All India Radio News Summary: 11 OCTOBER 2017
- Prime Minister attended inauguration of birth centenary celebrations of Nanaji Deshmukh
Prime Minister addressed a function to mark the birth centenary celebration of Nanaji Deshmukh. PM released a commemorative postage stamp on Nanaji Deshmukh.
- Social activist, Rajya Sabha member and former RSS leader Nanaji founded the Deendayal Research Institute and was credited with exemplary work in education, health and rural self-reliance.
- The Prime Minister launched a portal for coordination and monitoring of development works at the district level.
- Prime Minister urges for extending urban facilities to villages; Also calls for completing initiatives on time to help the intended beneficiaries.
Prime Minister said there is no dearth of resources in the country, however he emphasised the need for good governance.
- PM said, only having the best ideas for development are not enough, but initiatives need to be completed on time so that fruits of development reach the targeted beneficiaries.
- Those efforts have to be comprehensive and outcome driven.
- He called for making urban facilities available in villages.
- He said, lack of sanitation facilities is adversely affecting the development journey of villages and the government is working to overcome this and build toilets in rural areas.
- The strength of a democracy cannot be measured on the basis of the number of voters but the real essence of a democracy is ‘Jan Bhagidari’ and integrating people in the development journey of cities and villages.
The Prime Minister also launched several projects related to rural and local development.
- Launched DISHA dashboard portal for coordination and monitoring of development works at the district leve
- Launched the Gram Samvad App which will carry information on the progress of rural development works at the Gram Panchayat level.
- It has been developed on the theme Empowerment through Information.
- The Prime Minister also inaugurated a Plant Phenomics Facility of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
- The high throughput plant phenomics platform, allows quantitative, non-destructive phenotypic characterization of crop varieties and germplasm under defined environmental conditions. The system captures images of the plants exposed to different abiotic and biotic stresses such as water deficit, excess moisture, high/low temperatures, and salinity individually as well as in combination at defined intervals during crop growth.
- He also visited an exhibition on the theme of technology and rural life showcasing various good practices and applications.
- Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister identifies ten priorities for accelerating economic growth and employment generation.
The newly constituted Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister holds its first meeting at NITI Aayog in New Delhi. The five member committee comprising economists and experts was constituted by Prime Minister on the 26th of last month to halt the downhill movement of the Indian economy.
- NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Bibek Debroy heads the council. The council is mandated to analyse all critical issues, economic or otherwise referred to it by the Prime Minister. It is also required to address issues of macro-economic importance and presenting its views.
- This meeting comes in the backdrop of increasing concerns over declining GDP growth momentum. The slowing of GDP in June quarter triggered concerns especially regarding flagging consumer demand. The revival of the council signals the government’s effort to tap economists for new ideas on the economy. The Council will address all issues of emergent importance, engage with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and formulate advice accordingly.
- The newly set up Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister identified ten major priorities for accelerating economic growth and employment generation over the next six months.
- Those ten issue that have identified are,
- economic growth through employment and job creation,
- informal sector
- the integration of the informal sector
- the fiscal framework
- monetary policy
- public expenditure and efficiency in public expenditure
- institution of economic governance
- agriculture and animal husbandry
- patterns of consumption and production
- The social sector.
- The council will also focus on the preparation of the next Union budget. The Council have also reached a consensus on the reasons for the economic slowdown. Another key issue recognised in the meeting is the need for effective tracking of key economic parameters through possible mechanisms for instituting an Economy Tracking Monitor.
- The deliberations of the Economic Advisory Council also reflect its value addition as an independent institutional mechanism to provide informed advice to the Prime Minister on addressing issues of macro-economic importance and related aspects.
- Finance Minister says series of reforms like demonetisation and the GST, has put Indian economy on a stronger track.
Union Finance Minister said, the series of reforms like demonetisation and the GST, initiated by the government has put the Indian economy on a stronger track.
- Addressing students of Columbia University in New York, FM said, these are structural changes and have put the Indian economy on a far more sound track so that we can look forward for a much cleaner and much bigger Indian economy in the days and years to come.
- Consistent steps have been taken to formalise and expand the more formal economy and steps have been taken against the shadow economy.
- Referring to the series of economic reforms that India has undertaken since 1991, FM said the Indian model now seems to be emerging. He said there is a consensus on reforms in India.
- IMF trims India growth forecast for the current financial year to 6.7 per cent;
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed India’s growth forecast for Financial Year 2017-18 but expects a revival as structural reform bears fruit.
- In its latest World Economic Outlook released yesterday, the IMF lowered India’s growth forecast for 2017 to 6.7% from its earlier estimate of 7.2 per cent.
- It cited lingering impact of demonetisation and transition cost to the Goods & Services Tax (GST) for the slowdown.
- The IMF however said India is expected to regain the fastest growing major economy tag next year when it is forecast to grow 7.4 per cent, slower than the earlier estimate of 7.7 per cent but higher than China’s 6.5 per cent.
- The IMF also expects the Indian economy to grow 8 per cent in the medium term on the back of reforms undertaken so far.
- Bihar government to provide reservation to persons with disabilities in government jobs and educational institutions.
The Bihar government approved reservations for persons with disabilities in government jobs and educational institutions. The cabinet gave its approval during a meeting presided over by Chief Minister.
- The provision has been brought in accordance with the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- The cabinet also approved establishment of a state advisory board for the empowerment of ‘Divyangjan’ as envisaged in the Act.
- Maharashtra government ordered a Special Investigation Team probe into the death of farmers
The Maharashtra government ordered a Special Investigation Team probe into the death of farmers due to inhalation of pesticides while spraying them on cotton crop in Yavatmal district.
- Due to inhalation of pesticides, 19 farmers have lost their lives.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister said, charges of culpable homicide will be slapped against pesticide companies if they are found guilty and penal action will be taken against sellers who sold non-certified pesticides.
- Terming the death of farmers as unfortunate, CM said the state government has initiated measures to provide and train farmers to adopt protective gears such as masks and gloves while spraying pesticides.
- The Maharashtra government is providing 10,000 protective gears to farmers to prevent such incidents in future.
- After spraying pesticide, 19 farmers died and more than 800 admitted in hospitals complaining of uneasiness. While, 25 farmers have lost their eye-sight.
- Hearing in the Supreme Court regarding a ‘living will’
The hearing in the Supreme Court regarding a ‘living will’ whereby a patient gives advance authorisation to remove life support systems in case of irreversible terminal illness.
- Critics say that “Living will prone to misuse.
- It is reported that the government favours passive euthanasia on advice of medical board.
- Supreme Court says sex with minor wife aged between 15 and 18 years is criminal;
The Supreme Court criminalised sex with minor wife aged between 15 and 18 years, saying the exception in the rape law was arbitrary and violative of the Constitution.
- The apex court said the exception in the rape law was contrary to the philosophy of other statutes and violates the bodily integrity of a girl child.
- The bench also expressed concern over the prevalent practice of child marriage in the country and said social justice laws were not implemented in the spirit with which they have been enacted by Parliament.
- The bench clarified that it has not dealt with the issue of marital rape as it was not raised before it by respective parties.
- The age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception given in the rape law under the IPC is capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child.
- It has asked the Centre and the states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country.
- The United States flies two supersonic heavy bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Pyongyang.
The United State has flown two supersonic heavy bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Pyongyang, amid high tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
- Two B-1B Lancers based in Guam flew a mission in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan.
- After entering South Korean airspace, the two bombers carried out air-to-ground missile drills in waters off the east coast of South Korea, and then flew over the South to waters between it and China to repeat the drill.
- The U.S. military said in a separate statement that Japanese fighters also joined the drill, making it the first night-time combined exercise for the U.S. bombers with fighters from Japan and South Korea.
- British Prime Minister has urged the United States to re-certify the nuclear agreement with Iran
British Prime Minister has urged the United States to re-certify the nuclear agreement with Iran.
- Prime Minister emphasised the importance of the agreement being carefully monitored and properly enforced.
- The Prime Minister reaffirmed Britain’s strong commitment alongside its European partners because it is vitally important for regional security.
- President of USA who has criticised the agreement as an embarrassment is expected to decertify Iran’s compliance ahead of an October 15 time limit.
- However, China, Russia and the European states have already expressed their continued support for the agreement.
- World Obesity Day – October 11th
Child and teenage obesity levels have risen ten-fold in the last four decades, meaning 124 million boys and girls around the globe are too fat.
- According to a research released today on the World Obesity Day by the Researchers from the World Obesity Federation, the largest increase in the number of obese children and adolescents has been in East Asia.
- China and India have seen rates increase in recent years said the report.
- The researchers said that if the present world trends continue, obese will soon be more common than underweight.
- They said East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a shift from underweight to obesity within the space of a few decades.
- Researchers also said they believe that wide availability and promotion of cheap, fattening food is one of the main drivers.
- Union Cabinet approves 7th Pay Commission benefits to teachers and other academic staff of Universities, technical Institutions and aided colleges
Union Cabinet has approved the benefits of 7th Pay Commission to the faculty members and other academic staff of Central and state Universities, technical Institutions and aided colleges.
- It will be applicable from 1st of January, 2016. The annual Central financial liability on account of this measure would be about 9,800 crore rupees.
- Over 7.5 lakh teachers will be benefited from this decision. Human Resource Development Minister said, the salaries of teachers will increase from 10 to 50 thousand rupees under the new pay scale.
- The decision will also benefit the teachers of IITs, IIMs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes.
- The move will provide justice to the faculty members and attract new talents.
- Minister said, we need to attract talent in academic and we must give a good salary package so that the existing talent retained, because in the industries there are more attractive packages, still with commitment people stay here, so there may be given due benefits.
Cabinet has approved two new schemes of skill development.
- The schemes are skill acquisition and knowledge awareness for livelihood promotion (SANKALP) and skill strengthening for industrial value enhancement (STRIVE).
- Both the schemes are supported by the World Bank.
- SANKALP will be a centrally sponsored scheme with an allocation of 4,445 crore rupees while STRIVE will be central sector scheme with an expenditure of 2,200 crore rupees.
- The schemes are aimed at developing globally competitive workforce for domestic and overseas requirements and will provide required impetus to National Skill Development Mission.
- He said, over 700 industries led institutes are being set up for providing job oriented skill training to lakhs of aspirants.
- The schemes will also develop a skilling environment which will support the country’s rise in the ease of doing business index by steady supply of skilled workforce to the industry.
- India is proud of the accomplishments of the girl child – PM
Prime Minister has said that India is proud of the accomplishments of the girl child and government is working to provide all possible opportunities for the girl child to excel. On the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child, PM said, Government reaffirms its commitment to work towards gender equality and increase gender sensitization.
- Veteran actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He will replace Gajendra Chauhan.
Mr Kher who has appeared in over 500 films is a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts. The veteran star has won many national and international awards including the ‘Filmfare Award five times.
Earlier he served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, CBFC and was the Director of National School of Drama. He is also an alumnus of NSD.
