Table of Contents
Central Government Schemes
1.) SATAT initiative to promote Compressed Biogas Productions
The Government of India launched SATAT initiative to promote compressed Biogas as an alternative fuel with an aim to provide Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that could benefit both vehicle users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs. Use of compressed biogas will also help bring down dependency on crude oil imports.
In detail : Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of petroleum and natural gas on 1st October 2018 launched Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative aimed at promoting compressed biogas production and also providing sustainable alternative Towards affordable transportation. The initiative was launched with PSU Oil Marketing Companies (like IOC, BPCL and HPCL).
The SATAT initiative has potential to boost availability of more affordable transport fuels, better use of agriculture residue, cattle dung and Municipal solid waste as well as to provide additional revenue sources to farmers. It will also benefit vehicle users, farmers and entrepreneurs.
It will boost the availability of more affordable transport fuels and will also enable better use of Agricultural residue. It will pave way for effecient Municipal solid waste management and help in tackling problems of polluted urban air due to farm stubble burning and carbon emissions. It will also boost entrepreneurship, rural economy, employment and provide additional sources of revenue to farmers. It will also help to integrate compressed biogas network with City gas distribution (CGD) networks to boost supplies of domestic and retail users in existing and upcoming market.
2.) Udhayam Abhilasha Campaign by SIDBI
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched a national level entrepreneurship awareness campaign, Udhayam Abhilasha on 2nd October 2018 in 115 aspirational districts identified by Niti Ayog in 28 states, to provide entrepreneurship training to the Aspiring entrepreneurs.
In detail : The campaign was held from 3rd October 2018 to 8th October 2018 across India with around 15,000 youth. It will create and straighten cadre of more than 800 trainers to provide entrepreneurship training to Aspiring youths across all the districts of the country to enter in the admired segment of entrepreneurship.
For implementing this campaign SIDBI has partnered with CSC e-governance services India Limited, a special purpose vehicle under Ministry of Electronics and IT through their CSCs. it will also tie up with banks, nbfcs, small financial groups, district industrial centre, state government etc. The main objective behind Udham Abhilasha campaign are as follows.
• Inspire rural youth in aspirational districts to be entrepreneurs by assisting them to setup their own Enterprise.
• Imparting trainings through the digital medium across the country.
• Create business opportunities for CSC village level entrepreneurs.
• Focus on women aspirants aspirational districts to empower women entrepreneurship.
• Assisting the participants to become bankable and avail credit facility from banks to set up their own Enterprise.
In detail : The People’s Plan Campaign rolled out as ‘Sabki Yojna Sabka Vikas’ from 2nd October to 31stDecember 2018. During the campaign, structured Gram Sabha meetings was held for preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plan for the next financial year 2019-2020. The campaign is being undertaken on a very large scale, considering the number of Gram Panchayats in the country. Special efforts have been made to ensure that maximum number of participation from vulnerable sections of society like SC/ST/Women etc. The Gram Panchayat Development Plan aims to strengthen the role of 31 lakh elected Panchayat leaders and the 2.5 crore SHG Women under DAY-NRLM in effective gram sabha. There will also be a Public Information Campaign of all programmes in Gram Panchayat office and on Gram Samvad App.
4.) Biometric based digital processing of passengers at airport : Digi Yatra
Suresh Prabhu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation has released policies on biometric based digital processing of passengers at airport also known as Digi Yatra. The initiative seeks to promote paperless and hassle free air travels. it will be operational by the end of February month of 2019 at Bengaluru airport and Hyderabad airport. Airport Authority of India will also roll out this initiative at Kolkata, Varanasi, Pune and Vijayawada airports by April 2019.
Under Digi Yatra initiative there will be one time verification at the departure airport while travelling for the first time using ID. After the successful verification and facial recognisation, the biometric will be captured and stored in Digi Yatra ID. With this initiative ticket booking, airport entry and boarding pass security check in will be made digital.
State Government Schemes
1.) State Food Security Scheme in Odisha
The Odisha Government has launched its own Food Security Scheme on 2nd October 2018 for benefiting 25 lakh people with 5 kg of rice per person every month at the rate of Rs 1 per kg.
In detail : The Naveen Patnaik government launched its own Food Security Scheme on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2018 to benefit 25 lakh vulnerable people who are left out in the coverage of National Food Security Act, 2013.
The beneficiaries will get 5 kg of rice per person every month at the rate of 1 rupee per kg, said the Chief Minister while launching the scheme at four different districts – Bolangir, Balasore, Sundergarh and Mayurbhanj through video conferencing from the state secretariat.
The state government will spend around Rs 443.5 crore per annum to support the scheme and Rs 221.75 crore in the current fiscal year.
About National Food Security Act, 2013 : The act aims to provide subsidised food grains to approximately two third of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas). It converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programme of union government such as Mid day meal scheme, Integrated Child Development Services Scheme and Public Distribution system. Under it, wheat, rice and coarse Grains will be distributed at subsidised price of Rs. 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1.
Static Takeways
Odisha Capital : Bhubaneswar
Odisha Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik
Odisha Governor : Ganeshi Lal
2.) Pension Scheme in Assam
Assam government launched a pension scheme named as “Swahid Kushal Konwar Sarbajanin Briddha Pension Achoni” for all senior citizens above 60 years of age and they will get the benefit of the scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their respective bank accounts.
In detail : The Government of Assam on 2nd October 2018 launched an ambitious pension scheme covering all the senior citizens of the state that will entail an annual expenditure of Rs 400 crore.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched this pension scheme named as “Swahid Kushal Konwar Sarbajanin Briddha Pension Achoni” coinciding with the 149th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This scheme is one of its kind in the country as the state government designed it from its own resources with an annual financial involvement of Rs 400 crore. The scheme will be for all the senior citizens irrespective of their financial and societal affiliations. All senior citizens above 60 years of age are entitled to get benefit of the scheme from Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their bank accounts.
Around 15000 to 20000 people in every constituency will get benefit from this scheme has the payment will be made on the first day of every month to the respective bank accounts from state treasury.
Static Takeways
Assam Capital : Dispur
Assam Chief Minister : Sarbananda Sonowal
Assam Governor : Jagdish Mukhi
3.) India’s first Flood Forecast System in Kolkata
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) with the support of Asian Development Bank has launched the country’s first flood forecasting and early warning system. It will be providing the real time data on inundation, rainfall intensity, temperature, air quality and other climate related data. This is expected to help policy makers in making informed prerequisite decisions during disasters.
Static Takeways
Asian Development Bank Headquarters – Manila, Philippines.
West Bengal Capital – Kolkata
West Bengal Chief Minister – Mamta Banerjee
West Bengal Governor – Kesari Nath Tripathi.
4.) Wage Compensation Scheme for Pregnant Women in Assam
Assam government launched a wage compensation scheme for pregnant women in tea gardens of the state to provide better health and nutrition supplements to them. An amount of Rs. 12000 will be given to pregnant women for taking care of themselves and Unborn child.
In detail : A wage composition scheme was launched by Assam government on 1st October 2018 with the goal of providing better health and nutrition supplements to the women working in the tea Gardens of state. Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal along with the finance minister of the state launched the scheme in Guwahati.
Over 60000 women are likely to be benefited by the scheme. The compensation of wages to pregnant women will be given in four installments. An amount of Rs. 12000 will be given to the pregnant women so that they can take care of themselves and the Unborn baby without compromising the livelihood of their family. The wage compensation scheme will help in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the areas of Assam.
5.) Methanol Cooking Fuel Program
North East and Assam petrochemical Ltd. launched the Asia’s first canister based and India’s first Methanol Cooking Fuel Program. The first pilot project will be 500 households inside the Assam Petro Complex. Ritu Bardoloi became India’s first owner of a cooking stove fuelled by methanol.
In detail : On 5th October 2018, a state owned company North East and Assam Petrochemicals Ltd launched Asia’s first canister based and India’s first methanol cooking fuel program. The program was inaugurated by Dr KV Saraswat, member of Niti Ayog and chairman of methanol Apex committee at Assam petrochemical campus in Namrup, Assam.
500 households inside the Assam Petro complex will be the first pilot project, scaling it to the 40000 households in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Goa and Karnataka. The safe handling canister based cooking stoves are from Swadesh Technology. This technology is extremely safe to handle methanol and does not require any regulator or any piping system.
6.) BSE launches Commodity Derivative Contracts
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) became the first stock exchange in India to launch the commodity derivative contracts in gold and silver. BSE also waived off transaction charges for the first year in commodities derivative segments.
In detail : Till date, commodity contracts are only available on MCX and NCDEX, the two specialised commodity derivative exchanges in the country.
Bombay Stock Exchange MD and CEO, Ashish Kumar Chauhan told that they have launched gold and silver derivative contracts and have applied for launching of crude oil and copper contracts with SEBI. BSE has now already registered 150 trading members and 27 clearing members for its commodity derivatives segment. BSE also waived off transaction charges for the first year in commodities derivative segments. The commodity trading will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday.
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