Important Current Affairs 29th August 2017

Important Current Affairs 29th August 2017

Current Affairs 29th August 2017: NATIONAL NEWS

Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman, Railway Board pens down a letter for Indian Railwaymen across the country 

The Chairman Railway Board Shri Ashwani Lohani has called upon the railwaymen across the country to always be on guard to ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instill a renewed sense of confidence in railway passengers. 
●    He emphasized that safety should always remain principle focused area.
●    In a letter sent to all railwaymen, Shri Lohani stressed the need to resolve to bring about an all-round improvement in the working of the railways so that we are able to satisfactorily meet the hopes,  expectations and aspirations of the vast multitude.
●    Referring to the committed workforce of Indian Railways, the Chairman Railway board said that the sincerity, dedication and professional capability of the railway employees, both officers and staff is indeed unparalleled. 
●    It is the men on the field who, regardless of their personal inconveniences and hardships, ensure that the wheels of the Nation keep moving surely and safely.  
●    This is what makes the Indian Railways the most visible symbol of dynamic delivery in our country.

Centre allows States/UTs to take control measures to ensure adequate availability of onion at reasonable prices

As part of its efforts to ensure that the prices of essential commodities are kept under control, Government has taken a decision to enable the States/UTs to impose control measures on traders/dealers of onion to ensure adequate availability of essential commodity at reasonable prices. 
●    On 25.08.2017, Government has notified this decision vide Order SO No. 2785 (E). States may now impose stock limits on onions and undertake various measures like de-hoarding operations, action against speculators and profiteers.
●    This has been necessitated due to the abnormal rise in prices of onions in recent weeks particularly from July end of this year onwards, though the production and supply of onions in the market is better than last year during the same period. 
●    As per all India average retail price, the prices have increased from Rs. 15 per kg to Rs. 28.94 per kg. In the Metros the rise has been even steeper, Rs. 31 per kg in Chennai, Rs. 38 per kg in Delhi, Rs. 40 per kg in Kolkata and Rs. 33 per kg in Mumbai.

Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurates 92nd Foundation Course, LBSNAA

The 92nd Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie was inaugurated today, by Union Minister of Textiles and Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. 
●    Wishing the young officers all the best in their careers, Smt. Irani exhorted them to inculcate sensitivity to the underprivileged and to look upon themselves as custodian of citizens of India.  
●    She hoped that the Officer Trainees would work enthusiastically to bring development to the most backward parts of the country. She asked them to embrace technology through Digital India initiatives for better service delivery.  
●    The Minister expressed the hope that the best practices of the public sector and private sector are imbibed by the Officer Trainees, resulting in a better India.  
●    Smt. Irani administered the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of India, to the Officer Trainees. 
●    After the inaugural function, the Minister also interacted with the trainees over lunch, at the Officers’ Mess at the institute.

Uttar Pradesh gets 41,173 more houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Affordable housing in urban areas is gaining momentum in Uttar Pradesh with the State getting 41,173 more houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). 
●    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sanctioned 2,17,900 more houses for six States including Uttar Pradesh taking the total houses sanctioned so far to 26,13,568 with a total investment of 1,39,621 cr. Central assistance of 40,597 cr has been approved for construction of these houses.
●    In the latest sanctions, Andhra Pradesh has got 1,20,894 more affordable houses followed by Uttar Pradesh-41,173, Assam-16,700, Gujarat-15,222, Jharkhand-14,017 and  Maharashtra-9,894.
●    Andhra Pradesh is far ahead of others in sanctions under PMAY(Urban) accounting for 20.71% of all the houses sanctioned so far.

Supreme Court judge Justice PC Pant demits office

Supreme Court judge Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant retired after a tenure of little over three years, bringing the vacancies in the apex court to six.
●    Justice Pant, who became a Supreme Court judge on August 13, 2014, was one of the few judges to have been elevated to the apex court from the lower judiciary.
●    With his retirement, the strength of the Supreme Court has come down to 25 judges from 31, including the Chief Justice of India. A Supreme Court judge retires at the age of 65 years.
●    During his tenure in the top court, Justice Pant became a part of various historical and path-breaking judgements.
●    He was a part of the bench which held a midnight hearing upholding the death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon.
●    Justice Pant was also part of a bench which had upheld the constitutional validity of the criminal defamation law, saying that the Right to Life under Article 21 includes right to reputation.

PM Modi to attend BRICS summit in China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Xiamen in China to attend the BRICS summit which will be held from September 3-5, the ministry of external affairs said on Tuesday.
●    The announcement of Modi's visit comes a day after India and China ended their 73-day standoff in Dokalam by withdrawing their troops from the area.
●    "At the invitation of the President of People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen in China's Fujian province during September 3-5, 2017 to attend the 9th BRICS Summit," MEA said.
●    From China, the Prime Minister will travel to Myanmar for a state visit from September 5 to 7 at the invitation of Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw.
●    It will be Modi's first bilateral state visit to Myanmar.
●    "During the visit, Prime Minister will hold discussions with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on matters of mutual interest and also call on President U Htin Kyaw. 
●    Apart from his engagements in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, he will visit Yangon and Bagan," MEA said.