Government Committees, Schemes & Bills - Current Affairs for December, 2016

Odisha State Government in third week of December 2016 named the Rs 7600 crore Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme after freedom fighter Parbati Giri.

The State Cabinet took the decision to mark respect for Giri’s contribution to the freedom movement and service to the poor and needy.

The government approved tender for 13 Mega Lift Irrigation Schemes with a total command area of 19400 hectares in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts of the state.

From August 2013, 102 mega lift irrigation schemes in eight clusters are under construction in a phased manner in 17 districts.

The Odisha Government has planned to take up 174 schemes in 15 clusters in 22 districts to create an additional irrigation potential of 214270 hectares.


Know More About Parbati Giri

• Born: 19 January 1926.
• Parbati Giri was a prominent female freedom fighter from Odisha.
• Nicknamed Mother Teresa of Western Odisha.
• Born in Samlaipadar village near Bijepur of the present Bargarh district and undivided Sambalpur district.
• Imprisoned for 2 years for anti British activities.
• Only 16 when she joined the Quit India Movement.
• After freedom, she opened an orphanage in the state.

Odisha Government has decided to launch a new malaria control programme called DAMAN in remote tribal-dominated areas.

Odisha has 62 types of tribes including 13 primitive tribes that constitute 22.3 percent of the state's population. The population is under high risk of malaria infection.

Annual expenditure of the programme will be INR 24 crore from the state budget.

The drive aims at supplementing malaria control activities that are routine and filling in gaps in case findings plus treatment among high risk population of endemic areas in remote villages.

DAMAN stands for Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (Malaria Control in Inaccessible Areas).

It will be implemented in 8000 villages of all 79 blocks of eight high malaria endemic southern districts. These districts are - Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nabarangapur, Nuapada, Kandhamal and Gajapati.

The initiative incorporates mass screening for malaria with treatment of positive cases along with intensified supervision, mosquito control measures and regular health education activities across the year.

Drive will continue for 5 years with total expenditure of INR 120 crore.

State government has sanctioned 10 crore to start the programme, which will benefit 80 lakh high risk people.

Incidence of Malaria in Odisha

• Odisha has the highest incidence of malaria in India.
• Till 30th Oct 2016, 69 persons have died of malaria in the eastern state.
• As on 30^th October 2016, total 3.71 lakh people tested positive for malaria, which is also highest for any state in India.
• District covered in the programme contributed 60% cases and 56% deaths to the state malaria burden in 2015-2016.
• Odisha contributes 38 percent of the reported malaria cases and 28 percent of the deaths to the country's total burden.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 25th Dec 2016 launched "Biju Shishu Surakshya Yojana" for care and protection of HIV positive orphan children in the state.

Under the scheme, the children would get support from the state government for their studies till higher secondary. If the beneficiary is a girl, the state will also bear the cost of her marriage.

A scheme for nutrition requirements of children and mothers was also launched today. The new scheme will be operational from 2017 to 2020.

Patnaik launched the scheme at a function marking completion of five years of 'Mamata Yojana' which is for the pregnant and lactating women.

As many as 25 lakh women have so far been benefited from the 'Mamata Yojana' under which women get incentives for safe delivery of children, the statement said.

The state government would also provide INR 7,000 to 40,000 for technical education to the beneficiary.

The support will help meet the expenses like admission and tuition fee, study material and other related expenses, with INR 20,000 reward after passing higher secondary.

There will also be scholarship to 3 meritorious students every year in each district.

Financial support to girl child beneficiary will also be provided for her marriage namely INR 1,000 per year deposit in the Sukanya Samridhi Account of the girl child till she attains the age of 18 years.

There will be one time token assistance of Rs 50,000 for girls and Rs 40,000 for boys on completion of 18 and 21 years respectively to facilitate marriage ceremony.

The CM also launched a new scheme for nutrition requirements of children and mothers which will be operational from 2017 to 2020.

Odisha

• Area: 155,820 km^²
• Founded: April 1, 1936
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• Population: 43.73 million (2014)
• Location: Eastern Coast
• Former Name: Orissa

A Performance on Health Outcomes index was launched by NITI Aayog in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to move states towards transformative action in the health sector.

The index has been developed over several months, with inputs from domestic and international experts, including academicians and development partners, seeking feedback from States through multiple iterations and pre-testing the indicators in two States prior to its finalisation.

It aims to capture the annual incremental improvements by States, rather than focus on historical achievements.

It includes index covering domains of health outcomes governance and information and a few key inputs and processes.

This initiative is envisioned to bring about the much required improvements in social sector outcomes, which have not kept pace with the economic growth in this country.

It will be used to propel action in the States to improve health outcomes and improve data collection systems.

The health index will assist in State level monitoring of performance, serve as an input for providing performance based incentives and improvement in health outcomes, thereby also meeting the citizens’ expectations.

A similar exercise has also been launched for the Education and Water sectors.

NITI Aayog: Know More

• Full Form: National Institution for Transforming India
• Formed: Jan 1, 2015.
• Preceding: Planning Commission
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: Narendra Modi
• Vice Chairman: Arvind Panagriya
• Members: Bibek Debroy, VK Saraswat, Ramesh Chand.
• CEO: Amitabh Kant
• Website: www.niti.gov.in

The Minister of State for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik formally inaugurated the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH), an autonomous Institute under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, in Shillong, Meghalaya on 22nd Dec 2016.

With this, it became the second Ayurvedic College in the North East Region with a Homeopathy college and the only Central Academic Institute of Ayush.

The NEIAH will also work with priority to popularize Panchakarma and Yoga along with production of para-medical staff for development of skill for youth of this region, the minister said.

The NEIAH has started functioning with one College of Ayurveda and one College of Homoeopathy from the academic session 2016-17.

The objective of the NEIAH is to provide good quality medical graduates in traditional medicine generate employment and promote tourism in the North East.

It is an autonomous Institute under Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

With this inauguration, the institute has become the second Ayurvedic College in the North East Region with a Homeopathy college.

The establishment of this Institute will solve the problem of scarcity of doctors in remote areas of

the North Eastern regions to a great extent.

The NEIAH helps in preserving folk and traditional health practices of the region which is home to rich flora.

It helps in scientific validation of these health practices based on ethnobotanical and scientific research with practical suitability for clinical practices.

The research and development activities of the institute will help in the development of herbal-agro based industry which ultimately promotes the cultivation of medicinal plants in this region.

NEIAH

• It is the only Central Academic Institute of AYUSH in the North East Region.
• Its primary aim is to produce quality human resource in the area of AYUSH in general and the Ayurveda and Homeopathy in particular.
• The institute will suitably help in implementing and improving the execution of national health policies.

The agriculture ministry on 20th Dec 2016 launched an ICAR data centre -connecting 274 specialised institutions and universities -which will act as an information hub for the farm sector and eventually link the rural population with high speed internet network.

The centre will cater to research institutions by providing consultancy , project management, training and other value-added services.

This data centre of ICAR will play an important role in promoting the `Digital India Campaign' in the agriculture sector.

The campaign aims at providing electronic services while reducing the requirements of paper.

Traders of farm produce have recently questioned the wheat production estimate of 93.55 million tonnes for 2015-16 crop year, saying the actual output was around 86 million tonnes.

A mobile app for `Krishi Vigyan Kendra' was also launched.

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 14th Dec notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016 replacing Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.

The new rules seek to address the issues related to the conservation and development of wetlands in a comprehensive manner.

The provisions of the rules are:

• The wetlands shall be conserved and managed in accordance with the principle of ‘wise use’ for maintaining their ecological integrity.
• Wise use of wetlands means preserving the ecological character of wetlands through the implementation of ecosystem approaches.
• Strategies adopted to preserve wetlands should be within the context of sustainable development.
• Rules prohibit any diversion or impediment to natural water inflows and outflows of the wetland.
• Activities having or likely to have an adverse impact on the ecological character of the wetland are also prohibited.
• Wetland Authority will be set up by the State Governments or UTs to deal with wetland conservation, regulation and management. In a state, the authority will be headed by the respective Chief Minister.
• For the purpose of managing wetlands having multiple issues, the concerned State Government or UT Administration may, if required, constitute a specific Wetland Authority.

Know More About Wetlands


• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 1971 first defined wetlands.
• In simple terms, a wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. This definition includes ponds, lakes, estuaries, reservoirs, creeks, mangroves.
• India has 757.06 thousand wetlands.
• It has total wetland area of 15.3 m ha or 4.7% of its area.

Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a trilingual website www.haj.gov.in relating to Haj Matters. The website is in Hindi, Urdu and English languages.

Website will facilitate online application for Haj including information about Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Department, Haj Pilgrimage, rules and regulations on Haj, Haj Committee of India and private tour operators, the website also has Do’s and Don’ts during Haj and also a film informing about various aspects of the pilgrimage.

The website www.haj.gov.in is a one stop facility to provide all necessary information relating to Haj management in one place.

The website features include information on various agencies involved in Haj management, useful contacts of the central and state Haj authorities, location maps of State Haj Houses, location maps of accommodation sites in Makkah and Medina etc., and useful links to the website of Haj Committee of India and Consulate General of India, Jeddah.

Every year Government of India deputes administrative and medical officials on temporary deputation to CGI, Jeddah for 2-3 months.

This website provides link for the prospective applicants to enable them to apply online through the dedicated portal.

The website also hosts information about the Private Tour Operators(PTO).

Haj matters have been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs with effect from 1st October, 2016.

Ministry of Minority Affairs

• Website: minorityaffairs.gov.in
• Formed: January 29, 2006
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Minister of state independent charge: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
• Programs: USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Minority Cyber Gram, Padho Pardesh, Nai Roshni, Jiyo Parsi, Seekho aur Kamao

The Department of Telecom (DoT) is set to launch ‘Tarang Sanchar’ portal that will let users check radiation compliance status of mobile towers and transmitters across country.

Through this portal user can also request to get a particular BTS tested by DoT to assess its electro-magnetic frequency (EMF) compliance level.

The portal has data from 12.5 lakh base transceiver stations (BTS). I

The portal will enable users to view tower-specific details such as the operator, the supporting technology (2G/3G/4G).

Tarang Sanchar will also help user to check with mobile tower meets electro-magnetic frequency (EMF) by putting in a specific request to DoT.

DoT will test mobile towers for free if the prescribed ceiling in a particular service area for testing of BTS has already been reached.

It may also charge user fee of INR 5000 to get the radiation level checked of mobile towers in case the tests are not undertaken earlier.

The Union Power Ministry is set to launch new mobile application GARV-II to provide real time data of all 6 lakh villages of the country.

The aim of the mobile application is to ensure transparency in implementation of rural electrification programme.

The mobile app has incorporated village-wise; habitation-wise base line data on household electrification for all states.

It also has mapped village-wise works under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) to monitor progress of works.

It also incorporates the status of release of funds to the states for electrification projects sanctioned under DDUGJY.

GARV-II promotes peoples participation for rural electrification work.

It expands rural electrification work to public scrutiny and input about rural electrification programme.

The mobile app also has a citizen engagement window ‘SAMVAD’ to enhance participation.

It automatically forwards feedback and suggestions of people to the concerned authorities through SMS or Email. I

GARV-II

• Aims to ensure electricity access to all households.
• Government has already electrified over 11,000 villages out of 18,452 un-electrified villages.
• Earlier version of GARV mobile application was only providing data about rural electrification regarding 18,452 un-electrified villages.
• The GARV-II will provide real time data of all 6 lakh villages of the country in real time.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on 17th Dec 2016 launched ‘CM’s Startup Scheme.’

The scheme seeks to exempt the new units from inspection for upto three years.

Chief Minister Singh said that in order to promote new ideas, products and processes suitable for commercialisation and industry, the Government will provide liberal assistance to incubator organisations designed to promote growth of start–up units and having physical space, coaching and mentoring facilities.

Around INR 30 lakh per incubator per year upto a period of three years will be provided for this purpose.

Self-attested certificates will be accepted for all official purposes so that the start-up units could sustain and work without formalities and obstacles.

Stamp duty had been significantly reduced to three per cent for start-up units along with allotment of plots on 50 per cent of rates as fixed by the industries department.

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged off/inaugurated the first Humsafar clan of trains by launching the following services / activities through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan:

• Train No 12595/12596 Gorakhpur-Anand Vihar(T) HUMSAFAR EXPRESS(Bi- Weekly)(Via Basti)
• Gorakhpur-Anand Vihar(T) HUMSAFAR EXPRESS(Weekly)(Via Barhni).
• Government decided to launch 4 new products viz, Humsafar, Antyodaya, UDAY and Tejas.
• Among these First Humsafar Express was launched in Dec 2016 catering to Uttar Pradesh.
• Similarly Gatimaan Express, Mahamana Express were also first launched in Uttar Pradesh.
• This Humsafar Train has latest technologies like Vinyl wrapping, high quality curtains, Passenger information system which will enhance the user experience of travelling in this train.
• This train also has safety features like fire & smoke detection system and most of the parts are made of fire resistant materials.

• Aesthetically pleasing colour scheme with anti-graffiti coating and distinctive 3D numbering on the exterior.
• Pleasing interiors with attractive and colourfully co-ordinated seats, berths, partitions, curtains, improved/hygienic toilets, film type mirrors, etc.
• Deodoriser, Dustbins, Sleek bottle holders in the cabins
• Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance of the common areas of the coaches.
• Integrated Braille displays for the visually impaired.
• Hygienic lavatories with odour flushing system
• Global Positioning System (GPS) based Passenger information system
• Passenger announcement system
• Fire and Smoke detection system in the coaches.
• Fire detection and suppression system in the Power cars
• Equipped with Auto Vending Machine and Mini Pantry with Oven/Fridge

• Announced by: Ministry of Railways
• Announced in: Rail Budget 2016-17.

In order to call for innovative ideas from all citizens/ sections of the country, the Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu in a programme held on 14.12.2016 at Rail Bhawan launched a campaign innovation challenges for Indian Railways in line with his Budget Announcement 2016-17.

The idea is a perquisite for change and innovative ideas can be borne in mind by anyone whether a stakeholder, a rail user or any other individual.

Campaign will be a kind of brainstorming for all. He said that every citizen of the country has lot of potential and can play a great role for development of the nation.

This Campaign would be a unique kind of platform which will enable all citizens of the country to improve the functioning of the Indian Railways which is known as lifeline of the nation.

The following five challenges are aimed at promoting innovation in our country by focusing on specific problems being faced by Indian Railways:

• Innovation Challenge for ‘Design of Wagons for efficient loading and transportation of new commodities’.
• Innovation Challenge for ‘Easy Accessibility to Trains from Low Level Platforms’.
• Innovatio n Challenge for ‘New Idea/ Suggestion to improve the working of Indian Railways’.
• Innovation Challenge for ‘Increasing Passenger Carrying Capacity of Coaches of Indian Railways’.
• Innovation Challenge for Developing New Digital Capabilities at the Stations of Indian Railways’.

Union Minister of State (IC) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Shri Piyush Goyal presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NTPC Limited and National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) on 16th Dec.

The MoU will facilitate the setting up of a Joint Venture (JV) Company to establish a 2400 MW coal based power project at Gajmara, Dhenkanal, Odisha.

Brownfield expansion of its 5 lakh tonne Aluminium smelter at Angul and the Greenfield project of a 6 lakh tonne smelter at Kamakhya Nagar, Odisha will be approximately Rs. 36,000 crores.

NTPC would be able to provide uninterrupted power supply to NALCO’s plants through this project.

On the other hand, NALCO would be able to produce Aluminium in the country, which previously was not possible due to high power prices, he said.

The JV between NTPC and NALCO has potential to create value for both the companies which have public equity – both Government of India equity as well as publicly held equity.

Both the companies will initiate the efforts on fast track and necessary modalities like the Joint Venture Agreement, Power Purchase Agreement etc. will be finalised by the end of the current financial year.

Delhi Communique has been issued at the 6th BRICS Health Ministers Meet. It has the following provisions:

• Agreed to constitute a working group, to work on strengthening regulatory systems, sharing of information, appropriate regulatory approaches in case of international and national health emergencies and provide recommendations for the promotion of research and development of innovative medical products (drugs, vaccines and medical technologies).
• Supported promoting existing IT platform and regulatory capacity building through an institutional development plan for BRICS countries.
• Agreed to make efforts to enhance access to HIV diagnostics and treatment especially to key populations with increased risk of acquiring HIV and exchange experiences of community-based actions to fight HIV/AIDS.
• Underlined the imperative to advance cooperation and action on research on HIV, TB and Malaria in the BRICS countries, including in the development and production of quality-assured drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.
• Agreed to the setting up of a BRICS network on TB Research and creation of a research and development consortium on TB, HIV and Malaria including the possibility of international fund raising.
• Also agreed to support the Global Ministerial Conference on the fight against TB to be held in Moscow in 2017 and the UN High-Level Meeting on TB at United Nations Headquarters in 2018.
• Emphasised the importance of continued cooperation among BRICS countries in promoting research and development of medicines and diagnostic tools to end epidemics including through promoting innovative and sustainable models for health R&D financing and coordination and to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines, including generic medicines, biological products, and diagnostics.
• Agreed to cooperate through the AMR focal points, regulatory authorities and relevant cross sectors, with a view to share best practices and discuss challenges, as well as identifying potential areas for convergence, such as surveillance, strategies for: rational use of antibiotics, strategies to address shortages of first line antibiotics and vaccines, infection prevention and control, strategies for preventing inappropriate use of antibiotics in agricultural sector based on scientific evidence, strengthening research collaboration across sectors and disciplines in the field of AMR as well as enhancing lab activities for quick testing of drug resistance for different pathogens.
• Agreed to work cooperatively in international fora to protect their policy space against TRIPS plus provisions and other measures that impede access to medicines and share these experiences with other developing countries.
• Agreed to cooperate for combating mental disorders, including autism and neuro-development disorders, through a multi-pronged approach encompassing a mental health policy, a life cycle approach to address the needs of such individuals throughout life, sharing of innovations in the field of mental health promotion, diagnosis and management and exchange of best practices and experiences.
• Agreed to enhance cooperation amongst the BRICS countries for capacity development of human resources in public health and clinical medicine.
• Agreed to establish platforms for collaboration within BRICS framework and with other countries and international partners with a view to realising the goals and objectives outlined in this as well as in the past Declarations and Joint Communiques.

• Under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio have declined by over 60% since 1990.
• New HIV infection among adult population has declined by 57%.
• Substantial reductions have been achieved in the incidence of and mortality from major infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases.
• In 2016 India celebrated five years since the last case of wild polio was reported.
• WHO headquarters confirmed India’s claim of yaws free status in 2016.
• WHO has validated the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015 from India.
• Cases of kala-azar declined by 11% in 2015 from 2014, and 78% since 2006.
• Leprosy has been eliminated in 84% of all districts.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India has conferred under section 20 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.

Regulations provide for details of activities from issue of liquidation under Section 33 of the Code to Dissolution order under Section 54.

These Regulations prohibit an insolvency professional from acting as a liquidator for a corporate debtor if he is not independent of the corporate debtor.

These obstruct partners or directors of an insolvency professional entity of which the insolvency professional is a partner or director from representing other stakeholders in the same liquidation process.

These require the liquidator, and also registered valuer (s) and professional(s) assisting him in liquidation to make disclosures - initial and continuing – about pecuniary or personal relationship with any of the stakeholders entitled to distribution of assets.

Regulations provide that a liquidator should ordinarily sell the assets through auctions. He may sell the assets through private sale only when the asset is perishable; the asset is likely to deteriorate in value significantly if not sold immediately or the asset is sold at a price higher than the reserve price of a failed auction. He may sell an asset on standalone basis, or assets in a slump sale, assets in parcels or a set of assets collectively.

These Regulations also provide that the fee payable to a liquidator shall form a part of liquidation cost.

These further provide that a liquidator shall be paid such fees and in such manner as has been decided by the committee of creditors during the resolution process.

In all other cases, the liquidator shall be entitled to a fee as a percentage of the amount realised net of other liquidation costs and of the amount distributed.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

• The Centre has constituted a four-member Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) in Oct 2016.
• Board is under the Chairmanship of MS Sahoo.

• Ajay Tyagi, Additional Secretary, Finance Ministry
• Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs;
• GS Yadav, Joint Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs; and
• Unnikrishnan, Legal Advisor, Reserve Bank of India.

• Insolvency professionals
• Insolvency professional agencies
• Information utilities
• Centre has notified the insolvency code in May.

AYUSH, according to a 16th Dec 2016 Parliamentary discussion, was launched by the AYUSH Ministry to promote health and health education in rural villages.

AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) are implementing the programme.

Key objectives of the programme are as follows:

• Swasthya Rakshan OPDs or Swasthya Parikshan camps for hygiene awareness will be organised
• Medical aid will be provided to adopted villages and colonies.
• Health status and spreading awareness about ayurveda practices will work.
• IEC banners, posters, handouts and other material was developed in Hindi, English and 7 regional languages.
• Swasthya Rakshan OPDs were organised in each village on weekly basis for providing treatment for numerous disease conditions.
• Mass campaigns were organised with a focus on personal, environmental and social hygiene.

• Website: ayush.gov.in
• Formed: November 9, 2014
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: Ayush Bhawan, B Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi - 110 023
• Minister of state independent charge: Shripad Yasso Naik

GoI plans to give cash awards to consumers and merchants who utilise digital payment instruments for personal consumption expenditures.

The scheme specially focuses on bringing the poor, lower middle class and small businesses into the digital payment fold.

It has been decided that National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) shall be the implementing agency for this scheme.

The primary aim of these schemes is to incentivise digital transactions so that electronic payments are adopted by all sections of the society, especially the poor and the middle class.

People in village and rural areas can participate in this scheme through AEPS.

The scheme will become operational with the first draw on 25th December, 2016 (as a Christmas gift to the nation) leading up to a Mega Draw on Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti on 14th April 2017. It will comprise of two major components, one for the Consumers and the other for the Merchants.

To ensure that the focus of the scheme is on small transactions (entered into by common people), incentives shall be restricted to transactions within the range of INR 50 and INR 3000. All transactions between consumers and merchants; consumers and government agencies and all AEPS transactions will be considered for the incentive scheme.

The winners shall be identified through a random draw of the eligible Transaction IDs [which are generated automatically as soon as the transaction is completed] by software to be especially developed by NPCI for this purpose.

The estimated expenditure on the first phase of the scheme (up to 14th April 2017) is likely to be 340 Crores .

Lucky Grahak Yojana [Consumers]

Daily reward of INR 1000 to be given to 15,000 lucky Consumers for a period of 100 days;

Weekly prizes worth INR 1 lakh, INR 10,000 and INR 5000 for Consumers who use the alternate modes of digital Payments

This will include all forms of transactions viz. UPI, USSD, AEPS and RuPay Cards but will for the time being exclude transactions through Private Credit Cards and Digital Wallets.

Digi-धन Vyapar Yojana [Merchants]

Prizes for Merchants for all digital transactions conducted at Merchant establishments

• Weekly prizes worth INR 50,000, INR 5,000 and INR 2,500
• Mega Draw on 14th of April - Ambedkar Jayanti
• 3 Mega Prizes for consumers worth INR 1 cr, 50 lakh, 25 lakh for digital transactions between 8th November, 2016 to 13th April, 2017 to be announced on 14th April, 2017
• 3 Mega Prizes for merchants worth INR 50 lakhs, 25 lakh, 12 lakh for digital transactions between 8th November, 2016 to 13th April, 2017 to be announced on 14th

Union Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi on 14th Dec 2016 approved the Major Port Trust Authorities Bill, 2016

The bill replaces Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

Purpose of the legislation is to reform and enhance the efficiency of the major ports by providing greater autonomy and reforming the institutional structure.

The 2016 bill is more compact as compared to the Major Port Trusts Act 1963 as the number of sections were reduced from 134 to 65 by eliminating obsolete sections.

New bill has proposed a simplified composition of the Board of Port Authority. The bill lowered the number of board members from 17-19 to 11.

Boards of the Port Authority have been delegated full powers to enter into contracts, planning and development of ports.

The bill empowers the board to make its own master plan in respect of the area within the port limits.

It empowers the board to undertake construction of pipelines, telephones, communication towers, electricity supply and transmission equipment in port limits.

The board is empowered to lease land for port related use for 40 years and for any purpose specified in section 22 of the Act for up to 20 years.

Role of Tariff Authority for Major Ports has also been redefined.

As per the bill, the authority will be provided powers to fix tariff for purposes of bidding on PPP (public private partnership) projects.

Sagar Mala Initiative

This bill is part of the GoI effort to further port led development under Sagar Mala initiative.

This project emphasizes:

• Port modernization
• Port led industrialization
• Development of coastal communities.

RS on 14th December 2016 passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 by voice vote.

It will replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 after its passage by the Lok Sabha and approval of the President.

It meets the government’s responsibilities under the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It will benefit 2.8 crore disabled in India.

The bill deals with a range of issues - rights, social protection, reservations, welfare schemes - for the all round development of disabled.

Provisions of Rights of Persons With Disabilities Bill 2014

• Identifies 19 conditions as disabilities.
• Persons with 40% of a disability entitled to education, employment and scheme based reservation.
• Disabled friendly environment in public places.

Two types of guardianship in district court:


• Limited Guardianship
• Plenary Guardianship

Specifies punishment for violators:


• 6 months imprisonment
• Fine up to INR 10,000

The Karnataka government is set to launch an online portal for trading livestock.

It will start with the auction of cattle and sheep.

The portal would allow buyers and sellers to make their choice based on online profiles of the cattle.

The scheme is aimed at saving the dairy farmers from being swindled by brokers during the trade.

Rolled out in 27 APMC markets and aims to put an end to complaints from dairy farmers who are duped by brokers, who bring livestock to cattle fairs for trade, the cattle trading software, developed by ReMS, will enable buyers and sellers to search and select cows of their choice based on their online profiles.

Tens of thousands of cattle and sheep in the state will soon get online profiles, complete with

• photographs,
• video footage,
• vital stats, age,
• animal’s vet and feed history
• UID number.

How Online Trade Works


• Buyer and seller apply online for membership to auction their livestock.
• Members follow the trading rules.
• Seller submit lots of cattle for sale and also post snaps and details.
• Money will be transferred online through e-banking system.
• Auction will present in preset order and awarded high bidder.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee marked his 81st birthday by launching a ‘100 Million for 100 Million’ Campaign organised by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (December 11, 2016).

Campaign is led by Nobel peace prize winner, Shri Kailash Satyarthi, from Rashtrapati Bhavan, an institution which symbolises the Republic’s commitment to democracy, pluralism and secularism.

This global effort to mobilise 100 million youth for shaping a better future of 100 million children who are less privileged is the beginning of a change which was long overdue.

The ‘100 Million for 100 Million’ Campaign aims to mobilise 100 million youth and children for 100 million underprivileged children across the world, to end child labour, child slavery, violence against children.

It will also promote the right of every child to be safe, free, and educated, over the next 5 years.

Following a TV channel and a website to promote digital payments, national toll-free helpline number 14444 will soon be launched to provide support for cashless mode of transactions.

Service will be operational within a week. NASSCOM will be aiding the project.

Single nationwide helpline which has been assigned to DoT will now be set up.

Initiatives for Digital Payments

• MeiTY launched free to air Channel DigiShala on Doordarshan’s DTH platform.
• Cashless India website will educate people about digital transactions.
• Digi Dhan Abhiyan has also been launched.
• This is in line with Digital India initiatives.

About NASSCOM


• Abbreviation: NASSCOM
• Formation: 1 March 1988
• Type: NPO
• Purpose: Trade association
• Headquarters: International Youth Centre, Teen Murti Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi, India
• President: R. Chandrashekhar
• Chairman: CP Gurnani
• Vice Chairman: Raman Roy

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on 8th Dec 2016 launched the Haritha Keralam Mission in Thiruvananthapuram.

It is a comprehensive programme to make the state clean, protect its water sources and soil.

Mission aims at new development through maximum utilisation of opportunities through waste management, water resources and agricultural development.

Well known Carnatic vocalist and playback singer KJ Yesudas is the brand ambassador of the mission.

Project aims to clear and remove waste from all water bodies in the state. It ensures disposal of solid waste and waste water.

As part of this mission, the government is also targeting the increase of land under cultivation.

The government has also slated a survey covering 60 lakh houses to collect data regarding existing waste management systems in the state.

This is the first of the four mega missions planned by the Left Democratic Front government.

Other missions to be subsequently launched include health, housing and education.

Immediate programs that will be launched include the cleaning of vacant lands which will be used for vegetable cultivation.

A comprehensive waste management plan will be launched to collect, put side and recycle waste in panchayats and municipalities.

More about Kerala

• Location: Malabar coast
• Shoreline: 600 km
• Inland: Western Ghats
• National parks: Eravikulam, Periyar.
• Sanctuaries: Wayanad
• Land Area: 38,863 km²Founded: 31^st Oct, 1956
• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Population: 34.8m (2012)

In a further move to take the Indian Railways at an advanced level, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu in a programme held in Rail Bhawan on 8th Dec launched website of National Rail Plan, 2030.

The website can be accessed at http://www.nationalrailplan.in. This dedicated website for National Rail Plan (NRP, 2030) has been developed for all stakeholders to give their inputs for purposeful study as Railways’ planning cannot be done in isolation.

In order to provide long term perspective to planning for augmenting the railway network Ministry of Railways have decided to develop National Rail Plan (NRP 2030) in consultation with all the stakeholders including State Governments, public representatives and other relevant Central Ministries.

NRP-2030 will endeavour to harmonise and integrate the rail network with other modes of transport and create synergy for achieving seamless multi modal transportation network across the country.

Indian Railways needs to form a concrete plan about its doings in the coming 10-20 years. He said that after receiving ideas Railways will capture all the requirements from the different stakeholders.

Indian Railways- National Rail Plan 2030

• The Indian Railway Network is a key component of the Country’s Transport System. Transporting
• Presently Railway planning is presently not based on some integrated plan.
• The network plan shall take into account connectivity to backward region.
• It will also take up Congestion in the existing network and futuristic development of Industrial corridors.
• Deficits in existing network are to be planned for removal.
• National Rail Plan 2030 has been envisaged which shall not only take care of existing corridors but also the identification and development of new corridors & connections.

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched AP Purse, a new platform to help people in the state move to cashless payments using mobile wallets.

Its tech-savvy chief minister Chandrababu Naidu wants to make AP the first state in India to completely switch to digital transactions.

AP Purse is an Android app that compiles various mobile payment apps and tools.

Through this, the government will create awareness and expand adoption of digital wallets, especially for big urban areas.

The government has tied up with 15 mobile wallets and payment gateway apps including

• Paytm,
• MobiKwik,
• PayUmoney,
• Freecharge,
• JioMoney,
• SBI’s Buddy,
• Ola Money,
• Aitel Money,
• Vodafone m-pesa,
• Idea Money,
• Oxigen Wallet,
• Citrus,
• Icash and
• ItzCash

How to Use AP Purse?


• Download the AP Purse app on Google Play Store.
• Register with your name and mobile number.
• The app provides access to install any of the 15 payment apps available on the platform.
• Using the payment apps, people can pay bills and make cashless payments.
• AP Purse also educates citizens and merchants on benefits of cashless transactions.
• Plan also involves low-cost smartphones to people living below poverty-line to encourage mobile wallet usage.

President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), 2016 to awardees at a function organised by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Dec 3rd.

Government has identified 50 cities under Accessible India Campaign to make them accessible for PwDs. 1098 buildings have been identified in these cities.

3 world records created by the Department in Navsari ADIP camp were discussed. According to census 2011, there are 2.68 crore Divyangjan in our country who exhibit great diversity in terms of quantum of Disability as well as type of Disabilities.

He told about the achievements under various schemes being successfully implemented by the Department for empowerment of Divyangjan with specifically mentioning about the skill development programs, ADIP scheme and Accessible India Campaign.

Disabilities Bill

• Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
• Disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21.
• Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities.
• Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time.
• It has been proposed to increase reservation from 3% to 4% in Government jobs for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability.
• Broad based Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability will be set up.
• Creation of National and State Fund has been proposed.
• Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities.

Union Govt on 30th December 2016 approved the inclusion of 15 new castes and modification of 13 others in the Central OBC list.

Amendments were approved by the Union Cabinet following a proposal put forward by the National Commission of Backward Classes.

It suggested 28 changes with respect to 8 states namely Maharashtra, J&K, Assam, HP, MP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.

In the 28 changes, 15 were new additions, 9 were subcastes of already existing castes and 4 were corrections.

The amendments enable people belonging to the newly added castes to avail the benefits of reservation in Government services and Central Educational Institutions

They will also be able to enjoy the benefits of various welfare schemes launched by the Union Government.

About the National Commission of Backward Classes

• Established: 14th August, 1993.
• Indian statutory body examining requests for inclusion/exclusion of any class of citizens in backward class lists.

The commission comprises 5 members including:


• Chairman : Judge of SC/HC
• Social Scientist
• Two experts
• Member Secretary (also ex Secretary to GoI)

Union HRD Minister Shri. Prakash Javadekar launched the Vittiya Saksharta Abhiyan in New Delhi on Dec 3, 2016.

The minister appealed to faculty and young students to join the Abhiyan and encourage, create awareness and motivate people around the world to use a digitally enabled cashless economic system for funds transfer.

India is currently undergoing a transformational shift towards digital economy.

Technology was stressed as a means of leveraging to bring financial digital literacy and step forward towards a digital economy.

The Union Minister also appeared to higher educational institutes to receive nothing in cash including fines, fees and deposits.

Stress was also laid on paying nothing in cash– wage/salary/vendor payments.

Aim was to develop a cashless campus covering shops, canteens and services.

Young students were also asked to spread the message of a digital economy.

Modes of Online Digital Payment include:

• Prepaid cards
• Debit card/Ru Pay
• Unstructured Supplementary Service Data/USSD
• Mobile Wallet
• Adhaar enabled payment system/AEPS
• Unified Payment Interface(UPI)
• Point of Sale (Physical/Virtual)