The Daily Brief – 29th June 2019

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister Electronics and Information Technology informed Parliament that all gram panchayats will be provided high speed broadband connections under BharatNet project by March 2020. As per the government, as of today 128870 gram panchayats have been connected with optical fibre under BharatNet Project. BharatNet project seeks to provide affordable last mile high speed broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the country.

Bombay High Court (HC) upheld the reservation for Maratha community in government jobs and education constitutional valid but suggested to reduce the quota percentage from present 16% to 12-13%. The reduced quota limit suggested by Bombay HC is as recommended by State Backward Classes Commission. On 30 November 2018, following the state wide agitations by Maratha Community, the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill granting 16% reservation.

The Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (MSME) Day was celebrated across the world on 27 June to recognizes importance of MSME in achieving sustainable development goals (SDG’s) and in promoting innovation, creativity and sustainable work for all. The theme for this year was ‘Big Money For Small Business: Financing the SDGs’. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 6 April 2017 declared 27 June as MSME day.

Exporters body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has elected chairman and founder of Technocraft Industries (India), Sharad Kumar Saraf as its new president. Saraf will succeed renowned exporter Ganesh Kumar Gupta. Saraf at FIEO has served twice as vice-president and four times as regional chairman (west region). FIEO was established in 1965 with headquarters in New Delhi.

A Letter of Intent (LoI) was exchanged between Ahmedabad and Japanese city of Kobe for a sister city partnership. The LoI was exchanged in presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Kobe to address a large Indian diaspora event. This development will further pave the way for an enhanced economic relationship as well as a cultural exchange between two vibrant cities as well as a cultural exchange between two vibrant cities as well as between India and Japan.

Central Government has constituted Working Group chaired by Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog for the revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index (Base 2011-12). Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade will be nodal office for Working Group which will process report / recommendation of this Working Group for further necessary action.

Tribal Affairs Ministry and Trifed on June 28 launched go tribal campaign in association with Amazon Global in New Delhi to create awareness and promote tribal arts and crafts as well as aid in socio-economic welfare of over 700 Indian tribes. This will provide them opportunities to attain a sustainable livelihood.