By: D.K Choudhary
Union Cabinet Approvals – December 1 2016
i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the negotiating position adopted by the Government of India at the 28th Meeting of Parties(MoP) to the Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention for Protection of Ozone Layer that took place during 6-14 October, 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda.
ii. The Union Cabinet lead by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved a Central Assistance of Rs. 2000 crore for 36,384 displaced families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb based on an announcement of Prime Minister’s Development Package for Jammu & Kashmir-2015 in November, 2015.
iii. The Union approved the liberalisation, simplification and rationalisation of the country’s visa regime to stimulate economic growth and ease travel for foreigners
iv. Central Government approved inclusion of 15 new castes and modification in 13 other castes in the Central list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Himachal Pradesh Raj Bhawan adopts cashless system for all kinds of Transactions
i. Himachal Pradesh, Governor Acharya Devvrat has directed the Raj Bhawan staff in Shimla to adopt cashless system or cheque in all kind of payments to ensure that all transactions are made online.
ii. Governor has also appealed students, teachers and NGO’s to make common people aware about cashless system
iii. He stressed on the need for adopting a cashless system across the state and welcomed the decision of Prime minister Narendra Modi to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes to eliminate black money.
iv. Himachal Rajbhawan is the first in country to adopt these cashless techniques so promptly.
UP Government Flags off Trial Run of Lucknow Metro Service
i. The opening ceremony of the Uttar Pradesh government’s Lucknow Metro Service was held at Transport Nagar Metro depot, near Amausi airport in Lucknow, on December 1, 2016.
ii. The trial run of the metro was flagged off up to 8.5 km stretch Charbagh station by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.
iii. Top Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) officers were closely monitoring the test runs of the newly-acquired gleaming silver and red-ribbon coaches on the 700-metre track inside its state-of-the-art Transport Nagar Metro Depot.
iv. However, (LMRC) officers announced that the metro train service will be available to service Lucknow people in 2017 and March 26,2017 will be the date of commencement of the Metro Train service in Lucknow..
v. Lucknow metro service, a 23-kms long North-South corridor having 21 stations, will add to the city’s infrastructure after Gomti Riverfront Development and Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
Hornbill Festival Kicks Off In Naga Heritage Village Of Kisama
i. The 10-day long Hornbill Festival began at the Naga Heritage village Kisama on December 1, 2016, which is coinciding with the Statehood Day of Nagaland.
ii. Objective: To revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage.
iii. The festival was inaugurated by Guru Sangyusang Pongener of Ungma village under Mokokchung district while the inaugural celebrations of ‘Unity in Culture’ was presented by Sky Entertainment.
iv. The festival is a tribute to the revered bird for the Nagas ‘Hornbill’ for its qualities of alertness and grandeur
Delhi HC sets aside Centre’s ban on 344 drugs
i. The Delhi High Court on December 1, 2016 agreed with pharmaceutical companies to set aside the ban on 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs like Corex cough syrup, Vicks Action 500 extra and D’Cold.
ii. The FDC is banned under Section 26A (Power to Prohibit Manufacture of Drugs and Cosmetics in Public Interest) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
What is FDC:
A fixed-dose combination (FDC) is a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) combined in a single dosage form, which is manufactured and distributed in fixed doses
