PIB 10

1. India has offered the Duty Free Tariff Preferences (DFTP) scheme for LDCs which provides duty free market access on over 95% of tariff lines. Indian business could look at Africa for their investments and in-turn look at India for their market using the DFTP. Government of India has been encouraging services cooperation with the African Nations. Africa has the potential for development of Tourism, Healthcare, Hospitality and ICT sectors.

2. Government has decided to set up a National Tribal Advisory Council for effecting monitoring and implementation of various tribal welfare schemes. need for more effective community participation for the success of various tribal welfare schemes.

3. Till Date About 93 Per Cent of the Adult Residents in India Aquired Unique Identity – Aadhaar on Their own Volition. To achieve universal Aadhaar coverag a strategic policy tool for social and financial inclusion, increasing convenience and promoting hassle-free people-centric governance, the UIDAI is now focusing on Child enrolment, besides mopping up remaining person.

4. Government to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds with effect from 26th November, 2015; Bonds to be sold through banks and designated post offices. The borrowing through issuance of the Bond will form part of market borrowing programme of Government of India.

5. the theme of the Delhi High Court’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations is ‘JUSTICE FOR ALL’. For justice to have meaning for the people, it must be accessible, affordable and quick. Access to justice for the poorest of the poor would ensure ‘Justice for all’. An affordable judicial system is a must for a country having many citizens at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid. Quick delivery of justice is the third in the trinity of an effective judicial system, the other two being accessibility and affordability. Delay in administering justice is as good as denial. He emphasized that technology solutions can fasten the process of justice and make it easier for the litigants as well.

6. easier availability of land was crucial to realising the dream of affordable housing.  "It is not cheaper availability of land - it is easier availability. If we complicate procedures too much, then we will be preventing people from acquiring affordable homes

7. India is keen to intensify its hydrocarbon cooperation with the African countries on upstream,midstream and downstream areas.Indian Public Sector oil and gas companies have invested about US$ 8 billion in oil and gas assets in Mozambique, Sudan and South Sudan.

8. India is a country of 1.3 billion people belonging to three ethnic groups - Caucasian, Dravidian and Mongoloid - speaking 122 languages and 1,600 dialects, and professing 7 faiths. Our country has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance.

9. Aadishilp' organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) at Dilli Haat will be open till November 11, 2015. Unique and exquisite tribal artefacts of more than 90 tribal artisans from all over the country are being exhibited in this Exhibition. Hand crafted items, handloom products, dry flowers, cane and bamboo products, tribal jewellery, Dhokra craft, tribal weaves, embroidery, tribal paintings and lot more is being exhibited at the venue.

Famous quotes 8

Education is the knowledge of the self

Knowledge without action is meaningless-Mimansa Philosophy

Free speech is the basis of modern civilization and there is no compromise with it-Voltaire

Nations that forget history are bound to lose the power to create it-Anonymous

The total commitment on any issue is practically impossible and plurality of opinion is to be observed in order to seek truth- Mahatma Gandhi

My notion of democracy is that the weakest shall have the same opportunity as the strongest-Mahatma Gandhi

Indian democracy is predicated on Madisonian model of democracy wherein the primacy of minority rights is to be respected without which democracy is unfulfilled

Andrie Sakharov, Russian scientist and dissident said “ From Tape recorder to semiconductors, all innovation have come from the west and nothing from Soviet Union.” The then President did not listen to him and this was one of the reasons why he was imprisoned for six years in 1979.

Voltaire had famously said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.” 

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty-Thomas Jefferson

Charity begins at home and so does responsibility.

Where the mind is without fear-Tagore

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

PIB 9

1. Signing of a treaty between India and Maldives on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters. The Treaty aims to enhance effectiveness of both countries in investigation and prosecution of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. transnational crime and its linkages to terrorism, funds meant to finance terrorist acts.

2. The amendment has been made recently in the Central Order under Essential Commodities Act to enable States to impose stock limits on pulses sourced from imports, held by exporters, large food processing units as well as large departmental retailers.

3. Corruption affects the growth of a nation, reduces the Government’s income and creates inequalities in distribution of income and wealth. It is a major factor hindering development. Corruption needs to be treated like a disease and focus should be on prevention. Commission has adopted the theme of “Preventive Vigilance as a tool of Good Governance” for the current year. The measures adopted for Preventive Vigilance would help not only reduce corruption but also contribute towards good governance by way of increasing efficiency, transparency and adherence to rule of law.

4. Indian Navy’s continuous presence and pro-active focussed operations in deterring piracy attempts off the Gulf of Aden which resulted in the recent decision by CGPCS to shift the eastern limit of High Risk Area from 78 Degrees East to 65 Degrees East. Incidentally there has been no hijacking of Indian owned ship since 2008, indigenous component in fight category needs to be increased esp. in submarine construction. Challenges pertaining to human resource development in the Navy, which are unique due to high levels of technical skills required to operate complex, state-of-the-art ships, submarines and deck launched fighter aircraft,

5. developed world had pledged $100 billion (Green Climate Fund), but that has not materialised. “Now the developed world is presenting that they have mobilised $62 billion. But Shri Arun Jaitley was forthright in Lima by telling them that this was double accounting and that this was not acceptable.

6. the ‘right to be forgotten’ incorporated by the European Court of Human Rights, which empowered the state authority to remove the reference of the aggrieved person from internet citing citizen’s right to privacy.

7. the biggest hurdle in attracting investments, tourism and entrepreneurship in Northeast is the lack of adequate connectivity.

8.Police reforms: Increase in the number of specialized in-service training courses especially related to cyber-crimes, terrorism, financial frauds, use of technology in investigations etc. Indian Police to meet the challenges of the increasing diversity of crimes on the one hand and the rising public expectations on the other. This is sought to be achieved through training, research, and modernisation of the police forces.

9. 85 urban local bodies have developed their own websites and 30 have launched Face Book pages besides being active on MyGov.in to enlist ideas from citizens for formulation of smart city plans. “This is clearly a leap forward on the part of the urban local bodies which were known for their isolated, insulated, non-responsive, non-interactive and non-citizen friendly governance till recently”

10. key challenges in promoting housing stock in urban areas : shortage of land supply in urban areas, stringent land use regulations, inadequate infrastructure to support high density, high cost of construction materials, insufficient financing, restricted mortgage financing and rent control laws. The Minister urged the states to consider waiving or reducing stamp duty, registration fees, land conversion fee and other such duties to promote affordable housing projects.

11. He said that Affordable Housing and Habitat Policies of states should focus on: -Evolving state specific models since one size fits all policy does not work; -Affordable housing as a part of larger eco-system (habitat); -Ensuring required social and physical infrastructure connectivity; -Providing linkages with transportation and livelihoods; -Promoting private sector investments in a big way; -Availability of land and finance and -Promotion of appropriate cost effective and sustainable construction technologies. Shri Venkaiah Naidu gave a detailed account of initiatives by the government for developing construction industry including tax incentives, Credit Risk Guarantee Fund for low income housing, relaxation of FDI norms, allowing External Commercial Borrowings for affordable housing, setting up Real Estate Investment Trusts etc. t over 31 % of country’s population is living in urban areas which account only for 3.10% of country’s geographical areas making land in urban areas a scarce resource.

12. HRIDAY:The action plans approved broadly seek to conserve and develop core heritage assets of respective cities besides improving sanitation through solid waste management, easy access through signages and better mobility, interpretation centres, landscaping, provision of green spaces etc.

Famous Quotes 7

 Forgveness does not change our past, but it relieves our future-Anonymous

 My attitude to peace is not just end to violence but an end to inequality, poverty and all other factors  that threaten peace-Aang Suu Kyi

 Too much self-centred attitude brings loneliness, fear, anger and suffering-The Dalai Lama

 The true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members-Gandhi

 When in despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won-Gandhi

 Foreign and defence policy essentially has to be about the obtaining and management of influence-Lord   Carrington

 Niskham Karmayoga, Karmaphala siddhanta, Indriya nigraha, Sarva Dharma Sambhava, Vashudheva Kutumbakam, Atithi devo bhava, stithaprajnata(in Gita)

 No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of members are poor and miserable-Adam Smith

While addressing the constituent assembly in 1947, Nehru had said “ This achievement (independence) is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the great triumphs and achievements that await us…the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity

Vruksh ho bhale khade,
ho ghane ho bade,
Ek Patra chhah bhi mang mat, mang mat, mang mat,
Agnipath, Agnipath Agnipath;

Tu naa thakega kabhi,
Tu naa thakega kabhi,
Tu naa thakega kabhi,
Kar sapath,kar sapath,kar sapath,
Agnipath,agnipath,agnipath!!!!!!!!!
(There may be huge, warm and shady trees all around)
(Don't even ask the shade of a single leaf)
(Walk on the Path of Fire, Walk on the Path of Fire)

PIB 8

1. the impacts of climate change are not just global in scope and unprecedented in scale but more severely affect poor & marginalized people.

2. increasing burden of frivolous RTIs need to be addressed. Many states including the North East states stated that training is required for the staff in the public authorities who have to handle the RTI applications. The infrastructure support to bridge the digital divide is required to achieve the aim of transparency through technology. lack of clarity of the legal standing of the right to privacy, a balance is needed between the public domain and the privacy issue while implementing the RTI Act.

3. two major developments, which has impacted the promotion of handicrafts: The level of education has gone up, there being educated youth in most artisan families,Internet and other IT based interventions have bridged the gap between urban and rural areas with digital connectivity. a new strategy, which has four broad components:

        i.  Infrastructure development, such as a Common Facility Centre in every cluster

      ii.  Development of design and training, through schemes under Office of DC (Handicrafts)

    iii.  Direct assistance to artisans, such as online assistance through their bank accounts

    iv.   Linking up with market with participation of private sector

efforts are on to provide more financial assistance to start-up entrepreneurs and to link Self-Help Groups with export groups. He also spoke about the efforts to link handicrafts with tourism and fashion.

4. the steps already taken and those underway by the Center and states to improve investment climate in the country. the emphasis mainly was on the measures to improve the Ease of Doing Business, opening up of the economy, the FDI in insurance and defence, auctions in coal and mineral mines, skill development, infrastructure, labour market reforms and modern bankruptcy law.

5. the government has accepted the recommendations of the Finance Commission on increased devolution of funds to the States in the hope that the states will be able to commit necessary additional resources for meeting the objectives of the social sector schemes. However, clarity is needed on the cost-sharing pattern for various social sector schemes  so that the contribution of central and state share to all schemes could be suitably rationalised in view of the increased devolution.

6.research and evidence–based policing in India and to avoid subjectivity, personal biases and errors in decision-making. Inauguraton of the Indian Police Foundation and the Indian Police Institute

7. 70% of its total population below the age of 35 years,Udaan, the Special Industry Initiative (SII) for J&K is funded by Ministry of Home Affairs and implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). training in local surveys and mapping which could make these youth employable by a host of different hydro and power projects running in the Doda district.

8. Swacchh Bharat Campaign cannot Happen without Wholehearted Participation of Municipal/Civic Corporations, Gram Panchayats. In case of disposal of effluents on land or river or any water body including coastal water / creek or a drain, the treated effluents shall meet the standards. At the inlet and outlet of the sewage treatment plant, online monitoring devices should be installed to monitor the consented parameters.

PIB 7

1. The Commission had also stated that expenditure sensitive areas and persons likely to be associated with such Hawala operations must be identified and mapped.

2. Indian Navy has also been involved in capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly navies in the Indian Ocean Region, besides providing assistance in hydrographic survey, search and rescue and improving maritime domain awareness. evacuation of over 3000 Indians and citizens from 35 other countries from strife-ridden Yemen in April this year.

3. GST seeks to subsume many indirect taxes at the Central and State level. The proposed dual GST envisages taxation of the same taxable event, i.e., supply of goods and services, simultaneously by both the Centre and the States.

4. GIM, one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), acknowledges the influence that forests have on environmental amelioration though climate change mitigation, food security, water security, biodiversity conservation and livelihood security of forest dependent communities.

5. The Commission is addressing the emerging issues of human rights violations relating to bonded and child labour, right to clean environment, right to health, rights of prisoners and rights of women among other related human right issues.

6. Central Government has provisioned Rs.50,000 cr towards central assistance under Atal Mission for five years. state governments and urban local bodies are required to contribute equal amount as their share with States making a minimum contribution of 20% of project costs.

7. The Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) will cover the operators’ liability under the CLND Act, 2010 and adequately address the liability related concerns of national as well as international suppliers,

8. The Ministry has so far identified 497 cities and towns under Atal Mission under which basic infrastructure is to be developed in 500 cities and towns.

9. The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by the India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar. expected to contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products. It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.

10. the Ministry of Power has taken up village electrification programme on Mission mode under the flagship scheme of Government of India 'Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana' (DDUGJY).

11. India has always stood beside Palestine. India's policy on Palestine has three core dimensions: solidarity with the Palestinian people; support to the Palestinian cause; and, partnership in Palestine's nation and capacity building efforts. India would like to see the people of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel, as endorsed in the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet road map and relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

12. "Right To Information" Act as a tool through which the common man has got not just the right to know, but also the right to question those in power. "Digital India" initiative is complimentary to RTI, because putting information online brings transparency, which in turn, builds trust. administrative processes should be run based on trusting the people, rather than doubting the people.