March 2018

GUJARAT Gujarat’s spending on social services dips: Study   The Gujarat government’s spending on social services has dropped in the recent years. According to ‘Pathey’ budget study group, the state ranked 10th in the country in spending on social services. The study found that in 2015-16 and 2016-17, Gujarat government spent 43.1% and 41.3% of the … Read more

GUJARAT Gujarat University bans cellphones at exam centres   Examination Reform Committee of Gujarat University (GU) has taken a decision of putting a blanket ban on carrying cellphones or any other digital device in examination centres. Issuing a circular, GU has stated that not even principals or any other staff deployed at examination centres can use cellphones.   At a recently held … Read more

GUJARAT Water depleted in 60% of Gujarat wells   Figures released by the Union water resources ministry reveal that nearly 60% of wells in Gujarat have recorded water depletion over a decade. According to the figures, Gujarat is among the top 15 states that have recorded a depletion in water levels in wells from 2007 to 2016. According to the information provided by … Read more

GUJARAT Sex ratio at birth falls by 6 points   The existence of girls in Gujarat — which attained national infamy for its skewed child sex ratio (CSR) of 886 girls per 1,000 boys in Census 2001 — continues to be under threat. The 2017 figures reveal that the sex ratio at birth (SRB) has further declined and is … Read more

GUJARAT 35% of country’s hazardous units in Vapi-Hazira-Ankleshwar-Dahej belt: Gujarat chief secretary   Emphasizing on the need for mitigating risks and preventing industrial hazards in Gujarat, state chief secretary, JN Singh, said that some 35% of the country’s hazardous units fall in the highly industrialized belt of Vapi-Hazira-Ankleshwar-Dahej belt, which is also known as the golden corridor. He … Read more

GUJARAT Eco-sensitive zones shrunk by up to 99%   The CAG in its economic sector report stated that the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) areas have shrunken in the state. The reduction in the areas in the final ESZ notification ranges from 51% to 99% of the draft proposal. The watchdog noted that this was done even though there … Read more

GUJARAT Gujarat no cradle for girls; Parents prefer boys: Report   In Gujarat, there is a strong preference for sons, reports the National Family Health Survey IV, 2016. The survey reveals that women in the state show greater eagerness to have sons than daughters. Among women with two children, 92 per cent with two sons and 88 per cent with one … Read more

GUJARAT Custom-notified status for Surat airport likely soon   Surat may get limited international flights in the next couple of months. Senior officials from the central government’s bureau of immigration, customs, finance and civil aviation ministries visited Surat airport  to check modifications, documentations and related infrastructure for providing customs notified status for the limited international operations. … Read more

GUJARAT Narendra Modi launches air services between Daman, Diu & Ahmedabad   Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched helicopter service between Daman and Diu and flight service between Diu and Ahmedabad. The people visiting Daman from south Gujarat and Maharashtra will be able to fly to Diu, Gir and Somnath in helicopters. Religious tourism will also get a major boost. Modi said Daman is … Read more

GUJARAT 80% of NRHM grants used in Gujarat   The state government in the last three financial years under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has received a total grant of Rs 2179 crore of which only 80% of the grants is being utilized. The government in the written reply also admitted that the allocation of grants … Read more