All India Radio News Summary: 08 SEPTEMBER 2017
- International Literacy Day – “Literacy in a Digital World’
Today is International Literacy Day is observed every year on 8th September to emphasize the importance of literacy to individuals, society and communities.
- The theme of this year’s International Literacy Day is ‘Literacy in a Digital World’.
In India, the National Literacy Mission Authority has planned several functions.
- The programme at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi would include felicitation of dignitaries and conferring of the Saakshar Bharat Awards. The Awards are given to the best performing States, Districts, Gram Panchayats and NGOs.
- The National Literacy Mission was initiated by the government on 5th May, 1988 with the objective of eradicating illiteracy. In 1951, when the first Census was conducted after Independence, the literacy rate of the country was merely 18 per cent. However, in the last Census held in 2011, the country has achieved a literacy rate of around 73 per cent.
Human Resource Development Minister has said that the government will launch School Chalo Campaign next year for children who are not able to attend schools due to various reasons.
- He said literacy rate in the country has reached up to 81 per cent from 74 percent during 2011 Census.
- The Minister said that the government will be able to achieve 100 per cent literacy and digital literacy by 2022.
- Vice President said,
- a country cannot be called developed unless it is literate.
- a life is incomplete without education and it is crucial for any nation’s progress.
- Education empowers people and it is ammunition to fight discrimination and injustice.
- India still has the challenge to achieve 100 per cent literacy.
- Literacy is essential for realising the vision of development for all or Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas.
- He congratulated the Jharkhand government for making at least 25 lakh people literate in last three years.
- VP presented the Saakshar Bharat Awards to mark International Literacy day.
- A strong earthquake of magnitude 8.1 has struck in the Pacific off the southern coast of Mexico,
A strong earthquake of magnitude 8.1 has struck in the Pacific off the southern coast of Mexico.
- The United States Geological Survey said, the epicentre was about 87 kms south-west of the town of Pijijiapan and at a depth of 70 kms.
- A tsunami warning has been issued for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras.
- The quake was felt in Mexico City, with people running into the street.
- President described the quake as country’s strongest in a century.
- Government to bring in a policy on electric vehicles soon.
The government will soon bring in a policy on electric vehicles. Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping said
- A Cabinet note on electric vehicles is almost ready that will take care of charging stations.
- He said, the pace of car sales in the country should slow down as growth in vehicle sales, particularly those running on diesel, is choking roads and causing increased pollution.
- The Minister also advised carmakers to go in for alternative fuels to check pollution.
- He said that petrol and diesel vehicles will need to make way for electric powertrains and engines running on other fuel variants such as ethanol and biofuels.
- Supreme Court grants six weeks’ time to Centre to find amicable solution to Satluj-Yamuna Link canal row
The Supreme Court has granted six weeks’ time to the Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable solution to the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal row between Punjab and Haryana.
- A bench headed by Chief Justice was informed by Attorney General that efforts were on to resolve the dispute between the two states and sought some more time.
- The bench considered the statement of the Central government and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 8th.
- Tolerance is the culture and commitment of India and it is our constitutional duty to protect it
Union Minister for Minority Affairs has said that tolerance is the culture and commitment of India and it is our constitutional duty to protect it.
- He inaugurated the ‘New India- We Resolve to Make’ photo exhibition cum cultural event.
- He said, the government will not allow any destructive agenda to dominate the development agenda.
- His remarks come against the backdrop of the outrage over the killing of Kannadajournalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
- The Indian Council for Agricultural Research ICAR will be undertaking major research works on agriculture
The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be undertaking major research works on agriculture this year with the World Bank fund of 1100 crore rupees.
- The national apex agricultural research body informed this in the convocation function at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Chennai.
- He said, the funds will be allocated to ten each of the premier agricultural and veterinary universities in the country.
- Black money worth 4,900 crore rupees was disclosed by 21 thousand people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna
Black money worth 4,900 crore rupees was disclosed by 21 thousand people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna, the stash money declaration window announced by the government post demonetisation.
- The Income Tax Department has collected a tax of 2,451 crore rupees till now from these declarations.
- The scheme was launched in December last year by the government to enable people with black money to come clean by paying tax and penalty of 50 per cent.
- VVPAT machines will be used in the forthcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh
The Election Commission has said that VVPAT machines will be used in the forthcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.
- The Election Commission of India has started preparatory arrangements for assembly election in Himachal Pradesh.
- The Election Commission team held lengthy deliberations with all the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendent of Police and other state election officials in Shimla. Issues like voter lists, photo-identity cards, security arrangements, road conditions and the location of polling booths were discussed.
- The poll body will launch a special drive for greater participation for a stronger democracy in the state.
- Gujarat government has announced a cash reward of 1 lakh Rupees regarding deadly Blue Whale Challenge.
The Gujarat government has announced a cash reward of 1 lakh Rupees to those providing information about the administrators and curators of the deadly Blue Whale Challenge.
- After banning the challenge, which incites people to commit suicide, the state home department came out with an advisory and directed the police department and district administrations to prohibit people from undertaking the challenge.
- The cyber cell of the state police has launched a helpline number 079-22871917 for anyone seeking information on deadly online game.
- US banking regulators ordered Pakistan’s Habib Bank to shutter its New York office
US banking regulators ordered Pakistan’s Habib Bank to shutter its New York office after nearly 40 years, for repeatedly failing to notice concerns over possible terrorist financing and money laundering.
- Habib Bank, Pakistan’s largest private bank, facilitated billions of dollars of transactions with Saudi private bank.
- Bank, which reportedly has links to al Qaeda, and failed to do enough to ensure that the funds were not laundered or used for terrorism.
The state’s Department of Financial Services, which regulates foreign banks, also slapped a 225 million Dollars fine on the bank.
- Nagaland will start implementing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under MGNREGA
Nagaland will start implementing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under MGNREGA beginning from the current financial year.
- To ensure transparency and check corruption at all levels, wages of the MGNREGA workers will be directly credited to the individual accounts of the job card holders through National Electronic Fund Management System or Public Financial Management System.
- To avail the benefit, every job card holder must have a bank account duly linked with Aadhaar.
- In the new system, no payment will be made in cash.
- Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017
A Joint Committee of Parliament has decided to seek views and suggestions from various stakeholders and public at large on the provisions of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017.
- The bill seeks to provide resolution for certain categories of financial service providers in distress.
- It was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee of both the Houses for examination and presenting a Report to Parliament.
- The Government unveiled rules to tackle on-board disruptive and unruly behaviour by passengers in flights
The Government unveiled rules to tackle on-board disruptive and unruly behaviour by passengers in flights.
- The revised Civil Aviation Requirement, CAR, defines three categories of unruly behavior- verbal, physical and life threatening.
- There is provision for debarring from flying for three months for verbal unruly behaviour, six months for physical and two years or more for life threatening.
- The complaint of unruly behavior would need to be filed by the pilot-in-command, which will be probed by an internal committee to be set up by the airline.
- The revised rules will be applicable for all Indian operators engaged in air transport services, both domestic and international carriage of passengers.
- It would also be applicable to foreign carriers subject to compliance of Tokyo Convention 1963 on offences and certain other acts committed onboard aircraft.
- The rules contain appeal provisions against the ban on flying.
- The airlines will have to share the No-Fly list which will posted on the DGCA website.
- However, the other airlines will not be bound by the No-Fly list of an airline.
- Across Barriers-International Business Women’s Summit
South Asian Women Development Forum is organising “Across Barriers-International Business Women’s Summit” at Kathmandu.
- The basic objective of the two day Summit is to bring together women entrepreneurs from the SAARC, ASEAN, China and some other countries.
- The summit will be a regional hub for connecting women SMEs, small and medium enterprises with public and private sector for exploring opportunities to identify joint business ventures.
- NGT directed NHAI to maintain the mandatory green cover along national and state highways
The National Green Tribunal has directed the National Highway Authority of India, NHAI, to maintain the mandatory green cover along national and state highways in order to maintain ecological balance.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson directed the Delhi government, the Haryana and Rajasthan governments to ensure plantation on government land on both sides of NH-1 and NH-8.
