Dictionary of Martyrs

(Prime Minister’s Office)

 

WHAT

The Prime Minister released the Dictionary of Martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle. It contains the martyrs from India’s First War of Independence in 1857, to India’s Independence in 1947.

BACKGROUND

The project was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of uprising of 1857.

MARTYRS INCLUDES

• It includes ex-INA or ex-military personnel who died fighting the British.
• It includes the martyrs of 1857 Uprising.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34).
• Quit India Movement (1942-44).
• Revolutionary Movements (1915-34).
• Kissan Movements.
• Tribal Movements.
• Agitation for Responsible Government in the Princely States (Prajamandal).
• Indian National Army (INA, 1943-45).
• Royal Indian Navy Upsurge (RIN, 1946), etc.

FIVE VOLUMES

• “Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 1, Parts I & II. In this volume, more than 4400 martyrs of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been listed.
• “Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 2, Parts I & II. In this volume more than 3500 martyrs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir have been listed.
• “Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 3. The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1400. This volume covers the martyrs of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Sind.
• “Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 4. The numbers of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 3300. This volume covers the martyrs of Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
• “Dictionary of Martyrs: India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”, Volume 5. The number of martyrs covered in this volume is more than 1450. This volume covers the martyrs of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Source: PIB

 

 

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

(Prime Minister’s office)

WHAT

The Union Government had decided to celebrate 7th March 2019 as ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ across India, for  creating awareness and providing impetus on the use of generic medicines.

PRADHAN MANTRI BHARTIYA JANAUSHADHI PARIYOJANA (PMBJP)

The scheme was launched by Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to masses through special Kendra’s known as PMBJP.

• These special kendras provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drug.

Objective: Making quality medicine available at affordable price. 

INITIATIVES

• The costs of 850 essential medicines were regulated.
• The prices of heart stent and equipment for knee surgery were reduced.
• More than five thousand Jan Aushadi Kendras have been opened
• The approach of the Government is ‘No Silos- Only Solutions’.
• 15 new AIIMs have been either built or are being built.
• 31,000 MBBS and post-graduation seats in medical sector have been increased.

Source: PIB

 

 

Visually impaired friendly coins

(Prime Minister’s Office)

WHAT

• Prime Minister released the new series of visually impaired friendly circulation coins.
• 1, Rs.2, Rs.5, Rs.10 and Rs.20 are the various denominations of coins.
• Coins are introduced by National Institute of Design for the design, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited and the Ministry of Finance.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Reaching the last mile and the last person.
• These coins will greatly ease their daily routine.

FEATURES

• The new circulation coins with various differentiating features will greatly aid the visually impaired.
• The coins are characterized by the increasing size and weight from lower to higher denominations.
• The newly included coin of Rs. 20, will be a 12 sided coin with no serrations.
• The rest of the denominations would be of round shape.

Source: PIB

 

 

Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)

(Cabinet)

WHAT

Cabinet approves “FMBAP” for Flood Management Works in entire country and River Management Activities and works related to Border Areas during 2017-18 to 2019-20.

BENEFITS

• The Scheme will be implemented throughout the country for effective flood management, erosion control and anti-sea erosion.
• The proposal will benefit towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, infrastructure etc. from floods and erosion in the country.
• The catchment area treatment works will help in reduction of sediment load into rivers.

FUNDING

• 50% (centre) & 50% (state) for projects of North Eastern States.
• 70% (centre) & 30% (state) for project rest anywhere.
• 100% grant-in-aid/ central assistance for projects in border areas with neighbouring country and in accordance with bilateral mechanism.

Merger of two schemes: “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and “River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas (RMBA)”.

AIM

• Provide protection against floods in critical areas.
• Completion of the on-going projects already approved under FMP.
• The scheme caters to Hydro-meteorological observations and Flood Forecasting on common rivers with the neighbouring countries.

Source: PIB

 

 

Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre Ordinance, 2019

(Cabinet)

WHAT

The union cabinet has approved the proposal for promulgation of “The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Ordinance, 2019” considering the University/ College as a unit instead of ‘Department/ Subject’.

IMPACT

This decision is expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions to attract all eligible talented candidates.

BENEFITS

• This decision will allow filling up of more than 5000 vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers’ Cadre.
• It ensures the Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21 shall be complied with and stipulated reservation criteria for the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes are met with.

Source: PIB

 

 

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)

(Cabinet)

WHAT

The cabinet approved the grant of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) facilities to:

• World War-II Veterans.
• Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs).
• Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs).
• Pre-mature retirees.

ADVANTAGE

Over 43,000 individuals will be able to avail the benefits of cashless medical treatment under ECHS.

ECHS SCHEME

• ECHS scheme is a dedicated and comprehensive scheme of launched in 2003 for medicare of retired personnel of Armed Forces.
• Under this scheme, ex-servicemen pensioners and their dependants are authorised treatment, in both civil/ private hospitals empanelled with the ECHS.
• ECHS is a contributory scheme.
• On retirement, every service personnel will compulsorily become member of ECHS by making a onetime contribution.

OTHER WELAFRE MEASURES

• ‘One Rank One Pension’ for ex-servicemen.
• Increase in pension by 40%.
• Disability pension for pre-mature retirees.
• Applicability of battle causality compensation at Line of Actual Control, Line of Control and International Border.
• Financial assistance to soldiers on their supreme sacrifice through newly created Army Battle Causalities Welfare Fund.
• Enhancement of ex-gratia ad-hoc allowance.
• Special Pension to Ex-sailors.
• Skill development training in 36 job roles to over 30,000 retiring soldiers so far.

Source: PIB

 

Thermal Power Project

(Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs)

WHAT

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the investment approval for:

• 1320MW = 2×660 MW Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in District Bulandshahar of Uttar Pradesh.
• 1320MW = 2×660 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project (Buxar TPP) in District Buxar of Bihar.
• The project is expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment and overall development.
• Both the project will start yielding benefits from 2023-24.

Source: PIB

 

 

Teesta Stage-VI HE Project

(Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs)

WHAT

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, given its approval for the:

• Acquisition of M/s Lanco Teesta Hydro Power Ltd (LTHPL).
• Execution of balance work of the Teesta Stage-Vl HE Project in Sikkim.

PROJECT

• Teesta Stage-Vl HE Project is a Run of River (RoR) Scheme in Sirwani Village of Sikkim.
• The project will utilize the power potential of Teesta River Basin.
• The project would generate 2400 MUs in a 90% dependable year with Installed Capacity of 500 MW (4x125MW).

Source: PIB

 

 

Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project in Jammu and Kashmir

(Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs)

 

WHAT

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the investment sanction for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project (624 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir.

• The project undertaken by M/s Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (M/s CVPPPL).
• The project is located on River Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir.
• It envisages construction of a 135 m high concrete gravity Dam.
• Kiru HE Project is envisaged as a Run of River (RoR) Scheme, designed complying with the requirements of Indus Water Treaty 1960.
• Installed capacity 624 MW (4 x 156 MW)

BENEFITS

• The project shall provide much needed power in northern grid.
• It shall accelerate process of development of remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Source: PIB

 

 

e-Dharti app

(Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs)

WHAT

• e-Dharti app which is a new online system where all the three main modules i.e. Conversion, Substitution and Mutation have been made online.
• Work is also going on other three small modules namely Sale Permission, Mortgage Permission, Gift Permission and will be completed soon.
• The payment system in Land & Development Office (L&DO) has also been completely digitized.

LAND & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

• It deals with public applications which are mainly related to:
• Conversion of property from leasehold to freehold.
• Substitution of names of legal heirs.
• Mutation in the name of purchaser.
• The office also deals with applications related to Sale Permission, Mortgage Permission and  Gift Permission.

e-Dharti Geo Portal

• It is Global Information System (GIS) based mapping of all its approx. 65000 properties.
• Through this application each and every Government property under L&DO is proposed to be mapped on a portal called “e-Dharti Geo Portal”.
• Through this portal the Lessee of the property will be able to see the basic details of his/her property along with map showing its location.
• The Lessee can also be issued a Property Card from this office about his property if he asks for it.
• This application will benefit both the public and the Government in getting to know the actual status of its vacant properties, whether there is any encroachment on the said property, etc.

Source: PIN

 

 

‘Bharat 2019’ and ‘India 2019’

(Ministry of Information & Broadcasting)

WHAT

• The popular Reference Annuals ‘Bharat 2019’ and ‘India 2019’ were released by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Compiled by the New Media Wing.
• Edited and published by Publications Division under the Ministry.
• This is the 63rd Edition of the prestigious publication.
• These books are an important tool to highlight the policies and achievements of the Government.

Source: PIB