National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2017-31 Draft
ü The
draft NWAP envisages 17 focus areas, including the new area linking wildlife planning to climate change.
ü The
draft emphasises on aspects like preservation of genetic diversity and
sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems.
ü This
has a direct bearing on the country’s scientific advancements and support to
millions of rural communities.
ü The
first NWAP was adopted in 1983, while
the second was adopted in 2002, which is drawing to an end this year
50% quota for women in panchayats planned
ü Minister
for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj would be pushing a Constitutional amendment for PRIs.
ü It
seeks to increase the reservation for women in panchayats from 33% to 50% in the coming budget session
of the Parliament.
ü Some
States like MP, HP, Bihar and Uttarakhand have already
provided 50% reservation to women in panchayats.
Centre Approves Heritage Development Projects in Andhra Pradesh& Telangana
ü The
Union Ministry of Urban Development approved projects worth more than Rs.12
crore for improving tourist infrastructure in heritage locations in Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and Warangal in Telangana.
ü An
Inter-Ministerial National Empowered Committee for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)
approved the projects, which include a heritage park in Amaravati and
developmental works at the 1000 Pillar Temple and Kazipet Durgah and rejuvenation
of pondat Padmakshi Temple in Warangal city.
ü Amaravati
and Warangal are among the 12 cities included in the HRIDAY scheme for improving the social, cultural and economic
ecosystems by augmenting necessary infrastructure with the objective of conserving
the rich cultural heritage and enabling better facilities for tourists and
pilgrims.
PM Modi Inaugurates Petrochemical Project in Dibrugarh
ü Prime
Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a petrochemical project in Lepetkata in
Dibrugarh, which is the first such project of North-East.
ü The
project has been named as Brahmaputra Cracker
and Polymer Ltd (BCPL).
ü It
has been built at cost of 10000-crore rupees and shall be producing raw material for manufacturing plastic.
ü Prime
Minister also dedicated wax producing unit in Numaligarh Refinery Limited to
the nation. It is India’s highest wax producing unit and shall be using
indigenous technology.
AIDS Prevention: Project Sunrise launched in NE states
ü Union
Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda launched Project Sunrise for prevention of AIDS in the eight North-Eastern states.
ü The
project is funded by the Centre for Disease
Control of the United States.
ü The
Project will be implemented in the North East, in addition to the existing
projects of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
ü The
Centre is working towards bringing the people living with HIV/AIDS into the
national mainstream.
ü NACO
is going to directly transfer its funding to State AIDS Control Societies
instead of the existing system of funding it through state governments.
India and Sri Lanka inked MoU on Health and School Renovation
ü India
and Sri Lanka signed two memorandum of understanding (MoUs) in the health
sector and renovation of schools.
ü The
MoUs were signed in the ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission
that was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her
Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera.
ü Under
the MoU on health, India will
construct a surgical unit at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the island
nation's Eastern province and supply medical equipment.
ü In
the second MoU, India will aid in the renovation
of 27 schools in the Northern Province.
UN releases stamps on LGBT issue for first time
ü The
United Nations Postal Administration has released six new postage stamps promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender or LGBT people.
ü The
stamps support the UN human rights office’s Free & Equal campaign, which
aims to spread global public education on LGBT equality and to raise awareness
of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination.