NITI Aayog to set up working group
1)
A sub-group of 11 Chief Ministers of the NITI Aayog decided to set
up a working group to recommend steps to make Centrally sponsored schemes more effective
and their implementation by the States more flexible.
2)
The working group will prepare a draft report which will be taken
up for discussion at the next meeting of the panel.
3)
The funding pattern of the Central schemes is expected to undergo
further changes, considering acceptance of recommendations of 14th Finance
Commission relating to increase in the States’ share of Central taxes to 42 per
cent from 32 per cent.
4)
Finance Ministry proposed in the Centre’s fiscal policy strategy
statement that the expenditure on 30 such schemes (CSS), which has already been
taken into account as State expenditure, be transferred to the States.
Ø MNREGA and
the National Food Security Act are neither being discontinued nor transferred
as they are being implemented under laws passed by Parliament.
5)
At its first meeting, the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog constituted
three subgroups of Chief Ministers :
i.
on rationalisation of the Central schemes
ii.
skill development
iii.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan
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IAEA review of Indian nuclear power plant
1)
U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a 12-day
review of India’s nuclear safety standards.
2)
IAEA consider that India has a “strong commitment to safety” but the
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) needs more independence and separation
from the government.
3)
It
also called for the Indian government to allow more
on-site inspections at the nuclear power plants (NPPs) under international
safeguards.
4)
Six preliminary suggestions were given at the end of the review which
were accepted by the Indian agency.
5)
Among other suggestions, the international agency said India needs
a “national policy” for nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, and
needs more “internal emergency arrangements.”
6)
IAEA review came at the invitation of the Indian government after
it concluded handing over its civilian nuclear reactors for international
scrutiny, and submitted to IAEA requirements for accounting for spent fuel and other
nuclear processes.
7) India had last year
ratified IAEA's Additional Protocol and also brought 22 nuclear facilities,
including 14 atomic power reactors, under the agency's safeguards, enabling it
to have greater role in inspection of these units.
8)
India is keen to get backing for a future bid for membership to
the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which it has been kept out of as India has refused
to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
1. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/iaea-for-more-autonomy-to-aerb/article7042068.ece
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Rajasthan amends Panchayati Raj law
1)
Rajasthan became the first State in the country to fix a minimum
educational qualification for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj
Institutions.
2)
Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill, 2015, makes Class VIII
pass mandatory for the post of sarpanch and Class X for Zila Parishad or
Panchayat Samiti elections.
Ø except in tribal reserved
areas, where the minimum qualification is Class V
3)
The amendments to Section 19 of the Rajasthan Panchayat Raj Act,
1994 also make a functional toilet mandatory in the house of a contestant.
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