1.Union Government launches Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign
Union Government has launched ambitious Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign to save and empower girl child. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana.
Why Haryana was chosen to launch Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign?
Haryana was chosen to launch the nation-wide Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative because of the skewed sex ratio in the state. It has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratio in country which stands at 879 girls per 1,000 boys as against the national child sex ratio of 918 girls per 1000 boys. Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign It aims to spread awareness about the declining trend of Child Sex Ratio in the country.
Objective: To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination by strict enforcement of laws with stringent punishment to violators. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), is the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. While, Centre has provided initial corpus of 100 crore rupees for it. It will be implemented in 100 districts of the country, including 12 districts of Haryana. In this regard, union government will try to ensure access and availability of essential requirements related to nutrition, health-care, education, protection and elimination of discrimination of girl child. This scheme will also generate awareness and improve the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women. Thus, by launching this scheme government is aiming to eliminate gender inequality by creating favourable environment including employable opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice for women.
2. Union Government launches HRIDAY scheme
Union government has launched a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country. Union governments ambitious Rs 500 crore HRIDAY project was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under HRIDAY. The 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Warangal and Amaravati.
3. Cyberabad CP awarded by ECI for Best Electoral Practices-2014
Cyberabad Police Commissioner (PC) CV Anand has been conferred with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) National Special Category Award for the Best Electoral Practices- 2014. He has been bestowed this award for the commendable election related measures taken by him in the area of ‘Expenditure Monitoring and Tackling Money Power’ during the General Elections of 2014. He will receive the award in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on January 25 on the occasion of National Voter’s Day Function.
4. Shanta Kumar Committee on FCI restructuring submitted its report to the Prime Minister
Shanta Kumar Committee on 21 January 2015 submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister asked the Department of Food and Public Distribution to give its comments on the report so that the recommendations can be implemented in a time-bound manner.
5. Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial award
Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Kerala has won the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) biennial award for encouraging local public participation in managing the reserve. Public participation in managing the Periyar Tiger Reserve. India Eco-Development project (IEDP): People’s participation started in the reserve in December 1996 by establishing India Eco-Development project (IEDP). It was a community-based eco-tourism initiative, which promoted tourism activities which helped visitors. It also promoted pepper growing in this region and marketing it. Periyar Foundation: Later in 2006, reserve set up the Periyar Foundation which was a model for other reserves in biodiversity conservation and community participation in managing natural resources. It involved 75 communities living around the reserve, including tribal people. There are around 19 different eco-tourism programmes apart from village eco-development programmes for public participation in managing the reserve.
6. Microsoft unveils virtual assistant Cortana for Windows handsets
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled virtual assistant- Cortana for Windows Phone handsets.
Cortana is female voice-controlled application. It uses Microsofts search engine Bing and data stored on the handsets to make personalised recommendations and carry out tasks. It is named after AI system in the firm’s Halo video game franchise. Initially, it will be made available in US, then in UK and China and finally other markets as part of a wider Windows Phone 8.1 system software update. It should be noted that Apple and Google already offer comparable facilities on their iOS and Android platforms.
7. WhatsApp unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser
The mobile messaging application WhatsApp on 21 January 2015 unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser. WhatsApp's Web service will require your phone to stay connected to the internet to work with the web browser. Moreover, the web service can be availed only through the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.
8.Government to sell 10% stake in NMDC
The Finance Ministry has initiated the process of disinvesting 10 per cent stake in Hyderabad-based mining company NMDC. The Department of Disinvestment, under the Ministry, said the government intends to sell 10 per cent or around 40 crore shares. Shares will be sold through the offer for sale route through stock exchanges. OFS is better known as the auction method. On the basis of Wednesday’s closing price of ₹138.25, the government can mop up around ₹5,500 crore. Currently, the government has 80 per cent holding in the company. The proposed disinvestment will help it fulfil SEBI’s norms of minimum 25 per cent public shareholding in all listed public sector enterprises by 2017. Meanwhile, the disinvestment proposal of NMDC is yet to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment. It is not sure whether the NMDC disinvestment offer will be taken up in the current financial year ending March 31.
Once cleared, this will be the third disinvestment in the company. The government used the FPO route in March 2010 for the first time when it offloaded 8.38 per cent stake to mobilise ₹9,930.45 crore. In the second instance, in December 2012, the government sold 10 per cent of its holding to mop up ₹5,979.79 crore. The government has set a target of ₹43,425 crore to be collected through selling stakes in Central PSEs, but so far, it has been able to mop up only a little over ₹1,700 crore through stake sale in SAIL. There is no clarity yet on when two big-ticket disinvestments — ONGC and Coal India — will take place.
9. Modi, Obama to share their thoughts in Mann Ki Baat radio programme
After sharing opinion and edit pages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will come together on radio. Both will have a special broadcast through the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to be aired on All India Radio on January 27.
"This month’s 'Mann Ki Baat' episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest President Barack Obama and I will share our thoughts together. I am eagerly looking forward to the special 'Mann Ki Baat' programme with President Barack Obama,” Modi said in a statement issued this morning. He has also asked people to send their questions.
'Mann Ki Baat' with President Barack Obama will not be complete without your participation! Send your Qs till the 25th, using #AskObamaModi. Additionally, MyGov gives you the opportunity to post your questions on a specially created Open Forum, http://mygov.in/groupissue/questions-for-special-mann-ki-baat-programme-with-pm-modi-and-president-obama/show …" he said. This will be the fourth edition of monthly radio programme, where for the first time in India, the Prime Minister shares his views on various issues. For example, the previous episode aired on December 14 had the topic of increasing menace of drug abuse. Even, US President addresses his citizens on radio every week. This programme has made the Government run broadcaster more popular. Currently, All India Radio covers 92 per cent of geographical area and almost the entire population of India through 414 broadcasting centres.
10. Sunil Sood to succeed Marten Pieters as Vodafone India CEO
Marten Pieters, Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, will be stepping down from his post with effect from 1 April, 2015. He will be succeeded by Sunil Sood, who is at present the chief operating officer at the telecom giant. Mr. Pieters will continue to remain on the Board of Vodafone India in a non-executive capacity, Vodafone India said in a statement
11.Pakistan's Ex-Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri penned a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan, authored a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove. The book will be published by Penguin in India at the end of January 2015. The book is based upon the relations between India and Pakistan.Kasuri in his book writes that the two countries have no option but to go for a just and peaceful solution to Jammu and Kashmir and other contentious issues between them. He further writes that he knew on the basis of his experience that both the countries have major fault lines and that both are equally capable of destabilizing the other.
Union Government has launched ambitious Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign to save and empower girl child. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana.
Why Haryana was chosen to launch Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign?
Haryana was chosen to launch the nation-wide Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative because of the skewed sex ratio in the state. It has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratio in country which stands at 879 girls per 1,000 boys as against the national child sex ratio of 918 girls per 1000 boys. Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign It aims to spread awareness about the declining trend of Child Sex Ratio in the country.
Objective: To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination by strict enforcement of laws with stringent punishment to violators. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), is the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. While, Centre has provided initial corpus of 100 crore rupees for it. It will be implemented in 100 districts of the country, including 12 districts of Haryana. In this regard, union government will try to ensure access and availability of essential requirements related to nutrition, health-care, education, protection and elimination of discrimination of girl child. This scheme will also generate awareness and improve the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women. Thus, by launching this scheme government is aiming to eliminate gender inequality by creating favourable environment including employable opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice for women.2. Union Government launches HRIDAY scheme
Union government has launched a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country. Union governments ambitious Rs 500 crore HRIDAY project was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under HRIDAY. The 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Warangal and Amaravati.
3. Cyberabad CP awarded by ECI for Best Electoral Practices-2014
Cyberabad Police Commissioner (PC) CV Anand has been conferred with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) National Special Category Award for the Best Electoral Practices- 2014. He has been bestowed this award for the commendable election related measures taken by him in the area of ‘Expenditure Monitoring and Tackling Money Power’ during the General Elections of 2014. He will receive the award in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on January 25 on the occasion of National Voter’s Day Function.
4. Shanta Kumar Committee on FCI restructuring submitted its report to the Prime Minister
Shanta Kumar Committee on 21 January 2015 submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister asked the Department of Food and Public Distribution to give its comments on the report so that the recommendations can be implemented in a time-bound manner.
5. Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial award
Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Kerala has won the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) biennial award for encouraging local public participation in managing the reserve. Public participation in managing the Periyar Tiger Reserve. India Eco-Development project (IEDP): People’s participation started in the reserve in December 1996 by establishing India Eco-Development project (IEDP). It was a community-based eco-tourism initiative, which promoted tourism activities which helped visitors. It also promoted pepper growing in this region and marketing it. Periyar Foundation: Later in 2006, reserve set up the Periyar Foundation which was a model for other reserves in biodiversity conservation and community participation in managing natural resources. It involved 75 communities living around the reserve, including tribal people. There are around 19 different eco-tourism programmes apart from village eco-development programmes for public participation in managing the reserve.
6. Microsoft unveils virtual assistant Cortana for Windows handsets
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled virtual assistant- Cortana for Windows Phone handsets.
Cortana is female voice-controlled application. It uses Microsofts search engine Bing and data stored on the handsets to make personalised recommendations and carry out tasks. It is named after AI system in the firm’s Halo video game franchise. Initially, it will be made available in US, then in UK and China and finally other markets as part of a wider Windows Phone 8.1 system software update. It should be noted that Apple and Google already offer comparable facilities on their iOS and Android platforms.
7. WhatsApp unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser
The mobile messaging application WhatsApp on 21 January 2015 unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser. WhatsApp's Web service will require your phone to stay connected to the internet to work with the web browser. Moreover, the web service can be availed only through the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.
8.Government to sell 10% stake in NMDC
The Finance Ministry has initiated the process of disinvesting 10 per cent stake in Hyderabad-based mining company NMDC. The Department of Disinvestment, under the Ministry, said the government intends to sell 10 per cent or around 40 crore shares. Shares will be sold through the offer for sale route through stock exchanges. OFS is better known as the auction method. On the basis of Wednesday’s closing price of ₹138.25, the government can mop up around ₹5,500 crore. Currently, the government has 80 per cent holding in the company. The proposed disinvestment will help it fulfil SEBI’s norms of minimum 25 per cent public shareholding in all listed public sector enterprises by 2017. Meanwhile, the disinvestment proposal of NMDC is yet to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment. It is not sure whether the NMDC disinvestment offer will be taken up in the current financial year ending March 31.
Once cleared, this will be the third disinvestment in the company. The government used the FPO route in March 2010 for the first time when it offloaded 8.38 per cent stake to mobilise ₹9,930.45 crore. In the second instance, in December 2012, the government sold 10 per cent of its holding to mop up ₹5,979.79 crore. The government has set a target of ₹43,425 crore to be collected through selling stakes in Central PSEs, but so far, it has been able to mop up only a little over ₹1,700 crore through stake sale in SAIL. There is no clarity yet on when two big-ticket disinvestments — ONGC and Coal India — will take place.
9. Modi, Obama to share their thoughts in Mann Ki Baat radio programme
After sharing opinion and edit pages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will come together on radio. Both will have a special broadcast through the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to be aired on All India Radio on January 27.
"This month’s 'Mann Ki Baat' episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest President Barack Obama and I will share our thoughts together. I am eagerly looking forward to the special 'Mann Ki Baat' programme with President Barack Obama,” Modi said in a statement issued this morning. He has also asked people to send their questions.
'Mann Ki Baat' with President Barack Obama will not be complete without your participation! Send your Qs till the 25th, using #AskObamaModi. Additionally, MyGov gives you the opportunity to post your questions on a specially created Open Forum, http://mygov.in/groupissue/questions-for-special-mann-ki-baat-programme-with-pm-modi-and-president-obama/show …" he said. This will be the fourth edition of monthly radio programme, where for the first time in India, the Prime Minister shares his views on various issues. For example, the previous episode aired on December 14 had the topic of increasing menace of drug abuse. Even, US President addresses his citizens on radio every week. This programme has made the Government run broadcaster more popular. Currently, All India Radio covers 92 per cent of geographical area and almost the entire population of India through 414 broadcasting centres.
10. Sunil Sood to succeed Marten Pieters as Vodafone India CEO
Marten Pieters, Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, will be stepping down from his post with effect from 1 April, 2015. He will be succeeded by Sunil Sood, who is at present the chief operating officer at the telecom giant. Mr. Pieters will continue to remain on the Board of Vodafone India in a non-executive capacity, Vodafone India said in a statement
11.Pakistan's Ex-Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri penned a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan, authored a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove. The book will be published by Penguin in India at the end of January 2015. The book is based upon the relations between India and Pakistan.Kasuri in his book writes that the two countries have no option but to go for a just and peaceful solution to Jammu and Kashmir and other contentious issues between them. He further writes that he knew on the basis of his experience that both the countries have major fault lines and that both are equally capable of destabilizing the other.
1.Union Government launches Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign
Union Government has launched ambitious Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign to save and empower girl child. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana.
Why Haryana was chosen to launch Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign?
Haryana was chosen to launch the nation-wide Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative because of the skewed sex ratio in the state. It has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratio in country which stands at 879 girls per 1,000 boys as against the national child sex ratio of 918 girls per 1000 boys. Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign It aims to spread awareness about the declining trend of Child Sex Ratio in the country.
Objective: To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination by strict enforcement of laws with stringent punishment to violators. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), is the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. While, Centre has provided initial corpus of 100 crore rupees for it. It will be implemented in 100 districts of the country, including 12 districts of Haryana. In this regard, union government will try to ensure access and availability of essential requirements related to nutrition, health-care, education, protection and elimination of discrimination of girl child. This scheme will also generate awareness and improve the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women. Thus, by launching this scheme government is aiming to eliminate gender inequality by creating favourable environment including employable opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice for women.
2. Union Government launches HRIDAY scheme
Union government has launched a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country. Union governments ambitious Rs 500 crore HRIDAY project was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under HRIDAY. The 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Warangal and Amaravati.
3. Cyberabad CP awarded by ECI for Best Electoral Practices-2014
Cyberabad Police Commissioner (PC) CV Anand has been conferred with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) National Special Category Award for the Best Electoral Practices- 2014. He has been bestowed this award for the commendable election related measures taken by him in the area of ‘Expenditure Monitoring and Tackling Money Power’ during the General Elections of 2014. He will receive the award in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on January 25 on the occasion of National Voter’s Day Function.
4. Shanta Kumar Committee on FCI restructuring submitted its report to the Prime Minister
Shanta Kumar Committee on 21 January 2015 submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister asked the Department of Food and Public Distribution to give its comments on the report so that the recommendations can be implemented in a time-bound manner.
5. Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial award
Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Kerala has won the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) biennial award for encouraging local public participation in managing the reserve. Public participation in managing the Periyar Tiger Reserve. India Eco-Development project (IEDP): People’s participation started in the reserve in December 1996 by establishing India Eco-Development project (IEDP). It was a community-based eco-tourism initiative, which promoted tourism activities which helped visitors. It also promoted pepper growing in this region and marketing it. Periyar Foundation: Later in 2006, reserve set up the Periyar Foundation which was a model for other reserves in biodiversity conservation and community participation in managing natural resources. It involved 75 communities living around the reserve, including tribal people. There are around 19 different eco-tourism programmes apart from village eco-development programmes for public participation in managing the reserve.
6. Microsoft unveils virtual assistant Cortana for Windows handsets
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled virtual assistant- Cortana for Windows Phone handsets.
Cortana is female voice-controlled application. It uses Microsofts search engine Bing and data stored on the handsets to make personalised recommendations and carry out tasks. It is named after AI system in the firm’s Halo video game franchise. Initially, it will be made available in US, then in UK and China and finally other markets as part of a wider Windows Phone 8.1 system software update. It should be noted that Apple and Google already offer comparable facilities on their iOS and Android platforms.
7. WhatsApp unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser
The mobile messaging application WhatsApp on 21 January 2015 unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser. WhatsApp's Web service will require your phone to stay connected to the internet to work with the web browser. Moreover, the web service can be availed only through the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.
8.Government to sell 10% stake in NMDC
The Finance Ministry has initiated the process of disinvesting 10 per cent stake in Hyderabad-based mining company NMDC. The Department of Disinvestment, under the Ministry, said the government intends to sell 10 per cent or around 40 crore shares. Shares will be sold through the offer for sale route through stock exchanges. OFS is better known as the auction method. On the basis of Wednesday’s closing price of ₹138.25, the government can mop up around ₹5,500 crore. Currently, the government has 80 per cent holding in the company. The proposed disinvestment will help it fulfil SEBI’s norms of minimum 25 per cent public shareholding in all listed public sector enterprises by 2017. Meanwhile, the disinvestment proposal of NMDC is yet to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment. It is not sure whether the NMDC disinvestment offer will be taken up in the current financial year ending March 31.
Once cleared, this will be the third disinvestment in the company. The government used the FPO route in March 2010 for the first time when it offloaded 8.38 per cent stake to mobilise ₹9,930.45 crore. In the second instance, in December 2012, the government sold 10 per cent of its holding to mop up ₹5,979.79 crore. The government has set a target of ₹43,425 crore to be collected through selling stakes in Central PSEs, but so far, it has been able to mop up only a little over ₹1,700 crore through stake sale in SAIL. There is no clarity yet on when two big-ticket disinvestments — ONGC and Coal India — will take place.
9. Modi, Obama to share their thoughts in Mann Ki Baat radio programme
After sharing opinion and edit pages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will come together on radio. Both will have a special broadcast through the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to be aired on All India Radio on January 27.
"This month’s 'Mann Ki Baat' episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest President Barack Obama and I will share our thoughts together. I am eagerly looking forward to the special 'Mann Ki Baat' programme with President Barack Obama,” Modi said in a statement issued this morning. He has also asked people to send their questions.
'Mann Ki Baat' with President Barack Obama will not be complete without your participation! Send your Qs till the 25th, using #AskObamaModi. Additionally, MyGov gives you the opportunity to post your questions on a specially created Open Forum, http://mygov.in/groupissue/questions-for-special-mann-ki-baat-programme-with-pm-modi-and-president-obama/show …" he said. This will be the fourth edition of monthly radio programme, where for the first time in India, the Prime Minister shares his views on various issues. For example, the previous episode aired on December 14 had the topic of increasing menace of drug abuse. Even, US President addresses his citizens on radio every week. This programme has made the Government run broadcaster more popular. Currently, All India Radio covers 92 per cent of geographical area and almost the entire population of India through 414 broadcasting centres.
10. Sunil Sood to succeed Marten Pieters as Vodafone India CEO
Marten Pieters, Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, will be stepping down from his post with effect from 1 April, 2015. He will be succeeded by Sunil Sood, who is at present the chief operating officer at the telecom giant. Mr. Pieters will continue to remain on the Board of Vodafone India in a non-executive capacity, Vodafone India said in a statement
11.Pakistan's Ex-Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri penned a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan, authored a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove. The book will be published by Penguin in India at the end of January 2015. The book is based upon the relations between India and Pakistan.Kasuri in his book writes that the two countries have no option but to go for a just and peaceful solution to Jammu and Kashmir and other contentious issues between them. He further writes that he knew on the basis of his experience that both the countries have major fault lines and that both are equally capable of destabilizing the other.
Union Government has launched ambitious Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign to save and empower girl child. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana.
Why Haryana was chosen to launch Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign?
Haryana was chosen to launch the nation-wide Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative because of the skewed sex ratio in the state. It has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratio in country which stands at 879 girls per 1,000 boys as against the national child sex ratio of 918 girls per 1000 boys. Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign It aims to spread awareness about the declining trend of Child Sex Ratio in the country.
Objective: To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination by strict enforcement of laws with stringent punishment to violators. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), is the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. While, Centre has provided initial corpus of 100 crore rupees for it. It will be implemented in 100 districts of the country, including 12 districts of Haryana. In this regard, union government will try to ensure access and availability of essential requirements related to nutrition, health-care, education, protection and elimination of discrimination of girl child. This scheme will also generate awareness and improve the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women. Thus, by launching this scheme government is aiming to eliminate gender inequality by creating favourable environment including employable opportunities, safety and security, mobility and speedy justice for women.2. Union Government launches HRIDAY scheme
Union government has launched a Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country. Union governments ambitious Rs 500 crore HRIDAY project was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under HRIDAY. The 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Warangal and Amaravati.
3. Cyberabad CP awarded by ECI for Best Electoral Practices-2014
Cyberabad Police Commissioner (PC) CV Anand has been conferred with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) National Special Category Award for the Best Electoral Practices- 2014. He has been bestowed this award for the commendable election related measures taken by him in the area of ‘Expenditure Monitoring and Tackling Money Power’ during the General Elections of 2014. He will receive the award in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on January 25 on the occasion of National Voter’s Day Function.
4. Shanta Kumar Committee on FCI restructuring submitted its report to the Prime Minister
Shanta Kumar Committee on 21 January 2015 submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister asked the Department of Food and Public Distribution to give its comments on the report so that the recommendations can be implemented in a time-bound manner.
5. Kerala’s Periyar tiger reserve wins NTCA biennial award
Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Kerala has won the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) biennial award for encouraging local public participation in managing the reserve. Public participation in managing the Periyar Tiger Reserve. India Eco-Development project (IEDP): People’s participation started in the reserve in December 1996 by establishing India Eco-Development project (IEDP). It was a community-based eco-tourism initiative, which promoted tourism activities which helped visitors. It also promoted pepper growing in this region and marketing it. Periyar Foundation: Later in 2006, reserve set up the Periyar Foundation which was a model for other reserves in biodiversity conservation and community participation in managing natural resources. It involved 75 communities living around the reserve, including tribal people. There are around 19 different eco-tourism programmes apart from village eco-development programmes for public participation in managing the reserve.
6. Microsoft unveils virtual assistant Cortana for Windows handsets
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled virtual assistant- Cortana for Windows Phone handsets.
Cortana is female voice-controlled application. It uses Microsofts search engine Bing and data stored on the handsets to make personalised recommendations and carry out tasks. It is named after AI system in the firm’s Halo video game franchise. Initially, it will be made available in US, then in UK and China and finally other markets as part of a wider Windows Phone 8.1 system software update. It should be noted that Apple and Google already offer comparable facilities on their iOS and Android platforms.
7. WhatsApp unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser
The mobile messaging application WhatsApp on 21 January 2015 unveiled a new service for sending messages from a Web browser. WhatsApp's Web service will require your phone to stay connected to the internet to work with the web browser. Moreover, the web service can be availed only through the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.
8.Government to sell 10% stake in NMDC
The Finance Ministry has initiated the process of disinvesting 10 per cent stake in Hyderabad-based mining company NMDC. The Department of Disinvestment, under the Ministry, said the government intends to sell 10 per cent or around 40 crore shares. Shares will be sold through the offer for sale route through stock exchanges. OFS is better known as the auction method. On the basis of Wednesday’s closing price of ₹138.25, the government can mop up around ₹5,500 crore. Currently, the government has 80 per cent holding in the company. The proposed disinvestment will help it fulfil SEBI’s norms of minimum 25 per cent public shareholding in all listed public sector enterprises by 2017. Meanwhile, the disinvestment proposal of NMDC is yet to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment. It is not sure whether the NMDC disinvestment offer will be taken up in the current financial year ending March 31.
Once cleared, this will be the third disinvestment in the company. The government used the FPO route in March 2010 for the first time when it offloaded 8.38 per cent stake to mobilise ₹9,930.45 crore. In the second instance, in December 2012, the government sold 10 per cent of its holding to mop up ₹5,979.79 crore. The government has set a target of ₹43,425 crore to be collected through selling stakes in Central PSEs, but so far, it has been able to mop up only a little over ₹1,700 crore through stake sale in SAIL. There is no clarity yet on when two big-ticket disinvestments — ONGC and Coal India — will take place.
9. Modi, Obama to share their thoughts in Mann Ki Baat radio programme
After sharing opinion and edit pages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will come together on radio. Both will have a special broadcast through the next episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to be aired on All India Radio on January 27.
"This month’s 'Mann Ki Baat' episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest President Barack Obama and I will share our thoughts together. I am eagerly looking forward to the special 'Mann Ki Baat' programme with President Barack Obama,” Modi said in a statement issued this morning. He has also asked people to send their questions.
'Mann Ki Baat' with President Barack Obama will not be complete without your participation! Send your Qs till the 25th, using #AskObamaModi. Additionally, MyGov gives you the opportunity to post your questions on a specially created Open Forum, http://mygov.in/groupissue/questions-for-special-mann-ki-baat-programme-with-pm-modi-and-president-obama/show …" he said. This will be the fourth edition of monthly radio programme, where for the first time in India, the Prime Minister shares his views on various issues. For example, the previous episode aired on December 14 had the topic of increasing menace of drug abuse. Even, US President addresses his citizens on radio every week. This programme has made the Government run broadcaster more popular. Currently, All India Radio covers 92 per cent of geographical area and almost the entire population of India through 414 broadcasting centres.
10. Sunil Sood to succeed Marten Pieters as Vodafone India CEO
Marten Pieters, Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, will be stepping down from his post with effect from 1 April, 2015. He will be succeeded by Sunil Sood, who is at present the chief operating officer at the telecom giant. Mr. Pieters will continue to remain on the Board of Vodafone India in a non-executive capacity, Vodafone India said in a statement
11.Pakistan's Ex-Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri penned a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan, authored a book titled Neither a Hawk nor a Dove. The book will be published by Penguin in India at the end of January 2015. The book is based upon the relations between India and Pakistan.Kasuri in his book writes that the two countries have no option but to go for a just and peaceful solution to Jammu and Kashmir and other contentious issues between them. He further writes that he knew on the basis of his experience that both the countries have major fault lines and that both are equally capable of destabilizing the other.
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