All India Radio News Summary: 29 MARCH 2018
- Prime Minister will interact with young innovators of Grand finale of Smart India Hackathon.
Prime Minister will interact with participants of the second edition of Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2018 across various centres.
- The Hackathon aims to build Digital India of country’s dreams and to engage the youth directly with nation building.
- It is intended for promoting innovation, out-of-the-box thinking in young minds, especially engineering students.
- It aims to harness creativity and expertise of students, build a funnel for – Startup India, Standup India campaign and crowd sources solutions for improving governance.
- It also gives opportunity to citizens to provide innovative solutions to India’s daunting problems.
- Russia announces expulsion of 150 diplomats from western countries and closure of American consulate in Saint Petersburg in retaliation.
- Russia has announced that it will expel 150 western diplomats and close the US consulate in St Petersburg in retaliation for similar actions taken this week by British allies following poisoning of an ex-spy in the UK.
- The move comes in the wake of expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by the European and NATO allies of Britain, which has blamed the Kremlin for the nerve agent attack on former double agent and his daughter.
- The US says Russia’s move marks a further deterioration in the US-Russia relationship.
- Cabinet approves four thousand five hundred crore rupees to boost development projects in North-East
The Cabinet has approved Schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC) including continuation of existing Schemes. It will boost the development projects in North-East.
- Four thousand 500 crore rupees have been approved for the scheme for three years upto March, 2020.
- The Scheme of NEC – Special Development Project will be changed to be a Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent grant.
- NEC is also implementing North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme – Programme Component for up-gradation of the important and strategic inter-state roads.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme.
- The scheme will cover loans for pursuing professional and technical courses to promote quality education. It will provide education loans to ten lakh students during this period.
The Minister said, the CCEA also approved a proposal to formulate a Integrated Scheme on school education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education from 1st April, 2018 to 31st March, 2020.
- An estimated allocation of 75,000 crore rupees has been approved for this which is a 20 percent increase over the current allocations.
- The decision came in the backdrop of Prime Minister’s vision of Sabko Shiksha, Achhi Shiksha and aims at supporting the states in universalizing access to school education from classes pre-nursery to XII across the country.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana, the government will bear expenses of employer’s full contribution for pension for the first three years for new employees.
- Government revises Dealer’s Margin for sale of urea to 354 rupees per metric tonne for both private and institutional agencies.
The government has approved the revision of Dealer’s Margin to 354 rupees per metric tonne to be paid uniformly for the sale of Urea. The revised rate will be effective from 1st of next month.
- This dealer margin will be paid to Dealers and Distributors on the quantity sold through Point of Sale (POS) devices.
- With this move of the government, around 23,000 Dealers or Distributors across the country are likely to be benefited by the decision which would enhance their financial viability post DBT implementation.
- India successfully launches GSAT-6A communication satellite from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota
India successfully launched the GSAT-6A communication satellite from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota.
- The purpose of the satellite is to provide mobile communication applications in S-band in five spot beams and C-band in one beam during its 10-year life span.
- According to ISRO, two improvements: inductions of high thrust Vikas engine and electromechanical actuation system – have been made for the second stage this time.
- The cryogenic engine is more efficient as it provides more thrust for every kilogram burnt. I
- t also establishes the fact that the performance of its GSLV-MkII rocket technology could fetch more orders commercially in the future.
- It was the sixth successful launch of GSLV with the indigenous cryogenic engine.
- North and South Korea have agreed to hold a summit of their leaders
The agreement came at a ministerial-level inter-Korean meeting held in Panmunjom the Demilitarized Zone.
- Kim is also scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in May to discuss denuclearisation.
- The announcement comes after North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un undertook a surprise visit to Beijing recently and met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- During his talks with Chinese Premier, Kim said, he is committed to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
- Telangana Assembly passed two key bills regarding Panchayati Raj and Municipalities in the state
Aimed at strengthening Panchayat Raj system, the proposed laws will increase the number of Gram Panchayats and Municipalities in the state.
- The proposed Panchayat raj and Municipalities amendment acts are expected to change the rural political picture of the state as they pave way for creating 4380 new panchayats.
- These bills sought not only creating new panchayats but also will provide check powers to Surpanches and Upa-Sarpanches thus making them stronger.
- The Gram Panchayats will be made responsible for maintain cleanliness and ensure basic amenities like drinking water and street lights.
- Passage of these two bills will also ensure that there will be no more Uraban Panchayats as all major Gram Panchayats will be merged in nearby municipalities or made as separate municipalities.
