1- PM Narendra Modi launches three social security schemes- 1 on pension, 2 on insurance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 May 2015 launched three mega social security schemes in Kolkata, West Bengal. Three schemes intend to widen the process of financial inclusion in the country include:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY).
2. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
3. Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

Under APY scheme, the pension subscribers will receive a fixed minimum monthly pension ranging from 1,000 rupees to 5,000 rupees at the age of 60 years. The fixed minimum monthly pension will be depending on the contributions subscribers.

• Contribution: Union Government will co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution of subscriber for a period of 5 years.
• Eligibility: Subscribers must have bank account and should not be members of any statutory social security scheme and or Income Tax payers. The minimum age of joining: 18 years and maximum age is 40 years.
• Focus of APY: To target unorganised sector workers.
• Coverage: The pension will also be available to the spouse on the death of the subscriber and thereafter, the pension corpus would be returned to the nominee.
• Subscriber and Enrolment Payment: It will auto-debited from the accounts account holders depending upon selected monthly pension range.
• Enrolment agencies: Subscribers will be enrolled through institutional architecture of National Pension System by all Points of Presence (Service Providers) and Aggregators under Swavalamban Scheme.
• Operational Framework of APY: It will be administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

To know more about Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Click Here

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY)

Under the PMJJBY, the insurance subscriber will get an annual life insurance in case of death.

• Eligibility: Available any person in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account.
• Risk Coverage: 2 Lakh rupees in case of death due to any reason.
• Payment Mode of premium: 330 rupees per annum will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account.
• Implementation of Scheme: Will be offered by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and all other life insurers who are willing tie-up with banks for the purpose of joining the scheme.

To know more about Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY)  Click Here

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)

Under the PMSBY, the insurance subscriber will get annual life insurance in case of accidental death, partial disability or full disability.

• Eligibility: Available to any person in the age group 18 to 70 years. Any person having Aadhaar number linked bank account can join the scheme. He/she must give a simple form to the bank every year before 1st of June. In the form name of nominee also must be given.
• Risk Coverage: For accidental death and full disability– 2 Lakh rupees For partial disability – 1 Lakh rupees.
• Payment Mode of premium: 12 rupees per annum will be directly auto-debited by the bank from the subscribers account in case of long-term option.
• Implementation of Scheme: Will be offered by all Public Sector General Insurance Companies and all other insurers who are willing tie-up with banks for the purpose of joining the scheme

To know more about  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) Click Here

2- BrahMos land-attack cruise missile successfully test-fired from Car Nicobar Islands

Land-to-land configuration of BrahMos missile was successfully test-fired from the Car Nicobar Islands. BrahMos Block–III version i.e. land-to-land configuration of missile was launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) for its full-range of 290-km test. The missile flight test met all flight parameters, including high-level manoeuvres. It also hit the designated land- based target with the desired accuracy. This launch was the 47th test-firing of the missile and follows an unsuccessful test which was conducted on April 9, 2015 when the missile had failed to hit the target.

About BrahMos missile

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia. Missile’s name has been derived from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River. It is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets.

Features- It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kilogram and has top supersonic speed of Mach 2.8. It can strike a target at maximum range of 290-km. It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant. BrahMos has already been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy. While, the Air Force version is in final stage of trial.

3- Four MoUs signed for Rs. 24,000 crore infrastructure development investment in Chhattisgarh

Four MoUs were signed to give big push for investment of 24,000 crore rupees for infrastructure development in Chhattisgarh in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The signed MoUs are meant to enhance development of the state and covers investment in areas from railway lines, steel plants and pipelines

List of the signed MoUs:

1. MoU for 140 km rail line between Rowghat and Jagdalpur: It was signed between Chhattisgarh Government, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON) Limited and Steel Authority of India (SAIL). Estimated project cost: 2,000 crore rupees.
2. MoU for 3 million ton Ultra Mega Steel Plant Signed between Union Ministry of Steel, Chhattisgarh Government, SAIL and NMDC Investment for the plant: Approximately 18,000 crore rupees.
3. MoU for Slurry Pipeline and 2MTPA Pellet Plant at Nagarnar in Bastar District Signed between Chhattisgarh Government and NMDC Investment: 4,000 crore rupees.
4. MoU for setting up 1 MTPA Pellet Plant at Dalli-Rajhara, Balod District Signed between Chhattisgarh Government and SAIL. Investment: 826crore rupees.

4- Indian Navy commissions INS Sardar Patel naval base in Porbandar

Indian Navy has commissioned INS Sardar Patel naval base in Porbandar, Gujarat in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Admiral RK Dowan. The aim of this new naval base at Porbandar is to beef up security along the 1600 km coastline of the state. It will also increase the maritime security on western coast and strengthen surveillance and security in the region. The newly commissioned naval base is christened after India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is second naval base of Indian Navy on Gujarat coast, the first one is INS Dwarka at Okha in Dwarka district.

Importance of INS Sardar Patel naval base

It is a Forward Operating Base (FOB), located at a crucial strategic position as far as Navy is concerned because this coastal area is close to our western neighbours in Northern Arabian Sea, including along the International Maritime Boundary Line with Pakistan. This naval base also will strenghten the maritime security and surveillance operations of Indian Navy as warships or surveillance ships can be mobilised at any time. In addition, it will also protect the maritime infrastructure and commercial interests of Gujarat which caters around 70% of the country’s oil and 73% of gas imports through different ports located across the state. The ports of Gujarat also handle 40 to 50% of the total maritime trade handled by the various ports of India.

5- North Korea successfully conducts underwater test-fire of submarine-launched ballistic missile

North Korea successfully conducted underwater test-fire of a newly developed submarine-launched ballistic missile. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un gave the order to test-fire the missile and oversaw the test-launch from a location off-shore. This successful test indicates the progress in the secretive state’s pursuit of building missile-equipped submarines which is described as a world level strategic weapon. It will also enhance North Korean nuclear threat to a new level as it will allow deployment of these submarines far beyond the Korean peninsula. It should be noted that North Korea is under United Nations sanctions and is banned from developing or using ballistic missile technology. Presently, North Korea possesses small submarine fleet that comprises largely obsolete Soviet-era and modified Chinese submarine vessels.

6- Ten Indian-origin MPs elected to UK Parliament

A record number of 10 Indian-origin Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected in recently concluded general election that elected 56th Parliament of the UK. It has broken the previous 2010 general election record in which eight Indian-origin were elected.

Following are the elected Indian-origin candidates

Conservative Party:

• Priti Patel- won from Witham constituency.
• Rishi Sunak- won from Richmond (Yorks) constituency. He is son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy.
• Alok Sharma- won from Reading West constituency.
• Shailesh Vara- won from Cambridgeshire Northwest constituency.
• Suella Fernandes- won from Fareham constituency.

Labour Party:

• Keith Vaz- won from Leicester East constituency.
• Valerie Vaz- won from Walsall South constituency.
• Virendra Sharma- won from Ealing Southall constituency.
• Seema Malhotra- won from south west London constituency.
• Lisa Nandy- won from Wigan constituency.

7- US President Obama nominates IIT alumni Sanjita Pradhan to his advisory commission on AAPIs

United States (US) President Barack Obama has nominated Sanjita Pradhan, an IIT alumnus to his advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Sanjita Pradhan is a Nepali American. She holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Technology. Presently, she is serving as an Executive Officer of the Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs at the Iowa Department of Human Rights. She was appointed to this position in 2013. Earlier she had served as Resettlement Director at Catholic Charities of Des Moines, Iowa from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, she was Employment Coordinator of Lutheran Services of Iowa’s Refugee Cooperative Services from 2009 to 2010. Pradhan also has served on the Advisory Board for the Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center and was Marketing Coordinator at Principal Financial Group from 2007 to 2008.

8- NGT imposes monthly tax on all households in Delhi to clean up Yamuna River

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered that every household in Delhi must pay a monthly environmental compensation to clean up pollution in Yamuna River. Decision in this regard was taken by NGT bench headed by its chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar. This decision was given while hearing a petition by environmental activist, Manoj Misra against severe pollution in Yamuna River. NGT has ordered that, to clean up Yamuna River the compensation will be paid by a particular household and will be directly proportional to the property tax or water tax, whichever is higher. In case of households in unauthorised colonies, which do not pay property tax or water bill will pay the amount ranging from 100 to 500 rupees to clean river. This compensation amount would be added to electricity bills, water bill or the property tax by the respective departments which will later transfer the money to Delhi government. The fund collected from this environmental compensation will be utilized to set up new sewage treatment plants and provide other technology to clean up river Yamuna.

9- Haryana Government included Deaflympics in its sports policy

State Government of Haryana on 9 May 2015 included Deaflympics in its Sports Policy. It was included to enable Deaflympian medalists to get cash rewards, jobs and other benefits.

Decision to this effect to include Deaflympics in sports policy was taken during a state cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal at Chandigarh. Deaflympics, previously known as World Games for the Deaf and International Games for the Deaf, is an event sanctioned by International Olympic Committee (IOC). Its participants are deaf athletes and they compete at an elite level.

It is the longest multi-sports event excluding the Olympics and is held once in every four years. The first games were held in Paris in 1924, and were also the first ever international sporting event for athletes with a disability. Since first event, the games is organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (Comite International des Sports des Sourds (CISS)). The games are held in two forms, that is, summer and winter. The 1924 Paris event was the summer games, while the first winter games was held in 1949 at Seefeld.

The last summer deaflympics was held in 2013 at Sofia, the winter deaflympics is scheduled to happen in 2015 at Khanty-Mansiysk.

10- Goa Government launched hot air balloon & amphibious vehicles

State Government of Goa on 9 May 2015 launched hot air balloon and amphibious vehicles in the picturesque state of beaches. It was launched with an aim to add attractions to its tourism portfolio.  The hot air balloon will help tourists to fly over the picturesque landscape, which will provide an aerial view of the popular tourist destinations. Amphibious vehicle, which can run on road and ply in waters, can operate across seven routes in five talukas of Goa.

These new ventures to attract tourists will give a thrilling experience to tourists in Goa’s inland waterways and will also allow them to tour across backwaters and catch glimpse of the flora and fauna in the surroundings.  The two services will be run by Delhi-based Camping Retreats of India pvt ltd, initially from Panji. Later, the services will be operated from other prominent tourist spots of the state.

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