President of India inaugurates the Foundation Stone for Various Developmental Projects in DIU
- The President of India inaugurated the foundation stone for various developmental projects in Diu. These includes inauguration of following:
- First academic session of IIIT Vadodara-International Campus Diu
- Kamleshwar School, Ghoghla
- Laying of foundation stone for – construction of a school at Saudwadi
- Improvement of 1.3 kilometers heritage walk-way on Diu City Wall
- Conservation and facade restoration of heritage precincts (Zampa and market precinct)
- Upgradation of fruits and vegetable market at Fort Road
- Development of integrated municipal solid waste management system for entire urban and rural areas of Diu district.
- This Union Territory has received about 40 awards and honours in the field of social development from various Ministries of the Government of India in the past 4 years.
- The President commended the local administration for their efforts for conservation of natural heritage and environment.
- With the efforts of UT, Diu city has now become the first city in India, which is fulfilling 100 per cent of its energy requirement during the day with solar energy.
Inauguration of first-ever driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line
- Prime Minister of India will inaugurate India’s first-ever driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line (Janakpuri West – Botanical Garden).
- Along with it the fully operational National Common Mobility Card service on the Airport Express Line will also be inaugurated on 28th December 2020.
- These innovations will herald a new era of travelling comfort and enhanced mobility.
- The driverless trains will be fully automated, which will eliminate the possibility of human error. The National Common Mobility Card, which will be fully operationalised on the Airport Express Line, will enable anyone carrying a RuPay-Debit Card issued from any part of the country to travel on the Airport Express Line using that card.
- This facility will become available on the entire Delhi Metro network by 2022.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT launched to extend coverage to all residents of Jammu & Kashmir
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT to extend coverage to all residents of Jammu & Kashmir
- The Prime Minister said getting free treatment up to 5 lakh rupees under this scheme would improve the ease of living
- Right now about 6 lakh families of the state are getting the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
- All 21 lakh families will get the same benefit after the SEHAT scheme
- Another benefit of this scheme would be that treatment is not limited to government and private hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir only. Rather, treatment can be availed from thousands of hospitals empanelled under this scheme in the country.
- Whether it is about women empowerment, opportunities for the youth, upliftment of the dalits, exploited and deprived or it is the question of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the people, all will be benefitted by it
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 (Series IX) released
- Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 (Series IX) will be opened for the period December 28, 2020 – January 01, 2021 with Settlement date January 05, 2021.
- The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be Rs 5,000 (Rupees Five thousand only) – per gram
- Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India has decided to allow discount of Rs 50 (Rupees Fifty only) per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode.
- For such investors the issue price of Gold Bond will be Rs 4,950 (Rupees Four thousand Nine hundred Fifty only) per gram of gold.
About the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:
- The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme was introduced in the Union Budget 2015-16 by the Union Cabinet which was chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
- It was launched to reduce the demand for physical gold and with an aim to invest a part of these physicals gold bars and coins that are purchased every year into financial savings in the form of gold bonds.
- The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme provides flexible gold denomination in terms of purchasing gold. These gold bonds are available in multiple weight denominations starting from 1 gram.
- The gold bonds can be availed either in paper or in demat form as per the convenience of an individual.
- The scheme also provides flexible investment where one can choose the amount he/she wants to invest.
- The interest provided for the gold bond is 2.50% per annum which can be paid semi-annually on the nominal value.
Rajasthan becomes 6th State to complete ease of doing business reforms
- Rajasthan has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform
- The State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs. 2,731 crore through Open Market Borrowings.
- Rajasthan has now joined the five other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, who have achieved this feat.
- The ease of doing business is an important indicator of the investment friendly business climate in the country.
- Improvements in the ease of doing business will enable faster future growth of the state economy.
The four citizen centric areas for reforms identified were
- Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System
- Ease of doing business reform
- Urban Local body/ utility reforms
- Power Sector reforms.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- First academic session of IIIT Vadodara-International Campus was inaugurated in which Union Territory?
- Delhi
- Diu
- Goa
- Chandigarh
ANSWER: B
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT has been launched to extend coverage to all residents of which state?
- Haryana
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Gujarat
- Telangana
ANSWER: B
- What issue price is fixed for the gold bond during the subscription period Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 (Series IX)?
- Rs 5,900 per gram
- Rs 5,000 per gram
- Rs 5,500 per gram
- Rs 6,000 per gram
ANSWER: B
- Which state has become 6th state to State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform?
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Delhi
- Haryana
ANSWER: A
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Sputnik is the first artificial Earth satellite launched by which country?
- USA
- India
- Russia
- Japan
Sir why aren’t you posting current affairs since the new year has begun