Union Government announces new Print Media Advertisement policy

The Union Information and Broadcasting ministry has framed a New Print Media Advertisement Policy for Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). 

The objective of the policy is to promote transparency and accountability in issuing of advertisements in print media. 

Key highlights of policy 

• It focuses on streamlining release of Government advertisements and to also promote equity and fairness among various categories of newspapers and periodicals. 
• For the first time it has introduced a New Marking System for newspapers to incentivize Newspapers. The system is based on 6 objective criteria with different marks each of them. 
• The newspapers will be able get benefit from new system who have better professional standing and get their circulation verified Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) or Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI). 
• DAVP will release advertisements to newspapers based on marks obtained by each newspaper. 
• This will also ensure transparency and accountability in the release of advertisements by DAVP. 
• For payment and adjustment of Bills, it mandates that DAVP will release payment of advertisement bills in the name of newspaper or company account directly through ECS or NEFT. 
• The policy has classified newspaper and journals into three categories namely (i) small: publishing upto 25,000 copies per day, (ii) medium: between 25,001 and 75,000 copies and (iii) Big: 75,000 copies or more.

 DAVP: It is the nodal agency of the Union Government for advertising on behalf of various Ministries and Departments which are funded by the government.

Union Ministry of Power launches Surya Mitra Mobile App

The Union Ministry of Power has launched Surya Mitra mobile App to serve customers in the field of renewable energy. 

The app was launched by Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal at National Workshop on Rooftop Solar Power held in New Delhi. 

The App will serve customers at their doorsteps with quality installation, repair, and Observations and Measurements (O&M) in the field of renewable energy.

About Surya Mitra Mobile App 

• Surya Mitra Mobile App has been developed by National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institution of Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). 
• The app has been developed in a high end technology platform that can handle thousands of customers’ calls simultaneously and can efficiently monitor all visits of Suryamitra’s. 
• Using this app, customers can avail services like maintenance, serving and repairing at the click of a button on their mobiles.
•  It will help enhance the employment of trained youth i.e. Suryamitra’s in solar PV technology. Further it will also help to improve the businesses of solar entrepreneurs.

Suryamitra initiative: 

It is Union Government’s skill development program to create skilled manpower in commissioning, installation, O&M of solar power plants and equipment. It primary objective is to provide entrepreneurship and employability opportunites to rural and urban youth & women.

Union Railways Ministry flags off Champaran Satyagrah Express train in Bihar

Union Railways Ministry has flagged off Champaran Satyagrah Express train at a function in Motihari, Bihar. 

The train was flagged off by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. This train will run between Bapudham, Motihari to Anand Vihar, Delhi. 

Champaran Satyagrah Express train has been introduced to mark 100 years of the historic Champaran Satyagraha (movement) launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917.

 It is weekly train which will have load combination of 15 coaches, including one third AC, six sleeper and six general coaches and two brake vans. 

Besides, the Union Minister also inaugurated Banmankhi – Purnea rail section and Pipraha Railway Station. He also inaugurated road over bridges at Motihar, Begusarai and Danapur through video conferencing. 

Background 

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in India. It was launched against the oppressive policies European indigo planters that led to exploitation of tens of thousands of landless serfs, indentured labourers and poor farmers in Champaran and neighbouring areas. 

Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha were the events which later put Gandhi on the front seat of Indian National Revolution and made Satyagraha a powerful tool.