24 August 2016 - Current Affairs


BRICS countries adopt Udaipur Declaration on disaster
The two-day meeting of Ministers of Disaster Management (MDM) of BRICS countries concluded in Udaipur, Rajasthan with the adoption of the Udaipur Declaration. This was the second meeting and in the follow up of the first meeting of the BRICS MDM convened by the Russia in St. Petersburg in April, 2016.

Key Highlights of 2nd BRICS MDM meeting Objective: 
  • Share experiences on flood-risk management, current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events. 
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather-related events. 
It focused on two themes: (i) ‘Flood Risk Management‘ and (ii) ‘Forecasting of Extreme Weather Events in the context of Changing Climate‘. Three technical sessions were held on areas of disaster risk management challenges, forecasting and early warning on flood and disaster risk in a changing climate.

Union Government launches Accessible E-Library Sugamya Pustakalaya
The Union Government has launched Accessible E-Library ‘Sugamya Pustakalaya’ for Divyang under Prime Minister’s Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. It was jointly launched by Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar and Thawar Chand Gehlot at a function in New Delhi. 

What is Sugamya Pustakalaya? 
  • Sugamya Pustakalaya is an online library for Divyang and houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats. 
  • The online library has been created in collaboration with National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH), member organisations of Daisy Forum of India and Bookshare and is powered by TCS Access. 
  • In this online library books will available in accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other print disabilities. It will house over 2 lakhs books in diverse languages.
  •  It will also integrate libraries across India and the Globe, including the largest international library Bookshare.
President Pranab Mukherjee launches Akashvani Maitree Channel for listeners in Bangladesh
President Pranab Mukherjee launched Akashvani Maitree (Moitree) Channel and its multimedia website in Bengali language for listeners in West Bengal, Bangladesh and the adjoining areas. Akashvani Moitree Channel is an initiative of Kolkata Akashvani Kendra. It will provide a platform for blending content both from India and Bangladesh and preserving Bengali culture.

What is Akashvani Maitree? 
  • The All India Radio (AIR) during the Bangladesh Liberation Movement in 1971 had launched Akashvani Maitree, a Bangla radio service. 
  • The channel had played a historic role during the Bangladesh liberation movement. However, it was discontinued in 2010. 
Why it is launched again? 
  • The relaunch of Akashvani Maitree is being looked as an outreach to strengthen India’s shaky relations with Bangladesh as a part of its cultural diplomacy.  
The service is being re-launched twin objectives: 
  • (i) To attract Bengali-speaking listeners from both countries. 
  • (ii) To counter the presence of CRI (Chinese Radio International) with its strong presence in the region. The channel will also play a significant role in promoting and preserving the composite Bengali cultural heritage irrespective of geographical location.
NCS signs MoUs to enhance quality & reach of employment services
National Career Service (NCS) signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners for enhancing quality and reach of employment services through the NCS network. 
These MoUs were signed with job portals companies Indeed, First Job, Freshersworld, Merajob and HT Shine etc. to enhance quality and reach of its employment generation services. Earlier, the NSC had partnered with leading organisations like Uber, Monster.com, Saral Rozgar, Quikrjobs, Indian Staffing Federation etc for the same purpose.

What is National Career Service (NCS)? 
  • NCS project is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment. It was launched in 2015. 
  • It is an ICT based portal developed to provide a wide variety of employment related services to job seekers and youth through technology. 
  • NCS portal facilitates registration of job seekers, job providers, skill providers, career counsellors, etc. free of cost. 
  • Since its launch, the NCS has grown significantly with over 3.6 crore job seekers, 9 lakh employers. It had mobilised over 1 lakh jobs in the last few months.
JNPT signs ECB Agreement worth $400 Million with SBI and Development Bank of Singapore India’s premier container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai has signed 400 Million US Dollar agreement with State Bank of India (SBI) and Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) for External Commercial Borrowing (ECB). 
The agreement was signed by JNPT officials in the presence of the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Maharashtra becomes first state to sign MoU with Centre, AAI to develop 10 airports under RCS
Maharashtra Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop 10 airports as part of the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. 
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. With this Maharashtra became first state in the country to formally to provide the concessions required from the State Governments in the Regional Connectivity Scheme.

About Regional Connectivity Scheme 
The provision of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) has been mentioned in the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015. 

Objective: 
  • To make flying affordable for the masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional growth. It also aims to boost civil aviation sector by reviving of un-served or under-served airstrips/airports. Only 75 out of 476 airstrips have scheduled operations.
  • Implementing agency: Airport Authority of India. RCS route: It will include (i) un-served airports i.e. airports where there is no scheduled commercial flight (ii) under-served airports i.e. airports which have 7 or less scheduled commercial flights per week. 
  • These routes will cover a length between 200 to 800 km. But this criteria will not apply to hilly areas, islands, North-east region and for helicopter operations. 
  • Subsidy: Central Government will subsidise 80% of the cost for revival of airports, while the states will meet the rest under the viability gap fund (VGF). In the case of the Northeastern states, the central subsidy will be 90%. 
  • The RCS also stipulates that the air tickets will be capped at Rs 2,500 under a one-hour flight and the VGF will take care of the rest of the operational cost. 
  • Besides, a Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) will be created to subsidise the operation of the RCS.
Maharashtra, Telangana ink pact for 3 irrigation projects
Maharashtra and Telangana have signed agreement for three irrigation projects to be constructed on Godavari, Pranahita and Painganga rivers
These agreements were signed in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

Key Facts:
  • Under the agreement, the two States would take up Tummidi Hatti, Medigadda and Chanaka-Korata irrigation projects on Godavari River and its tributaries. 
  • Medigadda barrage: Telangana will build a barrage of 100 metre height and 16 TMC storage capacity at Medigadda. The barrage will help irrigate 18.19 lakh acres of land in six districts. 
  • Tummadihatti barrage: It will be built on Pranahita River with a height of 148 metres and 1.8 TMC storage capacity. This will help in irrigation of two lakh acres of land in Adilabad district bordering Maharashtra. 
  • Chanaka-Korata barrage: It will be built on Penganga River. It will have 213 metre height and 0.85 TMC storage capacity. It will irrigate land in Maharashtra and Adilabad district of Telangana.

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