CHHATTISGARH

The Chhattisgarh Government will soon set up a computerised fitness testing centre for vehicles, officials informed.

Notably, Transport Minister Rajesh Munat in July this year had announced that there will now be no more permits issued for purchase of new fossil fuel powered auto rickshaws in the State.

Chairing a meeting of the State Road Safety Council in the Mantralaya here, the Minister also stated that sale of e-rickshaws will be promoted in Raipur city.

He directed officials to be firm with people who don’t wear helmet while riding two wheelers and take stern action.

Munat also directed officials to set up pollution checking centers at every petrol pump in the State.

The Minister also directed officials to take action against people who drive vehicle on the wrong side of roads and use mobile phone when driving .

The State Government in June last year had announced that Chhattisgarh is set to ban commercial vehicles which are more than 10 to 12 years old —mainly scores of diesel fuel powered autos, trucks and buses — the key culprits in spreading pollution.

Buses plying on long-distance routes which are more than 12-years-old are already denied permits. The trucks which are more than 10 years old will not be given permits to ply on the roads, officials had informed.

The auto rickshaw owners will be given one-year period to convert the autos to e-Rickshaws. After this expiry period, the owners will not be given permits, it was decided last year.

INTERNATIONAL

· India at 7th Position in Business Optimism Ranking

India slipped in ‘business optimism’index to the 7th position in the September quarter, from the 2nd slot in the previous three months, showing clear signs of lag in the economy, as per Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR).
A 3D rendered illustration of a bar graph on a white background showing a decline with a ornage arrow point downward
Indonesia is at the top, followed by Finland (2nd), the Netherlands (3rd), Philippines (4th), and Austria (5th). According to the quarterly global survey on business optimism.
Indian businesses have expressed low confidence over revenue expectations in the next 12 months.

NATIONAL

· Central Government approves National Highway project to connect two sacred places of Sahibzadas in Punjab

Prime Minister Modi led central government given an approval of the national highway to link the Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Sri Chamkaur Sahib.
The national highway would be constructed at the cost of Rs500 croresfor connecting both the religious places.
The approval 31 kilometerstretch of this national highway would be connected from National Highway-5 near Prem Nagar – Morinda – Chamkaur Sahib – Bela – Panyali with National Highway-344A.

Reserve Bank of India– RBI launch a public awareness campaign through SMSes to educate public about various banking regulations and facilities available.
It is the first time it uses the media SMS and emails as those used by the fraudsters.
The public can give a missed call to 86919-60000 to get more information through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) on fake calls and emails as well as invest wisely and cautiously in chit funds.

Kerala government launched a new scheme for school students named ‘She Pad’in Kerala.
It will benefit the girls of classes 6 to 12 in Kerala and will be implemented in 300 schools in 114 panchayats this year.
Women’s Development Corporation in collaboration with the local governments will be implementing it, this year in 300 schools.
This will be expanded to all schools in Kerala in the coming years.

The Maharashtra state government decided to set up a committee for the implementation of a Rs.4,000-crore project on climate resilience agriculture in 5,000 villages of 15 districts in the state.

The seven-member panel, headed by the Principal Secretary (Agriculture), has been set up with a target of selecting 4,000 drought-prone villages for the implementation of the project.

The programme aims to reduce farmers’ dependence on unpredictable weather cycles and enhance the resilience of agriculture to climate change and vulnerability through research and use of technology.

The Union Government notified the third protocol between India and New Zealandfor the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
The protocol updates the existing framework of the exchange of tax-related information to a latest international standard which will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance between the two countries and will also enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes.

Saina Nehwal defeated PV Sindhu 21-17, 27-25 in the final of the National Badminton Championships.

With this win, the Olympic bronze medailist has clinched her third nationals title in as many appearances.

Saina took the first game quite comfortably, winning it 21-17. However, Sindhu, too, fought back brilliantly in the second game, but her efforts went in vain.