Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Constitution (Application to J&K) Amendment Order, 2019 approved

Union Cabinet has approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, a move which will bring persons living in remote and inaccessible areas under reservation ambit.

Once the Ordinance is issued, it would pave the way for bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining international border within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining actual Line of Control

This was a long-pending demand of the people living in remote areas as they have historically faced economic distress and socio-economic backwardness.

Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) amendment order, 2019

The Cabinet has also approved amendment to the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) order 1954 by the way of Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) amendment order, 2019.

This will provide 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections, which includes Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, in educational institutions and government job in addition to the existing reservation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

National Mineral Policy, 2019 approved by Cabinet

The Union Cabinet on 28 Feb approved the National Mineral Policy 2019.

It will replace National Mineral Policy 2008.

The policy is aimed at bringing about more effective regulation to the sector as well as a more sustainable approach while addressing the issues of those affected by mining.

What’s new?

Some of the features in the policy include the introduction of the right of first refusal for the reconnaissance permit (RP) and prospecting license holders, encouraging the private sector to take up exploration and the auctioning of virgin areas on a revenue- sharing basis.

Changes introduced in the new policy include focus on Make-in-India initiative and gender sensitivity in terms of the vision.

It also introduces the concept of inter-generational equity that deals with the well-being not only of the present generation but also of the generations to come.

What do you understand by Mineral Policy?

Steel, copper, lead, zinc, coal, petroleum, the common mineral products and many others little known or appreciated before, such as tungsten, chromite, manganese, molybdenum are included in making a country’s mineral policy.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Cabinet approves Scheme for FAME India Phase II

The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a Rs 10,000 crore package for the second phase of Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric (and hybrid) vehicles (FAME) scheme on February 28.

Starting from 1st April 2019, the second package will continue for three years till 31st March, 2022.

The scheme with a total outlay of Rs 10,000 Crores over the period of three years will be implemented with effect from 1st April 2019.

Objective

Through this scheme, the emphasis is on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.

Demand incentives on operational expenditure mode for electric buses will be delivered through state/city transport corporation (STUs).

In three and four wheeler segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. In the e-two wheelers segment, the focus will be on private vehicles.

The government plans to support ten lakhs e-2W, five Lakhs e-3W, 55,000 4Ws and 7,000 buses.

The scheme proposes establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2,700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million-plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country so that there is availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Promulgation of Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019

The Union Cabinet has approved the promulgation of an ordinance to make amendments to the AASHAR Card 2016.

The amendments would enable the Unique Identification Authority of India to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest.

Now, under no circumstances can, an individual can be compelled to provide possession of Aadhar Card unless it is so provided by a law made by the parliament.

Background:

The Supreme Court in its 26 September 2018 judgement helped Aadhar constitutionally valid. However, it struck down a few sections of the Aadhar Act and Regulations to secure the fundamental right of privacy.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Promulgation of Ordinance to amend SEZ Act, 2005

Trusts now can approach the government to set up units in special economic zones as the Union Cabinet on 28 Feb approved the promulgation of an Ordinance for amendment to the SEZ Act, 2005.

The present provisions of the Act do not permit 'trusts' to set up units in SEZs.

The amendment would also provide flexibility to the central government to include 'trusts' in the definition of a 'person', any entity that the central government may notify from time to time.

What is the definition of ‘Person’?

Currently, the definition of "person" includes an individual, whether resident in India or outside India, a Hindu undivided family, co-operative society, a company, whether incorporated in India or outside India, a firm, proprietary concern, or an association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, local authority and any agency, office or branch owned or controlled by such individual.

What do you understand by Special Economic Zones?

It is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country's domestic economic laws.

They were established in an attempt to accelerate foreign investment and endorse exports from India and recognizing the need of a global platform to expose the domestic firms and producers to the competitive world market.

Tamil Nadu has the highest number if SEZ.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Petroleum Ministry joins IEA Bioenergy TCP as its 25th member

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG), government of India has recently joined IEA Bioenergy TCP as its 25th member.

IEA Bioenergy TCP: International Energy Agency's Technology Collaboration Programme on Bioenergy

The primary goal of MoP&NG joining IEA Bioenergy TCP is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce substantial crude oil imports.

The other members are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Commission.

IEA Bioenergy is an international platform for co-operation among countries with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment.

Benefits of Joining IEA Bioenergy TCP

The benefits of participation in IEA Bioenergy TCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources. The duplication of efforts is avoided and national Research and Development capabilities are strengthened.

There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

Cabinet approves Kanpur and Agra Metro Rail Project

The Union cabinet approved the Kanpur and the Agra metro rail projects, a move to boost public transport connectivity in the two Uttar Pradesh cities.

Agra Rail Project

The Agra rail project will have two corridors, which will pass through heart of the city and will connect prominent tourist places like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Sikandra, as well as the interstate bus terminal, railway station, medical college and others.

The estimated cost of Agra project is Rs 8,379.62 crore.

Kanpur Metro Station

In Kanpur metro project, the length of the ITT-to Naubasta corridor is 23.785 km, which is partly elevated and partly underground. It comprises of 22 stations.

The estimated cost of the Kanpur metro project is Rs 11,076.48 crore.

The financing of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project will be partly from the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government on an equal-equity basis and party as soft loan from multilateral international funding agencies.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation -- a 50:50 jointly-owned company of the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government -- will be restructured as the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) for implementation of the project.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

National Policy on Software Products 2019

Central Cabinet on 28 Feb 2019 approved a national policy on software products that aims to position India as a hub for software products development and creating 65 lakh jobs by 2025.

India aspires to become a global player in the tech domain that is gearing up for Artificial Intelligence, big data, Internet of Things and robotics.

Highlights of the Software Policy

The new policy seeks to nurture 10,000 technology start-ups working on software products, including 1,000 in tier II and III towns as well as up skilling 10 lakh IT professionals that includes one lakh school and college students.

A cluster-based ecosystem will be developed in the country, where software products will be developed. For this, ₹5,000 crore software product development fund (SPDF) will be set up. Indian government will put in ₹1,000 crore and the remaining will come from the industry.

The intent of the policy is to create an enabling environment for innovation, Research and Development (R&D), IP creation and protection, as well as create talent pool for the industry.

A National Software Products Mission will be set up with participation from Government, academia and industry to promote India as a global software product hub.

The policy will also focus on tapping into emerging technology areas like Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, block chain, smart sensors, big data, and robotics that are being used in smart cities, healthcare, agriculture, fintech, e-learning and transport, amongst other domains.

Current affairs English| Evening News
Current affairs 1 March 2019 _English | करंट अफेयर्स 1 मार्च 2019 इंग्लिश मध्ये

New Railway Zone to be set up at Visakhapatnam

Indian Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on 27 Feb 2019 announced a new railway zone for Andhra Pradesh.

The new railway zone will be Southern Coast Railway.

It will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam.

Background

In a memorandum submitted to Railway Ministry, it was alleged that North Andhra region comprising Srikaulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam district is very backward and needs inputs for development.

Railway Zones in India

Railway Zone	Zone Headquarters	Railway Divisions
1	Northern Railway	Delhi	Delhi, Ambala, Firozpur, Lucknow NR, Moradabad
2	Northeast Frontier Railway	Guwahati	Alipurduar, Katihar, Rangiya, Lumding, Tinsukia
3	Eastern Railway	Kolkata	Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, Malda
4	South Eastern Railway	Kolkata	Adra, Chakradharpur, Kharagpur, Ranchi
5	South Central Railway	Secunderabad	Secunderabad, Hyderabad Vijayawada, GuntakalGuntur, Nanded
6	Southern Railway	Chennai	Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad, Salem, Thiruvananthapuram
7	Central Railway	Mumbai	Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Solapur, Nagpur
8	Western Railway	Mumbai	Mumbai WR, Ratlam, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara
9	South Western Railway	Hubballi	Hubballi, Bengaluru, Mysuru,
10	North Western Railway	Jaipur	Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur
11	West Central Railway	Jabalpur	Jabalpur, Bhopal  Kota
12	North Central Railway	Allahabad	Allahabad, Agra, Jhansi
13	South East Central Railway	Bilaspur	Bilaspur, Raipur, Nagpur SEC
14	East Coast Railway	Bhubaneswar	Khurda Road, Sambalpur, Waltair
15	East Central Railway	Hajipur	Danapur, DhanbadMughalsarai, Samastipur, Sonpur
16	Konkan Railway	Navi Mumbai
17	Kolkata Metro Railway	Kolkata	Kolkata