Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, FASTag, TDB

May 18, 2020 · Param IAS Team

Daily News

1. International Museum Day- 18 May

  • Every year on 18 May International Museum Day is observed to raise awareness among people about the museums as an important means of cultural exchange and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people.
  • International Council of Museums (ICOM) organise an event annually on this day.
  • On International Museum Day which is celebrated on 18 May, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across the country allow free entry to the general public in the museums.
  • Around 46 museums are managed by ASI out of them some are Archaeological Museum in Purana Qila, Swatantrata Sangram Sanghralaya, Swatantrata Senani Museum, Indian War Memorial Museum in Red Fort in Delhi etc. In fact Pahari paintings will also be displayed at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2. Finance Minister announces Government Reforms and Enablers across Seven Sectors under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rs 40,000 crore  increase in allocation for MGNREGS to provide employment boost
  • Increased investments in Public Health and other health reforms to prepare India for future pandemics
  • Technology Driven Education with Equity post-COVID
  • Further enhancement of Ease of Doing Business through IBC related measures
  • Decriminalisation of Companies Act defaults
  • Ease of Doing Business for Corporates
  • Public Sector Enterprise Policy for a New, Self-reliant India
  • Increase borrowing limits of States from 3% to 5% for 2020-21 only & promoting State level reforms

3. Vehicles with invalid or non-functional FASTag to be charged double toll Fee applicable to their category

  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued notification GSR 298 E,  dated 15th May 2020 for  amendment in the  National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 which provide  that if a vehicle which is not fitted with FASTag or the vehicle  is without a valid or functional FASTag, enters into “FASTag lane” of the Fee plazas, then they  shall pay a fee equivalent to two times of the fee applicable to that category of vehicles.
  • Before this amendment, the user of vehicle was to pay twice on the fee plaza only if the vehicle didn't carry the FASTag and entered in dedicated FASTag lane.

4. TDB approves technologies to augment India’s efforts to combat COVID 19

  • Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
  • TDB has approved six projects towards commercialization, which include thermal scanners, medical devices, masks, and diagnostic kits.
  • "The time of COVID-19 has shown us many paths to commercialization of indigenous technologies and products by seamlessly connecting the push of knowledge from academia and research labs to the pull of market with a clear purpose, relevance, need, ease of support, transparency, dedication, cooperation and accountability.
  • The speed and scale of TDB support are some of the compelling examples of our new normal that would continue to serve in the Mission Swavalamban-- Self-sufficient India."