HIMACHAL PRADESH

HP to be developed as eco-tourism destination: cm

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said that the State Government has identified 113 sites to be developed to make the state an eco-tourism destination, besides developing nature parks and herbal gardens.

Out of these sites, 5 sites have been given on PPP mode, 16 to the State Forest Department and 47 to HP the State Forest Corporation for starting eco-tourism activities at these sites, said the Chief Minister while inaugurating the two days international conference on ‘Eco-Tourism Potential in Himachal Pradesh’ organized at Manali in Kullu district.

He said that in addition, 25 new destinations would be developed by constructing log huts for stay of tourists in the lap of nature.

He said that three eco-tourism hubs would be developed during the current financial year. 10 places would be developed from adventure tourism point of view with the close coordination of Eco Tourism Society, Tourism Department and Mountaineering Institute, Manali.

31 eco-tourism circuits has been prepared and would be sent for approval to the Centre, said Thakur.

Eco-tourism activities not only associate people with the nature but it can also prove a major employment and self-employment generator for the youth of the state. Nature parks and herbal gardens were being developed in the state, said he.

INTERNATIONAL

International ICT conference to be held in Nepal

The Computer Association Nepal (CAN) is organizing an international-level ‘Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Conference-2018’ in Kathmandu on June 17-18.

The objective of the conference is to exchange information on the improved practices of information technology.

Various international experts will attend and present their working papers on the occasion.

Experts from China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and UNDP are participating in the two-day conference.

World Day Against Child Labour: 12 June

The World Day Against Child Labour, which is held every year on June 12, is intended to foster the worldwide movement against child labour in any of its forms.

The International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations body that regulates the world of work, launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 in order to bring attention and join efforts to fight against child labour.

Previous Paper (PP) – UPSC IAS 2018

International Labour Organization’s Conventions 138 and 182 are related to :

Child labour
Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
Regulation of food prices and food security

(d) Gender parity at the workplace

Answer – (A)

NATIONAL

3,000 Additional Atal Tinkering Labs Announced

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has selected 3,000 additional schools for the establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), bringing the total number of ATL schools to 5,441.

The selected schools shall receive a grant of Rs 20 lakh spread over the next five years to establish Atal Tinkering Labs for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among secondary school children across India.

ATLs will soon be established in every district of India, seeking to enable an innovation ecosystem, which will facilitate transformational change in technological innovation and pedagogy.

India to host first BIMSTEC Military Exercise in September

India will host the first military exercise of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) group focussing on counter-terrorism in September.

As part of this, a conclave of the Army chiefs of all seven member-states is being planned.

The exercise is scheduled to be held in Pune in the second week of September.

BIMSTEC was set up in 1997 and includes India, Bangladesh, Bhutan Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

· New Telecom Policy is expected to be cleared by Union Cabinet by end of next month: Communications Minister

The government has recently issued the National Digital Communications Policy which aims at creating 40 lakh new jobs by 2022, attract investment of around 6.5 lakh crore rupees in the sector and ensuring broadband coverage at 50 mbps for every citizen.
Briefing reporters in New Delhi on the achievements of his Ministry in the last four years,
The telecom sector was in turmoil when the NDA government came to power and there was trust deficit among stakeholders.
The last four year his Ministry has brought in transparency and good governance.

· Union Government approves revision of carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under PMAY (Urban)

The Union Government approved a 33percentt increasein carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under its affordable housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to attract more beneficiaries.
The carpet area of a house has been enhanced to 160 square metres from 120 square metres for Middle Income Group-1, while it has been increased to 200 square metres from 150 square metres in case of Middle Income Group-2.
AIR correspondent reports, the new rules will be effective from 1st of January, 2017, the date on which the scheme became operational.
The enhancements will now enable more Middle Income Group customers to qualify for a subsidy and avail the benefits provided under the flagship mission of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban.
Apart from increasing the number of beneficiaries, the enhancement in carpet area will increase the construction activity and will give a push to the housing sector.
Under the Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme, each beneficiary can avail subsidy up to two lakh 35 thousand on the purchase of a house under the scheme.

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