Jeevan Pramaan provides a big relief to all pensioners. A pensioner can now digitally provide Annual Life Certificate to the authorities for continuity of pension instead of presenting himself physically or through a Life Certificate issued by specified authorities every year. Launched in Nov 2014, nearly 12 Lakhs pensioners have registered for Digital Life Certificate (DLC) in about a year. …
Central nodal agency to curb human trafficking planned
To strengthen the fight against human trafficking, Union government has decided to set up a central nodal agency. Sustained initiatives such as Operation Smile, a month-long campaign to rescue and rehabilitate those trafficked, had also been bearing fruit. Last year, 9,146 children under Operation Smile and 19,742 children under Operation Muskaan were rescued or rehabilitated.
India ratifies pact on nuclear compensation
Five years after signing the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), India has ratified the convention. The CSC is a convention that allows for increasing the compensation amount in the event of a nuclear incident through public funds pooled in by contracting parties based on their own installed nuclear capacities. It entered into force on April 15, 2015. …
Punjab to develop pure breed of ‘Sahiwal’ cattle
The Punjab government has launched an extensive mission to develop pure breed of the ‘Sahiwal’ cattle under the Gokul Gram Yojna to ensure better milk production in the State. Punjab government has launched a number of schemes aimed at increasing the number of such cattle. It will setup ‘Gokul Gram’ in the State in which about 600 high-genetic breed of …
ICAR
Government is committed to promote organic farming to increase soil health. A new scheme, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to develop organic clusters, was taken up from current year 2015-16. During the year, the agricultural research and education institutions of the ICAR, successfully generated and introduced technologies to boost farm production and incomes. Registration of seven new breeds of indigenous …
Scientists spot elusive space-time ripples
The highly elusive ‘gravitational waves’ have finally been detected. After decades of search for these ripples in space-time, which Albert Einstein predicted exactly 100 years ago, scientists working with the gigantic optical instruments in the U.S. called LIGO [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory], have detected signals of gravitational waves emanating from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light years away arriving …
‘India Handloom’ Brand
Integrated website of ‘India Handloom’ Brand was launched today. The website is a one stop platform for all services to consumers, bulk buyers and handloom producers. It will provide full details of all registered India Handloom producers which will facilitate verification of genuine India Handloom product by customers. It will also provide information about the retail stores and e-commerce platform …
Compulsory licensing in manufacturing may slow investments: EU
India’s adoption of Compulsory Licensing (CL) in industrial sectors risks affecting the flow of capital and technology from overseas, a senior European Union (EU) official said. The official’s comments come in the backdrop of the imminent finalisation of India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy as well as the EU’s resumption of bilateral meetings on a proposed free trade agreement …
Budget 2016-17
Announcements made by Finance Minister in Budget speech 2016-17 Big Focus on Agriculture and Farmer’ Welfare (i) Farmer’s income to be doubled by 2022. (ii) 28.5 lakh hectares will be brought under irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. (vii) 5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells in rain-fed areas and 10 lakh compost pits for production of organic manure will …
Amendment to Juvenile Justice Act a game changer
The amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 has been called a game changer. The Act now states that “anyone who gives or causes to give tobacco products to children shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to Rs.1 lakh”. …