Union Government on 1st January 2015 set up the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog to replace Planning Commission which will comprise CM of all states and Lt. Governor of Union Territory as an approach to develop. It will also have a vice chairperson and a Chief Executive officer who will be appointed by the PM. Its function has been described as Bharatiya approach to development with role of formulating policies and direction to government serving as a think tank providing agenda for PM and CM
Union government accepted the recommendation of Bezbaruah Committee set up to look into the concerns of people of North East living in other parts of the country. Union Government accepted the committee of 5 members under chairmanship of Bezbaruah in February 2014 after the killing of Student from Arunachal Pradesh Nido Tania in a Delhi market.
PM Narendra Modi launched a National Programme for LED Home and street Lighting in New Delhi to reduce energy consumption.
Union Petroleum Ministry Dharmendra Pradhan launched the sale of subsidized 5kg cooking gas, cylinders to benefit BPL families, students and migrants under Free Trade LPG scheme. It aims to increasing usage of LPG, a cleaner cooking fuel by the households.
Union cabinet approved promulgation of ordinance for amending MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. It paved the way for introduction of competitive bidding for allocation of mines of iron ore and other coal mines. The ordinance route was taken by Union Government after it was unable to introduce the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2014 in winter session of Parliament in December 2014.
President signed ordinance to amend Citizenship Act, 1955 and provides lifelong Indian visa facility to PIOs. This provides a lifelong Indian Visa facility to PIO and exempts them from appearing before the local police station on every visit. It was signed before three day meet of Indian diasporas in Gujarat during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2015
President of USA, Barack Obama was the chief guest for 66th Republic Day of India. Main theme of the parade was women empowerment. The US President was given a Guard of Honour at Rashtriya Bhavan led by Wing Commander Puja Thakur (first woman to give Guard of Honour to a visiting major foreign dignitary at Rashtriyapati Bhavan). Obama and Modi pledged to enhance Indo – US cooperation on climate change, clean energy polls, and incentivize trade and investment as well as deliberation on nuclear deal
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot launched National Toll free Helpline to assist the drug dependent person. The Minister further added that in order to mitigate the problems of drug abuse and create public awareness, the Department is undertaking various measures from time to time.
Indian government decided to provide 69 million rupees to Nepal as assistance to launch Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (IDDCP). Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over a cheque of Rs 17. 25 million as an advance payment out of total assistance of Rs 69 million to the secretary, ministry of commerce and supplies, Nepal for launching the programme.
Elections for the 70 member Delhi Vidhan Sabha shall be held on 7th February. The national capital is abuzz with pre election campaign with leaders from AAP and BJP taking to Padyatras, rallies and processions. Congress has kept a low tone in its campaign. The AAP is led by Arvind Kejriwal while the BJP is contesting with Kiran Bedi as its CM candidate.
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated India’s first CNG powered train on the Rewari-Rohtak section of northern zone. CNG trains will reduce greenhouse gas emission and also cut the transporter's fuel bill by reducing consumption of diesel. The minister, who has opened a separate environment directorate in the railway board, has stressed on the use of alternative fuel, including use of solar and wind power, to reduce dependence on conventional energy.
Supreme Court issued notice to union government on voting rights for inter-state migrants. A Bench headed by chief Justice (CJ) of India H L Dattu gave four weeks time to the Union government to respond on the application by V P Shamsheer, a native of Kerala, who is based in UAE. Supreme Court to set up a method for in country migrants who leave their constituency for reason of work or employment, business, education, marriage and vote from the current place of residence.
The Union Minister of Health proposed the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco product (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2015. The draft Bill by the Ministry of Health and Family proposes to do away with on-site advertising of tobacco products that includes kiosks and shops selling cigarettes and other tobacco products will be prevented to display the brand names.
Idukki in Kerala has become first District of India to have complete Rural Broadband coverage. 8 block offices and 52 Gram Panchayat were connected on Optical Fibre and one Gram Panchayat namely Edamalakudy was connected through VSAT. It is a part of digital India project.
Union government reconstituted Pollution Control Board working group to simplify producers to get consent certificates and categorization of industries. It will also look into self-declaration/self-regulation of green compliances by industries, increase penalty in case of violation, among other issues.
Union ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched 2 schemes venture Capital Fund for SC and Green Business Scheme.Under this scheme the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes will set up with initial capital of Rs 200 crore.
Union Government prohibited imports of all kinds of mobile handsets with fake and duplicate unique identity number. The move aims to help security agencies to track callers using different SIM cards.
Union Government launched HRIDAY (National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojna) to preserve and rejuvenate the rich heritage of the country. The Union Finance Minister announced that a sum of Rs. 200 crore had been set aside for conserving and preserving the heritage character of Mathura, Amritsar, Gaya, Kancheepuram, Velankanni and Ajmer. The project will involve a partnership between the government, academic institutions and local communities, combining affordable technologies
PM Narendra Modi launched Sukanya Samridhi Yojna under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. 'Sukanya Samridhi Account' can be opened at any time from the birth of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years, with a minimum deposit of Rs 1000. A maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh can be deposited during the financial year. It is an effort to motivate parents to open an account in the name of a girl child and for her welfare to deposit maximum of their savings upto the prescribed limits, higher rates of interest at 9.1 per cent is proposed to be given on the deposits on annually compounded basis with income tax concession in this financial year.
National Girl Child Day was observed on 24 January 2015. Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a sustained campaign to highlight the evils of female foeticide, female infanticide and discrimination in matters of health, nutrition, education and opportunities.
The NTCA released a report on Status of Tigers in India which shows an increase to 2226 in 2015 from 1706 in 2010. India now has 70% of tiger population in world. The latest tiger census figures show that Karnataka has the highest number of tigers in the age group of 1.5 years and more. The state has 408 tigers in that age group followed by 340 in Uttarakhand, 308 in Madhya Pradesh, 229 in Tamil Nadu, 190 in Maharashtra, 167 in Assam, 136 in Kerala and 117 in Uttar Pradesh.
