STATES
Union Government signed historic peace accord with NSCN (I-M)
Union Government on 3 August 2015 signed a landmark peace accord with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN (I-M)), putting an end to almost two decades long pending peace talks.The signing of the pact is the end of over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 16 years with first breakthrough in 1997 when ceasefire agreement was sealed. Government’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi. inked the document on behalf of the Union government, while NSCN (IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah were the signatories on behalf of the Naga organisation.
Jharkhand empowered ACB to arrest Ministers & civil servants in bribery cases without permission
Jharkhand Government on 4 August 2015 empowered Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to arrest Minister, MLA and senior civil servants without taking permission from the concerned authorities in cases of being caught on taking bribes.The decision to change the rule of ACB was taken during the state’s cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Raghubar Das. With this, the earlier known Vigilance Bureau has been given new name and greater power.
Rajasthan HC banned ‘Santhara’ ritual in Jain Community:
The Rajasthan High Court banned Jain’s ritual ‘Santhara’ (a voluntary and systematic fasting to death), making it punishable under IPC Section 306 (Abetment of Suicide). The ban on the Jain ritual comes after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by human rights activist and advocate Nikhil Soni a decade ago. The activist claimed the ritual is a social evil and should be considered as suicide.
Amitabh Bachchan as Brand Ambassador for ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign of Maharashtra:
To promote eco tourism, especially tiger tourism in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Govt. appointed Amitabh Bachchan as ambassador for Maharashtra’s “Save the Tiger“ campaign. At present Maharashtra has six tiger reserves and the tiger population has increased from 103 in 2006 to 169 in 2010,according to the tiger census.
Gujarat to become 1st state to launch ‘agro-solar policy’
‘Agro-solar policy’ is to be launched in Gujarat, making it the first state in India to do so. Under this policy, the farmers will have to tap energy from the sun. This will help them earn additional income from power generation companies. According to officials in Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute, farmers and power generation companies will be in a win-win situation with generation of solar energy in agricultural fields.