ETEN Enlightens-Daily current capsules

(Prelims Prominence) – 25thJan 2018

Election Commission
International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in
the Election Process’
MoUs Signed with Guinea, Moldova and International Idea
on Electoral Cooperation
On the occasion 8 National Voters Day Celebrations 25 January
th th

2018

The Conference is part of ECI’s initiative to make elections and

electoral processes accessible to all.

What -
 Election Commission of India (ECI) today hosted a one-day International
Conference on the subject ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the
Election Process’ in New Delhi.
Organisations participated -
 Delegatations of five Election Management Bodies (EMBs) viz.
Australia, Bhutan, Guinea, Moldova & Zambia
 Two International Organisations viz. International Foundation of
Electoral Systems (IFES) and International Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 ECI is committed to the objective that the Persons with Disabilities
(PwD) have the right to full electoral participation, on the basis of
equality and shall not be discriminated against on any ground.
 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the principal and universal
legal instrument that lays the foundation of universal adult suffrage,
 The 2006 UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
specifically recognized the rights of PwDs.
 These international treaties and our Constitution lay down the broad
inclusive policy framework for ECI.
National Voters’ Day celebrated every year on 25th January.
 Theme - Accessible Elections
 The Conference is part of ECI’s initiative to make elections and electoral
processes accessible to all
Enlighten about the MoU Signed -
 ECI signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in
the field of election management with National Independent Electoral
Commission (CENI) of Guinea; withCentral Election Commission of
Moldova and also with International Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance.
 Regarding - exchanges of knowledge and experience in the field of
organizational and technical development,
 With a view to strengthening the administration of electoral processes;
exchange of information, material, expertise and technical know how
relating to electoral processes and systems; training of personnel and
organizational development and capacity building.
 Election Commission of India has so far signed MOUs with more than
twenty Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and international
organizations across the world for cooperation in election administration
and management.
VoICE.NET platform
 The Conference has been organized under the VoICE.NET platform the
global knowledge network which has membership from more than 25
Election Management Bodies and International Organisations.

 The quarterly magazine issued under the VoICE.NET – ‘VoICE

International’ had its third issue dedicated to the cause of the PwD’s.
the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management
(IIIDEM) at Dwarka, New Delhi

Ministry of Science & Technology

SARAS PT1N makes its maiden flight

 SARAS PT1N (14 seater) designed and developed by CSIR-National

Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), a frontline aerospace research
laboratory, has successfully made its maiden flight today.
  The primary objective is to evaluate the system performance in about
20 flights and the data collected from this shall be used to freeze the
design of production version aircraft.
 The production version aircraft will be of 19 seat capacity and will
undergo civil / military certification.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways signs MoU with IL&FS for
construction of Zojila tunnel
To provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh

 An MoU was signed between National Highways and Infrastructure

Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and IL&FS Transportation
Networks Ltd for construction of the 14.150 km long, 2-lane bi-
directional Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir
 This would be India’s longest road tunnel and the longest bi-directional
tunnel in Asia.
Enlighten about the tunnel -
 The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather connectivity
between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh and will bring about all round
economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions
 The project has strategic and socio-economic importance and will be an
instrument for the development of the economically backward districts in
Jammu & Kashmir.
 The tunnel will be an engineering marvel, a first of its kind in such
geographical area.
 The main objective of the project is to provide all whether connectivity to
strategically important Leh region in Jammu & Kashmir which at the
moment is limited to at best 6 months in a year because of snow on the
passes and threat of avalanches.
 This project, along with other ongoing projects like 6.5 km long Z-Morh
tunnel at Gagangir would ensure safe, fast and cheap connectivity
between the two regions of Kashmir and Ladakh.
ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit

The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (AICS)

To celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership,

Enlighten about the agreements -

India - Thailand
 Growth of bilateral relations between the two countries within the
framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in the
fields of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, oil and
gas, trade and investment.
With Vietnam -
 On cooperation in the fields of Information & Broadcasting and on
establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing
facility in Vietnam under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation would
give further boost to India-Vietnam relations.
 Operationalisation of the Line of Credit of US $ 100 million under which
L&T has been awarded contract for manufacture of Offshore Patrol
Vessels (OPVs).
With Philippines -
 In the field of infrastructure development.
 Agreed under India's Act East Policy and the Philippines' Build-Build-
Build Programme

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Prime Minister’s Shram Award for 2016

 The Government of India today announced the Prime Minister’s Shram

Awards for the year 2016 to be awarded to 50 workers employed in the
Departmental undertakings and PSU’s of the Central and State
Governments and Private Sector units employing 500 or more workers.
Enlighten about the award -
 Ministry of Labour and Employment announces Prime Minister’s Shram
Award every year.
 These awards are given to the workers in the Public Sector Undertakings,
Departmental Undertakings of the Central and the State Governments and
Private Sector units employing 500 or more workers in recognition of their
distinguished performance, innovative ability, outstanding contribution in
the field of productivity and exhibition of exceptional courage and
presence of mind.