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Arun Jaitley chaired the Commonwealth Finance MinistersтАЩ Meeting as well as the Governing Council Meeting of the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley chaired the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting held at IMF Headquarters in Washington D.C. yesterday. During the meeting, two important issues- the ‘Economics of Climate Change and Financing Climate Adaptation and Mitigation’; and ‘International Taxation-a Commonwealth Conversation around the Panama Papers’ were discussed and deliberated. In the presence of the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, the Standard Chartered Bank and Bank of Baroda signed an MoU on Commonwealth Small States Trade Finance Facility. This finance facility is expected to make available up to US $100 million of incremental trade finance over a period of three years. During the meeting, as part of the voluntary contributions, India also pledged £1,022,100 to Commonwealth Fund for technical cooperation. 

тЧП    The Finance Minister attended the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Working Dinner where discussions centered around the global outlook, key risks for the global and national economies and the proposals made by the Global Forum and the Financial Action Task Force to improve implementation of the beneficial ownership standard. 
тЧП    During the course of the day, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also held a number of bilateral meetings with British Secretary of State, US Treasury Secretary, Finance Minister of Bhutan, Finance Minister of Bangladesh, and CEO of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The bilateral trade and investment ties were the focal point of each of these meetings for ensuring greater economic cooperation. 

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Maharashtra becomes 17th State to join UDAY

Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) at the two-day State Power Ministers Conference in Vadodara today. 
тЧП    Under UDAY, sixteen states/UT have already signed the MoU till date, Maharashtra being the seventeenth. The combined DISCOM debt, including Central PSU dues, that would be restructured in respect of these states is around Rs.2.57 lakh crores, which is around 68% of the total outstanding DISCOM debt as on 30th September, 2015. 
тЧП    An overall net benefit of approximately Rs.9725 crores would accrue to Maharashtra by opting to participate in UDAY, by way of cheaper funds, reduction in AT&C losses, interventions in energy efficiency, coal reforms etc. during the period of turnaround. 
тЧП    Under UDAY, Maharashtra Government has committed to take over 75% of DISCOM’s non-capex debt of around Rs.6600 crores during the current year. Balance 25% of such debt remaining with the DISCOM would be converted into Bonds or repriced at cheaper rates. This would reduce the interest burden of the State/DISCOM by Rs.595 crores. 
тЧП    Through compulsory Distribution Transformer metering, consumer indexing & GIS mapping of losses, upgrade/change transformers & meters, smart metering of high-end consumers, feeder audit, among other steps, AT&C losses and transmission losses would be brought down, besides eliminating the gap between cost of supply of power and realisation. The reduction in AT&C losses of MSEDCL to 14.39 % and transmission losses of the State to 3.75% is likely to bring additional revenue of around Rs.2200 crores during the period of turnaround. 
тЧП    While efforts will be made by the State Government and the DISCOM to improve the operational efficiency of the DISCOM, and thereby reduce the cost of supply of power, the Central government would also provide incentives to the DISCOM and the State Government for improving Power infrastructure in the State and for further lowering the cost of power. 
тЧП    The Central schemes such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Power Sector Development Fund or such other schemes of Ministries of Power and New & Renewable Energy are already providing funds for improving Power Infrastructure in the State and additional/priority funding would be considered under these schemes, if the State/DISCOM meet the operational milestones outlined in the scheme. 

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Health Secretary inaugurates Cohort Study Centre┬а


Shri C.K. Mishra, Secretary (HFW) inaugurated AIIMS Cohort Study Centre, here today. Launching the project, he stated that this study will go a long way in preventing many diseases and will have a generational impact. Speaking at the function, Shri Mishra further added that this study will provide valuable data on the health needs of the country and will have landmark impact on the kind of work AIIMS is doing.
тЧП    The AIIMS Cohort Study is unique and probably one of its kind combining conventional and novel risk factors, genomics and neuroimaging to determine protective and risk factors for stroke and cognitive decline. Unique also in a way that AIIMS is going to people, rather than people coming to AIIMS. By creating awareness about healthy aging and making assessment of their general and brain health, the study provides an opportunity for people to prevent disease and promote their health. By carrying out repeated general and brain health assessment through MRI and memory testing and genetic testing, the study will throw light on novel protective and predictive factors. The knowledge and understanding thus gained will help the people to prevent stroke and cognitive decline.
тЧП    The focus of the study is to determine genetic, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors that are protective or risk factors for the occurrence of stroke, heart attack or cognitive decline in persons aged 50 years and above. Dr. Kameshwar Prasad, Head of Neurology, is the Principal Investigator of the study. The study is supported by the Department of Bio-Technology, M/o Science & Technology, Government of India with contributions from the Erasmus University, Netherlands.
тЧП    India has made outstanding gains in terms of increase in life-expectancy. As a result, India’s older population will increase dramatically over the next four decades. Population above 60 years age is estimated to increase from 100 million in 2011 to 323 million in 2050. This demographic transition is set to increase disease burden due to various non-communicable diseases. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, cerebro vascular diseases are likely to top the list of causes of disease burden.
тЧП    Also present at the function were Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof. M C Misra, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, and Mr. Jelle Nijdam, Counsellor for Science, Technology & Innovation, Embassy of The Netherlands along with faculty and seniors officers from the AIIMs.

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All ASI Protected Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites Declared Polythene Free Zones


All ASI Protected Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites have been declared ‘Polythene Free Zones’. Advisory has been issued to all State Governments/UTs to support ASI in keeping Monuments Polythene Free up to 300 meters from the protected boundaries of the Monuments. This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism while briefing the media persons on the various initiatives of Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism during Swachhata Pakhwada 16th – 30th September, 2016. He was addressing a Joint Press Conference on “Swachh Bharat Mission” along with Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Rural Development and Drinking Water & Sanitation here today.
 
тЧП    The Minister said that ASI has ranked top 25 Adarsh Monuments on the basis of Cleanliness parameters such as amenities like toilets, green lawns, Polythene Free Zone, signage for awareness, disabilities access, drinking water and provision for garbage bins etc. “Rani ki Vav (Gujarat)” a World Heritage Site has been declared as the cleanest iconic place in the country.
тЧП    Dr. Mahesh Sharma further informed that 75 more Adarsh Monuments protected by ASI have been identified to be included in the ‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’ launched by the Ministry of Tourism. With this a total of 100 Adarsh Monuments protected by ASI will be included in the ‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’.  This App was launched in February 2016 and is monitored by the Project Monitoring Unit of Swachh Bharat Mission in Ministry of Tourism.
тЧП    The Minister said that since the general public and the tourists are the largest stakeholders in keeping the monuments clean, the Ministry of Tourism has decided to facilitate the general public to communicate their complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in and around tourist destinations.This useful mobile App enables a citizen to take photograph of garbage at the monument and upload the same along with his/her remarks. The application then sends an SMS to the ASI Nodal Officer concerned with the monument upon receipt of which the Nodal Officer gets the garbage cleared/removed. The Nodal Officer thereafter sends confirmation about the redressal of the complaint through an SMS to the complainant. This Mobile App is available on Google Search Engine as ‘Swachh Paryatan’.

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Indian Bridge Management System launched

To make sure that the bridges across India remains safe, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on 4 October 2016 launched the Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) in New Delhi.
тЧП    IBMS is being developed to create an inventory of all bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair and rehabilitation work can be carried out based on the criticality of the structure.
тЧП    IBMS is the largest platform in the world owned by a single owner, with database that could exceed one lakh fifty thousand bridge structures.
тЧП    So far one lakh and fifteen thousand bridges have been inventoried, of which eighty five thousands are culverts and the rest are bridges.
тЧП    At the time of creation, each bridge was assigned with a unique identification number or National Identity Number based on the state, RTO zone and whether it is situated on a National Highway, State Highway or is a district road.

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UN Court Rejects Disarmament Case against India

The United Nations’ highest court on Wednesday rejected nuclear disarmament cases filed by the Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands against Britain, India and Pakistan, saying it did not have jurisdiction.
тЧП    The International Court of Justice ruled that the Marshall Islands had failed to prove that a legal dispute over disarmament existed between it and the three nuclear powers before the case was filed in 2014, and that “consequently the court lacks jurisdiction.”
тЧП    It took a casting vote by the court’s President Ronny Abraham to break an eight-eight deadlock between the 16 judges on the question of jurisdiction in the case against Britain.
тЧП    In the cases against India and Pakistan, the margin was nine-seven.
тЧП    Phon van den Biesen, a Dutch lawyer who represented the Marshall Islands, said he was deeply disappointed by the rulings.


 

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HIV and AIDS Bill Amendments Approved

The Union Cabinet on 5 October 2016 approved the amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014.
тЧП    The HIV and AIDS Bill, 2014 was drafted to safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV.
тЧП    It seeks to address HIV-related discrimination, strengthen the existing programme by bringing in legal accountability and establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances.
тЧП    It seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS, prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS.
тЧП    It seeks to provide for informed consent and confidentiality with regard to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard rights of persons living with HIV. 
тЧП    It aims to enhance access to health care services by ensuring informed consent and confidentiality for HIV-related testing, treatment and clinical research.

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Aadhaar must for LPG subsidy after November


The Union Government has made Aadhaar card mandatory for availing cooking gas (LPG) subsidies after November 2016. 
тЧП    In this regard, the Union Petroleum Ministry has asked Oil marketing companies (OMCs) to facilitate enrollments of Aadhaar of the consumers to avail the subsidy. 
тЧП    Currently, the government gives 12 LPG cylinders at subsidised rates per household in a year. 
тЧП    The subsidy on every LPG cylinder is transferred directly into bank accounts of individuals who then buy the cooking fuel at market rates. 
тЧП    The use of Aadhaar as identifier for delivery of government services/subsidies/ benefits will simplifies the delivery processes of government. 
тЧП    It will also bring in transparency and efficiency in the delivery processes by plugging leakages and enable beneficiaries to get their entitlements from Government directly to them without any middlemen. 
тЧП    Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique number which acts as a proof of identity and address anywhere in the country. It is considered as the world’s largest national identification project. 
 

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Impasse Ends, Karnataka to release Cauvery Water Finally

Karnataka on 3 October 2016 started releasing Cauvery water from Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam. 
тЧП    It was released after the legislature passed a Resolution authorizing the state government to take appropriate decisions to release water.
тЧП    The resolution states that the government will take an appropriate decision regarding the release of water for irrigation purposes after ensuring the drinking water requirements of the state.
тЧП    The move comes after the Supreme Court asked Karnataka government to appraise it whether it has released water to Tamil Nadu or not. 
тЧП    On 30 September 2016, the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to discharge 6000 cusecs water from 1 to 6 October 2016.
тЧП    Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that the government is setting up a technical panel to assess the ground realities to defuse the wrangle between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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Jharkhand First State to Implement DBT in Kerosene

Jharkhand on 1 October 2016 became India’s first state to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene. 
тЧП    The scheme is being implemented in four identified districts of the State namely Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jamtara.
тЧП    In a statement, Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry said that under the DBT Scheme, PDS kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price and the subsidy is being transferred to consumers directly into their bank accounts. 
тЧП    This initiative is aimed at rationalising subsidy and plugging the leakages.
тЧП    The government had plans to implement the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in 33 districts identified by 9 State Governments by 1 April 2016. 
тЧП    The identified states were namely, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

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