Current Affairs January 2017 - Regional
News 1 - Mori in Andhra gets Smart Digital Village tag
Mori village in Andhra Pradesh became a complete Smart Digital Village. It is a small village under Sakhinetipalli Mandal in East Godavari district with a population of 4500.
All the 1189 households in the village became fully digital as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu finally launched the AP FiberNet project that will provide internet at a speed of 15 Mbps, Wi-Fi, a telephone connection and 250 cable television channels (using a triple-play set-top box) for a total price of Rs. 149 per month. Mori also recently bagged the Swachh Village award at the national level.
News 2 - Gujarat CM inaugurated Digital AVMS RTO Check-post
Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani dedicated India’s first laser technology based advanced AVMS RTO check-post at Shamlaji of Aravalli district. The check-post is equipped with an advanced ray technology with a cost of Rs. 4.72 crores.
The State Government aims to make all the 16 check-posts across the state advanced, automatic and transparent with a cost of Rs. 35 crores during next year to make the traffic check-post well-equipped with advanced tools for making it full of transparency and corruption-free.
News 3 - Maharashtra Government Bans use of Purse Seine Nets for Fishing
The Maharashtra State Government has banned all purse seine nets from January 1st to safeguard fingerlings, fish species and increase their population. Purse seine nets are large fishing nets used to catch fish in bulk.
All such nets are banned for use within the territorial waters, which is 12 nautical miles from the sea shore. The nets have mesh spanning from 25 mm to 35mm that blocks small fish and fish eggs from falling back into the ocean, thereby stopping them from multiplying.
News 4 - Andhra Pradesh launched NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme
Andhra Pradesh Government launched NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme. The scheme aims to provide medical treatment to the people below Above Poverty Line (APL) at Rs. 1200 premium per annum. One can register for the scheme at any of the Mee Seva centres till February 2017.
Under the health scheme, Rs. 2 lakhs worth medical treatment would be provided free of cost in any 432 corporate hospitals in the state. This NTR Health Scheme will cover the 1044 diseases.
News 5 - Maharashtra Cabinet approved Babasaheb Ambedkar Krushi Swavalamban Yojna
Maharashtra Cabinet approved the implementation of Babasaheb Ambedkar Krushi Swavlamban Yojna, under which Scheduled Caste farmers will be given various incentives. The incentives include 100% grant for digging or repairing wells, boring, drip irrigation, farm ponds or other facilities for agriculture and irrigation.
`Krushi Mahotsav' (agriculture fair) will be organised in each district to spread awareness about new technologies, market management and agri-allied businesses among farmers.
News 6 - Maharashtra Cabinet decisions
Maharashtra Cabinet cleared the way for implementation of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojna under which SC students will be provided hostel, food and other educational facilities.
The government will amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Institutions Act to regulate functioning of non-agriculture co-operative credit societies and protect the interests of depositors. The Cabinet also decided to allot 20 acres of land to Goregaon Film City in suburban Goregaon for setting up National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual, Effect, Gaming and Comics.
News 7 - PM Narendra Modi released a special commemorative postage of Guru Gobind Singh
On the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, Indian Prime Minister released postal stamp of Guru Gobind Singh at Prakash Parva celebration held in Patna. Prime Minister urged people to inculcate the values of Guru Govind Singh ji Maharaj. Guru Gobind Singh ji’s entire life was devoted in serving the people and fighting for justice.
Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Union Minsters Ravi Shankar Prasad Ram Vilas Paswan and Harsimrat Kaur witnessed the occasion.
News 8 - Telangana and Assam join the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojna
With Telangana and Assam joining remarkable UDAY scheme, the toll reached to 20 for the states covered under the scheme. Under scheme, over 90 per cent of the debt of state electricity distribution companies will be covered by the debt restructuring scheme for discoms.
There will be an overall net benefit of Rs. 6,116 crores to Telangana and Rs. 1,663 crores to Assam under the scheme. The Assam government will take over Rs. 928 crores debt and Telangana government will cover debt of R.s 8,923 crores of total discom debt.
News 9 - Ludhiana launched mobile app for Election Commission of India
To ease the voting procedure for voters, candidates, election staff and Election Commission of India, Ludhiana state administration launched a mobile app termed as "ECI360", designed by company ‘01 Synergy’. App will ease reporting forum for ECI in upcoming assembly elections.
The App "ECI360" has been divided into different sections such as voter, candidate, SVEEP and admin. It is launched with an aim to bring transparency and accountability regarding the elections and voting. App will be a network of back end systems which is user friendly.
News 10 - The 4th Assam International Agri-Horti show organized in Guwahati
The Fourth Assam International Agri-Horiculture show was organised in Guwahati.
Around 10 foreign countries took part in the show. Nearly 600 farmers of Assam were trained on doubling farmers' income, more crop per drop and agri-preneurship development during the show. Over 200 organizations from across the country took part in the show. Business meet, exhibitions, discussion were also organised.
News 11 - Telangana Government announced financial assistance of ₹1000 per month to single women
The Telangana Government has announced a new scheme to provide financial assistance of one thousand rupees per month each to single women in the state. The new scheme will be implemented from April 2017.
Single women who are below poverty line constitute two to three lakhs in the state. The Government has directed district collectors to start enrolment of single women and appealed to the beneficiaries to come forward to enrol their names under the scheme.
News 12 - Island Tourism Festival 2017 held in Andaman & Nicobar
The Island Tourism Festival 2017 was held at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is the annual cultural event organized for promotion of tourism and entertainment for islanders.
During the 10-day event, performances by the cultural troupes from mainland helped the Islanders renew their cultural ties with mainland India. An International Cultural Group from Khazkhistan also performed the ITF Ground. The other attractions were the food courts, fun games and handicrafts etc.
News 13 - Delhi Government approved the fourth phase of Metro project
The Delhi Government approved the fourth phase of Metro project featuring six corridors measuring over a hundred kilometre. It will take the network to the outer areas of the national capital and make the airport more accessible.
The total length of the metro corridor in the city will cross the 450-km mark. The mega project will cost over 50 thousand crore rupees. Its Detailed Project Report (DPR) was cleared in June 2016.
News 14 - Delhi Government unveils the Good Samaritan Policy
The Delhi government has approved ‘Good Samaritan Policy’. The government will give monetary incentive of Rs. 2,000 and appreciation certificate to people who help road accident victims in Delhi. Earlier, the government had decided to provide basic life support training to all auto-rickshaw drivers to provide helping hand in case of a road accident.
As per the ‘Road Accidents in India’ report, Mumbai had the highest number of 23,468 number of road accidents during 2015 while Delhi had the highest number of 1,622 deaths due to road accidents.
News 15 - SVEEP Campaign: 23000 New voters aged between 18 to 19 years registered in Jalandhar district
The SVEEP Campaign being run by the ECI in order to encourage the more and more participation of Young voters during the ensuing Punjab Assembly Elections got a major fillip in Jalandhar district as 23000 youths aging between 18 to 19 years registered as new voters during last four months’ span from September 7 to end of December.
Before September 7, 2016 there were only six thousand voters of aged between 18 to 19 years.
News 16 - Maharashtra launched India's largest WiFi service
MumbaiWifi, an exclusive service connecting 500 hotspots across Mumbai under the smart city project, was launched by Maharashtra government at Mumbai. It has been announced that the government will extend the free WiFi services across 1200 hotspots by 2018.
Some of such hot spots are Gateway of India, Churchgate, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Prabha Devi, Shivaji Park, Tarapore Aquarium, Bombay Stock Market, among various places across Eastern, Western and Harbour railways.
News 17 - Haryana to build 'Prarambh School for Teachers Education'
The Haryana Government announced to build State level Prarambh School at village Silani of district Jhajjar to provide a 4 year integrated teachers training course and make available trained teachers. Presently, teachers will teach to students of 15 states.
Prarambh will improve the quality of elementary and secondary teacher education by providing them professional skills. It will be an autonomous institution built at 10 acre land. The program will cover the academic content from degree to post-graduation level.
News 18 - Arunachal signs MoU with NDDB to promote dairy development
Arunachal Pradesh has signed a MoU with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 with an aim to promote the dairy sector and rural livelihoods in the state.
NDDB will conduct a study related to milk production and consumption to identify areas of intervention. Based on the study, the Dairy Board will prepare a road map in consultation with the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. A breeding policy will be prepared to enhance milch animal productivity.
News 19 - Vedanta launched a smart class project in Chitradurga
Vedanta Foundation and Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore, in collaboration with the Karnataka Directorate of Education, have launched ‘The Smart Class’ project in schools in Chitradurga, Karnataka. It is a pilot project to promote digital education in schools across the State.
Vedanta Limited (Formerly known as Sesa Sterlite Ltd.), a Vedanta Group company is a global diversified natural resource company, with operations across zinc-lead-silver, oil & gas, iron ore, copper, aluminium and commercial power.
News 20 - Valedictory function of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 concluded
The valedictory function of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 concluded at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. Total 25578 MoUs were signed during the 3 days of summit where more than 18000 MoUs were signed in MSME Sector. About 5938 MoUs were signed with the investment of more than 10 crores each.
Major MoUs were signed in Agro, Health, Power and Gas, Food Processing, Petro Chemicals, Automobiles, Environment, Road, IT, Biotechnology, Rural Development and Textile Sectors.
News 21 - Sex ratio in Haryana crossed 900 mark
The number of girls per 1000 boys has crossed the 900 mark in Haryana. It was 879 girls per 1000 boys as per 2011 census. The state government is making efforts to deploy one doctor per 1,000 persons compared to existing one doctor per 1,700 persons in the state.
Around 24 agreements involving potential investment worth 20,000 crore rupees have been signed during Pravasi Haryana Divas celebrations that will provide employment to 43,000 persons in the state.
News 22 - MoUs worth Rs. 8,835 crore signed in textile sector during Vibrant Gujarat 2017
MoUs worth Rs. 8,835 crores were signed in textile sector during the Vibrant Gujarat 2017. MoUs have been signed in different sectors such as textile parks, textile processing, machinery, carpet development, etc.
Gujarat produces 29% of India’s total cotton production. Two major institutes of Gujarat, namely NIFT and NID, and various engineering colleges offer degrees in textile technology, textile processing and textile engineering.
News 23 - Kerala unveiled its first solar boat
To improve water development transport in the state, Kerala state government unveiled its first solar boat ‘Aditya’ at Vaikom. Solar boat services will be provided between Vaikom and Thavanakkadavu. Boat has seating capacity of 75, made at cost of Rs 1.50-crore and can travel at a speed of 14km per hour.
It took 2 years to build such boat. The boat was made based on the research conducted by Cochin University of Science and Technology’s ship technology department.
News 24 - Digital Dakiya scheme inaugurated by the Madhya Pradesh government
Digital Dakiya, which aims at encouraging cashless transactions was launched at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. "Digital Dakiya or Digital Postman will visit different places to teach and encourage people about cashless transactions and its benefits. State government will provide Identity cards to the volunteers deployed in this program.
Digital Dakiyas visit door to door and trained households specially women and elderly people about digitized transactions. The scheme aimed at urban as well as rural areas.
News 25 - ‘Pinakin’ mobile app launched by the Tamil Nadu government
In a move to make available information on tourism in Tamil Nadu with audio facilities, Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has come up with a mobile app ‘Pinakin’. Tourists can get guidance about world heritage tourist sites like Mamallapuram, Thanjavur Big Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram.
The app will be available in two languages i.e. Tamil and English. The free audio guide is first such initiative where users not only can get information regarding ticket prices, parking details, etc. but also can listen to interesting stories and facts as well.
News 26 - Gujarat's 'Gunotsav' school evaluation drive held in state
The three-day Gunotsav, an exercise of assessing over 34 thousand schools was launched in Gujarat. This year, around 54 lakh primary students of 34,000 schools will be assessed under this drive. This drive is aimed at assessing the quality of education imparted to students of Class 1 to 8 of the government-run primary as well as grant-in-aid schools across the state.
Under this drive, around 4,500 people would visit these schools and give them grade.
News 27 - The 57th Annual Kerala Schools Arts Festival held at Kannur
The 57th annual Kerala Schools Arts Festival, tipped as Asia's largest youth art fete, held at Kannur, Kerala. The seven day-festival organized by the State Education Department attracted about 12,000 children from high schools, higher secondary and vocational schools of 14 districts across the state to compete in 232 events held simultaneously in 20 different venues in the northern district capital of the state.
The legendary Malayalam playback singers K.J. Yesudas and P Jayachandran were the finds of the first school arts festival held in 1957.
News 28 - Kozhikode Corporation becomes the 1st Elderly-friendly corporation in Kerala
The Kozhikode Corporation became the first Elderly-Friendly Corporation in Kerala. The Kozhikode state government has planned to setup Senior citizen’s club, Day care centres as a part of Vayomitram project for the welfare of the elder people in the state.
The ₹1.75-crore project plans to ensure the physical, mental and social well-being as well as security of senior citizens in the city. As part of the project, Ayurveda medical camps and distribution of vaccines will be held in all wards.
News 29 - Bihar Government to stop manufacturing of liquor from 1st of April
The Bihar state cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken decision to stop manufacturing of liquor in the state from 1st April 2017.
It was decided not to renew the license of 21 out of 27 liquor manufacturing and bottling factories in the state. The government has said these factories can produce soft drinks and other product. License of remaining six factories will be renewed which produce Ethanol only.
News 30 - Karang in Manipur becomes India’s first cashless island
The Union ministry of electronics and information technology under its Digital India program announced Karang, a small lake island in Manipur, as the country’s first cashless island. 400 beneficiaries, 16 merchants, including six motor boat service providers, registered themselves for the digital campaign.
The Karang island is in the middle of Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. Akodara village in Gujarat was India’s first digital village.
News 31 - Sikkim observed State Organic day
Sikkim observed State Organic day on 18th January. Last year on this day Sikkim became First Organic State of the country. The day aims to give message to the world on the importance of organic farming in preserving environment and the planet as a whole.
The state agriculture and horticulture department organized Organic festival in Saramsa Garden near Ranipool in east Sikkim on the occasion. Exhibition cum sale and competitions of various organic produces, vegetables and fruits of local growers was the attraction of the festival.
News 32 - Anandam Scheme launched in Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh State Government launched a scheme called as ‘Aanandam’ under which needy people will be provided with basic needs of day to day life such as jackets, sarees, blankets, utensils, school bags donated by economically well public who wish to donate. People who wish to make available such basic needs to needy people can provide it through website ‘www.anandsansthanmp.in’.
People who donate will be called as Anandak. It has begun from the district head-quarters. This will be launched at cities and panchayat level.
News 33 - Dharamsala announced as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announced Dharamsala as the second capital of the state. Since, Dharamsala is considered as tourist capital and commercial capital of the state, it deserves to be considered as 2nd capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Dharamsala was already marked special due to presence of Dalai Lama’s residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile). Dharamsala is a city in Himachal’s Kangra district. Kangra is the largest district in the state.
News 34 - Mizoram launched Entrepreneurship Development Scheme
New Economic Development Policy under Entrepreneurship Development Scheme was launched by Mizoram state government and fund of Rs. 2 crore is made available for implementation of policy. It is launched with aim to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations with minimum harm to the environment.
The scheme would help state government boost Assam’s agriculture, food processing and tourism sectors and stimulate the growth of business ties with other countries under Start up initiative.
News 35 - World Bank approved Rs. 1,376 Crore loan for Tripura Power Upgradation
The World Bank has approved a loan of Rs. 1376 crores for complete upgradation and improvement of the power system network. The project is divided into five phases. Up gradation in power system would create new 132 KV substations at Belonia, Bagafa, Sabroom and Satchand in South Tripura district, Rabindranagar, Gokulnagar in Sipahijala district, Mohanpur Amarpur in Gomati district and Manu in Dhalai district.
The SPML Infra Ltd has been awarded this contract of the 1st phase with the budget of Rs. 461 crores.
News 36 - Bihar State Government launched the Nasha Mukt campaign
In a move to make Bihar, an alcoholic addiction free state, Bihar state government launched ‘Nasha Mukt campaign’ with creation of over 11 thousand km long human chain across the state. It is claimed to be world’s largest human chain. This grand level campaign will last for 45 minutes and involve participation of over 2 crore people.
With this campaign, Bihar will not only break Bangladesh’s record of 1050km human chain formed, but also will become an ideal state of the country as dreamed by Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
News 37 - Himachal Pradesh topped India’s learning outcomes levels
As per the Annual Status Education Report, a survey by NGO, Himachal Pradesh has proved to stay ahead of Kerala in terms of learning outcomes. It has the country’s highest reading and learning levels, with highest rate of children who can study standard II level of text in the country. Achievement level of government schools of HP was 65.3 per cent as compared to the national level of 41.6 percent.
Further, the survey found that enrolment rate of students in the age group six to 14 in Himachal Pradesh was 99.8 percent.
News 38 - Gujarat created a new world record with 3.5 lakh people singing the National Anthem
On the occasion of setting up of the idol of goddess Khodiyar at a newly-built Khodal Dham temple in Rajkot, Gujarat created world record when around 3.5 lakh people sang the anthem together in the presence of observers from Guinness World Records.
Prior to this, a record was made by Bangladesh where 2,54,537 people had sung the national anthem. Trust associated with the temple has also set two new records for Limca Book of Records, by organizing the longest (40km) 'Shobha-Yatra' (procession) and a 1008-kund `Mahayagna'.
News 39 - Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Jallikattu Bill
Tamil Nadu passed ordinance thereby amended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and replaced the ordinance issued on January 21, 2017 to allow the states traditional sport, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. This will certain that provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960 do not apply to the bull and bypass Supreme Court imposed ban on Jallikattu in May 2014.
The apex court had earlier banned use of bull as performing animals in traditional events such as Jallikattu, bullock-cart races etc.
News 40 - Goa becomes the first state to send postal ballots electronically
Goa became first state to start electronic transmission of postal ballot to service voters. In other words, returning officers will transfer the postal ballots to service voters by electronic means so that the service voters can download it, fill it and send it via e-mail to returning officer. This will not only save the time for transfer of postal ballots but also increase the use of such facility.
It is a way of bringing transparency to the system. Goa has 822 service voters at present.
News 41 - Kerala became the first State to introduce a E-health project
Kerala became the first State in the country to introduce E-health project in Government health sector. The initiative help process data in the health care system and administration of hospitals through which the public could access information about various health schemes, details of hospitals, and treatment facilities, besides seeking online appointments.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the project in Thiruvananthapuram. Seven out of 14 districts will be covered in the first phase of the Centrally-aided project undertaken at a cost of Rs. 92.12 crores.
News 42 - Assam launched ‘Chief Minister’s Award’ to reward districts adopting digital payments
To promote cashless payments, Assam’s Chief Minister announced for ‘Chief Minister’s Award’ to be distributed annually every year to best performing district of the state that adopts digital means and improve digital literacy among the society.
It has been decided that a prize of Rs. 50,000 would be presented at the end of every financial year to Deputy Commissioner for the best performing district. Assam has performed better than many states in the country in ushering in cashless transactions at tea gardens.
News 43 - Madhya Pradesh Government announced a total ban on polythene bags
To save the environment, cows and bring cleanliness, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a total ban on use and manufacture of polythene carry bags with effect from the 1st May 2017. Polythene manufactures are given a 3 months’ time span to stop producing such polythene.
Announcement was made on Republic Day, where Chief Minister emphasized on production and use of cloth/paper bags. Prior to this, Uttar Pradesh government stopped use of polythene bags in 2015.
News 44 - Delhi University's Hansraj College hoisted the first 'Monumental' flag
On the 68th Republic Day, Delhi University's Hansraj College became first public university in India to get a 100 feet tall monumental flagpole. It was hoisted by MP Naveen Jindal, Hans Raj alumnus and founder of the Flag Foundation of India. It is 2nd such flag as first flag was 207 feet tall, installed in Central Park, CP, Delhi.
The resolution to install the national flag on campuses was adopted on February 18, 2016, by HRD Minister Smriti Irani with an aim of raising nationalism in students.
News 45 - Krishi Samridhi-Rashtriya Krishi Mela inaugurated in Raipur
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated Krishi Samridhi-Rashtriya Krishi Mela at Raipur, Chhattisgarh and announced setting up of KVKs in Mungeli and Bemtara of Chhattisgarh under the 12th Plan. In order to increase liaison between farmers and scientists for technological development and its utilization ‘Mera Gaon-Mera Gaurav’ and ‘Farmers First’ programmes were initiated.
An unprecedented increase of almost Rs. 500 crores have been included in the budget of agriculture research in the year 2016-17.
News 46 - Kerala started ‘e-health Kerala’ health project
To bring more efficient electronic database in the health department and have backup of efficient electronic medical record, Kerala started ‘e-health Kerela’ health project with the help of health department in association with the state IT Mission. Kerala distributed 8,000 tablet computers to health workers so that they can prepare public health survey database.
This project will be majorly funded by the Central Government with Rs. 96 crores as cost of the project. This project will allow the state to monitor the health of its people and can take effective control measures.
News 47 - Mysuru inaugurated India’s 1st post office Passport Seva Kendra
Mysuru inaugurated India’s first post office Passport Seva Kendra to make it easy for public in conveyance. It will be named POPSK because the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in union with the postal department will offer passport related services through a network of post offices.
The POPSK will carry out all operations excluding printing and dispatch of passports. Regional passport officers will train the postal department employees on processing an application. Second such PSK is planned to open in Gujarat.
News 48 - ‘Dulari Kanya’ scheme introduced in Arunachal Pradesh
In wake of declining ratio of girl child, Arunachal Pradesh Governor V Shanmuganathan launched ‘Dulari Kanya’ scheme, on the Republic Day, to control infant mortality in the state. Under this scheme, every girl child will get Rs. 20,000 bank deposit and will get accrued interest at the age of 18 years. Scheme will track mortality rate at every stage such as pre-natal and ante-natal care stage.
Government recalled various schemes initiated by the state in various sectors like health, education, rural connectivity, hydropower etc.
News 49 - A 2-day North East Investors’ Summit held in Shillong
The first ever “Investors Summit” exclusively for North Eastern Region (NER), organized jointly by the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of DoNER during 29-30 January, 2017 was inaugurated in Shillong. The summit aimed to showcase the NER as a global destination for investment, and to explore the possibility of bringing in convergence of efforts of various central Ministries and North Eastern States to attract investment in NER.
The meet witnessed participation of over 400 delegates from across the country and signing of MoUs in various areas, among local entrepreneurs.
News 50 - A 2-day North East Seed Biodiversity Festival held in Agartala
In Tripura, two-day North East Seed Biodiversity Festival cum Workshop of Traditional Crops 2017 held in Agartala. The festival cum workshop was organized by Development research and communication services centre, jointly with the state agriculture department.
During this two-day workshop, various topics such as; traditional seed movement in India, community based indigenous seed system, genetics and plant breeding approach for bio-diversity, Bio-diversity for livelihood of forest dwellers were discussed. Workshop was beneficial for farming community, officials and students for their development and understanding.
