PUNJAB

Centre wants state to stop free power sop

Having chided the Punjab Government repeatedly for giving Rs 7,700-crore free power to farmers, the Centre wants the state to end the freebie for all agricultural consumers and instead transfer the subsidy into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

This was conveyed to a delegation of the state government, summoned by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the NITI Aayog, in New Delhi yesterday.

They propose to club all agricultural subsidies given by the Centre (on seeds, fertilisers, machinery, crop insurance) and the state government (power subsidy and crop loan waiver) so that the same can be given to the farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Representatives of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana had also been called for the meeting. It is proposed that the farmers will buy implements and seeds and pay for power, so that the subsidy can be deposited into their bank accounts.

The DBT will ensure that only deserving farmers get the benefit. Sources said they informed the officials in Delhi that they had already started a pilot project of giving cashback on the power that farmers save while operating tubewell connections in six feeders of Fatehgarh Sahib, Nakodar, Mukerian and Jalandhar (involving 990 agricultural consumers).

Under this scheme, DBT of the cost of power saved will be made into farmers’ bank accounts. Their connections are being metered.

In Punjab, doing away with free power and giving subsidy through DBT can have political ramifications. This year, the power subsidy to the agricultural sector is to the tune of Rs 7,700 crore. This sector accounts for almost 30 per cent of the power consumed in the state. Farmer organisations, supported by Opposition parties, have been protesting against the pilot project, saying that it is the first step towards doing away with power subsidy.

Studies have shown that 81.52 per cent of free power in the state goes to the large and medium farmers, while just 18.48 per cent small and marginal farmers get this benefit.

INTERNATIONAL

· Tokyo Unveils Mascots for 2020 Olympics And Paralympics

Tokyo unveiled its long-awaited mascot for the2020 Olympic Games: a futuristic blue-checked, doe-eyed character with pointy ears and “special powers” that was picked by schoolchildren across mascot-mad Japan.
One has an athletic figure and a strong sense of justice.
The other is a cherry blossom-inspired superhero.

NATIONAL

Dr Harsh Vardhan Launches Mobile App

In an effort to transform environment protection into a peoples’ movement, a digital mobile application was launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Earth Sciences and Science & Technology in New Delhi.

The App, named “Dr Harsh Vardhan”, focuses on his social & public activities and involvement of citizens in “Green Good Deeds” movement, which urges people to perform at least one Green Good Deed every day.

Some of the 500 Green Good Deeds listed in the Mobile App include – planting trees, saving energy, conserving water, use of public transport and promoting carpool.

India’s first Aviation multi-skill development centre opens in Chandigarh

An aviation multi-skill development centre (MSDC) was opened in Chandigarh by aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

A CSR initiative of Airports Authority of India (AAI), this first-of-its-kind centre has been set up in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and is supported by the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC) of India.

The Rs 5.2 crore project is housed at Chandigarh’s old airport terminal building.

· Union Cabinet approves Action Plan for Champion Sectors in Services

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Commerce and Industry to give focused attention to 12 identified Champion Services Sectors Sectors (CSS)for promoting their development and realizing their potential. 12 identified CSS are Information Technology & Information Technology.
The Information Technology & Information Technology Enabled Services (IT & ITeS), Medical Value Travel, Transport and Logistics Services, Tourism and Hospitals.
The respective Ministries/Departments will finalize Action Plans and implementation timelines along with monitoring mechanism to monitor implementation of Scheme.

It will enhance the competitiveness of country’s service sectors through implementation of focused and monitored Action Plans.

· Union Cabinet Approves Anti-Trafficking Bill Draft

The apex anti-terror body National Investigation Agency (NIA)will be the nodal authority for probing cases of human trafficking after the government approved a proposal in this regard.
The Union Cabinet okayed the draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill, which also proposes a punishment of life imprisonment for repeat offenders.
The draft Bill divides various offenses into “trafficking” and “aggravated trafficking”.

GK bit – NIA

National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. NIA was created after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as need for a central agency to combat terrorism was realised.

It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states.

The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008.

Functioning of NIA:

To curb various aspects of terrorist financing, a Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been created in the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Cell maintains data base of terror financing and cases of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).

It also conducts part investigation into terror financing aspects of regular cases investigated by the NIA. For terror financing aspects of Naxalite groups operating in various parts of India, the TFFC Cell has conducted a number of verifications of bank accounts suspected to be linked with naxalite groups.

Various Special Courts have been established under Section 11 and 22 of the NIA Act 2008 for trail of the cases registered at various police stations of National Investigation Agency.

As per the NIA Act, 2008, the NIA Special Courts have all powers of the court of sessions under Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

· DAC approves Rs. 9,435-crore procurement proposals for three services

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved various procurement proposals for three services estimated at about Rs. 9,435 crore.
The proposals include the purchase of 41,000 light machine guns (LMGs) and over 3.5 lakh close quarter battle (CQB).
LMGs and CQB carbines: The carbines will be procured at cost of Rs. 4,607 crore and LMGs Rs. 3,000 crore.

1,28,509 Affordable Houses Sanctioned for Urban Poor under PMAY(urban)

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved the construction of 1,28,509 more affordable houses for the benefit of urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) with an investment of Rs. 9,364 cr with central assistance of Rs. 1,928 cr.

The approval was given in the 31st meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee in its meeting.

The projects where sanctioned across 184 cities in the states of Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Puducherry(UT).

Roger Federer named World Sportsman of the Year 2017

Twenty-time tennis grand slam champion Roger Federer has won the 2017 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards.

The 36-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 after nearly five years without a major.

Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning her 23rd grand slam in 2017.

Formula 1 constructors’ champions Mercedes picked up the Team of the Year accolade, and wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug won Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

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