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Important Current Affairs 20th July 2017

Important Current Affairs 20th July 2017

Current Affairs 20th July 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu Inaugurates International Technical Seminar on Global Trends in Track Technologies & fast paced construction organised by Institution of Permanent Way Engineers


Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu Inaugurated an International Technical Seminar of the Institution of Permanent Way Engineers (I.P.W.E)(India) today i.e. 20th July, at New Delhi. 
●    The topic of the seminar was Global Trends in Track Technologies and Fast Paced Construction. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital, Member Engineering, Railway Board Shri Aditya Kumar Mital and other Railway Board Members and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
●    15 speakers including International experts spoke on systems of High Speed Rail viz. Japanese “Shinkansen”, SNCF (France) and Spain High Speed Rails(HSR) besides history of  track managements systems, track components, rail fasteners etc.  and technological standards adopted on HSR.  
●    The seminar was organised in four sessions viz. Global Trends in Track Technologies Session I & Session II, Fast Paced Construction Session III & IV. 
●    The Technical Session also covered Technologies for Fast Paced Construction, Project Delivery Methods in countries like Japan, Austria, USA besides the methods being adopted by track engineers in the on-going Dedicated Freight Corridor besides mechanised track laying machines. 
●    Shri Prabhu also released the Business Plan of Engineering Department of Indian Railway, a RDSO handbook on Construction of Earthquake resistant engineering besides launching Diploma in Engineering by IPWE in keeping with Skill Development Mission of Indian Railways.


Union Steel Minister launches dedicated E-Portal for online sales of steel products in North Easetrn Region 


Union Steel Minister Shri Birender Singh today launched a dedicated e-portal for online sales of steel products by RINL through MSTC Metal Mandi, in North Eastern Region of the country. 
●    Minister of State for Steel, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Secretary, Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma, CMD, RINL, Shri P.Madhusudan and CMD, MSTC Shri B.B.Singh were among those present on the occasion. 
●    In his address Shri Birender Singh remarked that the E-Portal is an excellent example of synergy between ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ missions initiated by Hon’ble Prime Minister. 
●    He further added, “In February this year, when we set up a coordination committee for pooling of resources between PSUs, we had potential for projects like this in mind. 
●    I am happy that this project is being started and it should serve as an example for more such innovative and out-of-the-box projects. 
●    The Ministry had organized first regional conference for enhancing steel consumption in North-East. 
●    The region is being given top priority by our Government and lot of new projects are being started and executed there. 
●    Our steel companies must tap this market and serve their steel needs. Let us try to find out more such areas where our PSUs can work together for achieving economies of scale, reaching new markets and sharing of best practices.”


Ministry of Rural Development to launch Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana 


The Ministry of Rural Development will launch a new sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) which will be named as “Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY)”. 
●    Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Ram Kripal Yadav said that the main objectives of AGEY are to provide an alternative source of livelihoods to members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas. 
●    This will provide safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services like e-rickshaws, 3 and 4 wheeler motorised transport vehicles to connect remote villages with key services and amenities including access to markets, education and health for the overall economic development of the area.
●    The Minister said that the sub-scheme will be implemented in 250 blocks in the country on a pilot basis for a period of 3 years from 2017-18 to 2019-20. 
●    The States have been informed about the number of blocks allocated to them to take up this sub-scheme in the pilot phases. 
●    One of the options proposed to be given under the sub-scheme is that the Community Based Organisation (CBO) will provide interest free loan from its own corpus to Self Help Group member for purchase of the vehicle.


Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership 

Project for setting up of the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) in India was sanctioned during September, 2010 with a proposal for construction in phases. 
●    The construction activities of Phase-I buildings have been completed and the construction activities for the next phase is being taken up. 
●    The facility is operational in the buildings completed in Phase-I. 
●    Setting up of the facility is being done indigenously by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). 
●    This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.


Lok Sabha passes Indian Institutes of Information Technology Bill, 2017


The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill, 2017 to allow 15 IIITs established on a PPP model to grant degrees and get statutory status.
●    The bill also seeks to grant institute of national importance status to IIITs on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
●    The Union Government had initiated the opening of 20 IIITs with private partnership of which 15 are already operational. 
●    These engineering and tech schools were established at a cost of Rs. 128 crore each. 
●    The centre had contributed 50% of the amount, states 35% and private partners remaining 15% (i.e. 50:35:15 ratio). 
●    However, these institutes were not been eligible to grant degrees.

Ram Nath Kovind elected as 14th President of India with huge margin

NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind on 20 July 2017 won the Presidential elections. 
●    With this, he becomes the 14th President (in person) of India. 
●    He won the presidential election by defeating the opposition candidate Meira Kumari by 1086 votes.
●    In an electoral college, Ram Nath Kovind secured 2930 votes valued 702044, while, Meira Kumari managed to get only 1844 votes valued 367340.
●    The victory of Ram Nath Kovind was announced by Lok Sabha Secretary General and Returning officer Anoop Mishra.
●    The counting of the votes for the Presidential election was done at the Parliament House complex.  The results were declared after 8-round counting of the votes.
●    President elect Ram Nath Kovind will be administered oath of office by Chief Justice of India on 25 July 2017 in a special function at the Central hall of Parliament.


UIDAI launches mAadhaar app for syncing Aadhaar data on mobile phone

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 19 July 2017 launched the mAadhaar app for syncing Aadhaar data on the mobile phone, a move that will negate the need to carry the Aadhaar card in wallets.
●    At present, the mAadhaar app is only available on Android phones and can be downloaded on the Google Play Store.
●    Once you register in mAadhar app, your Aadhaar card profile including phone number, address and other details get stored on the app.
●    The app let users share their Aadhaar profile and data with third-party applications through NFC, QR codes, Barcodes or even through email.
●    In order to share details, there is a sharing of QR code and eKYC data by Aadhaar Number holder system.
●    Before downloading the Aadhaar app on Android phone, users need to make sure the mobile number on the smartphone is the same as the one linked to Aadhaar card.

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