1) India Successfully Launches GSAT-6A Communication Satellite
•ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F08 carrying the GSAT6A communication satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Today's launch adds another feather in ISRO's cap as it is mastering the technique of making home-made communication satellites. The GSAT-6A satellite will be put into orbit around 17 minutes after the rocket's liftoff.
•GSLV Mk II (F08) carrying GSAT-6A took off from the second launch pad in Sriharikota. Today's launch marked its 12th flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F08 and sixth flight with the indigenous Cryogenic upper stage.
2) Niti Aayog Launches Baseline Ranking Of 115 Aspirational Districts
•The NITI Aayog has launched the baseline ranking for 115 aspirational districts based on 49 indicators across five sectors that include health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
•This would be followed by delta ranking of these districts from May 2018 based on their incremental progress.
3) Cabinet Approves Rs 4,500 Crore To Boost Development Projects In North-East
•Cabinet has approved Schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC) including the continuation of existing Schemes. It will boost the development projects in North-East. Four thousand five hundred crore rupees have been approved for the scheme for three years up to March 2020.
•The Scheme of NEC- Special Development Project will be changed to be a Central Sector Scheme with 100 percent grant.
4) Harsimrat Kaur Badal Inaugurates Rajasthan's First Mega Food Park In Ajmer
•In Rajasthan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated the first mega food park of the state at Roopangarh village near Ajmer. The Food Park is set up at an investment of Rs 113.57 crore and will benefit around 25 thousand farmers in Ajmer and neighboring districts. Center has given the 50 crore rupees subsidy for this project.
•The mega food park would attract an additional investment of about Rs. 250 crore in about 30 food processing units in the park and to a turnover of about 500 crore rupees per annum.
5) EPFO Launches Portal For Pensioners
•EPFO has launched the pensioner’s portal through which all EPFO pensioners may get the details of pension-related information. The pensioner’s portal is a recently launched service where details like pension payment order number, payment order details, passbook information and other related information are available.
•The enhanced “Track eKYC” facility for the convenience of members have also been launched to check the status of Aadhaar seeded against their UAN. The facility has been made available at EPFO’s website www.epfindia.gov.in.
6) CCEA Approves Continuation Of Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme For Education Loans
•Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme and continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme with a financial outlay of 6,600 crore rupees from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The scheme will cover loans for pursuing professional and technical courses to promote quality education.
•CEA also approved a proposal to formulate an Integrated Scheme on school education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education from 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2020. An estimated allocation of 75,000 crore rupees has been approved for this which is a 20 percent increase over the current allocations.
