Current Affairs 1st-7th January 2020
Weekly Current Affairs from important sources
Current Affairs 1st-7th January 2020
KVIC opened the first silk processing plant in Gujarat
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) a first Silk Processing Plant inaugurated at Surendranagar in Gujarat. The cost of production of silk yarn increases the sale and availability of raw material for Gujarati Patola Sarees locally. The plant set up by a khadi institution at the cost of Rs 75 lakhs in which KVIC contributed Rs 60 lakh. The unit employed 90 local women.
Patola
Patola, the trademark Saree of Gujarat is considered to be very costly and worn only by the Royals or the Aristocrat. The main reason at the raw material silk yarn is purchased from Karnataka or West Bengal.KVIC invested Rs. 60 Lakhs to build the Silk Processing Plant to generate livelihood and sales of Patola Sarees by making silk more readily available at a low cost for the Patola Saree manufacturers in the nearby area. India its a unique weave for the Silk Saree. It is notable that Patola Silk Saree is amongst the top five silk weaves are desired in every Indian Saree Lover's wardrobe.
Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates first capacity building programme
Union Minister of State Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region inaugurated the first Capacity Building Programme on General Financial Rules-2017, e-Procurement and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) at Convention Centre, Jammu. The capacity building program is being conducted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Govt. of India in collaboration with Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir, National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) and Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) for 385 officials of the Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir. The Central law applies to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir necessary to unlearn the things that were learned in the past to adapt to the new system.
The conference to take forward the commitment to apply all the central laws to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through proper training and capacity building. The conference witnessed huge participation of officials from various departments of UT of J&K. The conference, a five-year vision document of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances released besides launching a monitoring Dashboard of the Grievance Portal of Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir. A Memorandum of Understanding and exchange of documents between DARPG, NCGG, and IMPARD for the capacity building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 107th Indian Science Congress
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 107th Indian Science Congress (ISC) at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. The young scientists to work in the field of rural development where there are several opportunities for cheaper and better innovations. The theme of 107th ISC is Science and Technology: Rural Development.
Technology Impact
The union Government programs created more incubators in the last five years than in the previous 50 years. The technology helped in building toilets and providing electricity to the poor. The technology of Geo Tagging and Data Science, many of the projects in rural and urban areas, could be timely completed. Digitalization, E-Commerce, Internet Banking, and Mobile Banking services are assisting the rural population significantly. The technology could be harnessed for several rural development initiatives, particularly in the area of cost-effective Agriculture and Farm to Consumer supply chain network. The technological solutions for stalk burning, maintenance of Groundwater tables, prevention of infectious diseases, environment-friendly transportation. Science and technology have a significant role in contributing to making India a $5 Trillion Economy.
Mirabai ranked eighth in latest Olympic qualification rankings
Former world champion Mirabai Chanu maintained her eighth spot released by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The Olympic qualification competes in the 49kg category gathered 2966.6406 ranking points. Chanu improved her performance in 2019. She lifted 86kg in snatch and a personal best of 113kg in clean and jerk for a total of 199kg at the Asian Championships in April. Her best performance came at the World Championship in September, when the Manipuri breached the much anticipated 200kg mark by lifting her personal best in all three sections.
Chinese Weightlifters
The latest qualifying rankings feature three Chinese weightlifters in the top five. Reigning World Champion and world record holder Hou Zhihui (4703.1982) heads the list while Jiang Huihua (4667.8878) and Zhang Rong (3837.8294) occupy the second and fourth spots respectively. Ri Song Gum of North Korea is placed third with 4209.4909 points. The fifth, sixth, and seventh spots occupied by USA’s Delacruz Jourdan Elizabeth (184kg), Indonesia’s Aisah Windy Cantika (190kg), and Segura Ana Iris (188kg) of Colombia. All three of them alongside Rong (199kg) have personal bests lower than that of Chanu’s (201kg). In the men’s 67kg category, Youth Olympics gold medallist Jeremy Lalrinnunga is placed 32nd with 2,310.9653 points.
India sets record for the highest number of babies born on New Year Day
India recorded the highest number of babies born worldwide on New Year's Day. The world's second-most populous country registering an estimated 67,385 births out of the nearly 400,000 babies born globally on that day.
UNICEF - Birth Ratio Count
Around 400,000 babies were born around the world on New Year's Day, with India recording the highest number of these births worldwide at 67,385. The 392,078 babies were born around the world on New Year’s Day, according to UNICEF. An estimated 67,385 babies were born in India. Globally, over half of these births were estimated to have taken place in eight countries - India (67,385), China (46,299), Nigeria (26,039), Pakistan (16,787), Indonesia (13,020), United States of America (10,452), Democratic Republic of Congo (10,247) and Ethiopia (8,493). The remarkable world progress in child survival cutting the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday by more than half. Babies dying in the first month accounted for 47 percent of all deaths among children under five in 2018.
Fifth IHAI National Ice Hockey Championship 2020 begins in Leh
The fifth Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) National Ice Hockey Championship 2020 begun in Leh. The inaugural match in the Under-20 Boys category between Chandigarh and Haryana. The second match between Ladakh Scouts Regiment Centre and Delhi also ended in a draw with two goals. The Under-20 Girls match will be played between home team Ladakh and Maharashtra. The tournament continues till 7th January in Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink in Leh, where the Army, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and home team Ladakh fighting for the championship in U-20 boys category. In Girls category Ladakh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Chandigarh are playing for the tournament.
Ice Hockey Association of India
Ice Hockey Association of India is the governing body of ice hockey in India. The member of the International Ice Hockey Federation on April 27, 1989.
Delhi first fully automated car park tower unveiled in Green Park
Delhi Municipal Corporation inaugurated the city’s first fully-automated car-parking tower facility at Green Park. The facility can accommodate at least 34 cars. The facility inaugurated by Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Car-parking tower facility
The facility four towers each of 39.50 meters height with 17 levels to accommodate 34 cars. The operation and maintenance cost and requirement of manual labor lower than conventional parking facilities. The retrieval time of vehicles will be just three minutes, in comparison to 15 minutes in traditional parking facilities. The pollution and no fuel consumption in the automated tower parking, whereas pollution in the conventional parking lingers on due to smoke discharge of car movement through ramps and fuel consumption.
Maharashtra Govt launches Cyber Safe Women initiative
Maharashtra Government launched a Cyber Safe Women initiative under which awareness camps held across all the districts of the state regarding cyber safety. The initiative will help in educating women about how the web is used by anti-social elements and child predators to commit various types of crimes. The instances of cyber-crime need to be curbed, and the government is looking to take all measures to ensure that women and children to these criminal activities.
Cyber Safe Women initiative
The important to discuss the best practices openly for surfing the internet. The best practices are given below. The sensitive information on any social media, which is private, should be secured using complex passwords. Printers, wifi, webcams, and computers, should be shut down and not kept continuously open when not in use. Do not access the links to which an email can direct you and then ask you for personal information. The net banking does not adopt google search or other search and instead of typing the correct address of your bank yourself in the address bar.
The year 2020 Designated as Year of Nurse and Midwife
World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife to honor the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the collaborating partner in the three-year Nursing Now Campaign (2018–2020).
Aim of Campaign
The main objective is to improve health globally by raising the status and profile of nursing, demonstrating achieved by a strengthened nursing profession, and enabling nurses to maximize their contribution to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
WHO Organisation
The development of the first-ever State of the World’s Nursing report launched in 2020. This report describes the nursing workforce in the WHO Member States, providing an assessment of fitness for purpose. The country-level dissemination and policy dialogue around the State of the World’s Nursing report. Sustainable Development Goal 5 contributing to economic development (SDG8) and supporting other SDGs. Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services and key contributors to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage. Midwives are unique professionals who provide specialist nursing care and stand at the forefront of providing primary care for women and their babies. These academic centers are affiliated to the Global Network of WHO and set out four broad themes to guide the contributions of the nursing and midwifery workforce to improve global health.
Optimizing policy development, effective leadership, management, and governance. The capacities and potential of nurses and midwives through professional collaborative partnerships, education and continuing professional development; and mobilizing political will to invest in building practical, evidence-based nursing and midwifery workforce development. The 20 million nurses around the world will be thrilled to see their profession recognised. The International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife will provide us with a new, 2020 vision of what nursing is in the modern era, and how nurses can light the way to Universal Health Coverage and healthcare. Investing in nurses and midwives is a good value for money. The investments in education and job creation in the health and social sectors result in improved health outcomes, global health security, and inclusive economic growth. The Year 2020 is all set for Nursing and Midwifery. It will raise the profile of nursing, investing in recruitment and retention, removing the barriers to the development of advanced nursing roles, proving highly effective at expanding global healthcare coverage.
Indian Railway announces one integrated Helpline number 139
The Indian Railways made to overcome the inconvenience over multiple helpline numbers for grievances and inquiry during railway travel, Indian Railway integrated railway helplines into single number 139 for the passengers for quick grievance redressal and inquiry during their journey. The new helpline number 139 will take over all the existing helpline numbers (except 182), it will be easy for the passengers to remember this number and connect with Railways for all their needs during the travel.
The Railway grievances helplines are discontinued:
- 138 (for general complaints)
- 1072 (for accidents and safety)
- 9717630982 (for SMS complaints)
- 58888 / 138 (for clean my coach)
- 152210 (for vigilance)
- 1800111321 (for catering services)
The Helpline 139 will be available in twelve languages. It will be based on the IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System).
Menu of 139 Helpline (IVRS) is as under:
- The security & medical assistance, passenger has to press 1, which connects immediately to a call center executive
- The passenger to press two.
- The information regarding PNR Status, arrival/departure of the train, accommodation, fare inquiry, ticket booking, system ticket cancellation, wake up alarm facility/destination alert, wheelchair booking, meal booking can be obtained.
- For catering complaints, passenger to press 3
- For general claims, passenger to press 4
- For vigilance related complaints, passenger to press 5
- For queries during an accident, the passenger to press 6
- For the status of claims, passenger to press 9
- For talking to call center executive, passenger to push *
China launches two powerful naval destroyers in the year of harvest for military
China launched two powerful naval destroyers, is building a massive pier at the Djibouti maritime base in the Indian Ocean to dock its aircraft carriers, as the state media described 2019 the year of harvest for the Chinese military acquired a whole range of modern weapons. China adding new naval ships on a monthly basis. The military reduced the size of the army by three lakh troops and resorted to a massive expansion of the navy to extend China’s influence and global reach. China plans to acquire about five to six aircraft carriers in the coming years. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Col Wu Qian confirmed that China is building a 400 meter-long pier at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa to dock its aircraft carriers there. The construction and use of the facilities are to better fulfill China’s international obligations in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, such as escort missions and humanitarian assistance. It will help China make new and greater contributions to maintaining peace and stability in Africa and the world. China terms Djibouti base as a logistics base for its naval fleet taking part in the anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Located in the Indian Ocean, it is the Chinese navy’s first base far from home. China acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka in 2017 as a debt swap, raising concerns in India. The Navy will become significantly more powerful and capable of safeguarding China's sovereignty and overseas interests.
Chinese Army
The Chinese army commissioned the Type 15 light battle tank to be deployed in high altitude Tibet. The Type 99 main battle tank and other armored vehicles, China can launch armored assaults on all terrains, including water-dense, muddy, rugged, and high altitude. China revealed its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile: the DF-41, which can carry multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads capable of hitting anywhere on Earth. The new weapons systems to showcase China as a rising military power.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates Five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation. The event shall be organized at the Aeronautical Development Establishment DRDO at Bengaluru. Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the dedication and address the Scientists.
DRDO
DRDO will also showcase some of its innovative products to the Prime Minister at an Exhibition on occasion. Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa and DRDO Chairman Dr. G Satheesh Reddy will present on occasion. The defence research-related activities in a big way to ensure that India remained abreast of global technological advancements in the field.
Siddaganga Mutt
The Siddaganga Mutt established over 500 years ago in the form of a gurukul. The gurukul used to provide free education to children belonging to poor and backward sectors of the society. In 1914, Sri Shivakumar was handed over the responsibility of the gurukul; under his guidance, the gurukul provided not only free education but a free hostel facility. The Mutt runs 132 education institutes, which includes Junior colleges, Medical and engineering colleges, a blind school, and many more that provide free education and food to the children. Around 8,000 students currently study in the various institutes. In 2015 Sri Shivakumar Swami was conferred with the Padma Bhushan.
EC launches online system to let new parties track the status of registration applications
Election Commission launched an online system to allow political parties to track the applications for the registration with the poll panel on a real-time basis. The Commission amended the guidelines for registration last month. The new norms have come into force. The features of the Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS) the applicants applying for the party registration from January 1 will be able to track the progress of application and will get the status update through SMS and e-mail. The registration of political parties governed by the provisions of section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The record of applying to the Commission within 30 days from the date of its formation.
ISRO to set up second launch port in Thoothukodi district
Indian Space Research Organisation establish a second launch port in Thoothukodi district in Tamilnadu exclusively to launch small satellite launch vehicles. ISRO Chairman K Sivan informed that this would come up in 2300 acres. The line of GPS navigation system developed by America, the Indian navigation system called Navic with the indigenous atomic clock, will be operational with mobile phone manufacturers coming forward to install the regional navigation device. Chandrayaan 3 mission to the moon comprising of a lander and a rover is approved by the Union Government.
Gaganyaan
India’s first human-crewed mission to outer space Gaganyaan and four men selected from Indian Air Force will leave for Russia in the third week of January to get training. The Gaganyaan mission targeted to launch by 2022. The uncrewed missions will be launched to test the crew module with robots resembling humans. This uncrewed space mission will test spacecraft re-entry technology, space capsule recovery experiment and the effect of microgravity on the crew module necessary for human space travel.
India commences worlds largest ever vaccination programme to control FMD
National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD and Brucellosis
The union Government launched a new scheme National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD and Brucellosis with a financial outlay of Rs. 13,343.00 crore for five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) by vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, and pig population for FMD and 100% bovine female calves of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis to prevent loss of Rs. 50,000 crores. This programme combined with providing unique PashuAadhar to 535 million animals
NATIONWIDE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAMME (NAIP)
Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme district for 600 districts in the country was recently launched by the Government in September is one of the most extensive such programs with 100% central assistance for undertaking breed improvement. T600 districts so that India achieves 70% AI coverage.Under NAIP, more than 11 lakhs AI done on 31.12.2019.
QUALITY MILK PROGRAMME
DAHD launched Quality Milk Programme on 24.07.2019 with the objectives to achieve Global(Codex)standards for domestic consumption of milk and ensuring traceability & increasing share of milk and milk products in world exports. The program during 2019-20, approval has been granted for the strengthening of 231 dairy plants under the National Programme for Dairy Development scheme to equip them to detect adulterants in milk. The total cost of the project was Rs.271.64 crore. The amount of Rs.128.56 crore released to States as the first installment during 2019-20. Once implemented in June 2020, all the cooperative dairy plants of the country will be able to supply Quality Milk tested on all microbiological, chemical and physical parameters to their consumers.
Railway Protection Force renamed as Indian Railway Protection Force Service
The Ministry of Railways accorded Organised Group 'A' status to Railway Protection Force (RPF) and renamed it Indian Railway Protection Force Service. The Organised Group 'A' status (OGAS) to RPF decision arising from Hon'ble Court's orders. The RPF will be known as the Indian Railway Protection Force Service. The notice in this regard was issued by the Joint Director of Railway Board Amitabh Joshi on December 30.
World Braille Day observed on January 4th
World Braille Day observed on January 4th. The day is marked remembering the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille for people with visual disabilities.
History of the Day
Louis Braille was born on 4th January 1809 in the town of Coupvray in northern France. The invention of the language of 6 dots is popularly known as Braille. The 17 years long tradition prepared in Braille Script with a special typewriter. This initiative aims to spread awareness among society about the plight and cause of people with visual disabilities.
Gujarat CM unveils world second tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani unveils the second tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the world at Ahmedabad.
Salient features of Statue
Around 50 feet tall bronze statue with a weight of 70 thousand kilograms unveiled at the Sardardham campus near the Vaishnodevi Circle in Ahmedabad. It is the second-highest statue of India’s first home minister after the Statue of Unity of the legendary leader situated at Kevadiya in the Narmada district of Central Gujarat. Sardar Patel designed by Padma Bhusan Ram V. Sutar, the Statue of Unity. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani the highest and second highest statue of Sardar Patel, the architect of united India is situated in his home state.
NPCI launched the Vajra Platform for a fast and secure platform
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched the Vajra Platform to make payments fast and secure. The platform is based on blockchain technology.
Aim:
The main objective of the Vajra Platform is to provide automated clearing and settlement of payments and drastically reduce the need for manual reconciliation.
Features:
♦ Vajra Platform uses distributed ledger technology (DLT)
♦ The platform uses a permissions model in order to ensure that only approved parties are a part of the network
♦ Payment companies can apply and register to be a part of the network
♦ After getting the approval, the companies can deploy the platform using an application programming interface (API) that will be provided by NPCI.
Benefits:
The benefits of the Vajra Platform:
♦ Near real-time clearing and settlement of transactions
♦ Minimal reconciliation of transactions
♦ Improved security and reduced operational and financial risks
♦ Legitimate audit trail as DLT is incorruptible
♦ Vajra Platform will be used for Aadhaar authentication by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Mizoram government to organize Zo Festival from 9 Jan
The Mizoram state government is organizing the Zo Festival from 9 January 2020. The festival is a part of the State's endeavour to unify different tribes of Mizo. The Festival will be organized under the banner Zo Kutpui in at least 10 different cities across the globe.
Aim:
The aim of the celebration of the Zo Festival is to reunify and strengthen the brotherhood among different tribes of Mizo.
Zo Festival:
♦ The first festival will be held at Vanghmun, a hub town of Mizos in neighbouring Tripura from 9-11 January 2020. It will be graced by the Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
♦ The event will witness cultural programmes and traditional songs from various Mizo tribes from Mizoram and other northeastern states.
♦ It is expected that many important dignitaries from various Mizoram tribes will participate in the event.
♦ Zo Kutpui will also be organized in Maryland in the USA, Tahan in Myanmar, Churachandpur in Manipur and Bangladesh.
♦ Mizo National Front (MNF) led the government is to unify different Mizo tribes. Also, the government is planning to launch bus services from Aizawl to Kanhmun in Tripura, Churachandpur in Manipur, Shillong in Meghalaya and Tahan in Myanmar to connect people of the Mizo community.
Mizo Tribe:
The Mizo population is found in Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram across India. So far 12 Mizo clans have been identified. These tribal people are native to the north-eastern part of India, western Burma (Present Myanmar) and Eastern Bangladesh. The clans include Chawngthu, Hmar, Hualngo, Hualhnam, Khiangte, Lai, Pang, Pawi-Lusei, Phaite, Renthlei, Ralte, Tlau. Mizo is the common language of all Mizos.
ISRO proposes to set up Human Space Flight Centre in Challakere
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has proposed a Rs.2,700 crore master plan to create a top infrastructure that will house its young Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC). The HSFC was formally announced in January 2019. It currently works from a temporary place at the ISRO headquarters, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
HSFC:
ISRO has announced to set up India's world-class facility for training astronauts in three years at Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. The announcement was made by K. Sivan, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space.
After establishing the centre, everything connected with events and planning of the Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) will be moved to the Challakere campus. It is expected that the 400-acre ISRO land at Challakere will be the single-stop consolidating infrastructure and activities related to space travellers.
Reason to set up HSFC:
India is currently paying a huge sum to Russia for the training of the first set of four astronaut candidates for the first Gaganyaan mission of 2022. Also, HSP work is split across various centres like Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
Bihar to inaugurate rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles
Bihar's Bhagalpur forest division is to inaugurate a first-of-its-kind rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles in January 2020.
Rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles:
♦ The rehab centre is spread over half a hectare. It will be able to shelter 500 turtles at a time.
♦ The aim of the state government is because several turtles were found severely wounded and sick when rescued from smuggles by rescue teams. It is expected that this centre will play a significant role in treating these animals and their proper upkeep before being returned to their natural habitat.
♦ It is necessary as the eastern Bihar has been an ideal breeding ground for turtles.
Kochi to host MECOS-3, the global meet on the marine ecosystem
Kochi to host the global meet on the marine ecosystem, MECOS-3. The 3rd international symposium on marine ecosystems-challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) in Kochi from 7-10 January 2020. The meeting will be held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala.
Organized by:
MECOS-3 is to be organized by the Marine Biological Association of India. It will be inaugurated by Petri Suuronen, Programme Director, Blue Bioeconomy Natural Resources Institute, Finland.
Aim:
MECOS-3 will serve as a platform to hold discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and the unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.
Events:
♦ The meeting will focus on the UN's sustainable development goal-14 (life underwater), recent developments in aquaculture, development of small-scale fisheries, eco-labeling and green fishing technologies.
♦ It will review the concerns involved in the marine ecosystem and formulate strategies for the sustainable utilization of marine wealth.
♦ It will also address issues such as the depletion of resources, marine pollution, extreme weather conditions, and rising sea surface temperature, among others, that pose a threat to the sustainable utilization of marine resources.
♦ It is expected that the symposium would come up with a roadmap to deal with these issues.
Participants:
Eminent oceanographers, scientists, researchers, fisheries researchers and marine biotechnologists from across the globe are expected to participate in the 4-day symposium.
India ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum
India has ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum for the year 2019. In 2013, India ranked 65th. WEF analyzed 139 countries and scored each according to three sub-indices:
♦ Regulatory Framework
♦ Business Environment and Infrastructure
♦ Human, Cultural, and Natural Resources
These sub-indices are, in turn, composed of 14 pillars of Travel and Tourism Competitiveness.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that India has gained popularity among overseas travellers as foreign tourist arrivals grew by 3.23% to 96,69,633 during January-November 2019. It also reported that 93,66,478 overseas travellers had arrived in January-November 2018.
Measures taken by Government:
♦ In 2019, the tourism ministry has taken several steps by opening 120 new peaks for mountaineering in order to boost inbound tourism. It has also reduced e-visa fees and reduced the GST rates on hotel room bookings, among others.
♦ The government also reduced GST on hotel rooms with tariffs of Rs.1,001-7,500 per night to 12%, while those above Rs.7,501 to 18%.
♦ Also, the government-sanctioned 77 projects for the development of thematic circuits and allocated an amount of Rs.6,035.70 crore, so far, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
♦ Under the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme the Central government identified pilgrimage destinations. It sanctioned 28 projects that amount to Rs.840.02 crore.
TTCI:
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) is released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The index measures the factors and policies that make a country a viable place to invest in the Travel and Tourism sector. This sustainability indicator can be used to calculate the status of the Travel and Tourism goal.
The top 5 countries of the Index are:
1) Spain
2) France
3) Germany
4) Japan
5) United States
Lai Haraoba festival begins in Tripura
Lai Haraoba, a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri meitei communities since ancient times began in Agartala.
Five Day Long
The five-day-long festival organized by the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura, Puthiba Lai Haraoba Committee, and Puthiba Welfare & Cultural Society, Agartala.
Lai Haraoba
The five-day-long festival inaugurated by Speaker of state legislative Assembly, Rebati Mohan Das. The festival aims to uphold the tradition and cultural values of the Meitei community. Lai Haraoba is celebrated through oral literature, music, dance, and rituals. A cultural troupe from Manipur come to take part in the festival. They will be performing various cultural and traditional musical skits, including Manipuri martial arts, folk music, and folk dances during the festival.