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Current Affairs Feb 8th 2016
Sanskrit University to be setup in Jharkhand
India gets first fully solar powered Institute
Metro to be expanded to Greater Faridabad
IRCTC launches ‘Bharat Darshan’ Train Packages
Maharashtra plans to bring Anti-Spitting Bill
According to recent Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) data, Delhi stood sixth in terms of air pollution in January, with Muzaffarpur(Bihar) and Varanasi topping the list.
North Korea launches long Range rocket
France bans supermarkets from Wasting Food
CBDT concerned over low direct tax Collections
Jet Airways report its highest quarterly Profit
India tightens restrictions on Steel imports
Onion Exports hit 1.5 Lakh tonne per month
Entertainment on demand launched at Hyderabad Airport
ISRO Satellite built at 60% of actual Cost
Pawan Negi most expensive Indian in IPL Auction
Political Cartoonist Sudhir Tailang passes away
In a first, NDRF trains 160 dogs for disaster response
Geographical Indication tag for Basmati rice of 7 states approved
Project Sunrise launched for prevention of AIDS in NE states
International Fleet Review 2016 kick starts in Vizag
Zimbabwe’s President declared a state of disaster in rural parts of the country
1. Union Government to set up National Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim
Core Information
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has decided to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) in Sikkim.
Decision in this regard was taken by Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh after he met Sikkim Agriculture Minister Som Nath Paudyal in New Delhi.
The NOFRI will be established by upgrading the existing Gangtok based Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Apart from this, Union Government also has assured State Government to help in sustaining the organic farming and also in marketing of the State’s organic products.
In January 2016, Sikkim was officially declared as first fully organic state in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The state has achieved this feat by converting around 75000 hectares of land into certified organic farms by following the guidelines prescribed by National Programme for Organic Production.
Source : PIB
2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates Paradip Oil Refinery to nation
Core Information
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC’s) new state of the art refinery at Paradip in Odisha to the nation.
It is overall IOC’s 11th refinery to be set up and has installed capacity of 15 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).
Built at a cost of 34,555 crore rupees and has been designed to process broad basket of crude including dirty and cheaper high sulphur heavy crudes from Latin America.
Capable to produce Bharat Stage IV (BS IV)/BS V quality transportation fuel to comply with Auto Fuel Policy.
It has more than 20 process units that can processes the basic feedstock, crude oil to obtain various products including polymers like polypropylene, paraxylene and styrene. It is one of the most modern refineries in the world and is equipped with the latest technology.
It has complexity factor of 12.2. Products: Major products are premium grade high speed diesel (HSD) and motor spirit (MS).
The other products includes propylene (petrochemical grade), naphtha, LPG, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and kerosene. Major by-products: Petroleum coke (petcoke) and sulphur.
Source : PIB
3. NITI Aayog wants formula to transfer funds to states
Core Information
NITI Aayog has called for the creation of an objective and transparent formula to distribute central funds to states under the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS)
This is in line with the recommendation of the sub-group on rationalisation of CSS
State govts should have a broad appreciation of the quantum of Central funds that is committed to them scheme-wise
This helps them to plan better and also ensure speedier execution of CSS
Task of creating the formula has been entrusted to a 3-member committee with the secretary of the nodal ministry implementing the CSS as the chairman
NITI Aayog will give its inputs and recommendations based on consultation with all state governments
Source : The Hindu
4. Heritage development projects for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana approved
Core Information
The approval in this regard was given by an inter-Ministerial HRIDAY National Empowered Committee
For improving tourist infrastructure in heritage places of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and Warangal in Telangana
The funds sanctioned will be used for developmental works at 1000 Pillar Temple and Kazipet Durgah and rejuvenation of pond at Padmakshi Temple in Warangal city
Amaravati and Warangal are among the 12 cities included in the Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for improving the social, cultural and economic ecosystems
By augmenting necessary infrastructure with the objective of conserving the rich cultural heritage and enabling better facilities for tourists and pilgrims
Source :The Hindu
5. Project Sunrise launched for prevention of AIDS in NE states
Core Information
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda has launched Project Sunrise on for prevention of AIDS specially among people injecting drugs in the 8 North-Eastern states.
The AIDS prevention special project aims to diagnose 90 per cent of such drug addicts with HIV and put them under treatment by 2020.
Project Sunrise aims at bringing the people living with HIV/AIDS into the national mainstream and create more awareness about the disease in these N-E states..
It will be implemented in the North East in addition to the existing projects of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
The project has been sponsored by US based Centre for Disease Control and would be implemented by Family Health International 360.
It will cover one lakh people living with HIV/AIDS by giving them treatment and care facilities free of cost.
Other initiatives to be covered it include enhancing capacity of state-level institutions in high burden areas, community mobilization, intervention among females injecting drugs.
Source :The Hindu
6. Indian basmati rice all set to get GI tag
Core Information
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has ordered issue GI tag for basmati rice grown in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) on the foothills of the Himalayas
This means north Indian Basmati rice-producing states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh and J&K will get the GI tag
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had applied for registration of GI basmati rice
The order comes 7 years after APEDA initiated steps to protect and get GI recognition for Basmati cultivated in the IGP
This will preserve the unique identity of the aromatic rice in the international markets
Source :The Hindu
7. Fertiliser Industry is best candidate for direct benefit transfer
Core Information
If the farmers are given subsidy directly, this will not only stop leakage but will also avoid unnecessary paper work and red-tapism
There is a need to increase the urea price by at least 15 per cent. The current selling price of urea which is highly subsidised is almost one-fourth the world price
If we increase urea price then it can lead to more balanced fertilization and lower subsidy outgo
It is desirable to have freight merged into subsidy so that there is only one stage of disbursement
To grant support for organic compost is a welcome move, as this ensures replacement of carbon into the soil thereby making it more conducive for farming
Single Super Phosphate (SSP) is the appropriate fertiliser for the small and marginal farmers.
Countries like Brazil have used this cheaper alternative with some support rather than depend on imported di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)
Source :The Hindu