Current affairs : September 8, 2016
Projects approved under Swadesh Darshan
The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) for the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Ministry of Tourism has
approved projects to the tune of Rs. 450 Crore for development of Heritage
circuit in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh,
North East Circuit in Sikkim and Coastal Circuit of Tamil Nadu.
Driving Licenses and
Vehicle Registration Certificates can now be accessed through Mobile App
A new service – integration of DigiLocker
with Driving Licenses (DL) & Vehicle Registration Certificates (RC), was
recently launched by the government.
- Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration documents can now be issued directly to the DigiLockers of individuals in digital formats.
- These digital copies can be shared with other departments as identity and address proof.
Publish FIRs online within 24 hours: SC
The Supreme Court has ordered States and Union Territories to upload, on police or government websites, First Information Reports (FIRs) within 24 hours of their registration in police stations.
- This is aimed at upholding the right of an accused to information and putting a check on the authority of the police to deprive a person of his liberty.
- The implementation of this step also ushers in transparency in police work.
- Besides, an accused has every right to know what he was accused of. And access to the FIR would help the accused prepare his defence and seek redressal of his grievances.
India signs open
skies pact with Greece
India has signed an open skies agreement with
Greece, the first after the finalisation of the civil aviation policy in June.
- The open skies agreement will allow airlines from India to operate unlimited number of flights to Greece while Greek carriers have been granted unlimited traffic rights to six Indian metro cities.
- Greece has become the first country to have an open sky agreement with India under the new policy.
- Prior to this, India had entered into an open skies agreement with the US and Britain.
Maharashtra under
pressure, to tweak draft of internal security Act
The Maharashtra government has decided to
tweak the newly-drafted Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act
following public outcry over its contentious clauses. The changes will be made
before the draft is presented to the State Cabinet.
- Reduction in punishment from the current three years to half.
- Increase in restrictions on public assembly to 2,500 from the proposed 100.
- Include a clause defining that the draft of the Act will not be applicable on private functions such as marriages and parties.
Crime in India 2015 Report:
Bengaluru tops the country in the number of cases filed under the Indian Forest Act and the Wildlife Protection Act, according to the ‘Crime in India 2015’ report released recently by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- As many as 48 cases were registered under the Forest Act — mainly filed against sandalwood and red sander smugglers — and 20 under the Wildlife Protection Act. These constitute nearly one-third of all such cases filed in metros across the country.
Saudi law a hurdle in
rescuing T.N. fishermen, Centre tells HC
The External Affairs Ministry has informed
the Madras High Court that employment laws in Saudi Arabia were tough compared
to other countries and hence there was a delay in bringing back 62 Tamil Nadu
fishermen stranded in the country.
- The fishermen had accused their employer of ill-treating them and refusing to return their passports.
Thithi wins Best Film
honour at 1st BRICS Film Festival
Raam Reddy’s Kannada film Thithi was
conferred the Best Film award by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu at the closing ceremony of the 1st BRICS Film
Festival.
- Thithi, which earlier won various honours at 68th Locarno International Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, 19th Shanghai International Film Festival and 63rd National Film Awards.
PRABAL DOSTYK – 16:
It is a joint exercise between Indian & Kazakhstan Army. The Indian Army is being represented by a platoon strength.
- The Kazakhstan Army contingent comprise of platoon from Special Operating Force’s Unit.
- The exercise is being conducted in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan.
- The primary aim of the exercise will be to enhance interoperability while undertaking Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations in rural & semi-urban environment under the umbrella of United Nations.
IoT India Congress:
The first edition of ‘IoT India Congress, 2016’ has begun in Bengaluru.
- The congress aims to bring together key stakeholders across the value chain and verticals to collaborate, ideate and share a common roadmap for Internet of Things (IoT) implementation.
- Besides tech start-ups, the congress brings top executives from multinational companies such as Philips, GE, and IBM on one platform. IoT is likely to generate economic benefits of almost $2 trillion to India.
Paralympic Games Begin
in Brazil
The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games began on
7 September 2016 at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The 15th Summer Paralympic Games will conclude on 18 September 2016.
- The 4,300 athletes come from more than 160 countries.
