Commerce Ministry Launched e-Marketplace for Goods Procurement
- The Commerce Ministry launched an e-marketplace for online purchase of goods and services by various Central government Ministries and departments on July 16, 2016.
- The Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) has developed the portal for the purpose. The department, which is under the Commerce Ministry, carries out the procurement.
- The move is aimed at bringing in more transparency, and streamlining the government procurement of goods and services.
Arvind Subramanian Committee Formed to Tackle Issues of Pulses
- The Union government on July 12, 2016 formed a panel headed by Chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian to study and suggest ways to contain the rising prices of pulses.
- His committee will frame a long-term policy, which will look into various aspects, including the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and bonus paid to farmers.
- The committee will consider the issue of subsidising fanners who wish to grow pulses. Over the past two years, food price inflation, led by the sharp rise in the price of pulses.
Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight’ Launched
- Minister of Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, Ministry of Health launched nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) on July 11, 2016.
- The Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) was observed from July 11 to 24, 2016 across the country. The Ministry also unveiled a package of measures putting the governments resolve to end child diarrhoea deaths on the overdrive.
- The children were administered ORS by the ASHA workers while they also counselled about the benefits and the process of preparing it. According to the Health Ministry, although various virus, bacteria and protozoa like rotavirus, E.coli amongst others cause diarrhoea, the main reasons for diarrhoeal attacks amongst children are contaminated water, malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and lack of immunisation.
Union Government Imposed Anti-dumping Duty on Chemical from 5 Countries
- The Revenue Department slapped anti-dumping duty of up to $ 168.76 per ton on import of a chemical used in textile industry from five countries to protect domestic manufacturers on July 10, 2016.
- The import restrictive tax has been imposed for five years by the Revenue Department on recommendations of the DGAD, said a notification of CBEC.
- The imports of the chemical from the five countries (China, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan) will attract anti-dumping duty in the range of $ 83.08 per tonne to $ 168.76 per tonne.
KVK Portal for Monitoring of Farm Centres Launched
- Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) portal on July 7, 2016 for online monitoring and review of the KVK centres focussing on farm knowledge and research spread across the country and also to provide a platform for providing information and advisories to farmers.
- The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development. At present, 645 Krishi Vigyan Kendras are operational in the country. Each KVK has direct interface with at least 1000 farmers.
- The KVK portal will provide information related to all schemes, market development and weather updates, besides advisory to farmers. This portal will also facilitate online monitoring of KVKs.
Union Government Constituted Dr. Shankar Acharya Committee
- The Union government of India constituted a Committee to examine the desirability and feasibility of having ‘a new financial year on July 6, 2016.
- The Committee headed by Dr. Shankar Acharya (former Chief Economic Adviser) has KM Chandrasekhar (former Cabinet Secretary), PV Rajaraman (former Finance Secretary, Tamil Nadu) and Dr. Rajiv Kumar (Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research) as other members.
- The Committee will examine the merits and demerits of various dates for the commencement of the financial year, taking into account the various relevant factors.
See Also – State Current Affairs 2016
Union Government Approved the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
- The Union Cabinet has approved National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme on July 5, 2016. The Union Cabinet approved an outlay of Rs 10000 crore for providing apprenticeship training to over 5 million youngsters in the next four years in its quest to create more jobs.
- This is the biggest monetary reward initiative in the last seven years for skill development in India. The money allocated will be provided as incentive to industries to take more apprentices on board.
- According to the new scheme, the Central government will bear 25% of the stipend given to an apprentice by a factory. It means, if a company pays an apprentice Rs 8000 per month, the Central government will reimburse Rs 2000 or 25% of it.
- It is for the first time a scheme has been designed to offer financial incentives to employers to engage apprentices.
