UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 18

PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 19

TRIFED celebrates World Honey Bee Day 

To create awareness about Beekeeping and uses of its products including Honey, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) is celebrating World Honey Bee Day (WHBD) on 19th August. The main theme of celebrating WHBD is to save Indian honey bee.

Beekeeping has been useful in pollination of crops, thereby, increasing income of the farmers/beekeepers by way of increasing crop yield and providing honey and other beehive products, viz. royal jelly, bee pollen, propolis, bees wax, etc. that serves a source of livelihood for rural poor.

TRIFED is an apex organisation at National Level and functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs. TRIFED is serving the interests of Tribals, who are engaged in collection of NTFP and making of Tribal Art & Handicraft Products for their livelihood .


 

Water storage level of 91 major reservoirs of the country goes up by one percent 

The water storage available in 91 major reservoirs of the country for the week ending on August was 75.694 BCM which is 48% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs. This percentage was at 47 for the week ending on August, 2017. The level of August, 2017 was 79% of the storage of corresponding period of last year and 82% of storage of average of last ten years.  

The total storage capacity of these 91 reservoirs is 157.799 BCM which is about 62% of the total storage capacity of 253.388 BCM which is estimated to have been created in the country. 37 Reservoirs out of these 91 have hydropower benefit with installed capacity of more than 60 MW.


 

Shri J P Nadda chairs high level review meeting on prevention and control of vector borne diseases in Delhi 

Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare held a high level meeting to review the activities for prevention and control of vector borne diseases (dengue, malaria, chikungunya and swine flu) in Delhi, here today

Shri Nadda stressed on the critical importance of prevention of vector-borne diseases and stated that all stakeholders including the Government of Delhi, Municipal Corporations, RWAs, NGOs and the people have an important role to play in prevention of breeding of the vectors that cause these diseases

He stated that a strong awareness campaign is very effective for educating people to keep their home and surrounding areas free of water clogging. He urged the Health Minister of Delhi to launch a house-to-house IEC campaign for creating widespread awareness.

The Mayors of Delhi informed that such a campaign has already started and various forms of media are being used to reach out to people. Shri Nadda stated that when people are equipped with proper information, they are capable of preventing such diseases and also seeking timely medical intervention.

The Union Health Minister suggested for a workshop to be organised by the Delhi Government for all concerned agencies and stakeholders to sensitise them on the protocols for prevention and management of vector-borne diseases that normally see a spike during the monsoon season.


 

Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley writes to State Chief Ministers to reduce burden of Value Added Tax on Petroleum Products used for manufacturing 

The Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley has written to State Chief Ministers urging the States to reduce burden of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Petroleum Products used as inputs in making of goods after the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The letter by Finance Minister highlights a concern being raised by the manufacturing sector in the country regarding the rise in input costs of petroleum products happening on account of transition to Goods and Services Tax regime.

Thus Sh Arun Jaitley has requested other States also to explore the possibility of having a lower rate of VAT on petroleum products used for manufacturing of those items on which there is GST, so that there is minimum disruption in the costing of goods.


 

CEOs’ Conference at New Delhi on 18th and 19th August, 2017-regarding 

A two day Chief Electoral Officers’ Conference of all States and Union Territories commenced in New Delhi today.

Addressing the Chief Electoral Officers of the States and Union Territories, Shri. A.K. Joti, Chief Election Commissioner stressed on the need of providing E-services to stakeholders and emphasised the requirement to develop E-Payment gateways for various election services of Election commission of India.

He underlined the need for extensive training programmes on VVPAT as ECI has decided to conduct all future elections using VVPAT along with EVMs. CEC also stated that “SVEEP” be developed as core area of election management.


 

UPSC Mains Question

“Government’s efforts in combating vector borne diseases in India is moderate”- Critically analyse.

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