CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/1/2015

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/1/2015

1.US REPORT SLAMS INDIA ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,INDIA REJECTS THE REPORT

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) presented it's 2015 annual report which says that minorities in the country have been subjected to religiously motivated "violent attacks" and "forced conversions" specially “Ghar Wapsi” after the NDA led government has assumed power

It says that Minority groups are often subject of communal remarks by certain politicians 

What is USCIRF?

It is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, the first of its kind in the world, dedicated to defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President,the Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political parties 

It is among the organisations that had recommended to the US State Department to deny visa to Narendra Modi over the 2002 Gujarat riots.In 2009 India refused to grant visa to USCIRF commissioners to travel to India

2.INDIA REJECTS PAKISTAN STAND ON TOWNSHIPS FOR KASHMIRI PANDITS

Indian rejected the stand Pakistan that creation of any dedicated townships in Kashmir Valley for displaced Kashmiri Pandits would change the demographic makeup of the state and be in violation of UN resolutions

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that Kashmiri Pandits along with Muslims and Sikhs are an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said whosoever was uprooted and moved out, should be brought back in the State

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam had said eralier that earlier India cannot change the population mix by settling outsiders in the Kashmir Valley.

3.The new PDP-BJP Government had assured the Centre that it will soon acquire and provide land at the earliest for creating composite townships for displaced Kashmiri migrants in the Valley.

4.NITIN GADKARI TO INAUGURATE SHILLONG BYPASS TODAY

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will inagurate Shillong Bypass and Umiam-Jorabad four-lane highway today and dedicate it to the people

The 47 km-long Umiam-Jorabad four-lane highway connects NH-40 and NH-44 leading to Mizoram and Tripura it also bypasses the highly congested state capital.

The Estimated cost of project is Rs 220.35 crore theand was completed two years after work began in 2011.

5.RAJASTHAN WITNESSES VOLUNTARY CLOSURE OF BETEL SHOPS ON NO TOBACCO DAY

Rajasthan observed it's first "No Tobacco Day" on the last day of the month

The state witnessed voluntary closure of betel shops in many parts of the state as tobacco products sellers (pan shops) kept their shops closed for one day voluntarily.

The Health Department had initiated “No Tobacco Day“ to decrease tobacco consumption and so asked the tobacco product sellers to stop selling goods for at least one day in a month

6.TELECOM OPERATORS SLASH ROAMING RATES BY UP TO 75%

Following a decision by telecom regulator TRAI to reduce the ceiling tariffs leading operators, including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and RCom, slashed their roaming rates by up to 75%

When the suscriber is in roaming call rates will be cheaper by up to 40% and SMS by up to 75%.

According to Airtel incoming call rates will be reduced by up to 40%, whereas the outgoing inter circle call rates will see a decline of up to 23%

According to Vodafone customers will pay 45 paise/minute instead of the earlier 75 paise/minute for receiving calls outside home network, a cut of 40%.

It is said that outgoing local and STD calls will be charged at 80 paise and Rs 1.15 paise per minute as compared to Re 1 and Rs 1.50, respectively

An operator can charge a maximum 25 paise for each local SMS instead of Re 1 per SMS and a maximum 80 paise per minute for a local call instead of Re 1

7.MAHARASHTRA DAY OBSERVED:GUV SEEKS SUPPORT OF CORPORATE FOR WATER MANAGEMENT

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today sought the participation of corporates for helping the government to implement its ambitious integrated water conservation and management initiative, Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan

The government has expressed its resolve to make Maharashtra drought free. 'More crop per drop' will be the guiding motto of the government for using water efficiently

Maharashtra attained statehood on May 1, 1960. Maharashtra Day is being celebrated today in various parts of the state

The governor said that the government has planned to implement Aamdar Adarsh Gaon Yojana on the lines of the Saansad Adarsha Gram Yojana under which about 1,000 villages would be developed

8.WORLD BANK EXTENDS SUPPORT TO QUAKE-HIT NEPAL

World Bank is in close contact with the Nepalese authorities, who have specifically requested it's support to help carry out an assessment of damage and reconstruction needs in urban areas affected by the quake

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said World Bank Group is a long-standing partner of Nepal and will do everything possible to help people through this ordeal