NATIONAL AFFAIRS 2013 JANUARY------> Part 2

NATIONAL AFFAIRS 2013 JANUARY

§  In a letter to state governments and high courts on January 9 , the Centre asked them to increase the strength of subordinate judiciary from the current 18000 to 20000 with the additional judges to deployed in fast-track courts .

§  The Government on 17 January raised the cap on supply of subsidized LPG Cylinders to nine bottles from six per year and allowed oil companies to hike diesel prices by a Small quantum periodically.

§  The Andhra Pradesh Government has banned the manufacture and sale of Gutka and pan masala in the state with immediate effect  , according to the state Health & Family Welfare Department .

§  The ban has made Andhra Pradesh the 14th State in the country to take the step towards eradicating tobacco use, bringing down shutters on the 12th gutkha manufacturing units in the state .

§  The Prime Minister on 9 January , unveiled the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 in the presence of Mr.Praful Patel ,Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises & Mr. Montek Singh Ahulwalia, Dy. Chairman ,Planning Commission. The principal end objectives of the National Mission for Electric Mobility (NMEM) are National Security , mitigation of the adverse impact of vehicles on the environment and growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities.

§  The NEMMP 2020, the mission document for the NMEM that was approved by the National Council for Electric Mobility (NCEM) on 29th August 2012. Asked in previous question papers in national affairs section.

§   President Pranab  Mukherjee in New Delhi on 12 January ,inaugurated the celebrations to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda ,Smt. Sonia Gandhi Chairperson UPA ,A.K Antony Minister of Defence & Chairman NIC ,P .Chidambaram ,Minister of Finance were also present at the function organized at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan auditorium .

§  The Finance Minister P Chidambaram released a set of commemorative coins and presented the first set to the President Pranab Singh .

§  A National Implementation Committee was also constituted in 2010 under the Chairmanship of the Finance Minister Pranab  Mukherjee .

§  Defence Minister Shri A.K Antony has been appointed Chairman of the said National Implementation Committee.

§  Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir inaugurated the first fast-track court in Delhi on 2 January 2013 for dealing with the crimes against females .

§  The first fast-track court is one among other four fast -track courts which would deal with the cases of crime against the women .The court is set up in  the Saket  Court Complex and the first case to be heard here is that of the Delhi gang rape which took place on 16 December 2012.

§  The Regional  Passport Office , Hyderabad has become the first RPO in the Country to deliver more than 5 lakh passport services.

§  Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on 4 January 2013 launched pilot project of Crime & Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS).