National Current Affairs September 2015 (Part 5)

Aadhaar Card not Mandatory for Social Welfare Schemes

• The Supreme Court ruled on August 11, 2015 that the Aadhaar card was not mandatory for availing benefits under the government’s social welfare schemes.
• The Apex court also directed that the personal information furnished by an individual for the card would not be shared with any person or authority.
• The Aadhaar.card must be used,the PDS Scheme and in particular for the purpose of distribution of foodgrains, etc. and cooking fuel, such as kerosene. It may also be used for the purpose of the LPG (cooking gas) distribution scheme.
• Another direction said that the government will give ”wide publicity in the electronic and print media including radio and television networks that it is not mandatory for a citizen to obtain an Aadhaar card”.

Government gave Nod to Set-up AIIA

• Union government has given nod to set-up of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) on August 11, 2015. AIIA is being set-up for imparting Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Ph.D level education in the field of traditional medicine.
• AIIA will be the apex institute of ayurveda with 200 bedded referral hospital for imparting postgraduate and doctoral education in the field of Ayurveda. It will be located at Sarita Vihar in New Delhi.

‘School Nursery Yojana’ Launched

• The Union Environment and Forests Ministry launched the ‘School Nursery Yojana’ on August 10, 2015. The yojana would involve children in raising saplings in nurseries created inside their school campuses.
• The yojana seeks to bring students closer to nature and inculcate in them a sense of urgency to protect environment. Students will sow seeds and grow saplings in the school nursery as part of practical exercise for Biology classes or as their extra-curricular activities.
• Ten thousands schools will be covered across the country under the scheme in next three years. The selected schools will receive grant of Rs 25000 in the first year and Rs 10000 per year for the subsequent two years.

Read Also – Economy & Banking Current Affairs Nov 2015 [Part 2].

Lok Sabha Passed Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015

• The Lok Sabha passed the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015 on August 6, 2015 through a voice vote to ensure a fair trial in cheque bounce cases. The Bill will replace an existing Ordinance promulgated in mid-June, 2015.
• The Bill seeks to provide a place of jurisdiction that is fair to both the complainant and the accused (in cases filed for dishonour of cheques). The Bill has significant implications for the functioning of a market economy like India and will further enable enforcement of contracts.
• According to the Ordinance, all cheque-bounce cases can be filed only in a court within whose local jurisdiction the bank branch of the payee is situated, and where the payee presents the cheque for payment.

Government Decided to Aadhaar Enrolment of NRIs, PIOs and OCIs

• Government has decided that Aadhaar enrolment of Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizen of India should be eventually allowed to help them authenticate their identity digitally.
• Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh said it in written reply to.Lok Sabha on August 7, 2015. However, no time frame has been formulated at this stage for achieving the goal.
• At present, all residents including Indian national and foreigners with valid visas Can be enrolled and provided Aadhaar number by the UIDAI.
• Under the Aadhaar project, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is providing a unique identity numbers to residents, which can be digitally verified using the database.
• The UIDAI was set up in January, 2009 to issue Aadhaar numbers and has generated 89.43 Aadhaar numbers so far.

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