President of India’s message on the eve of Independence Day of Kiribati
- India and Kiribati have traditionally enjoyed warm and cordial relations based on mutual respect, goodwill and mutual understanding.
- India continues to support Kiribati and other Pacific Island Countries in their development needs.
- Kiribati participated in the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference hosted by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs in Suva from 25-26 May 2017.
- The deliberations on sustainable development, Blue Economy, health care, climate change, renewable energy and disaster risk reduction will help Kiribati to identify sectors in which India and Kiribati can enhance co- operation for the benefit of our two peoples.
Ministry of Civil Aviation seeks to upgrade its AirSewa web portal; consults
stakeholders for designing AirSewa 2.0
- AirSewa is a one-stop solution for grievance redressal as passengers can now register any grievance on the mobile app or web portal. They can also upload voice or video along with an elaborate description of their issues.
- The portal has helped make the grievance redressal system responsive, transparent, accountable and efficient by using technology.
- Users can now track the status and response through reference number provided.
- There are stipulated timelines in place to address the issue. The portal is closely monitored by control room to ensure timely and effective redressal.
- A message is sent to the concerned nodal officer if any grievance remains unattended or unresolved.
- To improve the user experience an option to provide feedback and rate the overall experience and satisfaction has been provided.
Government Organizes The National Consultative Workshop on Government
e-Marketplace (GeM)
- GeM has ensured transparency and reduction in costs in public procurement.
- GeM is being recognized as the national e-procurement portal.
- Following the processes under GeM platform, around 20-30% reduction of price has been achieved as compared to what it was prior to GeM.
- Therefore, there is substantial tangible evidence that the processes followed at the portal is indeed bringing cost down.
- Most importantly, the sellers do not have to run around from pillar to post to get their payment, which will be made within 10 days of the delivery of the products and services.
About Government E-Marketplace (GeM)
- Based on recommendations of Group of Secretaries made to Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government decided that DGS&D will create a one stop Government eMarketplace (GeM) to facilitate online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organizations / PSUs.
- GeM aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.
- It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users achieve the best value for their money.
- DGS&D took appropriate actions to align the existing rules to cater to GeM including swift payment to Suppliers / Sellers after successful delivery of Goods & Services.
No GST is applicable on free food supplied in anna kshetras run by religious
institutions
- Prasadam supplied by religious places like temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, dargahs, etc. attracts Nil CGST and SGST or IGST, as the case may be.
Shri J P Nadda launches new family planning initiatives on World Population
Day
- ‘Mission Parivar Vikas’ to focus on 146 districts in 7 states with high TFR
- Mission Parivar Vikas is a new initiative conceived by the Health Ministry with a strategic focus on improving access through provision of services, promotional schemes, commodity security, capacity building, enabling environment and intensive monitoring.
- The health minister introduced the new injectable in the public health system under the “Antara” program and launched a new software – Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS) – designed to provide robust information on the demand and distribution of contraceptives to health facilities and ASHAs to strengthen supply chain management.
- A continuum of care approach has been adopted by the Ministry with the articulation of ‘Strategic approach to Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent health (RMNCH+A), bringing focus on all the life stages.
- The changes in population growth rates and age structures are closely linked to national and global developmental challenges and their solutions.
- The issue of population stabilization is so gigantic in its proportion that the government alone cannot address the issue and thus the collective involvement of NGOs, private sector and corporate sector shall play a pivotal role.
Minister of Railways Inaugurates Madgaon leg of the Science Express today
- The IX Phase of the prestigious Science Express exhibition train which is on a Nationwide tour since 17 February 2017 reached Madgaon in Goa today i.e. 11 July 2017.
- This phase of train is being referred as ‘Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS)’ highlighting the global challenge of climate change.
Background
- Science Express is a flagship programme of the Dept. of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
- It is an innovative mobile science exhibition mounted on a 16 coach AC train, traveling across India since October 2007.
- Phase V to VII was based on the theme of biodiversity and as ‘Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)’, it showcased the rich biodiversity of India and its conservation measures.
- Phase VIII as ‘Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS)’ highlighted the global challenge of climate change.
NITI Aayog sorts out the pending issues of Punjab with various Ministries of
Union Government
- NITI Aayog is closely working with the States to foster cooperative federalism through structured support and mechanisms.
- One of the mandates assigned to NITI Aayog is to offer a platform for resolution of pending issues with the Central Government to accelerate the implementation of developmental agenda of the States.
NITI Aayog
- NITI Aayog or the National Institution for Transforming India is a Government of India policy think-tank established by the NDA government to replace the Planning Commission which followed the top-down model.
- The stated aim for NITI Aayog’s creation is to foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India.
- The emphasis is on bottom-up approach and make the country to move towards cooperative federalism.
- The Union Government of India announced the formation of NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015, and the first meeting was held on 8 February 2015.
- The Prime Minister serves as the Ex-officio chairman.
- The governing council consists of all state Chief Ministers, chief ministers of Delhi and Puducherry, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar, and vice chairman nominated by the Prime Minister.
- In addition to full members, there are two part-time members and four ex-officio members and a chief executive officer. The temporary members are selected from the leading universities and research institutions.
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