NATIONAL
- 17th International Counter Terrorism Seminar held in Haryana.
- The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore inaugurated the 17th International Seminar on Counter Terrorism, being organised by National Security Guard, in Manesar, Haryana.
- The focus was more on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
- Space Shawna Pandya becomes the 3rd Indian origin astronaut.
- Dr Shawna Pandya (32) has been shortlisted by NASA for its 2018 space mission under the Citizen Science Astronaut (CSA) programme.
- She becomes the third Indian-origin woman after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams to fly into space.
- Kerala’s Nilambur teak to get GI tag.
- Nilambur was christened the Mecca of Teak. Due to its superior mechanical and physical properties as well as aesthetic appearance, the teak was exported to England and other parts of the world.
- GI tag is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regards to its special quality or reputation attributes. The status to the products marks its authenticity and ensures that registered authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name.
- In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force in September 2003. Darjeeling tea was the first product to accorded with GI tag in India.
- Now employers to pay wages to workers through cheque or directly crediting to their accounts.
- It empowers Union or state government to specify certain industrial or other establishments where the employer should pay his employees only by: (i) cheque; or (ii) crediting the wages in his bank account.
- The Union Government had decided to take the ordinance route amend the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 because after demonetisation of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 banknotes in November 2016 had led to a cash crunch, and employers were finding it tough to pay workers in cash.
- Aadhaar mandatory for receiving subsidised foodgrains from PDS shops.
- Government The Union Government has made Aadhaar card mandatory for receiving subsidised foodgrains under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 from all Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) shops.
- This condition will also applicable for all new beneficiaries. Those who do not have Aadhaar number or not have enrolled for Aadhaar can make application Aadhaar enrollment by 30 June 2017.
RAJASTHAN
- Baneshwar Fair celebrated from 07-02-17 to 10-02-17.
- An important festival in India, taking place in Dungarpur, Rajasthan. This festival is an integrated culture of the place. This fair is organized partly by the tribal community in the state. It reflects their customs and traditions.
- The fair revolves around many rituals and bears a religious significance. The name “Baneshwar” came from the “shivlinga” of the Mahadev Temple in the region where the fair takes place presently. The tribes called “Bhils” celebrate the festival with pomp and show.
- Baneshwar is the place where confluence of rivers Som, Mahi, Jakham takes place.
- The popularity of this fair is not confined alone to the state of Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat show equal enthusiasm during this fair.
- Number of Road accidents increases in Rajasthan.
- Road accidents have been increased from 8 to 29 % in the year 2016. The outcomes from 27 Road safety weeks are very less.
- There are 8 prone districts, where maximum no. of accident took place.
- Government planning to use technology such as Mobile apps to reduce the no. of accidents. Mobile app will give the alarm indications 500 meters before the accident points.
