- PM to open Tuirial hydro project in Mizoram
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Tuirial Hydroelectric Power Project in Mizoram to the nation.
The 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Power Project (HEPP) has been constructed as a Central Sector Project and implemented by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), under the administrative control of the Union power ministry.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the project for implementation in July 1998 with commissioning scheduled in July 2006.
- Tripura CM inaugurates Indo-Bangla Friendship Park
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was inaugurated Indo-Bangla Friendship Park at Chottakhola in South Tripura district. Sarkar said this park is a historic witness of friendship between Tripura and Bangladesh.
The foundation stone for the 20.20 hectare park, which encompasses seven hillocks and a lake near the Trishna wild life sanctuary, was laid by the then Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in November 2010.
- Pradhan inaugurates Eastern India’s first CNG stations
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated eastern India’s first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations for scooters.
Pradhan inaugurated two CNG stations for scooters and three-wheelers at Chandrasekharpur and Patia area.
The CNG stations were part of GAIL’s Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga and City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
- PM Modi inaugurates Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Shillong-Nongstoin-Rongjeng-Tura Road in Shillong.
This road will serve as an east-west corridor. It will boost economic activity and establish a direct link between the important towns of the state, Shillong and Tura.
- Cabinet approves UNESCO Agreement to be signed for establishing International Training Centre
The International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography, hosted at the ESSO-INCOIS (ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) campus in Hyderabad will be established as a Category-2 Centre (C2C) through an agreement to be signed with UNESCO. This was approved by the Cabinet on 15 December 2017.
The field of operational oceanography involves systematic ocean studies aimed at supporting day-to-day operations and providing information services to various sectors of the blue economy (valued at millions of crores of rupees) viz. fishing, disaster management, shipping and ports, coastal management, environmental management, offshore industries and defense forces i.e. navy, coast guard.
- Cabinet approves continuation of NLCPR scheme for North East till March 202
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the existing Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme with funding pattern of 90:10 till March, 2020 with an outlay of Rs.5300.00 crore. It would enable completion of ongoing projects.
The Union Cabinet also approved the introduction of new Central Sector Scheme of “North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme” (NESIDS) from 2017-18 with 100% funding from the Central Government to fill up the gaps in creation of infrastructure in specified sectors till March, 2020.
- Cabinet approves special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector
The Union Cabinet has approved the special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme “Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme” with an approved expenditure of Rs. 2600 Crore over the three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The Special Package has the potential to generate 3.24 lakhs new jobs in 3 years and assist in formalization of 2 lakh jobs as cumulative impact in Footwear, Leather & Accessories Sector.
- Cabinet approves continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM)
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 with an outlay of Rs. 2400 crore over the 3 year period. The Mission was launched in September, 2014.
The NAM is being implemented by Ministry of AYUSH with the objectives of providing cost effective AYUSH Services.
- Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Colombia in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
The MoU provides for cooperation in the following fields of agriculture and Fisheries:
Innovative agricultural practices/approaches,
New agricultural mechanizations,
- Society for Nuclear Medicine International Conference (SNMICON)
Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subash Bhamre inaugurated a four day 49th Annual Conference of the Society of Nuclear Medicine – India SNMICON.
Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) is making considerable contribution in the research of nuclear medicine, thereby exemplifying the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
- UIDAI suspends Airtel, Airtel Payments Bank’s eKYC licence
The UIDAI has temporarily barred Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank from conducting Aadhaar-based SIM verification of mobile customers using eKYC process as well as e-KYC of payments bank clients.
The action follows allegations of Bharti Airtel using the Aadhaar-eKYC based SIM verification process to open payments bank accounts of its subscribers without their ‘informed consent’. UIDAI also took strong objection to allegations that such payments bank accounts are being linked to receive LPG subsidy.
- Nepal hosts first International Wheelchair Cricket Tournament
The first ever International Wheelchair Cricket Tournament was organised on December 15 in Nepal’s Kathmandu.
The hooting for each of the team was heating the Tribhuwan University ground where the teams from different nations are involved in T20 series.
The tournament has participation of teams from Nepal, India and Bangladesh which is supported by the Sushil Koirala Memorial Foundation and technical assistance from the Kathmandu Cricket Training Center.
- David Cameron to head new UK-China investment body
David Cameron will take charge of a USD 1 billion fund to improve ports, roads and rail networks between China and its trading partners as part of the wider Belt and Road Initiative.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had resigned as an MP and stepped back from the political life last year following the Brexit referendum, is to take on a new role as the head of a government-backed body for the promotion of UK-China investment ties.
- Maharashtra duo win doubles title in Egypt tennis tournament
Aryan Goveas of Mumbai and Arjun Kadhe of Pune bagged their second successive ITF doubles title in the Egypt Futures tennis tournament in Cairo.
The Maharashtra duo scored a 6-7 (1), 6-1, 10-7 win over Oleksandr Bielinskyi of Ukraine and Russia’s Ronald Slobodchikov in the men’s doubles final,.
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