1 October
Union Government notifies constitution of Monetary Policy Committee
The Union Government on 29 September 2016 notified the constitution of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) has been amended by the Finance Act, 2016, to provide for a statutory and institutionalised framework for a Monetary Policy Committee, for maintaining price stability.
As per the provisions of the RBI Act, out of the six Members of Monetary Policy Committee, three Members will be from the RBI. The other three Members of MPC will be appointed by the Central Government.
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 45ZB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Union Government has accordingly constituted the Monetary Policy Committee of RBI, with the following composition:
• The Governor of the Bank: Chairperson, ex officio
• Deputy Governor of the Bank, in charge of Monetary Policy: Member, ex officio
• One officer of the Bank to be nominated by the Central Board: Member, ex officio
• Chetan Ghate, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI): Member
• Pami Dua, Director, Delhi School of Economics (DSE): Member
• Ravindra H. Dholakia, Professor, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad: Member
The Members of the Monetary Policy Committee appointed by the Union Government will hold office for a period of four years, with immediate effect or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About Monetary Policy Committee
• The Monetary Policy Committee will be entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) required to contain inflation within the specified target level.
• A Committee-based approach for determining the Monetary Policy will add lot of value and transparency to monetary policy decisions.
• The meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee will be held at least 4 times a year and it will publish its decisions after each such meeting.
Tirupati Airport awarded Best Tourist Friendly Airport
Airports Authority of India’s Tirupati Airport on 27 September 2016 was awarded the Best Tourist Friendly Airport under the category for State Annual Excellence Awards for the year 2015-16 by Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
The award was presented on the eve of World Tourism Day by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandra Babu Naidu at Bhawani Islands, Vijayawada.
About State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards
• The State Annual Tourism Excellence Awards under various segments of Travel and Tourism Industry are awarded by Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
• They are awarded for maintaining excellent Customer friendly relations with tourists and passengers, coinciding with World Tourism Day Celebrations.
About Tirupati Airport
• Tirupati Airport was established in the year 1976.
• It is a public airport located at Renigunta, a suburb of Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The airport is located 14 km away from Tirupati and 39 km from Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala.
West Bengal government decides to install Monorail
West Bengal government has decided to install monorail from Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas to Ruby Connector in Kolkata. This was informed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 29 September 2016.
The 14-kilometre-long monorail route will connect Budge Budge to Ruby via Taratala, New Alipore and Prince Anwar Shah Road and will come up at a cost of 4216 crore rupees. This new service will also connect commuters to the proposed metro rail network between New Garia to Kolkata airport.
For execution of the monorail project, the state transport department will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Burn Standard Company Limited. Burn Standard Company Limited will be funding the project and the state government will provide land for the purpose.
The Chief Minister said that there would not be any problem over land acquisition as minimum land would be required to construct pillars and elevated tracks would be laid connecting them.
Other happenings in the state
CNG run vehicles in Asansol-Durgapur area
The West Bengal environment department has taken up an initiative to run CNG run vehicles in Asansol-Durgapur area. It was decided to introduce the environment friendly transport in the industrial and trading hubs. The change from the present system of running the public transport system will be implemented in phases. In the first phase 500 state run buses will be asked to convert into CNG.
Apart from this fleet of South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) run buses, the state will ask at least 2000 auto rickshaw operators in the Durgapur-Asansol area to opt for CNG. The state environment department will give 5 crore rupees to the state transport department for the conversion.
Hooghly declared as an open-defecation free
The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared Hooghly as an open-defecation free (ODF) district at the administrative meeting in Chinsurah. North 24 parganas was also declared as an ODF district. Nadia was declared as the country’s first ODF district, on 30th April 2015.
The State Panchayat and Rural Development Department has taken steps to make all the districts in West Bengal open-defecation free by March 2019. 30 April is celebrated as “Nirmal Bangla Dibas” in the State every year.
Union Government launched Progress Panchayat to reach out to minority community
Progress Panchayat: A programme to reach out the minority community and publicize the various welfare measures
The Union Government on 29 September 2016 launched Progress Panchayat. This Panchayat is aimed at reach out the minority community and publicize the various welfare measures taken by the NDA government for their betterment.
The programme was kick started by Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (independent charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi from Mewat region of Haryana. The programme will be organized in 100 places across the country in the coming days where Union Ministers will interact with people about the several schemes.
During the programme, the government will also seek feedback and suggestions from the people for better implementation of the welfare schemes.
Railways Ministry launches various Railways Services
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on 29 September 2016 launched various Railways Services and dedicated them to the nation. These Railways services are:
• Liberalised station to station special freight rates policy.
• Policy providing sub quota of 33% to women within reserved categories for the allotment in catering units.
• Policy giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations.
• New system of allocating vacant berths after final charting to wayside stations.
• Launch of the new tag Train at a Glance 2016 and new Time Table effective from 1 October 2016.
Liberalised station to station special freight rates policy
• Existing as well as new traffic shall be eligible.
• Concession shall be granted up to a maximum of 30 percent on the incremental traffic over and above the benchmark NTKM.
• Concession shall be in the form of percentage discount over the Normal Tariff Rate (NTR). It should be ensured that the concessional freight should not be less than the NTR of Class 100.
• Concession shall be admissible to Block rake, two/multi point rake, Mini Rake etc.
• Concession may be granted for retention of traffic also up to maximum of 15 percent.
• STS scheme will be applicable for all terminals namely goods sheds, sidings, ports, CRTs, PFTOs etc.
• Commodities excluded from STS are - All commodities with classification below Class-100, All commodities under Main Commodity Head Coal & Coke, Iron ore, Military traffic, POL and RMC.
Policy providing sub quota of 33% to women for the allotment in catering units
• A Sub Quota of 33 percent for women in allotment of the reserved catering units was introduced in order to extend economic empowerment for women.
• This will ensure allotment of minimum 8 percent stalls to women at A1, A, B & C category station and minimum 17 percent allotment at D, E and F category station.
• There are approximately 8000 Minor Catering Units over Indian Railways.
• Under this provision, Railways shall ensure that women participation does not fall below a specific level.
Policy giving preference to local domicile holders for commercial licenses at stations
• In compliance of Budget Announcement 2016-17, a process of giving weightage to district Domicile Holders for commercial licenses at stations is being proliferated at all stations over Indian Railways.
• It would help to build local ownership and rural empowerment along with socio-economic development.
• The weightage to district domicile holders is being proliferated for allotment of Catering Units at all categories of stations.
• It will ensure protection of livelihood of the small vendors.
• The allotment of Minor Units over Indian Railways will ensure local ownership and will also promote
regional / local cuisine, which is always a preferred choice.
Transfer of vacant berths for optimal utilisation of berths
• This facility of transfer of berths remaining vacant after second charting at the train originating station to the next and subsequent stations will clear the way for the waitlisted passengers at such stations.
• The PRS system will automatically allot vacant berths available at the originating stations after preparation of second chart to the subsequent stations where waitlisted passengers are available.
• The passenger will get SMS on his registered mobile indicating the coach and berth number allotted.
• This will help passengers boarding at road side stations to get confirmed berths.
• The TTEs will be able to allot vacant berths on board after departure of the train only upto the next station where quota is available for the train.
• At present about 3 lakh berths per year go unutilised while there may be demand at intermediate stations.
Patna High Court quashes Bihar Prohibition of Liquor Act
Patna High Court on 30 September 2016 quashed Bihar government notification completely banning liquor in the state. The court said that the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution.
A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh quashed the 5 April 2016 notification of the state government to stop consumption and sale of alcohol in the state.
The court in its verdict said that the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution, hence not enforceable. The same bench had on 20 May 2016 reserved its order on a batch of writ petitions filed by Liquor Trade Association and many individuals challenging the liquor law which has stringent penal provisions.
Ultra vires means beyond one's legal power or authority. If an act requires legal authority and it is done with such authority, it is characterised in law as intra vires.
The Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government had first banned the manufacture, trade, sale, consumption of country-made liquor since 1 April 2016, but later imposed a blanket ban on all types of liquor including foreign liquor in the state.
In August 2016, the liquor law was made more stringent after the Assembly passed the Bihar Excise and Prohibition Bill with voice vote. Under this law, all adult members of the family could be arrested if liquor was found stored in any household. It also called for collective fines on villages and localities which are found repeatedly breaking prohibition law.
International Translation Day observed across the world
30 September: International Translation Day
The International Translation Day was on 30 September 2016 observed across the world with the theme Translation and Interpreting: Connecting Worlds.
This is the annual event for the translation community and event is marked with a series of dedicated events, seminars and symposiums across the world.
Background
• The Day was established in 1953 by the International Federation of Translators (FIT).
• It is celebrated every year on 30 September on the feast of St Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators.
• In 1991, FIT launched the idea of an officially recognised International Translation Day to show solidarity of the worldwide translation community in an effort to promote the translation profession.
Services clinched overall title at 56th National Athletics
Services emerged as the overall champions at the 56th Atheletics Open Nationals that ended on 30 September 2016 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The highlight of the final day's action was a surprise win in triple jump by the Airforce Sergent Malkit Singh that sealed the gold.
Malkit, who earlier in September 2016 set a new meet mark of 16.47meter during the Inter-Services championships, added 10cm to his personal best on the second round that sealed the gold.
Rakesh Babu, the teammate of Malkit stood second with 16.09 meter mark, while three-time Olympian Renjith Maheswary (Railways) stood third with 16.02meter mark.
On the same day, distance runners Suriya Loganathan and G Lakshmanan claimed their second gold medals through 10000 metres victory.
Ace Karnataka sprinter HM Jyothi added the 200 metres gold to her earlier win in 100 metres. Teammate Reena George claimed a silver in this event also. Middle distance star Ajay Kumar Saroj was the other athlete to win a double through 800 metres, upsetting top class runners today. His first win came in 1500 metres.
Arunachal Pradesh CM flags off all-women Mt Gorichen Expedition
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 29 September 2016 flagged off the all-women Mount Gorichen Expedition from his office premises in Itanagar.
This will be the first all women team attempting to summit Mount Gorichen the second highest peak of Arunachal Pradesh. Its altitude is 6488 meter (21286ft) high above sea level. It belongs to the Himalaya Mountain Group and is a sub-range to Assam Himalaya. It is also the Headwaters of the Kameng River in Tawang.
Anshu Jansempa, who has climbed Mt Everest twice, is leading the team of 10 members from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh with four support staff.
In 1939, an Englishman Bill Tilman was the first man to attempt climbing in the remote and unexplored Southern approaches of Gorichen, before his team succumbed to malaria. In 1993, the mountain received its first ascent by a team led by Dutchman Ronald Naar.
2 October
Renowned Bangla writer Syed Shamsul Haq passes away
Syed Shamsul Haq, one of Bangladesh’s best known writers, passed away on 27 September 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh following a brief illness. He was 81.
He was known for his mastery over novels, poetry, essays and plays. He was also vocal against religious fundamentalism.
About Syed Shamsul Haq
• He was Born on 27 December 1935 in Kurigram in then Bengal Presidency of British India.
• His notable works include Boishakhey Rochito Ponktimala, Ekoda Ek Rajjey, Birotihin Utsab, Protidhwonigon and Opor Purush.
• He also wrote innumerable patriotic songs of immense beauty which inspired the 1971 Liberation War fighters.
• He was also awarded with various awards including- Bangla Academy Literary Award (1966), Ekushey Padak (1984) and Swadhinata Padak (2000), the highest civilian award of Bangladesh.
International Day of Older Persons 2016 observed across the world
1 October: International Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) was on 1 October 2016 observed across the world with the theme Take A Stand Against Ageism.
The theme for the 2016 IDOP draws attention to and challenges negative stereotypes and misconceptions about older persons and ageing.
Ageism is a widely prevalent and prejudicial attitude that stems from the assumption that age discrimination, and sometimes neglect and abuse of older persons is a social norm and therefore, acceptable.
How the day was observed in India?
• The International Day of Older Persons was celebrated in New Delhi by honouring noteworthy senior citizens and organisations doing outstanding work for the welfare of older people.
• The President of India Pranab Mukharjee presented the National Awards for Senior CitizensVayoshreshtha Samman-2016 to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of elderly persons especially indigent senior citizens at a function organised by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Background
• On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly declared 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons, following up on initiatives such as Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by UNGA.
• The International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time throughout the world on 1 October 1991.
Ambati Venu appointed as Managing Director of Abbott India Ltd
Ambati Venu was on 29 September 2016 appointed as Managing Director of Abbott India Ltd. The appointment came almost five months after its previous MD Rehan Khan resigned from the company in April 2016.
Venu was appointed for a five-year term and will report to Bhasker Iyer, Vice President with Abbott’s Established Pharmaceuticals Division.
About Ambati Venu
• Venu was with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare where he served for over two decades.
• Most recently, Ambati Venu was the Regional Vice President and General Manager- Asia, GSK Consumer, where he led 11 Asian countries.
• Venu’s background in FMCG and OTC medicine, ability to embrace diverse cultures, engender trust and deliver productivity-led growth will be key assets at Abbott.
Nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary
India on 2 October 2016 paid homage to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary. Born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi preached the principles of tolerance and non-violence.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries visited Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi to offer tributes.
On this occasion, an all religion prayer meeting was organised at Rajghat and several other events including Swachh and Samarth Bharat were organised across the country.
About Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• He taught the value of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and his ideals of non-violence, freedom, equality and religious tolerance have eternal value.
• He was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India.
• Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
• He is also called Bapu in India.
Besides, the nation also remembered the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. Born on 2 October 1904, he joined the Indian independence movement in the 1920s and held several important portfolios in the Jawaharlal Nehru's government including Railways and as Home Minister.
Lal Bahadur Shastri led the country during the Indo-Pak War of 1965 and gave the slogan of "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" which became very popular and is remembered even today.
A special programme was held at the Shastri Memorial at Shastri Street in Tashkent where floral tributes was paid at his statue.
International Day of Non-Violence observed across the world
2 October: International Day of Non-Violence
The International Day of Non-Violence was observed across the world on 2 October 2016, the date that marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. This day is referred in India as Gandhi Jayanti.
Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
Background
• The UN General Assembly through its resolution dated 15 June 2007 established the International Day of Non-Violence to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.
• The resolution reaffirms the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.
• The creation of the day has much significance for India, as it was at the frontrunner in the adoption of the resolution that was co-sponsored by 140 member-countries in the United Nations.
• The first International Day of Non-Violence was observed on 2 October 2007.
BRICS Nations adopt New Delhi Declaration of Education
The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa) on 30 September 2016 adopted the New Delhi Declaration of Education.
The nations pledged to develop an enabling framework to promote research cooperation and knowledge transfer among these countries in collaboration with other BRICS initiatives.
Highlights of the Declaration
• All five countries also decided to organise an annual conference of the BRICS Network University in the country of the current BRICS Chair.
• BRICS will also encourage more universities to participate in the BRICS University League to facilitate student mobility and collaborative research.
• The nations also agreed to facilitate mobility of students and scholars, and encourage exchange of teaching faculty..
• The other areas of cooperation include using information and communication technologies (ICTs) for improving access to education, teacher development, and strengthening educational planning.
• The countries will also identify a nodal institution within each country and create an institutional network to share ICT policies, Open Educational Resources and other e-resources.