By: D.K Chaudhary
1. Important Cabinet Approvals- 2nd May 2018
i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows-
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. Financial assistance to sugar mills for clearing cane dues of farmers: the approval has been given to provide financial assistance @ of Rs. 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane, in order to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers.
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. Financial assistance to sugar mills for clearing cane dues of farmers: the approval has been given to provide financial assistance @ of Rs. 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane, in order to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers.
2. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be Held in Varanasi
i. The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in the holy city of Varanasi in January 2019 with the Indian diaspora having an option to participate in Kumbha Snan and attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
ii. This year’s event would be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth. Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Uttar Pradesh government, the theme of this Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India”.
ii. This year’s event would be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth. Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Uttar Pradesh government, the theme of this Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India”.
3. Telecom Commission Approves Proposal for In-Flight Mobile Services
i. Telecom Commission approved a proposal for allowing people to make phone calls and use internet services in domestic and international flights in India, with certain riders. Telecom Commission (the highest decision-making body of telecom department) also approved regulator TRAI’s recommendations on internet telephony in its meeting in New Delhi.
ii. Another proposal that received approval entails creation of an ombudsman to deal with telecom grievances.
ii. Another proposal that received approval entails creation of an ombudsman to deal with telecom grievances.
- Suresh Prabhu is the Cabinet Minister of Civil Aviation.
4. Government Releases Draft New Telecom Policy
i. The government has released the draft of the new Telecom policy named National Digital Communications Policy, 2018. The policy aims at creating 40 lakh new jobs by 2022, attracting 100 billion US dollars investment in the sector and ensuring broadband coverage at 50 mbps for every citizen.
ii. The draft proposes one Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022.
ii. The draft proposes one Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022.
- Manoj Sinha is the Minister of State (I/C) of the Ministry of Communications.
- Smriti Zubin Irani is the Cabinet Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
5. Cabinet Approves Accession to Protocol Under WHO Framework Convention
i. The Union Cabinet has given the approval to accede to the Protocol under World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on tobacco control to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
ii. It will be applicable to both smoking and chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated and adopted under Article 15 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). India is a party to WHO FCTC.
ii. It will be applicable to both smoking and chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated and adopted under Article 15 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). India is a party to WHO FCTC.
- The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.
- The objective of FCTC is to provide a framework for supply and demand reduction measures for tobacco control at the national, regional and global levels.
