National Affairs
After the successful implementation of cash subsidy on LPG for below poverty line families, Indian government is set up to launch direct transfer of cash subsidy on kerosene. The scheme known as DTCK (direct transfer of cash subsidy on PDS kerosene) would be covered under two phases. Under the subsidy, seven districts of three states would be covered in the first phase. Initially, the scheme would be launched in north Goa, Ajmer, Udaipur, Alwar, Nandurbar, Amrawati and Wardha covering Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Soon 1,000 and 500 rupee notes will be used in circulation in Nepal as both Nepal and India has agreed to allow circulation of Rs.500 and Rs.1, 000 denominations in Nepal. Earlier there was a ban in Nepal for over a decade to use Indian bank notes above Rs.100 within Nepalese territory but after Nepal-India Inter Governmental Committee (ICG) meeting, both countries decided to commence the circulation in Nepal of these denominations.
Focusing on to reduce rash and drunken driving during the festive season, Vodafone has launched a unique initiative called ‘Safe Drive Campaign. One of India’s leading telecommunication service providers, Vodafone’s initiative was launched in association with Motors Vehicle Department. As a part of this campaign, people will be urged two-wheeler riders as well as pillion riders to wear helmets while driving. Also they will emphasize to stop using mobile phones while on wheels.
An annual convention of Bengali literary personalities of India, the 86th Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan will be inaugurated in Allahabad by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India. More than 1000 dignitaries including writer, philosopher and thinker will visit the conference to share some literary thoughts related to Bengali culture.
Appointment
Senior IAS officer Ashok Lavasa has been selected as Civil Aviation Secretary. Presently Lavasa is Special Secretary in Ministry of Power. The 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre will succeed K N Srivastava, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre at the end of this year. He will start working after superannuation of incumbent Srivastava.
The current Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Marpadi Veerappa Moily is the newly appointed Environment and Forests Minister. A congress MP from the state of Karnataka Moily took this additional charge after the resignation of Jayanthi Natarajan. Earlier he has served as Chief Minister of Karnataka and Corporate Affairs and Minister of Power in the Indian government and was elected as MP of the Chickballapur district.
Senior IPS officer J N Choudhury is the newly appointed head of National Security Guard (NSG) that undertakes special counter-terror and counter-hijack operations. He will replace Arvind Ranjan as Ranjan will start serving as the full-time chief of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Sports
South African Vernon Philander topped the latest ICC Test rankings in bowling and batting of December. He recorded figures of four for 61 and three for 68 while Steyn managed just one wicket. After this, he became the seventh South Africa bowler to claim the number-one rank after Aubrey Faulkner, Hugh Tayfield, Peter Pollock, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn. On rankings for Test batsmen, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis had moved in the right direction.
South Africa’s legendary all-rounder cricketer Jacques Kallis has announced his retirement from Test cricket just after the second Test against India which will start at Kingsmead on Thursday. 38 years old Kallis will now play for the shorter formats of the game.
After the successful implementation of cash subsidy on LPG for below poverty line families, Indian government is set up to launch direct transfer of cash subsidy on kerosene. The scheme known as DTCK (direct transfer of cash subsidy on PDS kerosene) would be covered under two phases. Under the subsidy, seven districts of three states would be covered in the first phase. Initially, the scheme would be launched in north Goa, Ajmer, Udaipur, Alwar, Nandurbar, Amrawati and Wardha covering Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Soon 1,000 and 500 rupee notes will be used in circulation in Nepal as both Nepal and India has agreed to allow circulation of Rs.500 and Rs.1, 000 denominations in Nepal. Earlier there was a ban in Nepal for over a decade to use Indian bank notes above Rs.100 within Nepalese territory but after Nepal-India Inter Governmental Committee (ICG) meeting, both countries decided to commence the circulation in Nepal of these denominations.
Focusing on to reduce rash and drunken driving during the festive season, Vodafone has launched a unique initiative called ‘Safe Drive Campaign. One of India’s leading telecommunication service providers, Vodafone’s initiative was launched in association with Motors Vehicle Department. As a part of this campaign, people will be urged two-wheeler riders as well as pillion riders to wear helmets while driving. Also they will emphasize to stop using mobile phones while on wheels.
An annual convention of Bengali literary personalities of India, the 86th Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan will be inaugurated in Allahabad by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India. More than 1000 dignitaries including writer, philosopher and thinker will visit the conference to share some literary thoughts related to Bengali culture.
Appointment
Senior IAS officer Ashok Lavasa has been selected as Civil Aviation Secretary. Presently Lavasa is Special Secretary in Ministry of Power. The 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre will succeed K N Srivastava, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre at the end of this year. He will start working after superannuation of incumbent Srivastava.
The current Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Marpadi Veerappa Moily is the newly appointed Environment and Forests Minister. A congress MP from the state of Karnataka Moily took this additional charge after the resignation of Jayanthi Natarajan. Earlier he has served as Chief Minister of Karnataka and Corporate Affairs and Minister of Power in the Indian government and was elected as MP of the Chickballapur district.
Senior IPS officer J N Choudhury is the newly appointed head of National Security Guard (NSG) that undertakes special counter-terror and counter-hijack operations. He will replace Arvind Ranjan as Ranjan will start serving as the full-time chief of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Sports
South African Vernon Philander topped the latest ICC Test rankings in bowling and batting of December. He recorded figures of four for 61 and three for 68 while Steyn managed just one wicket. After this, he became the seventh South Africa bowler to claim the number-one rank after Aubrey Faulkner, Hugh Tayfield, Peter Pollock, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn. On rankings for Test batsmen, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis had moved in the right direction.
South Africa’s legendary all-rounder cricketer Jacques Kallis has announced his retirement from Test cricket just after the second Test against India which will start at Kingsmead on Thursday. 38 years old Kallis will now play for the shorter formats of the game.
