Gold deposit located in Banswara and Udaipur, Geologists Report

Scientists and geologists confirmed the astonishing figure, and experts claimed that the deposits are located mostly in the cities of Banswara and Udaipur of Rajasthan. The exploration by Geological Survey of India (GSI) has revealed that the deposits of gold are 114.78 MT in Bhukia- Dagocha area. Speaking to reporters, Director General of the GSI department N Kutumba Rao said,”The work of exploration of gold and copper in other areas like Kamalpura, Neem Ka Thana and Mundiawas Kheda area is also going on.”

This is not the first time the region has yielded essential minerals. Rajasthan has provided around 80 million tonnes of copper till date, and the Thar Desert yields approximately 1.7 lakh barrels of crude oil on a daily basis, apart from having a high concentration of rare earth elements, as reported by the Times of India, almost two years ago. Rare earth elements are a set of 17 chemicals which occur naturally in trace quantities and are in great demand in the nuclear and space sector, energy, defence, chemicals and electronics industries.

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Cabinet approves 10 new atomic reactors, including 4 in Mahi Banswara

Union cabinet on 17th May cleared a proposal to indigenously build 10 atomic reactors, the largest ever approval granted for such facilities in one go. Once completed, the 10 reactors of 700 MW each will give much needed fillip to the domestic nuclear industry. The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) will be developed by the Department of Atomic Energy. India currently has installed nuclear power capacity of 6780 MW from 22 operational plants. Another 6700 MW of nuclear power is expected to be added by 2021-22 when currently under-construction projects go onstream in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.  The ten reactors will be installed in Kaiga in Karnataka (Unit 5 and 6), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (Unit 1 and 2), Gorakhpur in Haryana (Unit 3 and 4) and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4).

This Project will bring about substantial economies of scale and maximise cost and time efficiencies by adopting fleet mode for execution. It is expected to generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. With manufacturing orders to domestic industry, it will be a major step towards strengthening India’s credentials as a major nuclear manufacturing powerhouse. The ten reactors will be part of India’s latest design of 700 MW PHWR fleet with state-of-art technology meeting the highest standards of safety. The approval also marks a statement of strong belief in the capability of India’s scientific community to build our technological capacities. The design and development of this project is a testament to the rapid advances achieved by India’s nuclear scientific community and industry. It underscores the mastery our nuclear scientists have attained over all aspects of indigenous PHWR technology. India’s record of building and operating PHWR reactors over the last nearly forty years is globally acclaimed.

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BSF begins operation 'Garam Hawa' in Rajasthan

BSF has started operation 'Garam Hawa' in the western sector in Rajasthan, under which vigil along the international border with Pakistan has been stepped up.  The operation, which started on 15th May will continue till 23rd May 2017. 

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Bajrang Punia Wins Gold at Asian Wrestling Championship 2017

Bajrang Punia gave India its first gold medal as he registered a come-from-behind victory over Seungchul Lee of Korea in men's 65kg freestyle on the penultimate day of the Asian Wrestling Championship 2017 on 13th May 2017. After registering a fabulous 6-2 win, Bajrang celebrated by taking a victory lap with the tri-colour on his shoulders. Bajrang, who has been mentored by Olympic bronze-medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, made a dramatic comeback in the second round of the contest to win the title. After trailing by two points in the opening three minutes, the Indian was more aggressive in the second round, unleashing counterattacks to which his rival had no response.  Bajrang Punia, born on 26 February 1994 in Jhajjar, Haryana is a freestyle wrestler from India. He was born in a jat family. He began wrestling at the age of seven and was encouraged to pursue the sport by his father.

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Bajrang Punia for securing the Gold in Asian Wrestling Championship. “Congratulations to Bajrang Punia for securing the Gold in Asian Wrestling Championship. India is very proud of his exemplary accomplishment.” , the Prime Minister said.

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Rajasthan's Aniket Choudhary Gets 2 Crore from RCB Bangalore

Rajasthan's Aniket Choudhary Gets 2 Crore from RCB Bangalore in IPL 2017 auctions. Another player from Rajasthan, Nathu Singh, who was released by Mumbai Indians, was bought for Rs. 50 lakhs by Gujarat Lions. Aniket Choudhary, Born on 28th January 1990 at Bikaner, Rajasthan is Left-arm medium fast bowler and left arm batsman.

Aniket is a left-arm fast bowler who can work up decent pace and bounce on a regular basis. He was recently in the news for his role for India A, taking four wickets in the warm-up game against Bangladesh. Aniket has taken 124 wickets in 39 first-class matches for Rajasthan at an impressive average of 27.44 with 5 five-wicket hauls. With India's specialist batsmen being right-handers, Aniket was roped in by the Indian Test team during the New Zealand series where Kohli and Co successfully countered left-armer Trent Boult's swing. Aniket has been called up once again to train with the team, which is currently preparing for the upcoming four-Test series against Australia.

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HMD Global launches first smartphone, the Nokia 6 in China

Espoo, Finland – 8 January 2017: After securing the exclusive Nokia brand licensing rights in mobile phones in late 2016, HMD Global Oy (“HMD”) is proud to announce the launch of its Nokia 6 smartphone in China. The Nokia 6 marks the first step in HMD’s ambition to set a new standard in design, material quality and manufacturing innovation across every tier of its products by building on the hallmarks of a true Nokia phone experience. The device, which is designed explicitly with the needs of users in mind, combines quality and in-built durability to deliver a real-life premium smartphone experience at a price point for the highly aspirational Chinese consumer. The decision by HMD to launch its first Android smartphone into China is a reflection of the desire to meet the real world needs of consumers in different markets around the world. With over 552 million smartphone users in China in 2016, a figure that is predicted to grow to more than 593 million users by 20171, it is a strategically important market where premium design and quality is highly valued by consumers.

With the arrival of Nokia 6, consumers will see superior craftsmanship and design quality in action. It takes 55 minutes to machine a single Nokia 6 from a solid block of 6000 series aluminium. It then receives two separate anodising processes, taking over ten hours to complete, with each phone being polished no less than five times. The end result is an aluminium unibody with the highest level of visual and structural quality.

Delivering quality to the core, the Nokia 6 display has a bright hybrid in-cell 5.5” screen with full HD resolution and incredible colour reproduction wrapped in 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The display stack is laminated together with a polarizer layer enabling excellent sunlight readability and slim form. The build is completed with the latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 430 processor with X6 LTE modem designed for excellent battery life and superior graphics performance.

The Nokia 6 has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage with which to run the latest version of Android Nougat and is packed with entertainment to bring to life the latest that Android has to offer. The dual amplifiers deliver a 6dB louder sound than a regular amp, giving higher voice, deeper bass and unmatched clarity. Dolby Atmos creates powerful, moving audio that seems to flow all around users. The Nokia 6 packs a 16MP phase detection auto focus rear camera for sharp detailed pictures, and an 8MP front camera. The f/2.0 aperture lenses and exclusive camera UI with automatic scene detection make it easy to take great shots every time.

Arto Nummela, CEO, HMD Global said: “Just a short while ago we announced the launch of HMD Global. From the outset we have stated that we intend to move with speed to establish a position as a player in the smartphone category and create products that truly meet consumer needs. The Nokia 6 is a result of listening to our consumers who desire a beautifully crafted handset with exceptional durability, entertainment and display features. Our ambition is to deliver a premium product, which meets consumer needs at every price point, in every market. We start today, with our premium, high quality Nokia 6; built to deliver a fantastic core user experience for Chinese consumers. We look forward to unveiling further products in the first half of this year.”

Nestor Xu, Vice President Greater China, HMD Global said: “China is the largest and most competitive smartphone market in the world. It is no coincidence that we have chosen to bring our first Android device to China with a long-term partner. JD.com is known for its upwardly mobile customer base and it has for many years believed in the Nokia brand and sold millions of our products to Chinese customers. Launching our first smartphone device, in such a strategically important market, with JD.com a trusted online retailer marks a signal of intent.”

Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global said: “We have set ourselves a mission to deliver the best possible smartphone experience, with a beautiful premium design touch, to everyone, at every price point. By building on true Nokia phone hallmarks of leading design and materials, an obsessive focus on the latest technology and solving real-life issues, we believe we have a unique proposition for consumers. The Nokia 6 marks the first step on our journey, with more to come in 2017.”

Shengli Hu, President of 3C Business Unit, JD.com, said: “The Nokia 6 marks a new milestone for the iconic brand, and JD.com is proud to work with HMD on this exclusive launch in China. Our 200 million active consumers come to JD.com to shop for guaranteed high-quality products from the world’s leading brands, and we are proud to provide a trusted outlet for them to reconnect with Nokia phones.”

Nokia 6 will debut exclusively through JD.com in early 2017 in China. Competitively priced for the aspirational smartphone user, the Nokia 6 is 1699 CNY at JD.com.

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500 और 1000 के नोट 9 नवम्बर 2016 से बंद

प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने राष्ट्र को संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि मध्य रात्रि या 9 नवम्बर 2016 से 500 और 1,000 रुपये के नोट अमान्य होंगे। इसके अलावा सभी नोट और सिक्के मान्य रहेंगे। पीएम ने कहा कि इस कदम से भ्रष्टाचार और कालेधन पर लगाम लगाने में मदद मिलेगी। 500 और 1,000 रुपये के पुराने नोट 10 नवंबर से 30 दिसंबर 2016 तक आप अपने बैंक या पोस्टऑफ़िस के खाते में जमा करवा सकते हैं। इसके अलावा 31 मार्च 2017 तक रिज़र्व बैंक ऑफ इंडिया की शाखाओं में भी 500 और 1,000 के अमान्य घोषित किए गए नोट जमा कराए जा सकेंगे।

नई व्यवस्था के चलते बैंक और डाकघर जैसी वित्तीय संस्थाओं पर काम का बोझ बढ़ेगा, लिहाजा 9 नवंबर को बैंक और डाकघर आम जनता के लिए बंद रहेंगे।प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि अब 500 और 2,000 रुपये के नए डिजाइन किए गए नोट सर्कुलेशन में लाए जाएंगे। पीएम ने राष्ट्र निर्माण में योगदान के लिए लोगों से नई व्यवस्था में सहयोग की अपील की है।

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Indian Army conducts surgical strikes on terror camps across LoC

Indian Army has carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC)in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent Pakistani terrorists who had "positioned themselves at launch pads with the aim to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other metros," said the army today. There were no Indian casualties in the strikes which took place last night in Pakistani territory. The strikes which used para-commandos and helicopters were conducted at about eight locations up to 2 kms across the Line of Control.  

Director General of Military Operations, Lt. General Ranbir Singh in a media briefing in New Delhi said that significant casualties of terrorists and their backers have been caused.  He said that no Indian casualities have taken place during surgical strikes. He said that the motive of this operation was to hit out at the terrorists who were planning to infiltrate into our territory.  DGMO further said that it has been a matter of serious concern that there has been many infiltration bids by terrorists at the Line of Control.  DGMO added that despite our persistent urging to Pakistan to not allow territory under its control to not be used for terrorist activities nothing was done. Pakistani army has accused India of "fabrication of truth" after India revealed that it carried out  surgical strikes at three places in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir where terrorists were placed to cross into Jammu and Kashmir. But the Pakistani military's press wing said India had killed two of its soldiers in unprovoked cross-border firing. "This quest by Indian establishment to create media hype by rebranding cross-border fire as surgical strike is fabrication of truth," it said in a statement.

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New Import policy for Marble and Travertine Blocks

Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India has notified the new import policy for Marble & Travertine Blocks, and Marble and Granite Slabs, to come into effect from 1st October 2016.

Marble and Travertine Blocks: The Quantitative Restriction on the import of Marble & Travertine Blocks, and the associated administratively cumbersome and restrictive import licensing system has been brought to an end under the new policy coming into effect from 1st October 2016. The Minimum Import Price (MIP) for import of Marble Blocks has been reduced to US Dollars 200 per Metric Ton to address the distortions associated with an MIP. To address the interest of domestic producers, the Basic Customs Duty on import of Marble & Travertine Blocks will go up four times from the present 10% to 40% w.e.f. 1st October 2016.

Marble Slabs: With effect from 1st October 2016, the MIP on the import of marble slabs is being reduced to US Dollars 40 per Sq. Metre to address the distortion associated with an MIP. In order to address the interest of domestic producers the basic customs duty on import of marble slabs is being doubled from 10% to 20% w.e.f. 1st October 2016

Granite Slabs: With effect from 1st October 2016, the MIP on the import of granite slabs is being reduced to US Dollars 50 per Sq. Metre to address the distortion associated with MIP. In order to address the interest of domestic producers the basic customs duty on import of granite slabs is being doubled from 10% to 20% w.e.f. 1st October 2016.

The new policy balances the interests of domestic consumers, producers and processors, and ends the cumbersome licensing system for import of Marble & Travertine blocks.

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Devendra Jhajharia wins gold at Paralympics

Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia became the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics after he broke his own world record to clinch the top honours at the Rio Games. Devendra, who won his previous gold in the 2004 Athens Games, bettered his own world record to finish on top in the men’s F46 event. Devendra, whose previous best was 62.15 metres (achieved in the 2004 Games), improved the mark with an attempt of 63.97 metres at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhao). India now have two gold, one silver and one bronze in the ongoing edition of the Games.

The 35-year-old who is now employed by the Sports Authority of India as coach hails from a remote village in Churu district of Rajasthan. Now 2-time gold medallist lost his left arm when he was nine in an electric shock. He was awarded the Arjuna award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2012, becoming the first Paralympian to receive the honour. He last participated in the Paralympics 12 years ago. The F46 event did not feature in the 2008 and the 2012 editions. 

Congratulation Mr. Devendra Jhajharia for making Nation Proud.

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‘Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet 2016’ Rajasthan CM interacts with envoys of Netherlands, Australia and Israel

In the context of ‘Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet 2016’ (GRAM) scheduled to be held in Jaipur from 9 to 11 November Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday met envoys of 3 countries at Bikaner House in New Delhi.  She had one-to-one meetings with the Ambassador of Netherlands, Mr. Alphonsus Stoelinga; High Commissioner of Australia, Ms. Harinder Sidhu and Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Daniel Carmon.   During the meeting she informed the envoys that the prime objective of ‘GRAM’ is to expose farming communities to the technological advancements and global best-practices in farming and allied activities while showcasing investment opportunities in the State to agri-business communities across the world. The Chief Minister further informed that State is actively working towards doubling farm income by the year 2022. Necessary interventions relating to policy, technology and infrastructure have been made to achieve sustainable enhancement in the agriculture sector, she said. Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry as it’s a major exporter of fresh produce and a world-leader in agriculture technologies despite the fact that the geography of Israel is not naturally conducive to agriculture like Rajasthan. Netherlands in total has 2 million hectares of agriculture land out of which 50 percent is used for crop production. It’s the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products. The agri-food sector is one of the main drivers of the Dutch economy. Australia has succeeded in farming the world’s driest inhabited continent, through technology innovation and ability to adapt production systems. Australia’s plant, animal and agricultural scientists rank among the best in the world.  All the three countries are strong performers in agriculture, horticulture, dairy, and other allied sectors. 

The Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet will be held from 9 to 11 November at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Center (JECC) at Sitapura in Jaipur. Jointly organized by the Government of Rajasthan and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the event will be attended by over 50,000 farmers. Deputy Chairman of CM Advisory Council Shri CS Rajan, Chief Secretary Shri OP Meena, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Smt. Neelkamal Darbari, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Shri Kunji Lal Meena, FICCI Secretary General, Shri A Didar Singh and KPMG Partner and Head Consumer Retail and Agri Sector Shri Rajat Wahi were present in the meeting.

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उदयपुर में ब्रिक्स देशों के आपदा प्रबंधन मंत्रियों का द्वितीय सम्मेलन शुरू

केन्द्रीय गृह राज्य मंत्री किरेन रिजिजू ने आज उदयपुर में कहा कि गत कुछ दशकों में राष्ट्रीय आपदाओं की संख्या में बढ़ोतरी हुई है। आपदाओं से मानव जीवन और संपत्ति को बड़ा नुकसान होता है। वहीं, ये देश के विकास को भी प्रभावित करती हैं। ऐसे में आपदा प्रबंधन को मजबूती प्रदान करने के लिए ब्रिक्स देशों को आपस में मिलकर एक ऐसी समग्र रणनीति तैयार करनी चाहिए, जिससे कि सतत विकास के मार्ग में प्राकृतिक आपदाएं बाधक नहीं बन सकें एवं जन-धन और सम्पति के नुकसान से बचा जा सके।  केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्री रिजिजू सोमवार को उदयपुर के उदयविलास में आपदा प्रबंधन विषय पर ब्रिक्स मंत्रियों के दो दिवसीय सम्मेलन के शुभारंभ समारोह को संबोधित कर रहे थे। इस मौके पर केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्री रिजिजू ने कहा कि ब्रिक्स देशों में सबसे कम शहरी आबादी भारत में 35 प्रतिशत है, जबकि ब्राजील में 86 प्रतिशत, रूस में 74, चीन में 56, दक्षिण अफ्रीका में 65 प्रतिशत लोग शहरों में रहते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि बढ़ते शहरीकरण, औद्योगिक गतिविधियों के कारण अब आपदाओं का प्रभाव ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों की अपेक्षा शहरों पर ज्यादा रहता है। ऐसे में अब आपदाओं के प्रभावों को रोकने के लिए चिंतन की आवश्यकता है। उन्होंने बताया कि भारत में विगत वर्षों में आपदा प्रबंधन कृषि विभाग द्वारा ही किया जाता रहा था और अब इसके लिए अलग से विभाग बनाया गया है। ऐसे में आपदा प्रबंधन अब ‘गुड गवर्नेंस’ का भाग बन गया है। 

उन्होंने कहा कि आज पूरा विश्व नित नई आपदाओं की मार से जूझ रहा है। लगातार हो रहे शहरीकरण, अनियंत्रित विस्तार, बढ़ती जनसंख्या, प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का मनमाना दोहन इसके प्रमुख कारण हैं। हमें उनसे जूझने का दृष्टिकोण अपनाकर आगे की नीतियां बनानी होंगी। श्री रिजिजू ने बताया कि 1970 से ही जलवायु परिवर्तन पर विश्व भर में चिंता जाहिर की जा रही है। उन्होंने कहा कि हमारी सोच में ही आपदा प्रबंधन होना चाहिए। हम मकानों, शहर की सड़कों, शॉपिंग मॉल, स्कूलों, कॉलेजों और यहां तक कि स्ट्रीट पोल तक को इसी के अनुरूप बनाएं। उन्होंने प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए प्राकृतिक आपदा रोधी भवनों के निर्माण का प्रयास करने की आवश्यकता भी जताई।  उन्होंने ब्रिक्स देशों से आह्वान किया कि वे आपदा प्रबंधन की दृष्टि से चुनौतियों को समझें और अपने प्रयासों एवं विशिष्टताओं को साझा करते हुए ऐसी सामूहिक कार्ययोजना बनाएं, जिससे आपदा परिस्थितियों में कम से कम जन-धन का नुकसान हो तथा प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में त्वरित राहत पहुंचाई जा सके। उन्होंने कहा कि इस कार्य में भारत ब्रिक्स देशों के साथ कंधे-से-कंधा मिलाकर खड़ा है। उन्होंने जापान का उदाहरण देते हुए बताया कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए हमें जापान जैसे देशों के आपदा प्रबंधन से सीख लेनी होगी।

समारोह को संबोधित करते हुए राजस्थान के गृह, आपदा प्रबंधन एवं राहत मंत्री श्री गुलाबचंद कटारिया ने कहा कि आपदा देश-काल की सीमाओं में बंधी नहीं है, यह एक चुनौती है जिसका मुकाबला करते हुए अधिकाधिक लोगों को राहत देने का प्रयास किया जाता है। उन्होंने कहा कि राजस्थान ने भी आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए केन्द्र सरकार के सहयोग से प्रयास किए हैं और प्रदेश के 24 लाख हेक्टेयर फसल पर प्राकृतिक आपदा ओलावृष्टि से हुए नुकसान पर 29 लाख किसानों को 2,467 करोड़ रुपये का मुआवजा सीधे बैंक खातों में वितरित करते हुए राज्य के इतिहास में पहली बार इतनी बड़ी राहत दी गई है। उन्होंने ब्रिक्स देशों के प्रतिनिधियों को विश्व के सुंदरतम शहरों में शुमार झीलों की नगरी उदयपुर के आतिथ्य को स्वीकार करने और यहां के नैसर्गिक सौंदर्य का अवलोकन करने का आग्रह भी किया।

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पीवी सिंधू ने जीता रियो ओलिंपिक में सिल्वर मैडल

रियो ओलिंपिक में बैडमिंटन फीमेल सिंगल का फाइनल हारकर भी पीवी सिंधु ने इतिहास रच दिया। रियो ओलंपिक में 19 अगस्त को को भारतीय बैडमिंटन स्टार पीवी सिंधू फाइनल में स्पेन की कैरोलीना मारिन से 19-21, 21-11, 21-14 से हार गई लेकिन भारत के लिए व्यक्तिगत स्पर्धा में सिंधू ने तीसरा रजत पदक जीता है। सिंधु ओलिंपिक में सिल्वर मेडल जीतने वाली पहली भारतीय महिला एथलीट बन गई हैं। इससे पहले साइना नेहवाल ने लन्दन ओलिंपिक 2012 में बैडमिंटन में कांस्य पदक जीता था ।

पीवी सिंधू ने ब्राजील के रियो डि जेनेरियो में आयोजित 2016 ओलम्पिक खेलों में भारत का प्रतिनिधित्व किया और महिला एकल स्पर्धा के फाइनल में पहुंचने वाली भारत की पहली महिला बनीं। सेमी फाइनल मुकाबले में सिंधु ने जापान की नोजोमी ओकुहारा को सीधे सेटों में हराया। फाइनल में उनका मुकाबला विश्व की प्रथम वरीयता प्राप्त खिलाड़ी स्पेन की कैरोलिना मैरिन से हुआ। पहली गेम 21-19 से सिंधु ने जीता लेकिन दूसरी गेम में मैरिन 21-12 से विजयी रही, जिसके कारण मैच तीसरी गेम तक चला। तीसरी गेम में उन्होंने अच्छा मुकाबला किया किंतु 21-15 से हारने पर उन्हें रजत पदक से संतोष करना पड़ा।

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2nd Meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management to be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on August 22-23, 2016

The 2nd Meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) Ministers for Disaster Management will be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on August 22-23, 2016. The two-day meeting will focus on two distinct but inter-related themes: a) Flood Risk Management; and b) Forecasting of Extreme Weather Events in the context of Changing Climate. It is a follow up of the 1st meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management convened by the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg on April 19-20, 2016. 

Recognizing the common challenge posed by natural and man-made disasters, BRICS countries have identified Disaster Management as an important area of collaboration. The Ufa Declaration signed by BRICS Nations at the 7th BRICS Summit on July 9, 2015 identified the need to promote cooperation in preventing and developing responses to emergency situations. The Declaration also acknowledged the fruitful discussions on natural disasters within the context of BRICS cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation. It also reiterated BRICS commitment to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. All the five BRICS countries have signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. They are also parties to the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in March, 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. A number of SDGs have specific targets related to Disaster Risk Management (DRM).  The country delegations to the Udaipur Meeting will be led by the Ministers of Disaster Management from the respective BRICS countries and other senior officials/ technical experts from Disaster Management Ministries/ Departments. 

The objectives of this meeting are: 

1. To share experiences on flood risk management particularly with regards to flood risk assessment, flood forecasting, early warning and emergency response; 
2. To share experiences on current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events -- heat and cold waves, and episodes of extreme rainfall– particularly in the context of a changing climate; and
3. To identify opportunities for collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather related events. 

During the Ministerial Meeting in Udaipur three technical sessions with key thrust areas will be held as mentioned below: 

Challenges for Disaster Risk Management

(i) Mainstreaming DRR in key development sectors

(ii) Capacity building at local level

(iii) Strengthening of response mechanism

b) Forecasting and early warning on floods and extreme weather events

(i) Key early warning challenges

(ii) Highlights of recent scientific and technical developments

(iii) Lessons learnt for ensuring last mile connectivity/community level action on early warning 

c) Disaster risk in a changing climate 

(i) Emerging disaster risks as a result of climate change

(ii) DRM practices evolving in view of emerging disaster risks in a changing climate. 

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Aniket Choudhary wins Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat contest

Aniket Choudhary, a youngster from Udaipur has won the contest for suggesting best ideas for Narendra Modi's pet 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' project that aims at cultural connect between states. Choudhary is alumni of CTAE, Udaipur and working as a Prime Minister Rural Development Fellow in Jammu & Kashmir for the last two years suggested introduction of new chapters from Class 5 in schools highlighting cultural aspects of other states and storytelling competitions about leaders of other states.  "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" contest was organized on MyGov, Government of India’s citizen-engagement platform, from 5th November 2015 to 25th December 2015. Citizens were invited to submit their ideas and suggestions on structuring the programme so as to encapsulate its true spirit in all its various dimensions and capture the diversity that characterises India. Aniket Choudhary from Jammu and Kashmir was adjudged the winner while Shashi Kumar Kulkarni from Pune and Tushar Khatri from New Delhi were adjudged second and third respectively. Aniket Choudhary was awarded with Rs. 1 Lakh cash prize and certificate on 6th August by PM Narendra Modi.

Aniket Choudhary is born in Udaipur (Rajasthan) and working as Fellow under Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows (PMRDFs) in Budgam, Jammu & Kashmir. He completed his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, from College of Technology and Engineering (CTAE), Udaipur and later PGDM from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Raipur.

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जीएसटी बिल राज्यसभा में पास, प्रधानमंत्री ने सभी पार्टियों को धन्यवाद दिया

राज्य सभा ने जीएसटी यानी वस्तु एवं सेवा कर बिल के लिए लाए गए संविधान संशोधन बिल को पास कर दिया है। बिल के समर्थन में 197 वोट पड़े जबकि बिल का विरोध कर रही तमिलनाडु की पार्टी एआईएडीएमके के 35 सांसदों ने वोटिंग में हिस्सा नहीं लिया और सदन का बहिष्कार किया। प्रमुख विपक्षी पार्टी कांग्रेस ने बिल का समर्थन ज़रूर किया लेकिन इसके लिए उसने सरकार के सामने कई शर्ते भीं रखीं। संशोधन बिल पर बहस के दौरान कांग्रेस का पक्ष रखते हुए पूर्व वित्त मंत्री पी चिदंबरम ने सरकार से यह भरोसा मांगा कि संविधान संशोधन बिल पास होने के बाद सरकार मूल जीएसटी बिल को पिछले दरवाज़े से पास नहीं कराएगी। 

प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने राज्यसभा में जीएसटी बिल के पारित होने के अवसर पर सभी पार्टियों और उनके नेताओं का आभार व्यक्त किया है| जीएसटी को सहकारी संघवाद का बेहतरीन उदाहरण बताते हुए प्रधानमंत्री ने अपने ट्वीट्स की श्रृंखलाओं में कहा कि ये सुधार मेक इन इंडिया को प्रोत्साहित करेगा, निर्यात में मदद करेगा और राजस्व को बढ़ाते हुए रोजगार के अवसरों को बढ़ाएगा।  “ वास्तव में राज्यसभा में जीएसटी बिल पारित होने के इस ऐतिहासिक अवसर पर मैं सभी नेताओं और सभी पार्टियों को धन्यवाद करता हूं।  21 वीं सदी के लिए भारत को एक अप्रत्यक्ष कर पद्धति देने के लिए हमारे सांसदों को अवश्य ही उनके इस निर्णय पर बधाई दी जानी चाहिए। एक ऐसी प्रणाली जो सभी भारतीयों को लाभ और एकीकृत राष्ट्रीय बाजार को बढ़ावा देती है, को लागू करने के लिए हम सभी पार्टियों और राज्यों के साथ काम करना जारी रखेंगे। ये सुधार मेक इन इंडिया को प्रोत्साहित करेगा, निर्यात में मदद करेगा और इस प्रकार राजस्व को बढ़ाते हुए रोजगार के अवसरों को बढ़ाएगा। मैं ये जोड़ना चाहूंगा कि जीएसटी सहकारी संघवाद का सबसे अच्छा उदाहरण भी होगा। हम एक साथ भारत को प्रगति की नई ऊंचाइयों पर जाएंगे|” 

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CM attends 'Investors Meet' in Moscow

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje invited the Russian industrialists and businessmen to invest in Rajasthan and becomed partner in Resurgent Rajasthan campaign. She said Rajasthan provides better opportunity and ideal atmosphere for investment and Russian investors can avail this opportunity to become partner in the development of the State of Rajasthan. Smt. Raje was addressing the 'Investors Meet' organised by the Russian Chamber of Commerce & Industries at Moscow on Wednesday. She briefed investors about the opportunities and facilities available for investors. She said Rajasthan is one of India’s fastest growing economies. 

A number of renowned global companies are partners in Rajasthan’s journey to prosperity. Our policy framework is being talked about across the world. She said Rajasthan offers good connectivity, opportunities in creation of infrastructure, access to India’s largest markets, assured supply of skilled manpower, large parcels of land, assured power supply with extreme ease of doing business. The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan pioneered the concept of “country specific industrial zones”. With the highest number of Universities and Colleges, skilled manpower is aplenty in our state, she said. We have a systematic and strong skill development programs which are carried out in partnership with Industrial houses so that niche skills are created. Rajasthan has been adjudged Best state in skilling in the country for the last two years, she added. Smt. Raje said Rajasthan is well known for its mineral and dimensional stone deposits. The state has a wide variety of clays, wollastonite, Quartz-feldspar and gypsum- ideal for ceramic and advanced materials. Rajasthan has a near monopoly on rock phosphate and is a major supplier of limestone. The state also produce some of the best marble, granite and sandstones, she said.

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साइना नेहवाल ने ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपन 2016 जीता

भारत की स्टार बैडमिंटन खिलाड़ी साइना नेहवाल ने ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपन बैडमिंटन प्रतियोगिता का ख़िताबी मुक़ाबला जीत लिया है। फाइनल में साइना ने चीन की सुन यू को मात दी। पहले गेम में साइना नेहवाल को हार झेलनी पड़ी और इसे सुन यू ने 21-11 से जीत लिया। हालांकि दूसरा और तीसरा गेम साइना 21-14 और 21-19 से जीतकर मुक़ाबला अपने नाम कर लिया। साइना ने एक बार फिर खुद को साबित करते हुए बैडमिंटन कोर्ट पर अपने जुझारू खेल का लोहा मनवाया है। साइना का ये दूसरा ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपन खिताब है। इससे पहले वे 2014 में ये ख़िताब अपने नाम कर चुकी हैं। इससे पहले साल 2013 के मुक़ाबले में भी साइना नेहवाल को सुन यू के हाथों 16-21, 21-15 और 21-17 से हार का सामना करना पड़ा था। साइना उस कहानी को दोहराना नहीं चाहती थीं इसलिए अगले दो गेम जीतने के लिए भारत की इस स्टार शटलर ने एड़ी चोटी का जोर लगा दिया।

साइना ने अपने दमदार खेल की बदौलत ये गेम 21-19 से जीतकर मुक़ाबला 11-21, 21-14, 21-19 से जीत लिया। साइना के लिए चीनी वर्चस्व को तोड़कर ये फ़ाइनल जीतना बड़ी उपलब्धि है और वे भी तब जबकि इससे पहले लगातार दो प्रतियोगिताओं में उन्हें सेमीफाइनल तक पहुंच कर हार झेलनी पड़ी। इससे पहले साइना को एशिया बैडमिंटन चैंपियनशिप के सेमीफाइनल में यिहान वांग के हाथों और अप्रैल में मलेशिया ओपन के सेमीफ़ाइनल में ताइ ज़ू के हाथों हार झेलनी पड़ी थी। साइना ने अपना पिछला फाइनल मुकाबला 2015 में नवंबर में खेला था और तब से लेकर लगातार चोटों और खराब फॉर्म के कारण वे खिताबी मुक़ाबले में जगह बनाने से नाकाम रही थीं, लेकिन साल की इस पहली ख़िताबी जीत के साथ ओलंपिक के ठीक पहले साइना ने अपनी अच्छी फॉर्म और फ़िटनेस के सबूत दे दिए हैं।

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PSLV-C33 successfully launches IRNSS-1G

India successfully launched another milestone in Space science on Thursday afternoon with the launch of its seventh navigational satellite through PSLV. It will become only the fifth country in the world to have its own satellite navigation system. The launch took place from the First Launch Pad at 12.50 hrs.  With this launch, India would be joining the elite group of nations to have its own regional satellite navigation system.  So far, India has launched six regional navigational satellites as part of a constellation of seven satellites to provide accurate position information service to users across the country and the region.

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Deepika Kumari equals world record at Archery World Cup

India's Deepika Kumari has equalled the World Record in the Women's Recurve event at the qualifying stage. The 21-year-old tallied a score of 686 out of 720 in the qualifying round of the Shanghai World Cup, thereby equalling the record, held by Ki Boe Bae of South Korea. 

Jo Areum of Korea finished second with a score of 676 while Lisa Unruh of Germany finished third with a score of 672.  Kumari had a total of 346/ 360 at the mid-interval and required 343 to break the record, but eventually equalled the tally by the Korean, who did so at the World University Games last year.

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