Important Current Affairs 20th August 2019

NATIONAL:

Amit Shah laid foundation stone of Karbi Bhawan and Dimasa Bhawan

• The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Karbi Bhawan and Dimasa Bhawanof Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Diphu, Assam and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Haflong, at Dwarka, Gujarat. The Karbi Bhawan and Dimaa Bhawan will be constructed with a cost of Rs.130 crore. They will give an identity to their unique culture. It aims to take forward North East (NE) while preserving its rich cultural identity, along with its development. The Central government aims for the overall development, prosperity, and peace in the North East.

Center's measure for NE region:

The Centre has increased the funds allocated for North East to 258% between 13th and 14th Finance Commissions. The amount increased from Rs.87,000 crore to Rs.3,13,375 crore. Centre also has increased various schemes for Northeast such as Skill Development centre, setting up of Medical College and  Law College, among others.

DoNER at doorsteps:

Centre has been not focusing to bring North East closer to rest of India, but to bring rest of India closer to North East. It has planned to set up a ‘camp secretariat’ every month in North East. This initiative was named 'DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region, India) at doorsteps'. Centre also is working towards the North East road sector development scheme and train connectivity.

AGREEMENTS AND MOUS:

India to train Maldivian civil services officers training.

• The India-Maldives MoU on Training and Capacity Building Programme for  Maldivian civil services officers training has been made operationalized in the ceremony held at the Civil Services Commission of Maldives at Male. The training will take place in three phases upon the agreement between the two countries. The first 3 training programs will be held in September and November for 60 officers and in December for 30 officers of top management level.

High-level discussion:

The training program was operationalised after the discussions between the senior officials of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and the Maldives Civil Service Commission. A high-level discussion was also held between An Indian delegation led by Shri V.Srinivas, Additional Secretary Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and a Maldives delegation led by Dr. Aly Shameem, Chairman of the Civil Services Commission of Maldives.

The subject matter of the training programs includes public administration, e-governance and service delivery, public policy and governance, information technology, urban development and planning, ethics in administration and challenges in the implementation of SDGs.

MoU between India and Maldives:

During the Prime Minister of India's visit to the Maldives in June 2019, India signed MoU to provide training and Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian civil servants. Maldives Civil Service Commission signed with India's National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) with the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. The aim to emphasize India's Neighbourhood First policy.

India is now providing its full support to the Maldives in realizing its socio-economic development and strengthening of democratic and independent institutions.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Shavendra Silva appointed as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army.

• Sri Lankan field commanderappointed the new Army Commander, the President's office announced.Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, 55 take charge as incumbent Army chief Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake's service. President Maithripala Sirisena's office announced that Lt Gen Shavendra Silva named as the new army commander.Silva headed the Army's 58th Division in the final battle against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in the final stages of the civil war in 2009.

Silva's name was mentioned in the resolution passed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2013.

Critics say Silva's appointment as the Army chief may strain Sri Lanka's cooperation in UN Peacekeeping operations and the defence cooperation between the US and Sri Lanka. After the brutal civil war ended, Silva served in New York as Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN Mission.

According to a United Nations report, some 45,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the last months of the war alone. The United Nations and human rights groups have urged the Sri Lankan government to establish a war crimes tribunal to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity, both by the military and the Tamil militant groups.Sri Lankan governments have resisted attempts to establish an international probe, saying it is an internal issue of the island nation.The promotion of Lieutenant-General General Silva severely compromises Sri Lanka's commitment to promote justice and accountability.

UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Founded: April 2006

Formation: 15 March 2006

DAYS:

Sadbhavana Diwas observed on 20 August.

• Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated on 20 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This year will be the 75th Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

On this day national integration, peace, love, affection and communal harmony among all Indians are encouraged. Shri Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay. Mr Rajiv Gandhi youngest Prime Minister of India.

Rajiv Gandhi

He was the youngest Prime Minister of the country. He became Prime Minister at the age of 40. Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister. He served from 1984-89.

He contributed greatly to the development of the country. He announced a National Policy on Education in 1986 to modernise and expand higher education programs across India. He founded a central government based institution namely Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya System in 1986 for the upliftment of the rural section of the society providing them free residential education from 6th till 12 class. Due to his efforts MTNL established in 1986 and also created public call offices (PCOs) for spreading telephones in rural areas.