ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ, ಅಕ್ಟೋಬರ್ 5, 2018

ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರಕಾರೀ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳು

PRELIMS SPECIAL , Schemes of Government of India


1. “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”

It is an innovative measure that will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the States through the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different States & UTs, for strengthening the unity and integrity of India.


It will celebrate the cultural vibrancy of India while establishing a concrete mechanism to inculcate nationalism and cultural awareness among the fellow citizens of our nation.


Ministry of Culture will extend full support to implement the dream


During the RashtriyaEkta Divas address on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of India proposes to launch a new initiative called ‘EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.


All UT & States covered under the programme.


According to the scheme, two states will undertake a unique partnership for one year which would be marked by cultural and student exchanges. 6 MoUs between two States each were also signed on the occasion of launch, under this initiative.


2. National SC/ST hub and the Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme

An initiative of the Government of India targeted towards developing a supportive ecosystem towards SC/ST entrepreneurs.


The National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) would provide professional support to the SC/ST enterprises thereby enabling them to effectively participate in public procurement process.


The Hub would also work towards the development of new entrepreneurs to participate in procurement process leveraging on the ‘Stand up India’ programme. Selected entrepreneurs would be provided with support and mentoring by industry experts, CPSEs, and incubators.


The Hub would operate out of the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) headquartered in Delhi, supported by a special cell created for this purpose


It is to provide professional support to entrepreneurs from the SC/ST and also


promote enterprise culture and entrepreneurship among them


It will work towards strengthening market access/linkage, capacity building, monitoring, sharing industrybest practices and leveraging financial support schemes.


It would also enable Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to fulfill the procurement target set by the government. The Public Procurement Policy 2012 stipulates that 4 per cent of procurement done by Ministries, Departments and CPSEs would have to be from enterprises owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.


ZED:

ZED Scheme aims to rate and handhold all MSMEs to deliver top quality products using clean technology. It will have sector-specific parameters for each industry.


Ten ZED cells which will implement the model have been launched. Quality Council of India (QCI) will play a very important role in implementation of the model. 


Under the model, the manufacturing units will be assessed and awarded ratings of bronze, silver, gold, diamond and platinum. A ZED platinum rating means the manufacturer is of international standard and follows global best practices. The assessing depend on the industry chosen, and the various quality and environment assessing factors include process automation, process capability, design, safety and hygiene issues, waste management, defect rate and people management. The government will also rope various companies and chambers of commerce to popularise the model among vendors and dealers


It was given for producing high quality manufacturing products with a minimal negative impact on environment.


The scheme will also be cornerstone of the Central Government’s flagship Make in India programme, which is aimed at turning India into a global manufacturing hub, generating jobs, boosting growth and increase incomes


Quality council of India:

Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 by Government of India jointly with Indian Industry as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Department to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure for conformity assessment bodies; providing accreditation in the field of education, health and quality promotion. Besides the role of putting in place the accreditation structure, it also promotes the adoption of quality standards relating to Quality Management Systems ,Food Safety Management Systems. and Product Certification and Inspection Bodies through the accreditation services provided by National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB). Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI

3. UDAN

UdeDesh Ka AamNaagrik


To develop the regional aviation market


Applicable on flights which cover between 200 km and 800 km with no lower limit set for hilly, remote, island and security sensitive regions.


The scheme seeks to reserve a minimum number of UDAN seats i.e. seats at subsidized rates and also cap the fare for short distance flights.


The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports


Air India Ltd’s Alliance Air subsidiary will be the first airline to take wing under the government’s subsidized Udan scheme. (Bhatinda in Punjab to Delhi )


According to the Udan scheme, fares for half of the 70-seats will be capped at Rs2,500. Pricing for the rest will depend on how quickly the first 35 seats get booked. The remaining seats will be sold at small price increments. 


The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years. 


The selected airline operator would have to provide a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 40 UDAN Seats ( subsidized rates )on the UDAN Flights for operations through fixed wing aircraft and a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 Seats on the Flights for operations through helicopters. On each such route, the minimum frequency would be three and maximum of seven departures per week.


The fare for a one hour journey of appx. 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for a 30 minute journey on a helicopter would now be capped at Rs. 2,500, with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths / flight duration.


The States have a key role under the scheme. The selection of airports where UDAN operations would start would be done in consultation with State Government and after confirmation of their concessions.


Financial Means:

A financial stimulus in the form of concessions from Central and State governments and airport operators like tax concessions, exemptions from parking and landing charges etc.


A Viability Gap Funding to the interested airlines to kick-off operations from such airports so that the passenger fares are kept affordable.


→ The VGF would be provided by a market based model. The operators would submit their proposals to the implementing agencies would then be offered for competitive bidding through a reverse bidding mechanism and the route would be awarded to the participant quoting the lowest VGF per Seat.

→ Such support would be withdrawn after a three year period, as by that time, the route is expected to become self-sustainable.

A Regional Connectivity Fund would be created to meet the VGF requirements under the scheme. The RCF levy per departure will be applied to certain domestic flights along with 20% contribution from states. The partner State Governments (other than North Eastern States and Union Territories where contribution will be 10 %) would contribute a 20% share to this fund. For balanced regional growth, the allocations under the scheme would be equitably spread across the five geographical regions of the country viz. North, West, South, East and North-east. 


4.Urja Ganga:  the highly ambitious gas pipeline project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Aims to provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles.


It will also help in revival of defunct fertilizer plants in Barauni in Bihar, Gorakhpur in UP, Sindri in Jharkhand and Durgapur in West Bengal by supplying gas


Seven East India cities Varanasi, Jamshedpur, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack – will be the major beneficiary of this network development.


It will also help in revival of defunct fertilizer plants in Barauni in Bihar, Gorakhpur in UP, Sindri in Jharkhand and Durgapur in West Bengal by supplying gas


Under this project work on 2540-km long Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas pipeline project will begin and will be completed between 2018 and 2020.


5. DBT for Kerosene

After the success of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in LPG/Cooking gas, the government is planning to launch DBT in Kerosene as well


It has initiated the process by a pilot programme in 4 districts of Jharkhand


6. JSY: Janani Suraksha Yojana

A latest study conducted by researchers from NCAER says that JSY has helped in reducing the socioeconomic inequalities as well as it has led to an enhancement in the utilisation of health services among all groups especially among the poorer and underserved sections in the rural areas.

The JSY was launched in 2005 as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to improve maternal and neonatal health by promotion of institutional deliveries (childbirth in hospitals


JSY is a 100 % centrally sponsored scheme and it integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care


Under the JSY, eligible pregnant women(belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and ST category.) are entitled for cash assistance irrespective of the age of mother and number of children for giving birth in a government or accredited private health facility


special focus on Low Performing States (LPS). 


Part of NRHM


Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched in April 2005 by modifying the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS). The NMBS came into effect in August 1995 


transferred from the Ministry of Rural Development to the Department of Health & Family Welfare during the year 2001-02.


It is implemented through ASHA, the accredited social health activist, acting as an effective link between the Government and the poor pregnant women under this scheme

7. Swachh Bharat Misssion: 2nd Anniversary

Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the first states to have become


open defecation free (ODF) in urban areas.


→ The State of Himachal Pradesh has been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), making it the second State in the country after Sikkim to achieve the feat in rural areas It was launched on 2 October 2014 to make India clean and open defecation free by 2019, Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
→ The programme is divided into two categories -- Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). 
→  The Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation is looking at the rural part of the scheme. 

The Urban Development Ministry is implementing the programme in urban areas


Budgetary provisions for the two sub-Missions will be provided separately in the demand for Grant of the Ministries of Drinking Water and Sanitation (for Gramin) and Ministry of Urban Development (for Urban).


8. Pradhan MantriGarib Kalyan Yojana

Aim is to use black-money collected post-demonetization in welfare schemes for the poor


The government wants to give people an opportunity to pay taxes with penalties and declare undisclosed income through the proposed Pradhan MantriGarib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).



PMGKY will allow people to deposit previously untaxed money by paying 50% of the total amount: 30% as tax and 10% as penalty on the undisclosed income, as well as 33% of the taxed amount as cess.


The declarant will also have to deposit 25% of undisclosed income in a deposit scheme to be notified by the RBI under the Pradhan MantriGarib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016


If the declarant refuses the option of using the government deposit scheme, 85% of the amount will be deducted as taxes and penalties.


For money that is found in raids, taxes and penalties of nearly 90% of the amount will be levied, leaving just 10% with the owner.


Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 proposes to introduce a scheme named the 'Pradhan MantriGarib Kalyan Yojana, 2016'.

Demonetisation was earlier done in 1978 When the government demonetised Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000 and Rs. 10000 notes. 

This was done under the High Denomination Bank Note (Demonitisation) Act, 1978


The difference between 1978 and 2016 Demonitisation is that the currency in circulation (of the higher denomination) is higher in 2016 than was in 1978


9. Housing for All

Under the scheme the Government proposes to provide an environmentally safe and secure pucca house to very rural household by 2022


It is named as the Pradhan MantriAwaas Yojana (Gramin)- PMAY-G


As per the Ministry of Housing, the project cost will be shared by both the central government and the state govt


Delhi and Chandigarh are the two cities which will not be covered under the scheme


In its first phase the target is to complete one crore houses by March 2019.


Local materials will be used largely - along with a complete home with cooking space, electricity provision, LPG, toilet and bathing area, drinking water etc through convergence.


The payment process- will be through IT/DBT mode with Aadhaar linked Bank accounts with consent, to ensure complete transparency and accountability.


Skill training of Masons-There is a provision for orientation of beneficiaries. A 45 days on site hands-on skill training of Rural Masons helps poor households to move up the skilling ladder.


10. Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) for States/UTs

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry a 340 point reform agenda


The DIPP, in partnership with World Bank has studied the extent to which states have implemented the BRAP.


This study was recently released in its Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms 2015-16.


Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have jointly topped the rankings.


Major progress was made by states like Telangana, Haryana, and Uttarakhand


The assessment, first of its kind, promoted both competitive and cooperative federalism among the States and Union Territories (UTs). The first wave of regulatory improvement measures further created a need to sustain the momentum of the regulatory reform.


The online portal aims to provide the following:

Real time ranking and tracking of the States and UT’s based on the implementation of the recommendations


Details of the good practices to learn and replicate from the experience


Provide information on current policies and practices across the States and UT’s



11. National food security act (NFSA)

The Centre notified that the entire country has now come under the umbrella of National Food Security Act with Kerala and Tamil Nadu joining the bandwagon.


With this move, now 81.34 crore people will get wheat at Rs. 2/kg and rice at Rs. 3/kg


NFSA: In 2013


There are two types of beneficiaries under the PDS: AAY (Antyodya Anna Yojana, launched in 2000) and priority households. 


Every AAY household is entitled to get 35 kg of food grains every month while priority households (BPL amilies) are entitled to get five kg per person of food grains every month


12. LEEP (Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Programme)

Aims to enhance the freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions


The programme has been undertaken under Bharat Pariyojana.


13. Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship


for entrepreneurship training and education


scheme spans over five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) with a project cost of Rs. 499.94 crore


scheme will also include easy access to information, mentor network, credit, incubator, accelerator and advocacy to create a pathway for the youth


The institutes under the PM’s YUVA Yojana include 2200 Institutes of Higher Learning (colleges, universities, and premier institutes), 300 schools, 500 ITIs and 50 Entrepreneurship Development Centres, through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).


over 7 lakh students in 5 years through 3,050 institutes.


14. PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHIT MATRITVA ABHIYAN (PMSMA)

By Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoHFW).


Aims provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women 


The check up will take place on ninth day of every month. Blood pressure, weight,


sugar level, haemoglobin test, blood test, screening and some other tests are done for free under this scheme.


All medical check up will be free of cost. Medical centres, hospitals, private clinics and government health centres will host these check ups


Women who are in their three months to six month pregnancy will be eligible to take the scheme. It is for the women who are not from urban areas; semi urban and rural areas will be preferred


envisages to improve the quality and coverage of Antenatal Care (ANC) including diagnostics and counseling services as part of the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.


Participation of the Private Practitoners:-The programme follows a systematic approach for engagement with private sector which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign developing strategies for generating awareness and appealing to the private sector to participate in the Abhiyan at government health facilities.


Identification and follow up of high risk pregnancies. A sticker indicating the condition and risk factor of the pregnant women would be added onto MCP card for each visit:


Green Sticker- for women with no risk factor detected


Red Sticker – for women with high risk pregnancy


15. Saur Sujala Yojana

From CHH


Under the scheme, solar powered irrigation pumps of 3HP and 5HP capacity would be distributed to farmers by March 2019.


The scheme targets areas where there is no reach of electricity.


Around 51,000 farmers would be benefitted in the state with the launch of the scheme


Advantage:

The installation of solar pumps is done in arid regions such as in Africa, India and South America


Aiming at increasing local farmers productivity and as a consequence, improving their living conditions.


It helps in saving Energy


There is no fuel cost - as it uses available free sun light.


It can be operated lifelong.


It is highly reliable and durable


It is easy to operate and maintain.


16.Kerala has become the third State to be declared Open Defecation Free(ODF)

17. Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD)” 

By:Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)


To promote women entrepreneurs


economic empowerment of women through trade related training, information and counseling activities related to trades, products, services


Under the scheme, there is a provision for Government of India grant up to 30% of the loan/ credit maximum up to Rs. 30.00 lakh as appraised by lending institutions/ banks.


The lending institutions/ banks would finance loan assistance for a group of women through NGOs for undertaking non- farm activities


Economic empowerment of women through trade related training, information and counseling activities related to trades, products, services, etc. 


18. NeHa: Setting up a National eHealth Authority for the promotion of eHealth standards by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

A regulatory body, tasked with overseeing the digitisation of health information,

19. Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops (RIPS)

By Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry


improved form of the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) Scheme, 2003 which was closed in 2013.


Launched for protecting growers of plantation crops from twin risks of yield loss due to pest attacks, adverse weather parameters etc. and income loss caused by fall indomestic and international prices


20.VAN JEEVAN

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with UNDP and National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) launched “Vanjeevan” the National Resource Centre (NRC) for Tribal Livelihood issues at Bhubaneswar.

Scheme will identify problems related to livelihood issues, provide skill training and to facilitate entrepreneurship and employment among tribal people.


NRC will serve as an apex central institution within Ministry of Tribal Affairs to act as research and technical hub for the socio-economic development of tribal communities.


In first phase it will be launched in selected districts of six states having low HDI value of tribal people. These states are Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Telangana.


In 2nd phase, programme will be implemented in Arunachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Tripura


The programme will focus on the identification of local resources, keeping in view the existing skill level. The programme will facilitate utilization of funds under various Government programmes for the above purpose. The National Resource Centre will serve as a platform for livelihood mapping, skill gap analysis and knowledge hub where consolidation of best livelihood and entrepreneurship models will be accessible for tribal entrepreneurship development.


21. GArv II App

Power ministry launched GARV app to provide real time data about rural electrification in all (6 lakh) villages of the country.


Earlier GARV app only provided data about rural electrification regarding 18,452 unelectrified villages while GARV II will provide real time data about all villages


22. ‘100 Million for 100 Million’ Campaign organized by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation

The Campaign aims to mobilise 100 million youth for 100 million underprivileged children across the world, to end child labour, child slavery, violence against children and promote the right of every child to be safe, free, and educated, over the next 5 years.


The campaign would use social media for the purpose of sensitising people, building awareness, petitioning, creating demands on governments and international community and asking corporates to ensure no child labour, child slave or trafficked youth is involved in their supply and production chains.


23. PM UJJVALA YOJANA (PMUY) has achieved the target of providing 1.5 crore of LPG connection in financial year 2015-16 in just 8 months.

Under PMUY, national LPG coverage has been increased from 61% (in Jan 2016) to 70% (in December 2016)


Top 5 states with highest number of connections are UP (46 lakh), WB (19 lakh), Bihar (17 lakh), MP (17 lakh), Rajasthan (14 lakh) constituting 75% of total connections till today.


Hilly states like J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, all NE states have a coverage of less than national average


PMUY scheme provides free LPG connections in the name of woman head of BPL household identified through Socio-Economic Caste Census Data.


Financial assistance of Rs 1600 will be provided per connection by GoI.


It is the first welfare scheme implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.


To be implemented over 3 year period (2016-19) overall providing 5 cr connections to BPL households.


It will help in replacing the unclean cooking fuels mostly used in rural India with clean and more efficient LPG resulting in empowerment of women and protecting their health.


24.DeenDayalUpadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)

Flagship programme of power ministry to facilitate 24*7 power supply in rural area villages


It was launched in 2015 in Patna.


Earlier scheme for rural electrification called Rajiv Gandhi GrameenVidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) has been subsumed in this scheme


reforms in the rural areas. It focuses on feeder separation (rural households & agricultural) and strengthening of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure 


25.Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December, 2000.


 It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.


 PMGSY aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to all unconnected habitations in rural areas of the country.


Recently the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEE) approved the Centrally  ponsored scheme named Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas.


The project will be launched under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).


Ministry of Rural Development will be the sponsoring as well as the implementing Ministry of this project.


The implementing period is of four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20


The PMGSY guideline does not permit construction/upgradation of MDRs. However, keeping special circumstances of LWE areas in view, MDRs would be taken up under the scheme as a special dispensation. The National Highways and the State Highways would be excluded from this project. The roads to be constructed under the scheme have been identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs in close consultation with the State Governments and the security agencies, by following a process of extensive consultation.


26.54.Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana 

The Union Cabinet has approved closure of the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) which was set up in 2012 to address the social security-related issues of the Emigration Check Required (ECR)-category workers going abroad for employment to ECR countries.

Why?

The subscription under the MGPSY was very low and no new subscription was received for more than a year. Closure of the scheme will, therefore, obviate the avoidable recurring administrative and record-keeping expenditure.

About the scheme:

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana is a special social security scheme which includes Pension and Life Insurance, introduced by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the overseas Indian workers in possession of Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports.

It is a voluntary scheme designed to help workers to meet their three financial needs: saving for retirement, saving for their return and resettlement, and providing free life insurance offering coverage for death from natural causes.

27.Swasthya Raksha Yojana

By AYUSH ministry


Why: To promote health and health education in rural villages


launched on the lines of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan but with a focus on traditional healthcareservices.


The programme will be held by giving special emphasis on the demographic information of the particular area where they will take place. The information will vary from region to region and the focus will be on the food habits, lifestyle, etc. of that particular region. Apart from that, knowledge will also be shared on the endemic diseases and the ways to prevent those. This will be done by the SwasthyaRakshan OPDs organized in each village on a weekly basis. Treatment will also be provided for various disease conditions.


28.Nai Roshni Scheme

Leadership development programme launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2012-13.


To empower and instill confidence among minority women, including their neighbours from other communities living in the same village/locality, by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions at all level


The scheme has been implemented through NGOs, civil societies and government institutions.


The scheme also includes Educational Programmes, Health and Hygiene, Swacch Bharat, Financial Literacy, Life Skills, Legal Rights of Women, Digital Literacy, Advocacy for social and behavioural change.


The scheme helps in fighting different social stigmas such as poverty


It empowers the minority women to stand up for their rights.


29. SWACCH SWASTH SARVATRA

WHO: Joint initiative between the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.


The objective is to strengthen community health centres in 708 open defecation-free


blocks across the country to enable them to achieve higher levels of cleanliness and hygiene.


The objective of this programme is to build on and manifest the achievements of two different schemes


Swacch Bharat Mission by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation


Kayakalp of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.


Under Kayakalp, one Primary Health Centre (PHCs) in each district is awarded for meeting quality standards including sanitation and hygiene. Under SBM, the Gram Panchayat in which the PHC which gets awarded under Kayakalp for that district will be noted, and special focus will be given to make it ODF at the earliest.


30.Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative

Who: joint initiative between Ministry of Women & Child Development and Union Ministry of Home Affairs


Why:to create a safe and enabling environment for women


One Mahila Police Volunteer per Gram Panchayat is to be assigned under this scheme


Haryana became the first state to adopt the Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative


31.'SaanjhiSaanjh'.

National Newspaper dedicated to Senior Citizen


By Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment 


It will be a bilingual newspaper - Hindi and English


It will be published by Harikrit which is an NGO for the elderly.


It will carry important and useful news pertaining to elderly persons besides inspirational stories


32..Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS):

Amendments to the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) in a bid to achieve net zero imports in the electronics sector by2020


M-SIPS policy was launched in July 2012 for a three year period by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).


Its primary objective was to encourage investments in Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) Sector and speed up the disbursement process.


The policy encourages companies to produce domestically by providing them 20-25% subsidy on capital expenditure.


The Government has increased fund allocation to this scheme in budget 2017-18.


33.Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyog Yojana (IGMSY)

Prime minister announced that every pregnant woman would get Rs. 6000 for hospital stay, vaccination and nutrition

started by the UPA government in 2010.

The scheme was started on a pilot basis in 53 districts.


However, the National Food Security Act of 2013 made its universal coverage compulsory. Section 4(b) of the National Food Security Act states that every pregnant and lactating women is entitled to maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6000


IGMSY originally provided a benefit of Rs. 4000 which was increased to Rs. 6000 with National Food Security Act, 2013. This cash transfer scheme is applicable to pregnant and lactating women of age 19 and above for up to 2 living children.


All pregnant women are eligible unless they have already received paid leave or maternity benefits from their employers in the private or government sector.


34.Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana

Scheme will be launched by the Life insurance

Post demonetisation, banks slashed interest rates on fixed deposits, therefore the government has launched VPBY to safeguard the interests of the senior citizens.


The scheme has been announced with a guaranteed interest rate of 8 percent for 10 years.


The difference between the return generated by LIC and the guaranteed 8 percent interest would be compensated through the subsidy given to LIC.


The scheme will be open for subscription for one year from the date of launch 


The subscriber can opt for pension on a monthly, quarterly, half yearly and annual basis.


Senior citizen can invest up to 7.5 lakhs.Insurance Corporation of India from 1 April 2017.


RashtriyaVayoshri Yojana”, a ‘Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category’.

It was  launched in District Nellore, Andhra Pradesh on 1st April, 2017. 


Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens will be distributed in Camp mode and the Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency, ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)’, (a PSU under M/o SJ&E), which will undertake one year free maintenance of the aids & assisted living devices. 


The devices will help the Senior Citizens to overcome their age related physical impairment and to lead a dignified and productive life with minimal dependence on care givers or other members of the family. 


The ambitious Scheme, first of its kind in the country is expected to benefit 5,20,000 Senior Citizens over a period of the 3 years


35.ShaGun' - a Web-portal for SarvaShikshaAbhiyan

It has been prepared by World Bank in collaboration with Ministry of Human Resource Development.


ShaGun’ aims to capture and showcase innovations and progress in elementary education sector of India by continuous monitoring of the flagship scheme - SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA).


 SarvaSikshaAbhiyan (SSA)

SSA is an Indian Government programme aimed at the universalisation of elementary education "in a time bound manner", as mandated by the 86th Amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 to 14 a fundamental right. • SSA has been operational since 2000-2001 to provide for a variety of interventions for universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in elementary education, and improving the quality of learning. 


SSA interventions include inter alia, opening of new schools and alternate schooling facilities, construction of schools and additional classrooms, toilets and drinking water, provisioning for teachers, regular teacher in service training and academic resource support, free textbooks& uniforms and support for improving learning achievement levels / outcome.


 36.fertilizer sector: DBT

Pilot projects to introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in fertilizer sector have been taken up in 16 districts


DBT scheme was started on 2013 to: 


→ Reform Government delivery system for simpler and faster flow of information/funds.
→ Ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiariesby preventing de-duplication and fraud.
→ DBT Mission was created in the Planning Commission to implement the DBT programmes.
→ In 2015 it was placed in Cabinet Secretariat underSecretary (Co-ordination & PG).
→ JAM i.e. Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile are the three enablers of DBT.

37.Rashtriya Rail SanrakshaKosh

It will be created with a corpus of ` 1 lakh crores over a period of 5 years.


Government will lay down clear cut guidelinesand timeline for implementing various safety works to be funded from this Kosh.


Unmanned level crossings on Broad Gauge lines will be eliminated by 2020


38.Cyber Swachchta Kendra–Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre

Why: For analysis of malware and botnets that affect networks and systems.


part of Digital India initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).


centre will work in coordination with the internet service providers (ISPs) and Industry


39.Pradhan MantriGramin Digital SakshartaAbhiyan' (PMGDISHA)

One of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world.


To make 6 crore rural households digitally literate by March 2019.


To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats would be expected to register an average of 200-300 candidates.


The implementation of the Scheme would be carried out under the overall supervision of Ministry of Electronics and IT in active collaboration with States/UTs through their designated State Implementing Agencies, District e-Governance Society (DeGS), etc.


The PMGDISHA being initiated under Digital India Programme would cover 6 crore households in rural areas to make them digitally literate.


This would empower the citizens by providing them access to information, knowledge and skills for operating computers / digital access devices.


40.Mahila Shakti Kendra

Budget 2017-18 speech mentioned that Mahila Shakti Kendra will be set-up at village level in 14 lakh ICDS Anganwadi Centres.

It will provide one stop convergent support services for empowering rural women with opportunities for skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition.


It will increase access of essential services for women.


41. Kadiyan Srihari Committee

By MHRD

to look into the matter of girls’ education.

42.Project Tejaswini:

World Bank has signed an agreement with India to provide $63 million loan for Project Tejaswinitoempower adolescent girls and young women in state of Jharkhand.

It aims to empower adolescent girls and young women (between 14-24 years) with basic life skills and further provide opportunity to complete their secondary education and acquire market driven skills. This program was approved by World Bank in 2016.


Project will be implemented in 17 districts of Jharkhand and estimated 6.8 lakh adolescent girls and young women are expected to benefit from this programme.


This is the first World Bank project in India that is solely focused on the welfare of adolescent girls and young women


43.HamariDharohar Scheme

central sector scheme launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in order 

To preserve the rich heritage of minority communities under the overall concept of Indian culture


The six minority communities notified under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992are to be covered. They are: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.


Two other schemes formulated for the benefit of minorities are: Padho Pradesh and Nayi Roshni.


44.‘Middle Income Group Scheme’

To provide affordable legal services where fees would be charged as per the schedule attached to the scheme.


Introduced by SC 


will be administered through a society named ‘Supreme Court Middle Income Group (MIG) Legal Aid Society’ registered for this purpose. The Patron-in-Chief of the society is Chief Justice of India and the Attorney General is its ex-officio Vice President.


Its beneficiaries will be litigants in the SC whose gross income is less than Rs. 60,000 per month or Rs. 7.5 lakh per annum


45. E-Laabh

To pay subsidies in cash like in LPG to the targetedbeneficiaries, the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development and Fisheries Dept. launched elaabh software

46.RashtriyaYuvaSashaktikaranKaryakaram (RYSK)

By Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports 


It has integrated 8 of its schemes under one umbrella scheme known asRashtriyaYuvaSashaktikaranKaryakaram (RYSK)


The schemes that have been integrated under RYSK are as follows:


→ Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
→ National Youth Corps (NYC)
→ National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD)
→ Youth Hostels (YH)
→ Assistance to Scoring and Guiding Organisations
→ National Discipline Scheme (NDS)
→ National Young Leaders Programme

The scheme will benefit youth in the age group of 15-29 years as per the definition of “youth” in National Youth Policy, 2014.


Two schemes under the ministry have been kept out of this umbrella scheme. They are National Service Scheme (NSS) and Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD).


47.“Grameen Khel Mahakumbh

Khelo India National Level Competitions under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took place in January.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is set to start off rural games as “Grameen Khel Mahakumbh” under Khelo India Scheme. 

Khelo India Scheme

It is a national programme which aims to develop grassroots level talent by providing them with a national level platform.

The GOI of India merged the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyanwith Khelo India in 2016. 

Two other schemes that were brought under the umbrella of Khelo India are: Urban Sports InfrastructureScheme (USIS) and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS)


48. India’s first floating elementary school, namedLoktak Elementary Floating School

49.SAATHIYA’ Resource Kit and ‘SAATHIYA SALAH’ Mobile App for Adolescents

One of the key interventions under the RashtriyaKishorSwasthyaKaryakram(RKSK) programme is introduction of the Peer Educators (Saathiyas) who act as a catalyst for generating demand for the adolescent health services and imparting age appropriate knowledge on key adolescent health issues to their peer groups.


In order to equip the Saathiyas in doing so, the Health Ministry has launched the Saathiya Resource Kit (including ‘Saathiya Salah’ Mobile App) for adolescents


In addition to the kit is the mobile app ‘Saathiya Salah’ (downloadable from Google playstore) which acts as a ready information source for the adolescents in case they are unable to interact with the Peer Educators.


 RashtriyaKishorSwasthyaKaryakram (RKSK)

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched a health programme for adolescents, in the age group of 10-19 years in January 2014, which would target their nutrition, reproductive health and substance abuse, among other issues.
The key principle of this programme is adolescent participation and leadership, equity and inclusion, gender equity and strategic partnerships with other sectors and stakeholders.
The programme envisions enabling all adolescents in India to realize their full potential by making informed and responsible decisions related to their health and well-being and by accessing the services and support they need to do so.
It introduces community-based interventions through peer educators (Saathiyas), and is underpinned by collaborations with other ministries and state governments.

Objectives

Reduce the prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent girls and boys


Reduce the prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) among


Improve nutrition


 49. BHIM &UPI

Aadhaar-based payments app developed by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).


can work even on basic phones as it supports USSD payments


Payment can be done through scanning QR code.


Unified Payments Interface (UPI)”.


The UPI is for mobile based payment method that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application.


It facilitates ‘virtual address’ as a single payment identifier for sending and collecting money.


The single identifier will eliminate the need to exchange sensitive information such as bank account numbers during a financial transaction.


50. Mission Indradhanush

Revamp PSB


PJ Nayak Committee


seven key reforms of appointments, board of bureau, capitalisation, de-stressing, empowerment, framework of accountability and governance reforms.


It aims to clean up the balance sheets of PSBs to ensure banks remain solvent and fully comply with global capital adequacy norms, Basel-III.


51. Diamond Quadrilateral

Project of the Indian railways to establish high speed rail network in India.


This quadrilateral will connect the four metro cities in India, i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.


Similar to Golden Quadrilateral which is a roadway project which connects the four metros by Express Ways.


The Golden Quadrilateral falls under National Highways Development Project.


52.Permanent Residency Status (PRS) to foreign investors

PRS will be granted for a period of 10 years with multiple entry, which can be renewed for another 10 years.


 In order to avail this scheme, the foreign investor will have to invest a minimum of 10 crores rupees within 18 months or 25 crores rupees within 36 months.


Further, the foreign investment should result in generating employment to at least  20 resident Indians every financial year.


For dwelling purpose, PRS holders will be allowed to purchase one residential property. Their spouse and dependents will be also allowed to undertake studies in India and take up employment in private sector.

India and Kazakhstan agree to boost defence and military technical cooperation

India and Kazakhstan agree to boost defence and military technical cooperation

• During the visit of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Astana, Kazakhstan, India and Kazakhstan agreed to boost defence and military technical cooperation.
• India and Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation includes military-technical cooperation, military education and training, joint military exercises, bilateral exchange of visits and cadet youth exchange programs.
• Over 200 Kazakh Defence Forces Personnel have undergone military training in India till date.  
• Both countries successfully conducted a company level joint military exercise ‘KAZIND-2018’ in South Kazakhstan in September 2018. 
• Both countries are Strategic Partners since 2009.

30 most important current affairs of August



India with a haul of 69 medals including 15 gold recorded its best-ever performance in the history of Asian Games at the 2018 edition held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia.


Overall, India maintained its top-10 rank by finishing eighth yet again. The previous highest medal tally for India was at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China where they had finished 6th with 14 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze medals.


India set a new record for most medals won and equaled its previous record for maximum gold medals at the Asian Games. India also won 24 silver medals at the 18th Asian Games, which is more than any of the Games’ previous editions.


While there were some commendable performances and surprise medals in many sporting categories in the 2018 Asian Games, the athletic contingent stood out the most, as it produced one of its best results till date.

2. ISRO unveils Gaganyaan Mission to put Indians in space before 2022


India’s first manned space mission ‘Gaganyaan’ will be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2022. The mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 72nd Independence Day speech. The Prime Minister had announced that this manned space mission will take Indian astronauts to space on board 'Gaganyaan' by 2022.


The programme will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions. The mission's crew will be selected by Indian Air Force (IAF) and ISRO jointly after which they will undergo training for two-three years.


Prior to the actual launch of this manned mission by 2022, the ISRO will launch two unmanned Gaganyaan missions.



JDU’s Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as the new deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha on August 9, 2018. The NDA candidate was pitted against BK Hari Prasad, the joint candidate of the Congress-led Opposition in the voice vote. Singh won the vote with 125 votes in favour and 105 against.


The post of the deputy chairman was lying vacant since June 2018 following the retirement of PJ Kurien, a Congress MP from Kerala.


The NDA candidate, Harivansh Narayan Singh received support from Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, AIADMK, TRS, YSRCP, INLD, BJD, three nominated candidates and SP MP, Amar Singh.


4. Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away; Major achievements; Key milestones of his political journey

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018 following a prolonged illness at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He was 93. He was admitted at the AIIMS on June 11, 2018.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first non-Congress Prime Minister to serve a full five-year term. Vajpayee served three terms as the Prime Minister of India. He served the first term in 1996 for just 13 days. During his second term in 1998-199, he served for 13 months. In his final and third term, he served the nations for full five years from 1999-2004.



Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General passed away on August 18, 2018 after a short illness. He was 88. In 1997, Annan became the first African to take up the role of Secretary General at the United Nations. He served two terms as the chief of United Nations, from 1997 to 2006.


He later served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for helping to revitalise the United Nations, during a period that coincided with the Iraq War and the HIV/Aids pandemic.


6. M Karunanidhi, DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, passes away

DMK patriarch Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, passed away on August 7, 2018 after battling a brief illness at the Kauvery hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was 94.


He was known as a strong Indian politician who dominated Tamil Nadu's politics for six decades along with arch-rivals MG Ramachandran and Late J Jayalalithaa. He served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms during the 1969–2011 period. He created a record by winning all the 13 Assembly elections he had contested since 1957.


Popularly called 'Kalaignar', he was known for his film scripts that greatly helped him in his political career. His powers of oratory bestowed on him a cult status much similar to Jayalalithaa.


7. Controversy about Article 35A of Indian Constitution

The Article 35A of the Indian Constitution was in news recently as the Supreme Court on August 6, 2018 adjourned the hearing on pleas challenging Constitutional validity of Article 35A pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). 

The Article 35A was added to the Indian Constitution (Appendix II) through a Presidential Order -The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954. It was issued by the then President Rajendra Prasad on May 14, 1954 in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 370.


The article empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to these permanent residents. It prohibits non-permanent residents from acquiring immovable property, government jobs, scholarships and aid in the state.


8. Sabarimala temple case: Ban on women unconstitutional, says Kerala Government

The Kerala government on August 1, 2018 told the Supreme Court that the custom of barring the entry of women between the age group of 10 to 50 years into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala is not permissible under the Constitution.

The state government said that the celibate status of deity cannot be a ground for barring the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple. The government argued that it is a Hindu temple and not a temple of a particular denomination.


Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing on behalf of the Kerala government, said that there is no need to strike down Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965, which bars women from entering the temple but instead, the rules can be read in such a manner that women are not excluded.



The US space agency NASA on August 3, 2018 introduced to the world the crew of nine astronauts who will fly on American-made spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) from the US soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011.


The astronauts include Indian-origin Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Eric Boe, Nicole Mann, Christopher Ferguson, Douglas Hurley, Robert Behnken, Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover. They will first crew the test flights and then the missions involving Boeing's CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The missions will begin in 2019.


10. Indra Nooyi to step down as Pepsico CEO

Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi will step down from the position on October 3, 2018, after helming the post for the last 12 years. The announcement was made by Pepsico on August 6, 2018. 

Ramon Laguarta, who has worked with Pepsico for over 22 years, will be succeeding Nooyi. The 54-year-old was unanimously elected to the position by PepsiCo's Board of Directors. He will become the sixth CEO of the company in its 53-year old history.

While Nooyi will step down as CEO of food and beverage giant PepsiCo in October, she will continue to serve as the Chairman of the company till early 2019.


11. Parliament passes Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018

Indian Parliament on August 6, 2018 passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that proposes to enhance punishment for rape of a child. The Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2018.

The Bill seeks to replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 promulgated on April 21, 2018 following an outcry over the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and the rape of another woman at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bill stipulates stringent punishment for those guilty of rape, particularly of girls below the age of 16 and 12 years. The ordinance also orders death sentence to those guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years.


12. Parliament passes bill to give constitutional validity to NCBC

The Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2018 passed the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill that seeks to provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).


The bill was passed in the upper house of the Parliament with an absolute majority and over two-third majority of the members present and voting. All 156 members present in the house voted in favour of the bill.


The Lok Sabha had passed the crucial bill on August 2 with over two-third majority, with all 406 members present voting in favour after an almost five-hour long debate. The House had passed the bill superseding the amendments by the Rajya Sabha.


13. India breaks into top 100 in UN’s E-Government index

India has jumped 22 places to break into the top 100 of the United Nation’s E-Government Index 2018. India, which was ranked 118 in 2014, jumped 11 places to be ranked 96 in 2018. Its overall score was 0.5484.

The survey is released by the United Nations in every two years. The 2018 edition: 'Gearing E-Government to Support Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies' was launched on July 19.


Denmark, with an index value of 0.9150, topped the 2018 E-Government Development Survey. It was followed by Australia with 0.9053 score and the Republic of Korea with a value of 0.9010.


14. Union Cabinet approves acquisition of IDBI Bank’s controlling stake by LIC 

The Union Cabinet on August 1, 2018 approved acquisition of IDBI Bank’s controlling stake by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) as promoter in the bank. The acquisition will be done through preferential allotment or open offer of equity and through relinquishment of management control by the Government of India. 

The Cabinet has also approved reduction in Government shareholding in IDBI Bank Limited to below 50 percent by dilution.  The acquisition would help financially strengthen the LIC and the bank as well as their subsidiaries which offer financial products such as housing finance and mutual funds.


15. Startup India launches Academia Alliance Programme

Startup India has launched the Startup Academia Alliance programme, which is a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains, to fulfill the Indian Government’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country.

The Startup Academia Alliance aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications in order to increase the efficacy of these technologies and widen their impact. The initiative aims to create lasting connections between the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem by creating a bridge between the academia and industry.


16. Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve added to UNESCO list

India’s Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, one of the highest ecosystems in the world, has been added to UNESCO's list of World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WNBR).The Khangchendzonga reserve will be India's 11th internationally designated WNBR.

The reserve includes a range of ecoclines varying from subtropical to arctic, as well as vast natural forests in different biomes that support an immensely rich diversity of forest types and habitats resulting in high species diversity and endemism.

With its inclusion in the WNBR list, the reserve joins other Indian biospheres such as Nandadevi, Simlipal, Sunderbans, and Nilgiri.


17. Union Cabinet approves law provisioning death penalty for maritime piracy

The Union Cabinet on August 2, 2018 approved a bill provisioning death penalty or life imprisonment to those involved in piracy at sea.


The main objective of the anti-maritime piracy bill is to have a domestic anti-piracy legislation to provide the necessary legal framework within the country for the prosecution of those involved in piracy-related crimes. The bill calls for a harsh punishment, as the government feels that the current punishment is not very harsh.


The decision was taken in the wake of rising incidents of piracy in critical sea lanes.


18. Madras HC orders CBSE to publicise 'no homework, no bag' rule for Class I & II

The  Madras High Court on August 20, 2018 ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education to publicise in media that stringent action would be taken against institutes not following the board's 'no homework' rule for class I and II students.


The court had earlier directed the Centre to instruct the state governments and Union Territories to make sure that no school in the country, irrespective of the educational board it was affiliated to, prescribed homework for students in Classes I and II, in accordance with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recommendations.

The court also asked the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce the weight of children's school bags. The judge said, “neither children are weightlifters nor school bags load containers.”


19. Chhattisgarh to rename Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar

The state government of Chhattisgarh has decided to rename the state’s new capital city Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar in the memory of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The decision was taken during the state’s cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Raman Singh on August 21, 2018. 

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to develop an Atal Memorial in an area of five acres at the state’s new capital. It has also decided to install a statue of the former Prime Minister in the state capital and district headquarters of all 27 districts. It will also be renaming few other places and institutions including Bilaspur University and Rajnandgaon Medical College after Vajpayee.


20. Health Insurance companies to cover mental illness under medical insurance policies: IRDAI

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) on August 16, 2018 directed all the insurance companies to make a provision to cover mental illness also in insurance policies.

The authority referred to Section 21(4) of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2O17 which states that every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness. The Act came into force on May 29, 2018.


Thus, all insurance companies were directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 with immediate effect.


21. Chandrayaan-I data confirms presence of ice on Moon: NASA

The NASA scientists, using data from the Chandrayaan-I spacecraft, on August 21, 2018 confirmed that there are frozen water deposits in the darkest and coolest parts of Moon’s Polar Regions. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).


Scientists have directly observed definitive evidence of water ice in the darkest and coldest parts of Polar Regions of the Moon. At the southern pole, most of the ice is concentrated at lunar craters, while the northern pole’s ice is more widely and lightly spread. With enough ice sitting at the surface within the top few millimeters, water would possibly be accessible as a resource for future expeditions to explore and even stay on the Moon.


22. India observes 76th anniversary of Quit India movement

The 76th anniversary of Quit India movement was observed across India on August 8, 2018. On this day in 1942, father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous clarion call of ‘Do or Die’ to all Indians to drive the British away from the country. 
   
The movement, also known as the August Kranti Diwas, was launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), at the height of the Second World War. Mahatma Gandhi had drafted a resolution on the occasion calling for the British to Quit India. The draft proposed that if the British did not agree to the demands, a massive civil disobedience movement would be launched.


23. Former Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet to be next UN human rights chief

The United Nations on August 8, 2018 announced that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has chosen former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to be the UN’s new human rights chief. Bachelet would be succeeding Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who had been one of the most outspoken critics of abuses by the governments in many countries.

The 66-year-old has served as the President of Chile twice, from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018. Her second four-year term as President ended earlier this year. She was the first woman in her country to occupy the top position and is known to be a strong advocate for women’s rights.


24. NASA launches Parker Solar Probe mission to study Sun’s corona

US space agency NASA on August 12, 2018 launched Parker Solar Probe, a historic mission to touch the sun. The main aim of the mission is to send a satellite closer to the Sun than any before. 

The mission is named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, 91, the physicist who first theorised the existence of the solar wind in 1958.  It is the first space craft to be named after a living person.


The probe, which is the world’s first-ever mission to touch the Sun, is expected to unlock the mysteries of the star's fiery outer atmosphere and its effects on space weather during its seven-year long journey.



The Supreme Court on August 21, 2018 ruled that the ‘None of The Above’ (NOTA) option will not be applicable for voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. The ruling was made by a bench of Justices comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.


The bench held that the NOTA option is meant only for universal adult suffrage and direct elections and not for the polls held by the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote as done in the Rajya Sabha.


The judgment came on a petition filed by Gujarat Congress leader Shailesh Manubhai Parmar to do away with the ‘NOTA’ option in Rajya Sabha elections. The petition was filed in connection with the Rajya Sabha election in 2017, in which Congress leader Ahmed Patel was contesting.



The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on September 1, 2018 launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. The initiative seeks to leverage the expansive network of the postal department to ensure financial inclusion for the masses.

In fact, simultaneous launch events were held for the IPPBs at 650 branches and 3,250 access points. The objective of IPPB is to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man, spearhead the financial inclusion agenda by removing the barriers for the unbanked and reduce the opportunity cost for the under banked populace through assisted doorstep banking.


27. Government dismisses Allahabad Bank CEO Usha Ananthasubramanian from service

The Union Government on August 13, 2018 dismissed Usha Ananthasubramanian, former CEO/ MD of Allahabad Bank and scam hit Punjab National Bank (PNB), from service.

Though the Allahabad Bank had divested Ananthasubramanian of all her powers as MD three months back, after she was named in the CBI charge-sheet in the Rs 14,000 crore PNB fraud case, she had continued to be an employee of the bank.

The removal action comes in the wake of her having failed to exercise proper control over PNB ’s functioning while serving as its MD & CEO that had enabled misuse of SWIFT at PNB's Brady House branch leading to one of the country’s biggest bank frauds.



The Supreme Court on August 13, 2018 approved a proposal to have hologram-based coloured stickers on vehicles which would indicate the nature of fuel being used in Delhi- National Capital Region (NCR).


The apex court ruling allows for blue stickers to be used for vehicles running on petrol and CNG, and orange stickers for diesel vehicles. The colour coding will help authorities identify vehicles running on high-polluting fuel from specified routes on particular days. The hologram-based stickers will also contain the registration date of the vehicle.


The ruling was made by the bench while hearing the petition filed by noted environmentalist MC Mehta, seeking a direction to take proper steps to deal with pollution in Delhi and NCR.


29. SC directs Assam NRC coordinator to submit data of excluded people

The Supreme Court on August 16, 2018 asked the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) coordinator to submit the data of district-wise percentage of the population excluded from the NRC draft in the state.


The bench directed the state NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela to make the copies of draft NRC available at all panchayat offices so that public can access it easily. The apex court said that the claim and objection forms on the Assam NRC issue will be made available to the general public from August 20.


Earlier on July 31, 2018, the Supreme Court had ruled that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) prepared for the state of Assam was only a draft, and hence it cannot be the basis of any action by any authority against anyone.



The 115th meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held in Lahore, Pakistan during August 29-30, 2018. The Indian delegation was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.


During the meeting, technical discussions were held on implementation of various hydroelectric projects under the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960 including Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Both the countries agreed to undertake the Treaty mandated tours of both the Indus Commissioners in Indus basin on both sides. 


They deliberated on further strengthening the role of the Permanent Indus Commission for matters under the Treaty. It was also agreed by both the sides to hold the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in India on mutually convenient dates.


30 Most Important Current Affairs of September 2018

1. Sabarimala temple verdict: Supreme Court allows entry of women of all ages

The Supreme Court of India on September 28, 2018 allowed the entry of women into the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala. The apex court held that women, irrespective of their age, have the right to enter the temple. The CJI held that biological or physiological reasons cannot be accepted in freedom for faith.

The five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court comprising CJI Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Rohinton Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud, and Indu Malhotra struck down Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965 by a 4:1 majority.


2. Model Code will come into force on premature dissolution of state assembly: EC

The Election Commission of India on September 27, 2018 announced that the Model Code of Conduct will be applicable to the caretaker government till the formation of new government, in case of premature dissolution of state assembly.

The poll panel cited the Supreme Court verdict in the SR Bommai case that the caretaker government should merely carry on day-to-day governance and desist from taking any policy decisions. Until now, the model code of conduct was applicable only with announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission.



The Supreme Court on September 27, 2018 declined to refer the 1994 Ismail Farooqui judgment that mosques are not integral to Islam to a larger constitution bench.


In the majority verdict, the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that the present case on Ayodhya land dispute shall be decided on its own facts and the Ismail Farooqui judgment would have no impact on it.


Justice Ashok Bhushan, who read out the majority judgement on behalf of himself and the CJI, said that the court has to find out the context in which the five-judge had delivered the 1994 judgement.


4Husband is not the master of wife, says SC while striking down 158-year-old adultery law

The Supreme Court of India on September 27, 2018 struck down a 158-year-old penal provision in the Indian Penal Code that made adultery a criminal offence.


The decision was taken by a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra. The bench unanimously held Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with the offence of adultery, as unconstitutional and arbitrary.


The top court said that Adultery can be a civil wrong and a ground for divorce but it cannot be a criminal offence. The court said Section 497 is violative of right to equality and right to equal opportunity to women and disallows them from making their own choices.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on September 26, 2018 awarded with the prestigious UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018, the highest environmental honour of the United Nations.


The UN Environment jointly awarded PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in the Policy Leadership category for their efforts regarding the creation of the International Solar Alliance.


PM Modi was also acknowledged for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single use plastic in India by 2022. This year, the Champions of the Earth Award recognised six of the world’s most outstanding environmental change makers for their combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues.


6. Aadhaar Verdict: Supreme Court upholds constitutional validity of Aadhaar Act

The five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on September 26, 2018 upheld most of the provisions of the Aadhaar Act by 4:1 Majority while hearing the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other. Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.

Of the five-judges, Chief Justice Dipak Misra, and Justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Khanwilkar, Ashok Bhushan validated the provisions of the Aadhaar with few restrictions, while Justice D.Y. Chandrachud held that the entire Aadhar project is unconstitutional.


7. Supreme Court allows live streaming of court proceedings

The Supreme Court of India on September 26, 2018 allowed live streaming and video recording of court proceedings across the country. The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud asked the government to frame rules in this regard under Article 145 of the Constitution.

The top court stated that live streaming of court proceedings will bring accountability and transparency into the judicial system and serve the public interest. The bench said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant, let people get first-hand information about what is going on in courtroom proceedings.”


8. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins Maldives Presidential Election 2018

Opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on September 24, 2018 won the Maldives Presidential Election 2018, defeating incumbent President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who will stay on in the presidency until his term ends on November 17, 2018.

Ibrahim Mohammad Solih is a consensus candidate of the joint opposition, which includes the Maldivian Democratic Party, the Jumhooree Party, the Adhaalat Party and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s own faction of the Progressive Party.


9. Political candidates cannot be disqualified on basis of criminal charges: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled on September 25, 2018 that candidates cannot be disqualified from contesting elections merely because charges have been framed against them in a criminal case.


The ruling was delivered by a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, which was chaired by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprised Justices RF Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.


The bench also directed the legislature to consider framing a law to ensure decriminalisation of politics.



The Supreme Court on September 25, 2018 constituted a three-member committee to look into the problems of jails in India and suggest reform measures.


The committee headed by former SC judge Justice Amitava Roy will look into the aspect of jail reforms across the country and suggest measures to deal with them.


The committee’s key duties will include looking into the problems of jails across the country including overcrowding in prisons, issue of human rights of prisoners and issues concerning women prisoners languishing in cells for years.


11. PM Modi launches Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018 launched the flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (PMJAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). 

Ayushman Bharat, the government-sponsored health insurance scheme, will provide free coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year in any government or even empanelled private hospitals all over India. Launched with an aim to help the poor and the economically deprived, the scheme will be available for 10.74 crore beneficiary families and about 50 crore Indian citizens.


12. PM Modi inaugurates Sikkim's first-ever airport

Sikkim’s first-ever airport was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24, 2018 at Pakyong. The development is a historic occasion for the entire northeast region of India. The development not only eases connectivity to the Himalayan state but also brings it on the air-map of the world.

The airport is not only India’s 100th functional airport but also one of the country’s five highest airports. The first commercial flight from Pakyong is scheduled to begin from October 4, when Spicejet will start its daily Kolkata-Sikkim flights.


13. National Sports Awards 2018 announced; Mirabai Chanu, Virat Kohli to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 

The National Sports Awards 2018 were announced by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on September 20, 2018. Cricket captain Virat Kohli and world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will jointly be conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award 2018, India’s highest sporting honour.

This year, the Ministry received a large number of nominations for these awards. The nominations were considered by the Selection Committees consisting of a former Olympian, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, Dhyan Chand Awardees, Sport Journalists, Experts and sports administrators.


14. President Ram Nath Kovind signs Ordinance banning Instant Triple Talaq practice

President Ram Nath Kovind on September 19, 2018 signed the Ordinance banning the practice of Instant Triple Talaq. The ordinance was cleared by the Union Cabinet earlier on the same day itself. The ordinance makes instant triple talaq a punishable offence.

Now, the ordinance will be placed before the Parliament and the bill would still need to be passed by the Rajya Sabha as the Supreme Court had held that "re-promulgation of ordinances is a fraud on the constitution" and hence not allowed. It cannot become a "parallel source of legislation”.


15. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna launched for unemployed insured persons

The Employee's State Insurance (ESI) has approved a scheme named ‘Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna’ for Insured Persons (IP) covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948. The decision was taken by the ESI Corporation during its 175th meeting, which was held in New Delhi on September 18, 2018.

This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to the bank account of insured persons in case of unemployment and while they search for a new engagement. The detailed instructions of the scheme including the eligibility conditions and application format will be issued separately.


16. Two Koreas sign agreement on denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula

In a historic move, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on September 19, 2018 signed an agreement on denuclearisation, reducing military tensions and defusing crisis on the Korean peninsula.

The talks were hosted by North Korea in its capital city Pyongyang. The North Korean leader welcomed the South Korea President at the Sunan International Airport, at the start of Moon’s three-day visit to the nation.


It's the third meeting between Moon and Kim but the first to take place outside the ‘truce village’ of Panmunjom, on the border.


17. Government proposes merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank

The Union Finance Ministry on September 17, 2018 announced the proposal to merge three public sector lenders - Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank. The combined lending entity will create India’s third largest bank with a total business of more than Rs 14.82 lakh crore. The proposal will now need the approval of the boards of these individual banks. 

The merger of these three state-owned banks is a part of the government's agenda of consolidation of public sector banks. The consolidation was proposed by the Alternative Mechanism comprising Chairperson Arun Jaitley. Post this merger, the number of PSU banks will come down to 19.


18. Supreme Court modifies its order on dowry harassment; scraps Family Welfare Committees

The Supreme Court of India on September 14, 2018 modified its July 2017 order in dowry harassment case for preventing misuse of Section 498A of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Section 498A (dowry harassment) of IPC protects gender justice and rights.

A three judges’ bench led by the Chief Justice Dipak Misra withdrew the earlier direction issued in Rajesh Sharma case which stated that complaints under Section 498A of the IPC should be scrutinised by Family Welfare Committees before any legal action by police.


19. 70th Primetime Emmy Awards: Game of Thrones wins Outstanding Drama

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on September 18, 2018 at the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, United States. The awards hosted by comedians Michael Che and Colin Jost.

For the first time in almost 20 years, HBO didn’t dominate the Emmy Awards. The channel had to settle for a tie with Netflix with 23 awards each. After being ineligible for the 2017 Emmy awards, the popular drama series Game of Thrones was the most nominated programme in this year’s edition with a total of 22 nominations.


20. Justice Ranjan Gogoi appointed as 46th Chief Justice of India

The Union government on September 13, 2018 appointed Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the 46th Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will assume his post on October 3. He will be succeeding incumbent CJI Dipak Misra, who is set to retire a day before his swearing in, on October 2, 2018.

Justice Gogoi’s name was suggested for the esteemed post by Justice Misra himself. He is the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after Chief Justice Misra. His appointment was confirmed after President Ramnath Kovind signed the warrant of his appointment.



The Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 11, 2018 withdrew the provision of NOTA (None of the above) option from ballot papers of the Rajya Sabha and the state’s Legislative Council polls as per the Supreme Court directive.

The ECI, through the notification, ordered the returning officers for Rajya Sabha and legislative council to ensure that there is no NOTA column displayed in the ballot paper. 

The NOTA option will be available only in Lok Sabha and state’s assembly election.


22. Vodafone-Idea merger completed; creating India’s largest telecom service provider

The merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular completed on August 31, 2018, creating India's biggest telecom service provider with over 408 million subscribers. With this, Aditya Birla Group led Idea Cellular was renamed as the Vodafone Idea Limited. Both Vodafone and Idea brands will continue to operate.

The equity infusion of Rs.67.5 billion at Idea and Rs.86 billion at Vodafone along with monetisation of towers of both companies for an enterprise value of Rs.78.5 billion, provides the company a strong cash balance of over Rs 193 billion, after payout of Rs 39 billion to Department of Telecommunications (DoT).



India and the United States on September 6, 2018 signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA). The agreement was signed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis.

The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) is one of the four foundational agreements that a country needs to sign to become a major defence partner of the United States. The agreement comes into effect immediately and has a lifespan of 10 years. COMCASA is an India-specific version of the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA).


24. Section 377 verdict: Supreme Court legalises homosexuality, partially strikes down Section 377

A Five Judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on September 6, 2018 decriminalised Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by partially striking down some of its provisions. 

The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra; Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra ruled that Section 377, to the extent it criminalises sexual acts between consenting adults, whether homosexual or hetrosexual, is unconstitutional.


However, bestiality will continue as an offence. Any kind of sexual activity with animals shall remain penal offence under Section 377 of the IPC.


25. 2+2 Dialogue: India-US sign historic COMCASA agreement

India and the United States signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) during their first-ever ‘two plus two’ dialogue, which was held in New Delhi on September 6, 2018.

The key agreement will open up the way for the sale of more sensitive US military equipment to India. It will help India obtain critical and encrypted defence technologies for the Indian defence platforms from the US. 

The high-level talks were held between the foreign and defence ministries of the two nations. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hosted the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis for the inaugural dialogue.


26. Telangana Cabinet passes resolution to dissolve Legislative Assembly

The Telangana Cabinet on September 6, 2018 passed a resolution calling for the dissolution of the Telangana Legislative Assembly.


The state’s Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had convened the meeting of his Council of Ministers to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and seek fresh elections six months ahead of schedule. The CM submitted a one-line resolution of the cabinet dissolving the assembly to the state’s Governor ESL Narasimhan immediately after the meeting.


The Governor asked Rao and his council of ministers to continue as the caretaker government.


27. PTI's Arif Alvi wins Pakistan Presidential Election 2018

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) candidate, Arif Alvi on September 4, 2018 won the Pakistan Presidential Election 2018, defeating his two rival candidates Fazal-ur-Rehman and Aitzaz Ahsan. Fazal-ur-Rehman is the joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and some other opposition groups, while, Aitzaz Ahsan belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Alvi will replace incumbent President Mamnoon Hussain as the 13th President of Pakistan with a term of five years. Hussain’s five-year term will end on September 8, 2018. Before taking oath as the President of the country, Alvi will have to resign from the National Assembly, as per the Pakistan's Constitution.



The National Nutrition Month is being celebrated across the country in September to mark the fight against malnutrition. During this month, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development will organise various programmes to spread broad awareness on issues related to malnutrition like stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children.


The month will focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers to eliminate the deficiencies prevailing in the Health sector.


The WCD ministry is trying to reach about 11 crore women and children during this month through various grass-root activities with the convergence of different ministries.



The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on September 3, 2018 asked all scheduled commercial banks with more than 10 branches to appoint an Internal Ombudsman.


The Scheme covers appointment and tenure; roles and responsibilities; procedural guidelines and oversight mechanism for the Internal Ombudsman. All Scheduled Commercial Banks in India having more than 10 banking outlets are required to appoint IO in their banks.


The IO will examine customer complaints referring to the deficiency in service on the part of the bank that are partly or wholly rejected by the bank.


30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches India Post Payments Bank

The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on September 1, 2018 launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. The initiative seeks to leverage the expansive network of the postal department to ensure financial inclusion for the masses.In fact, simultaneous launch events were held for the IPPBs at 650 branches and 3,250 access points.

The objective of IPPB is to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man, spearhead the financial inclusion agenda by removing the barriers for the unbanked and reduce the opportunity cost for the under banked populace through assisted doorstep banking.


India made its debut in PISA in 2009 with 16000 students from 400 schools across Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. However, students performed miserably in the 2009 test, placing India at 72nd among the 74 participating countries.