News Digest for UPSC Aspirants -10-06-2016-
Railways to install 35,000 CCTVs in 1,000 stations for women passengers’ safety
Indian Railway plans to install 35,000 CCTV cameras that scan every corner of 1,000 railway stations across the country is the NDA government’s latest bid to ensure that woman passengers feel safe in railways premises. Once set up, this would be the biggest monitoring system ever installed by Indian Railways.
Railways has decided to draw up this plan that would utilise Rs 500 crore from Centre’s Nirbhaya Fund. Considering all the top priorities of the project, Finance Ministry ratified it within three days of the meeting at PMO and allocated Rs 200 crore of dividend-free money for this financial year so that work can begin at once. The balance amount will be given next year.
Railways has numerated a list of 1,000 stations and has ordered zonal authorities on how much money they would be allowed to spend on the project this year.
India ranked 141 in global peace index
India was ranked 141 on a Global Peace Index making it not much peaceful than countries like Burundi, Serbia and Burkina Faso owing to violence soaring up to a USD 680-billion toll on its economy in 2015.
In a ranking of total 163 countries, compiled by global think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Syria has been the least peaceful, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. On the other hand, Iceland retained the same stature and was ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria.
India has ascended two positions, from 141st the previous year, but the study depicted that the country’s peace score has “deteriorated” over the past year which means the slight rise in ranking could be due to worse performance of others.
Among South Asian nations, Bhutan was ranked best (13th overall rank), while India was fifth followed by Pakistan at sixth (overall 153rd) and Afghanistan at sixth place (global 160th).
President adopts 5 Haryana villages for development
President Pranab Mukherjee has taken the first presidential move to develop five villages in Haryana, including four in Gurgaon and one in Mewat district, as model villages.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met the President in New Delhi and handed over the list of five villages.
With the assistance of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the state government will pool resources to make these smart villages to set an example for development of other villages in the state.
Railways will invest $140 billion in infrastructure in five years
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that Indian Railways will invest $140 billion over the time span of next five years in areas of infrastructure and bettering the mobility of its services.
"Indian Railways will invest $140 billion in the next five years. We have invested Rs 94,000 crore and additionally we have decided to issue contract of Rs 40,000 crore for locomotives," Prabhu said at an event organised by MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Prabhu, country needs to invest 10-11 percent of GDP in infrastructure in order to give a shot in the arm to economic growth. Focus has always been on infrastructure and among various sectors in infrastructure transportation is the towering one.
Indian Railways was previously working on a "mobility directory" to bring in all the elements of infrastructure to step up the average speed of travel. High speed railways project is completed with an estimated cost of Rs one lakh crore and are in a process to bring semi high speed trains. Three dedicated freight corridors will also be developed.
US introduces bill to designate India as its special global partner
Two top United States legislators have introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to denominate India as a special global partner of America and adopt necessary measures to ramp up engagement and deepen bilateral collaboration on a host of issues including defence.
The Special Global Partnership with India Act of 2016 triggers Congress to promote the US-India relationship by designating India as a special global partner of the US, leading to greater cooperation across sectors ranging from defense and space to entrepreneurship and innovation.
It would also make changes in the Arms Export Control Act, thereby ushering the President to include India among US's closest allies.
This bill would also authorize the US President to give India an exception to allow for strategic trade authority, and codify assistance in all areas that would support key priorities, such as education, growth in the digital sector, and environmental protection.
Child labour awareness campaign on Goa beaches
Goa Tourism and State Children's Commission for Protection of Child Rights jointly have initiated a big move with spirited campaigns to discourage tourists in the state from buying products and services involving child labour.
Commission had conducted several inspections and raids along the beaches to scrutinise the extent of child labour in the area. The campaign would start during the upcoming tourist season and aimed at discouraging tourists from assisting in child labour, especially along the tourism-centric coastal areas.
The 2011 census estimates there are around 10,000 children between the ages of five and 17 who are employed in various capacities in the state by wooing money. The coastal belt which attracts around four million tourists in the state, accounts for a chunk of child workforce which engages in seasonal chores like working at beach shacks, food and trinket-stalls etc.
Railways to install 35,000 CCTVs in 1,000 stations for women passengers’ safety
Indian Railway plans to install 35,000 CCTV cameras that scan every corner of 1,000 railway stations across the country is the NDA government’s latest bid to ensure that woman passengers feel safe in railways premises. Once set up, this would be the biggest monitoring system ever installed by Indian Railways.
Railways has decided to draw up this plan that would utilise Rs 500 crore from Centre’s Nirbhaya Fund. Considering all the top priorities of the project, Finance Ministry ratified it within three days of the meeting at PMO and allocated Rs 200 crore of dividend-free money for this financial year so that work can begin at once. The balance amount will be given next year.
Railways has numerated a list of 1,000 stations and has ordered zonal authorities on how much money they would be allowed to spend on the project this year.
India ranked 141 in global peace index
India was ranked 141 on a Global Peace Index making it not much peaceful than countries like Burundi, Serbia and Burkina Faso owing to violence soaring up to a USD 680-billion toll on its economy in 2015.
In a ranking of total 163 countries, compiled by global think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Syria has been the least peaceful, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. On the other hand, Iceland retained the same stature and was ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria.
India has ascended two positions, from 141st the previous year, but the study depicted that the country’s peace score has “deteriorated” over the past year which means the slight rise in ranking could be due to worse performance of others.
Among South Asian nations, Bhutan was ranked best (13th overall rank), while India was fifth followed by Pakistan at sixth (overall 153rd) and Afghanistan at sixth place (global 160th).
President adopts 5 Haryana villages for development
President Pranab Mukherjee has taken the first presidential move to develop five villages in Haryana, including four in Gurgaon and one in Mewat district, as model villages.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met the President in New Delhi and handed over the list of five villages.
With the assistance of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the state government will pool resources to make these smart villages to set an example for development of other villages in the state.
Railways will invest $140 billion in infrastructure in five years
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that Indian Railways will invest $140 billion over the time span of next five years in areas of infrastructure and bettering the mobility of its services.
"Indian Railways will invest $140 billion in the next five years. We have invested Rs 94,000 crore and additionally we have decided to issue contract of Rs 40,000 crore for locomotives," Prabhu said at an event organised by MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Prabhu, country needs to invest 10-11 percent of GDP in infrastructure in order to give a shot in the arm to economic growth. Focus has always been on infrastructure and among various sectors in infrastructure transportation is the towering one.
Indian Railways was previously working on a "mobility directory" to bring in all the elements of infrastructure to step up the average speed of travel. High speed railways project is completed with an estimated cost of Rs one lakh crore and are in a process to bring semi high speed trains. Three dedicated freight corridors will also be developed.
US introduces bill to designate India as its special global partner
Two top United States legislators have introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to denominate India as a special global partner of America and adopt necessary measures to ramp up engagement and deepen bilateral collaboration on a host of issues including defence.
The Special Global Partnership with India Act of 2016 triggers Congress to promote the US-India relationship by designating India as a special global partner of the US, leading to greater cooperation across sectors ranging from defense and space to entrepreneurship and innovation.
It would also make changes in the Arms Export Control Act, thereby ushering the President to include India among US's closest allies.
This bill would also authorize the US President to give India an exception to allow for strategic trade authority, and codify assistance in all areas that would support key priorities, such as education, growth in the digital sector, and environmental protection.
Child labour awareness campaign on Goa beaches
Goa Tourism and State Children's Commission for Protection of Child Rights jointly have initiated a big move with spirited campaigns to discourage tourists in the state from buying products and services involving child labour.
Commission had conducted several inspections and raids along the beaches to scrutinise the extent of child labour in the area. The campaign would start during the upcoming tourist season and aimed at discouraging tourists from assisting in child labour, especially along the tourism-centric coastal areas.
The 2011 census estimates there are around 10,000 children between the ages of five and 17 who are employed in various capacities in the state by wooing money. The coastal belt which attracts around four million tourists in the state, accounts for a chunk of child workforce which engages in seasonal chores like working at beach shacks, food and trinket-stalls etc.
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