Current Affairs October 2016 - Regional

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News 1 - Urban areas of Gujarat and AP declared open defecation free

The Union Government, on the second anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, named Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh as the first states to have become open defecation free (ODF) in urban areas.

In rural areas, approximately 100,000 villages have also been declared ODF since the launch of the mission in 2014. As many as 405 cities and towns have so far claimed to have become Open Defecation Free. Another 334 cities and towns would become ODF by March next year.

News 2 - KJ Yesudas to be the brand ambassador of Kerala's Haritha Keralam project

The Kerala state government has roped in eminent Carnatic vocalist and playback singer KJ Yesudas as the brand ambassador of ‘Haritha Keralam’ (Green Kerala) project.

The project is a massive initiative of the government for a garbage-free and clean state. It emphasises on waste disposal at source and households and renovation and cleaning of water sources. Ponds and streamlets will be cleaned in the first phase, while rivers, lakes and other water bodies in the second phase.

News 3 - International Buddhist Conclave-2016 opens its sessions in Sarnath Uttar Pradesh

The International Buddhist Conclave-2016, which was officially inaugurated on 02^nd October, 2016 in New Delhi, opened its sessions in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, the heartland of Buddhist pilgrimage on 4^th October, 2016.

With a view to showcasing and projecting the Buddhist heritage and pilgrim sites of India, the Ministry of Tourism is organizing the ‘5^th International Buddhist Conclave’ from 02^nd to 06^th October, 2016 in association with State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

News 4 - Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung dissolves Delhi Waqf Board

Lt Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, dissolved the Delhi Waqf Board and referred the matter to CBI for a probe. The Board was "superseded" by the Arvind Kejriwal government in 2015. Two members of the Board resigned alleging corruption.

The LG declared the reconstitution of the board by the AAP government and appointment of CEO as illegal and "void ab initio". The AAP government had appointed Okhla MLA Amantullah Khan as the Chairman of the board.

News 5 - Maharashtra becomes the 17^th 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.

Maharashtra, thus, became the 17^th State to join UDAY. An overall net benefit of approximately Rs.9725 crores would accrue to Maharashtra by opting to participate in UDAY. This would reduce the interest burden of the State/DISCOM by Rs. 595 crores.

News 6 - Maharashtra CM inaugurated India’s first International Arbitration Centre

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated India’s first centre for international arbitration in Mumbai. The Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA) will initially be located at Express Towers, Nariman Point. The CEO of MCIA is Madhukeshwar Desai.

The MCIA will be an independent, not-forprofit organization (NGO) and will be governed by a 17-member governing council. Maharashtra is the only state in India to have an arbitration policy. It will provide world-class infrastructure for arbitration, 24×7 functionality and live transcription services recording during arbitration proceedings for transparency.

News 7 - MP to launch 'Lalima Abhiyan' to make state free from anaemia

The Madhya Pradesh State Government has decided to launch ‘Lalima Abhiyan’ scheme to make the state anaemia-free. The scheme will be effective from November 1. Under the campaign, free iron folic acid tablets will be provided in aaganwadis’, academic institutions and hospitals.

According to National Family Health Survey data, 52.5 percent of women, aged between 15 to 49 years, are suffering from anaemia. Natural, modern and traditional measures would also be publicised during the campaign.

News 8 - BHEL commissions 660 MW Supercritical Thermal Unit in Uttar Pradesh

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commissioned yet another 660 MW coal based supercritical thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh. In the past 15 months, BHEL has added 4,300 MW of power generation capacity in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The unit has been commissioned at the 3x660 MW Prayagraj Super Thermal Power Project, located in Bara tehsil in Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The project is owned by Prayagraj Power Generation Company Limited (PPGCL), a subsidiary company of Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited.

News 9 - MoU signed for two new railway line projects in Odisha

Railways signed MoU with Odisha government for cost sharing of two new railway line projects in the state: Jeypore - Malkangiri and Jeypore - Nabarangpur. Indian Railways has also planned to open a Rail Factory in Kalahandi.

As per the agreement, the state will bear 25 percent of the total cost of the 130 km Jeypore-Malkangir rail line. It will provide the entire land cost and 50 percent of the project cost of Jeypore-Nabarangpur project.

News 10 - Twenty-One new districts carved out of existing 10 districts in Telangana

A total of 21 new districts were carved out of the existing 10 districts in Telangana. With this, Telangana state now has a total 31 districts. Chief Minister Chandrasekhara Rao inaugurated Siddipet district at Siddipet town by hoisting the national Flag. Barring Hyderabad, the existing 10 districts have been split into three or four districts.

The government has also created 25 new revenue divisions, 125 new mandals, four new police commissionerates, 23 new police subdivisions, 28 new circles and 91 police stations.

News 11 - Piyush Goyal launched centre's Integrated Power Development Scheme in UP

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal launched centre's Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. The aim of the scheme is to ensure availability of electricity to all.

Integrated Power Development (IPDS) scheme focuses on improvement of T&D networks across India. It promises help in reduction of AT&C losses, establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency. The scheme has been launched with an outlay of Rs. 44,011 crores for 12^th and 13^th plans.

News 12 - Haryana government sanctioned 500 buses for Gurugram

In a bid to strengthen the public transport system in Gurugram, the Haryana government has sanctioned a fleet of 500 buses for the millennium city. A new body, Greater Gurugram Urban Transport Service Ltd (GGUTSL), has been constituted for this purpose.

GGUTSL would be responsible to operate these buses aiming to provide convenient, easy and effective mode of public transport facility. Financial and investment support will be provided by Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) with 51% share, while rest of the cost will be provided by the Haryana government.

News 13 - Union Cabinet approved redevelopment of AIIMS colonies in New Delhi

The Union Cabinet has approved redevelopment of residential colonies at West Ansari Nagar and Ayur Vigyan Nagar Campuses of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AllMS), New Delhi. National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited will undertake the exercise to replace the existing housing stock of 1,444 dwelling units. It will also create social infrastructure facilities including Dharamshala and commercial Built Up Area.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 4441 crore including maintenance and operation costs for 30 years. The project will be completed in five years in a phased manner.

News 14 - Jharkhand invites BRICS countries for investment

Jharkhand government has invited BRICS countries to invest in the "mineral capital of the country" which has enormous opportunity in transmission, medico city, power substation and smart city.

The growth rate of the state is 12.4 per cent, the second highest in the country. Addressing the BRICS Conference-2016 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Jharkhand Secretary (Industry, Mines & Geology) Sunil Kumar Barnwal said that the state has signed MoUs worth 23,000 crore rupees with various industries and is the best example of industrial harmony.

News 15 - Safe Motherhood Week observed in UP

'Safe Motherhood' week was observed in Uttar Pradesh from 14^th October to 21^st October to provide all necessary medical aid and assistance to the pregnant women and to ensure safe delivery in the entire state. This was the second phase of the Safe Motherhood Week in the state. The first phase was conducted in January 2016.

The campaign was run under National Health Mission. The state has decided to bring down the 'Mother Mortality Rate' 'MMR' to 200 till the end of 2016 from the present 258 per lakh deliveries.

News 16 - J&K received Rs. 2800 Crores for PMGSY roads

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has received Rs 2800 crore under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for macadamization of roads in the State. The amount was sanctioned for the 10^th phase of PMGSY.

The 10^th phase will cover 542 projects which will include construction of 513 roads, and 29 bridges covering over 3519 KM length of roads and over 1217 metres of bridges. Out of a total of 880 schemes sanctioned under the first 9 phases of PMGSY, 720 had been completed and another 152 were scheduled to be completed by March 2017.

News 17 - Odisha government to roll out biometrics authentication for NFSA beneficiaries

Odisha government will roll out biometrics authentication for receiving food grains for beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA) from January 2017 in the state. The step would maintain transparency and check corruption in distribution of food grains.

Priority households will be entitled to 5 kgs. of food grains per person per month at Rs. 3 per kg for rice, Rs. 2 per kg for wheat and Re.1 per kg coarse grains under NFSA. For AAY scheme, each family is entitled to 35 Kgs per month at the same rates.

News 18 - Maharashtra government launched 'Kaushalya Setu' skill development program

Maharashtra government has launched 'Kaushalya Setu' skill development program for students. As a pert of the program, students of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education, who fail to clear Class X or SSC exam, would be accommodated in the skill development courses.

This would help the students not lose a year. About 24,000 students will be provided training under 'Kaushalya Setu' initially. It will give a big boost to Central Government’s Skill India Mission-2020 by providing skill development courses to students.

News 19 - Rajasthan HC dissolved OBC Commission of the state

The Rajasthan High Court has passed an order for dissolution of the State Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission citing it was constituted without the State Assembly enacting any legislation for it.

The court has directed the government to appoint a new Commission backed by a statute. The court has directed the state government to appoint a new OBC Commission by Jan 15, 2017. Justice K.S. Jhaveri and Justice Mahendra Maheshwari passed the order.

News 20 - Aditya Birla Group to invest Rs. 20,000 Crores in Madhya Pradesh

The Aditya Birla Group will make an investment of Rs. 20,000 crores in Madhya Pradesh in sectors like retail, telecom and cement. The pledge was made at the fifth Global Investors Summit at Indore.

Similarly, the ministry of petroleum has pledged an amount of Rs. 20,000 crores for setting up a solar power plant of 2,700 MW. The Indian Oil corporation will chip in with Rs. 4,800 crores for this venture. Essar group has promised Rs. 4,500 crores, Procter & Gamble has planned to invest Rs. 1,100 crores, while Avgol would invest Rs. 230 crores for making hygiene solutions.

News 21 - An 800 year old village electrified in J&K

In Jammu and Kashmir, the over 800 year old village, Itchu in Ladakh region has been electrified for the first time using solar micro grids. The village is now powered by six DC Solar micro grids comprising three grids of 250 watts and three grids of 100 watts.

The electrification of this village just like a well electrified town was done with the help of 156 LED lights powered by these grids. The total cost of the project is 12 lakh rupees including transportation and installations.

News 22 - CM Khandu flagged-off Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu flagged-off the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally 2016 from Tawang. The car rally would cover a distance more than 1000 kms and culminate in Bhutan’s capital, Thimpu. The theme is - ‘Reconnect and strengthen the age old historical linkage, cultural and linguistic affinities between Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan’.

It is being organized by the International Friendship Car Rally Association and supported by Arunachal Pradesh State Tourism Department and Bhutan India Friendship Association to strengthen relations between the two neighbours.

News 23 - Punjab government to sign an MoU with UNICEF to procure 40,000 doses of HPV vaccine

In a bid to stamp out the menace of cervical cancer in the state, the Punjab government would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNICEF to procure 40,000 doses of vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus in a phased manner. Punjab would be the first state in the country to launch this free vaccination program to eradicate the curse of cervical cancer.

The decision was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a high-level meeting with the senior officers of the Health & Family Welfare Department.

News 24 - The year 2017 to be observed as Garib Kalyan Varsh by Haryana

Haryana Chief Minister announced to observe the year 2017 as the "Garib Kalyan Varsh", with a variety of schemes to be rolled out next year for the poor and creating maximum employment opportunities for the youth. It is done with the aim to ensure good governance while making efforts to ensure transparency.

The State Government would come out with several schemes for the welfare of the poor sections of the society.

News 25 - Himachal Pradesh declared India’s Second Open Defecation Free State

The State of Himachal Pradesh was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), making it the second State in the country (after Sikkim) to achieve the feat. With this, Himachal Pradesh has successfully achieved a total rural sanitation coverage of 100% in the State, with all 12 out of 12 districts in the State being both, declared as well as verified, as ODF.

District Administrators and Local Administrators were appreciated for successfully achieving this significant milestone.

News 26 - Bangladesh enforced 21 days ban from October 12 on catching Hilsa Fish

World’s 60% of the World's hilsa are found in Bangladesh, but due to indiscriminate fishing, the quantity of Hilsa fish is reducing day by day. In an effort to save the fish from extinction, Bangladesh has introduced a 22day ban that began on October 12, under which anyone caught catching Hilsa will face at least a year in jail.

As of now, more than 900 fishermen have been arrested. Country has deployed the army to patrol its waterways like 7,000 square kilometres of rivers, estuaries and sea.

News 27 - Odisha Govt. introduced legal assistance providing scheme for deprived sections of 6,812 gram panchayats

In order to ensure legal assistance to the deprived sections of the society at the grassroots level, Odisha government has introduced a new scheme in all its 6,812 gram panchayats across the state. This scheme is named after great Odia lawyer, 'Madhubabu Aain Sahayata Sibir’.

This scheme will help in reducing number of litigations in the courts and setting up of village level legal cells to improve access to the justice. The State has also come up with setting up of Law University in the state for improving the standards of legal education.