Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 August 2016 launched 70 Saal Azaadi, Yaad Karo Kurbani celebrations in Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh. Alirajpur is the birthplace of freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad.
The Yaad Karo Kurbani is a 15-day programme. It is aimed at celebrating 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement and 70 years of Independence.
•    The 70 Saal Azaadi, Yaad karo Qurbani campaign is aimed at developing a feeling in every person that nation is first and individual is secondary.
•    It seeks to provide an opportunity for the people to recall the supreme sacrifices made by freedom fighters during freedom struggle.
•    The goal of the campaign is to inform the youngsters about the unsung heroes and the history of the freedom struggle.
•    The Quit India Movement is also known as the India August Movement (August Kranti).
•    It was a civil disobedience movement launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee.
•    It was launched by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on 8 August 1942, during World War II.
•    The movement’s demand was an end to British Rule of India.
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The financial year 2015-16 saw record tea production at 1,233 million kg (mn kg) and exports crossing 230 mn kg after 35 years. 
•    India exported 232.9 mn kg, valued at Rs 4,493 crore. In 1980-81, export was 231.7 mn kg; it had since not crossed that level.
•    Of the production, that of crush-tear-curl (CTC) was 91 per cent of the total, at 1,121 mn kg, up 23.2 mn kg.
•    Tea Board data shows total domestic production grew by three per cent or nearly 36 mn kg from the year before. 
•    South Indian gardens saw 224.6 mn kg, a decline by 16.8 mn kg  or nearly seven per cent, due to adverse climatic conditions and labour issues in Kerala.
•    Among major growing states, the share of small growers was the highest in Tamil Nadu at 53 per cent, followed by West Bengal at 40 per cent and Assam at 27.6 per cent.
 

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the rates for Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) for various bands of spectrum for which auction are going to be conducted shortly. 
•    With this decision the path is clear for issuance of the Notice Inviting Application for spectrum auction by the Department of Telecommunications. 
•    Spectrum acquired in forthcoming auction in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 & 2500 MHz band is to be charged at the rate of 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) excluding the revenue from wire-line services. 
•    The weighted average of SUC rates across all spectrum assigned to an operator (whether assigned administratively or through auction or through trading) in all access spectrum bands including BWA spectrum obtained in 2010 auction shall be applied for charging SUC subject to a minimum of 3% of AGR excluding revenues from wire-line services. 
•    The amount of SUC payable by the operators during 2015-16 at weighted average derived after taking into consideration the spectrum acquired in the coming auction and excluding the spectrum in 2300 MHz/2500 MHz band acquired/ allocated prior to 2015-16, shall be treated as the floor amount of the SUC to be paid by the operators. 
•    This will facilitate to move to a simple, transparent and flat ad-valorem SUC regime in accordance with the law and avoid creative accounting to bypass the revenues.
 

Rajya Sabha on 3 August 2016 passed The Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014 to introduce the goods and services tax (GST). 
•    The Bill was introduced and passed in Lok Sabha in May 2015. 
•    The bill will now go back to the Lok Sabha to incorporate the amendments approved by the Rajya Sabha. 
•    For goods and services that pass through several states, or imports, the Centre will levy another tax, the Integrated GST (IGST).
•    Alcohol for human consumption has been kept out of the purview of GST.
•    Initially, GST will not apply to (a) petroleum crude, (b) high speed diesel, (c) motor spirit (petrol), (d) natural gas and (e) aviation turbine fuel. 
•    Tobacco and tobacco products will be subject to GST. The centre may also impose excise duty on tobacco.
•    Central Taxes replaced by GST Bill
•    Central Excise Duty
•    Additional Duties of Excise and Customs
•    Special Additional Duty of Customs (SAD)
•    Service Tax
•    Cesses and Surcharges on Supply of goods and services
•    State Taxes Subsumed in the GST Bill
•    VAT
•    Central Sales Tax
•    Purchase Tax
•    Luxury Tax
•    Entry Tax
•    Entertainment Tax
•    Taxes on advertisements, lotteries, betting, gambling
•    State Cesses and Surcharges

Ministry of Urban Development today approved an investment of Rs.4,404 cr in augmenting water supply, sewerage networks, drainage, urban transport and public and green spaces in urban areas in 8 States and UTs under  Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for the current financial year. An inter-ministerial Apex Committee chaired by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(Urban Development) has approved the State Level Annual Action Plans (SAAP) of these 8 States/UTs.
•    Investments approved were; Karnataka – Rs.1,625 cr, Andhra Pradesh-Rs.877 cr, Bihar-Rs.775 cr, Telangana-Rs.555 cr, Haryana-Rs.525 cr, Nagaland-Rs.40 cr, Dadra, Nagar & Haveli-Rs.3.70 cr and Andaman & Nicobar Islands-Rs.3.18 cr.
•    Total central assistance to be provided to these 8 States and UTs is Rs.2,085 cr and the details are: Karnataka-Rs.772 cr, Bihar-Rs.388 cr, Andhra Pradesh-Rs.352 cr, Telangana-Rs.277 cr, Nagaland-Rs.36 cr besides the total project  to be borne by the central government for the two Union Territories.
•    Earlier during the current financial year i.e 2016-17, the Ministry of Urban Development approved total investments of Rs.19,213 cr under Atal Mission for 20 States/UTs taking the total investments approved to Rs.23,627 cr with a central assistance commitment of Rs.8,655 cr.
•    Under Atal Mission, States/UTs have proposed an investment of Rs.1,146 cr in improving drainage networks in urban areas. As against the investment approved of Rs.281 cr in this regard during 2015-16, the Ministry of Urban Development has so far approved and investment of Rs.759 cr so far during the current financial year.  

The Government has decided to import further 30,000 MT pulses, consisting of 20,000 MT tur and 10,000 MT Urad, for the buffer stock. 
•    The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Price Stabilization Fund chaired by Union Consumer Affairs Secretary, Shri Hem Pande. 
•    The meeting reviewed the procurement and distribution of pulses from buffer stock.
•    So far, the Government agencies have procured about 1, 19, 572 MT pulses from the domestic market and farmers and 56,000 MT pulses have been contracted for import. 
•    Thus 1, 75, 572 MT pulses are available with the buffer stock.
•    The Department of Consumer Affairs has requested State Governments repeatedly to lift the pulses Tur and Urad from the buffer stock for distribution not more than Rs. 120/kg. 
•    These pulses are provided to the States– Tur at the rate of Rs. 67/kg and Urad at the rate of Rs. 82/kg. 
•    On the request of the State Governments, over 29,000 MT pulses have been allocated to the states as on 01.08.2016 but only 3 states have lifted some quantities against their allotments.

Shri. Venkaiah Naidu Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has said that in order to integrate the celebration/joy of independence with the spirit of a vibrant and young India, the Government proposed to organize a 15 Day event commencing from 9th August to 23rd August, 2016 based on the theme “Aazadi 70 Yaad Karo Qurbani”. 
•    Central Ministers and important leaders would visit birth places of national icons and places of historical importance related to India’s independence movement such as Jallianwala Bagh, Chauri Chaura, Cellular Jail, Sabarmati Ashram, Dandi etc. 
•    Around 150 such places had been identified such that each state would be visited by at least two Central Ministers. In addition, women Ministers would be visiting border areas and tie Rakhi to soldiers on Raksha Bandhan Day i.e., 18th August.
•    Kith and kin of martyrs, freedom fighters, INA heroes and ex-soldiers who had been conferred with gallantry/bravery awards shall also be felicitated. 
•    Special programming would be mounted by AIR and DD based on patriotic songs, video and audio clips of National Icons. Social Media would be used extensively to promote the spirit of participation and position interactive campaigns.

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is organizing a month-long Swachh Bharat special campaign around the theme ‘Freedom from Open Defecation’ in August 2016, the month in which the nation’s Independence Day falls. The following events are being organized by the Ministry during the month:
•    August 1st:  Ministry has kicked off the campaign with the launch of its newsletter “Swachhta Samachar” and an ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) campaign on social media (twitter.com/swachhbharat).
•    August 5th: National Media Interaction on Swachh Bharat Mission to sensitize Media on SBM content and the countrywide efforts being made to make it a success. Also aimed at seeking their feedback on SBM programmes, especially in IEC.
•    August 11th: Launch of 5 SBM movies by the Minister, MDWS, that highlight the impact of SBM on the ground through the stories of grass roots citizen champions
•    August 11th: A ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ between the Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and selected Champion Collectors for Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
•    August 14th or 16th:
•    States and Districts to hold mass mobilization events – rallies, runs, human chains, candle march – in favour of ‘Freedom from Open Defecation’, involving ODF champions, opinion leaders, youth, women, children, etc.
•    Special Independence Day events and special events to be organized at district-levels, and Taluka/Block levels to honour local Sanitation Champions
•    August 20th: Mass event in Allahabad with 1651 Gram Pradhans and associated Pramukhs to motivate them for making villages along the banks of the river Ganga ODF. Heads of 52 Zilla Parishads, District Collectors, all other stakeholders from Centre and the States also expected to attend.
•    August 24th: Release of ‘Swachh Survekshan’, a Survey commissioned by the Ministry through Quality Council of India to rank the top performing districts of the country based on the NSSO survey and the States.
•    August 28h: MDWS will launch a series on Swachh Bharat nationwide that will run as a weekly show on prime time on Doordarshan.
•    Constant Social Media buzz: A buzz will be created throughout the month through continuous activity around the themes ‘Freedom from Open Defecation’ on social media. Success stories will be shared from the field through videos of beneficiaries, write-ups, photographs and info graphics.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 31 July 2016 flagged off maiden broad-gauge train service between Agartala and Delhi, ‘Tripura Sundari Express’.
•    The ‘Tripura Sundari Express’ will run weekly between Agartala and Anand Vihar in Delhi. 
•    It will have commercial stoppages at 16 stations and cover a distance of 2461 kms in 46 hours and 50 minutes.
•    The train will reach Delhi via Guwahati and New Jappaiguri. The rail link was developed at an expense of 968 crore rupees.
•    The laying the 15.054 rail track will be completed by 2017. Of the total track, only five km will be on the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh.
•    Haque announced that Bangladesh has decided to launch a new train between Khulna and Kolkata in addition to the Maitri Express train that plies between Dhaka and Kolkata.

In another major step towards implementation in Namami Gange in mission mode the empowered steering committee (ESC) of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) today approved various projects worth Rs. 400 crore (approx). 
•    The projects include development of ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi (Uttrakhand), rehabilitation/development works of ghats and crematoria at Kanpur, interception and diversion of flow of sisamau and other nalas of Kanpur city, development of ghats and crematoria in Bijnor on Ramganga, Uttar Pradesh, development works of ghats and crematorium at Allahabad, modernization/new construction of ghats including public amenities/ crematoria/ river front development work etc in Kahalgaon, Bihar, development of ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Sahibganj to Rajmahal, Jharkhand, construction and upgradation of electric crematoria at Bhatpara and Naihati in West Bengal afforestation programme in the state of West Bengal and development of 13 ghats and five crematoria at Bithoor in UP. 
•    The developments of Ghats and crematoria in the stretch from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi in Uttrakahand will be taken up at Sumari, Tilwara, Silli, Augustmuni and Triveni ghats at a cost of Rs. 26 crore. 
•    The ghats and crematoria at Kanpur will be developed at a cost of Rs. 47.39 crore. Development of ghats and crematoria at Allahabad will be taken up at cost of Rs. 88.03 crore. 
•    An expenditure of Rs. 63.80 crore will be incurred on the interception and diversion of flow of sisamau and other nalas of Kanpur city. 
•    Development of ghats and crematoria in Bijnor on Ramganga in UP will cost Rs. 12.19 crore. Rs. 23.64 crore will be incurred towards modernization/new construction of ghats including public amenities/ crematoria/ river front development work etc in Kahalgaon, Bihar.