All India Radio News Summary: 19 January 2018
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has crossed one crore mark in antenatal check-ups
The programme was launched in 2016 to fulfil the vision of ensuring comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across the country.
- The PMSMA provides quality check-ups to pregnant women on 9th of every month.
- Safe pregnancy has now become a social movement in the country. More than 25 lakh check-ups were conducted in high priority districts identified by the Health Ministry for focussed attention.
- In his July 2016 episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister had urged private sector doctors to dedicate 12 days in a year to this programme and provide voluntary services under PMSMA.
- More than 4,800 private sector doctors pledged to provide voluntary service under PMSMA.
- GST Council has decided to provide a three-year GST exemption for viability gap funding (VGF)
The GST Council has decided to provide a three-year GST exemption for viability gap funding (VGF) given under the regional air connectivity scheme.
- The scheme, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) seeks to connect unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable.
- The participating airlines are eligible for VGF subject to certain conditions.
- The civil aviation ministry contributes 80 per cent of the VGF amount, while the remaining comes from the state governments concerned and in the case of north-eastern states and Union territories, the Centre will contribute 90 per cent.
- A total of 128 routes connecting 70 airports were awarded in the first round of bidding under the scheme.
- Transparency in corporate data will help in checking funds being channelled through shell companies
Finance minister said, transparency in corporate data will help in checking funds being chanelled through shell companies.
- After launching National Corporate Social Responsibility Data Portal and Corporate Data Portal, FM said the website will bring in more transparency and accountability and give all the details of CSR activities to people.
- He said transparency itself is good for the system and good for corporate India.
- In case, if there is any impropriety, the possibility of its being detected is going to be very high.
National Corporate Social Responsibility Data Portal:
The National CSR Data Portal will act as a one-stop platform for dissemination of information on CSR expenditure made by companies and filed on the MCA21 registry.
The Corporate Data Portal would make available for public viewing a wealth of information on company filings, including annual financial statements, annual report and various event based filings. It would also cater to customized data services for research and analysis.
- Government launches 100 accessible websites for Divyangs
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister launched 100 accessible websites for Divyangs. These 100 government websites are now divyang friendly.
- The divyang-friendly websites, especially for visually impaired, use features such as screen readers and screen magnifiers, which can relay website content to the user in audio format.
- 900 such websites will be launched in a phased manner.
- A lot needs to be done to empower divyangs in the country. The Minister urged the states to increase the pace of the work which is being done in favour of divyangs.
- The Indian Navy’s first all-women crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, crossed the Cape Horn
The Indian Navy’s first all-women crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, crossed the Cape Horn as they were making their way to the Falklands Island.
- Crew of six women naval officers is sailing on Tarini, a 55-foot yacht, on their eight-month circumnavigation of the globe.
- Few people have attempted the stretch which is known for the extremely rough seas and unpredictable climate.
- Prime minister said country is extremely proud of their accomplishments.
- The Swacha Bharat drive in Tamil Nadu is catching up fast with the state’s target of attaining open defecation free status by the end of March this year
The Swacha Bharat drive in Tamil Nadu is catching up fast with the state’s target of attaining open defecation free status, or ODF, by the end of March this year.
- The state is considered one of the most urbanized in the country, though it is yet to reach the ODF goals.
- Kanyakumari has been the first to get declared as ODF among districts and Coimbatore among Corporations.
- The state government has issued orders to build nearly 26 point five lakh individual household toilets by the end of this financial year.
- Analysts say over ninety percent of the households have individual toilets though reaching out the remaining ten percent remains a challenge, which is being gradually addressed.
- Besides individual sanitation measures, Corporations are adopting innovations to handle solid waste management issues.
- Madurai Corporation involves 12 Self Help Groups besides its own manpower in collection of wastes from household.
- United States has called for Hafiz Saeed’s prosecution to the fullest extent of the law
United States has called for Hafiz Saeed’s prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
- US reaction came following Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s remark that no action could be taken against the UN-designated terrorist as there is no case against him.
- Reacting strongly to the comments, State Department spokesperson said the US believes that Saeed should be prosecuted and they have told Pakistan as much.
- She said, US regard him as a terrorist, and believe, he was the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks which killed many people, including Americans.
- In Nepal, protests erupted in many parts of the country against the government’s decision of approving names of temporary provincial capitals.
Soon after the announcement of temporary capitals people started agitating in many parts of Nepal. In Birgunj protesters burnt tire and raised slogans demanding Birgunj as the capital of Province 2 in-place of Janakpur.
On Wednesday the cabinet had approved names of temporary capitals and chiefs of all seven provinces.
- India joined the Australia Group export control regime
India today joined the Australia Group export control regime, an informal forum which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.
- The inclusion is expected to raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation and help in acquiring critical technologies.
- India has managed entry into Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- India also thanked Australia for inducting it into the group.
- The Australia group decide to admit India as the group’s 43rd participant through a consensus decision.
- India’s entry into the group could be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives.
- PM will address the Plenary Session of World Economic Forum on the 23rd during his visit.
The theme for this year’s WEF is Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.
Significance:
India could showcase its achievements and reforms including economic development.
That’s a great forum where you have so many top CEOs coming. So the message of transformation that is happening in India’s economic policy, the changes that are being made, and the ease of doing business that is being done could be reached to many.
