JANUARY 2018

JANUARY 2018

JANUARY 1 to 7

International: 
• Pakistan bans Hafiz Saeed-led Foundations from collecting donations
  Pakistan on 1st January banned Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation from collecting donations. The notification comes on a day when President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.
  
  The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) issued a notification prohibiting the collection of donations by the JuD, the front organisation of banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, as well as several other such organisations named in a list of banned outfits by the UN Security Council.
  
  In addition to JuD, the list also includes LeT itself, the Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), the Paasban-i-Ahle-Hadith and Pasban-i-Kashmir, among others.
  
  The JuD is the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack.It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.
  
• US blocks $255 million military aid to Pakistan
   The United States has suspended its USD 255 million military aid to Pakistan for now, the White House has confirmed, saying the fate of such assistance will depend on Islamabad’s response to terrorism on its soil. The confirmation comes on the same day when US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.
  
  The US administration continues to review Pakistan’s level of cooperation, the official said. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump, in his first tweet of the New Year, blasted the Pakistan leadership by saying that they have given America “nothing but lies and deceit” despite having received more than USD 33 billion in last 15 years.
  
• Bulgaria takes over revolving EU presidency
  Bulgaria, on 2nd January took over the the European Union's six-month revolving presidency with the ongoing migrant crisis and Brexit among the top items on its agenda.
  
  The presidency, which rotates between different EU member states, will give Bulgaria the opportunity to chair meetings and set agendas, as the bloc grapples with the record influx of migrants, management of its borders, rising populism and Britain's EU divorce.
  
  Taking over from Estonia, Bulgaria will have to manage a June deadline for EU leaders to agree an overhaul of the so- called Dublin Regulation, under which the country where an asylum seeker arrives is responsible for them.
  
  Taking up the presidency also gives Bulgaria an opportunity to improve its image as the bloc's most corrupt country.
  
• Will restore hotline with South Korea: North Korea
  North Korea on 3rd January said, it will restore a hotline with South Korea. The development follows proposed high-level talks by Seoul in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's calls for better relations and suggestion that his country might attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February, 2018.
  
  A North Korean official announced in a televised statement that Mr Kim has given an order to open a long-closed border hotline with South Korea for talks.
  
  The official said, the talks would aim to establish formal dialogue about sending a North Korean delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics.
  
  The Yonhap news agency quoted the Head of North Korea's agency handling inter-Korean affairs, Ri Son-gwon, as saying that by upholding a decision by the leadership, Pyongyang will make close contact with South Korea in a sincere and faithful manner.
  
• North Korea reopens cross-border hotline with South Korea
  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reopened a key cross-border communication channel with South Korea for the first time in nearly two years on 3rd January as the rivals explored the possibility of sitting down and talking after months of acrimony and fears of war.
  
  The sudden signs of easing hostilities, however, came as President Donald Trump threatened Kim with nuclear war in response to his threat.
  
  In his New Year's address, Kim said he was willing to send a delegation to next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea. But he also said he has a "nuclear button" on his desk and that all U.S. territory is within striking distance of his nuclear weapons, comments Trump latched onto when he boasted of a bigger and more powerful "nuclear button" than Kim's.
  
  The two leaders exchanged crude insults last year, as the North received new U.N. sanctions over its sixth and most powerful nuclear test explosion and a series of intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
  
  The recent softening of contact between the rival Koreas may show a shared interest in improved ties, but there's no guarantee tensions will ease. There have been repeated attempts in recent years by the rivals to talk, but even when they do meet, the efforts often end in recriminations and stalemate.
  
• North Korea accepts South Korea's offer for dialogue
  North Korea has agreed to open dialogue with neighbouring South Korea for the first time in more than two years. South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed in Seoul on 5th January that the North KOrean government has notified that it will send delegates to the high level talks.
  
  The meeting will be held on 9th January at the border village of Panmunjom, inside the demilitarised zone (DMZ). The announcement of diplomatic talks came just hours after the US and South Korea agreed to suspend military exercises off the peninsula until after the Winter Games.
  
  National:
• India reports more than 1.5 lakh cases of Dengue
   India reported more than 1.5 lakh cases of dengue and 250 people died this year across the country. The data compiled by National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme under the Union Health Ministry showed that the maximum dengue deaths were reported from Tamil Nadu, where the disease claimed 63 lives followed by Maharashtra 41 lives.
  
  Last year, during the same time period, the disease claimed 245 lives, while more than one lakh 29 thousand cases were reported. In Delhi, Dengue claimed nine lives, while over nine thousand cases were reported.
  
• GAIL commissions India's second largest rooftop solar plant in UP
  State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd on 1st January said it has commissioned the country's second largest rooftop solar power plant. A company statement says that firm has installed a 5.76 MWp (Mega Watt peak) solar plant at its petrochemical complex at Pata in Uttar Pradesh.
  
  The plant over the roofs of warehouses covers a total area of 65,000 square meters. With an expected PLF of around 15 per cent annually, over 79 lakh KWh of electricity is targeted to be generated for captive use of India's largest gas-based petrochemicals plant.
  
  Tata Power Solar had in December 2015 commissioned a 12 MW solar rooftop project in Amritsar, which produces more than 150 lakh units of power annually and offset over 19,000 tonne of carbon emissions every year.
  
  India is planning to have 40 GW of rooftop photovoltaics (PV) by 2022. The Captive solar power initiative of GAIL will reduce carbon emissions by 6,300 tonnes per annum and help India achieve climate goals.
  
• Arunachal Pradesh declared Open Defecation Free
  Arunachal Pradesh has been declared Open Defecation Free. It has become the second state in the North East after Sikkim to achieve the status with the declaration of Upper Subansiri, Siang, and Changlang districts as officially Open Defecation Free.
  
  The project, undertaken under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), was carried through after the state government provided an additional incentive of eight thousand rupees per toilet, in addition to the state’s matching share and the support given by the Centre, raising the cost to 20,000 rupees. The state has achieved the ODF status before the the national target, which is October next year.
  
• Minister of Women and Child Development inaugurates online portal ‘NARI’
  Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi on 2nd January inaugurated an online portal NARI which will provide women citizens with easy access to information on government schemes and initiatives for women.
  
  Referring to the portal which contains information about schemes being run by both Central as well as the States Governments, she said 'for the first time since Independence, women of the country will be able to access information about benefits being provided to them by the Government.'
  
  To make this information easily accessible in one place, the NARI portal summarises more than 350 government schemes and other important information for the benefit of women, with more being added every day. It provides links to the ministries, departments and autonomous bodies offering these schemes as well as easy access to online applications and grievance redressal.
  
• Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Lok Sabha for constitutional status to the OBC Commission
  The Lok Sabha on 3rd January took up discussion on the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 for consideration and passing. In the last session, the Rajya Sabha had made certain amendments in the bill. The Constitution Amendment bill seeks to create a new commission with constitutional status for the OBCs at par with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  
  The bill carries most of the provisions it had in its original version passed by the Lok Sabha before the opposition got amendments passed in the Upper House in the last session.
  
  Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot moved amendments seeking to reject the amendments inserted in the original bill by the Rajya Sabha regarding composition of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
  
  Mr Gehlot said opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha had demanded that the Act should make provisions for a woman and a member from minority communities in the commission.
  
  He said he had agreed to make provision in the rules for inclusion of a woman member in the commission but there is no need for a quota for minority communities as a Minority Commission already exists.
  
  The bill also says that the proposed National Commission for Backward Classes will give its report concerning a state to the state government and not to the Governor as provided in the original bill passed by the Lok Sabha.
  
• Cabinet approves establishment of new AIIMS at Bilaspur
  The Cabinet on 3rd January gave its approval for establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The cost of the project is 1 thousand 3 hundred 51 crore rupees. The new AIIMS will be completed in a period of 48 months.
  
  The Institution will consist of a hospital with a capacity of 750 beds and trauma center facilities. It will also have a Medical college with an intake of 100 MBBS students per year and Nursing college with an intake of 60 B.Sc. (Nursing) students per year.
  
  The hospital will have 20 Speciality and Super-Speciality Departments including 15 Operation Theatres. It will also have an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine.
  
  Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh and Patna while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli is in progress.
  
  Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) have been sanctioned in 2015; two AIIMS have been sanctioned at Bathinda and Gorakhpur in 2016 and an AIIMS in Kamrup (Assam).
  
  
• Central government ministries join hands for a technology mission for railways
  Three central ministries have come together to drive a technology mission for Indian Railways, which would be beneficial for both the national transporter and academic and research institutions.
  
  A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Technology Mission for Indian Railways (TMIR) was signed on 4th January by the ministries of railways, human resource development (HRD), and science and technology. The agreement will “facilitate collaboration and cooperation” between the ministries.
  
  While the Indian Railways would get the world class technologies, academic and research institutions would get involved in numerous applied research projects which would help them in reorienting research towards national objectives.
  
  “This MoU will facilitate the co-financing of Technology Mission for Indian Railways by investment sharing for identified railway projects for applied research. The funding component of the railways ministry is 30 percent, the HRD ministry is 25 per cent and the department of science and technology (DST) 25 per cent.
  
  The indigenous technologies would successfully be developed with “win-win scenario” to all the consortium members. The Technology Mission will take up research and development projects in the areas of heavy haul, safety, energy, environment and urban railways.
  
  The projects will be implemented through a Mission Implementation and Coordination Committee having members from the three ministries, academia and the industry. The projects will be implemented in the national research and development labs and academic institutions. Collaborations, wherever essential, will be entered into with similar foreign institutions.
  
  The MoU was signed by TMIR chairman Professor N S Vyas, Alok Kumar, co-chairman, TMIR, on behalf of the Ministry of Railways, R Subrahmanyam, Additional Secretary, on behalf of Ministry of Human Resource Development and Dr Neeraj Sharma, Adviser, DST on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  
• PM Narendra Modi urges officers to take postings in backward district
  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5th January said uplifting backward districts of a region will transform the entire state and urged government officials to challenge themselves by taking postings in those districts.
  
  Modi said that by creating success stories in such backward districts -- which he dubbed the aspirational districts -- an environment of confidence would be created among people who would start believing that anything is possible.
  
  He said that relative backwardness of some regions is an injustice to the people of those regions. In that context, he added, this effort to develop 115 backward districts, is in keeping with the vision of Dr (B.R.) Ambedkar
  
  The NITI Aayog has identified 115 aspirational districts from different parts of the country which the government intends to transform by 2022.
  
  Modi added that uplifting the aspirational district of a region will transform the entire state and one could start with achieving low hanging fruits to create success stories to build confidence and motivation.
  
  The Prime Minister said that all-round and inclusive development was essential as even in the states with strong development indicators, there would be certain areas which would need greater push for development. He said that regional imbalances should not be allowed to increase indefinitely.
  
• CBI Court sentences Lalu Prasad Yadav to 3.5 years in prison
  RJD chief Lalu Prasad was on 6th January sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail by a CBI special court in a fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of money from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago.
  
  CBI court judge Shiv Pal Singh, who had convicted Prasad, along with 10 others on December 23, also imposed a fine of 10 lakh rupees on him for two cases in the scam. A CBI counsel said that he was fined 5 lakh rupees for each case, failing which he would serve another six months in jail.
  
  The court had convicted Prasad for offences of cheating, along with criminal conspiracy, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
  
  The scam is related to withdrawal of 89 lakh 27 thousand rupees from the Deogarh Treasury between 1990 and 1994 when Prasad was the chief minister of Bihar.
  
  This is the second fodder scam case in which Prasad has been jailed. He was sent to prison for five years on 30th September 2013.
  
• Venkaiah Naidu sends privilege notice against Rahul to LS speaker
  Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on 6th January sent a privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for further action, holding that "prima facie there is an issue of privilege". Naidu sent the notice to the Lok Sabha speaker for further action as Gandhi is a member of the Lower House.
  
  A complaint against Gandhi is already pending before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha, chaired by BJP veteran L K Advani, after the speaker forwarded the same to it.
  
  BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Bhupinder Yadav had given the privilege notice against Congress President Gandhi over a tweet put out by him in which he questioned the authority of the Rajya Sabha and questioned its decision.
  
  Yadav had alleged that there is a "breach of privilege" by Gandhi as he used derogatory words against Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, by twisting his name.
  
  Bilateral:
• India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear installations
   India and Pakistan on 1st January exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations between the two countries.
  
  The exchange took place through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad. The Agreement, which was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27th January 1991 provides, inter alia, that the two countries inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year.
  
  This is the twenty-seventh consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1st January, 1992.
  
• India ends $500-m missile deal talks with Israel
  India has decided to pull out of talks to procure ‘Spike’ anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) from Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Systems after protracted negotiations to buy 1,600 units for the Indian Army. The $500-million deal, which was almost finalised by the Defence Ministry last year to meet the long-pending demand of the Army’s infantry battalions, had gathered momentum when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel.
  
• Central Cabinet approves Indo-Myanmar agreement on land border crossing
  Cabinet has approved the Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing. The Agreement will facilitate regulation and harmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries.
  
  It will also facilitate movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries. The Agreement is an enabling arrangement for movement of people across India-Myanmar border. It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance interaction of the people of North Eastern States of India with the people of Myanmar.
  
  It would give a boost to the economy of the North East and allow us to leverage our geographical connections with Myanmar to boost trade and people to people ties.
  
  The Agreement will safeguard the traditional rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border which are accustomed to free movement across the land border.
  
• India, Indonesia call for ending state sponsorship of terror
  India and Indonesia unequivocally condemned all forms of terrorism irrespective of its motivation and origin. After co-chairing the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta on 5th January, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, both the nations expressed strong opposition to any selective approaches to deal with this global menace.
  
  The minister said, India and Indonesia called upon all countries to stop providing state sponsorship of terrorism and prevent their territories being used for establishing terrorist safe havens.
  
  Ms Swaraj said, during the discussions, there was clear recognition that India and Indonesia, as two close maritime neighbours, are natural partners in peace and prosperity.
  
  She said, both nations are two major countries in the Indo-Pacific region. She said Indonesia, as one of the largest countries and the biggest economy in ASEAN, has a critical role to play in evolution of the new security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region.
  
  Ms Swaraj said, both nations agreed on expansion of civil aviation links to further enhance bilateral economic and tourism ties.
  
  The two countries also agreed to work together for a balanced and sustainable trade by providing greater market access, both in goods and services.
  
  Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma called on Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla and discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
  
  Ms Swaraj arrived in Jakarta from Thailand on the second leg of her three-nation tour. She will also call on Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and have other official engagements, including an interaction with the representatives of the Indian community.
  
• India eager to enhance ties with ASEAN region, says Sushma Swaraj
  External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said, India wants to evolve a regional architecture based on the twin principles of shared security and shared prosperity in South-East Asian region.
  
  Inaugurating the 5th Round Table of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) India Network of Think Tanks in Jakarta, She said that India looks out for a deeper economic integration with the dynamic ASEAN region.
  
  The Minister said, India stresses on enhancing maritime security, trade and investment, education and cultural heritage among the grouping of ASEAN.
  
  Mrs. Sushma Swaraj reached Singapore to participate in ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference which began on 6th January.
  
  Economy:
• GST: E-way bill system to be implemented from 1 February, 2018
   The goods and services tax (GST) provision requiring transporters to carry an electronic way bill or e-way bill when moving goods between states will be implemented from February 1, to check evasion and boost revenue by up to 20 per cent.
  
  After GST implementation from July 1, the requirement was postponed due to an unready network. This was done even in the 17 states which in the pre-GST era had an established electronic challan or e-way bill system
  
  Once the e-way bill system is implemented, tax avoidance would become difficult, as the government would have details of all goods in transit above the value of Rs 50,000 and could spot a mismatch if either supplier or purchaser does not file tax returns
  
  The e-way bill for inter-state movement will be implemented from February 1 and for intra-state movement from June 1. The official said states had been given the option of choosing when they want to implement the intra-state e-way bill between February 1 and June 1.
  
  States had also been given the option to exempt movement of goods within 10 km radius, he said, adding all essential goods have been exempted from the requirement of carrying e-way bill.
  
  Besides plugging tax evasion, the e-way bill will boost revenues by 15-20 per cent, he said. The official said a pilot of e-way bill has been successfully run in Karnataka and the IT system is fully geared to meet any requirement. E-way bill is an electronic way bill for movement of goods which can be generated on the GSTN (common portal).
  
  Movement of goods of more than Rs 50,000 in value cannot be made by a registered person without an e-way bill. The e-way bill can also be generated or cancelled through SMS, he said. When an e-way bill is generated, a unique e-way bill number (EBN) is allocated and is available to the supplier, recipient, and the transporter, he added.
  
• Telangana: Govt rolls out 24-hour free-electricity supply for farming sector
  In Telangana, the government rolled out 24-hour free-electricity supply for farming sector on 1st January. About 23 lakh agricultural pumpsets across 31 districts of the state began getting uninterrupted electricity supply from zero hours on 1st January.
  
  With this, one of the assurances, to provide round the clock free electricity to farming sector, given by Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao during last elections has been fulfilled.
  
  This initiative of the state government has provided an assured source of irrigation to the agriculture land, out of which 84 per cent depend on tube wells and bore wells. The state Government has kept 7500 MW electricity ready to meet the demand.
  
  The free power supply to agriculture sector in the state confined to a few hours in a day and now the agricultural pumpsets will operate at the press of the button and also without any interruptions.
  
• Eight core sectors grow 6.8% in November 2017
  Eight core sectors growth hits at a fastest pace in more than a year at 6.8 percent in November 2017 on account of robust performance in segments like refinery, steel and cement.
  
  According to the data released by the commerce and industry ministry, eight industries coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had witnessed a growth of 3.2 percent in November 2016. A healthy growth in key sectors will have positive implications on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as these eight segments account for about 41 percent of the total factory output.
  
  Commenting on the data, Economic Affairs Secretary S C Garg described 6.8 percent rise in core sector output as an impressively growth.
  
• Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill
  Parliament has passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 with approval by Rajya Sabha on 2nd January.
  
  The Bill prohibits certain persons from submitting a resolution plan in case of defaults. They include willful defaulters, promoters or management of the company having an outstanding non-performing debt for over a year.
  
  It also has provisions to bar the sale of property of a defaulter to such persons during liquidation. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.
  
  Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, the process of declaring companies is cumbersome.
  
  This is why amendments are made to simplify the process from time to time. Earlier, initiating a discussion P Chidambaram of Congress described the clauses of the Bill as overinclusive.
  
  He apprehended that the Bill will enhance the risk of Indian companies going into foreign hands. Bhupendra Yadav of BJP welcomed the Bill.
  
• Parliament passes National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill
  Parliament has passed the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 with the Rajya Sabha approving it on 2nd January
  
  The Bill seeks to amend the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. The Bill allows the central government to increase the authorised capital of the Bank from 5 thousand crore rupees to 30 thousand crore rupees.
  
  The capital can be increased further by the government in consultation with the RBI. Currently, the Central government is holding 99.6 per cent share of the bank and the rest is with RBI. NABARD is responsible for providing and regulating facilities like credit for agricultural and industrial development in the rural areas. NABARD will concentrate on providing loan to small-scale industries related to agriculture and rural infrastructure.
  
• CCEA nod for implementation of Jal Marg Vikas Project
  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has given its nod for implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project, JMVP for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 at a cost of over 5 thousand 370 crore rupees with the technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank. The Project is expected to be completed by March, 2023.
  
  The alternative mode of transport will be environment-friendly and cost-effective and the project will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country.
  
  National Waterway-1 development and operations will lead to direct employment generation to the tune of 46 thousand and indirect employment of 84 thousand will be generated by vessel construction industry.
  
• Cabinet sanctions extension of Jute packing mandatory norms
  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar in the jute material for the Jute Year 2017-18. The decision, the Committee claimed, would sustain the core demand for the jute sector and support the livelihood of the workers and farmers dependent on the sector.
  
  The CCEA has extended the mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987. The approval mandates that 90 percent of the food grains and 20 percent of the sugar products shall be mandatorily packed in jute bags.
  
  The decision also mandates, in the first instance, the entire requirement for packing of foodgrains would be placed in jute bags thus, making a provision for 100 percent packing of food grains in jute bags subject to the ability of the jute industry to meet the requirement.
  
  The decision is expected to benefit farmers and workers located in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of the country particularly in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Tripura.
  
  Jute industry is predominantly dependent on Government sector which purchases jute products more than Rs. 5,500 crore every year.
  
  Considering that nearly 3.7 lakh workers and approximately 40 lakh farmers are dependent for their livelihood on the jute sectors, the government has been making concerted efforts for the development of jute sector; increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute, diversification of jute sector and also boosting and sustaining demand for jute products.
  
  With a view to boosting demand in the jute sector, the Government of India imposed Definitive Anti Dumping Duty on the import of jute goods from Bangladesh and Nepal with effect from January 5, 2017. As a result of these measures, 13 twine mills in Andhra Pradesh had resumed operation, benefitting 20000 workers. Further, the imposition of Definitive Anti Dumping Duty has provided scope for an additional demand of 2 lakh MT of jute goods in the domestic market for the Indian jute industry.
  
• Finance Ministry clears FDI proposals worth Rs 532 crore of Metaffinity Private Limited
  The Finance Ministry has approved FDI proposals worth 532 crore rupees of Metaffinity Private Limited. The company had sought approval for foreign investment of up to 49 percent by two foreign investors - M/S Canada pension plan investment board and Pantheon - HK project universe. It will make downstream investment in Religare Health Insurance company, an Indian company engaged in health insurance business.
  
  The ministry also approved FDI proposal of M/s - SMAS auto leasing India Pvt Ltd to undertake financial lease business in addition to the existing operating lease business.
  
• GDP growth during current fiscal to be 6.5%: Govt
  The Growth in GDP during 2017-18 has been estimated at 6.5 per cent as compared to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17. Addressing a press conference on first Advance Estimates of National Income 2017-18 in New Delhi on 5th January, Chief Statistician T C A Anant said, agriculture, forestry and fishing is likely to slow to 2.1 per cent in the current fiscal from 4.9 per cent in the preceding year.
  
  He said, The growth in manufacturing sector too is expected to decelerate to 4.6 per cent this fiscal, down from 7.9 per cent in 2016-17.
  
  He said, electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services sector is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent as compared to growth of 7.2 per cent in 2016-17.
  
  The Chief Statistician said, Construction sector is also expected to grow by 3.6 per cent as compared to growth of 1.7 per cent in 2016-17.
  
  He said, the estimated growth in Gross Value Added, GVA for the trade, hotels, transport and communication and services related to broadcasting services during 2017-18 is placed at 8.7 per cent as against growth of 7.8 per cent in the previous year.
  
  The data shows, the per capita income in real terms (at 2011-12 prices) during 2017-18 is likely to attain a level of `86660 as compared to `82269 for the year 2016-17.
  
  The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at 5.3 per cent during 2017-18, as against 5.7 per cent in the previous year.
  
• Defence Ministry clears arms procurement contracts worth 2,420 crore rupees for Navy and Army
  Defence Ministry has cleared contracts worth 2,420 crore rupees for Navy and Army which includes the procurement of P-8I Training Solution and Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare System (LICEWS).
  
  Defence Ministry said, the P-8I Training Solution, along with 10-year comprehensive maintenance service, will be bought from Boeing for around one thousand 950 crore rupees. This training solution accurately simulates P-8I aircraft and mission systems. It will help Indian Navy train and realistically rehearse for sophisticated missions involving P-8I aircraft, at a fraction of the cost of live aircraft training.
  
  The P-8I aircraft is equipped for long range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of broad area, maritime and littoral operations. The aircraft is capable of thrusting a punitive response and maintaining a watch over India’s immediate and extended areas of interest.
  
  The procurement of LICEWS will be done from Bharat Electronics Limited for 470 crore rupees. This system will equip Indian Army with upgraded communications infrastructure to effectively deal with advanced communications systems being used by terrorist groups.
  
• 10% gender gap in Jan Dhan accounts: study
  A World Bank paper has noted a 10% gender gap in opening accounts under the country’s flagship financial inclusion programme — Jan Dhan Yojana — with 73% men applying for the accounts against 63% women. Madhya Pradesh recorded the largest gender gap of 21%. The paper titled, ‘Making It Easier to Apply for a Bank Account: A Study of the Indian Market’ by Asli Demirguc-Kunt, Leora Klapper, Saniya Ansar and Aditya Jagati also noted an income gap — 64% being poorer adults and 71% richer adults — in applying for an account.
  
  The share of wage earners (72%) was higher than the share of adults who are out of the workforce and applied for an account (64%). Among adults with primary school education, 62% applied as compared with 70% of adults who had completed secondary school education (and 84 % of adults with a graduate degree).
  
  The survey was carried out between January and March of 2016 in 12 States — Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthann and Uttar Pradesh — which make up about 70% of the country’s population.
  
  The research said that despite initial successes, people who wished to apply for an account continued to incur a range of costs, including the cost of travelling to bank branches, the cost of collecting documentation and various other monetary costs. The confluence of these factors makes account opening a tedious task.
  
  It also pointed out that 40% of adults cited lack of trust in financial institutions for not opening an account.
  
  Sports:
• Indian golfer Shiv Kapur wins Royal Cup at Pattaya
  Indian golfer Shiv Kapur won the Royal Cup at Pattaya, on 31st December, which is his third Asian Tour title of 2017. The 35-year-old, who had just one win in almost 11 years till April this year, has now won three times in last eight months.
  
  Kapur first won on Asian Tour in his debut season in December 2005, but it took more than 11 years and four months for the next Asian Tour win, which came in April 2017. Now he has won three times in eight months. This latest win marks Kapur's fourth Asian Tour win and sixth international title as he won twice on European Challenge Tour also.
  
• Virat Kohli remains in 2nd spot in latest ICC Test rankings
  Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Australia's Steve Smith in the latest ICC Test rankings which were released on 31st December following the conclusion of the Melbourne and Port Elizabeth Tests.
  
  England's Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes series. England captain Joe Root is the other batsman to improve his ranking, when he moved up one place to join his opposite number from New Zealand, Kane Williamson, in fourth place.
  
  In the bowlers' rankings, there is no change in the top nine with England’s James Anderson leading the field. Anderson has finished on 892 points in number-one spot. India's Ravichandran Ashwin has finished at the third spot, while Ravindra Jadeja holds the fourth position. The only change in the top 10 is the return of South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel in 10th position.
  
  Morkel’s team-mate Keshav Maharaj has gained two places and is now at a career-high 16th position. Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh is the number-one ranked al-rounder and he is followed by India’s Ravichandran Ashwin.
  
• Viswanathan Anand bags bronze in World Blitz Chess Championship
  Indian chess Grand Master and five time World Champion Viswanathan Anand continued his excellent run bagging a bronze in the World Blitz Chess Championship at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 31st December following his gold winning performance in the Rapid section only a couple of days back.
  
  World Champion Magnus Carlsen won the tournament scoring 16 points and followed by Sergey Karjakin with 14.5 points out of the maximum possible 21 points.
  
  On December 31st, the second day of the championship, Anand won five games and drew five. His only loss in the championship was to the Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.
  
  Curiously Carlsen had lost two games in the championship and won the title well ahead of the others to prove his superiority over competition.
  
• Vidarbha defeats Delhi to win Ranji Trophy
  Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy for the first time with a nine-wicket win over Delhi at the Holkar stadium in Indore on the fourth and penultimate day of their final.
  
  After conceding a 252-run first innings lead, Delhi was bowled out for 280 in their second innings, setting a target of merely 29 runs for Vidarbha.
  
  Vidarbha lost only one wicket and took only five overs to chase down the target which gave them their first Ranji Trophy title.
  
  Awards:
• JNPT wins “Samudra Manthan - Caring Organisation of the Year” award
  India’s Premier Container Port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has won the “Samudra Manthan - Caring Organisation of the Year” award. The award instituted by Bhandarkar Shipping aims to fuel healthy competition in the maritime sector.
  
  Besides achieving operational excellence, JNPT provides excellent facilities to their staff like medical insurance, residential township with school, transport service, canteens, rest rooms, recreation, sports activities and regular training programs on various key topics.
  
  Persons in news:
• Vijay Keshav Gokhale: Vijay Keshav Gokhale will be the new Foreign Secretary of India. He will replace the incumbent Dr S. Jaishankar, who is completing his tenure on the 28th of this month.
  
  The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Gokhale's appointment. A 1981-batch IFS officer, Mr Gokhale is currently holding the charge of Secretary Economic Relations in the External Affairs Ministry.
  
• Anwar Jalalpuri: Prominent Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri, who translated Bhagwad Geeta into Urdu, passed away in Lucknow on2nd January. Jalalpuri wrote 'Rahraw se Rahnuma tak', 'Urdu Shayri Mein Geetanjali' and 'Urdu Shayri mein Geeta'. He was the recipient of Uttar Pradesh's Yash Bharti award.
  
• Vijay Mallya: A Delhi court on 4th January declared liquor businessman Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in a FERA violation case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Shehrawat passed the order after noting that Mallya failed to appear before it despite repeated summonses.
  
  The court said, Mallya failed to appear before it within 30 days, and no representation was made on his behalf, therefore his is declared to be a proclaimed offender. The court had in April last year issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against the liquor baron.
  
  In November 2016, the court had observed that Mallya had no inclination to return and had scant regard for the law of the land.
  
• TS Tirumurti: India's High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur T S Tirumurti was appointed the Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry on 5th January. According to the order issued by the personnel ministry, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment to the post, in place of Vijay Keshav Gokhale, who was recently named as the Foreign Secretary. Tirumurti is a 1985-batch officers of Indian Foreign Service.