharing would be allowed only for the access service providers in the first instance in a Licensed Service Area, LSA where both the licensees are having spectrum in the same band. Leasing of spectrum will not be permitted. 
  
  For the purpose of charging Spectrum Usage Charges, SUC, licensees shall be considered as sharing their entire spectrum holding in the particular band in the entire LSA. All access spectrum including traded spectrum will be sharable provided that both licensees are having spectrum in the same band. 
  
• Railways sign 4 MoUs with Power Ministry
  Railway Ministry on 12th August signed four MoUs with Power Ministry for cooperation in the areas of electricity transmission, energy conservation and promotion of renewable energy in a time bound manner. Speaking on the occasion in New Delhi, the MoU will provide a framework for providing future solutions in the power sector and reduce the cost of power to railways. 
  
  This will pave way for efficient and reliable utilization of resources in the power sector and also in renewable energy sector for making it possible for the railway to take benefits of various developments taking place in the power sector. According to Railway Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu, in the coming years, Railways will become the largest producer of renewable energy. 
  
• Parliament panel for State-level body to oversee national waterways
  A Parliamentary panel has recommended the setting up of a State-level water management council to oversee the development of national waterways. At the State level, there is no coordination or monitoring mechanism to oversee nation waterways, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on The National Waterways Bill, 2015, said in its report. 
  
  A council/committee should be created so that issues are resolved at the State level itself, it said. The Committee noted that many of the proposed national waterways do not have enough water throughout the year as they are rain fed rivers. This aspect should be taken care of during the time of techno-economic feasibility study, it said, adding that rainwater harvesting technology must be adopted to make rain fed/perennial rivers navigable through the year. 
  
• India-Pacific Island nations summit in Jaipur on Aug 21
  India is to host the second edition of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in Jaipur on August 21, with all 14 countries of the region participating -- nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to Fiji proposed holding of the second summit in India. 
  
  Of the 14 nations, three would be represented by their respective presidents, one by its vice president, seven island nations are sending their prime ministers, one its deputy prime minister and two are sending a senior minister to the meeting. 
  
  India provides grant-in-aid of $200,000 to each country every year. The meet will see India announce steps in which the countries lack expertise -- cooperation in coconut and coir and solar energy, among other initiatives. 
  
  India's links with the Pacific Island nations, separated from India by 4,000 miles and two oceans, have been limited, compared to China's expanding presence in the islands, situated to the east of Australia. 
  
  India does not have consulates on the islands, but is "covering them from five different countries -- New Zealand, Japan, Philippines, Fiji and Papua New Guinea"
  
  India's first interactions with the Pacific Islands began in the 19th century when Indian indentured workers were brought to Fiji to work in the sugarcane plantations. 
  
  Modi, during his visit on November 19 last year, was the second Indian prime minister to visit Fiji in 33 years - after Indira Gandhi. 
  
  India's increasing engagement with the 14 Pacific Islands underlines their growing geo-strategic importance as the countries lie at the centre of a key maritime route rich in resources. 
  
  The Exclusive Economic Zone off Papua New Guinea has rich reserves of liquefied natural gas. The other Pacific Island nations too possess resource-rich waters off their coasts, including hydrocarbons. 
  
  The 14 island nations - Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea - although small, also have a vote each in international fora - which holds immense strategic weight for New Delhi as it seeks to play a larger international role. 
  
• PM announced Stand up India campaign
  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th August announced a new campaign "Start-up India, Stand up India" to promote bank financing for start-ups and offer incentives to boost entrepreneurship and job creation. Addressing the nation on the 69th Independence Day, he said, "We are looking at systems for enabling start-ups. 
  
  While stating that his government is determined to build a new India, including providing electricity to 18,500 power-less villages in the next 1,000 days, he said the new initiative will encourage entrepreneurship among the youth of India. 
  
  Each of the 1.25 lakh bank branches should encourage at least one Dalit or tribal entrepreneur and at least one woman entrepreneur. Under this, in addition to existing systems to facilitate start-ups, he said loans would also be given to help people. The initiative, he said, will give a new dimension to entrepreneurship and help set up a network of start-ups in the country. 
  
• Pattiseema dedicated to nation
  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 15th August dedicated to the people the Pattiseema project, aimed at diverting water from the Godavari River to Rayalaseema region. The lift irrigation project in West Godavari district will link Godavari River with Krishna River as the surplus water will be diverted to Prakasam barrage. 
  
  Naidu pointed out that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water is going waste into the sea while the Krishna River hardly has any water. The chief minister said Pattiseema was the first river linking project in South India. The project will divert surplus water from the Godavari to drought-prone Rayalaseema region. 
  
  Naidu had laid the foundation stone of the project on March 29 this year and the first phase was completed in record time. The release of the water will take some more days. 
  
• Oommen Chandy declares Kerala as ‘totally digital state’
  Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has declared Kerala as a totally digital state, the first state in the country to achieve such a distinction. He said the declaration has been made, considering the rapid strides the state has made like hundred percent mobile connectivity, 75 percent e-literacy, maximum digital banking, broadband connectivity upto the Panchayat level, e-district plan in all districts and linking bank accounts with Aadhar cards. 
  
  To further take forward the digital revolution in the State, Chief Minister said Government envisages having Wi-Fi hotspots in all local bodies, total mobile Governance and launch of second phase of digital literacy. 
  
• Less than 50% of Anganwadi Centers have toilets: Ministry report
  According to Women and Child Development Ministry, less than fifty per cent of the Anganwadi Centers in the country have toilets. The data provided by the Ministry shows that out of around 12 lakh 74 thousand Anganwadi Centers only around 6 lakh 29 thousand Centers have toilets. The Ministry said more than 20,000 were built under Swachh Bharat Mission over the past one year. 
  
  Delhi, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, Uttrakhand and Nagaland have Anganwadi Centers with hundred percent toilets facilities. 
  
  According to state-wise data, there are 12 states where less than 50 per cent of Anganwadi Centers have toilets. These include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan and West Bengal. 
  
• India foils UK Company’s bid to patent use of turmeric, pine bark and tea
  India has foiled a British Company’s bid to patent use of turmeric, pine bark and tea for treating hair loss and succeeded in protecting its traditional knowledge. 
  
  The UK based company Pangaea Laboratories Limited had filed patent application at European Patent office in February 2011 on a medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and green tea for treating hair loss. 
  
  According to an official release of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a Unit of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in New Delhi filed pre-grant opposition along with prior-art evidences. It proved that turmeric, pine bark and green tea, are being used as a treatment for hair loss, since long in Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Unani. 
  
  Recently, CSIR-TKDL has also foiled an attempt of Colgate-Palmolive Company to patent a mouthwash formula containing herb (Nutmeg- Jayaphal) extract used in Indian traditional systems of medicine to cure oral diseases. Till date CSIR-TKDL has achieved success in about 200 such cases without any cost. 
  
• August to receive 90% rainfall; El-Nino strengthens: IMD
  India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stuck to its forecast of "deficient" monsoon as it came out with its prediction for the second half of the season which is likely to witness weak rainfall over the next two months. IMD said rainfall in August is likely to be 90 percent, which is on the negative side of "below normal" rainfall. 
  
  It has added that El-Nino phenomenon has strengthened from weak to moderate from April to July and it will continue to remain so in the remaining time of the season. 
  
  Quantitatively, the rainfall over the country as a whole during the second half of the season (August to September) is likely to be 84 percent of LPA (long period average) with a model error of plus or minus 8 percent. Rainfall during August is likely to be 90 plus or minus 9 percent of LPA as was forecast in June. 
  
  The season (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 88 percent of LPA with a model error of plus or minus 4 percent as was forecast in June. 
  
  Although the country has received weak rainfall, sowing overall has been good. The first half of season gave a mixed amount of rainfall. June recorded 116 percent of rainfall of LPA (excess) while July recorded 83 percent, which was deficient. 
  
  Anything less than 90 percent of LPA is termed "deficient" rainfall while 90-96 percent of LPA is considered "below normal". Again, rainfall at 96-104 percent of LPA is "normal" with 104 to 110 percent taken to be above normal. Anything over that is "excess". 
  
• Centre signs landmark peace accord with NSCN (I-M) 
  Centre on 3rd August signed a landmark peace accord with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 
  
  The group, in India's north-east, have been fighting for more than 60 years. 
  
  The details of the accord were not released by the government, and there is no clarity on the “sovereignty clause,” being demanded by the insurgent group. Besides the IM faction, there are two more groups — Khole-Kitovi (KK) and Reformation (R) — which were not part of the accord. 
  
  They have signed a ceasefire agreement with the government till April 27, 2016. 
  
  R.N. Ravi, the Naga interlocutor, signed the accord with the NSCN-IM at a much publicised ceremony at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Besides Mr. Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present. 
  
  The deal involves creating a mechanism which would create institutions allowing autonomy to Naga tribes living across the border in Manipur. 
  
  Negotiators had agreed to set up a mechanism to discuss decommissioning of arms now held by the NSCN (IM), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland’s Thuingaleng Muviah and Isak Chisi Swu-led faction, the largest of the Naga insurgent groups. The group had been arguing in talks that it needed to retain its weapons to ward off attacks from rival NSCN factions led by Myanmar-based SS Khaplang and Khole Konyak. 
  
  The agreement was the culmination of over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 16 years, with the first breakthrough coming in 1997 when a ceasefire agreement was sealed. 
  
• Odisha govt to launch 'Onion Mission' in the state
  The Odisha government has decided to launch 'Onion Mission' in the state. The government will implement ‘Onion Mission’ in order to rein in the exorbitant price of onion in the state. The government will set up 300 cold storage centres across Odisha in which about 25 lakh tonne of onion can be stored that will help in containing the price rise of onion. 
  
• Graduates, are very less: Census
  According to new Census data, the number of graduates in country is very low. Despite a big increase in college attendance, especially among women, a fewer than one out of every 10 Indians is a graduate, new Census data show. 
  
  The office of the Census Commissioner and Registrar-General of India released new numbers on the level of education achieved by Indians as of 2011. They show that with 6.8 crore graduates and above, India still has more than six times as many illiterates. 
  
  While rural India accounts for only a third of all graduates, the rate of increase in graduates was faster in rural than in urban India over the last decade, and fastest of all among rural women. 
  
  From 26 lakh graduates 10 years ago, nearly 67 lakh rural women are now graduates. Rural Indians are more likely to have non-technical graduate degrees than urban Indians, while urban India accounts for 80 per cent of all Indian technology and medicine graduates. 
  
  Among those with a graduate degree or above, the majority (over 60 per cent) are those who have a non-technical graduate degree. 
  
  New Census data on the educational status of Indians show that the biggest increase is in the number of people pursuing engineering and technology diplomas or technical degrees equivalent to a graduate or postgraduate degree. 
  
  The proportion of Indians with engineering and technology qualifications has nearly doubled over the last decade, while the proportion of women technology graduate equivalents has more than tripled. In all, there were over 73 lakh Indians with a tech qualification in 2011. India also has over 30 lakh people with a teaching degree and over 15 lakh people with a medical degree. 
  
  Chandigarh and Delhi have the highest proportion of graduates — over one in every five persons — followed by Maharashtra among the big States, while Bihar and Assam are worst off among the big States, with fewer than one in every 20 persons a graduate. 
  
  Across the country — with the notable exceptions of Chandigarh and Kerala — the proportion of male graduates is higher than that of women. 
  
  The proportion of graduates among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is far lower than the national average; just over four per cent of the SCs are graduates or above, while for the Scheduled Tribes, it is below three per cent, and lower still for women. 
  
• Rural Development Minister launches ‘SAMANVAY’ for Gram Panchayats
  Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh on 4th August launched SAMANVAY, a compilation of all schemes of both Central and State governments for Gram Panchayats. 
  
  The purpose behind bringing out SAMANVAY is to help MPs in utilising relevant schemes in the planning and implementation of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. More than 1800 state schemes from across all states have been documented in SAMANVAY. 
  
  The Minister also launched 'Panchayat Darpan' magazine to monitor the progress of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. It will act as a mirror of all the development activities in the village panchayats. 
  
  Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was launched in October last year under which MPs are to develop three Adarsh Gram Panchayats by 2019. The objective of the programme is to create Model Villages. 
  
• Rooftop solar power plants sanctioned
  Under ‘Grid Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme’ of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 360 MWp projects have been sanctioned and 54 Mega Watt Peak (MWp) aggregate capacity of projects have been installed in the country. 
  
  Under ‘Off-grid & Decentralized Solar Applications’ programme 108 MWp solar rooftop/ground mounted systems have also been installed for captive consumption. 
  
  According to Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal the government has taken number of steps to promote/encourage installation of grid connected solar roof top systems in the country including financing at low cost. 
  
  These steps include: 
  • Target set for installation of 40,000 MWp by year 2022.
  • 15% Government subsidy for non-commercial and non-industrial categories for using domestic solar panels
  • Accelerated depreciation benefits for industrial and commercial buildings
  • Custom duty concessions and excise duty exemptions
  • 10 years tax holiday
  • Loans available under Priority Sector Lending up to Rs. 10 lakhs for individuals
  • Provision of bank loans as a part of home loan/ home improvement loan
  • Loans for system aggregators from Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) at concessional interest rate (9.9% to 10.75% per annum)
  • Electricity Regulatory Commissions of 19 States/UTs have notified regulations for grid connectivity, net-metering/feed-in-tariff mechanism.
  
  
• SC/ST amendment bill passes in Lok Sabha
  The Lok Sabha on 4th August passed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill. 
  
  The bill was passed by a voice vote while major opposition parties were not present in the house. Earlier, replying to the debate on the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot assured the members that the provisions of the bill will rationalise and strengthen the present law besides bringing change in the mindset of the people. 
  
  He said steps have been taken to prevent atrocities on SCs and STs during the past one year including bringing a law banning manual scavenging. 
  
  The Minister also informed that the government has initiated measures to fill up the vacant posts reserved for SCs and STs and a committee has been set up to look into modalities for launching a special drive in this regard. 
  
  The Bill was originally introduced on 16th July last year. The proposed law amends the categories of offences against SC and STs and adds new categories and facilitate setting up special courts to trail such offences. 
  
  Under the proposed law, forcing SC and STs to vote or not to vote a particular candidate, wrongful occupation of land belonged to SC STs, assaulting SC ST women including dedicating as Devadasi to a temple and identifies new offences such as garlanding with foot ware. 
  
• 30 killed in Harda twin train mishap
   30 passengers were killed and many have been injured after two trains derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda in Madhya Pradesh, on 4th August night. 
  
  Ten coaches of Kamayani Express and four coaches plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed as the base material on the tracks got washed away in heavy rains. The mishap took place between Khirkiya and Bhirangi stations near Harda. 
  
  Emergency and other rescue personnel rushed to the accident site immediately. NDRF team from Bhopal and Army Unit stationed at Mhow were pressed too into rescue operations. 
  
  Local people have contributed in rescue efforts in a big way. The accident relief train reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby Harda and Itarsi stations. Railways has established a helpdesk at Itarsi, Bina and Harda stations for the convenience of pessengers and their families. About 25 passengers were injured in the mishaps. Over 250 passengers have been rescued
  
  The Railway Ministry has ordered an inquiry into the twin derailment and announced an enhanced exgratia of Rs two lakh each to the next of the kin of deceased. 
  
• Kerala has all indicators for first child-friendly state in country: UNICEF
  Kerala has all the social development indices in its favour to declare it as the first Child-friendly State in the country. This was stated in Thiruvananthapuram on 5th August by UNICEF Southern Regional Head Job Zachariah. According to Job Zachariah UNICEF has made this assessment, based on the remarkable strides Kerala has made in the field of education, health and hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness and safe drinking water supply. 
  
• Govt launches 3web portals for farmers
  The Government has recently launched three web portals for the benefit of farmers
  
  These web portals are: 
  Participatory Guarantee System-India (PGS-India), Fertilizer Quality Control System (FQCS) and Soil Health Card (SHC). 
  
  PGS-India portal: PGS is a process of certifying organic products in accordance with the laid down standards and with active participation of stakeholders including producers/farmers, traders and consumers in the certification system. 
  
  The PGS-India portal is a web based application having online facility for (i) Registration (ii) Approval (iii) Documentation (iv) Record of inspection and (v) Certification. 
  It can be accessed at the URLwww.pgsindia-ncof.gov.in. 
  
  Fertilizer Quality Control System (FQCS) portal: The FQCS portal is a web based and configurable workflow application developed for processing of fertiliser sample collection, testing and generation of analysis reports. 
  It can be accessed at the URLwww.fqcs.dac.gov.in. 
  
  Soil Health Card (SHC) portal: The SHC portal is a web based workflow application with following major modules; (i) Soil Samples Registration (ii) Test Result Entry by Soil Testing Labs (iii) Fertilizer Recommendations based on STCR and GFR (iv) Soil Health Card generation along with Fertilizer Recommendation and micronutrient suggestions (v) MIS module for monitoring progress. 
  It can be accessed at the URLwww.soilhealth.dac.gov.in. 
  
  PGS-India and Soil Health Card (SHC) portals are web based applications available in the public domain. The information on the portals, which is relevant to the farmers, can be accessed by them. Fertilizer Quality Control System (FQCS) portal is for official use by the fertilizer quality control laboratories. 
  
• 4G services launched
  The world’s third-largest telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, on 6th August became the first to launch 4G services in 296 towns across the country. This follows successful trials in select cities and feedback from customers, the company said. 
  
  Leading the charge, Airtel had launched the country’s first 4G (also called LTE) network in Kolkata in April 2012. Airtel 4G is available across a range of smart devices such as mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots, and Wi-Fi dongles. 
  
  Users can create their own list of favourite movies and download video content to watch offline anytime, anywhere. Videos can also be paused anytime and users can watch them later. The app will allow multi-device access (up to five) with a single login, the company said. 
  
• PM launches 'India Handloom' Brand
  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7th August launched the 'India Handloom' Brand at National Handloom Day celebrations in Chennai. The event marked the first ever National Handloom Day. 
  
  The date August 7 has been chosen due to its special significance in India's history as it was on this day that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905. 
  
  The Prime Minister also conferred the Sant Kabir awards and National awards for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 to distinguished handloom personalities. 
  
  The observance of National Handloom Day and honouring of handloom weavers will not only provide an impetus to the handloom industry of India but would also serve to promote handloom as a genuine international product of good quality. 
  
  Prime Minister also emphasised on innovative initiatives for making handlooms as fashionable choice among consumers. 
  
  Prime Minister said that if the use of handlooms is increased to a just five percent, it would fetch a 33 percent enhanced revenue to the Handloom weavers. 
  
  Prime Minister emphasised on increase use of technology and e-commerce for marketing of handloom products. 
  
  He mentioned that handloom is a labour intensive sector where increased use of technology should be encouraged. 
  
• Global satellite to be named after Kalam
  A global satellite for earth observation and disaster risk reduction -- GlobalSat for DRR -- proposed under the UN framework is to be dedicated to A P J Abdul Kalam as a tribute to the vision of the celebrated rocket scientist and former Indian president who died July 27. This was stated by Milind Pimprikar, Chairman of CANEUS (CANada-EUrope-US-ASia) Organisation on Space Technologies for Societal Applications headquartered in Montreal, Canada. 
  
• Lok Sabha passes bill to repeal 295 obsolete Acts
  A bill seeking to scrap a set of 295 obsolete Acts dealing with several issues including changes in marriage laws and cement hoarding was passed by Lok Sabha on 6th August.The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2015, pertains to annulling 295 Acts, several of them over 30 years old,which have been declared as redundant by respective central ministries. 
  
  Replying to a brief debate on the bill, Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said the repealing and amending of Acts cleans the statute book and makes it easy for common man to understand. Mr. Gowda said, his Ministry is also trying to see that all the Acts which have been identified are repealed as early as possible. He said the government is working to ensure that all future Appropriation Acts have automatic repeal clause. 
  
• Centre, Delhi govt agree to set up SPV to clean, rejuvenate Yamuna
  Centre and Delhi government have agreed to set-up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the cleaning-up and rejuvenation of the Yamuna. They also agreed to prepare a blueprint of the SPV during the next 45 days. Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today held a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and took a decision in this regard. 
  
• Committed to implement 3rd stage of Indian Nuclear Power Prog: Govt
  The Government has said that it is committed to implement the third stage of Indian Nuclear Power Programme, after an adequate nuclear installed capacity has been reached based on Fast Breeder Reactors to be set up in the second stage
  
  On account of non-existence of any fissile isotope in naturally occurring Thorium (unlike that existing in Uranium), commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin only when abundant supply of either Uranium or Plutonium resources are available. 
  
  Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a thorium based nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved level (without much further growth) of nuclear power programme with thorium alone, without additional demands on uranium or plutonium resources. 
  
  Therefore, considering the meager domestic uranium resources in the country, it is feasible to start a significant commercial level Thorium based reactor programme in our country only after an adequate inventory of Plutonium becomes available from our Fast Breeder Reactors, comprising the second stage of Indian nuclear programme. 
  
  Accordingly, the utilisation of Thorium as a practically inexhaustible energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the Indian nuclear programme, which can be reached after a few decades. 
  
  Substantial work has been carried out in the areas of research on technologies for utilisation of thorium in nuclear fuel cycle, and on the development of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), to serve as a technology demonstrator for use of thorium based fuel on a large scale. 
  
• Mysuru emerged as clean city
  Mysuru city is emerging as the cleanest city in the country under Swachh Bharat. It was ranked number 1 out of 476 towns and cities across the country in terms of total sanitation practices, extent of open defecation, solid waste management, water treatment etc. 
  
  Besides Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Bengaluru also figure in the top 10 cities of India in the rankings. The Union Ministry of Urban Development surveyed 476 towns and cities for total sanitation practices covering a set of parameters, including the extent of open defecation, solid waste management, waste water treatment, drinking water quality, surface water quality etc. 
  
  With broad gauge track doubling work between Mysuru and Bengaluru slated to finish by late December 2015 or early 2016 the commuting time is set to decrease which can lure builders to focus on Mysuru and market it as a second-home destination with clean city as one of its USPs, according to stakeholders. 
  
• 'Nai Manzil' scheme for minorities launched
  The Union Minority Affairs Minister Dr. Najma Heptullah on 7th August launched ambitious scheme Nai Manzil for minorities. This scheme is a bridge course to bridge the academic and skill development gaps of the deeni Madrasa passouts with their mainstream counterparts. 
  
  This scheme is beneficial for minority dominated areas specially, Bihar and UP where most of the minority concentrated blocks are in these two states. The idea behind the new scheme is to help the students assimilate with their mainstream counterparts. According to Government estimates, there are at least three lakh madrasas across the country. 
  
  With an average of 100 students passing out of each madrasa every year, there are at least three crore new passouts. 
  
• Resolution against death penalty in Tripura Legislative Assembly 
  Tripura legislative assembly on 7 August 2015 passed a resolution against the death penalty. The resolution moved by Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar requested the Union government to amend the Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and replace it with life sentence unto death. The resolution passed is apparently the fallout of recent hanging of Yakub Memon, prime accused in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. 
  
  The adopted resolution would now be sent to Union government and the Law Commission for consideration. 
  
  In India, as per Supreme Court directive, death penalty is given in "rarest of the rare case" and President under Article 72 is constitutionally empowered to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of death sentence. 
  
  In 2103, 72 new death sentences were known to have been imposed in 2013 and at least 400 people were believed to be on death row at the end of the year 2013. 
  
  Worldwide, over 2/3rd countries of the world have completely abolished death penalty. 97 countries of the world have abolished death penalty for all the crimes.