The Daily Brief – 15th August 2019

World Sanskrit Divas 2019 will be observed on 15^th August. It is celebrated every year on Shravana Purnima that is on the full moon day in the month of Shravana according to the Hindu calendar. It was celebrated for the first time in 1969. Sanskrit is known as the first Indian language which developed several other branches like Tamil, Hindi, etc.

Forest Department has identified around 300 hectares of revenue land for inclusion in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the coastal plain of Krishna delta, spread across Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. The land is being diverted as compensation, for setting up a new Missile Test Launch Facility by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

India celebrated its 73^rd Independence Day on 15^th August, 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi and addressed the nation. On this day in 1947, the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947 transferring the legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly.

Addressing the nation on the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ‘Jal Jivan’ mission to make drinking water available to all households and said that the government will spend 3.5 lakh crore rupees for it. He also announced the creation of Chief of Defence Staff to ensure coordination and provide effective leadership to the three services – Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The government has reconstituted the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of the Inter State Council. Chief Ministers of all States and six Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman are the members of the Council. Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council.

A total of 946 police personnel have been awarded medals on the occasion of Independence Day. President Police Medals for Gallantry have been awarded to three personnel, Police Medals for Gallantry to 177 personnel, and President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service to 89 personnel. Police Medal for Meritorious Service has been awarded to 677 personnel.

Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General, ICAR Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra said that there has been a 41 per cent reduction in stubble burning incidents in 2018, as compared to that in 2016. This is the result of the various efforts under the Central Sector Scheme on Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi NCT. More than 4,500 villages in Punjab and Haryana were declared as Zero Stubble Burning Villages during 2018.