Current Affairs September 2016 - Regional

News 1 - Gujarat signed tripartite MoU to build small airports

The Gujarat state government signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to develop 11 small airports and airstrips under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to boost regional air connectivity in the State.

Gujarat, thus, became the third State after Jharkhand and Maharashtra to have signed for RCS. These 11 airports and airstrips are in Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surat, Bhuj, Mehsana, Porbandar, Amreli, Mandavi, Kandla, Keshod and Deesa.

News 2 - Odisha CM to share his thoughts through Radio every month

The Odisha state government has decided to launch ‘Biju Goan Radio’. The Chief Minister would address the people soon and share his thoughts on different issues in ‘Apananka Pain’ through the radio for 10 minutes every month.

The radio programme would be broadcast from 6 pm to 7 pm for one hour every day. The repeat broadcast would be held from 8 pm to 9 pm on the same day. The programme would provide information on agriculture, cooperation, health, education, irrigation and culture.

News 3 - Kerala to form Joint Venture with Railways for infrastructure projects

The Kerala state government has decided to enter into joint venture agreement with Railways for rail projects in the state under the 51:49 equity partnership arrangement.

The projects for consideration under the JV include introduction of suburban rail service between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur, construction of Angamali-Sabari rail line, Nilambur-Nanjangode line, Guruvayoor-Tirunavaya line, Kochi-Madurai line, Thalassery-Mysore line, laying of rai container track to Cochin International Airport and setting up of Palakkad rail coach factory.

News 4 - Goa govt signs MoU with Google India

The Goa State Government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India to promote digital literacy and drive digital transformation across the state. Goa is one of the first states in India to have signed an MoU with Google.

The government will launch 'Internet Safety Education’ for students in Goa in association with Google India. As a part of the MoU, Google will work with Goa Government to:

Promote digital literacy
Promote Android development
Make government websites mobile friendly

News 5 - Solung festival observed in Arunachal Pradesh

The Adi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the annual socio-religious Solung festival with great pomp and show. The 5-day long festival is associated with farming and is celebrated in the first week of September every year after the sowing of seeds, to seek prosperity and a good harvest.

During the celebration, Mithun (Great Indian Bison) which is considered as holy animal and occupies an important religious significance among the Adis is sacrificed. Adi or ‘Bangni-Boker lhoba’ people are the major collective tribes living in the himalayan hills of ‘Nyingchi’ prefecture in Arunachal Pradesh.

News 6 - 340 villages to be developed as Horticulture Villages in Haryana

Haryana Government has decided to develop 340 villages as Horticulture Villages at a cost of 93 crore rupees during the Golden Jubilee year of the State. It has also decided to establish 140 clusters in these villages.

An MoU was also signed with the Apio Inc. for processing and packaging of horticultural products.

According to the terms of the MoC, Apio Inc. would work in Haryana for the next three years.

Under this project, producers in Haryana would supply fruits, flowers, vegetables and dairy products to these areas.

News 7 - Rajasthan partners with Cisco for connected learning solution

Rajasthan’s education department has entered into an agreement with US-based technology firm Cisco to establish Digital Learning Solution Rooms (DLSRs) using virtual digital room solutions across 12 centres of State Institute for Education Management And Training (SIEMAT) in the state.

As a part of the agreement Cisco and SIEMAT have committed to 50,000 man-hours of training annually through the virtual digital classrooms. It aims to enhance the quality of education.

News 8 - Western Odisha celebrates Nuakhai Festival

People across Western Odisha celebrated Nuakhai with religious fervour and devotion. Nuakhai or Nuankhai is an agricultural festival observed to welcome the new rice of the season. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha and adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand.

According to the Hindu calendar, it is observed on panchamitithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of August–September, the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The celebrations began with the ‘Nabanna’ or new rice out of newly harvested paddy crop was offered to Maa Samaleswari Devi in Sambalpur.

News 9 - Maharashtra announces Rs 75 lakh cash reward to Lalita Babar

Maharashtra Government announced a cash reward of 75 lakh rupees to steeplechase specialist from the state, Lalita Babar, who finished a creditable 10^th at the Rio Olympics. The other five athletes from Maharashtra who took part in the recently concluded Olympics Games will get 50 lakh rupees each.

The Maharashtra government also gave a cash award of 75 lakh rupees to Olympic silver medallist in women's badminton singles P V Sindhu and 25 lakh rupees to her coach P Gopichand. The Chief Minister also announced a cash reward of 50 lakh rupees to bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik and 25 lakh rupees to her coach.

News 10 - Gujarat Ministry to provide 2 mbps connectivity to 6000 villages

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced 2 mbps download and 512 mbps upload digital connectivity to 6,000 villages, at a ceremony in Gandhinagar. The decision was a part of state government’s ultimate goal to serve an optical fiber network to all 18,000 villages by 2^nd October, 2017.

Under the E-gram program launched in 200607, total 14000 villages had been connected to internet through V-SAT technology and villagers are offered various services like PDS, health, data entry, power and gas bills through e-gram project.

News 11 - Himachal government gave nod to amend hydro policy 2006

The Cabinet accorded approval to make certain modifications to the Hydro Power Policy 2006. The developer now has to submit the proposals to the Deputy Commissioners concerned for obtaining approvals/ No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from different departments including Gram Panchayats.

It is decided to reduce the present rate of Additional Goods Tax (AGT) on Iron and Steel and reduce VAT on CNG from existing 13.75 percent to 5 %, reduce value added Tax on Anti Hail Nets to 4 %. Ministry took decision to procure the citrus fruits under Market Intervention Scheme.

News 12 - Haryana bagged Best Horticulture State award

Haryana has won ‘Best Horticulture State’ award of the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) at two-day 9^th Agricultural Leadership Summit 2016 organized by ICFA in New Delhi for the concerted efforts made by Haryana state government to increase the income of the farmers in horticulture.

At present, about 2.5 lakh hectares of land is under horticulture in Haryana. The state government has ambitious target to increase it up to 9 lakh hectares.

Odisha won the best agriculture state award “9^th Global Agriculture Leadership Award 2016” in recognition of the efforts towards development of agriculture and bringing rural prosperity.

News 13 - HP, Singapore ink MoU for smart integrated township

The Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) under the state government of Himachal Pradesh signed a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Asian Pacific Singapore Enterprise under Singapore government for developing a smart integrated township in Jathiadevi near Shimla airport.

HIMUDA has acquired 32-hectare land for developing this township at Jatiadevi. Investment outlay in the project is Rs.6.7 billion. The development of a smart integrated township would help in decongesting the highly populated city.

News 14 - Odisha Govt. launches construction workers pension scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the construction workers pension scheme, Nirman Shramik Pension Yojana.

The scheme ensures financial assistance of 300 rupees per month to all registered construction workers after attaining the age of 60 years and 500 rupees for construction workers of more than 80 years.

Nirman Shramik Pension Yojana would benefit about 25 Lakh construction workers in the state. The state government has launched housing schemes for construction workers residing in rural areas. Financial assistance for workers has also been enhanced to Rs 1.3 lakh under the scheme.

News 15 - Arunachal Pradesh Governor Rajkhowa removed

Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa has been removed from his post. President Pranab Mukherjee has given the additional charge of the state to Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan.

Earlier, Mr. Rajkhowa had refused to quit. His removal came after the Supreme Court's recent observations against him over dismissal of the Congress government in the state. The Court had restored the Congress government and censured him. Rajkhowa was appointed the Governor in May last year.

News 16 - CM inaugurated week-long Onam celebrations in Kerala

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the week-long Onam celebrations at a function held at the Nishagandhi auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram.

To mark the festival people take part in a lot of cultural items like Vallam Kali (snake boat race), pulikali (tiger dance), pookalam (Rangoli), tug of war and many more. The Onam pageantry to mark the conclusion of the week-long Onam celebrations was held on September 18.

News 17 - Arunachal Pradesh’s first Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Store inaugurated by MoS Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

The Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated Arunachal Pradesh’s first Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Store at Naharlagun, Itanagar. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu also shared the dais on the occasion.

In this function, both dignitaries witnessed signing of a MoU between Health & Family Welfare Department of Arunachal Pradesh and Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), an agency under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. As per the MoU, 84 Jan Aushadhi Stores will be opened in Arunachal Pradesh.

News 18 - Andhra Pradesh becomes second state to achieve 100% electrification

According to a report published by JM Financials based on a national-level survey on electrification in various states, Andhra Pradesh has become the second state in the country after Gujarat to achieve 100 per cent electrification of households.

The AP Government has proposed an investment of Rs 20,000 crore over the next five years to strengthen the transmission and distribution systems and extend power supply connection.

News 19 - Raman Singh launches 'Start Up Chhattisgarh' project

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh inaugurated the 'Startup Chhattisgarh' scheme, which aims to give impetus to startup projects in the state. The Chhattisgarh government will offer a 75% subsidy of up to Rs 7 lakh per annum for six years.

Additionally, a 35 to 40% subsidy on fixed capital will be made available up to Rs 3.5 crore, with a 100% subsidy on land purchase or lease. These startups could avail of free electricity for the first ten years and 100% reimbursement of all state taxes paid in the first three years, to the first 36 start-ups that are registered.

News 20 - DoNER released over Rs 100 cr for Manipur in about 5 months

An amount of over Rs. 100 crore has been released by the DoNER Ministry in the first five months of the current financial year for various development projects in Manipur.

An amount of Rs. 28.47 crore was released for different projects under NLCPR (Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources) and approximately Rs. 75 crore was released for the NEC (North Eastern Council) projects.

This is in addition to the various other fundings and budget releases coming to the State from other Ministries in the Government of India.

News 21 - Aruanchal CM joins 'People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh' along with 42 MLAs

In Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with 42 other MLAs have joined People’s Party of Arunachal.

People’s Party of Arunachal is the only regional party of the state. In the 60-member house, Congress had 44 members out of which 43 have merged with the PPA.

Former chief minister Nabam Tuki and a few other MLAs continue to be with the Congress in the state.

News 22 - World Bank to invest nearly 1,000 crore rupees for improvement of inland waterways in Assam

World Bank will invest nearly 1,000 crore rupees in Assam for the betterment of the inland waterways. The money will be utilised to develop inland waterways including ghats.

The Union Minister also assured to re-construct jetty for which 100 percent assistance will be given by the Centre. On the other hand, emphasising on road safety, driving school will be set up in all districts of Assam. It is also decided that driving license will be issued from the proposed driving schools later.

News 23 - Odisha government to organise two-day national conference on labour

The Odisha state government in association with International Labour Organisation (ILO) organized a two-day long national conference on labour in Bhubaneswar on 20-21 September.

The conference had discussions related to organized and unorganized labourers of the country. The participants also discussed about child labour, migrant and bonded labour issues. Minimum wage fixation of Rs 15,000, social security, proper implementation of labour laws were other key points discussed in the conference.

News 24 - Charkhi Dadri declared as 22^nd district of Haryana

Haryana State Government has declared Charkhi Dadri as the 22^nd district of the state. Presently, Charkhi Dadri is a part of Bhiwani. The new district will have two state assembly constituencies Dadri and Badhra under its jurisdiction. Charkhi Dadri is located in southern Haryana 110 kilometres from the national capital of New Delhi.

The Chief Minister also announced Rs 5 crore for Nagar Palika, Dadri, Rs 10 crore each for the Charkhi Dadri and Badhra Assembly constituency.

News 25 - ‘Selfie with toilet’ to boost Swachh Bharat in Ludhiana

Ludhiana district administration has started a ‘Selfie with my Shauchalya’ campaign in order to encourage people to use clean toilets and make the Swachh Bharat Mission successful.

The district administration has set a target to make Ludhiana district open-defecation-free and equipping all rural households with toilets by October 31.

In Ludhiana, a total of 26,107 toilets are to be constructed, of which around 20,000 have already been constructed.

News 26 - Nagaland gets Rs 340 crore for road projects

Centre has sanctioned 340 crore rupees for two road projects for Nagaland, DimapurChumukedima and Kohima Check Gate to Lerie Highway.

The Union government also assured the state government to set up a separate High Court for the state. It presently has a Bench of the Guwahati High Court. Kohima has already been selected for the Smart City project. Nagaland became the 16^th state of India on 1 December 1963. The annual economic growth rates near to 10% on a compounded basis, one of the fastest in the region.

News 27 - Delhi's Race Course Road renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg

The iconic Race Course Road in Delhi, where the Prime Minister’s residence is located, has been renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg. The decision was taken at a meeting of NMDC presided by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Aurangzeb Road was renamed after former president APJ Abdul Kalam last year. The NDMC has also decided to rename the Gurudwara Rakabganj round-about adjacent to the Parliament complex as Guru Gobind Singh Chowk.

News 28 - Delhi Cabinet approved state-level bravery awards

The Delhi State Government announced statelevel bravery awards. The awards would be given on Republic Day and Independence Day from next year onwards.

Ten awards, each carrying a cash award of Rs 2 lakh, will be distributed on January 26, and another 10 awards on August 15. Citizens have the right to nominate themselves as candidates or send in preferred nominations.

Every year, the Centre gives National Bravery Awards to 25 children from across India for their meritorious acts of bravery against all odds.

News 29 - Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly becomes the 7^th state to pass the GST Amendment Bill

State’s Law Minister Rampal Singh conducted a special one-day sitting of the state legislative assembly and passed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill. With this decision, Madhya Pradesh became the seventh state in the country to ratify the historic tax amendment bill. The other states that have passed the bill include Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The GST will improve the tax structure across the country and bring transparency in the tax system where standard rate of tax should be capped at 18 percent.

News 30 - Rajasthan becomes 1^st state to adopt Centre's Street Lighting National Programme

Rajasthan becomes the first state to implement Centre’s Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) in all its urban local bodies (ULB) by replacing 5 lakh streetlights with LED streetlights across the state, where cities like Udaipur and Ajmer have emerged as top most cities to save energy efficiency.

Around 35,000 streetlights have been replaced in Udaipur with funding of Rs 25 crore by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public energy services company. The project has resulted in energy savings of 6.36 million units per annum.

News 31 - Puducherry Government’s loan waiver gift to farmers on farm loans

Loans taken by farmers from co-operative societies will be waived in favour of the declaration made by the Puducherry Government where the principal loan amount, interest and penal interest of all farmers will be waived off.

The government would incur an additional expenditure of around Rs. 20 crores due to farm loan waiver and benefit about 7000 farmers of the Union Territory. The government had also decided to encourage private universities to set up a campus in the UT.

News 32 - Telangana ties up with ISRO for bandwidth to telecast coaching programmes

The Telangana Government has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to get bandwidth to telecast Mana TV programmes. Mana TV is run by the Society for Telangana State Network (SoFTNET) and will launch digital classes in 6,000 schools beginning October 14.

Under the pact, the ISRO has allotted 17 MHz bandwidth on GSAT-8 for the channel. Shailesh Reddy has been roped in by the government to run the channel. He headed Zee's regional channel.

News 33 - Centre approves 1269 crore assistance for drought affected Maharashtra

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the High Level Committee (HLC) for Central Assistance to drought affected Maharashtra in New Delhi, in the presence of Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Minister of State for Home Affairs.

The Committee examined the proposal based on the report of the Central Team which visited Maharashtra. The HLC approved the assistance of Rs. 1,269 crores, of which Rs. 589.47 crores will be supplementary assistance for damage to kharif crop and Rs. 679.54 crores for damage to rabi crop.

News 34 - Patna High Court terms ‘Bihar liquor ban’ as illegal

A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh quashed the Bihar government’s notification of a complete ban on liquor in the state terming it as 'illegal', in its verdict stating that the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution. Ultra vires means beyond one's legal power or authority.

Soon after the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016 was passed where total prohibition was imposed in Bihar on consumption and selling of liquor as illegal, the Bihar Hotels and Bars Association had filed a petition before the High Court asking it to scrap the ban.