7-8 AUGUST 2016
2nd National Handloom Day observed across the country
7 August: National Handloom Day
2nd National Handloom Day was observed across the country on 7 August 2016 with the main function being held at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, Sant Kabir Awards and National Handloom Awards were presented.
The Day was also celebrated at state level in all the states and Day was also celebrated in more than 200 handloom clusters.
The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015 at the Centenary Hall of Madras University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he also unveiled 'India Handloom' brand.
Background
The Union Government declared 7 August as the National Handloom Day on 29 July 2015 with the objective to generate awareness about the importance of handloom industry.
The Day also seeks to highlight the contribution of handloom to the socioeconomic development of the country in general and to promote handlooms, increase income of weavers and enhance their pride in particular.
The date August 7 was chosen as on this day in 1905 the Swadeshi Movement was formally launched, at a massive meeting in the Calcutta Town hall. The movement involved revival of domestic products and production processes.
China launches Tiantong-01; its first satellite for mobile telecommunication
China on 6 August 2016 successfully launched its first satellite for mobile telecommunication, Tiantong-01.
Tiantong-01 satellite was launched from southwestern China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, with the Long March-3B carrier rocket. More geostationary satellites will be sent into orbit for the system.
It is the first satellite of China's homemade satellite mobile telecom system, and a key part of the country's space information infrastructure.
Tiantong-01 satellite
• It was designed by China Academy of Space Technology
• Its ground service will be operated by China Telecom
• It will operate in a geosynchronous orbit (GEO)
• It will establish a mobile network with ground facilities, providing services for China, the Middle East, Africa and other areas.
It was the 232nd flight of the Long March series carrier rockets, and the 36th launch of the Long March-3B. The three-stage Long March 3B rocket is currently the most powerful Chinese booster in service.
The 180-foot (55-meter) tall March-3B is capable of launching up to 12 metric tons of payload to low-Earth orbit (LEO) or 5 metric tons of cargo to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
Telangana launches Water Resources Information System
Telangana State Government on 6 August 2016 launched a unique Water Resources Information System to assess accurate reserves of water in thousands of Tanks and reservoirs across the state.
For this purpose, the Telangana Irrigation Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization over sharing satellite data.
The new system will be set up by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre.
The unique system will help the government authorities to plan for new irrigation projects as well as maintaining transparency in governance. The Water Resources Information will also pave way for other states to explore possibilities to utilize technology.
8 August
Vijay Rupani takes oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat
Vijay Rupani, the newly elected leader of Gujarat BJP, was sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7 August 2016. Rupani, who succeeds Anandiben Patel, was the senior most cabinet minister in Anandiben Government.
Apart from Rupani, Nitin Patel was also sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
Gujarat governor OP Kohli has administered the oath of post and secrecy to the Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel at the Mahatma Mandir conference hall in Gandhinagar.
Besides, new Council of Ministers of Vijay Rupani Government has also taken oath simultaneously. In total 25 ministers took oath, out of which 9 Ministers took oath as the cabinet Ministers, while 16 ministers took oath as Minister of state (MoS).
Now the strength of new council of Ministers has reached to 25 in comparison to 24 ministers in previous government. Apart from caste and regional balance, the performance of individual ministers also considered in the formation of new council of ministers.
Former Finance Minister Saurabh Patel & social Justice Minister Ramanlal Vora in previous Anandiben Patel Government have been dropped from the new council of ministers. Eight other ministers from the Anandiben administration have been dropped in the new cabinet.
Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader from south Gujarat, has been made a cabinet minister.
Gymnast Dipa Karmakar becomes first Indian to qualify for Vault Finals
Dipa Karmakar, the Indian Gymnast, on 7 August 2016 created history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to enter the Olympic final at the Rio Olympic Centre.
The 22-year-old qualified for the final round in the Individual vault final of artistic gymnastics after finishing eighth on the standings.
Competing in the third sub-division, Dipa had an average score of 51.665. She scored 14.850 by performing her much-vaunted ‘Produnova’ vault cleanly on the vault, 11.666 on the uneven bars, 12.866 in balance beam and 12.033 in floor exercises.
American Simone Biles, the three-time world all-round champion topped the charts with a score of 16.050. North Korea's Jong Un Hong stood at the second position after securing 15.683 followed by Switzerland's Giulia Steingruber (15.266).
PM Narendra Modi launches Mission Bhagiratha in Telangana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 August 2016 launched Mission Bhagiratha at Komatibanda Village, Gajwel in Medak District of Telangana. The scheme was launched by the State Government with an objective to provide safe drinking water to all.
The Prime Minister also unveiled plaques to lay Foundation Stones for important development projects. These included:
• 1600 MW Thermal Power station of NTPC at Ramagundam
• Revival of a Fertilizer Plant at Ramagundam; Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal and Manoharabad-Kothapalli Railway line.
• He also dedicated to the nation the 1200 MW Thermal Power Station of Singareni Collieries at Jaipur in Adilabad district.
Highlights of the Mission Bhagiratha
• Mission Bhagiratha is Telangana Water Grid Project intended to provide a sustainable and permanent solution to the drinking water woes.
• It is a pet project taken up at an outlay of 42000 crore rupees.
• Apart from creating a water grid for supply drinking water to houses, it aims to rejuvenate more than 45000 water tanks.
• The water grid project aims at reaching out drinking water supply to even remotest place in the State to every household across the State in the coming four years.
• The objective of project is to provide 100 liters of clean drinking water per person in rural households and 150 liters per person in urban households.
• This project aims to provide water to about 25000 rural habitations and 67 urban habitations.
Concept of Mission Bhagiratha
• The Telangana Water Grid would depend on water resources available in Krishna & Godavari – two perennial rivers flowing through the state.
• A total of 34 TMC of water from Godavari river and 21.5 TMC from Krishna river would be utilized for the water grid.
• Plans are ready to use water from Srisailam, Sriram Sagar Project, Komuram Bheem Project, Paleru Reservoir, Jurala Dam, Nizam Sagar Project.
• This scientifically designed project intends to use the natural gradient wherever possible and pump water where necessary and supply water through pipelines.
• The main trunk pipelines of this project would run about 5000 KM, and the secondary pipelines running a length of about 50000 KM would be used to fill service tanks in habitations.
• From here the village-level pipeline network of about 75000 KM would be used to provide clean drinking water to households.
Union Government launches Swachh Survekshan-2017 to assess 500 cities
Union Minister of Urban Development M.Venkaiah Naidu on 6 August 2016 launched Swachh Suvekshan-2017 project to assess and rank 500 cities based on levels of sanitation and efforts made by respective urban local bodies.
It also aims to capture progress towards achieving Open Defecation Free status.
Highlights of the Swachh Survekshan-2017
• Cities will be ranked based on the reports by urban local bodies on the progress made towards construction of toilets, feedback of citizens and independent observation of sanitation levels.
• Cities with a population of one lakh and above each, heritage and tourism cities, capital cities with less than one lakh population are included in this survey.
• Quality Council of India which conducted the last Survey in 73 cities will conduct the survey in 500 cities and towns.
Swachhata App and Swachhata Helpline
• Naidu also launched a web portal Swachhata App and Swachhta Helpline 1969 to enable citizens associate more and more with Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas.
• Citizens can post photos of unhygienic places in urban areas on Swachh App and they will be informed of action taken by respective urban local bodies in specific time period.
• Using toll free Helpline Number 1969, citizens can seek information about the ways of participating in cleanliness mission and can also enquire the status of their applications for construction of toilets.
Asli Tarakki campaign
• Asli Tarakki campaign was also launched to highlight the need for construction of toilets and using them well.
• This campaign will be mounted on TV channels and in print media.