18 December 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam

Timeless Laxman

Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the coffee table book “Timeless Laxman”, based on the famous cartoonist RK Laxman. 

RK Laxman’s creation:

He is best known for the creation of iconic character The Common Man, for his daily cartoon strip, You Said It in The Times of India (TOI). It was started in 1951. This character held a mirror to the society and targeted politicians for more than five decades. In 1988, a commemorative postage stamp of The Common Man was released by the Indian Postal Service on the 150th anniversary of TOI. He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called Gattu in 1954.


Kisan Suvidha mobile application

Context: The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has developed  Kisan Suvidha mobile application to facilitate dissemination of information to farmers.

Information to farmers will be provided on critical parameters like Weather; Market Prices;  Plant Protection;  Agro-advisory; Extreme Weather Alerts; Dealers–Seed, Pesticide, Fertilizer, Farm Machinery; Soil Health Card; Cold Storages & Godowns, Veterinary Centres and Diagnostic Labs.

The app will be beneficial to farmers by providing valuable information like package of practices, market prices of various commodities, weather related information, advisory services, etc.


Government Initiatives in North Eastern region

National Bamboo Mission

  • Union Finance Ministry in February this year announced the “National Bamboo Mission” in the Annual Budget
  • Increase area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change.
  • Promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based handicrafts.
  • Establish convergence and synergy among stakeholders for the development of bamboo.

Sikkim arrives on India’s air link map

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim. This is the first airport in the Himalayan State and the 100th airport in the country. In order to ensure that Pakyong Airport is affordable to the common man, this airport is part of the UDAN scheme.

New train ‘Arunachal Express’ flagged off

A new train between Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and Anand Vihar Terminal in the national capital was flagged offThe new train, known as ‘Arunachal Express’ covers the 2,013 kilometre distance between Naharlagun and Anand Vihar Terminal in little over 38 hours and would have 14 stoppages en-route. This is the second direct train for Arunachal Pradesh and 14th for North East to connect with the national capital.

PM lays foundation stone of India’s first National Sports University

Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the National Sports University, 1,000 Anganwadi Centres and several other important development projects in Manipur.

To ace UPSC current affairs section, read more PIB articles here.

Also see:

National Bamboo Mission
Khelo India-National Programme for Development of Sports
RSTV The Big Picture: Does India’s Agriculture Policy need a Relook? 

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