Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews progress of several projects worth about Rs. 24000 crores spread over nine states

NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews progress of several projects worth about Rs. 24000 crores spread over nine states

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 32nd PRAGATI interaction and discussed progress of several projects.
• Out of these, nine were delayed projects worth over Rs.24000 crore spread over nine states including Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
• The delayed projects are related to Railways, Road Transport and Highways and Petroleum and Natural Gas.  During the meeting, Mr. Modi also reviewed the progress under insurance schemes of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
• The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress under Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems project- a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing through e-Governance.
• This was the first PRAGATI meeting of the year 2020. It marked Prime Minister’s thirty-second interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Central and State governments.
• In the previous interactions, the Prime Minister had reviewed a total of 269 projects with a total investment of 12.30 lakh crore rupees.
• The Prime Minister has also reviewed the resolution of grievance redressal related to 47 government programmes and schemes across 17 diverse sectors.

Cabinet gives approval to EC to enter into MoU with Election Commissions of Tunisia and Papua New Guinea

• The Cabinet gave approval to Election Commission of India to enter into MoU with the Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia and the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission for elections for cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration.
• The Cabinet also gave its nod for the four agreements between India and Brazil in the field of oil and natural gas, Geology and Mineral Resources, mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and cooperation in the field of early childhood care.

Cabinet committee approves the closure of Hindustan Fluorocarbons plant in Telangana

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA today approved shutting down the operations of the plant and unit of Hindustan Fluorocarbons Limited, HFL and closure of the company.
• HFL is a Central Public Sector Enterprise under Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. HFL has only one plant located at Rudraram, District Sangareddy in Telangana.
• Government granted an interest free loan of over 77 crore rupees to HFL for expenditure exclusively on closure.

Jharkhand's Jharia most polluted city, Delhi reduces air pollution marginally: Greenpeace report

• Coal-belching Jharia in Jharkhand continues to be the most polluted city in India, while Delhi has made marginal improvement in reducing air pollution, according to a Greenpeace India report released on Tuesday. Delhi is the 10th-most polluted city in India. It was at the eighth spot a year ago.
• Jharkhand's Dhanbad, known for its rich coal reserves and industries, is the second-most polluted city in India, according to the report based on analysis of PM10 data from 287 cities across the country.
• Lunglei in Mizoram is the least polluted followed by Meghalaya's Dowki, according to the report.
• Six of the top-10 polluted cities are in Uttar Pradesh -- Noida, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Allahabad, Moradabad and Firozabad.

STATE NEWS

MP Govt announces incentives for medal winners in Khelo India Youth Games

• The players of Madhya Pradesh who performed well in 'Khelo India' Youth Games in Guwahati, Assam, will be given incentives. Apart from this, players will also be provided international level sports infrastructure, training in modern and scientific method, sports equipment and all other required facilities.
• "The state government has announced an incentive of Rs 1 lakh to the gold medal winner, 75 thousand to the silver medalist and Rs 50 thousand to the bronze medalist of the Khelo India Youth Games. Madhya Pradesh had won only 8 gold medals in Khelo India last year but this year, players of the state have won a total of 46 medals including 15 gold and 11 silver medals.
• In the 'Khelo India' Youth Games, players of Madhya Pradesh have achieved these medals by excelling in athletics, judo, archery, table tennis, shooting, wrestling, swimming, badminton, weightlifting and boxing.

Mumbai malls, shops, eateries can stay open 24X7 from January 27

• Maharashtra cabinet has approved a proposal to allow malls, multiplexes, shops and eateries to remain open round the clock.
• The decision will come into force from 27th January and will be implemented only in non-residential areas like Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point.
• In another decision, cabinet has made the film "Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior" tax-free in the state. The film is based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's trusted lieutenant Tanaji Malusare who had played a pivotal role in capturing the Sinhagad Fort.

IIM to train Uttar Pradesh cops on communication skills, mob management

• The Indian Institute of Management Indore in Madhya Pradesh will teach lessons on crowd management and effective communication to Uttar Pradesh (UP) police.
• A memorandum of understanding for this project was signed by UP Director General of Police OP Singh and IIM Indore Director Professor Himanshu Rai in Lucknow.
• Training sessions would be held to teach officers effective ways to negotiate and communicate with the mob.

ECONOMICS

Government approves up to 100% FDI limit in Bharti Airtel

• Bharti Airtel Limited (the Company) has received the approval from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for increasing the limit of foreign investment upto 100% of the paid up capital of the Company, the company said in a regulatory filing. 
• It may also be noted that subject to applicable laws, the aforesaid approval read together with the RBI approval dated July 03, 2014 granted to the Company allows the FPIs/FIIs to invest upto 74% of the paid up capital of the Company.

OBITUARY

Former Test Batsman Man Mohan Sood passes away at 80       

• Former Test batsman and National selector Man Mohan Sood passed away at the age of 80.
• Sood made his first class debut against Services at Ferozeshah Kotla in 1957 and played his final Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir at Srinagar in 1964.
• His lone Test appearance came against Richie Benaud-led Australia at Madras in 1960 when India lost by an innings and 55 runs.
• Sood played one Test and 39 first-class matches with one century.