UTTARAKHAND
Government starts online chopper booking for Kedarnath
Pilgrims who are willing to visit Kedarnath shrine by helicopter can now book tickets for all available helicopter services through the online portal heliservices.uk.gov.in. The facility which was started from August 7 has already enabled 1013 people to book their tickets to Kedarnath in the first two days.
70 per cent of the ticket booking will be done online and rest 30 per cent booking will be done through offline mode that too on the spot. For offline booking three counters will be established one at Guptkashi and two at Phata.
INTERNATIONAL
International Youth Day: 12 August
The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society.
It is meant as an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.
2019 Theme: ‘Transforming education’
NATIONAL
3rd International Electric Vehicle Conclave held in Manesar, Gurugram
The Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the 3rd International Electric Vehicle (EV) Conclave at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Gurugram.
The Conclave was held to create a knowledge-sharing platform to ensure the flow of information at all levels in the automotive sector.
The EV Conclave organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has grown and transformed itself into a global event since its inception in 2017.
The Conclave was attended by more than 200 delegates from more than 80 organizations.
Rohingya refugees get identity cards in Bangladesh
Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh issued identity documents by the UNHCR. The bio-metric, fraud-proof cards are being issued jointly by Bangladeshi authorities and UNHCR to all verified refugees over the age of 12. These cards will help in establishing and safeguarding the right of Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Myanmar.The current registration exercise began in June 2018 and it is scheduled to be completed during the last quarter of the current year.
UNHCR’s Bio-metric Identity Management System (BIMS) captures bio-metric data, including fingerprints and iris scans which secure each refugee’s unique identity as well as other important information such as family links.UNHCR, Bangladesh more than 9 lakh Rohingya refugees out of which close to 7 lakh 50 thousand refugees arrived after August 2017 fleeing Rakhine province of Myanmar amid violence and military crackdown. Bangladesh claims to have 11 lakh Rohingya refugees in the country.
Manipur tops the Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country
Manipur has topped the rankings in Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the country. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan released a report onBreastfeeding in New Delhi. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar are at the bottom positions of the report card.
National capital Delhi is also among the worst-performing States. The Breastfeeding report card has been developed by devising a composite score based on three indicators namely early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and complimentary feeding at 6-8 months of child’s age.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) seeks to enhance nutrition, health and development of infants and young children through programmes designed to increase national and state commitments, education of public and health care workers about breastfeeding. The 45% children died due to undernutrition effects
The Breastfeeding Improves the child’s IQ level. The benefit of Breastfeeding not only saves child but also saves the mother from breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Indian Railways launches onboard shopping
Indian Railways introduced onboard shopping in train for passengers traveling in the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Karnavati Express. The services will start from Thursday and passengers can enjoy it on both the directions of the train.
This will give the opportunity to passengers to buy FMCG products of daily need while commuting. The Ministry of Railways tweeted about the new service.
The passengers can buy cosmetics, stationery and other items on some trains on MRP. Among others, household products, oral care, skincare, haircare products, cosmetics, health-related items, paper products, confectionery, stationery products and other will be available and sold as per their maximum retail price. Apart from the cash payment mode, passengers traveling in the train and buying goods can make payment through credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay and Paytm.The double-decker Karnavati Express travels from Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central and vice-versa.
The Mumbai division of Western Railway was awarded the contract for onboard shopping for passengers in 16 mail and express trains for a period of five years to a private player who will have the license to sell household products and beauty products among others. The contract was given for five years at a cost of ₹3.5 crore.
President approved the NMC Bill
President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to the National Medical Commission Bill 2019. The Bill will replace the Medical Council of India (MCI), which was functional as per the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) will form the apex regulatory body for medical education in India. The commission will ensure the quality of the medical colleges and every institute will now be rated.
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurates interstate portability in two clusters of states
The main objective of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurated the inter-State portability of public distribution in two clusters in the adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The one nation one ration card is the system has its ability to buy subsidized food grains from ration shops in any part of the country at low cost.
The Installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices is the portability of ration card holders supported by the Aadhaar authentication. About 77 percent otherwise as More than 4.1 lakh ePoS devices are already in operational across the country. More than 85 percent ration cards in the country have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers of the beneficiaries in 25 States/UTs have either completed the installation
There are 11 States/Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura, have implemented the intra-State portability of ration cardholders to lift the entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shops (FPSs) within their State are expected to introduce inter-State portability from January 1,2020.
Vice President Book Listening, Learning and Leading released
Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu released a book titled “Listening, Learning and Leading” of his two years in office. The abrogation of Article 370 should not be considered as a political issue in the interest of the security of the nation and the future of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Book “Listening, Learning and Leading” released by Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah. Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu received the first copy.
The event was hosted by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s popular alliteration and witty remarks, created a cordial atmosphere in the Rajya Sabha. A part of the book release, Regional Outreach Bureau, Chennai organized a photo exhibition highlighting the journey of the Vice President from a student leader. Shri. Venkaiah Naidu’s interaction with a cross section of society, meeting with world leaders and visits to Universities, Research institutions were also pictured.