Current Affairs March 2018

Date – 15/05/2018: First all-woman Post Office Passport Seva Kendra starts operations in Phagwara, Punjab

May 16, 2018 by D L

Date – 15/05/2018

First all-woman Post Office Passport Seva Kendra starts operations in Phagwara, Punjab

– The Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) run by an all-woman team began its operations Phagwara, Punjab. It was was inaugurated by Union Minister Vijay Sampla in the local head Post Office of Phagwara.

– This kendra was 192nd POPSK in the country and first one to be operated by an all-woman team. It was launched as part of Central Government’s initiatiative for women empowerment.

– It will cater needs of people from Kapurthala, Nawandhar and Jalandhar rural districts. It will benefit people immensely in this area as town is NRI hub of Doaba region of Punjab. It will enable people of the region to get all facilities related to applying for and processing of passport applications.

Date – 27/04/2018: Bureau of Indian Standards grants first license for Liquid Chlorine on all India basis

April 30, 2018 by D L

Date – 27/04/2018

Bureau of Indian Standards grants first license for Liquid Chlorine on all India basis

– Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has granted First Licence to Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd for Liquid Chlorine on all India basis as per Indian Standard (IS) 646:1986. This is the First Licence granted on All India basis. The licence has been made operative with effect from April 2018 for a period of one year.

– Liquid Chlorine is in liquid form and stored in metal containers. It is usually used as gas obtained by evaporating liquid from metal container. It is used mainly in paper, pulp, water sterilization, textile bleaching and manufacture of chemicals.

– The approval of first licence will facilitate industry to get quality Liquid Chlorine with Standard Mark under BIS Certification Marks scheme. Indian Standard (IS) 646:1986 for Liquid Chlorine, Technical, prescribes the requirements and the methods of sampling and test for liquid chlorine, technical.

Date – 12/04/2018: IRNSS-1I: ISRO successfully launches navigation satellite

April 13, 2018April 13, 2018 by D L

Date – 12/04/2018

IRNSS-1I: ISRO successfully launches navigation satellite

– The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched IRNSS-1I navigation satellite from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite was launched on board of PSLV-C41 (height of 44.4 meters and weight of 321 tonnes) after the normal lift-off and was successfully placed in the designated orbit. It was overall 20th flight of PSLV-XL version and 41st successful mission of total 43 of PSLV.

– The IRNSS-1I is overall eighth satellite to join ISRO’s NavIC navigation satellite constellation. It replaced IRNSS-1A, the first of seven navigation satellites of IRNSS series that was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks failed. IRNSS-1I was made by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies in collaboration with ISRO.

– The IRNSS-1I was having lift-off weight of 1,425 kg and has life span of 10 years. It carried two types of payloads: Navigation and Ranging. They are L5 and S-band navigation payloads and C-band ranging payloads. It also has corner cube retroreflectors for LASER ranging. It will be stationed in Geosynchronous Orbit at 36,000 km height.

Date – 12/04/2018: India, UK and Northern Ireland: Cabinet approves MoU on return of Illegal Migrants

April 13, 2018 by D L

Date – 12/04/2018

India, UK and Northern Ireland: Cabinet approves MoU on return of Illegal Migrants

– The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal Migrants. Decision in this regard was taken at Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

– The MoU will facilitate that Visa Free Agreement for holders of Diplomatic passports as well as liberalization of UK Visa Regime travelling to UK legally, after its conclusion. It will ensure return of persons who have no lawful basis to be in territory of other Party after verification of nationality to its satisfaction. It will help in streamlining procedure of return of nationals who are caught to be staying illegally, belonging to other party in specified time-frame.

More than Rs.240 Crore released for 12 cities under HRIDAY Scheme

March 6, 2018 by D L

05/03/2018

More than Rs.240 Crore released for 12 cities under HRIDAY Scheme

As per the information received from Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), a Central Sector Scheme, with a total outlay of Rs. 500 Cr. was launched on 21^st January, 2015.

HRIDAY scheme aims at preserving and revitalizing the soul and the unique character of the heritage cities in lndia. Under the Scheme, twelve cities namely, Ajmer, Amritsar, Amaravati, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni, and Warangal have been identified for development. The mission period of HRIDAY Scheme is till November, 2018.

HRIDAY Scheme supports the development of core heritage linked civic infrastructure projects which includes revitalization of urban infrastructure for areas around heritage, religious, cultural and tourism assets of the cities. These initiatives include development of water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management, approach roads, footpaths, street lights, tourist conveniences, electricity wiring, landscaping etc.

So far, 63 projects amounting to Rs. 421.47 cr. for the12 HRIDAY Cities have been approved under the Scheme out of which 241.26 cr. has been released.

This information was given by Minister of State (IC) for Culture and Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.