shanmugam ias academy

319 Pages·2016·1.12 MB·English

Current Affairs May - 2016
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1. Andhra Pradesh first state in the country to become Open Defecation Free in urban areas
Andhra Pradesh is set to become the first State in the country to make all of its urban areas Open Defecation Free by
October 2nd this year, marking the two years of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission by Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi.
The State officials gave this assurance during a review of progress of Swachh Bharat Mission in all the 110
municipalities of Andhra Pradesh by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(Urban Development) at Visakhapatnam. Shri Gauba
went to the port city for review of progress of urban missions like Smart city Mission, Atal MissionY for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Swachh Bharat Mission. He held extensive discussions with the Collectors of
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all the 13 districts and Municipal Commissioners of all the 110 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh on their action
plans for ensuring sanitation. E
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During the review, it emerged that Andhra Pradesh which has been in the forefront of construction of toilets in urban
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areas can make all 100 municipalities Open Defecation Free by October 2 this year as per the action plans in progress.
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As against the Mission target of construction of 1,94,336 individual household toilets in urban areas of Andhra Pradesh,
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work has started in respect of 1,53,779 and construction of 1,04,732 toilets has already been completed.

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In addition to the central assistance of Rs.4,000 per toilet, Andhra Pradesh Government is extending assistance of an
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additional Rs.11,000 per toilet giving a big boost for the programme.
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Regarding Community and Public Toilet seats, as agaMinst the mission target of 4,614 seats, work has started on 3,887
seats and 1,952 seats have already been constructed.
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In respect of Solid Waste Management, outG of the total wards of 3,458 in 110 municipalities, 100% door-to-door
collection and transportation of such waste is being done in 3,072 wards i.e 89% of total urban wards in the state.
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The State Governments has also aMwarded works for construction of 10 Waste to Energy Plants for generating 63 MW of
power from the 6,440 tonnes of municipal waste being generated per day in the state. Shri Gauba was informed that
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these plants would be commissioned during 2017-18.
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Shri Gauba complimented the State Government and all concerned officials for good progress under Swachh Bharat
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Mission in urban areas and for becoming the first state to make all urban areas open defecation free much ahead of the
target this yearS.
2. India aims to achieve Defence Technological Sovereignty
India has the third largest armed forces with an annual budget of around $ 40 Billion. 40 % of it is for capital
acquisition. The budget is also growing to take care of the needs of the armed forces. India also happens to be one of the
largest importers of Defence goods. The nation aspires to change this situation. While ensuring that the Defence services
always get the best quality equipment, India aims to achieve substantial self reliance and indigenization in Defence
equipment technology. Outlining the roadmap to bold reforms in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), Defence
Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar announced the salient features of the new DPP during the 9th edition of DEFEXPO
2016, a biennial exhibition on Land, Naval Internal Homeland and Security Systems Exhibition, which was held in
South Goa this year. Participation from 47 countries is a clear indicator of Indias growing prominence and stature
internationally; this years exhibition was the largest Defexpo held till to date. In all, over 1000 companies, both foreign
and Indian participated in the exhibition this year. Shri. Manohar Parrikar said that the Indian-Designed Developed and
Manufactured (IDDM) category will have the topmost priority now. Further simplification of procedure, reduced
timelines, quick decision-making, transparency are added features of the new DPP. Shri. Parrikar while answering a
question on the importance of research and development said, RD is very close to my heart. Being an engineer myself I
know that we are on the right path. Technology is changing almost every year and India is one country which has a huge
pool of people in engineering and technology who can convert many defence requirements into actual production. Under
the supervision of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), we have also been working with
many academic institutions like the IITs, IISCs and NITs to take this cause to new heights. The Raksha Mantri added,
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This DPP, I believe, can actually push the agenda of Make in India and Indias target of achieving major successes in
creating a defence industry network for its own need as well as for exports. Make in Indiais an initiative launched by the
Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modito encouragemulti-national, as well as national companies to manufacture their
products inIndia. The major objective behind the initiative is to focus on job creation and skill enhancement in 25 sectors
of the economy, including defence manufacturing. Talking about the steps that the Government of India has been taking
in furthering the cause, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, Shri. Ashok Gupta in an exclusive
interview said that during 2014-15 and 2015-16, 66 capital procurement cases which Defence Acquisition Council
(DAC) has approved at an estimated cost of Rs.1.98 lakh crore, 88 % of these cases by value have Ybeen approved under
Buy Indian and Buy Make Indian categories which means that request for proposals will be issued to the Indian vendors
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and they either on their own or in collaboration with the foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will supply
these items. This is going to create a huge domestic demand. This implies that if foreign OEEMs want to leverage the
Indian demand, the only route available is to enter into collaboration with Indian vendors. Secretary (DP) also outlined
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several steps which have been taken in the last 2 years in order to promote the entry of private sector into Defence
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manufacturing : The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy for the Defence sector has been revised. Now, the
composite foreign investment up to 49 % is allowed under automatic route aCnd beyond 49 % also with the approval of
the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). Several conditions attached to the policy have also been removed to
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make the process simpler. In order to reduce the entry barrier, the Defence products list for the purpose of issuing

industrial licenses (ILs) under IDR Act has been revised and most of the components, parts, sub-systems testing
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equipments, production equipments have been removed from the list. Level-playing field has been provided to Indian
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Private Sector. Public Sector no longer enjoys the special status in terms of excise and custom duty levies. To create a
level - playing field between the Indian and foreign induIstry, the Exchange Rate Variation (ERV) protection has been

allowed on foreign exchange components to all IndiaMn companies, including private companies in all categories of
capital acquisitions. Since domestic industry cannot survive purely on domestic demand, the entire procedure for exports
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has been streamlined. Now NOCs for exports are issued online. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the issue
of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for expoGrt of military stores has been revised and put on the website. Under the
revised SOP, the requirement of End User Certificate (EUC) to be countersigned / stamped by the Government
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authorities has been done away with, for the export of parts, components, sub-systems etc. For the first time, a specific
Defence Export Strategy has beenM formulated and put in public domain. The strategy outlines specific initiatives to be
taken by the Government for encouraging the export of Defence items. The provision of Make category of capital
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acquisition is a vital pillar for realizing the vision of the Make in India initiative. Make procedure has been restructured
and a number of provisiAons have been made to incentivize the industry e.g. increasing the share of Government funding,
full reimbursement incase of foreclosure and non issue of RFP (Request for Proposal) and giving preference to Micro,
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Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in smaller projects. These Make projects will not only help in creating
eco-system in tSerms of vendor development but also kick-start race for development and/or technology acquisition by
the industry, which will help the Defence manufacturing in the long run. Such indigenously developed systems will also
be available for export to establish India as a global Player in Defence market. Offsets (Liability of foreign OEMs to
invest certain percentage of the contract value in manufacturing industry in India to offset a foreign exchange payment)
play an important role in development of domestic industry and facilitating it to become part of global supply chain.
Offset implementation has been one of major issues with foreign OEMs as far as doing business in India is concerned.
We have undertaken the task of significantly overhauling the guidelines. The requirement of prescribing Indian Offset
Partners and components for offset discharge for the entire period of contract, at the time of signing of contract, has been
done away with. One of the major demands of the industry has been to re-instate the provision of services for discharge
of offsets. This also has been done. With these measures in place, coupled with large pool of cost effective human
resource, this is the best time to invest in India. I am also seeing things happening on ground. Of late, there is a marked
increase in the issue of licenses and exports are also going up, said Secretary (Defence Production). Shri. Ashok Gupta.
He added, The Goverment is fully committed and geared up for further changes required in policy, processes and
promotional measures for the industry. Therefore, it is now for the industry to make the best use of this opportunity by
investing in Defence Sector.
3. Venkaiah Naidu, Siddaramaiah flag off south India's first underground Metro
Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday
flagged-off the much awaited East-West corridor of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) - south
India's first underground metro. "Namma Metro is to provide better commuting facilities in the city and all out efforts
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would be made to complete the remaining portion of the phase I of Namma Metro within a few months," said
Siddaramaiah, highlighting his government's attempts to provide better infrastructure in Bengaluru and sought further
assistance from central government. "Phase II of Namma Metro would cost Rs.26,405 crore and the work has already
commenced. If all goes well, it will become operational by 2020. The state government will contribute Rs.9,000 crore
for this project and it has already released Rs.900 crore till now. The remaining amount will be released in the near
future," he said. With a 5.12 km underground section, the east-west corridor passes beneath some of the city's most
iconic landmarks such as the Vidhan Soudha, the GPO, Cubbon Park, the high court and others. Thousands of
government employees working in several offices stand to benefit hugely along with the general puYblic from the new
Namma Metro link. The extended Metro will stretch from Baiyappanahalli to Nayandahalli and fare between the two
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points has been fixed at Rs.40.
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4. NITI Aayog to launch Urban Management Program for Capacity Building in States and Urban Local Bodies
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NITI Aayog chaired by Vice Chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya launched the Urban Management Programme on 27
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April 2016 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The state participation was at the level of Secretaries of Urban Development,
Municipal Commissioners and other senior officials of State Government anCd parastatal bodies. About 150 participants
were present in the event. An overview of the Urban Management Programme The Programme is designed by NITI
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Aayog, Temasek Foundation and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) under the platform of the Memorandum of

Understanding signed between NITI Aayog and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE). It was to tap the expertise
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of Singapore in urban sector to build capacities in State Governments and ULBs to design efficient solutions to urban
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problems. As a part of NITI Aayogs mandate to promote cooperative federalism, NITI is reaching out to the States to
resolve their issues pending with different Ministries. It Iis emphasized on improving governance particularly of the

census towns whose number has significantly increasMed between census 2001 and 2011. The vision of urban
transformation is achieved successfully only with the well built municipal cadre and provide stability of tenure to
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officials in municipalities.
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5. SIDBI signs MoU with Saarc Development Fund
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Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Saarc Development Fund (SDF) has entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MMOU) for mutual cooperation and collaboration. The MoU envisages SDF and SIDBI
to work together in co-funding of projects in Indian MSMEs on risk sharing basis in identified sectors, development of
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suitable financial products for SME financing for MSMEs of other Saarc states, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
The MoU also calls for Atechnology transfer and making available software to MFIs regarding loan tracking systems in
other Saarc states and capacity development of SDF/SIDBI and SME funding institutions in SAARC countries, it added.
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The MoU was signed by SIDBI Deputy Managing Director A K Kapur and SDF CEO Sunil Motiwal.
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6. Reliance Defence inks pact with 3 Ukrainian state firms
Reliance Defence has signed an agreement with three Ukrainian state-owned firms Ukroboronprom, Spetstechno
Exports and Antonov to collaborate on a range of military products including transport aircraft, armoured vehicles,
maritime gas turbines and unmanned aerial vehicles. This follows Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambanis meeting with
the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine this week, where they discussed issues of strategic interest
between Indian and Ukrainian Defence and Aerospace industries. As a follow up of the meeting, a Strategic Partnership
Agreement was signed between State-owned Ukroboronprom of Ukraine and Reliance Defence, which will allow it to
collaborate with Antonov for its range of military and commercial transport aircraft, according to statement from
Reliance Defence. Reliance Defence is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., a part of the Reliance
Group. Under the agreement with Antonov, credited as the manufacturer of largest transport aircraft in the world,
Reliance and Antonov will jointly bid for the Medium Military Transport Aircraft program of Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL). Besides, both companies will also collaborate for the assembly and manufacture, and maintenance,
repair and overhaul (MRO) of Antonov series of aircraft to address the requirements of the Indian market and agreed
global markets. The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 100 AN-32 aircraft, which form the backbone of its
transport fleet. Market size HAL is looking at a market size of up to 300 aircraft in the medium range. This will be
potentially the largest collaborative effort involving the public sector, private sector and global OEM as part of the Make
in India and Skill India initiatives of the government with the value of the projects exceeding Rs.50,000 crore. Upgrades
The cooperation between Reliance Defence and Spetstechno Exports, a foreign trade enterprise of Ukraine, will focus on
upgrades for the amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (BMP 2), Armoured Vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
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and Marine Gas Turbines for the Indian Navy Frigate programme in India.
7. Indra Nooyi, Satya Nadella, Bhavesh Patel among highest paid CEOs in the world
As many as three Indian origin persons have been named among 100 highest-paid CEOs globally with PepsiCo's
Indra Nooyi and LyondellBasell's Bhavesh Patel making it to the top ten list compiled by Equilar.
Chemicals company LyondellBasell Industries' top executive Bhavesh V Patel was ranked sixth on the list with a total
compensation of $24.5 million, while Nooyi, the chief executive of PepsiCo was ranked eighth on Ythe list with a total
pay of $22.2 million.
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Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft was ranked 26th on the list of 100 highest-paid CEOEs with a total compensation of
$18.3 million.
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The overall list was topped by Mark V Hurd and Safra A Catz of Oracle Corp with both boasting a total compensation of
$53.2 million. C
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Others on the top 10 include, Robert A Iger of Walt Disney ($43.5 million), David M Cote of Honeywell International

($33.1 million), General Electric's Jeffrey R Immelt ($26.4 million), Randall L Stephenson of ATT ($22.4 million),
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Rupert Murdoch of Twenty-First Century Fox ($22.2 million) and James P Gorman of Morgan Stanley ($22 million).
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This list is a snapshot of companies that file annual proxyI statements before April 1 and aims to provide an early look at

CEO pay trends for 2015. M
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The report further noted that the median pay for Equilar 100 CEOs was $14.5 million in fiscal year 2015, up 3 per cent
from the previous year. G
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Interestingly, eight CEOs on the list are female, and they far outpace the median pay for the Equilar 100 as a whole.
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8. Giant duck-billed dinosaur fossil sets world record
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A fossilized skeleton of a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur, in east China's Shandong Province has been recognized
by Guinness World RecAords as the "largest hadrosaurid skeleton on display." The Zhuchengosaurus maximus skeleton in
Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum, Zhucheng City, is 9.1 meters high and 16.6 meters long, while the average height and
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body length of hadrosaurs are four-five meters and six-nine meters. Experts with the city's dinosaur research center said
ZhuchengosaurSus maximus lived in lakes and swamps and fed on plants, clams and algae in the late Cretaceous period
about 70 million years ago, when the area was a basin with a humid climate and heavy vegetation. Zhucheng is home to
one of the largest dinosaur bone concentrations in the world. At least 10 dinosaur species have been found in
excavations there since the 1960s. The skeleton fossil of Zhuchengosaurus maximus was unearthed during a round of
excavations from 1989 and 1991.
9. China develops world's first graphene electronic paper for next-gen e-readers
In a major breakthrough, China has developed the world's first graphene electronic paper which will catapult the
material to a new level. The new material has been heralded as "the world's first graphene electronic paper," by Chen
Yu, general manager of Guangzhou OED Technologies, which developed it in partnership with a company in
Chongqing Province. Graphene is the world's strongest and lightest known material; a single layer of graphene is only
0.335 nanometers thick, and it can conduct heat and electricity, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It can be used to
create hard or flexible graphene displays, used in electronic products such as e-readers and wearable smart devices.
Compared with traditional e-papers, graphene e-paper is more pliable and has more intensity and its high-light
transmittance means optical displays will be much brighter. In addition, graphene is derived from carbon, meaning
production costs will be much lower than for traditional e-papers, which use the rare, expensive metal indium. E-papers
have been produced on a commercial scale since 2014. Compared with liquid crystal displays, e-papers are thinner,
bendable and energy efficient, meaning products are more portable. The team's graphene e-paper will be put into
production within a year.
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10. PM Modi launches scheme to provide free LPG connections to poor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a Rs 8,000 crore scheme to provide 5 crore free LPG connections to poor
families as he attacked previous governments for just paying lip service to reducing poverty.
Calling himself 'Shramik No.1' (Worker No.1), he listed out initiatives taken by his government for the welfare of
labourers.
The launch coincided with May Day and Modi attacked previous governments for doing little for thYe poor. "Policies
made by previous governments were not keeping in mind the welfare of poor but only ballot boxes," he said.
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Poverty, he said, can be eradicated only if poor are empowered, given resources and oppoErtunities as well as education,
jobs, houses, drinking water and electricity.
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He questioned the policies pursued by the previous government for poverty eradication, saying poverty has only
increased during past years. C
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"We are working to fight poverty," he said, adding that under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, free LPG connections

will be provided in name of women members of BPL households.
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In the first year, 1.5 crore such connections will be released and the target of 5 crore will be completed in three years, he
said, comparing it to the just 13 crore LPG connections pIrovided in 60 years of independence.

"In my first speech in Central Hall of Parliament afteMr BJP government came to power (in 2014), I had said my
government is dedicated to poor. "Whatever this government does will be for the benefit of the poor and for the welfare
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of poor," he said as he listed out various labour-friendly initiatives, including raising minimum pension to Rs 1,000 and
introduction of labour identification numbeGr (LIN). Also, the maximum wage that entitles bonus to workers has been
raised to Rs 21,000 from Rs 10,000 per month previously, while the bonus limit too has been doubled to Rs 7,000.
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Provident fund (PF) portability has been provided to help utilise the Rs 27,000 crore of retirement benefits lying unused
because of workers changing jobsM or cities.
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11. Ensuring job security, wage security & social security for workers is topmost priority for govt: Bandaru
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Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said, ensuring job security, wage security and social
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security for workers is topmost priority for the government.
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In his message on International Labour Day, Mr Dattatreya said, his Ministry is committed to employment generation by
facilitating ease of doing business including that for startups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs.
He said, employment creation is central to growth and development strategy as India is the fastest growing nation which
is also endowed with the largest young workforce.
The Minister said, government is working for bringing transparency and accountability in enforcement of labour laws.
He said, his Ministry is working to simplfy, consolidate and rationalize the provisions of the 43 labour laws in 4 Labour
Codes.
These are Labour Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security and Welfare and Safety and Working
Conditions.
12. Parl committee expresses anguish over shortage of faculty in higher education institutions
A Parliamentary committee has expressed anguish over shortage of faculty in higher education institutions, including
Central Universities, IITs and IIMs. In a report tabled earlier this week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD
headed by BJP MP Satyanarayan Jatiya, voiced concern over acute shortage of faculty in higher education institutions
across the country.
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The panel said it was informed that the total number of sanctioned teaching posts in Central Universities is 16,600 out of
which 2,376 are for the position of Professors, 4,708 Associate Professors and 9,521 Assistant Professors. Of the
positions lying vacant 1,277 are for the post of Professor, 2173 Associate Professor and 2,478 Assistant Professor.
In the IITs, the committee said in its report, the minimum qualification for a faculty member is PhD and there is a
shortage of such candidates. It noted that institutes were engaging faculty on contract basis to tide over the shortage.
13. Indian Railways to plant 5 cr saplings on rail land before monsoon Y
In order to enhance the green cover along the rail tracks, Indian Railway has firmed up an ambitious proposal to
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plant five crore saplings ahead of the onset of monsoon on land owned by it.
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Railways has created a separate directorate to carry out environment-related activities in a focused manner. A senior
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official in the Environment Directorate of the Railway Ministry said, they are finalising the varieties of trees such as
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neem, pilkhan, jamun to be planted on rail land including on both sides of the tracks. The saplings will be
region-specific and vary from zone to zone. C
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Railways will be joined by the Environment Ministry and state governments in the massive drive. Railway official said,

his Ministry will sign an MoU with the Environment Ministry to carry out the plantation exercise.
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Besides, Railways will also rope in NGOs in the country-wide exercise. The official said, the tree plantation drive will
serve dual purpose, an environment friendly exercise as wIell as preventing encroachment of rail land.

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14. Indian-American journalist receives Edgar A Poe award
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An Indian-American journalist was felicitated by U.S. President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle as she
and her colleagues were presented with a prGestigious award during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner here.
Neela Banerjee and three of her colleagues from Inside Climate News John Cushman Jr, David Hasemyer and Lisa
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Song were presented with the prestigious Edgar A Poe award. The annual award by the White House Correspondents
Association (WHCA) honours jouMrnalistic work of national or regional significance. A Washington DCbased journalist
Ms. Banerjee, before joining Inside Climate News, was energy and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times
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Washington bureau. She covered global energy, the Iraq War and other issues with The New York Times. A graduate of
Yale University, she alsAo served as a Moscow correspondent with The Wall Street Journal. The award was shared by
Terrence McCoy of the Washington Post, who explored the issue of lead poisoning among poor black children in
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Baltimore after Freddie Gray died in custody in a highprofile case of alleged police abuse. As early as 1977, scientists at
energy and oil Sgiant Exxon Corporation told top executives that fossil fuel emissions were warming the planet. Over
time, however, Exxon became a leader in denying climate change and argued that the science was inclusive, the judges
wrote. Reporters Neela Banerjee, John Cushman, Jr David Hasemyer and Lisa Song of Inside Climate News, used
documents, interviews and the public record from four decades to reveal a deeply disturbing trail from climate change
discovery to denial, it said. The story prompted the New York Attorney General to issue a subpoena to force Exxon to
disclose records in order to determine if it committed fraud under state law, the judges said. Misha Euceph, a Pakistani
radio journalist from Rawalpindi was among the 18 budding journalists selected for WHCA annual scholarship. She was
also felicitated by the US President and the First Lady. Euceph, is the recipient of a USD 5,000 grant through the
WHCA to help finance a postgraduate degree for a student in the Government and Public Affairs reporting track.
Among the judges for journalism awards included Indian American Indira Somani, an Assistant Professor of Journalism
at the School of Communications, Howard University in Washington, DC where she teaches broadcast journalism
courses.
15. India, New Zealand sign landmark Air Services Agreement
India and New Zealand today signed a landmark Air Services Agreement paving the way for introduction of direct
flights between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Minister of State for Agriculture Farmer Welfare, Dr
Sanjeev Baliyan on behalf of India and Transport Minister of New Zealand Simon Bridges in the presence of the
President Mr Pranab Mukherjee and the New Zealand Prime Minister Mr John Key.
Business, Education and Tourism have grown exponentially between India and New Zealand in the recent years. There
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are nearly 1,75,000 persons of Indian origin in New Zealand of which about 15,000 are Indian students. The two-way
trade between the two countries has doubled in the last few years. The two-way tourist traffic has also witnessed sharp
rise, partly due to the exotic and pristine locales of New Zealand shown in Indian movies.
President Mukherjee said the agreement will lead to easier connectivity that has inhibited both business travel and
people- to- people contact in the past. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key also held talks with Mr Mukherjee.
Briefing newspersons, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran said both sides agreed to expedite
negotiations for an early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement. President Mukherjee also addresseYd a large gathering of
Business Leaders today. He said despite sluggishness in World Economy, India is progressing at a healthy 7.2% rate of
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growth and it will certainly be better in coming years.
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He said India is offering many business and investment opportunities through a number of programmes evolved by the
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government including Make in India Skill Development. Talking about democracy and parliamentary system, he said,
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dissent is an important component of it and that without dissent, parliamentary system will become dysfunctional. The
President addressed the Indian Community later in the evening. Tomorrow, CMr Mukherjee is scheduled to visit the
Auckland University of Technology before returning home.
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16. Venezuela's President orders 30 % increase in minimum wage
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Venezuela's President has ordered a 30 per cent increase in the minimum wage. This is the latest move by the
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socialist government to grapple with high inflation and economic stagnation.
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The boost announced last night by President Nicolas MMaduro comes after a 25 per cent increase on March 1 this year.
The new increase is effective from the International Labour Day today.
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Venezuela's oil export-dependent economy Gshrank 5.7 per cent last year, shortages of basic goods multiplied and prices
soared. The government has instituted rolling blackouts and state employees are working only two days a week to
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conserve electricity.
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17. Tens of thousands join May Day rally in South Korea
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Tens of thousands of South Koreans took part in today's May Day protests to criticise labour reforms pushed by the
government and to call Afor a higher minimum wage.
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Labour activists say the labour reform bill pushed by President Park Geun-Hye and her conservative Saenuri Party will
make it easier fSor companies to lay off workers.
"Let's fight together against the evil bill!" labour activists and unionised workers chanted in unison during a protest held
in Seoul Plaza in front of the city hall.
About 30,000 unionised workers at local companies took part, according to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.
Elections last month saw Park's party lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 16 years, as voters registered
their dissatisfaction with the president's economic record and soaring youth unemployment.
The crushing defeat left Park, who has less than two years left of her single, five-year term, a lame duck leader who will
increasingly struggle to push through her conservative economic agenda, including labour reforms.
Many at today's rally in front of the city hall waved banners reading "Down with easy layoff!" or "Protect our rights to
work!" and chanted slogans including "Fight against Park's administration that suppresses labour rights!"
Many also waved giant flags reading "Minimum wage of 10,000 won($ 8.73)!" South Korea's current minimum wage is
6,030 won per hour.
Another protest involving thousands of workers was held in central Seoul, demanding the scrapping of the labour reform
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bill and shorter working hours.
18. Punjab to be develop 200 smart villages
Punjab Government is committed to provide amenities in villages at par with urban areas. Disclosing this an official
spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the government has proposed to develop 200 smart villages during the
current financial year 2016-17 which will be provided with utra modern facilities like 4G connectivity, solar street
lights, sewa kendras, sewerage and drainage facilities, bank branch and model school etc. The spokesperson further said
that government has also started Rural Mission to improve rural infrastructure for socio-economic Ydevelopment of rural
population. A sum of Rs.2, 000 crore is being provided for this purpose. He said that rural Mission has aimed to fill the
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gaps in physical infrastructure in rural areas by constructing school buildings, health dispensaries, Dharmshalas and by
providing clean drinking water, sports facilities etc. and creating pollution-free environmEent in rural areas. The
spokesperson further said that Panchayats and the rural people at large should come forward to responsible support and
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help the government in the development mission by maintaining and keeping the environment clean and pollution free.
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19. Flying from Delhi to get cheaper from May 1 C
Flying out from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital will soon become cheaper, with
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regulator AERA directing the airport operator to discontinue levying development fee from May 1.

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Currently, a domestic passenger boarding a plane from IGIA has to shell out Rs 100 per flight towards Development Fee
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(DF) while the amount is Rs 600 for international flyers.
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Citing the average monthly collection of Rs 30 crore Mas DF, the regulator said the total sanctioned DF amount of Rs
3,415.35 crore is likely to be recovered by April 30, 2016.
A
"The DF of Rs 100 per embarking domesticG passenger and Rs 600 per embarking international passenger... at IGI
Airport shall be continued only till April 30, 2016," Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) said.
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Indira Gandhi International AirpoMrt (IGIA) is operated by Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL), which is a joint
venture between GMR group, Airports Authority of India and Germany's Fraport AG.
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The regulator had earlier allowed DIAL to levy DF through an order issued in December 2012.
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"Keeping in view the average monthly collection of Rs 30 crore, the balance DF is likely to be recovered by April 30,
H
2016 after taking into account the dues recoverable from airlines," AERA said in a six-page order, dated January 25.
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At the end of December 2015, the DF amount to be recovered from passengers stood at around Rs 121.48 crore. This
included Rs 30.59 crore to be paid for ATC/CNS (Air Traffic Control/Communication, Navigation and Surveillance) on
expenditure basis.
To cover the financial gap in developing the project, the allowable DF was determined at Rs 3,415.35 crore.
According to the order, the DF contribution by passengers till April 30 would be accounted by raising bills based on
passengers' contribution details in airlines manifesto.
"DIAL/AAI shall take steps to collect the amounts due and the interest on belated payments from the airlines till all the
outstanding receivables are realised," it added.
When contacted, a DIAL spokesperson said, "The decision is in line with the original AERA approved timeline. In the
said order. AERA has also given six months time, post April 2016, to reconcile and address over/under recovery of
Development Fee to settle the approved amount of DF."
Based on AAI's report, the regulator would review and decide on the treatment of over-recovery or under-recovery of
DF.
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20. RNU of AIR Ahmedabad celebrates its 57th installation day
Regional News Unit- of All India Radio Ahmedabad is celebrating its 57th anniversary along with the Gujarat
foundation day today. Though, All India Radio- Ahmedabad was established on 16th April 1949, the Regional News
Unit of AIR Ahmedabad had started functioning independently from RNU Mumbai when Gujarat state was bifurcated
from erstwhile Mumbai State on 1st May 1960. Since then, Regional News Unit of AIR Ahmedabad is serving the
Radio listeners by its popular Pradeshik Samachar bulletins and other news based programs like Samachar Darpan,
Samachar Sameeksha, Jilla Samachar Patra, FM News Headlines etc.
Y
The first Pradeshik Samachar in Gujarati language from RNU Ahmedabad was broadcast at 7.10 pm on 1st May 1960
M
by the most popular Gujarati News Reader late Shri Lamual Harry. Regional News Unit of All India Radio Ahmedabad
had also served its listeners with special bulletins, flashes and news programs during the Enatural calamities like Earth
Quack, Cyclones, droughts and other occasions like war, riots and elections. Similarly, the Regional News Unit of AIR
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Ahmedabad has also played key role in all round developments of the state since its inception by disseminating
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information of all development activities as its core news.
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21. Taxpayers account for just about 1% of India's population
A
Taxpayers account for just about one per cent of India's population, as per the latest data disclosed by the

government for assessment year 2012-13. The data has been made public as part of a transparency drive.
S
A
A total of 2 crore 87 lakhs individuals filed the Income Tax Returns for 20112-13, but one crore 62 lakhs of them did not
pay any tax. It left the number of taxpayers at just about I1 crore 25 lakhs.

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The tax outgo was less than one lakh 50 thousand for a vast majority of nearly 89 per cent taxpayers. The three
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individuals in the top-bracket of 100 to 500 crore paid a total tax of 437 crore rupees.
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As many as 5,430 individuals paid income tax of over one crore rupees. As per the overall data, total income tax
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collections rose nine-fold to 2.86 lakh crore rupees in 2015-16, from 31,764 crore rupees in 2000-01.
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22. Vijender Singh records 5th consecutive victory in Professional Boxing
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Star Indian pugilist Vijender Singh recorded his 5th consecutive victory in Professional Boxing last night. He
defeated Frenchman MaAtiouze Royer at London's Copper Box Arena via knock-out.
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Royer was Vijender's most experienced rival till date, with 44 bouts, including 14 wins, under his belt before the match.
However, IndiaS's Olympics bronze medalist's power-packed punches went unchallenged and he brought Royer to his
knees with an onslaught of body blows.
Vijender, whose last four wins were all knock-outs or technical knock-outs, was declared the winner in the fifth round of
the six-round super middleweight contest.
23. Indian team win one silver, two bronze in Archery World Cup
Indian women's team secured silver after losing to Chinese Taipei in the final, while men's trio and mixed pair won
their respective bronze playoffs in the first stage of Archery World Cup at the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai.
Women's team comprising Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi Laishram and Laxmirani Majhi put up an inconsistent
show and lost to the lower-ranked Chinese Taipei 2-6 in the recurve team final.
Later, the third seeded Indian men's recurve team of Atanu Das, Jayanta Talukdar and Mangal Singh Champia thrashed
the ninth seed British team 6-0 to bag the bronze medal.
The mixed pair of Deepika and Atanu ended India's campaign on a high, getting the better of much fancied Koreans 5-4
in a nerve wracking shoot-off to end with another bronze.
24. ADMM Plus Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism at Brunei and Singapore
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