KARNATAKA

Karnataka budget: Transport sector hopes for bigger budget slice this time

The transport sector is expecting a good deal in the state budgeton February 8.
The areas which need focus are strengthening the public transport system, Rs 500-Rs 1,000 crore direct subsidy for BMTC so that it can slash fares and expand its fleet, aid for timely completion of Namma Metro’s Phase II project and preparation of a detailed project report on Phase III.

Other demands include allocation of funds and formation of special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the suburban rail project, setting up the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority, common mobility card for both Metro and BMTC, conversion of existing diesel-run BMTC buses to electric on a lease basis and adoption of a non-motorised transport (NMT) policy to encourage pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, there is a need to set up a public bicycle-sharing system, more TenderSURE roads and cycle tracks, bus priority lanes, better first- and last-mile connectivity to and from Metro, railway stations and bus terminals.

Bicycle mayor Sathya Shankaran said the government should allocate Rs 6,000 crore for NMT — to build 2,000-km footpaths and cycle tracks through the unified metropolitan transport authority.

INTERNATIONAL

· INSTEX : Iran Trade Promotion Plan

INSTEX acronym of Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges is a project of the three governments of UK, France and Germany to bypass US sanctions on Iran.

INSTEX is a special payment system which will help to save the Iran nuclear deal by allowing Tehran to keep trading with EU companies despite Washington re-imposing sanctions.

INSTEX would receive payments from companies that want to trade with Iran, either by receiving waivers for oil imports or permissible trade in goods like food and medicine. As a result, there would be no direct transfer of funds between Iran and European companies.

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is observed on 4th February annually.

The Day aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year through education, raising awareness and by pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the deadly disease.

Union for International Cancer Control, which organizes World Cancer Day, is launching a new 3-year campaign with the theme: “I Am and I Will.”

Over 9.6 million People die each year from cancer which is more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

India has around 2.25 million cases with over 1 lakh new cases being registered every year.

NATIONAL

Government proposes to launch mega pension yojana ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan

The Government proposes to launch a mega pension yojana namely ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan’ for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income upto Rs. 15,000.

This pension yojana shall provide them an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 from the age of 60 years.

It will be provided on a monthly contribution of a small affordable amount during their working age.

An unorganised sector worker joining pension yojana at the age of 29 years will have to contribute only Rs. 100 per month till the age of 60 years.

A worker joining the pension yojana at 18 years, will have to contribute as little as Rs. 55 per month only.

The Government will deposit equal matching share in the pension account of the worker every month.

· Rishi Kumar Shukla appointed CBI Director

IPS officer Rishi Kumar Shukla has been appointed as the chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a fixed tenure of two years. Rishi Kumar Shukla is currently serving as the chairman of Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation in Bhopal.

The appointment of the Rishi Kumar Shukla was approved by the Appointments Committee of the cabinet based on the recommendation of the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister. The CBI Director search committee headed by Prime Minister has the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition as members.

The appointment of the CBI director gains significance in the backdrop of comments made by the Supreme Court which had said that it was “averse” to the arrangement of an interim CBI Director and the Centre should “immediately” appoint a regular chief of the probe agency.

· Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2019

The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is organized every year by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.
The state of Maharashtra is the Theme State and Thailand is the Partner Nation Country for the Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2019.

The Mela also aims to be a custodian of the heritage crafts involving the use of traditional skills that are fading away due to cheap machine-made imitations, and a special section is earmarked for showcasing of these heritage crafts.

The theme state concept was conceptualized broadly with a view to promote and focus on art, craft and cuisine of each state of India every year.

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