# Hike in MSP

• The central government has hiked the Minimum Support price for common paddy to 1940 a quintal for the coming kharif season.

• The decision was taken by Cabinet committee on economic affairs on wednesday.

• In a bid to encourage crop diversification, there were slightly higher increases in the MSP for pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals.

• The MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers, and is based on a calculation of at least one and a half  times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.

# New election commissioner

• Retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey on wednesday took charge as the election commissioner, said Election commission of India.

• Anup chandra pandey is a 1984 batch IAS officer of the UP cadre.

# US senate pass innovation bill

• The US senate passed a sweeping industrial policy bill on tuesday aimed at countering the surging economic threat from the rival China.

• This bill included pumping more than $170 billion into research and development.

# 5 MHZ spectrum for railways

• The union cabinet on wednesday approved the allotment of 5 MHZ spectrum in the premium 700 MHZ band to the railways for captive use in areas of public safety and security services.

• With this spectrum the railways will introduce LTE based mobile train radio communication (MTRC) on its routes.

• This mechanism will prevent train accidents and reduce delays by enabling real time interaction between the loco pilots, station master and control centre.

# Central deputation of officers

• With the states not nominating enough officers for central deputation, the department of personnel and training (DOPT) said.

• UP has over 500 IAS officers but data show that only 32 IAS officers are presently on central deputation.

• Bihar fares better with 32 IAS officers on central deputation out of 208.