MNEWS

Air Quality Shows Slight Improvement, Dr. Harsh Vardhan Directs Agencies to Contain Dust, Check Garbage Burning Air quality of Delhi and NCR, which worsened on June 12-13, 2018, due to the incoming dust from Rajasthan, has shown a slight improvement today, with PM10 declining to 759 µg/m 3  at 4.00 p.m from a peak of 823 µg/m 3  at 5.00 p.m.yesterday.   In view of the seriousness of the situation, Union Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has directed concerned agencies to be on maximum alert and to ensure all necessary measures to contain sources of dust and to check garbage burning.  He also appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary exposure, given the prevailing situation. Consequently, the Task Force under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) met in CPCB and recommended that construction activity-related enforcement measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)be brought into operation immediately.  The Task Force also

भारत माता की जय, भिलाई स्टील प्‍लांट छत्तीसगढ़ महतारी   के कोरा के अनमोल रत्‍न हैं। छत्तीसगढ़ महतारी के प्रताप के चिन्‍हारी हैं।छत्तीसगढ़ के यशस्‍वी और लोकप्रिय मुख्‍यमंत्री हमारे पुराने साथी डॉ. रमन सिंह जी, केंद्र में मंत्री परिषद के मेरे साथी चौधरी बीरेंद्र सिंह जी, मंत्री श्री मनोज सिन्‍हा जी, इसी धरती की संतान केंद्र में मेरे साथी श्री विष्‍णु देव सहाय जी, छत्तीसगढ़ विधानसभा के अध्‍यक्ष श्रीमान गौरीशंकर अग्रवाल जी, राज्‍य सरकार के सभी वरिष्‍ठ मंत्रीगण और छत्तीसगढ़ के मेरे प्‍यारे भाईयो और बहनों। दो महीना पहले वो भी 14 तारीख थी। आज भी 14 तारीख है। मुझे दोबारा एक बार आपके आर्शीवाद प्राप्‍त करने का अवसर मिला है। जब मैं 14 अप्रैल को आया था यहीं की धरती से  आ युष्‍मान भारत योजना  के पहले चरण की शुरुआत की थी। आज दो महीने बाद 14 तारीख को भिलाई में आप सभी से आर्शीवाद लेने का सौभाग्‍य फिर एक बार मुझे प्राप्‍त हुआ है। छत्तीसगढ़ के इतिहास में, छत्तीसगढ़ के भविष्‍य को मजबूत बनाने वाला एक और सुनहरा अध्‍याय आज जोड़ा जा रहा है। अब से कुछ देर पहले भिलाई में स्टील प्‍लांट के विस्‍तार और

NITI Aayog has been engaging with State Governments to evolve a shared vision of national development and strategies from time to time to share the best practices. In this context, India Consensus - a partnership between Tata Trusts and Copenhagen Consensus which has undertaken more than 160 cost-benefit analyses across all main policy areas in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan presented their findings on 14 th  June 2018 in NITI Aayog. The presentation on evidence-based policy prioritisation model was chaired by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog. It was attended by Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries dealing with the Planning Department of 32 States and Union Territories, Joint Secretaries from 14 Ministries, senior officers from NITI Aayog, eminent economists and researchers. Copenhagen Consensus President, Dr Bjorn Lomborg presented the policies and interventions which generate the most social, economic and environmental good for

Government committed to bring development in NE at par with other developed states: Dr Jitendra Singh The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensure fast-track development in the North east region.  He was addressing the media after chairing the Consultative Committee meeting for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in Jammu. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Government has taken major strides in the development of the North Eastern Region in last four years. While addressing the members of the committee, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that there was a need to highlight special qualities of each state for developing its unique identity alongside the collective identity of ‘North East’. He said that this will provide developmental, economic, cultural and political ident

Ph.D Degree will be mandatory for direct recruitment to Assistant Professors in Universities w.e.f. 01.07.2021- Shri Prakash Javadekar In order to attract and retain the best quality teachers and other academic staff in Universities and Colleges, the UGC has brought out new regulations. This was disclosed by Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar while addressing media persons in New Delhi today. The Highlights of the Regulations are as below: Incentives to teachers as provided in the earlier Regulations of 2010 and subsequent amendments have been retained.   These include incentives for M.Phil/Ph.D. API based PBAS System has been removed. A new simplified teacher evaluation grading system has been introduced and research score added for Universities to improve research output. Promotion criteria under CAS for University teachers has been made more research oriented while in case of College teachers, CAS criteria is more focused on teaching

Dusty Conditions likely to Prevail over Next three Days The high pollution levels during this time of the year in Delhi are unusual and primarily due to dust storms from Rajasthan.  Rajasthan is facing extremely dry weather conditions, with high temperatures and wind speeds. The wind direction in Delhi since June 10 has changed to West and North West and then since June 12 to West and South West, due to which hot air, along with dust from Rajasthan has started moving into Delhi.  According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the current surface winds in Delhi are in the range of 5-6 m/sec and wind direction is West to South West, which is likely to continue over the next three days.  Therefore, it is expected that dusty conditions will prevail in Delhi over the next three days.   Major construction agencies, municipal corporations and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been alerted to ensure water sprinkling, as required.  Ministry of Environment, Fores

The Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Govt. of India Shri A.N. Jha calls upon the Head of Institutions and Pr AOs of the CABs to streamline the NPS operations in their respective organisations A Conference on Implementation of National Pension System (NPS) by the Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) was organized by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) today here in the national capital. The prime objective was to provide a forum to all the Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs), where the progress in the implementation of NPS with respect to compliance of timelines in various NPS related activities could be brought to the fore and a way forward could be provided. Officials from most of the Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) attended the Conference. Delivering the Key Note Address, the Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India ​,​  Shri Ajay Narayan Jha stressed upon all the participants on the need of becoming sensitive a

Income-tax Rules, 1962 (I.T.Rules) prescribe Form No.36 for filing an appeal to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Further, a memorandum of cross-objections to the ITAT can be filed in Form No.36A. The existing Form No.36 and Form No 36A have not been revised since long.  These Forms are required to be rationalised to make them more informative and also to capture information regarding amount disputed in pending appeals before ITAT, which is vital for formulating the policy of the department for litigation management. In view of the above, a draft notification proposing amendments in Form No. 36, Form No.36A and Rule 47 of the IT Rules has been uploaded on the website of the Income Tax Department  www.incometaxindia.gov.in  for comments from stakeholders and general public. The comments and suggestions on the draft notification may be sent by 2 nd  July, 2018 electronically at the email address  ts.mapwal@nic.in http://www.pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=15

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Chhattisgarh on Thursday, 14 th  June. At Bhilai, the Prime Minister will dedicate the modernized and expanded Bhilai Steel Plant, to the nation. The modernization includes installation of cutting-edge technologies for improvement in productivity, yield, quality, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection. During the same event, Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the permanent campus of IIT Bhilai. He will unveil also a plaque to mark the commencement of phase-2 of BharatNet. The BharatNet project envisages connecting Gram Panchayats with underground optical fibre network. The Prime Minister will inaugurate air services between Jagdalpur and Raipur. He will also distribute laptops, certificates and cheques etc. to beneficiaries under various schemes. He will also address a public meeting. Before arriving in Bhilai, the Prime Minister will visit Naya Raipur Smart City, where he wil

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, accepting the Fitness Challenge given by Virat Kohli, shared his fitness video today.  The Prime Minister said, “Here are moments from my morning exercises. Apart from Yoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature - Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating. I also practice breathing exercises. #HumFitTohIndiaFit.  I appeal to every Indian to devote some part of the day towards fitness.  Practice any set of exercises you are comfortable with and you will see the positive difference it will make in your life! #FitnessChallenge #HumFitTohIndiaFit.” Furthering the momentum of Fitness Challenge, the Prime Minister nominated Karnataka CM Shri H D Kumaraswamy, Table Tennis Player Ms. Manika Batra and the entire IPS fraternity, especially those above 40 for the Fitness Challenge.  “I am delighted to nominate the following for the #FitnessChallenge: Karnataka’s CM Shri H D

Suresh Prabhu at a roundtable with industry representatives during his US visit Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu visited USA on 10-12 June 2018. During his visit he held discussions with the US Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. He also had a joint meeting with the India Caucus Co-chairs Senator Mark Robert Warner and Senator John Cornyn. The meetings were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, with appreciation for each other's points of view. Discussions centered around bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries and focused on finding the way forward to address concerns of both sides. In this context, it was agreed that Indian and US officials would meet at a senior level at an early date to discuss various issues of interest to both sides and carry forward the discussions in a positive, constructive and result

Union Minister of Steel interacting with MDs/CEOs of major steel producing units in Kalinganagar, Odisha Union Minister of Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh visited Kalinganagar on 12th June, 2018 and interacted with MDs/CEOs of major steel producing units located in the State of Odisha.  In his remarksthe Minister stated that India has become the second largest steel producing country. In the financial year 2017-18, India produced more than 100 million tonnes of steel.  Indian Steel Industry has come out of the difficulties faced during 2014-15 and 2015-16 due to various policy interventions by the Government of India.  National Steel Policy and DMI&SP Policy were notified during 2017 giving direction and fillip to the domestic industry.  Odisha is a major steel producing State contributing more than half of steel production in the country.  It is rich in minerals and mines and has a potential to produce 100 million tonnes of steel out of 300 million tonnes envisaged in N