All India Radio News Summary: 28 MARCH 2018
- Government to divest 76 per cent stake in Air India.
The Government has unveiled plans to sell up to 76 per cent stake in Air India and transfer the management control to private players, starting the ambitious strategic disinvestment process for the debt-laden national carrier.
- The proposed disinvestment will include profit-making Air India Express and joint venture AISATS.
- The AISATS is an equal joint venture between the national carrier and Singapore-based SATS Ltd.
- While the government will retain 24 per cent stake in Air India, the winning bidder will be required to stay invested in the airline for at least three years.
- Expression of Interest (EoI) has been invited from various entities, including foreign airlines.
- Centre surpasses PSU disinvestment target for the current fiscal; mops up over one lakh crore rupees.
- The Government has mopped up more money from PSU disinvestment than the Budgeted target in the current fiscal.
- The government has collected over one lakh crore rupees through PSU disinvestment in the current fiscal, higher than 46,250 crore rupees mopped up in the previous financial year.
- In the Budget, the government had set a revised target of one lakh crore rupees from PSU disinvestment, which was higher than the budget estimate of 72,500 crore rupees.
- So far, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has raised 1,00,056 crore rupees through disinvestment.
- Cabinet clears amendments to National Medical Commission Bill removing Bridge Course that allows practitioners of alternative medicines to pursue allopathy
The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill including removing the contentious provision of a Bridge Course, which would have allowed practitioners of alternative medicines to pursue allopathy.
- Observing the need to act strictly against unqualified practitioners, the government approved an amendment to make the punishment for any unauthorised practice of medicine severe by including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to five lakh rupees.
- National Exit Test (NEXT)
The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister also approved that the final MBBS examination will be held as a common exam throughout the country and will serve as an exit test to be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).
- Thus, students would not have to appear in a separate exam after MBBS to get a licence to practice and ‘NEXT’ would serve as the screening test for doctors with foreign medical qualifications in order to practice in India.
- NITI Aayog launches baseline ranking for 115 aspirational districts based on 49 indicators across five sectors.
- The NITI Aayog has launched the baseline ranking for 115 aspirational districts based on 49 indicators across five sectors that include health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
- This will be followed by delta ranking of these districts from May 2018 based on their incremental progress.
- According to NITI Aayog, the dashboard developed for real-time data collection and monitoring will be open for public viewing from April 1st.
- Indian Space Research Organisation launches a communication satellite GSAT-6A from Sriharikota
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) GSAT 6 will be totally a telecommunication satellite which will be used for specifications necessary in C Band and S Band services.
- S band services will operate in the electromagnetic spectrum meant for specific purposes, mainly in weather and multi-media telecommunication and also wireless LAN and surveillance facilities with a small antenna.
- The C band antenna is mainly used for commercial telecom based services.
