Current Affairs January, 2016

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for web-based monitoring of watershed projects.

Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 92.

The Union Government is going to roll out LPG-like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for kerosene from 1st April 2016. The scheme in the initial phase will be implemented in selected 26 districts of eight states.

• The government has formed a one-man committee to examine the wage structure and service conditions of gramin dak sevaks.
• Single helpline number (1906) for gas leaks opened.
• Government to introduce startup blueprint this month on January 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the blueprint of ‘Start Up India’ programme which may include a Startups and Entrepreneurship Law to make it easier for setting up new ventures and closing unviable ones, besides clearing regulatory issues that hamper access to finance.

China has created three new military bodies as part of reforms to modernise its military and improve its fighting capacity.

The government has formed a one-man committee to examine the wage structure and service conditions of gramin dak sevaks, who are extra-departmental agents recruited by the postal department to serve in rural areas.

With the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court̢۪s order prescribing a dress code for entry into temples kicking in on January 1, a routine visit gained much more significance as men; women and children were told what they had to wear.

LPG consumers now have a single short number to dial for help in case of gas leaks. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the 24X7 all-India helpline — 1906 — for LPG leaks.

• Cabinet inks Financing Agreement with World Bank to fund education of minorities.
• Vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam conferred 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award
• India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear facilities.

The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into revamp of Censor Board of Film Censors (CBFC).

Foremost south Indian classical vocalists Sanjay Subrahmanyam has conferred with prestigious 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award.