Current Affairs 5th January 2018

Current Affairs 5th January 2018 - Important Points

• Nation-wide cleanliness survey SwachhSurvekshan launched on - 4th January 2018
• CCEA approves Construction of bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in J&K approved by - CCEA
• Extension of norms for mandatory packaging in Jute Materials approved by - CCEA
•  Four new balsam species in Arunachal Pradesh discovered by - Scientists
• 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 launched by - GOI
• Union Health Ministry, Tata Memorial Centre jointly launch first digital Online Oncology Tutorial on-v 4th January 2018

Current Affairs 5th January 2018 - Details

Nation-wide cleanliness survey SwachhSurvekshan launched on - 4th January 2018

The nation-wide cleanliness observation SwachhSurvekshan was released across the country on 4th January 2018. The declaration for this was made by Prime Minister NarendraModi on 31st December 2017 while greeting the nation in the 39th edition of his monthly radio-greeting  - Mann Ki Baat.
Main Objective
The main aim of the survey is to assess the achievements in the cleanliness level in urban sectors.
Key Highlights

• Deemed as the world’s mega survey, it will be initiated in over 4,000 cities with a population of more than 40 crores.
• It will start on 4th January and will go till 10th March 2018.
• The evaluation of the cities would be done by taking some points as the parameter including:
• The management undertaken to check open defecation.
• Effective actions of transportation possibilities to collect and handle garbage.
• Utilization of scientific styles for processing the waste material.
• Talking on the occasion, the Prime Minister requested the youth of the country to come forward and take part in the planned survey so that their cities do not remained behind in survey positioning.
  Did you know?
• On 2nd October 2014, the Union Government headed by Prime Minister NarendraModi had released the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission, India’s biggest cleanliness action, to achieve an Open- Defecation Free India by 2nd October 2019, the 150 th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi.
• The drive focuses to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller areas and rural areas.
• The main aims of Swachh Bharat contain removing open defecation through building household-owned and community-owned toilets and starting an accountable process for monitoring toilet utilization.

CCEA approves Construction of bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in J&K approved by - CCEA

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs passed the construction, operation and maintenance of 2-
lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel on Srinagar-Leh part connecting NH-1A in J&K. The planned tunnel will facilitate all-weather connectivity to aimed important Leh area. On accomplishment, it will be Asia’s biggest 2-lane bi-directional tunnel.
Key Points

• The Zojila Tunnel will be located at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil- Leh National Highway.
• The Project focuses at building of 14.150 km long 2-lane bidirectional single tunnel with a parallel 14.200 kilometres long escape tunnel except approaches between Baltal and Minamarg in Jammu and Kashmir at projected cost of Rs 6,089 crores.
• The main aim of the project is to supply all whether connection to aimed important Leh region in Jammu and Kashmir which presently, is restricted to best six months due to snowfall on the mountain passes and fears of avalanches.
• Ladakh area remains cut-off from rest of the nation during winter due to heavy snow-fall.
• The project will be executed by Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways via the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited on Engineering, Procurement and Construction way.

Extension of norms for mandatory packaging in Jute Materials approved by - CCEA

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs  has passed the extension of mandatory packaging rules of food- grains and sugar in jute material for Jute  for the Year 2017 until July  2018. The compulsory extension was passed in the Jute Packaging Material Act, 1987. The passed rules mandate that 90 percent of food grains and 20 percent of sugar items shall be compulsary packed in jute bags.
Key Points

• The resolution also mandates, in 1st instance, complete requirement for packing of food-grains will be done in jute bags.
• Thus, it makes planning for 100 percent packing of food-grains in jute bags in regard to capability of jute industry to handle the requirement.
• The resolution will also aid to sustain core requirement for jute industry and support income of the workers and farmers dependent on the industry.
• The planning of compulsory packaging will comfort jute farmers and workers in jute sector located in Eastern and North-Eastern areas of nation particularly in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya.
  More about Jute industry
• Jute business is predominantly based on Government sector which buys jute products over Rs. 5,500 crores every year. Government has been putting concerted attempts for the progress of jute sector considering that approximately 3.7 lakh workers and nearly 40 lakh farmers are based on it for their income on jute sectors. Government is also making continuously efforts for the progress of jute industry.
• It is enhancing quality and efficiency of raw jute, diversification of jute industry and also increasing and sustaining requirement for jute product.

 Four new balsam species in Arunachal Pradesh discovered by - Scientists

Scientists have discovered 4 new balsam species from different locations in Eastern Himalayas in north-
eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. These species are Impatiens haridasanii, Impatiens pseudocitrina,
Impatiens nilalohitae and Impatiens roingensis. Infrastructure project like road widening business,
deforestation and other expansion activities are creating a warning to the natural habitat of the new
species.
Key Points

• Impatiens haridasanii: It was unearthed in Pongchan. The species is distinguished by small yellow flowers and hairy leaves. Its nomenclature has been done after former scientist, Haridasan, State Forest Research Institute, Arunachal Pradesh, for his efforts to the classification of the north-eastern regions.
• Impatiens pseudocitrina: It was unearthed in Anjaw district. It bears bright yellow flowers with small red spots on the throat and has long spur at the back.
• Impatiens nilalohitae: It was unearthed from the Lower Dibang valley. It flourishes to height of more than one metre and has dark purple flowers with pale yellow throat and green stalk.
• Impatiens roingensis: It was unearthed growing in Roing and Upper Siang. It has group of white flowers with yellow patch on the mouth and hooked spur.
  More about Balsams
• Balsams are known as jewel weeds due to diverse colour of their flowers. They are spreader throughout the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, South, Madagascar, East Asia and Africa.
• Their genus is known as Impatiens, signifying nature of its fruits which busts after touching.

7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 launched by - GOI

Government of India has released 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 scheme to facilitate citizens to invest in a taxable scheme, without any monetary ceiling. This new saving plan will be starting from 10 January 2018.
Earlier, the finance ministry informed that the contribution of 8% government savings (taxable) bonds 2003, will be discontinued from 2 January 2018.
The government had initiated the 8% government savings (taxable) bonds in 2003 to make retail investors to invest. 
The bond had 6 years of fixed time period and there was no higher limit for investment.
The decision to close the bond taken in the backdrop of decreasing interest rate in other saving plans, especially the Post Office small saving plans.
Key facts of Bonds

• All the citizens, individuals, including Joint Holdings and Hindu Undivided Families HUF are qualified to invest in this bond. NRIs are not eligible for any investments in these bonds. It will be free from Wealth-tax.
• However, interest on the Bonds will be taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961 as significant according to the relevant tax ranking of the bond holder.
• The Bonds will be granted at par Rs.100.00. It will be granted for a minimum amount of Rs. 1,000/- and in the multiples of same. There will be no higher limit for investment in the Bonds.
• The Bonds will have a maturity of seven years with an interest rate at 7.75% per year. The interest will be payable at six monthly. The bonds are non-transferable.

Union Health Ministry, Tata Memorial Centre jointly launch first digital Online Oncology Tutorial on-v 4th January 2018

The Union Health Ministry and Tata Memorial Centre on 4th January 2018 jointly released the nation’s 1st digital Online Oncology Tutorial Series.  The oncology tutorial series focus to train the doctors across the nation to educate them in starting detection, medication, rehabilitation, palliation and treatment of different cancers.  

Tata Memorial Centre is a grant-in- aid cancer institute under the Department of Atomic Energy of Union Government.
Online Oncology Tutorial Series

• Online Oncology Tutorials is deliberated for physicians, dentists, gynaecologists and other healthcare professionals who are not oncologists, but can play an important role in early observation and diagnosis of cancers.
• This will furnish doctors with the skills and understandings on basics of oncology to identify, diagnose and refer cancer cases at early as possible. 
• In the tutorial, the online video lectures have also been outlines to update oncologists with the evidence related guidelines and ability for the management of cancer.
• The overall course is outlined for seven weeks with various modules based on different sites and sub-sites of Cancer.
• It consists of fourteen hours of comprehensive e-learning through over than 40 video lectures, assessment questionnaires, case studies and periodic interactive Webinar sittings with particular consultants of Tata Memorial Hospital.
• The course can also be obtained at the link - https://www.omnicuris.com/academics/advanced-clinical-oncology.
• The Online Oncology Tutorial is a part of a National Program that will be worked out across the nation by Tata Memorial Centre in coordination with state governments later in the year.
• With this scheme, the Health Ministry and Tata Memorial Centre under the Digital India measure of the Government will look-forward to reach millions of doctors who may not have the time to pay attention on physical conferences, Continuous Medical Educations and are busy working in rural areas.