April 13, provides a central platform, web-portal ( as well as mobile app for state

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1 April 13, 2017 Government launches URJA MITRA APP The Union Ministry of Power has launched URJA MITRA app for empowering citizens by real time information sharing on power supply. The app is a first of its kind which provides a central platform, web-portal ( as well as mobile app for state power Distribution utilities to disseminate power outage information to rural/ urban power consumers through SMS/ push/ notifications across the country. Government sets up inter-ministerial panel to monitor UDAN The Union Government has set up an Inter- Ministerial Monitoring-cum-Coordination Committee to monitor the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. UDAN is regional air connectivity scheme (RCS) which seeks to make flying affordable by connecting un served and under-served airports. Key Facts The committee will be responsible for coordination among stakeholders, including state governments for time-bound implementation of the scheme. It will also monitor schemes of promotion of regional connectivity by way of revival of un served and under-served airports/airstrips and UDAN. It will be chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary and will have representations from the ministries of Finance, Defence, Home as well as Petroleum and 1

2 Natural Gas. Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman, representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security), officials of airlines and states concerned will be also its part. India and Georgia Sign Joint Statement India and Georgia have signed a Joint Statement on the launching of the Joint Feasibility Study on the Free Trade Agreement between both countries. The statement was signed by Union Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Georgia s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia. Key Facts The objective of the study is to further promote economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries for creating favourable conditions for more comprehensive economic cooperation. Upon the completion of the Joint Feasibility Study both countries may proceed to negotiations on an FTA once the internal procedures are completed and the mandates on negotiations are approved. In this regard, Joint Feasibility Study Group consisting of the officials of the two countries has been established. It will provide an opportunity for more indepth and systematic examination of potential FTA. It will discuss possible scope of a potential FTA and analyse sensitiveness of specific sectors and recommend possible ways to address them. 2

3 Government Reduces number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes to 28 The Union Government has reduced the number of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) from 66 to 28 umbrella schemes, effective from the financial year These schemes were reduced based on the recommendation of the sub-group of Chief Ministers on rationalization of centrally sponsored schemes Key Facts: Government has categorized 6 schemes as Core of the Core, 20 schemes as Core Schemes and remaining two as Optional Schemes. If required government is also planning to merge the related schemes and implement them as Umbrella Schemes with flexibility to states to administer in the line with their requirements. Core schemes: For these schemes, the fundsharing pattern between the Centre and states would be 60:40 for general category states. For the eight Northeastern and three Himalayan states, ratio is 90:10. Core-of-core Schemes: These schemes are fully funded by the Centre. Some of the schemes included in this category are: MGRNEA, National Social Assistance Plan and the National Programme for Persons with Disabilities. Daily Dynamic Pricing to be introduced for Petrol and Diesel Petrol and Diesel prices will change every day in sync with international rates in five select cities from 1st May. Daily revision of petrol and diesel price will be first implemented in Puducherry, Vizag in Andhra Pradesh, Udaipur in Rajasthan, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Chandigarh. Indian Oil Corporation- 3

4 IOC chairman B Ashok told a news agency that state-owned fuel retailers IOC, BPCL and HPCL will launch it on a pilot basis and gradually extend it to other parts of the county Open ended Non Bailable Warrant Issued Against Vijay Mallaya A Delhi court today issued an open ended non-bailable warrant against businessman Vijay Mallya in a case of allegedly evading summons in a Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) violation matter. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass passed the order after the Enforcement Directorate submitted that non-bailable warrant issued on November 4 last year by the court has not been executed and it needs more time to do so. An 'open-ended NBW' does not carry a time limit for execution unlike 'NBW'. The court, which put up the matter for next hearing on November 8, however, asked the agency to file a progress report in this regard within two months. Manappuram Finance launches co branded Cards with Yes Bank Manappuram Finance has launched a co branded Card with YES Bank, which is a prepaid card. The maximum amount that can be loaded on this card is Rs and it can be used in POS Terminals also. Customers can also withdraw cash from any of the 3300 branches of Manappuram Finance. The card will be available for 20 lacs customers of Manappuram Finance and will also be linked to their Gold Loan Account. 4

5 Russia Condemns US Attack on Syria Russia has said, US violated the international law by launching an air-strike on a Syrian military airfield without providing any evidence of the use of chemical weapons by the Damascus Government. In an interview to a TV channel, President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow that the air-strike was carried out on a sovereign country, without an approval by the United Nations Security Council. Earlier, Mr Putin had criticized the strike, comparing it to the military intervention in Iraq. Meanwhile, US has said, its military's policy in Syria has not changed and emphasized that its priority is the defeat of the Islamic State terror group. Speaking at his first news conference since last week's attack on a Syrian airbase, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Washington had determined that a measured military response could best deter the Syrian regime from using chemical weapons again. The UN Security Council is to vote today on a draft resolution demanding that the Syrian government cooperate with the investigation of the attack. US diplomats said Britain, France and the United States put forward the measure which was slightly revised from a previous text presented last week in response to the attack. 5

6 India beat Malaysia 5-1 to win fifth Asian School Hockey Championship in Bhopal The Indian School team beat Malaysia 5-1 to lift the title at the Fifth Asian School Hockey Championship in Bhopal at the Aishbagh Stadium yesterday. For India Alishan Mohammad scored two goals and Pratap Lakra successfully converted a penalty corner and a penalty stroke in the goal. Maninder Singh scored the fifth goal. Malaysia managed to score its single goal through Akhimullah Anuar Esook 6