TRIUMPH IAS ACADEMY MUMBAI

Digital and Cashless Economy : A New Way of Life after demonetization Deepak Razdan Pay Digital and Win Prizes! As India moves towards a digital and cashless economy, the Government announced on 15th December, 2016 two schemes Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana to give cash awards to consumers and merchants who utilize digital payment instruments for personal consumption expenditures. The prizes range from Rs 1000 to Rs 1 crore and the transactions permitted are from Rs 50 to Rs 3000 to keep the focus on the common man. The schemes will not only give a boost to cashless transactions, but will particularly bring the poor, lower middle class and small businesses into the digital payment fold, and new way of life. The poorest of poor will be eligible for rewards by using USSD, (the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) System that is applicable to ordinary GSM mobile phones. People in village and rural areas can participate in this scheme through Aadhaar Enabled Pa...

Indomitable spirit of Indian farmers GARGI PARSAI Agriculture was at the centre-stage of priority sectors for the government in 2016, upstaged only at the fag-end of the year by the demonetisation drive of the government. Significantly two consecutive droughts did not dampen the indomitable spirit of Indian farmers who, as per the fourth advance estimates for 2015-16 crop year, produced 252.22 million tonnes of foodgrains as against the output of 252.02 million tonnes last year. There was a marginal dip in the output of rice, coarse cereals, oilseeds, pulses and cotton due to monsoon deficiency that hit kharif crops in parts of the country this year.  Although rabi wheat yield was projected to be higher at 93.5 million tonnes in 2015-16 as against 86.53 million tonnes the previous year, procurement this year was lower than the set target, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh said at a press conference in New Delhi on 29 th  December. To a...

Successful Test launch of AGNI V *Dilip Ghosh               India successfully conducted the fourth and final experimental test of its indigenously developed  Inter Continental Ballistic Missile, ICBM, Agni-V from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast on yesterday, the 26 th  December 2016.The nuclear-capable missile with its strike range of over 5,000-km was test-fired from its canister on a launcher truck. Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO, the three stage solid propellant missile will now go for user trials before its induction into the tri-service Strategic Forces Command, SFC which manages India's nuclear arsenal.  The 17.5 meter long,  50 ton missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one ton. It can be transported and swiftly launched from anywhere. The surface to surface Agni V missile is the most advanced among the Agni series,...

3.          National Virtual Library of India ·                       Under the aegis of the National Mission on Libraries, the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) has been envisaged as the platform which would bring together all information generated in India and about India and make such information accessible to the citizens through user friendly search interfaces. ·                       A number of web based information services have been conceived to make best use of information technology. NVLI will provide a platform for users from all sectors to seek information through well researched services implemented through user-friendly interfaces.

The President of India approves the Promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016 today; The President of India has approved the promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016 today i.e. on 30 th December, 2016. The Ordinance is a follow-up to the decision taken by the Government of India to cancel the legal tender character of the existing series of banknotes, as on November 8, 2016, in the denominations of Rs.500 and Rs.1000  (Specified Bank Notes-SBNs) in circulation. The main objectives of the Ordinance are  (i) to  provide clarity and finality to the liability of the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India for the SBNs; (ii) to provide an opportunity to those persons who were unable to deposit the SBNs within the time provided; and (iii) to declare holding, transferring or receiving SBNs as illegal, with provisions for penalty for contravention of any of the prov...

Cabinet approves International Solar Alliance (ISA): Signing of the Framework Agreement The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) for ratification of ISA’s Framework Agreement by India. ISA was launched jointly by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France on 30 th November, 2015 at Paris on the side-lines of the 21 st  CoP meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  The ISA will strive to bring together more than 121 solar resource rich nations for coordinated research, low cost financing and rapid deployment. The foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters was laid at Gwal Pahari, Guragaon in Haryana. India has already committed the required support of operationalization of ISA.  ISA will put India globally in a leadership role in climate and renewable energy issues. It will also give a platform...

If weather permits, two important missile launches are to take place this month. India’s long-range, subsonic cruise missile, Nirbhay, will lift off from the Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range, Balasore, Odisha, on Wednesday. The redoubtable Agni-V, which can carry nuclear warheads over a distance of about 5,000 km, will be fired from a canister mounted on a massive truck from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, on December 26. Nirbhay, which has a range of about 1,000 km, has blended missile and aeronautical technologies into a single contraption. It will take off vertically like a missile. A mechanism in its first stage will tilt it horizontally and the first stage with its booster engine will then fall off. The second stage with a turbo-jet engine will cruise horizontally like an aircraft at a subsonic speed of 0.7 Mach. The missiles will be fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which has conceived, designed and developed them.

Solutions after the smog: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/solutions-after-the-delhi-smog/article9316083.ece

Smt. Anupriya Patel inaugurates National Summit on Fortification of Food The control of micronutrient deficiencies is an overarching effort of the Government to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country: Smt. Anupriya Patel “The control of micronutrient deficiencies is an essential part of the overarching effort of the Government to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country.” This was stated by Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. She was speaking at the inauguration of National Summit on Fortification of Food to address interventions in combating micronutrient malnutrition in the country. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution also graced the occasion. Speaking at the function, Smt Anupriya Patel stated that food fortification is a proven and effective strategy to meet the nutritional needs of a large number of people across various sections of the society, including the poor an...

Shri Nitin Gadkari says Inland Waterways A Game Changer in National Connectivity While addressing the Regional Editors Conference in Chandigarh today, the Minister for Road Transport Highways & Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari gave an overview of his Ministry’s achievements as well as plans for future growth. Beginning with Shipping, he informed that while ports around the world had faced losses, Indian ports had shown a growth of 2.6 percent, earning profits of nearly Rs. 6000 crore. At present the country has 12 Major ports and there are plans to add 6 more. The Minister briefly touched upon the Sagarmala Project whose port-led economic growth intends to give a boost to the coastal economy, as it would develop manufacturing hubs as well as promote fishing. The Minister said that according to experts the Sagarmala Industrial clusters will attract investment of 8 lakh crore. Shri Gadkari informed that it is necessary to increase the draft capacity of Indian ports to enable larger s...

Prime Minister dedicates three Hydro Projects to the Nation Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today dedicated three flagship 800 MW Hydro Power Station of NTPC- Koldam, 520 MW Parvati Project of NHPC and 412 MW Rampur Hydro Station of SJVNL projects to the Nation in Mandi , Himachal Pradesh here today. Shri Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Vir Bhadra Singh, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State ( IC) for Power, Coal , New & Renewable Energy and Mines and eminent dignitaries were present on the occasion. Appreciating the contribution of Public sector companies in country’s growth, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that these hydro projects will bring prosperity to the State of Himachal and other parts of the nation. NHPC’s Parbati-III Power Station  is a run of the river scheme having a 43m high rockfill dam, underground Power House and 10....

India appreciated in the G20 Seminar on Corruption and Global Economy in Paris A G-20 Seminar on Corruption & Global Economy was organized in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Headquarters in Paris yesterday, prior to the two day G-20 Anti Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting beginning today. The delegation from India is headed by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), DoPT, Shri Devesh Chaturvedi. The panellists in the seminar comprised experts from OECD, IMF and World Bank as well as Economists & Researchers from leading Universities. The Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) in India through JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar & Mobile) was highlighted by several panellists as an example of practical implementation tool resulting in the reduction of pilferages and delays besides bringing down corruption levels. The panellists also appreciated the fact that around 1 Billion people are being covered at a fraction of cost of similar projects in devel...

10th India and United States Trade Policy Forum A high level delegation led by Ambassador, Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative is attending the 10thIndia-United States Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meetings scheduled from 19th October, 2016 to 20th October, 2016 at New Delhi. Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi and President Obama, the Trade Policy Forum meeting has focussed on increased bilateral interaction and momentum on resolving trade concerns. As part of the annual work plan jointly agreed between India and US working groups on agriculture, trade in services and goods, promotion of investment in manufacturing and intellectual property have been meeting with an intention of understanding the best practices, facilitating investment and raising concerns relating to the trade. The previous 9th TPF was held in October, 2015 at Washington D.C, USA. Under TPF there would be technical level discussions on 18th October, 2016 between the two sides on issues co...

PM launches National SC/ST hub and Zero Defect – Zero Effect scheme, presents National Awards to MSMEs in Ludhiana; PM dedicates three power projects to the nation The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the National SC/ST hub, and the Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for MSMEs at Ludhiana in Punjab. He also presented National Awards to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He distributed 500 traditional wooden charkhas (spinning wheels) among women. Speaking on the occasion, he said Ludhiana is an important economic centre, and therefore, it is natural to launch a scheme related to MSME from the city. The Prime Minister said that the MSME sector is crucial for the economic progress of India. He said MSMEs must match global quality control standards. Talking about the distribution of charkhas, the Prime Minister said Khadi is a priority for us, and a charkha at home brings more income. He said Khadi is marketed well now, adding that once upon a time, the ...

INS Tihayu Joins the Indian Navy The Indian Navy commissioned the highly manoeuvrable fast attack craft INS Tihayu at the Eastern Naval Command today 19 October 16. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral HCS Bisht AVSM, ADC Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Naval Command at a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. INS Tihayu would be based in Visakhapatnam under the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) and would be deployed for coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the Eastern Coast. INS Tihayu is the second ship of the four follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (FO-WJFAC), being built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE). The ship is an improved version of WJFAC, earlier constructed by GRSE. Conceived, designed and built indigenously, the commissioning of this ship completes the addition of another chapter to the nation’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and indigenisation efforts in the field of warship ...

Dr. Nasim Zaidi calls upon participating Election Management Bodies to forge a Sustainable Partnership on engagement through the proposed ‘New Delhi Declaration on Voter Education’ CEC inaugurates two-day International Conference on ‘Voter Education for Inclusive, Informed and Ethical Participation’ at New Delhi Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Dr .  Nasim Zaidi, gave a call to bring about a mutually - agreed vision framework on engagement among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) around the world, titled  ‘ New Delhi Declaration on Voter Education ’ .  Dr. Zaidi was giving a keynote address here today after inaugurating the  first ever Global Conference on Voter Education  titled  ‘ Voter Education for Inclusive, Informed and Ethical Participation ’.  It is being organized by the Election Commission of India  ( ECI ) in association with UNDP from 19th to 21st October, 2016 . The CEC noted that,  “ This Conferenc...

T Expansion of India – Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) An agreement on the expansion of India–Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was signed between India and Chile in a meeting held between Ms. Rita Teaotia, Commerce Secretary and Mr. Andrés Barbé González, Ambassador, Embassy of Chile on 6th September, 2016. A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and Chile was earlier signed on March 8, 2006 and came into force with effect from August, 2007. In the original PTA concluded in March 2006, India’s offer list to Chile consisted of 178 tariff lines the Margin of Preference (MoP) ranging from 10%-50% at 8-digit level and Chile’s offer list to India consisted of 296 tariff lines with MoP ranging from 10% - 100% at 8-digit level. Under the expanded PTA, Chile has offered concessions to India on 1798 tariff lines with Margin of Preference (MoP) ranging from 30%-100% and India has offered concessions to Chile on 1031 tariff lines at 8-digit level with MoP rang...

“The hard working Farmer is our Anna Data. Our schemes and initiatives are aimed towards bringing a qualitative change in the life of the farmer, one that will play a key role in Transforming India” – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Agriculture, with its allied various sectors, is undeniably the largest livelihood provider in India. It also contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The government has taken many initiatives to support the farmers and modernize the sector, which has led to a renewed revitalization of the Indian agriculture scenario.  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently acknowledged the fervor of our farmers by stating, “even the drought has not dampened the spirits of our farmers. Our total food grain output in 2015-16 estimated at 252. 23 MT, which shows we had a fruitful harvest.” “Food grain production has remained much higher, and wholesale price based food grain inflation much lower, than in the last comparable drought year, whi...

“Quality infrastructure propels growth. It connects people, brightens their lives and brings India closer to the world.” - Prime Minister Narendra Modi Building Infrastructure that befits the aspirations of a modern India is perhaps the most important task in front of any government. However, unlike many other countries that climbed the ladder of growth, India presents a rather unique challenge.  On the one hand it has still to solve legacy infrastructure issues of twentieth century and on the other it also aspires to match, or in some cases indeed exceed, the infrastructure capabilities of the most developed nations  in the twenty first century. So while there were still more than 18,000 villages that were unelectrified since Independence, India was also simultaneously successfully erecting the world's largest Direct  Benefit Transfer regime. How has the government fared on these two, sometimes complimentary, sometimes competing, priorities? Consider the following. ...