Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation [January, 2018] · 2018-03-08 · World Bank Report projects 7.3% growth for India in 2018 ... NCDEX launches India’s ﬁrst agri-options

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Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation[January, 2018]

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Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation [January, 2018]

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Contents......................... . .....................................................................................

Month Highlights: January – 2018 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... Date Wise: Current Affairs Updates 12 ................................................................................................................................................................................... January 1, 2018 12 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Vidarbha wins 2017 Ranji Trophy tournament 12 ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 new ginger species discovered in northeast 12 ......................................................................................................................................................... Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi: New night frog species discovered in Western Ghats 13 ....................................................................................... Arunachal Pradesh declared open defecation-free State 13 ....................................................................................................................................... NASA to launch Parker Solar Probe to explore sun’s outer atmosphere 14 ......................................................................................................... Saudi Arabia, UAE introduce VAT for first time 15 .................................................................................................................................................... GAIL commissions India’s second largest rooftop solar plant in UP 15 .................................................................................................................. India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear sites for 27th consecutive year 16 ....................................................................................................

January 2, 2018 16 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Schistura Larketensis: New species of blind fish discovered inside Meghalaya cave 16 ...................................................................................... Government appoints Vijay Gokhale as new Foreign Secretary 17 ......................................................................................................................... Health Ministry launches Allied and Health care Professional Database 17 ........................................................................................................... Core sectors’ record 6.8% growth in November 2017 17 ........................................................................................................................................ Karnataka receives approval for purchase of electric vehicles under FAME India scheme 18 .......................................................................... Fact Sheet: 2G Scam Verdict 18 ...................................................................................................................................................................................... Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill, 2017 19 ................................................................................................... Government launches NARI portal and e-Samvad portal 20 ................................................................................................................................... Parliament passes NABARD (Amendment) Bill, 2017 20 .........................................................................................................................................

January 3, 2018 20 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... China develops underwater surveillance networks in Indian Ocean, South China Sea 20 ................................................................................. Defence Ministry gives final nod for Barak missiles, PGM bombs 21 ..................................................................................................................... Former RAW Chief Rajinder Khanna Appointed Deputy National Security Advisor 21 ..................................................................................... MHA exempts cruise tourists with e-visa from biometric enrolment till 2020 21 ............................................................................................... Lok Sabha passes Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017 22 ............................................... Government announces details of electoral bonds for political funding 22 ........................................................................................................... Cabinet approves establishment of new AIIMS at Bilaspur 23 .................................................................................................................................

January 4, 2018 24 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK in transport 24 ............................................................................................................................... Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV: WHO approves Indian typhoid vaccine for global use 24 ................................................................................ Cabinet approves Indo-Myanmar agreement on land border crossing 24 ............................................................................................................ CCEA approves construction of bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in J&K 25 ................................................................................................................. CCEA approves implementation of Jal Marg Vikas Project on NW-1 26 ............................................................................................................... Scientists discover four new balsam species in Arunachal Pradesh 27 ................................................................................................................... CCEA approves extension of norms for mandatory packaging in Jute Materials 27 ..........................................................................................

January 5, 2018 28 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... NMCG approves five Namami Gange projects in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand 28 ............................................................. US puts Pakistan on Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom 28 ....................................................................................... Health Ministry and Tata Memorial Centre launch first digital Online Oncology Tutorial 29 ......................................................................... Defence Ministry clears Rs.2420 Crore worth contracts for Navy, Army 29 ...................................................................................................... Government launches 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds 2018 29 ........................................................................................................................... Lok Sabha passes Bill to hike salaries of judges 31 ...................................................................................................................................................... Railways, HRD and S&T Ministry ink MoU on Technology Mission for Indian Railways 32 ........................................................................... NASA to launch two missions — GOLD and ICON to explore the ionosphere 33 ...........................................................................................

January 6, 2018 33 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26th World Book Fair held in New Delhi with focus on environment 33 ............................................................................................................. Income Tax Department launches on-line chat service 34 ....................................................................................................................................... Atal Pension Yojana reaches subscriber base of 80 lakh 34 ..................................................................................................................................... Forex Reserves scale record high of $409.366 billion in December 2017 34 ..................................................................................................... HRD Ministry releases All India Higher Education Survey 35 ..................................................................................................................................

January 7-8, 2018 35 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards 35 ......................................................................................................................................................................... Legendary astronaut, moonwalker John Young passes away 36 ............................................................................................................................. Flamingo festival held at Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh 36 ..................................................................................................................................... CBDT relaxes norms for MAT on firms facing insolvency 37 ................................................................................................................................. Government to launch e-Sansad and e-Vidhan in Parliament and State 37 .......................................................................................................... AIIB plans to issue first US dollar bonds in June 2018 38 ......................................................................................................................................... Vulnerable Odisha tribe Mankidia denied habitat in Similipal 38 ............................................................................................................................. Pratyush: India’s fastest supercomputer unveiled 39 ...................................................................................................................................................

January 9, 2018 39 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Haryana becomes first state to launch High-Risk Pregnancy portal 39 ................................................................................................................. SpaceX launches secretive Zuma mission 40 ............................................................................................................................................................... Government notifies the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017 40 .........................................................................................................................



Saudi Arabia allows India’s plan to ferry Haj pilgrims via sea route 41 .................................................................................................................. Government completes 1st phase of BharatNet project 41 ........................................................................................................................................ Government to raise Territorial Army battalion of ex-Armymen to clean Ganga 41 ......................................................................................... Government to launch new scheme for free treatment of Hepatitis C 42 ............................................................................................................ January 9: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 42 ............................................................................................................................................................................ Supreme Court stays High Court verdict against 85% pictorial warning on tobacco 43 .................................................................................. First PIO Parliamentary Conference held in New Delhi 43 .......................................................................................................................................

January 10, 2018 43 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Scientists for first time grow skeletal muscle tissue from stem cells 43 ................................................................................................................. National anthem not mandatory in cinema halls: SC 44 ........................................................................................................................................... 3rd Meeting of Council of Trade Development and Promotion held in New Delhi 44 .................................................................................... Gujarat tops in Logistics Ease Across Different States index 45 .............................................................................................................................. CCEA approves continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme 46 ..................................................................... Cabinet approves MoU between India and Canada for cooperation in field of S&T 46 .................................................................................... Rocket expert K. Sivan appointed as new chairman of ISRO 46 .............................................................................................................................

January 11, 2018 47 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Corps of Army Air Defence celebrates 25th Raising Day 47 ................................................................................................................................... Mumbai’s Matunga Railway Station enters Limca Records for All Woman Staff 47 .......................................................................................... Charlie-435: Indian Coast Guard commissions patrol vessel 47 ............................................................................................................................. Committee of Governors submits report to President 48 ......................................................................................................................................... UIDAI introduces 2-tier security to Aadhaar to address privacy concerns 48 ..................................................................................................... CABE sub-committee recommends free education for girls up to PG level 48 ................................................................................................... World Bank Report projects 7.3% growth for India in 2018 49 ............................................................................................................................. India misses 2017 deadline for Kala Azar elimination 49 .......................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves fixed term for chairperson and members of National Trust 50 .............................................................................................. Cabinet approves amendments to FDI Policy 50 .........................................................................................................................................................

January 12, 2018 51 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... January 12: National Youth Day 51 .................................................................................................................................................................................. 4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference held in Nalanda 52 ..................................................................................................................... National Youth Festival held in New Delhi 52 .............................................................................................................................................................. JioCoin: Reliance Jio planning to launch its own cryptocurrency 52 ....................................................................................................................... Indu Malhotra: First woman lawyer to be directly promoted as SC judge 54 ..................................................................................................... China to build Counter-Terrorism Base in Northern Afghanistan’s Badakshan province 54 ........................................................................... Ministry of Railways launches SFOORTI application 54 ............................................................................................................................................

January 13, 2018 55 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Fourth ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture & Forestry held in Delhi 55 ...................................................................................... NITI Aayog to rank 115 aspirational districts by April 2018 55 ............................................................................................................................... IIP growth hits 17-month high of 8.4% in November 2017 56 .............................................................................................................................. North Koel Reservoir Project: Water Resources Ministry ink MoU with Bihar and Jharkhand 56 .................................................................. Environment Ministry refuses captive breeding of Chiru 57 ..................................................................................................................................... Nepal starts receiving internet connection from China 58 ........................................................................................................................................ China launches two BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space 58 ........................................................................................................................... EC constitutes Umesh Sinha Committee for considering social media expansion 58 ......................................................................................... Indian Navy decommissions INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat warships 59 ............................................................................................................... Ministry of Petroleum launches Saksham 2018 Campaign 59 .................................................................................................................................

January 14-15, 2018 59 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Kerala Government launches Kerala Accelerator Program for early-stage startups 59 ..................................................................................... India’s first-ever FDI in fertiliser sector: Yara acquires Tata Chemicals urea plant 60 ....................................................................................... Rizhao: China commissions new missile frigate 60 ..................................................................................................................................................... Delhi is richest state, Jain wealthiest community: NFHS-4 wealth index 60 ......................................................................................................... Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city Haifa 61 .............................................................................................................................................. 7th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2018 held in Karnataka 62 .................................................................................................................................. India, UK ink MoUs to enable return of illegal Indian migrants and sharing of criminal records 62 ............................................................. NCDEX launches India’s first agri-options trading in Guarseed 62 ........................................................................................................................ Elcysma Ziroensis: New moth species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh 63 ......................................................................................................... India contributes $50,000 to UN Youth Envoy’s office 63 ....................................................................................................................................... IRFC’s green bonds: India INX lists 1st debt security at IFSC 64 ............................................................................................................................ India ranks 30th on WEF’s Global Manufacturing Index 64 .................................................................................................................................... India, Israel sign 9 agreements in space, defence, cybersecurity 65 ........................................................................................................................

January 16, 2018 65 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure held in New Delhi 65 ............................................................................................ 65th meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education held in New Delhi 65 ..................................................................................................... India, Sri Lanka sign four agreements for collaboration in ICT sector 66 ............................................................................................................ IPrism: CIPAM-DIPP launches IP competition for college & university students 66 ........................................................................................... BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement: India, Bangladesh, Nepal approve Passenger protocol 67 ......................................................................... Vajra Prahar: Indo-US joint military exercise to be held in Seattle 67 .................................................................................................................... 3rd Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi 68 ................................................................................................................................................................. Coast Guards of India, Japan undertake joint naval exercise 68 ..............................................................................................................................



January 17, 2018 68 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Odisha Government launches Mukshyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana 68 ........................................................................................................ Sikkim Government allows people to forge fraternal ties with trees 69 ................................................................................................................ PM inaugurates Rajasthan’s first oil refinery at Barmer 69 ....................................................................................................................................... NITI Aayog launches first course under GIAN Program on Sustainable Urban Planning 69 .......................................................................... Government ends Haj subsidy 70 ................................................................................................................................................................................... Khap Panchayats can’t interfere in marriages of adults: Supreme Court 70 ......................................................................................................... Department of Commerce and CII ink MoU for development of Logistics sector 71 ........................................................................................ DAC clears procurements of assault rifles and carbines 71 ....................................................................................................................................... Maharashtra Government approves 1% reservation for orphans in government jobs 72 ..................................................................................

January 18, 2018 72 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... PM Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurate iCREATE facility 72 .......................................................................................................... NPPA fixes retail price of 30 drug formulations 72 .................................................................................................................................................... Maharashtra becomes first state to unveil Public Cloud Policy 73 .......................................................................................................................... Xian smog tower: China builds world’s biggest air purifier 73 ................................................................................................................................ 10th Global Forum for Food & Agriculture held Berlin 74 ....................................................................................................................................... President presents 2016 Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 74 ................................................................................................................................. Akademi Fellows 74 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... Music 74 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Classical Dance 75 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Theatre 75 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Traditional/ Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre and Puppetry 75 ......................................................................................................................... Overall Contribution/ Scholarship in the Performing Arts 75 ................................................................................................................................. Government planning to set up of Cyber Warrior Police Force to tackle internet-related crimes 75 ............................................................. Agni-5 ballistic missile successfully test-fired 76 .........................................................................................................................................................

January 19, 2018 77 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... India to set up $350 million Solar Development Fund for solar projects 77 ........................................................................................................ Maharashtra approves Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna to promote climate-resilient agriculture 77 ............................................. India’s First Automatic Early Warning Dissemination System to come up in Odisha 78 ................................................................................... Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Odisha wins prestigious UNWTO Award 78 ................................................................................................. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan crosses 1 crore mark 79 ................................................................................................................... Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed as new DG of National Security Guard 79 .............................................................................................................. Anandiben Patel appointed as Governor Madhya Pradesh 80 ................................................................................................................................. India joins Australia Group export control regime 80 ...............................................................................................................................................

January 20, 2018 81 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... TRAI recommends allowing mobile services during air travel 81 ............................................................................................................................ 2018 to be observed as National Year of Millets 81 .................................................................................................................................................... Mauritius was largest source of FDI in India in 2016-2017: RBI 82 ...................................................................................................................... Government launches National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portal 82 .................................................................................................... Government launches Liveability Index to rate 116 Indian cities 83 ........................................................................................................................ MeitY launches Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative 83 .................................................................................................................................................. Government announces 9 new Smart Cities 84 .......................................................................................................................................................... Mercedes-Benz first to launch locally-made BS-VI-compliant car 84 .................................................................................................................... Website Accessibility Project launched to make 100 websites accessible to persons with disabilities 85 .......................................................

January 21-22, 2018 85 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Explained: Office of profit 85 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... Om Prakash Rawat appointed New Chief Election Commissioner 86 ................................................................................................................... Bharat Ke Veer anthem launched in New Delhi 87 .................................................................................................................................................... President felicitates 112 first ladies 87 ............................................................................................................................................................................. OPV Vijaya: Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel launched 88 ...................................................................................................................................... ONGC to acquire Government’s entire 51.11% stake in HPCL 88 .......................................................................................................................... Manipur Government launches health assurance scheme for poor & disabled people 88 ................................................................................. Government launches Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage-Free Cities 89 ..........................................................................................................

January 23, 2018 89 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Scientist S. Somanath takes charge as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 89 ...................................................................................... First International Dam Safety Conference held in Thiruvananthapuram 90 ....................................................................................................... India ranked 62nd on WEF’s Inclusive Development Index 2018 90 ..................................................................................................................... India ranked 81st on Global Index of Talent Competitiveness 91 ............................................................................................................................ Indian economy to grow at 7.4% in 2018: IMF 91 .................................................................................................................................................... India inks $120 million loan agreement with World Bank to fund improved water supply in Uttarakhand 92 ........................................... First NIIF investment: To set up $3-billion platform with DP World 92 ............................................................................................................... India’s richest 1% corner 73% of wealth generation: Oxfam Survey 93 ................................................................................................................

January 24-25, 2018 93 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Bharat Parv to be held at Red Fort on Republic Day 93 ............................................................................................................................................ Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palanichamy receives UNESCO Award 94 ............................................................................................................. India Ranked 177 in Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 94 ........................................................................................................................... 8th National Voters’ Day observed 95 ........................................................................................................................................................................... Narayanan appointed Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre 95 .................................................................................................



Government to increase number of ‘AMRIT’ pharmacy stores 4 times 96 .......................................................................................................... Government announces 4 new schemes to promote young scientists 96 ............................................................................................................. UDAN Phase-II: 325 routes awarded; 40% for North East, hills 97 ...................................................................................................................... SARAS PT1N: Upgraded indigenous transport aircraft makes successful maiden flight 98 ............................................................................ MIS portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme launched 98 ............................................................................................................. Government launches Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls 98 ..............................................................................

January 26, 2018 99 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. India, Vietnam sign two agreements 99 ........................................................................................................................................................................ Chinese scientists for first time successfully clone monkeys 99 ............................................................................................................................... ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit issues Delhi Declaration 100 ................................................................................................................... Ministry of Road Transport & Highways inks MoU with IL&FS for construction of Zojila tunnel 101 ........................................................... IAF Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously conferred with Ashok Chakra 101 ......................................................................................... 2018 Padma Awards 102 .................................................................................................................................................................................................. Government announces PM’s Shram Awards for 2016 to 50 workers 105 ......................................................................................................... WEF launches Global Centre for Cybersecurity 105 ................................................................................................................................................... Rotavac: First India-designed vaccine to pass WHO test 106 ...................................................................................................................................

January 27, 2018 106 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Mehul Garg: Indian-origin boy sets new Mensa record 106 .................................................................................................................................... Alpha Design Technologies wins firing simulator order from India Army 107 ................................................................................................... India-Japan Smart Grid Pilot Project inaugurated in Panipat 107 ............................................................................................................................ Government relaxes norms of Atal Pension Yojana to expand coverage 107 ....................................................................................................... India to host informal WTO Ministerial gathering in March 2018 108 ................................................................................................................. Punjab Government launches Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana 108 ............................................................................................................ Kolkata becomes first Indian metro to get floating market 109 ..............................................................................................................................

January 28, 2018 109 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 January 2018: World Leprosy Day 109 .................................................................................................................................................................... Asha Bhosle selected for fifth Yash Chopra Memorial Award 109 ......................................................................................................................... India’s Green Revolution pioneer Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat passes away 110 .................................................................................................. PM Narendra Modi to visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman in February 2018 110 ......................................................................................................... India, Lao PDR sign civil aviation cooperation agreement 111 ................................................................................................................................... President Ram Nath Kovind launches Pulse Polio programme for 2018 111 ......................................................................................................... India, Cambodia ink 4 pacts 111 ....................................................................................................................................................................................... MeITY launches Stree Swabhiman Initiative for Women Health and Hygiene 112 ..............................................................................................

January 29, 2018 113 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Acid attack victims to get quota in Central Government jobs 113 ........................................................................................................................... Australian Open 2018: Roger Federer wins Men’s Singles title 113 ......................................................................................................................... 2018 Republic Day parade: Maharashtra wins best tableau prize 114 .................................................................................................................... NASA interested in India-made thermal spray coating technology 115 .................................................................................................................. Khelo India Pledge Launched at Khelo India School Games Carnival 115 ............................................................................................................. Parliamentary Group to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five MPs 116 ...................................................................................... MHA to set up Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre in New Delhi 116 ....................................................................................................... VINBAX: Indian, Vietnam hold first military exercise in Jabalpur 116 ..................................................................................................................... Highlights of Economic Survey 2017-18 117 ................................................................................................................................................................

January 30, 2018 118 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Himachal Pradesh launches Zero Budget Natural Farming project to promote organic farming 118 ............................................................. Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: 238th anniversary of India’s first newspaper celebrated 118 ........................................................................................ President Ram Nath Kovind pitches for simultaneous elections 118 ........................................................................................................................ India becomes third largest producer of crude steel 119 ............................................................................................................................................

January 31, 2018 119 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Soumitra Chatterjee presented with France’s Legion d’Honneur 119 ..................................................................................................................... Government inks $100 Million loan agreement for Project to Boost Rural Economy of Tamil Nadu 120 ................................................... Vinod Paul: First Indian to receive WHO’s IhsanDogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize 120 .................................................................. Government inks $250 Million Loan Agreement with ADB to Improve Rural Connectivity in 5 States 121 ................................................ Mihir: High performance computing facility inaugurated at Noida 121 .................................................................................................................. Government launches GeM 3.0 122 ............................................................................................................................................................................... INS Karanj: Third submarine of Scorpene class launched 122 ................................................................................................................................. Thar Link Express receives extension for three more years 123 ............................................................................................................................... India 6th wealthiest country: New World Wealth Report 123 ..................................................................................................................................



GKToday’s Monthly PDF E-Book comprises two documents viz. (1) Subjective (News Summaries & Updates)Compendium (2) Objective Current Affairs (MCQ) Compendium. This part is News Compendium covering MonthlyHighlights and Date Wise Updates published in GKToday. We have provided Current Affairs Questions Compendiumseparately. These documents are suitable for SSC, Bank PO, Bank Clerical, IBPS, CLAT, Railways, State Level / UnionPublic Services examinations. Visit https://store.gktoday.in for other documents.

Month Highlights: January – 2018Government Policy and SchemesGeM 3.0

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched third version of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM 3.0).The earlier version GeM 2.0 was launched as pilot project in August 2016.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)The Union Government has inked $250 Million Loan Agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) toImprove Rural Connectivity in 5 States viz. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengalunder Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation ProjectThe Union Government has inked $100 million Loan Agreement with World Bank for Project to Boost RuralEconomy of Tamil Nadu. The project aims to promote rural enterprises, facilitate their access to finance and createemployment opportunities for youth, particularly women in selected blocks of Tamil Nadu across 26 districts.

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)The Union Home Ministry will set up Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), an apex coordinationcentre in New Delhi to deal with cybercrimes.It will be apex coordination centre to deal with cybercrimes based inNew Delhi. It will coordinate with State governments/UTs and closely monitor cyberspace and social media withdue emphasis on vernacular content.

Stree Swabhiman InitiativeMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) has launched Stree Swabhiman Initiative. Its aim isto create sustainable model for providing adolescent girls and women an access to affordable sanitary products byleveraging Common Service Centres (CSCs).

Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) ProgrammePresident Ram Nath Kovind has launched Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) Programme for year 2018 byadministering polio drops to children at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event was organised on the eve of theNational Immunisation Day (NID), observed on 28 January.

Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY)Punjab Government has launched Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY) for the welfare of thedowntrodden citizen across the state. This scheme is aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of thesociety. It will be on the line of Antyodaya principles and will be implemented in the state’s rural areas.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)The Finance Ministry has relaxed norms of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) to allow small finance banks and paymentbanks to offer APY distribution. The move is expected to help expand coverage of the scheme and strengthenexisting channels of APY distribution.

India-Japan Smart Grid Pilot ProjectIndia-Japan Smart Grid Pilot Project was inaugurated Panipat, Haryana to solve the various complications faced bythe power distribution sector. The project aims to make electricity distribution network smarter and disseminateJapanese technologies in India.

Rapid Reporting System (RRS)The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched beneficiary module (i.e. Phase -1)of Rapid Reporting System (RRS), a web based on line monitoring for Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).

MIS portal for Anganwadi Services Training ProgrammeThe Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched Management Information System(MIS) portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme. The portal has been developed by Ministry of WCDin collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).

UDAN Phase IIThe Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has awarded 325 air routes under the second phase of government’s flagshipUDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) regional connectivity scheme. Around 40% or 129 of 325 air routes wereawarded to newly created category of ‘priority areas’.

4 new schemes to promote young scientists and researchersThe Ministry of Science & Technology has announced four new schemes to promote young scientists and



researchers in the country. They are Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) Scheme, OverseasVisiting Doctoral Fellowship, Distinguished Investigator Award (DIA) and AWSAR (Augmenting Writing Skillsfor Articulating Research).

AMRIT pharmacy storesThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced to increase number of AMRIT pharmacy stores byfour times by end of 2018 from the existing 111 outlets in bid to make low-cost medicines more accessible. It aimsto reduce expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and cardio vascular (heart) diseases to makehealth care affordable for poor.

Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage-Free CitiesThe Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the ‘Protocol for Star Rating ofGarbage-Free Cities’ in Goa. It has been developed under Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban for rating cities on 7-star rating system based on multiple cleanliness indicators for solid waste management.

Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) SchemeManipur Government has launched the Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT), a health assurancescheme for the poor and disabled people. It will provide cashless treatment to poor at government hospitals, healthcentres and other empanelled selected private hospitals.

Bharat Ke Veer AnthemThe Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched official anthem for “Bharat Ke Veer” sung and composed bysinger Kailash Kher. Bharat Ke Veer is an initiative with corpus fund to help the families of paramilitary trooperskilled in the line of duty. So far, it has raised Rs. 12.93 crore for kin of paramilitary personnel killed in the line ofduty.

Website Accessibility ProjectThe Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched Website Accessibility Project to make 100 websitesvarious State Governments/UTs accessible to persons with disabilities (Divyangjans) under Accessible IndiaCampaign.

9 new Smart CitiesUnion Minister of Housing and Urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has announced a new batch of 9 smart citiesunder Smart City Mission. The nine cities include three from Uttar Pradesh –Moradabad, Bareilly andSaharanpur, Bihar Sharif (Bihar), Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Havelli), Erode (Tamil Nadu), Daman and Diu,Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and Kavaratti (Lakshadweep).

Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiativeThe Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiativeto strengthen cybersecurity ecosystem in India in line Government’s vision for a ‘Digital India’. It was launched inassociation with National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and industry partners.

Liveability indexThe Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs (MoHUA) launched the Liveability index to rate 116 Indian cities.Liveability index is tool that aims to measure quality of life in 99 smart cities, capital cities and those with apopulation of over one million. It will be funded by the World Bank and ranking of these cities is expected to beready by June 2018.

National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data PortalThe Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has launched National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data Portalfor bringing accountability and transparency for corporate India. The portals aim to provide easy accessibility togeneral public and also ensure high level of compliance. It will also help in institutionalising and consolidating theCSR activities.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva AbhiyanThe Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has crossed one crore mark in antenatal check-ups. Itwas launched in 2016 to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across country.It has provided quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani YojnaMaharashtra Government has approved Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna, a Rs.4,000-crore project aimedat promoting climate-resilient agriculture. The scheme will be implemented in 5,142 villages across 15 districts.

Cyber Warrior Police Force (CWPF)The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to set up Cyber Warrior Police Force (CWPF) to tackleinternet-related crimes such as cyber threats, child pornography and online stalking. This division will be set upunder MHA’s newly created Cyber & Information Security (CIS) Division.



Maharashtra’s Public Cloud PolicyMaharashtra became first state in country to unveil Public Cloud Policy that virtually mandates state governmentdepartments to shift their data storage onto cloud. The policy will result in additional private sector investmentsworth US $2 billion for cloud industry as government is one of biggest creators and consumers of data.

iCREATE facilityPrime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurated iCREATE facility atDeo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. iCreate aims to develop an ecosystem in India to generate qualityentrepreneurs.

First course under GIAN ProgramThe NITI Aayog has launched first course on Sustainable Urban planning using remote sensing and GeographicInformation System (GIS) at IIT Kanpur’s outreach centre in Noida. This is first course conducted under GlobalInitiative on Academic Network (GIAN) Program of Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is activelysupported by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Mukshyamantri Kalakar Sahayata YojanaOdisha Government has launched Mukshyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana (MMKSY) to provide financialassistance to the literature and cultural artists of state. The scheme is mainly for the welfare of literature andcultural artists of the state.

Saksham 2018 CampaignThe Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & NaturalGas has launched month long Saksham 2018 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav). Saksham is annual flagship event ofPCRA with active involvement of Oil & Gas PSUs along with other stakeholders like State Governments.

Umesh Sinha CommitteeThe Election Commission (EC) has constituted 14 member committee headed by Umesh Sinha to suggest changesto Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) in view of social media expansion.

SFOORTI applicationThe Union Ministry of Railways has launched Smart Freight Operation Optimisation & Real Time Information(SFOORTI) application to help plan traffic flows and optimize freight operations. The app will help FreightManagers to monitor and manage freight business using Geographic Information System (GIS) views anddashboard.

Members of Parliament Local Area Development SchemeThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to continuation of Members ofParliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) till term of 14th Finance Commission i.e. 2020.

National Programme for Control of Viral HepatitisThe Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is going to roll out National Programme for Control of ViralHepatitis, a new scheme free treatment of Hepatitis C from the 2018-19 financial year. Under the new scheme, thefocus will be on anti-viral treatment of Hepatitis C which will be provided free at all government health set-ups.

e-Sansad and e-VidhanThe Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) has proposed rolling out of e-Sansad in Parliament and e-Vidhan in State Legislatures to digitize and make their functioning paperless. They aim to digitise and makeavailable Parliament and state legislature documents, including debates, speeches, committee reports and questionson internet.

High-Risk Pregnancy portalHaryana become first state in the country to launch High-Risk Pregnancy (HRP) portal. It has been launched aspart of the High Risk Pregnancy Policy of state implemented since November 2017.

BharatNet projectThe Union Government has announced completion of first phase of BharatNet project after successfully layingoptical fibre cables (OFC) in more than 1 lakh gram panchayats. The second phase of the project was initiated inNovember 2017 for connecting the remaining 1.5 lakh gram panchayats.

All India Higher Education SurveyThe Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education of Indian has registered an increase from 24.5% in 2015-16to 25.2% in 2016-17 according to latest All India Higher Education Survey (AIHES) released by HRD Ministry.

Atal Pension YojanaThe Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA) has announced that Atal PensionYojana (APY) run by it has reached a subscriber base of 80 lakh and is growing at good pace. Uttar Pradesh is thehighest contributing state at 11.41 lakh APY subscribers, followed by Bihar (8.87 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (6.60lakh).



Technology Mission for Indian Railways (TMIR)Three Ministries viz. Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) and Ministry ofScience & Technology have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint funding of TechnologyMission for Indian Railways (TMIR). The MoU aims to facilitate co-financing of TMIR by investment sharing foridentified railway projects for applied research.

Jal Marg Vikas Project on NW-1The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved implementation of Jal Marg Vikas Project(JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on 1,380-km Haldia-Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1(NW1) on Ganga River. The project will be implemented with the technical assistance and investment support ofthe World Bank. It is expected to be completed by March, 2023.

NARI portal and e-Samvad portalThe Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched online portal NARI (nari.nic.in) forthe empowerment of women. It has been developed by the Ministry to provide easy access to information ongovernment schemes and initiatives for women.

Allied and Health care Professional DatabaseThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Allied and Health care Professional Database portal tomake data repository robust to ensure better systems and frameworks for healthcare workforce in country. Thedatabase will help government to track the number of professionals and streams of allied and health careprofessions in the country.

Science, Technology & EnvironmentMihir high performance computer system

Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) has inaugurated high performance computer system (HPC) or supercomputerMihir (meaning sun) at National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida. The HCPwill provide facility for improving weather/climate forecasts. It is country’s largest HPC facility in terms of peakcapacity and performance.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) projectHimachal Pradesh Government has launched Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) project to promote organicfarming. It was launched by Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur. The project aims to increase agriculture produce andthe income of farmers by the year 2022.

Yttria-Stabilised Zirconia (YSZ)-Plasma sprayed coating technologyNASA is interested in new India-made thermal spray coating technology used for gas turbine engine in spacecraft.It has been developed by Dr. Satish Tailor, Rajasthan-based researcher working with Jodhpur-based MetallizingEquipment Company (MEC).

SkyRev360SkyRev360 is fully automated and comprehensive data gathering invoicing and collection service system. It hasbeen developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) in collaboration with International Air TransportAssociation (IATA) under the Government’s Make in India initiative

RotavacRotavac became first indigenously developed vaccine from India to be pre-qualified by World Health Organisation(WHO). It means that vaccine can be sold internationally to several countries in South America and Africa.

Global Centre for CybersecurityThe World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched new Global Centre for Cybersecurity in a bid to safeguardworld from hackers and growing data breaches — especially from nation-states. The centre will be headquarteredin Geneva, Switzerland and will become operational from March 2018. It will function as an autonomousorganization under WEF.

Chinese scientists for first time successfully clone monkeysChinese scientists for first time have successfully cloned two identical long-tailed macaques (monkeys), namedZhong Zhong and Hua Hua using same technique that produced Dolly sheep two decades ago. This developmentmakes them world’s first primates – the order of mammals that includes monkeys, apes and humans – to be clonedfrom non-embryonic cell.

SARAS PT1NSARAS PT1N, the new upgraded version of indigenous transport aircraft SARAS developed by NationalAeronautics Laboratory (NAL) successfully made its maiden flight in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is a 14-seaterpassenger aircraft designed and developed by CSIR-NAL, a frontline aerospace research laboratory. Theproduction version aircraft will have 19-seat capacity.



Environmental Performance Index (EPI)India was ranked 177 among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) – 2018. This index hasbeen developed by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forumand the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

Mangalajodi Ecotourism TrustMangalajodi Ecotourism Trust in Odisha has won prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO) Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprise at 14th UNWTO Awards ceremony held in Madrid,Spain. The award was given in recognition of Mangalajodi’s business model that is both economically viable andenvironmentally sustainable based on principles of community ownership and Eco Tourism.

India’s first automatic Early Warning Dissemination SystemIndia’s first automatic Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) will be commissioned by March 2018 inOdisha. The project aims to establish fool-proof communication system to address existing gaps in disseminatingdisaster warning up to community level.

Fraternal ties with treesSikkim Government has allowed people from state to forge fraternal ties with trees. It aims to preserve trees byencouraging people to forge relationship of brotherhood or sisterhood with trees through tradition practice locallyknown as Mitini or Mith/Mit.

Elcysma ZiroensisResearchers from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have discovered a new species of moth, scientificallynamed Elcysma Ziroensis from Talley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Elcysma Ziroensis is commonlycalled Apatani Glory, named after a local tribe called Apatani.

Xian smog towerChina has constructed Xian smog tower, an experimental air purifying tower touted to be the world’s biggest atheight of over 100 meters (328 feet) in an attempt to fight air pollution. The tower is built in Xian in Shaanxiprovince and has brought positive effect on chronic smog problem in China.

IPrismThe Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP),in collaboration launched ‘IPrism’ for college and university students. The one of its kind Intellectual Property (IP)Competition was launched by CIPAM-DIPP in association with ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON India.

BeiDou-3 satellitesChina has successfully launched two BeiDou-3 satellites to provide navigation and positioning services tocountries along Belt and Road initiative (BRI) by the end of 2018. The two satellites were designated as BeiDou-3M7 and BeiDou-3 M8 (26th and 27th satellites) in BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

Captive breeding of ChiruThe Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has refused to allow captive breedingof Chiru (Tibetan antelope), whose underfur is used for making famous shahtoosh shawls.

JioCoinReliance Jio Infocomm Ltd is planning to create its own cyptocurrency, JioCoin. The Jiocoin project is being ledby Mukesh Ambani’s elder son Akash Ambani. Under it, Reliance Jio is planning to build a 50-member team ofyoung professionals to work on blockchain technology.

Zuma missionCalifornia-based Private spaceflight company SpaceX has launched secret Zuma Mission for US government. Itwas launched on board of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US. It is asecret mission in its nature or purpose and the agency behind it remains a mystery.

GOLD and ICON MissionsNASA will launch two missions — GOLD and ICON later this year. They will team up to explore the ionosphere,located 96 km above Earth’s surface. The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission will belaunched in January 2018 and Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will be launched later this year.

Pratyush: India’s fastest supercomputer unveiledIndia’s fastest and first multi-petaflops (PF) supercomputer named Pratyush was unveiled at Pune-based IndianInstitute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). The supercomputer has been named as ‘Pratyush’ meaning Sun.

Flamingo festivalThe three-day annual Flamingo Festival was held at Pulicat lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary in Sullurpet mandal.Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicat and Nellapattu.

4 new balsam species discovered in Arunachal PradeshScientists have discovered four new balsam species from various locations in Eastern Himalayas in northeastern



state of Arunachal Pradesh. They are Impatiens haridasanii, Impatiens pseudocitrina, Impatiens nilalohitae andImpatiens roingensis.

Typbar TCVThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has given its pre-qualification to Typbar Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine(TVC) developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech for global use. Typbar TCV is world’s first typhoid vaccineclinically proven to be administered to children from six months of age to adults, and confers long-term protectionagainst typhoid fever.

Schistura larketensisScientists have discovered a new species of blind fish named Schistura larketensis inside a cave in East Jaintia Hillsdistrict of Meghalaya. The fish has been named after Larket village, where the cave has been found to encouragelocal people to take up biodiversity conservation.

Parker Solar Probe

NASA is going to launch Parker Solar Probe in 2018 to explore the sun’s outer atmosphere. It will be launchedonboard of Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. It will perform its scientific investigations in a hazardous region ofintense heat and solar radiation. It will trace how energy and heat move through solar corona. Explore whataccelerates solar wind as well as solar energetic particles.

Mewa Singh’s night frogScientists have discovered new species of frog named Mewa Singh’s night frog (Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi) inKozhikode’s Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala in Western Ghats. It was discovered in small stream runningalong the Peruvannamuzhi dam. It is latest contribution to spurt in amphibian discoveries across India.

2 new ginger species discovered in northeastBotanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists have discovered two new species of ginger named Hedychiumchingmeianum and Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis in easternmost districts of northeast India. Both the plantsbelong to the family of Zingiberaceae, to which the commonly found ginger (Zingiber officinale) belongs.

Defence RelatedINS Karanj

Indian Navy has launched Scorpene submarine INS Karanj at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL),Mumbai, Maharashtra. It the third Scorpene class submarine built by MDL under ambitious Project 75 of theIndian Navy.

VINBAX-2018The India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX-2018) was conducted at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. It isthe first military exercise between the two countries.

Alpha Design Technologies LtdAlpha Design Technologies Ltd. has signed Rs. 45-crore deal with Ministry of Defence to supply indigenoussimulators for gunnery and missile firing from BMP II vehicles to Indian Army.

OPV VijayaThe second indigenously built offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named Vijaya built by Larsen and Toubro (L&T)Shipyard for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was launched at Kattupalli Shipyard, Tamil Nadu. It is expected to beinducted into service by September 2018 after trials on the equipment.

Agni-5 ballistic missileIndigenously developed long-range surface-to-surface Agni-5 ballistic missile was successfully test firedsuccessfully from Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island, Odisha. It was overall fifth developmental trial test of the long-range missile carried out by Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army to check its operational readiness.

Procurements of assault rifles and carbinesThe Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has clearedprocurement proposal of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines on fast track basis for Rs 3,547 crore.

Vajra PraharThe Indo-US joint military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Seattle.The aim of the exercise is to promote military relations between two countries by enhancing interoperability andmutual exchange of tactics between Special Forces.

RizhaoChina’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has commissioned Rizhao, a new missile frigate, in a naval port in Dalian,China. It is China’s indigenous missile frigate named after Rizhao city in Shandong Province of China.

INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat warshipsIndian Navy has decommissioned INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat warships at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai



(Maharashtra), after a glorious 30 and 28 years respectively in the service of the nation.Charlie-435

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned Charlie-435, a state-of-the-art patrol vessel at Karaikal in UnionTerritory of Puducherry. It will help to strengthen coastal security between Chennai and Kanyakumari in theEastern Coastal region. It will be also of great help in rescuing fishermen who go adrift in sea due to bad weather.

Barak missiles, PGM bombsThe Defence Ministry has given its final approvals for the procurement of 131 Barak missiles for Indian Navy and240 precision-guided munitions (PGM) for Indian Air Force (IAF) together estimated at Rs.1,714 crore.

Finance, Business and EconomyIndia 6th wealthiest country

According to New World Wealth Report, India was ranked sixth in list of wealthiest countries with total wealthof US $8,230 billion in 2017.The total wealth, refers to private wealth held by all individuals living in eachcountry/city.

First NIIF investmentThe NIIF has made its first investment by partnering with DP World to create $3-billion investment platform forports, terminals, transportation and logistics businesses in India. The platform will invest in opportunities in portssector and beyond sea ports into areas such as river ports and transportation, port-led special economic zones,freight corridors, inland container terminals, and logistics infrastructure including cold storage.

Indian economy to grow at 7.4% in 2018: IMFIn the latest World Economic Outlook (January 2018 update) released by International Monetary Fund (IMF),India is projected to grow at 7.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 as against China’s 6.8%. Theprojection makes India fastest growing major economy in the world.

Global Index of Talent CompetitivenessIndia was ranked 81st among 118 countries in 2017 Global index of talent competitiveness (GTI) list. India hasimproved its position from 92nd last year. The index measures ability of countries to compete for talent i.e. howcountries grow, attract and retain talent. It is produced by global business school INSEAD in partnership withAdecco Group and Tata Communications.

Inclusive Development Index 2018India was ranked at 62nd place among emerging economies on Inclusive Development Index (IDI-2018) releasedby World Economic Forum (WEF). Norway again remained world’s most inclusive advanced economy, whileLithuania again topped list of emerging economies. India’s position is much below China (26th) and Pakistan(47th).

Mauritius: largest source of FDI in India in 2016-2017According to Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies 2016-17 releasedby Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mauritius was largest source of foreign investment (FDI) in India. It was followedby USA, UK, Singapore and Japan. Singapore (19.7%) was major ODI destination, followed by Netherlands,Mauritius, and US.

Global Manufacturing IndexThe World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 30th position among 100 countries on its GlobalManufacturing Index (GMI). The index was released as part of WEF’s first Readiness for the future of productionReport which analysed development of modern industrial strategies and urges collaborative action.

NCDEX launches India’s first agri-options trading in GuarseedThe National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) unveiled India’s first agricultural-commodityoptions in Guarseed designed as hedge for farmers to safeguard against price risks.

World Bank Report projects 7.3% growth for India in 2018The 2018 Global Economics Prospect (GEP) released by the World Bank has projected India’s growth rate to 7.3%in 2018 and 7.5 for the next two years i.e. 2019 and 2020.

Logistics Ease Across Different States indexGujarat has topped among 22 states in the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) index released by UnionMinistry of Commerce & Industry.Punjab has acquired second position followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnatakaand Maharashtra.

7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds 2018The Union Finance Ministry has launched 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 scheme to help citizens invest in ataxable instrument, without any monetary ceiling. It will enable resident citizens/Hindu Undivided Families(HUF) to invest in a taxable bond, without any monetary ceiling.



Events & Observances28 January 2018: World Leprosy Day

The World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on last Sunday of January month to raise globalawareness of Leprosy. This year it was observed on 28 January. Observance of the day focuses on target of zerocases of leprosy-related disabilities in children.

National Voters’ DayThe Election Commission of India (ECI) celebrated 8th National Voters’ Day across nation for enhancedparticipation of citizens in electoral process. The objective of the Day is to increase enrollment of voters, especiallyof newly eligible ones.

National Year of MilletsGovernment has approved 2018 as National Year of Millets to boost production of the nutrient-rich millets andthe sunrise agri industry involved in it. Earlier in November 2017, India had forwarded proposal to UnitedNations (UN) for declaring year 2018 as ‘International Year of Millets’.

January 12: National Youth DayThe National Youth Day is observed every year on 12 January to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer,philosopher, thinker and youth icon of India Swami Vivekananda. This year it is 155th birth anniversary of SwamiVivekananda.

January 9: Pravasi Bharatiya DivasThe Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated every year on January 9 to mark the contribution of OverseasIndian community in the development of India. This year’s PBD celebrated ASEAN-Indian partnership and wasthemed Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN INDIA Partnership.

AwardsDr Vinod Paul

NITI Aayog member Dr Vinod Paul became first Indian to be awarded prestigious IhsanDoğramacı Family HealthFoundation Prize by World Health Organisation (WHO). It will be formally presented at World Health Assemblyto be held in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2018.

Soumitra ChatterjeeLegendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee (83) was awarded France’s highest civilian award, Legion d’Honneur.He was awarded in recognition of his remarkable career and his outstanding contribution in promoting Indiancinema in France and his long-standing attraction for our country.

Asha BhosleLegendary playback singer Asha Bhosle (84) was chosen for fifth edition of Yash Chopra Memorial Award for heroutstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry. She will be presented with award in February 2018 byMaharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao.

Mehul GargIndian-origin boy Mehul Garg (10) in United Kingdom became youngest applicant in decade to achieve highestscore in Mensa IQ test, beating geniuses like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

Jyoti Prakash NiralaPresident Ram Nath Kovind awarded India’s highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra (31)posthumously to Indian Air Force (IAF) Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala.

Srirangam Ranganathaswamy templeTamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanichamy received UNESCO Award of Merit awarded to the iconicSrirangam Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirapalli. The award of merit was awarded by UNESCO Asia Pacificregion for the reconstruction activities undertaken in temple without in least affecting its traditional splendourand Vedic rituals.

Miscellaneous Terms and FactsThar Link Express

India and Pakistan have extended agreement of Thar Link Express, second solitary rail service between bothcountries for three more years i.e. till 2021. The Thar Express links Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) viaMunabao (Rajasthan)-Khokhrapar (Sindh province) border crossing and carries only passengers.

Hicky’s Bengal GazetteJournalists and social activists celebrated 238th anniversary of India’s first newspaper the Hicky’s Bengal Gazette.29 January is also celebrated Hicky’s Day to pay tributes to the fighter-journalist James Augustus Hicky who isconsidered as founder of journalism in India.

Floating market of KolkataKolkata, capital of West Bengal became first metro city in India to get floating market. It is located on lake atPatuli in South Kolkata which is 400 metres long and 60 metres wide. The lake has been transformed into the



floating market similar to the one in Thailand.Zojila Tunnel

The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has inked MoU with IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd forconstruction of the 14.150 km long, 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir. It will be India’slongest road tunnel and longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia. On completion, the tunnel will provide all weatherconnectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.

ASEAN-India Commemorative SummitThe ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit was held in New Delhi to celebrate the 25th anniversary of theestablishment of sectoral dialogue between two sides under the theme of “Shared Values, Common Destiny”. Itissued joint statement titled Delhi Declaration after the plenary session focusing on counter-terrorism, identitysecurity, military cooperation, and bilateral financial support.

Bharat ParvCultural extravaganza Bharat Parv was held at the Red Fort in Delhi as part of the Republic Day celebrations. Theprime objective of the event is to promote rich cultural diversity of country, generate a patriotic mood and toensure wider participation of general public.

India joins Australia GroupIndia was admitted as the 43rd member of the Australia Group, an informal bloc (group) of countries that keeps atight control over exports of substances used in making of chemical weapons.

Solar Development FundIndia announced setting up of $350 million Solar Development Fund for financing solar projects under theInternational Solar Alliance (ISA). It was announced at first ever ISA outreach programmes ‘International SolarAlliance Forum’ held in Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2018.

BBIN Motor Vehicles AgreementBangladesh, India and Nepal agreed on text of operating procedures for passenger vehicle movement (Passengerprotocol) in sub-region under Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).

3rd Raisina Dialogue held in New DelhiThe third edition of the geo-political conference – Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi. It was inaugurated byIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The theme of the conference for this year is ‘Managing DisruptiveTransitions: Ideas, Institutions and Idioms’.

UN Youth Envoy’s officeIndia has contributed $50,000 to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s Office of Envoy onYouth to help with its mission of involving young people in the world body’s goals.

Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city HaifaThe iconic Teen Murti Chowk in central New Delhi was renamed as Teen Murti-Haifa after Israeli City Haifa in

solemn ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.First PIO Parliamentary Conference held in New Delhi

The first-ever Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Parliamentary Conference was held in the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra(PBK) in New Delhi. It was organised by Ministry of External Affairs to forge stronger ties with PIO.

Persons in news – Appointments / Elections/DiedDr V Narayanan

Senior scientist Dr V Narayanan has assumed charge as Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre(LPSC). He succeeded S Somanath who was appointed as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

S SomanathNoted scientist S Somanath took charge as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He succeeded K Sivan, who was recently appointed as Chairman of ISRO.

Prakash RawatPresident Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Election commissioner Om Prakash Rawat (64) as new Chief ElectionCommissioner. He will succeed Achal Kumar Joti who has retired from post.

Anandiben PatelPresident Ramnath Kovind has appointed former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel as Governor of MadhyaPradesh. She will replace Gujarat governor Om Prakash Kohli who is holding additional charge of office ofGovernor of Madhya Pradesh.

Sudeep LakhtakiaSenior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia was appointed as new Director General of National Security Guard (NSG).Lakhtakia is a 1984-batch IPS officer of Telangana cadre. He is currently serving as special DG of Central ReservePolice Force (CRPF).



Indu MalhotraThe Supreme Court collegium led by Chief Justice of India (CI) Dipak Misra has unanimously recommended nameof senior advocate Indu Malhotra for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court. With this, she becomes firstwoman lawyer from the country to be directly elected for post of judge of the Supreme Court.

K. SivanThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed rocket scientist K. Sivan as next Secretary ofthe Department of Space and Chairman of Space Commission and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Hewill succeed A.S. Kiran Kumar and will have term of three years.

Vijay GokhaleThe Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointedsenior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale (58) as Foreign Secretary, highest post for a diplomat in the Ministry ofExternal Affairs (MEA).

Rajinder KhannaThe Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)chief Rajinder Khanna as Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA). In his new role, he will assist NSA Ajit Doval.

Gurcharan Singh KalkatNoted agricultural scientist and pioneer of India’s Green Revolution, Gurcharan Singh Kalkat (92), passed away inChandigarh after a brief illness. He was known for his role in bringing Green Revolution and several exemplaryagricultural reforms in Punjab.

John YoungLegendary astronaut of NASA John Young, who walked on the moon and later commanded the first space shuttleflight passed away in Houston, US. He was NASA’s only astronaut to go into space as part of Gemini, Apollo andspace shuttle program, and the first to fly into space six times. He was 9th man to walk on moon.

SportsKhelo India Pledge

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched Pledge for Khelo India at Khelo India School Games Carnival inDelhi. The pledge resonates with vision of Khelo India programme and is aimed at inspiring youngsters to buildmass participation and excellence in sports.

Roger FedererSwiss tennis player Roger Federer (World No. 2) has retained his Men’s Singles title by winning 2018 AustralianOpen. In the summit clash played at Melbourne, he defeated Croatia’s Marin Cilic (World no. 6) in five sets 6-2,6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

VidarbhaVidarbha cricket team won 2017 Ranji Trophy tournament. It is Vidarbha’s first Ranji Trophy title. In the finalmatch held at Holkar stadium in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Vidarbha thumped 9-wicket win over Delhi.

Date Wise: Current Affairs UpdatesJanuary 1, 2018

Vidarbha wins 2017 Ranji Trophy tournamentJanuary 1, 2018

Vidarbha cricket team won 2017 Ranji Trophy tournament. It is Vidarbha’s first Ranji Trophy title. Inthe final match held at Holkar stadium in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Vidarbha thumped 9-wicket winover Delhi.After conceding 252-run first innings lead, Delhi was bowled out for 280 in their second innings,setting a target of merely 29 runs for Vidarbha. Vidarbha lost only one wicket and took only fiveovers to chase down the target.Ranji Trophy

Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between teamsrepresenting regional cricket associations. The trophy is named after England and Sussex cricketerKumar Shri Ranjitsinhji and was first played in 1934. At present, the championship is played between27 teams which include 21 states (of 29 Indian states) and Delhi (UT). The format of Ranji Trophy isRound-robin then knockout. Mumbai has won Ranji title for record 41 times (10 of them being wonwith innings wins) after playing in record 45 finals.

2 new ginger species discovered in northeastJanuary 1, 2018

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists have discovered two new species of ginger named



Hedychium chingmeianum and Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis in easternmost districts ofnortheast India. Both the plants belong to the family of Zingiberaceae, to which the commonly foundginger (Zingiber officinale) belongs.Key Facts

Hedychium chingmeianum: It was discovered in Tuensang district in Nagaland, both borderingMyanmar. It is an epiphytic plant and grows on trunks of tall trees. It has reddish stems and creamywhite flowers.Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis: It was found growing in rock crevices, boulders and humus richsoil in the Shirui Hills in Ukhrul in Manipur. It has beautiful oval-shaped pink flowers which appearin June-July. It has been named after Mr. Dinabandhu Sahoo.Significance

Out of 44 taxa, 31 species and 13 varieties of genus Hedychium found in India, only 5 are reported insouth India. The remaining species are all found in northeast. Most of the species under this genushave medicinal properties. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether the newly discovered speciesHedychium chingmeianum has medicinal properties or not.

Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi: New night frog species discovered in Western GhatsJanuary 1, 2018

Scientists have discovered new species of frog named Mewa Singh’s night frog (Nyctibatrachusmewasinghi) in Kozhikode’s Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala in Western Ghats. It was discoveredin small stream running along the Peruvannamuzhi dam. It is latest contribution to spurt inamphibian discoveries across India.About Mewa Singh’s night frog

It belongs to genus Nyctibatrachus (commonly known as night frogs) endemic only to Western Ghatsmountain range. This group has total 36 number of night frogs including Mewa Singh’s night frog. Ithas been named in honour of wildlife scientist Mewa Singh for his contributions to behaviouralecology and primate studies.The new night frog species is light brown in colour with an off-white underside. It sports faintlywrinkled skin with prominent granular projections. Currently, it is known only fromPeruvannamuzhi in Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in a small stream running along Peruvannamuzhidam.Background

Since many frogs in genus Nyctibatrachus look similar, scientists had used both physicalcharacteristics as well as genetic methods to confirm frog as new species. Using tissue samples of 10collected specimens of newly discovered species, scientists analysed portions of two genes and foundthat it varied enough from other closely-related species to make it different species.They also had found that frog’s genetically closest relatives are Athirappilly night frog (found southof Palakkad Gap in Idukki and Thrissur) and Kempholey night frog (found in Western Ghats ofKarnataka and northern Kerala).Morphologically, it can be distinguished from its similar-looking and genetically close relatives byseveral physical characteristics, including pattern of its webbed fingers and toes.

Arunachal Pradesh declared open defecation-free StateJanuary 1, 2018

Arunachal Pradesh was officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) state. It is second State fromNortheast, after Sikkim and overall fifth state after Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Haryana to bedeclared ODF state.The announcement comes after three remaining districts – Upper Subansiri, Siang and Changlangwere officially declared ODF. Arunachal Pradesh has total 21 districts and it attained this majorcleanliness feat under Swach Bharat Abhiyan much before (one year and 10 months ahead) thenational deadline of October 2, 2019.Background

Arunachal Pradesh had under taken ODF project under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) SBM (G) byextending incentive of Rs 8,000 per toilet. This was addition to Central Government’s support of Rs12,000, raising the grant for constructing a toilet to Rs 20,000.The State government also had launched Swachh Arunachal Mission on October 2, 2017 at Tawang



which envisaged Swachh Protocol (Cleanliness Protocol) aimed at ensuring sustainability of assetscreated under SBM (Gramin).Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

The SBM was launched in October 2014 to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus onsanitation. It aims to achieve Swachh Bharat or make India clean by 2019, as a fitting tribute to the150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.The SBM consists of two sub-missions Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), implemented in rural areas,and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), implemented in urban areas. SBM-G seeks to eliminate opendefecation in rural areas by improving access to sanitation by ensuring the use of toilets, besidestheir construction.It also seeks to generate awareness to motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitationpractices, and encourage the use of appropriate technologies for sanitation. Open defecation is animportant factor for causing various diseases like intestinal worm infections, diarrhoea, polio,hepatitis etc.

NASA to launch Parker Solar Probe to explore sun’s outer atmosphereJanuary 1, 2018

NASA is going to launch Parker Solar Probe in 2018 to explore the sun’s outer atmosphere. It will belaunched onboard of Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. It will perform its scientific investigations in ahazardous region of intense heat and solar radiation.Primary goals of mission: Trace how energy and heat move through solar corona. Explore whataccelerates solar wind as well as solar energetic particles.Parker Solar Probe mission

It is NASA’s planned robotic spacecraft to probe outer corona of Sun. It has been designed and builtby Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. It is named after solar astrophysicistEugene Parker. This is first time NASA spacecraft named after living person.The spacecraft is designed to endure harsh environment near Sun, by approaching within 8.5 solarradii (5.9 million kilometers) to ‘surface’ (photosphere) of Sun where incident solar intensity isapproximately 520 times intensity at Earth orbit. It will be protected by solar shadow-shield made ofreinforced carbon-carbon composite.The spacecraft systems and scientific instruments are located in central portion of shield’s shadow,where direct radiation from Sun is fully blocked. The primary power for mission is dual system ofsolar panels (photovoltaic array). Secondary source consists of much smaller secondary array powerthat uses pumped-fluid cooling to maintain operating temperature. It will use Venus’ gravity duringseven flybys over nearly seven years to gradually bring its orbit closer to Sun. It will achieve velocityof up to 200 km/s, making it fastest spacecraft to date.Scientific goals

Determine structure and dynamics of magnetic fields at sources of solar wind.Trace flow of energy that heats corona and accelerates solar wind.Determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles.Explore dusty plasma near Sun and its influence on solar wind and energetic particle formation.



Saudi Arabia, UAE introduce VAT for first timeJanuary 1, 2018

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) became first countries of Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) to introduce Value Added Tax (VAT) for the first time to increase their revenue away from oilreserves. The other members of 6 member GCC– Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar — have alsocommitted to introduce VAT, though some have delayed plans until at least 2019.Key Facts

The rate for VAT is set at 5% on the majority of goods and services including petrol and diesel, food,clothes, utility bills and hotel rooms. Number of goods and services including medical treatment,financial services and public transport have been placed in either zero rated or in exempt category.Comment

In Saudi Arabia, more than 90% of budget revenues come from oil industry while in UAE it is roughly80%. Organisations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had long called for Gulf countriesto diversify their sources of income away from oil reserves. Both countries have already taken stepsto boost government coffers.Value Added Tax (VAT)

A VAT is type of consumption tax that is placed on product whenever value is added at stage ofproduction and at point of retail sale. It is one of the most common types of consumption taximplemented in more than 150 countries around the world. It is charged at each step of the ‘supplychain’. Final consumers generally bear the VAT cost while businesses collect and account for the tax,in a way acting as a tax collector on behalf of the government.

GAIL commissions India’s second largest rooftop solar plant in UPJanuary 1, 2018

State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd has commissioned India’s second largest rooftop solar powerplant in Uttar Pradesh. It is 5.76 MWp (Mega Watt peak) solar plant installed at GAIL’s petrochemicalcomplex at Pata in UP. The plant has over roofs of warehouses covers a total area of 65,000 squaremeters.



It is expected to produce Peak Load Factor (PLF) of around 15% annually, over 79 lakh KWh ofelectricity is targeted to be generated for captive use of India’s largest gas-based petrochemicalsplant.Largest rooftop solar plant in India

India’s largest rooftop solar plant was commissioned in December 2015 by Tata Power Solar inAmritsar, Punjab. It is 12 MWp solar rooftop project, which produces more than 150 lakh units ofpower annually. It offsets over 19,000 tonne of carbon emissions every year.Comment

India is planning to have 40 GW of rooftop photovoltaics (PV) by 2022. The Captive solar powerinitiative of GAIL will reduce carbon emissions by 6,300 tonnes per annum and help India achieveclimate goalsGas (India) Limited (GAIL)

GAIL is the largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company in India. It isheadquartered in New Delhi. It has following business segments: natural gas, liquefied petroleum gastransmission, liquid hydrocarbon, city gas distribution, petrochemical, exploration and production,GAILTEL and electricity generation. It was conferred with the Maharatna status in February 2013 bythe Government of India. Only six other Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) enjoy this coveted statusamongst all central CPSEs.

India and Pakistan exchange list of nuclear sites for 27th consecutive yearJanuary 1, 2018

India and Pakistan have exchanged list of their nuclear installations and facilities with each otherunder the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations. This is the 27thconsecutive exchange of such list between two countries after first list was exchanged on 1 January1992.This is an annual exchange of conducted in 1st January between them to prevent them fromattacking each other’s nuclear facilities. The exchange is part of an agreement between the twonuclear-armed neighbours meant to prevent attacks on nuclear facilities by each other.Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations

It is a bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan that bars them from carrying out anysurprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations andfacilities. It was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991. It wassigned by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart Benazir Bhutto.Under it, both countries inform each other about their nuclear installations and facilities that need tobe covered under the Agreement on 1 January every year.

January 2, 2018Schistura Larketensis: New species of blind fish discovered inside Meghalaya cave

January 2, 2018

Scientists have discovered a new species of blind fish named Schistura larketensis inside a cave inEast Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. The fish has been named after Larket village, where the cavehas been found to encourage local people to take up biodiversity conservation.Key Facts

Schistura larketensis has lost its sight during its living evolution in perpetual darkness inside thecave. It has also lost its pigments too while adapting to its habitat in the dark waters.The orbitaldiameter of fish decreases gradually as its matures with eyes completely absent in older individuals.Small and faintly blackish spot-like depressions are seen in place of eyes, indicating evolutionary andmorphological adaptations.Background

Researchers had discovered the new blind fish in cave during an expedition several years ago. Thecave is about 880 meters above sea level and over 7 km in length. The new fish sample was collectedfrom small stagnant pools which are of few square meters in area and about 1-2 metres in depth.These pools are about 1600 feet high from main entrance of cave. The pool bed is mostly sandy withpebbles.Significance

Though there are about 200 known species of similar kind of fish inhabiting streams and rivers



throughout Indochina and Southeast Asia, this is first such discovery of blind fish. The new fishspecies can be immediately distinguished from all other species of Schistura (excluding Schisturapapulifera for its vestigial subcutaneous eyes appearing as black spots). The high level of siltation,pollution and acidification in Jaintia Hills due to coal mining and cement plants is threatening localcave biodiversity.

Government appoints Vijay Gokhale as new Foreign SecretaryJanuary 2, 2018

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasappointed senior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale (58) as Foreign Secretary, highest post for adiplomat in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).He will have a two-year term and shall succeed S Jaishankar, who completes his extended tenure inJanuary 2018. Jaishankar was appointed foreign secretary in January 2015, for two years, just a fewdays before his retirement. Foreign Secretary is theVijay Keshav Gokhale

He is 1981-batch officer of Indian Foreign Service (IFS). He is considered an expert on China and isproficient in the use of Mandarin. Currently he is secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry ofExternal Affairs. Earlier he was India’s Ambassador to China from January 2016 to October 2017.He has also served as India’s top envoy to Germany between October 2013 and January 2016. He hasworked in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and in New York.He also has held the posts of director (China and East Asia) and then joint secretary (East Asia) in theMEA which covers India’s ties with China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea.He had played key role in 2017 India-China negotiations to resolve the 73-day standoff betweenIndian Army and Chinese Army (PLA) at Doklam Plateau, a tri-junction between Sino-India andBhutanese border near Sikkim.

Health Ministry launches Allied and Health care Professional DatabaseJanuary 2, 2018

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Allied and Health care ProfessionalDatabase portal to make data repository robust to ensure better systems and frameworks forhealthcare workforce in country. The database will help government to track the number ofprofessionals and streams of allied and health care professions in the country.Allied and Health care Professional Database

The AHP portal has a capacity of capturing more than 10 lakh Allied and Healthcare Professionals’(AHP) data. It will be helpful in expediting envisaged processes viz. licensing of professionals,workforce policy planning, and bringing transparency in system by maintaining standards ofeducational and clinical practice etc. More than 3000 professionals have already registered on portalduring the testing phase.How it works?

The AHPs can visit portal on link mentioned above and provide basic personal, qualification andprofessional information. The portal will also send auto-generated email to registered email ofcandidate for verification and will provide enrolment reference number for further usage. Thecandidates subsequently can login to portal using credentials received in email and edit information,upload qualification degree among other details.

Core sectors’ record 6.8% growth in November 2017January 2, 2018

According to the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the eight core sectorsexpanded at fastest pace in more than year at 6.8% in November 2017.These eight industries — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement andelectricity — had witnessed a growth of 3.2 per cent in November 2016.Key Facts

The output growth in November 2017 is highest since October 2016, when these core sectors hadwitnessed 7.1% rise. The growth was recorded on account of robust performance in segments likerefinery (rose by 8.2%), steel (16.6%) and cement (17.3%) on an annual basis in November 2017.Crude oil and natural gas output too registered positive growth in November 2017. But coal outputgrowth rate recorded a negative growth. Cumulatively, the growth in the eight core sectors during



April-November this fiscal slowed to 3.9% as against 5.3% in the same period last fiscal.

Core industry can be defined as main industry of economy. In most countries, there is particularindustry that seems to be backbone of all other industries and it qualifies to be t core industry. InIndia, there are eight core sectors comprising of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products,fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.The electricity has the maximum weight of 10.32% followed by Steel (6.68%), Petroleum Refinery (5.94%),Crude Oil production (5.22 %), Coal production (4.38 %), Cement (2.41%), Natural Gas production (1.71%) and Fertilizer production (1.25%). Healthy growth in these key eight sectors has positiveimplications on Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as these eight segments account for about 41% ofthe total factory output.

Karnataka receives approval for purchase of electric vehicles under FAME India schemeJanuary 2, 2018

The Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) of Union Government has given its approval to Karnatakagovernment for purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) under FAME India subsidised scheme.The state will purchase 40 electric buses, 100 four wheelers and 500 three wheelers at maximum of60% subsidy under the scheme. The subsidy support is also provided for setting up electricitycharging infrastructure across state capital Bengaluru. The EVs will ply in city as public transportwhich will protect environment, save fossil fuel and ensure public health.FAME India Scheme

The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) India was launchedin 2015 under the National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM) aims at promoting eco-friendlyvehicles in the country. It is being administered by the Heavy Industries Ministry.The objective of scheme is to provide fiscal and monetary incentives for adoption and marketcreation of both hybrid and electric technologies vehicles in the country. It also aims at incentivisingall vehicle segments, including two-wheelers, three wheeler auto, passenger four-wheeler vehicle,light commercial vehicles and buses.The scheme covers hybrid and electric technologies like a strong hybrid, plug-in hybrid and batteryelectric vehicles. Its mandate is to support hybrid or electric vehicles market development and itsmanufacturing eco-system in country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated period.

Fact Sheet: 2G Scam VerdictJanuary 2, 2018

A special court acquitted A Raja and all other accused in the 2g spectrum issue, considered as one ofthe largest scams in the country in the tenure of Manmohan led UPA govt. The shocking part is thatall of them have been accused because of lack of evidence.What is 2g spectrum?

2g is an abbreviation of wireless telephone technology. The word ‘spectrum’ refers to range of radiowaves that are used for communication purposes .Since waves surround us all the times and passthrough everything ,this means that spectrum needs to be monitored.So the government divides the spectrum which is a national wealth into bands and and manages thespectrum across the country by assigning to different telecom circles.Thus, in order for a telecom company to offer continual access across India , it would have to bid for



spectrum licenses in 22 existing circles. Now a spectrum like any other natural resource is requiredto be auctioned by the government to companies that can use this to provide a number of services.What was the case?

The scam dates back to 2011 when A Raja, the main accused and telecom minister from 2007 to 2010,was arrested by the CBI on charges of colluding with private companies and granting them spectrumlicences at unjustly low prices causing a huge loss to the public exchequer. It involved politicians,bureaucrats and corporate executives whose nexus with each other resulted in a huge loss to theexchequer. Supreme Court on a PIL even declared the allotment as unconstitutional and cancelledthe 122 licences issued under A Raja ministerial period. Following were the key irregularities found inthe case:

Undervalued the telecom spectrum leading to a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore, according to Comptrollerand Auditor General report.License distribution was done on a distorted first come first served basis and that too at 2001 prices when acompetitive bidding process should have been followed.Granting license to front companies which was not allowed. For eg- Swan Telecom was not even allowed to bidfor spectrum being a front company for the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.Cut off dates were advanced arbitrarily to 25 th september from 1st october 2007 without informingTRAI.Moreover, allegedly application counters were shut to block competing companies from applying forlicences. It is said On 25 September, the DOT announced on its website that applicants filing between 3:30 and4:30 pm that day would be granted licenses.

Does the 2g spectrum case raise questions on the capability about efficacy of the institution of CBI?

Despite filing the charge sheet of more than 80,000 pages supported by CAG findings of loss to theexchequer to the tune of 1.76 lakh crore and further investigation of more than 6 years ,CBI failed toestablish the criminality of any of the accused. This raises questions on the CBIs credibility as aninstitution. Moreover, the image has not only been dented by this case but also due to its conduct inthe previous cases.The root of the problem is that the CBI does not have a proper statuary enactment which can ensureits autonomy.

Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill, 2017January 2, 2018

Parliament has passed Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 after it was passedby both the houses. The Bill amends Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, and replacesOrdinance promulgated in November 2017 to pave way for tightening loopholes in existing code andmake resolution process more effective.Background

The IBC was enacted by the Parliament in 2016 to find time-bound resolution for ailing and sickfirms, either through closure or revival, while protecting interests of creditors. Successfulcompletion of resolution process is expected to aid in reducing rising bad loans (NPA-nonPerforming assets) in the banking system.Key Features of Bill

The bill redefines resolution applicant mentioned in code as person who submits resolution planafter receiving invite by insolvency professional to do so. It amends provision related to eligibility inIBC to state that insolvency professional will only invite those resolution applicants to submit plan,who fulfil certain criteria laid down by him with approval of committee of creditors and otherconditions which may be specified by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board.It prohibits certain persons from submitting resolution plan in case of defaults. These include: (i)wilful defaulters, (ii) promoters or management of the company if it has outstanding non-performingdebt for over year and (iii) disqualified directors, among others.The bill bars the sale of property of a defaulter to such persons who is ineligible to be a resolutionapplicant during liquidation. It inserts provision to specify that person contravening any provisionsof IBC, for which no penalty has been specified, will be punishable with fine ranging between Rs. 1lakh to Rs. 2 crore.



Government launches NARI portal and e-Samvad portalJanuary 2, 2018

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched online portal NARI(nari.nic.in) for the empowerment of women. It has been developed by the Ministry to provide easyaccess to information on government schemes and initiatives for women.NARI portal

The NARI portal will provide information to women on issues affecting their lives. The portalsummarise over 350 government schemes and other important information. The schemes aredivided into 7 different categories — health, education, housing and shelter, employment, addressingviolence, decision making and social support. It elaborates how Government is focussed toeconomically empower women through schemes under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).It will also provide tips on good nutrition, suggestions for health check-ups, information on majordiseases, tips for investment and savings advice, job search and interview, information on crimes andagainst women and reporting procedures, contacts of legal aid cells, simplified adoption proceduresand much more.It will endow women with power of information to build their life skills and facilitates them in takingfull advantage of services provided by Government for them. It also provides link to Ministries,Departments and autonomous bodies offering these schemes as well as easy access to onlineapplications and grievance redressal.e-Samvad portal

The MWCD also launched the portal to provide platform for NGOs and Civil Societies to interact withthe ministry. Through it, NGOs and civil society can provide their feedback, suggestions, put upgrievances, share best practices etc. This will help in formulation of effective policies and measuresfor welfare of women and children.

Parliament passes NABARD (Amendment) Bill, 2017January 2, 2018

Parliament has passed the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill,2017 with the approval of Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha already had passed the bill in August 2017.The Bill seeks to amend National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Act, 1981.The Act establishes NABARD for providing and regulating facilities like credit for agricultural andindustrial development in the rural areas.Key Features of the Bill

The Bill allows Union Government to increase capital of NABARD from Rs. 5000 crore to Rs 30,000crore. Further, it allows Union Government to increase the capital more than Rs 30,000 crore inconsultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), if necessary.The Bill provides that Union Government alone must hold at least 51% capital share of NABARD.Further, it transfers share capital held by RBI valued at Rs. 20 crore to Union Government. CurrentlyRBI holds 0.4% of paid-up capital of NABARD and remaining 99.6% is held by Union government andthis causes conflict in RBI’s role as banking regulator and shareholder in NABARD.The Bill replaces terms ‘small-scale industry’ and ‘industry in tiny and decentralised sector’ withterms ‘micro enterprise’, ‘small enterprise’ and ‘medium enterprise’ as defined in MSMEDevelopment Act, 2006. Further, it allows NABARD to provide financial assistance to banks if theyprovide loans to the MSMEs.The Bill substitutes references to provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 with references to theCompanies Act, 2013. It includes provisions dealing with definition of a government company andqualifications of auditors.

January 3, 2018China develops underwater surveillance networks in Indian Ocean, South China Sea

January 3, 2018

China has successfully developed new underwater surveillance network to help its submarines getstronger lock on targets while protecting nation’s interests along maritime Silk Road, which alsoincludes Indian Ocean. The project is part of unprecedented military expansion fuelled by China’sdesire to challenge United States in world’s oceans.



Underwater surveillance network

The network is underwater surveillance system based on network of platforms — buoys, satellites,surface vessels and underwater gliders — that gather data from Western Pacific, South China Seaand Indian Oceans. The system works by gathering information about underwater environment,particularly water temperature and salinity, which navy can then use to more accurately track targetvessels as well as improve navigation and positioning. The new surveillance system will enableChinese submarines to steer a much safer course through difficult waters as well as improving theirtargeting ability.

Defence Ministry gives final nod for Barak missiles, PGM bombsJanuary 3, 2018

The Defence Ministry has given its final approvals for the procurement of 131 Barak missiles forIndian Navy and 240 precision-guided munitions (PGM) for Indian Air Force (IAF) together estimatedat Rs.1,714 crore. The proposals were cleared by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It is a regularprocurement through the revenue expenditure.Precision-guided munitions (PGM)

The 240 KAB-1500 PGMs will be procured from Rosoboronexport of Russia at a cost of Rs.1,254 crore.PGM is variant of the KAB PGMs. It has been in service of IAF and has been employed by Su-30fighter jets. Due to the value of the contract, the approval of Defence Ministry was required,” adefence official said. This procurement will address the deficiency of Precision Guided Munitions inIAF arsenal and also enhance offensive capabilities of the IAF.Barak surface-to-air missiles (SAM)

131 Barak surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and associated equipment will be bought from Israel’s RafaelAdvanced Defence Systems Ltd for Rs.460 crore. They will be installed on all frontline warships of theIndian Navy. These are SAM designed to be used as a ship-borne anti-missile defence system.

Former RAW Chief Rajinder Khanna Appointed Deputy National Security AdvisorJanuary 3, 2018

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Former Research and AnalysisWing (RAW) chief Rajinder Khanna as Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA).He has been appointed without a fixed tenure and would remain at the post until further orders. Inhis new role, he will assist NSA Ajit Doval.Rajinder Khanna

He is 1978-batch Research and Analysis (RAS) cadre officer. He had headed RAW from December 2014for a fixed two-year period. He is considered as the father of counter-terrorism unit in the RAW andhas led many counter-terrorism operations in the spy agency and is reportedly an expert on Pakistanand Islamic terrorism. He also has been in the forefront of seeking cooperation from intelligenceagencies around the globe.After his stint in RAW, he was appointed Officer on Special Duty (Neighbourhood Studies) inNational Security Council Secretariat, the apex body on all internal and external security-relatedmatters headed by the Prime Minister. Neighbourhood Studies prepares policy papers ofneighbouring countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.National Security Advisor (NSA)

The NSA is the chief executive of National Security Council (NSC) and primary advisor to PrimeMinister on national and international security and oversees strategic issues. It is the NSA to whomintelligence agencies such as RAW and Intelligence Bureau report, rather than directly to PrimeMinister. Due to such vested powers, NSA is prominent and powerful office in the bureaucracy. NSAis assisted by a Deputy NSA.The post was created in November 1998 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government. Brajesh Mishra wasfirst to be appointed NSA of India. Since the inception of the post, all NSAs appointed belong toIndian Foreign Service (IFS) except M K Narayanan and incumbent, Ajit Doval, who belong to theIndian Police Service.

MHA exempts cruise tourists with e-visa from biometric enrolment till 2020January 3, 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on request of the Ministry of Shipping has exempted cruisetourists arriving with e-visa from the requirement of biometric enrolment for a period of three years



i.e. till 2020. The purpose of the move is to promote cruise tourism in the country and make Indiaattractive cruise tourist destination.Key Facts

This simplified immigration clearance procedure will make immigration clearance of suchpassengers faster, leaving them with more time to spend on shore. This is also important factor thatwill help cruise lines decide whether or not to include a destination in their itinerary. This simplifiedimmigration clearance procedure is part of a series of steps to attract and to enhance cruisepassenger experience at the major ports.Background

The Ministry of Shipping has been working towards simplifying immigration clearance procedureand providing passengers with customer friendly and hassle free logistics process when they embarkon or disembark from their cruise at Indian ports.E-visa facility is being implemented in five major ports viz. Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore,Cochin and Chennai. Till now biometrics of passengers were required at port of first arrival forimmigration clearance. However, the immigration procedure was taking more than internationallyaccepted norm of clearing immigration for all cruise passengers in a maximum of 90 minutes.

Lok Sabha passes Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill,2017

January 3, 2018

Lok Sabha has passed The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment)Bill, 2017 to allow government to take up infrastructure projects within prohibited areas aroundprotected monuments. The Bill amends the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites andRemains (AMASR) Act, 1958.AMASR Act, 1958

The AMASR Act provides for preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeologicalsites and remains of national importance. It provides for the regulation of archaeological excavationsand for protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects. It was passed in 1958. TheArchaeological Survey of India functions under the provisions of this act.The Act prohibits construction in ‘prohibited area’, an area of 100 meters around protectedmonument. It does not permit construction in such prohibited areas even if it is for public purposes,except under certain conditions. The central government can extend the prohibited area beyond 100meters.Key Features of Bill

The Bill amends provision related construction in ‘prohibited areas’ in the parent bill to permitconstruction of public works in ‘prohibited areas’ for public purposes. It introduces definition for‘public works’, which includes construction of any infrastructure that is financed and carried out bycentral government for public purposes.The Bill empowers central government to allow public works based on recommendation of NationalMonuments Authority (NMA) on application forwarded by relevant central government department,that seeks to carry out construction for public purposes in a prohibited area.The Bill empowers NMA to consider an impact assessment of proposed public works in prohibitedarea, including its archaeological impact, visual impact and heritage impact. NMA will make arecommendation, for construction of public works to the central government, only if it is satisfiedthat there is no reasonable possibility of moving the construction outside the prohibited area.

Government announces details of electoral bonds for political fundingJanuary 3, 2018

The Union Government has announced details of electoral bonds for political funding that can berouted by donors to political parties. The electoral bonds scheme was announced in Union Budget2017 with an aim for increasing transparency in political funding. It makes India first country in theworld to have such unique bonds for electoral funding.Details of electoral bonds

Electoral bonds will be bearer instrument in nature of promissory note and an interest-free bankinginstrument. These can be redeemed only through the registered accounts of a political party in aprescribed time frame. It aims at rooting out current system of largely anonymous cash donations



made to political parties which lead to generation of black money in the economy.Denominations: Electoral bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples of Rs.1,000, Rs.10,000,Rs.10 lakh, and Rs.1 crore from any of the specified branches of State Bank of India (SBI).Purchasers: A citizen of India or a body incorporated in India will be eligible to purchase the bond.The purchaser is allowed to buy electoral bonds only on due fulfilment of all extant KYC norms andby making payment from a bank account. It will not carry the name of the payee.Validity: It will have a life of 15 days during which they can be used to make donations to registeredpolitical parties. The bond can be encashed by an eligible political party only through a designatedbank account with the authorised bank.The electoral bonds will be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in months of January,April, July and October with additional 30 days to be specified by Central government in year ofgeneral election so that this does not become a parallel currency.Eligibility: Political parties that have secured not less than 1% of votes polled in last general electionto Lok Sabha or Assembly can avail funding through this bonds.

Significance

According to Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), most political parties use lax regime ondonations to accept cash donations from anonymous sources. Nearly 70% of Rs. 11,300 crore in partyfunding over an 11-year period came from unknown sources. The electoral bonds will prompt donorsto take banking route to donate, with their identity captured by the issuing authority.

Cabinet approves establishment of new AIIMS at BilaspurJanuary 3, 2018

The Union Cabinet approved establishment of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) atBilaspur in Himachal Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).The new AIIMS will be completed in a period of 48 months. It will consist of a hospital with a capacityof 750 beds and trauma centre facilities and have 20 Speciality and Super-Speciality Departmentsincluding 15 Operation Theatres. It will also have Medical college with an intake of 100 MBBSstudents per year and Nursing college with an intake of 60 B.Sc. (Nursing) students per year.Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana

PMSSY was announced in 2003. Its objectives are correcting regional imbalances in the availability ofaffordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and augment facilities for quality medical educationin the country. It establishes AIIMS in various regions of India apart from different governmentcolleges. It is funded from different centrally sponsored schemes relating to creating infrastructureon health.Under this scheme, AIIMS have been established in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Bhopal (MadhyaPradesh), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) and Patna (Bihar)while work of AIIMS Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh) is in progress. Also, three AIIMS in Nagpur(Maharashtra), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) have been



sanctioned in 2015, two AIIMS have been sanctioned at Bathinda (Punjab) and Gorakhpur (UttarPradesh) in 2016 and in Kamrup (Assam).

January 4, 2018Cabinet approves MoU between India and UK in transport

January 4, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing and implementation of Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and ‘Transport for London’.Transport for London is a statutory body established under the Greater London Authority Act, 1999(UK) to improve Public Transport in India.Key Facts

The MoU will help to improve the overall public transport system in country, improve passengerservices and promote use of high capacity buses in India. It will go long way in strengthening tiesand promoting bilateral relations between India and UK. It will also help in strengthening integratedpublic transport for all. This will help people from poorer strata of society to have access to a qualitypublic transport system.

Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV: WHO approves Indian typhoid vaccine for global useJanuary 4, 2018

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has given its pre-qualification to Typbar Typhoid ConjugateVaccine (TVC) developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech for global use.Typbar TCV is world’s first typhoid vaccine clinically proven to be administered to children from sixmonths of age to adults, and confers long-term protection against typhoid fever. It has beenevaluated in Human Challenge Studies at Oxford University.Significance

The WHO pre-qualification enables procurement and supplies of this life-saving vaccine to UNICEF,Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and GAVI (vaccine alliance) supported countries. Thisalso paves the way for WHO member countries to introduce the Typbar TCV into their immunizationprograms.TCVs are innovative products having longer-lasting immunity than older vaccines and require fewerdoses. They can be given to young children through routine childhood immunization programs.TCVs have been recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization(WHO-SAGE).Typhoid

Typhoid fever is caused by bacterium Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi). It infects humans due tocontaminated food and beverages from sewage and other infected humans. Its symptoms includefever, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea or constipation.Currently, a third of global population is at risk of typhoid fever, which results in loss of work andwages, lowered pregnancy outcomes and impaired the physical and cognitive development ofchildren. According to International Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimates in 2016, therewere approximately 12 million cases of typhoid fever resulting in around 130,000 deaths.Urbanisation and climate change have potential to further increase global burden of typhoid.

Cabinet approves Indo-Myanmar agreement on land border crossingJanuary 4, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing.It is an enabling arrangement for movement of people across border of both counties.The agreement is expected to provide connectivity and enhance interaction of people of NorthEastern States of India with the people of Myanmar.Significance

The agreement will facilitate movement of people on basis of valid passports and visas which willenhance economic and social interaction between two countries. It will facilitate regulation andharmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in borderareas of both countries.It will also give boost to economy of North East and leverage geographical connections withMyanmar to boost trade and people to people ties. It will also safeguard traditional rights of largelytribal communities residing along border which are accustomed to free movement across land



border.Background

India shares 1,643-km long border with Myanmar. It passes through four northeaster states ofArunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. At present both countries have unique visa-freemovement regime for people living within 16 km on either side of the border.Free movement regime (FMR) was bilateral agreement between India and Myanmar that allows freemovement of Indian and Myanmarese citizens within 16 km of the border without visa restrictionsfor 72 hours. Its purpose is to alleviate insecurity of tribals living along India and Myanmar borderas they still continue to have trans-border linkages with their kiths and kins.This regime has been in place to protect traditional social relations among border people. However, ithas been misused by militants and criminals who are using it to smuggle weapons, narcotics,contraband goods and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).

CCEA approves construction of bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in J&KJanuary 4, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved construction, operation andmaintenance of 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel on Srinagar-Leh section connecting NH-1A inJammu and KashmirThe strategic tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to strategically important Leh region. Oncompletion, it will be Asia’s largest 2-lane bi-directional tunnel.Key Facts

The Zojila Tunnel will be situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh NationalHighway (NH-1A). The Project aims at construction of 14.150 km long 2-lane bidirectional single tubetunnel with a parallel 14.200 km long egress (escape) tunnel excluding approaches between Baltal &Minamarg in J&K at estimated cost of Rs 6,089 crore.The main objective of the project is to provide all whether connectivity to strategically important Lehregion in J&K which at moment is limited to at best 6 months because of snow on the mountainouspasses and threat of avalanches. Ladakh region remains cut off from rest of the country duringwinter months due to heavy snowfall.The project will be implemented by Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) throughthe National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) onEngineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.



Significance

The construction of this tunnel will provide all weather safe, fast and cheap connectivity connectivitybetween Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. It will bring about all round economic and socio-culturalintegration of these regions. It also has strategic and socio-economic importance and it will beinstrument for development of economically backward districts in J&K. The project, on completion,will also lead to enormous boost in employment as local businesses get linked to National market andbeautiful region is able to receive round the year tourist traffic.

CCEA approves implementation of Jal Marg Vikas Project on NW-1January 4, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved implementation of Jal Marg VikasProject (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on 1,380-km Haldia-Varanasi stretch ofNational Waterway-1 (NW1) on Ganga River.The project will be implemented at a cost of over Rs. 5,370 crore rupees with the technical assistanceand investment support of the World Bank. It is expected to be completed by March, 2023.Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)

JMVP was announced by Government in 2014-15 Budget to enable commercial navigation of at least1500 tonne vessels on the Ganga river. The project envisages the development of waterway betweenAllahabad and Haldia on Ganga River that will cover a distance of 1620 km.The project covers Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The major districts under itsambit are Varanasi, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chhapra, Buxar, Patna, Vaishali, Khagaria, Begusarai, Munger,Bhagalpur, Sahibganj, Murshidabad, Pakur, Hooghly and Kolkata.The project aims to develop a fairway with three metres depth to enable commercial navigation of atleast 1500 tonne vessels on the river. It also includes the development of fairway, multi-modalterminals, strengthening of open river navigation technique, conservancy works, modern RiverInformation System (RIS) etc.The World Bank has provided technical assistance and financial support to the project. Besides, WB’slending arm International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will provide loan of Rs 2,512 crore for the project. Union government provide Rs 2,556 crore from budgetary allocation andproceeds from bond issue. Moreover, private sector participation under Public-Private Partnership(PPP) mode will provide Rs.301 crore.



Major Impact

Development and operations of NW1 will provide alternative mode of environment friendly and costeffective transport mode. The project will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in thecountry and reduce traffic burden and congestion on roads and railways. It will result into mammothinfrastructure development like multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro)facilities, ferry services, navigation aids. It will also give impetus to socio-economic development andresult in employment generation.

Scientists discover four new balsam species in Arunachal PradeshJanuary 4, 2018

Scientists have discovered four new balsam species from various locations in Eastern Himalayas innortheastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. They are Impatiens haridasanii, Impatiens pseudocitrina,Impatiens nilalohitae and Impatiens roingensis. Infrastructure project like road widening works,deforestation and other development activities are posing a threat to the natural habitat of the newspecies.Key Facts

Impatiens haridasanii: It was discovered in Pongchan. The species is characterised by small yellowflowers and hairy leaves. It has been named after Haridasan, former scientist, State Forest ResearchInstitute, Arunachal Pradesh, for his contribution to the taxonomy of the north-eastern States.Impatiens pseudocitrina: It was discovered in Anjaw district. It sports bright yellow flowers withsmall red spots on the throat and has long spur at the back. Its name denotes similarities with I.citrina.Impatiens nilalohitae: It was discovered from the Lower Dibang valley. It grows to height of morethan one metre and has dark purple flowers with pale yellow throat and green stalk. Its namedenotes dark purple colour in Sanskrit.Impatiens roingensis: It was found growing in Roing and Upper Siang. It has clustered white flowerswith yellow patch on the mouth and hooked spur.Balsams

Balsams are commonly known as jewel weeds because of diverse colour of their flowers. They aredistributed throughout the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, South East Asia,Africa and Madagascar. Their genus is called Impatiens, signifying impatient nature of their fruitswhich explode when touched. India is home to more than 230 balsam species.

CCEA approves extension of norms for mandatory packaging in Jute MaterialsJanuary 4, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved extension of mandatory packagingnorms of foodgrains and sugar in jute material for Jute Year 2017-18 (i.e. July 2017 to June 2018).The mandatory extension was approved under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987. Theapproval mandates that 90% of food grains and 20% of sugar products shall be mandatorily packed injute bags.Key Facts

The decision also mandates, in first instance, entire requirement for packing of food grains will beplaced in jute bags. Thus it makes provision for 100% packing of food grains in jute bags subject toability of jute industry to meet the requirement. The decision will also help to sustain core demandfor jute sector and support livelihood of the workers and farmers dependent on the sector.The provision of mandatory packaging will benefit jute farmers and workers in jute industry locatedin Eastern and North Eastern regions of country particularly in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha,Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.Jute industry

Jute industry is predominantly dependent on Government sector which purchases jute productsmore than Rs. 5,500 crore every year. Government has been making concerted efforts for thedevelopment of jute sector considering that nearly 3.7 lakh workers and approximately 40 lakhfarmers are dependent for their livelihood on jute sectors. Government is also making concertedefforts for development of jute sector. It is increasing quality and productivity of raw jute,diversification of jute sector and also boosting and sustaining demand for jute product.



January 5, 2018NMCG approves five Namami Gange projects in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand

January 5, 2018

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved five Namami Gange projects worth Rs295.01 crore in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.Out of these 5 projects, three pertain to sewage management in West Bengal, one relates to sewagemanagement in Uttarakhand and remaining one is related to ghat improvement works in UttarPradesh. Projects related to sewage management are located in high pollution load towns along riverGanga.Approved Projects

Uttarakhand: The approved project includes laying sewer lines in some of uncovered areas inHaridwar.Varanasi: The approved project includes repair and retrofitting of various ghats. It aims tostrengthen poor condition of ghats through bolder pitching and stone steps to ensure improved lifeof ghats apart from avoiding risk and inconvenience to the visitors and pilgrims.West Bengal: The sewage management works approved are in Kamarhati and BaranagarMunicipalities (60 MLD STP, de-silting of sewer lines etc.) under PPP-based Hybrid Annuity mode. Italso includes pollution abatement works for river Ganga in Berhampore Municipality (3.5 MLD STPand sewer network) and sewage management works in Nabadwip Municipality (9.5 MLD STP andrenovation of 10.5 MLD STP).In Uttarakhand, approval was given to one project for laying of sewer lines in some of the uncoveredareas in Haridwar at an estimated cost of Rs 4.68 crore.National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

NMCG is implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management ofRiver Ganga (also referred as National Ganga Council). It was established in 2011 as registered societyunder Societies Registration Act, 1860.It has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and ExecutiveCommittee. Both of them are headed by Director General (DG), NMCG. Executive Committee isauthorized to approve projects under mission up to Rs.1000 crore.Similar to structure at national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts asimplementing arm of State Ganga Committees. This structure attempts to bring all stakeholders onone platform to take a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.

US puts Pakistan on Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedomJanuary 5, 2018

The United States has placed Pakistan on ‘Special Watch List’ for “severe violations” of religiousfreedom. It is only country to be put under the newly-formed list.Moreover, US also re-designated about 10 countries as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ under itsInternational Religious Freedom (IRF) Act. They are Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, NorthKorea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.Key Facts

As per US, Pakistan was placed in this list because it continues to harass its religious minorities,tolerates extra-judicial violence in the guise of opposing blasphemy. Moreover it has state-sanctioneddiscrimination against groups such as Ahmadis. According to research, Pakistan is one of countrieswith most restrictions on religion.Special Watch List

The Special Watch List is for countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religiousfreedom but may not rise to level of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ (CPC). It is new categorycreated by Frank R Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016. The designations are aimed atimproving respect for religious freedom in these countries.The Special Watch List designation to countries is step below designating it as CPC, whichautomatically imposes economic and political sanctions. The Frank R Wolf International ReligiousFreedom Act amended International Religious Freedom (IRF) Act to require President to designate‘Special Watch List’ of countries deemed not to meet all of CPC criteria but who engaged in or



tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.Under the IRF Act of 1998, US Secretary of State annually designates governments that have engagedin or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom as CPC. Thesedesignations are aimed at improving the respect for religious freedom in these countries.

Health Ministry and Tata Memorial Centre launch first digital Online Oncology TutorialJanuary 5, 2018

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched India’s first digital Online OncologyTutorial Series designed by Tata Memorial Centre (a grant-in-aid cancer centre under Department ofAtomic Energy, GOI).It was launched under the Digital India initiative as part national program that will be rolled outacross the country by Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in collaboration with state governments.

Oncology literally means a branch of science that deals with tumours and cancers. The word “onco” means bulk/ mass/tumor while “-logy” means study.

Key Facts

The Oncology Tutorial Series aim to train doctors across country to educate them in early detection,prevention, palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various cancers.The overall course is designed for 7 weeks with different modules based on various sites and sub-sites of Cancer. It comprises of 14 hours of comprehensive e-learning through more than 40 videolectures, case studies, assessment questionnaires and periodic interactive Webinar sessions withrespective consultants of TMC.It also includes, blended learning delivery model with self-paced e-learning and periodic webinarinteractions with expert consultants of TMC and Continuous scientific updates in Oncology, alongwith end-of-course Online Assessments with enhanced reporting for individuals.Through this initiative, the Health Ministry and Tata Memorial Centre will try to reach millions ofdoctors who may not have time to attend physical conferences, CMEs and are busy working in ruralor tier 2 cities.

Defence Ministry clears Rs.2420 Crore worth contracts for Navy, ArmyJanuary 5, 2018

The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved procurement of P-8I Training Solution for IndianNavy and Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare System (LICEWS) for Indian Army at total costof Rs 2419.32 crore.These contract proposals were earlier cleared by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and now finalapproval has now been given by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.Low Intensity Conflict Electronic Warfare System (LICEWS)

This system will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited for Rs. 470 crore. It will equip IndianArmy with upgraded communications infrastructure that will help forces to effectively deal withadvanced communications systems being used by terrorist groups.P-8I Training Solution

The P-8I Training Solution will be brought from Boeing for Rs.1949.32 crore. It will be brought alongwith 10-year comprehensive maintenance service. This training solution accurately simulates P-8Iaircraft and mission systems. It will help Indian Navy realistically train and rehearse forsophisticated missions involving P-8I aircraft, at fraction of the cost of live aircraft training.The P-8I aircraft manufactured by Boeing is equipped for long range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance in support of broad area, maritime andlittoral operations. Its communication and sensor suite includes indigenous equipment developed bydefence PSUs and private manufacturers. It is capable of instant punitive response and maintainingwatch over India’s immediate and extended areas of interest.The first P-8I aircraft was inducted in Indian Navy in 2013. As of date, 8 aircraft based at INS Rajali inTamil Nadu have been fully integrated into Indian Naval operations. In 2016, MoD placed follow-onorder for 4 additional P-8I and their delivery will begin in 2020.

Government launches 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds 2018January 5, 2018

The Union Finance Ministry has launched 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2018 scheme to help



citizens invest in a taxable instrument, without any monetary ceiling. It will enable residentcitizens/Hindu Undivided Families (HUF) to invest in a taxable bond, without any monetary ceiling.Key features of Bonds

The Bonds are open to investment by individuals (including Joint Holdings) and HUFs. Non-ResidentIndians (NRIs) are not eligible for making investments in these nonds.The Bonds will be issued at par i.e. at Rs.100.00 They will be issued for minimum face value amountof Rs.1,000 and in multiples thereof. There will be no maximum limit for investment in the Bonds.The Bonds will have maturity of 7 years carrying interest at 7.75% per annum payable half- yearly. The Bonds will be issued in demat form (Bond Ledger Account) only.The Bonds are not transferable and also are not tradeable in secondary market. They are also noteligible as collateral for loans from banking institutions, non-banking financial companies orfinancial institutions.Interest on the Bonds will be taxable under the Income-tax (IT) Act, 1961 as applicable according tothe relevant tax status of the bond holder. However these Bonds will be exempt from Wealth-taxunder Wealth Tax Act, 1957.



Lok Sabha passes Bill to hike salaries of judgesJanuary 5, 2018

The Lok Sabha passed High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service)Amendment Bill, 2017 to hike the salaries of judges of the Supreme Court (SC) and High Courts (HCs).The Bill seeks to amend HC Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954; and SC Judges(Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. These Acts regulate salaries and conditions of service



of judges of HCs and SC.Key Features of Bill

Salary: The Bill proposes to hike the salary of Chief Justice of India (CJI) to Rs.2.80 lakh a month andthat of judges of Supreme Court

and Chief Justices of High Courts to Rs. 2.5 lakh a month. It increases salary of Judges of High Courtsto Rs.2.25 lakh a month. The salary hike will come into force with effect from January 1, 2016.Allowances: The Bill also seeks to revise this allowance with effect from September 22, 2017. The CJIwill get allowance of Rs. 45,000 a month. Judges of Supreme Court and Chief Justices of High Courtswill get allowance of Rs. 34000 a month. Judges of High Court will get allowance of Rs. 27000 amonth.Pension: The Bill seeks to revise the pension for judges under two categories mentioned in parentacts viz. if they have previously held pensionable post under central or state governments, or if theyhave not held any such post. It proposes pension of Rs. 16,80,000 per annum to CJI. Judges of theSupreme Court and Justice of High Court will get pension of Rs. 15,00,000 per annum.Background

The salary hike in line with recommendations of 7th Pay Commission for officers of all-India services.The CJI gets a higher amount than this while judges of High Courts get lesser amount. Moreover,these judges are provided with rent-free accommodation while they are in service.The salaries and allowances CJI and Supreme Court judges are charged from Consolidated Fund ofIndia. The salaries and allowances of state high court judges including chief justices are charged fromConsolidated Fund of State. However, retired Judges are entitled to pension which is drawn fromConsolidated Fund of India.

Railways, HRD and S&T Ministry ink MoU on Technology Mission for Indian RailwaysJanuary 5, 2018

Three Ministries viz. Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) andMinistry of Science & Technology have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for jointfunding of Technology Mission for Indian Railways (TMIR).Features of MoU

The MoU aims to facilitate co-financing of (TMIR) by investment sharing for identified railwayprojects for applied research. The percentage division of the funding between the three ministries forTechnology Mission for Indian Railways’ is Ministry of Railways: 30% , Ministry of HRD: 25% andDepartment of Science & Technology: 25%.Under the MoU, Ministry of HRD and Ministry of S&T have agreed to fund TMIR projects to the tuneof Rs 75 crore each while Railways and Industries would also be contributing to their respectiveshares.Technology Mission for Indian Railways

The Ministry of Railways had set up TMIR as consortium of Ministry of Railways, Ministry of HRDand Ministry of Science & Technology on investment sharing model for taking up identified railwayprojects for applied research and use on Indian Railways. TMIR is tasked to take up research anddevelopment projects in the areas of heavy haul, safety, energy, environment and urban railways.These projects will be implemented through Mission Implementation and Coordination Committee



having members from the three Ministries, academia and industry. Moreover, these projects will beimplemented in the national research and development labs and academic institutions. Moreovercollaborations will be also entered with foreign institutions wherever essential.Significance

Indian Railways will be benefitted with availability of world class indigenized technologies at veryreasonable cost through this consortium approach for technology development in mission mode.Moreover, academic research institutions will be also benefitted with applied research and realsituation output in form of new products for immediate use. The Indian industries will also getbenefited in form of production of new items to be used on Indian Railways with additional exportpotential.

NASA to launch two missions — GOLD and ICON to explore the ionosphereJanuary 5, 2018

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch two missions — GOLD andICON later this year. They will team up to explore the ionosphere, located 96 km above Earth’ssurface.The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission will be launched in January 2018and Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will be launched later this year.Key Facts

The two missions will be complementary to each other. ICON will launched in low-Earth orbit (LEO)located at 560 km above Earth, like a close-up camera. GOLD will be launched in geostationary orbitover Western Hemisphere, about 35,398 km above earth. It will help in full-disk view of ionosphereand upper atmosphere beneath it every half hour.The two missions can cooperate with each other when ICON passes through GOLD’s field of viewand each mission can get snapshot of same region. This overlap in their data will make it easier toidentify reasons for changes in upper atmosphere at a given time.One of missions’ goals is to measure how upper atmosphere changes in response to hurricanes andgeomagnetic storms. GOLD will also explore how upper atmosphere reacts to geomagnetic storms,which are temporary disturbances of Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity.At night, GOLD will examine disruptions in ionosphere, which are mainly dense, unpredictablebubbles of charged gas that appear over equator and tropics, sometimes interfere with radiocommunications.Ionosphere

The ionosphere is located between 60 and 400 km above the mesopause. It contains electricallycharged particles known as ions, and hence, it is known as ionosphere. Radio waves transmitted fromthe earth are reflected back to the earth by this layer and is used for radio propagation to distantplaces on the Earth. In this layer temperature starts increasing with height.

January 6, 201826th World Book Fair held in New Delhi with focus on environment

January 6, 2018

The 26th edition of annual World Book Fair was held in New Delhi. It was organised by National BookTrust (NBT), under Ministry of Human Resource Development in association with India TradePromotion Organisation.The theme for this year is ‘Environment and Climate Change’. It focuses on environment issues likeclimate change, global warming, and water pollution. European Union was Guest of Honour Country forthis year’s book fair.Key Facts

The annual book fair saw participation of around 800 publishers from across the country in differentlanguages. The event’s Theme Pavillion had international rights exhibition of nearly 500 titlespublished in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages. Apart from EU nations, more than 40countries including Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, and United Kingdomalso participated.The fair also witnessed panel discussions, talks, workshops, children’s activities, screening of shortfilms, special photo exhibits as well as cultural and musical performances. The discussions,conversation were mainly organised with authors and environmentalists where experts discussed



ways through which environment can be saved from further deterioration.Background

The annual New Delhi World Book Fair was started in 1972 in New Delhi with only 200 participants. Over the years it has grown exponentially and now has 886 and 800 participants as publishers in2016 and 2017, respectively. The fair serves as meeting point of readers and publishers. The theme for2016 was ‘Manushi’ and had focused on writings on and by women from ancient times till thepresent.

Income Tax Department launches on-line chat serviceJanuary 6, 2018

Income Tax (IT) Department under the Union Finance Ministry has launched an on-line chat serviceon its national website www.incometaxindia.gov.in with a prominent icon stating ‘Live Chat Online-ask your query’.It was announced by Minister of State (MoS) for Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla while replying in theLok Sabha. Since its launch in October 2017 it has altogether benefited 8,424 people.Key Facts

The on-line chat service is aimed at facilitating the taxpayers resolve their queries by answeringtheir basic queries and doubts relating to direct tax issues. The facility is available on all workingdays from Monday to Friday between 10 AM and 6 PM.The module can also be accessed through a mobile application called ‘AayakarSetu’ on Androidphone. Customer support executive having expertise in tax-related matters through this platformhelps users in resolving their queries on-line.Moreover, it has dedicated team of experts from IT department and independent tax practitioners toanswer general queries of a taxpayer. This first-time initiative is aimed to enhance taxpayer servicesin the country.

Atal Pension Yojana reaches subscriber base of 80 lakhJanuary 6, 2018

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA) has announced that AtalPension Yojana (APY) run by it has reached a subscriber base of 80 lakh and is growing at good pace.Uttar Pradesh is the highest contributing state at 11.41 lakh APY subscribers, followed by Bihar (8.87lakh) and Tamil Nadu (6.60 lakh).Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

APY became operational from June 1, 2015 with an aim to provide affordable universal access toessential social security protection to unorganized work force of country, which makes major chunkof labour force (88%). It had replaced Swavalamban scheme.It is available to all citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years (thus minimum period ofcontribution by subscriber is 20 years). Under scheme, subscriber will receive a minimumguaranteed pension of Rs.1000 to Rs.5000 per month, depending on his contribution, from age of 60years.There is no exit to the scheme before the age of 60. In case of death of subscriber, the spouse of thesubscriber shall be entitled for the same amount of pension till his or her death.

Forex Reserves scale record high of $409.366 billion in December 2017January 6, 2018

According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s foreign exchange (Forex) reserves have scaled tofresh record high of $409.366 billion as on December 29, 2017. The surge was due to massive spike inforeign currency assets, which is key component of the reserves.Forex Reserves

The forex are reserve assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies. It acts as buffer to be usedin challenging times and used to back liabilities on their own issued currency as well as to influencemonetary policy. Almost all countries in world, regardless of size of their economy, hold significantforeign exchange reserves.The components of India’s FOREX Reserves include Foreign currency assets (FCAs), Gold, SpecialDrawing Rights (SDRs) and RBI’s Reserve position with International Monetary Fund (IMF). FCAsconstitute largest component of Indian Forex Reserves.

http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in



Key Facts

As on 29 December 2017, FCAs which form key component of reserves, rose by $4.42 billion from theprevious week to $385.103 billion. FCAs are maintained in major currencies like euro, US dollar,pound sterling, Japanese yen etc. Movement in FCA occur mainly on account of purchase and sale offoreign exchange by RBI, income arising out of deployment of Forex reserves, external aid receipts ofgovernment and revaluation of assets.During this period, Gold reserves remained stable at $20.716 billion. Special drawing rights (SDR)from IMD rose by $8.9 million from the previous week to $1.511 billion. SDR is an internationalreserve asset created by IMF and allocated to its members in proportion of their quota at IMF. TheReserve Position in the IMF rose by $12.1 million to $2.035 billion.

HRD Ministry releases All India Higher Education SurveyJanuary 6, 2018

The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education of Indian has registered an increase from24.5% in 2015-16 to 25.2% in 2016-17 according to latest All India Higher Education Survey (AIHES)released by HRD Ministry.The survey findings were based on responses of 795 universities, 34,193 colleges and 7,496standalone institutions. There are total of 864 universities, 40,026 colleges and 11,669 standaloneinstitutions in the country.Key Highlights of AIHES

Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): GER is statistical measure for determining number of studentsenrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and research-level studies within country and expressed asa percentage of population. India is aiming to attain GER of 30% by 2020, but it is still far behindcountries like China with GER of 43.39% and US with 85.8%.The proportion of students pursuing higher education in India hasn’t increased dramatically from2015-16 to 2016-17. It was in range of 23% to 25% since 2013-14. Tamil Nadu has highest GER in Indiaat 46.9%.Six states have registered GER higher than national average (25.2%), with their share of studentsentering higher education is growing twice as fast as overall rate. These states are Tamil Nadu(46.9%), Himachal Pradesh (36.7%), Kerala (34.2%), Andhra Pradesh (32.4%), Haryana (29%) and Punjab(28.6%).However, eight states UP (24.9%), Madhya Pradesh (20%), Odisha (21%), Bihar (14.4%), Gujarat (20.2%),Rajasthan (20.5%), Mizoram (24.5%) and West Bengal (18.5%) had GER ratio far less than the nationalaverage. Bihar has lowest GER with just 14.4% of its eligible population (in age group of 18 to 23 years)pursuing higher education.Gender Parity Index (GPI): India registered its best performance on the GPI in last seven years —0.94 in 2016-17 from 0.86 in 2010-11. GPI is calculated as quotient of number of females by number ofmales enrolled. GPI equal to 1 indicates 1, value less than 1 indicated disparity in favour of males. InSeven states — Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, J&K, Nagaland, Sikkim and Kerala — women inhigher education have outnumbered men.College density: States in south India have higher college density. It is defined as number of collegesper lakh eligible population. The college density in top three states/UTs is Puducherry (49),Telangana (59) and Karnataka (53). Bihar (7 colleges/1lakh population), Jharkhand (8) and West Bengal(11) on the other hand, are at the bottom interms college density.Number of foreign students: There hasn’t been much improvement in the internationalisation ofeducation in the country. There is marginal improvement in number of foreign students —47,575 in2016-17 from 45,424 in 2015-16— with 31,779 men and 15,796 women. The highest share comes fromthe neighbouring countries of Nepal (23.6%), Afghanistan (9.3%) and Bhutan (4.8%).

January 7-8, 201875th Annual Golden Globe Awards

January 8, 2018

The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards honored the best in film and American television of 2017. Theceremony was organized at Beverly Hills, California, United States (US). The Golden Globe Awardsare the annual awards that honour the best in Motion Pictures and American Television for the



previous year.This year The Shape of Water had received most overall nominations of show with seven, whileThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Big Little Lies both won most awards with four each.Winners of various awards are as follows:

Best Motion Picture Drama: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: Lady Bird.Best Director in Motion Picture-Drama: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water).Best Actor in Motion Picture-Drama: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) as Winston Churchill.Best Actress in Motion Picture-Drama: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,Missouri) as Mildred Hayes.Best Actor in Motion Picture or Musical or Comedy: James Franco (The Disaster Artist) as TommyWiseau.Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) as Christine “Lady Bird”McPherson.Best Actor in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,Missouri) as Officer Jason Dixon.Best Actress in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Allison Janney (I, Tonya) as LaVona Golden.Best Original Score Motion Picture: Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water).Best Original Song: “This Is Me” (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) – The Greatest ShowmanBest Animated Feature Film: Coco.Best Foreign Language Film: In the Fade (Germany/France).Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Oprah Winfrey.

Legendary astronaut, moonwalker John Young passes awayJanuary 8, 2018

Legendary astronaut of NASA John Young, who walked on the moon and later commanded the firstspace shuttle flight passed away in Houston, US. He was 87.He was NASA’s only astronaut to go into space as part of Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle program,and the first to fly into space six times. He was 9th man to walk on moon.John Young

He was born in San Francisco, California. He had earned degree in aeronautical engineering fromGeorgia Tech. Later he had joined US Navy. Later he took flight training. His first time in space camein 1965 with Gemini 3 mission that took him and astronaut Gus Grissom into Earth orbit in first two-man US space jaunt.His NASA career spanned over 42 years, longer than any other astronaut’s. In 1965, he had flown thefirst manned Gemini mission and commanded another in 1966. In 1969, he became first person toorbit Moon alone for Apollo 10.He also had driven Lunar Roving Vehicle on Moon’s surface during Apollo 16. He is one of only threepeople to have flown to the Moon twice. He also commanded two Space Shuttle flights, including itsfirst launch in 1981, and served as Chief of Astronaut Office from 1974–1987. He retired from NASA in2004.

Flamingo festival held at Pulicat lake in Andhra PradeshJanuary 8, 2018

The three-day annual Flamingo Festival was held at Pulicat lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary inSullurpet mandal. Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicat and Nellapattu.Key Facts

Flamingo Festival is being organised for the past 12 years. Migratory birds from Siberia have visitthis place during winter season for breeding. Somewhere between 9,000 to 12,000 migratory birdsarrive at Pulicat region for breeding this season.Usually around 80 different avian species migrate to Pulicat for breeding. They hunt in shallowwaters of lake and breed there. Once the breeding season concludes, they fly away to their nativeland with their offspring in tow.Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is one of the biggest habitats for some hundreds of pelicans and other



birds. It is located about 20 km north of the Pulicat Lake on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border.This sanctuary spread in an area about 459 hectares and plays important role in nesting of variousbirds especially migratory birds. Every year during winter season from October to March, differentspecies of migratory birds, roosting migrants and some rare and endangered species from variousparts of the world visit the habitat.Pulicat lake

Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India after Chilika Lake. It islocated on border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu with over 96% of it in Andhra Pradesh and 4%in Tamil Nadu situated on Coromandal Coast in South India. The lake encompasses Pulicat Lake BirdSanctuary. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home toSatish Dhawan Space Centre. Arani and Kalangi are two rivers which feed the lagoon. TheBuckingham Canal, a navigation channel, is part of the lagoon on its western side.

CBDT relaxes norms for MAT on firms facing insolvencyJanuary 8, 2018

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced to relax norms around levy of minimumalternate tax (MAT) for insolvent companies from financial year 2017-18.The purpose of the move is to make the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 more effective andminimise hardship faced by companies going in for insolvency resolution.Minimum alternate tax (MAT)

Its aim is to bring Zero Tax Companies” into tax realm who do not pay any tax. It is ruled byprovisions enclosed in section 115JB of Income Tax Act, 1961. MAT is valid to all companiescomprising foreign companies. As per meaning of MAT, tax obligation of company will be higher ifincome tax of company calculated as per normal provision of income tax and tax calculated at 18.5%on book profit plus surcharge and cess as applicable.Key Facts

This exemption facility will be available only for companies against whom application for corporateinsolvency resolution process has been admitted by the adjudicating authority. An amendment tothis effect will be made in section 115 JB of the Income Tax Act.According to existing provisions for purposes of levy of MAT company, amount of loss broughtforward or unabsorbed depreciation, whichever is less as per books of account shall be reduced frombook profit. The relation of norms will allow company to reduce amount of total loss brought forwardincluding unabsorbed depreciation from the book profit for the purposes of levy of MAR.Background

This decision was taken based on suggestions of various stakeholders suggesting hardship faced bycompanies against whom application for corporate insolvency resolution process was admitted byAdjudicating Authority due to restriction in allowance of brought forward loss for computation ofbook profit. The Indian Banks Association (IBA) also had sought removal of MAT for new investorsapprehending depressed bids.

Government to launch e-Sansad and e-Vidhan in Parliament and StateJanuary 8, 2018

The Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) has proposed rolling out of e-Sansad inParliament and e-Vidhan in State Legislatures to digitize and make their functioning paperless.It was announced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar after inaugurating 18th All IndiaWhips’ Conference in Udaipur, Rajasthan.e-Sansad and e-Vidhan

They are mission mode projects of Union Government under Digital India to make the functioning ofParliament and State Legislatures paperless. They aim to digitise and make available Parliament andstate legislature documents, including debates, speeches, committee reports and questions oninternet.MoPA is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of both the projects. These projects will makefunctioning of Parliament and State Legislatures participative, responsive, transparent, productiveand more accountable to public. They will make the entire Legislative process more efficient. Theyare environment-friendly initiatives in line with the Go Green initiative of the government.



18th All India Whips’ Conference

The two-day conference was organised by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) focused on theefficient functioning of legislatures. Delegates participating in made suggestions andrecommendations for making the rolling out of e-Vidhan a success. It also made otherrecommendations for smooth and efficient working of Parliament and the state legislatures in thelight of the experience gained by the whips.Whip

A whip is a member of political party’s parliamentary body responsible for discipline within theparty. Their main job is ensuring that their members in Parliament and legislature vote in line withthe party’s official policy on important issues. The office of whip is neither mentioned in constitution ofIndia nor in the Rules of the House nor in the Parliamentary Statue. It is based on conventions ofparliamentary government.

AIIB plans to issue first US dollar bonds in June 2018January 8, 2018

China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is planning to issue its first US dollar-denominated bond with minimum worth of $1 billion by June 2018.The earliest issuance window of bond will be toward end of first half of 2018 with time required forcertain procedures, including Board of Governors’ approval of AIIB’s 2017 financial statements aswell as borrowing and swap documentation.Key Facts

The minimum size of the issuance will be one billion dollars, but as demand for the first bond issuemay increase AIIB anticipates of having to issue a larger size.The maturity of the bond will be between three and five years depending on investor demand at thetime. he bank plans to cap its total borrowing volume at US $3 billion dollars in 2018.The AIIB has received three top-notch ratings from global credit rating agencies S&P Global Ratings,Moody’s and Fitch in recognition of the bank’s strong capital base and stable outlook.Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

AIIB is a multilateral development bank initiated by China. Its purpose is to provide finance toinfrastructure development and regional connectivity projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Its goals areto boost economic development in Asia-Pacific region, provide infrastructure, and promote regionalcooperation and partnership.It prioritises investment in energy, power generation, transport, rural infrastructure, environmentalprotection and logistics in Asia. It was officially established in December 2015 and opened forbusiness in January 2016. It is headquartered in Beijing. It has an authorised capital of US $100billion. So far it has 84 members including India.China is the largest shareholder of AIIB with 26.06% voting shares. India is the second largestshareholder with 7.5% followed by Russia 5.93% and Germany with 4.5%.

Vulnerable Odisha tribe Mankidia denied habitat in SimilipalJanuary 8, 2018

Mankidia tribe in Odisha as denied habitat rights inside core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) inOdisha under historic Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of ForestRights) Act, 2006. State Forest Department had objected their habitat rights on grounds that tribalscould be attacked by wild animals, especially tigers.Mankidia is one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) and is a marginalised groupthat critically depends on making rope with siali fibre that’s richly available in Similipal.Habitat rights

‘Habitat’ under Section 2(h) of the FRA (Forest Rights Act) is defined as area comprising customaryhabitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groupsand pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes.Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. In 1975, Central Government had initiatedinitiative to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as a separate category called PVTGs anddeclared 52 such groups. In 1993, additional 23 groups were added to category, making it total of 75PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes, spread over 17 states and 1 UT in the country (2011 census).



Among 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh(12).They are identified by Union Government according to procedure in which state governments or UTgovernments submit proposals to Union Ministry of Tribal Welfare for identification of PVTGs. Afterensuring the criteria is fulfilled, the Tribal Ministry Ministry selects those groups as PVTGs.Simlipal National park

Simlipal National Park is national park and a tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It is partof Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) thatbloom here. It was the second largest national park in India. Its reserve is part of UNESCO WorldNetwork of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.The park has protected area of 845.70 square kilometres and has some beautiful waterfalls likeJoranda and Barehipani. It is home to 99 royal Bengal tigers and 432 wild elephants. Besides it isfamous for gaurs (Indian bison), chausingha as well as an orchidarium.

Pratyush: India’s fastest supercomputer unveiledJanuary 8, 2018

India’s fastest and first multi-petaflops (PF) supercomputer named Pratyush was unveiled at Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). The supercomputer has been named as‘Pratyush’ meaning Sun.It will help India with better forecasts in terms of monsoon, extreme events, cyclones, tsunamis,earthquakes, air quality, lightning, fishing, hot and cold waves, flood and drought among others.Key Facts

Supercomputer Pratyush will be national facility for improving weather and climate forecasts andservices under umbrella of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Pratyush has 6.8 PF computationalpower installed at two MoES Institutes. 4.0 Peta Flops HPC facility at IITM, Pune and 2.8 Peta Flopsfacility at NCMRWF, Noida. (PF is a measure of a computer’s processing speed).Pratyush is fourth fastest supercomputer in world dedicated for weather and climate research. Itfollows supercomputing machines in Japan, US and United Kingdom. It will improve rankings ofIndian supercomputer from 300s to 30s in Top500 list, a respected international tracker of theworld’s fastest supercomputers.The key function of the High Performance Computing (HPC) facility will be monsoon forecastingusing dynamical model which requires simulating weather for given month and letting custom-builtmodel calculate impact of actual weather over coming months. It will enable to map regions in Indiaat resolution of 3 km and globe at 12 km.

January 9, 2018Haryana becomes first state to launch High-Risk Pregnancy portal

January 9, 2018

Haryana become first state in the country to launch High-Risk Pregnancy (HRP) portal. It has beenlaunched as part of the High Risk Pregnancy Policy of state implemented since November 2017.The policy aims at identifying 100% name-based high-risk pregnancy cases and ensuring theirdelivery by specialists at civil hospitals.



Key Facts

The portal will help in early identification of high-risk pregnant cases up to grass-roots level andensures their timely referral to civil hospitals for further management and delivery by specialists.It will help in increasing pace of decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate(IMR) and Still Birth Incidence as morbidity and mortality is quite high in high risk pregnant cases ifnot managed timely.It will track every high risk pregnant woman till 42 days after delivery, so that she receives adequatetreatment during the ante-natal period for healthy outcome of pregnancy. State Government hasissued instructions to all civil surgeons for 100% entry of high risk pregnant cases in HRP Portal andtheir management at Civil Hospitals by specialists.

SpaceX launches secretive Zuma missionJanuary 9, 2018

California-based Private spaceflight company SpaceX has launched secret Zuma Mission for USgovernment. It was launched on board of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air ForceStation in Florida, US.Zuma Mission

It is a secret mission in its nature or purpose and the agency behind it remains a mystery. It has beenmanufactured by Northrup Grumman, Virginia-based aerospace and defence company. It wasdelivered to low-Earth orbit (LEO).SpaceX

SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) is aerospace manufacturer and spacetransport services company headquartered in California, US. It was founded in 2002 by Internettycoon Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and former PayPal entrepreneur with the goal of creatingthe technologies to reduce space transportation costs and enable colonization of Mars.SpaceX has developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both designed to be reusable, thusreducing the cost of lauch. It also has developed Dragon spacecraft to supply cargo to ISS. It is alsodeveloping manned version of Dragon.In 2008, SpaceX had created history by launching first privately funded, liquid-propellant rocketFalcon 1 to reach orbit in 2008. It also became first privately funded company to successfully launch,orbit and recover spacecraft (Dragon) in 2010. It was also first private company to send a spacecraftto ISS, in 2012.

Government notifies the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017January 9, 2018

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017. TheAmendment Act amended some provisions of Companies Act, 2013.Few provisions in the Amendment Act have important bearing on the working of the Insolvency andBankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. They will come into force on date as Government notify in OfficialGazette. It aims to help in simplifying procedures, make compliance easy and take stringent actionagainst defaulting companies.Key Facts

Issuance of shares at a discount: It was prohibited by Section 53 of the Act. The Amendment Actallows companies to issue shares at discount to its creditors when its debt is converted into shares inpursuance of any statutory resolution plan such as resolution plan under IBC or debt restructuringscheme.Payment of managerial remuneration in excess: It was required for company in general meeting forpayment of managerial remuneration in excess of 11% of net profits as per Section 197 of parent Act.The Amendment Act now requires company which has defaulted in payment of dues, prior approvalof bank or public financial institution concerned or non-convertible debenture holders or othersecured creditor. For such payment of managerial remuneration shall be obtained by company beforeobtaining approval in general meeting.Prohibition of registered valuer from undertaking valuation of any assets: Section 247 ofCompanies Act, 2013 them of any assets in which they have direct or indirect interest or becomes sointerested at any time during or after valuation of assets. The Amendment Act now prohibitsregistered valuer to be appointment as valuer or three years after valuation of assets was conducted



by him.

Saudi Arabia allows India’s plan to ferry Haj pilgrims via sea routeJanuary 9, 2018

Saudi Arabia has approved India’s plan to revive the option of ferrying Haj pilgrims via sea route toJeddah. In this regard, both countries have signed bilateral annual Haj 2018 agreement.The agreement was signed by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Haj andUmrah Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Saleh bin TaherBenten at Makkah.Key Facts

The practice of ferrying Haj pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah by waterways was stopped in1995. Sending pilgrims through through sea route will help cut down travel expenses significantly. Itwill be a revolutionary, pro-poor, pilgrim-friendly decision.Moreover, ships now available are more modern and well-equipped to ferry 4000 to 5000 persons attime. They can cover 2300-odd nautical miles one-side distance between Mumbai and Jeddah withinjust 3-4 days. Earlier, old ships used to take 12 to 15 days.India and Saudi Arabia share ideals of global peace, progress and prosperity. Haj pilgrimage is one ofstrongest pillars of India-Saudi Arabia ties. Till now, around 3 lakh 59 thousand application have beenreceived for Haj 2018.Recently, Union Government for first time had notified that Indian Muslim Women can now go toHaj without male companion (Mehram). Separate accommodation and transport facilities will bearranged for these women pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and women Haj assistant will be deployed forthem.

Government completes 1st phase of BharatNet projectJanuary 9, 2018

The Union Government has announced completion of first phase of BharatNet project aftersuccessfully laying optical fibre cables (OFC) in more than 1 lakh gram panchayats. As of December2017, 2,54,895 km of OFC has were laid covering 1,09,926 GPs out of which 1,01,370 GPs have beenmade service ready.The second phase of the project was initiated in November 2017 for connecting the remaining 1.5lakh gram panchayats. Government is expecting to preempt second phase’s original target of March2019 by concluding it ahead of schedule by December 2018.BharatNet project

BharatNet project forms backbone for Digital India initiative. It aims to bring high speed broadbandto all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) through optical fibre. The project was approved by UnionCabinet in 2011 as National Optical Fibre Netwok.The objective flagship project is to provide affordable broadband services in rural and remote areasin partnership with states and the private sector. It being is implemented by Bharat BroadbandNetwork Limited (BBNL). It is world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme using Opticalfibre.Bharat Net seeks to connect all of India’s households, particularly rural areas, through demand,affordable high-speed broadband connectivity of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps to realise the vision of DigitalIndia. The project is being funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF).On completion, the project is expected to catalyse digital delivery of services for rural poor in crucialareas like health, education, livelihood, skills, e-agriculture and e-commerce. Moreover, it willgenerate massive employment opportunities, both direct and indirect in the country. The digitalinfrastructure

Government to raise Territorial Army battalion of ex-Armymen to clean GangaJanuary 9, 2018

The Union Defence Ministry has sanctioned raising of Territorial Army (TA) battalion comprising ex-servicemen of Indian Army as part of its mission to clean the Ganga by 2020. It has been named asComposite Ecological Task Force (CETF) battalion of TA for National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG),the nodal agency for cleaning Ganga.Key Facts

The CETF battalion will be raised in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh as a pilot project. For this governmenthas allocated Rs 167 crore under NMCG. The battalion will work on book debit system with funding



provided from budget of Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and GangaRejuvenation.The CETF TA battalion will be commanded by Colonel-rank officer. It will have 8 officers, 20 JCOsand around 500 other ranks on its roll. For the task, it will only enroll ex-servicemen, who will beembodied under TA rules.Functions of CETF TA

It will be responsible for monitoring ecological and environmental projects related to Ganga River,and also raise public awareness through campaigns. It will also patrol sensitive river areas for theprotection of biodiversity, keep a tab on the river pollution levels, plant trees and check soil erosion.It will also assist government in enforcing pollution control measures, support local civiladministration and police in managing the ghats, and provide support and assistance if and whenthere is flood or natural disaster in region.Background

Territorial Army which comes under Defence Ministry is considered a second line of defence afterthe regular Army. So far 9 Ecological Task Force (ETF) battalions of TA have been raised to executespecific environment-related projects.The proposal for raising CETF TA battalion had emanated from Department of Ex-servicemenWelfare in Defence Ministry, which took up case in 2014 for cleaning Ganga. The proposal was vettedand approved by Defence ministry and was forwarded to NMCG. After an approval from NMCG in2017, the Defence Ministry concurred and issued a Government Sanction Letter in December 2017.

Government to launch new scheme for free treatment of Hepatitis CJanuary 9, 2018

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is going to roll out National Programme for Controlof Viral Hepatitis , a new scheme free treatment of Hepatitis C from the 2018-19 financial year.Under the new scheme, the focus will be on anti-viral treatment of Hepatitis C which will be providedfree at all government health set-ups. For this government has embarked budget of Rs 600 crore forthe next three years.Key Facts

The Health Ministry is looking at screening vulnerable groups, including drug users and people whounderwent surgeries/ blood transfusion before 2002, when the screening protocol was not robust.Moreover it is in informal talks with Indian companies which manufacture Sofosbuvir on behalf ofAmerican pharma giant Gilead, to negotiate the price for a national programme. Sofosbuvir isrecommended under the new WHO treatment guidelines for Hepatitis C.Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is infectious disease caused by blood-borne virus hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarilyaffects the liver. Significant number of people infected with Hepatitis C develop cirrhosis of liver orliver cancer, which are responsible for 3,99,000 Hepatitis C deaths annually across the world. About1.2 crore people in India are reported to be suffering from Hepatitis C— six times the number ofHIV/AIDS patients.Hepatitis C can spread through use of injectable drugs, unsafe health care, unsafe injection practisesand transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. However, unlike Hepatitis B, it is notsexually transmitted. There is no known vaccine for Hepatitis C.

January 9: Pravasi Bharatiya DivasJanuary 9, 2018

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated every year on January 9 to mark the contribution ofOverseas Indian community in the development of India.This year’s PBD celebrated ASEAN-Indian partnership and was themed Ancient Route, New Journey:Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN INDIA Partnership. This year marks 25 years of ASEAN-IndianPartnership which is based on centuries-old cultural, religious and human links, forged on an ancientroute of commerce.The PBD was held in Singapore on 6 and 7th January 2017– which is considered as India’s gateway tothe East and also is the heart of ASEAN. The event aimed at generating outcomes that deependiaspora’s relations with India and play a key role in promoting closer ties between India and ASEAN.



Background

The day celebrated every year since 2003. It was chosen to commemorate the return of MahatmaGandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. This event marks the importance of arrival of India’sgreatest Pravasi who led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.Observance of the day provides platform to overseas Indian community to engage with governmentand people of land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.

Supreme Court stays High Court verdict against 85% pictorial warning on tobaccoJanuary 9, 2018

The Supreme Court has stayed Karnataka High Court order reducing size of pictorial warnings onpackages of tobacco products to 40% of the package space from earlier 85%. The apex court tookdecision saying that health of citizen has primacy and emphasised on importance of public healthand harmful effects of tobacco products.Background

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2014 had amended Cigarette andother Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules prescribing mandatory 85% statutorywarnings space on both sides of tobacco packaging telling consumers that cigarette smoking andtobacco chewing were harmful to health. These rules were framed under Cigarette and OtherTobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce,Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.Karnataka High Court judgment

In December 2017, Karnataka High Court judgment had quashed MoHFW rules that mandatedpictorial health warnings to cover 85% of tobacco product packaging space, holding that theyviolated Constitutional norms. However, it made it clear that 40% pictorial health warning rule,which existed prior to amendment rules, will remain in force.It had held that rules framed by MoHW in 2014 was violation of the Article 77 (Conduct of Business ofGovernment of India) and Transaction of Business (ToB) rules framed under it as subject of tobaccocontrol and legislation was not attached to one department or Ministry. Moreover, these rules arealso contrary to Article 19(1)(g) (right to practise any profession,or to carry on any occupation, tradeor business).

First PIO Parliamentary Conference held in New DelhiJanuary 10, 2018

The first-ever Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Parliamentary Conference was held in the PravasiBharatiya Kendra (PBK) in New Delhi on the occasion of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (PBD). It wasinaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conference was way of reaching out to Indiancommunity overseas by Central government.Key Facts

The PIO Parliamentary Conference was organised by Ministry of External Affairs to forge strongerties with PIO. 124 Members of Parliament (MP) and 17 mayors from 23 countries including UK, USA,South Africa, Canada, Fiji, Kenya, Mauritius, New Zealand, Sri Lanka among others participated inthis conference.The biggest delegation was frim Guyana with 20 members of parliament and three mayors. The USdelegation will be represented by only two mayors as the Senate is in sessionThe event had two Thematic Plenary Sessions – ‘PIO Parliamentarians: A Journey from Struggle toParliament’ and ‘Resurgent India: Role of PIO Parliamentarians’.Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)

A person is deemed to be Indian origin if he/she is foreign citizen (other than of Pakistan orBangladesh) and had held an Indian passport any time. He may be either person whose parents orgrandparents were citizens of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955.He may be also person who is spouse of an Indian citizen or of PIO (other than of Pakistan orBangladesh).

January 10, 2018Scientists for first time grow skeletal muscle tissue from stem cells

January 10, 2018

Scientists from Duke University in North Carolina, US for first time have developed working human



skeletal muscle from stem cells in the laboratory.Stem cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and candivide to produce more stem cells. They are found in multicellular organisms. In mammals, there aretwo broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells canbe isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts and adult stem cells are found in various tissueswhich can act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues.Key Facts

Scientists had developed human skeletal muscle using adult skin or blood cells that werereprogrammed into a juvenile, versatile state. These cells were induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)which can become any other type of human cell like naturally-occurring stem cells found in embryos.In this case, the iPSCs were coaxed into becoming skeletal muscle cells. The breakthrough was madepossible by unique cell culture conditions in lab and special 3-D scaffold which allowed cells to growmuch faster and longer.The tissue contracted and reacted to external stimuli such as electrical pulses or chemical signals. Itwas also implanted into adult mice, where it survived and functioned for at least three weeks.Significance

The development is breakthrough that holds promise for sufferers of degenerative musculardiseases. This technique will allow scientists to grow endless amount of functioning muscle in lab totest to test drugs and gene treatments for degenerative diseases.

National anthem not mandatory in cinema halls: SCJanuary 10, 2018

The Supreme Court has ruled that playing national anthem before screening movies in cinema hallsis optional and not mandatory. The ruling modifies apex court’s earlier November 2016 order thatmade the playing of national anthem in cinemas mandatory.SC Ruling

The apex court has accepted Union Government’s affidavit that said 12-member inter-ministerialcommittee has been set up to suggest changes in Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Italso asked committee to take a comprehensive decision on what changes are required in the law anditss executive orders related to national anthem. It held that the inter-ministerial committee willnow take a final call on the matter.Inter-Ministerial Committee on National Anthem in Cinema Halls

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had constituted inter-ministerial committee to frameguidelines on playing national anthem in cinemas and other public places. It is headed by BRSharma, Additional Secretary (Border Management) under Union Ministry of Home Affairs and hasrepresentatives from various ministries.The committee is mandated to frame guidelines describing circumstances and occasion on whichnational anthem is to be played or sung. It will recommend observance of proper decorum whennational anthem is played or sung. It will submit its report within six months.Background

In November 2016, SC had ordered all cinemas to play the National Anthem before screening a filmfor the love of the motherland. The MHA’s decision to constitute the committee came after anotherbench of SC in October 2017 had observed that people “cannot be forced to carry patriotism on theirsleeves. It stated that apex court cannot assume that a person is “less patriotic” if he or she does notstand up for the national anthem.

3rd Meeting of Council of Trade Development and Promotion held in New DelhiJanuary 10, 2018

The third meeting of Council of Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP) was held in New Delhi. Itwas chaired by Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu and was attended by CM ofGoa, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, ministers from 11 states, senior state government officials andindustry bodies.The objective of the meeting was to enhance the Centre’s cooperation with the states and unionterritories in making the latter active partners in boosting India’s exports.



Council for Trade Development and Promotion (CTDP)

CTDP was constituted in July, 2015 to ensure a continuous dialogue with State Governments/UTs onmeasures for providing International trade enabling environment in States. The council wasconstituted to promote India’s overseas shipments. It acts as platform to develop partnership withstates with aim to boost international trade. It also seeks to create a framework for making statesactive partners in boosting India’s exports.Composition

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister is Chairperson of CTDP. Ministers’ in-charge of Tradeand Commerce in State Governments/UTs are its members. Besides 14 secretaries of centralgovernment, including commerce, revenue, shipping, civil aviation, agriculture, food processing andeconomic affairs are also its members.Mandate of CTDP

Provide platform to State Governments/UTs for articulating their perspectives on trade policy.Help State Governments/UTs develop and pursue export strategies in line with national Foreign Trade PolicyProvide platform for deliberation on need for infrastructure relevant for promoting trade and for identification ofimpediments and infrastructure gaps which adversely affect India’s export.Provide platform to Union Government for apprising State Governments/UTs about international developmentaffecting India’s trade potential and opportunities and prepare them to deal with evolving situation.Facilitate mechanism for discussion on operationalization of trade infrastructure.

Gujarat tops in Logistics Ease Across Different States indexJanuary 10, 2018

Gujarat has topped among 22 states in the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) indexreleased by Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry.It was released by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu after the third meeting ofthe Council for Trade Development and Promotion in New Delhi.Rankings in LEADS index

Punjab has acquired second position followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Among the Union Territories, Daman & Diu occupied top slot followed by NCT Delhi andChandigarh. As regards the hilly states, Tripura was on top followed by Mizoram and Meghalaya.

LEADS index

The LEADs index is a composite indicator to assess international trade logistics across States/UTsbased on stakeholders’ survey conducted by Deloitte for Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It iscalculated based on eight parameters such as infrastructure, services, timeliness, track and trace,competitiveness of pricing, safety of cargo, operating environment and regulatory process.LEADS is loosely based on World Bank’s biannual Logistics Performance Index (LPI) on which Indiawas ranked 35 among 160 countries in 2016, up from 54 in 2014. It aims to serve as an indicator ofefficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports in particular and economic growthin general.



CCEA approves continuation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development SchemeJanuary 10, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to continuation ofMembers of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) till term of 14th FinanceCommission i.e. 2020.The continuation of scheme will entail annual allocation of Rs.3,950 crore and total outlay of Rs.11,850 crores over next 3 years.MPLAD Scheme

The MPLAD Scheme is Central Sector Scheme launched in 1993-94. It enables Members of Parliament(both elected and nominated) to recommend works for creation of durable community assets basedon locally felt needs to be taken up in their constituencies in area of national priorities like drinkingwater, education, public health, sanitation, roads etc.The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MSPI) is nodal ministry to coordinatework under scheme. The scheme is governed by set of guidelines (last revised in June, 2016). Underthis scheme, the funds are released in the form of grants in-aid directly to the district authorities onreceipt of requisite documents and as per these guidelines.The funds released under the scheme are non-lapsable i.e. if the fund for particular work is not spentin that year, it will be carried forward to the subsequent years, subject to eligibility.The annual entitlement under the scheme per MP at present is Rs 5 crore. Role of MPs for theprojects is only recommendatory i.e. they can only recommend their choice of works to concerneddistrict authorities who implement these works by following the established procedures of theconcerned state government.Impact

Since its inception of the scheme, a total number of 18,82,180 works for Rs. 44,929.17 crore have beensanctioned till August, 2017 from MPLADS fund. It has resulted into creation of various durablecommunity assets which have impacted the social, cultural and economic life of the localcommunities in one way or the other.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Canada for cooperation in field of S&TJanuary 10, 2018

The Union Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada for cooperation infield of Science & Technology. The MoU was concluded by Department of Science and Technology(DST) with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.Salient features

The MoU will provide mechanism and help to foster scientific cooperation between Research &Development (R&D) and academic institutions of India and Canada. Under it, an innovative model ofR&D cooperation between India and Canada will be implemented.Under this MoU, India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to AccelerateCommunity Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS) programme will be supported topromote multidisciplinary research partnerships between both countries.The R&D projects will be aimed at accelerating social transformation by providing solutions throughapplication of S&T. The participants will include researchers from scientific organizations, academiaand R&D laboratories from India and Canada.Identified areas of mutual cooperation under the MoU include safe and sustainable infrastructureand integrated water management. This will help to develop institutional networking and supportestablishment of connections between scientific organizations, scientists and specialists of bothcountries.

Rocket expert K. Sivan appointed as new chairman of ISROJanuary 10, 2018

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed rocket scientist K. Sivan as nextSecretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of Space Commission and Indian SpaceResearch Organisation (ISRO). He will succeed A.S. Kiran Kumar and will have term of three years.K. Sivan

He is a graduate in aeronautical engineering from Institute of Technology (Madras), ME from IndianInstitute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. He had earned doctorate in aerospace engineering from IIT



Bombay. He had joined ISRO in 1982 in then young PSLV project and has been project director of theGSLV rocket. Currently he is Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and wasappointed in June 2015.He also had played key role in developing indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(GSLV) MK II and was part of team that ideated on Swadeshi space shuttle (a reusable launch vehicle).It was Mr Sivan’s expertise that gave ISRO the ability to send 104 satellites in a single mission,setting a world record in February last year. He was the key person who worked on the technicalitiesof how the satellites would be placed in orbit.It was his expertise that gave ISRO ability to send 104 satellites in single mission and sett worldrecord in February 2017. He was key person who worked on technicalities of how the satellites wouldbe placed in orbit.

January 11, 2018Corps of Army Air Defence celebrates 25th Raising Day

January 11, 2018

On January 10, 2018, the Corps of Army Air Defence celebrated its 25th raising day. Corps of Army AirDefence is one of the active corps of Indian army tasked with protection of Indian air spaces fromenemy aircrafts and missiles, specially below 5000 feet.Key Facts

The Corps of Army Air Defence was first raised during British era in 1939 and it took activeparticipation in the Second World War. However, since January 10, 1994, it is exercising autonomousstatus.Since then, it has grown in stature and proved its mettle in almost all major conflicts.The crest of Corps of Army Air Defence portrays a missile in silver tint, with radar antennae in goldcolour fixed on the either side. Its motto “आकाशे शत्रुन् जहि ” (Kill The Enemy in Sky) hasbeen imprinted on its crest and flag. The current Director General of Corps of Army Air Defence is Lt.Gen. A K Sahgal.The personnel of Air Defence Corps are trained at Army Air Defence College (AADC) at Gopalpurcantonment, Odisha.

Mumbai’s Matunga Railway Station enters Limca Records for All Woman StaffJanuary 11, 2018

Mumbai’s Matunga station on Central Railway (CR) has entered the Limca Book of Records as firstall-women station in India. The station has total staff of 41 women.The unique initiative to employ all woman staff was undertaken by CR General Manager DK Sharmain July 2017 with aim of empowering women. It also aims to create an environment for women wherethey can make all decisions of their own for their personal and professional well-being, organisationgood notwithstanding.Key Facts

Women staffers were posted across all departments, including for commercial and operations ticketchecking, Railway Protection Force, announcers and conservancy staffers. Even it includes five-pointpersons, totalling 41, under charge of Station Manager Mamta Kulkarni who holds distinction ofbecoming first woman assistant station manager to be recruited by CR’s Mumbai Division in 1992.Earlier records

In 1988, Indian Railways’ Mumbai region set new records in women’s empowerment with SurekhaBhosale-Yadav becoming first woman train driver on CR. In 1992, world’s first ‘Ladies Special’suburban train introduced on Western Railway.

Charlie-435: Indian Coast Guard commissions patrol vesselJanuary 11, 2018

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned Charlie-435, a state-of-the-art patrol vessel atKaraikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry. It was commissioned by Puducherry Chief Minister VNarayanasamy. With commissioning of Charlie-435, the Coast Guard station at Karaikal now has fivevessels.Charlie-435

The patrol vessel ‘Charlie-435’ is equipped with modern navigation and communication system. Thevessel will strengthen coastal security between Chennai and Kanyakumari in the Eastern Coastal



region. It will be also of great help in rescuing fishermen who go adrift in sea due to bad weather.

Committee of Governors submits report to PresidentJanuary 11, 2018

The Committee of Governors submitted its report ‘Rajyapal –VikasKeRajdoot: Catalytic Role ofGovernors as Agents for Change in Society’ to President Ram NathKovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.The Committee was constituted by President during 48th Conference of Governors in October 2017to examine role of Governors in taking forward the developmental process. It comprises ESLNarasimhan (Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), BanwarilalPurohit, (Governor of TamilNadu), Ram Naik (Governor of Uttar Pradesh), Tathagata Roy (Governor of Tripura) and AcharyaDevvrat (Governor of Himachal Pradesh)Report Highlights

Committee of Governors in its report has described an action-outcome framework to be adopted byRaj Bhavans in their role as change agents and lists out potential priorities. It also emphasizesidentifying priority areas along with activities that can help realise objectives of SarvShrest Bharat(paramount India). It suggests that Governors can play mentoring role in overall implementation ofdevelopmental schemes in their states.

UIDAI introduces 2-tier security to Aadhaar to address privacy concernsJanuary 11, 2018

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced two-tier security feature viz.Virtual ID and Limited KYC to address privacy concerns.The move aims to strengthen security and privacy of Aadhaar data. It will also reduce the collectionof Aadhaar numbers by various agencies.Virtual ID

The Virtual ID will be random 16-digit number that can be generated from UIDA’s website and givefor various purposes, wherever Aadhaar number is necessary to provide. It will be linked withbiometrics of user that will give any authorised agency limited access of details like name, addressand photograph.Using it, Aadhaar-card holders do not need to share their actual 12-digit biometric ID for anyauthentication. User can generate as many Virtual IDs as they want. The older ID will getautomatically cancelled at time new one is generated. It will be obligatory for all agencies thatundertake authentication to accept Virtual ID from their users.Limited KYC

It was introduced to address issue of storage of Aadhaar number within various databases. It willonly provide need-based or limited details of user to authorised agency that is providing particularservice. It will evaluate Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) and split them into two categories:Global AUAs and Local AUAs.Global AUAs will have access to full demographic details of an individual along with the ability tostore Aadhaar numbers within their system.Remaining AUAs will be branded as Local AUAs and will neither get access to full KYC, nor can theycan store Aadhaar number on their systems. Instead, they will get tokenised number (UID Token)issued by UIDAI to identify their customers. It will be 72 character alphanumeric.Aadhaar

Aadhaar is 12 digit unique-identity number issued by Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI) to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data. It is the world’slargest biometric ID system, with over 1.19 billion enrolled members as of November 2017. Thebiometric and demographic data is collected by UIDAI, a statutory authority under the Ministry ofElectronics and Information Technology.

CABE sub-committee recommends free education for girls up to PG levelJanuary 11, 2018

The sub-committee of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) looking into issues of girl’seducation has recommended free and compulsory education for girls up to post-graduate level acrossthe country.The sub-committee is likely to submit an interim report to Union Human Resource DevelopmentMinistry during CABE meeting on January 15, 2018.



Background

The meeting of sub-committee was held in Hyderabad, Telangana and was chaired by KadiamSrihari, Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister of Telangana. It was attended by EducationMinisters of Telangana, Jharkhand and Assam and Special Human Resources Development (HRD)Department Special Secretary Rinarayi, Member Secretary Meenakshi Garg and other officials.Key Outcomes of meeting

The sub-committee of CABE will also recommended establishing of exclusive residential degreecolleges for SC/ST women besides provision of providing health and hygiene kits to girls. Thecommittee also wants schools to maintain academic atmosphere, besides providing basic amenitieslike toilets, maintenance, running water, safety measures and power supply and also appoint acounsellor for adolescent girls.Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE)

CABE is the policy making advisory body of the HRB Ministry. The committee has representatives ofcentral organisation, universities, state and bodies including planning commission, NGOs and civicsociety. The CABE committee headed by HRD Minister is generally made for three years.

World Bank Report projects 7.3% growth for India in 2018January 11, 2018

The 2018 Global Economics Prospect (GEP) released by the World Bank has projected India’s growthrate to 7.3% in 2018 and 7.5 for the next two years i.e. 2019 and 2020.According to report, India, despite initial setbacks from demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax(GST), is estimated to have grown at 6.7% in 2017, higher than 6.5% estimated by Government.Key Highlights of 2018 GEP

India has enormous growth potential compared to other emerging economies with implementationof comprehensive reforms. In all likelihood, India is going to register higher growth rate than othermajor emerging market economies in next decade.China grew at 6.8% in 2017, 0.1% more than that of India, while in 2018, its growth rate is projected at6.4%. In next two years, China’s growth rate will drop marginally to 6.3 and 6.2%, respectively. Incomparison with China, which is slowing, India growth will gradually accelerate.To materialise its potential, India needed to take steps to boost investment prospects. Onproductivity side, India has enormous potential with respect to secondary education completion rate.India is also undertaking measures in terms of nonperforming loans and productivity.India’s prospects will further improve with improved labour market reforms, education and healthreforms as well as relaxing investment bottleneck. India has favourable demographic profile which israrely seen in other economies. In this, improving female labour force participation rate is going tobe important.Global Economic Prospects

GEP is World Bank Group’s flagship report that examines global economic developments andprospects with special focus on developing and emerging market economies. It is issued twice a yearin January and June. The January edition includes in-depth analyses of topical policy challengeswhile June edition contains shorter analytical pieces.

India misses 2017 deadline for Kala Azar eliminationJanuary 11, 2018

India has missed December 2017 deadline announced for elimination of Kala Azar (black fever) in2017-18 Budget by the Union Government. Elimination in this case is defined as reducing annualincidence of disease to less than 1 case per 10,000 people at the sub-district level.Endemic blocks

In recent times endemic blocks have increased from 61 to 68 in 17 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand.The active case findings rather than actual increase in disease are main reason for increase innumber of endemic blocks. Moreover, little-known skin condition called Post Kala Azar DermalLeishmaniasis (PKDL) — a red flag for transmission of Kala Azar—also has been growing steadilyover the past few years.Reasons for missing deadline

For elimination of Kala Azar, its vector needs to be eliminated first. But it is very difficult to eliminatevector as it dwells in wooden structure and escapes various measures to kill it. The majority of



houses in endemic blocks are made from wood. Hence, to stop infection transmission, pucca housesneed to be built.Kala Azar

Kala-azar or visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as black fever and Dumdum fever is most severeform of leishmaniasis. It is slow progressing indigenous disease caused by single-celled parasite ofLeishmania family. It belongs to Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) family of diseases which affectpoorest populations.Its infection is transmitted by sand fly (Leishmania donovani), a blood-sucking pest, which is one-third size of mosquitoes and found in moist (humid) mud and sand and in close proximity tolivestock.It signs and symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and substantial swelling of liverand spleen. It is treatable and requires a medical diagnosis. If untreated, kala-azar can kill within twoyears of onset of ailment.It is second-largest parasitic killer in world after Malaria. It is endemic to Indian subcontinent in 119districts in four countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal). India accounts for half the globalburden of Kala-azar disease.

Cabinet approves fixed term for chairperson and members of National TrustJanuary 11, 2018

The Union Cabinet has decided to fix three-year term of chairperson and the members of the boardof the National Trust, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,In this regard, it has approved proposal to amend National Trust for Welfare of Person with Autism,Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act (NTA), 1999.Key Facts

At present, Section 4 (1) of NTA, 1999 provides that chairperson or member of board of National Trustwill continue in office beyond prescribed term of 3 years until his successor is appointed bygovernment. In case of resignation of chairperson, section 5(1) of act provides for him to continue inoffice until his successor is appointed by government.The wording of above provisions of NT Act in its present form has resulted in continuation ofchairman for indefinite period as no suitable successor could be found eligible for appointment. Theproposed amendments to National Trust Act will avoid such situation and thus eliminate any chanceof prolonged continuation in the same post by any incumbent.National Trust

It is a statutory body under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Its mandate is to discharge two basic duties – legal andwelfare.It fundamental purpose, is to create enabling environment, i.e. provide opportunities for Personswith Disabilities (PwD) through comprehensive support systems which will lead towardsdevelopment of an inclusive society.Objectives of National Trust

Enable and empower PWD to live as independently and fully as possible within and close to their community aspossible.Facilitate realisation of equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of persons with disability.Extend support to its registered organisations to provide need based services.Evolve procedures for appointments of guardians and trustees for persons with disabilities.

Cabinet approves amendments to FDI PolicyJanuary 11, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved number of amendments to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy.The purpose of amendments is to simplify and liberalise FDI policy in India to provide ease of doingbusiness in country. The liberalized policy will lead to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth ofinvestment, employment and income.Key amendments approved

100% FDI for Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT) under automatic route.100% FDI under automatic route in Construction Development.



Foreign airlines allowed investing up to 49% in Air India under government approval route.FIIs/FPIs allowed investing in Power Exchanges through primary market.Definition of ‘medical devices’ amended in FDI Policy.

FDI policy on SBRT

The existing policy FDI policy on SBRT allows 49% FDI under automatic route, and beyond 49% up to100% is allowed through government approval route. The amendment now permits 100% FDI forSBRT under automatic route. It also permits SBRT entity to set off its incremental sourcing of goodsfrom India for global operations during initial 5 years against mandatory sourcing requirement of30% of purchases from India.Incremental sourcing means increase in terms of value of such global sourcing from India for thatsingle brand (in Indian Rupees term) particular financial year over preceding financial year. Aftercompletion of 5 year period, SBRT entity shall be required to meet 30% sourcing norms directlytowards its India’s operation on annual basis.Construction Development

The amendment clarifies that real-estate broking service does not come under real estate business.Therefore, it is eligible for 100% FDI under automatic route.FDI in Civil Aviation

Foreign airlines are allowed to invest capital in Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, up to the limit of 49% of their paid-up capital under governmentapproval route. However, this provision was not applicable to Air India, implying that foreign airlinescould not invest in Air India. The amendment does away with this restriction and allows foreignairlines to invest up to 49% under approval route in Air India.Power Exchanges

The present FDI policy allows 49% FDI in Power Exchanges registered under the Central ElectricityRegulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations, 2010 under automatic route. However, ForeignPortfolio Investors (FPIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) purchases were restricted tosecondary market only. The amendment now allows FIIs/FPIs to invest in Power Exchanges throughprimary market as well.Medical devices

The approved FDI Policy changes definition of ‘medical devices’. Earlier FDI policy onpharmaceuticals sector provided definition of medical device as contained in FDI Policy will besubject to amendment in Drugs and Cosmetics Act. As Now the reference to Drugs and CosmeticsAct from FDI policy will be dropped.

January 12, 2018January 12: National Youth Day

January 12, 2018

The National Youth Day is observed every year on 12 January to mark the birth anniversary of socialreformer, philosopher, thinker and youth icon of India Swami Vivekananda.This year it is 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Observance of the day seeks topropagate the philosophy and the ideals of Swami Vivekananda for which he lived and worked. It willalso help and act as great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Dutta on 12 January 1863 and died on 4 July 1902. Heand was chief disciple of 19th century saint Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. He was one of mostprominent figures of India who introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to “Western”World.He is one of the greatest spiritual leaders and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringingHinduism to status of major world religion during late 19th century. He is also considered as majorforce in revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to concept of nationalism in colonial India.He is best known for his speech which began, “Sisters and brothers of America …,” at the Parliamentof the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893 in which he introduced Hinduism. This speech wasconsidered as one of his most significant contributions to world. He is also considered as source ofinspiration that created a concept of nationalism in colonial India.



4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference held in NalandaJanuary 12, 2018

The 4th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference on “State and Social Order in Dharma-DhammaTraditions” was held at Rajgir in Nalanda district, Bihar. It was inaugurated by President Ram NathKovind.The event was organised as part of commemorative events to celebrate Silver Jubilee (25) year ofASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership. (ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations)Key Facts

The Conference was organised by Nalanda University, in collaboration with Centre for Study ofReligion and Society, India Foundation, Ministry of External Affairs and Vietnam BuddhistUniversity. Its central theme was the ideal state and just social order based on dharmic principles.The conference aimed to facilitate crosspollination of ideas and foster harmony at global level. It alsofocused to explore shared values of dharmic traditions, which may provide the guiding light totroubled world today. It was attended by 20-30 plenary speakers and around 60 papers werepresented by participants from 11 countries.

National Youth Festival held in New DelhiJanuary 12, 2018

The 22nd National Youth Festival (NYF) was held in New Delhi occasion of birth anniversary ofSwami Vivekananda, the youth icon of India. It was organised by Union Ministry of Youth Affairs &Sports in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Government at Gautam Buddha University GreaterNoida.This is the first time that the National Youth Festival is being organized in National Capital Region(NCR). The first National Youth Festival was held in 1995 in Bhopal.Key Facts

NYF is the biggest Youth Festival of its kind in country. Its objective is to provide platform to bringyouth of country together in attempt to provide them opportunity to showcase their talents invarious activities. The Theme of 2017 NYF is ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’. It seeks to capitalize on demographicdividend of country’s youth and also capture vibrancy and fresh perspective of youth and to pledge toaccomplish goal of New India.The festival provided common platform by creating mini-India, where youth interacted in formal andinformal settings and exchange their social and cultural uniqueness.The entire programme and events of 2017 NYF were designed to enhance awareness aboutgovernment initiatives and exhorting youth to express their perceptions and concepts to make theirinitiatives more effective. Around 5000 volunteers of National Service Scheme and Nehru YuvaKendra Sangathan from all parts of the country along with local accredited youth participated in the5-day Festival.

JioCoin: Reliance Jio planning to launch its own cryptocurrencyJanuary 12, 2018

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd is planning to create its own cyptocurrency, JioCoin. The Jiocoin projectis being led by Mukesh Ambani’s elder son Akash Ambani.Under it, Reliance Jio is planning to build a 50-member team of young professionals to work onblockchain technology, which can also be used for multiple applications and develop variousblockchain products. Reliance Jio is also aspiring to get into Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchaintechnology will come in handy there.Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is decentralized incorruptible digital ledger for storing data across a peer-to-peernetwork. It decentralizes information without it being copied. Information is held on blockchainthrough shared database which can be accessed on real-time basis. This database is not stored onphysical servers but on cloud, which makes it easy to store unlimited data.Blockchain technology is not controlled by any single entity and has no single point of failure. It istransparent and incorruptible. It is kind of self-auditing ecosystem of digital value and blockchainnetwork automatically checks every transaction that happens in it.The most popular application of technology so far has been cryptocurrency. But it is not limited to,financial transactions and can be also used in smart contracts, supply chain management logistics,



sharing economy, crowdfunding, governance, file storage and date management and IoT.

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT is a network of devices such as smartphones, wearable devices, home appliances and vehicles,connected to internet, which enables these objects to connect and exchange data. Blockchaintechnology has potential to address security risks to IoT as it provides a shield against datatampering by labelling each block of data.



Indu Malhotra: First woman lawyer to be directly promoted as SC judgeJanuary 12, 2018

The Supreme Court collegium led by Chief Justice of India (CI) Dipak Misra has unanimouslyrecommended name of senior advocate Indu Malhotra for appointment as a judge of the SupremeCourt. With this, she becomes first woman lawyer from the country to be directly elected for post ofjudge of the Supreme Court.Overall she will be seventh woman judge in SC, since it was established 67 years ago. In 1989, JusticeM. Fathima Beevi became first woman judge in Supreme Court. At present, Justice R. Banumathi islone woman judge in SC which currently has a strength of 25 judges of total sanctioned strength of31 (including 31).Indu Malhotra

Indu Malhotra is reputed senior advocate practising in SC or the past 30 years. She was born in 1956in Bengaluru, Karnataka to noted advocate Om Prakash Malhotra.She joined the legal profession in 1983 and later secured first position in Advocate-on-Record examfor Supreme Court. She has specialised in law of arbitration and has appeared in various domesticand international commercial arbitrations. She has authored Commentary on the Law and Practiceof Arbitration in India (2014).In 2007, she became second woman to be designated as senior advocate by SC only after legendaryJustice Leila Seth, who was given honour in 1977. She is on board of trustees in SaveLIFE Foundationand represented NGO in case which resulted in SC passing a slew of laws to protect good Samaritans,who save lives in road accidents.

China to build Counter-Terrorism Base in Northern Afghanistan’s Badakshan provinceJanuary 12, 2018

China has announced to provide financial support to construct counter-terrorism base in Badakshanprovince of northern Afghanistan that would prevent cross-border infiltration of the Chinese Uyghurmilitants.The decision in this regard was taken during recent meeting of Afghanistan Defence Minister TariqShah Bahrami, Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan.Counter-Terrorism Base in Badakshan province

The location of counter-terrorism base has not yet been decided. The Chinese funding will include allmaterial i.e. weaponry, uniforms for soldiers, military equipment expenses and technical costs. Chinaand Afghanistan have formed a special commission to finalise the location of base, evaluateconstruction costs and manage other technical issues.

Background

China side fears that Chinese Uyghurs militants, a Turkic ethnic Muslim group concentrated inXinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China were trained in Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan thatwere operational during Taliban rule in Afghanistan prior to 2001. Largest group of these militantsalready resides in Afghan province of Badakhshan.China believes that some ethnic Uyghurs are part of Islamic State present in Afghanistan’s northernregions. They may enter into China through Afghanistan and make problems in its restive Xinjiangprovince, the largest of China’s administrative regions, is inhabited mostly by Uighurs.

Ministry of Railways launches SFOORTI applicationJanuary 12, 2018

The Union Ministry of Railways has launched Smart Freight Operation Optimisation & Real TimeInformation (SFOORTI) application to help plan traffic flows and optimize freight operations.The app will help Freight Managers to monitor and manage freight business using Geographic



Information System (GIS) views and dashboard.Key Facts

SFOORTI application will help to track movement of freight trains over Zones/Divisions/Sections onGIS View. Even passenger trains can be tracked using it. It will help to monitor freight business alongwith comparative analysis of Zonal and Divisional Traffic.The app will help in analysis of new traffic captured and traffic lost and provides a Bird’s eye view ofall Freight Assets in a single window. It will also provide end to end Rake movement on Geospatialview and will also help evaluate daily performance of expected traffic at Interchange points.It has Freight Operation Information System (FOIS) Map View–A GIS based monitoring andmanagement tool designed and developed in CRIS which provides layered views of freight trains onIndian Railways.The FOIS Map View–A GIS has been designed to cater to Divisional, Zonal and Board levels ofmanagement for improved freight operations and also help to plan the traffic flows and optimizefreight operationsRailway Freight traffic

Railway Freight traffic is vital for economic and industrial progress of the country. Freight traffic ismajor source of revenue for Indian Railways. Only one-third of 13000 trains running daily by IndianRailways are freight trains, but they accounts 65% of total revenue of Railways.

January 13, 2018Fourth ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture & Forestry held in Delhi

January 13, 2018

The 4th ASEAN-INDIA Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held at NASC Complex,New Delhi. It was attended by representatives from 10 ASEAN countries.The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Radha MohanSingh and Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Grisada Boonrach.Key Facts

The aim of the meeting was to facilitate promotion of joint research for development of technologiesfor increasing production and productivity of crops, livestock and fisherie, and natural resourcesmanagement, among others in the region.It also aimed at development of joint ventures, exchange of technologies, expertise and material. Themeeting also aimed to enhance cooperation on exchange of expertise to promote resilience in foodsecurity to address the price volatility of food supplies in the region.The meeting held discussions focused on enhancing cooperation on exchange of expertise topromote resilience in food security and to address the price volatility of food supplies in the region. Itwas announced that 5th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in2019 in Brunei Darussalam.ASEAN

ASEAN is a regional organisation that aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation andeconomic integration amongst its members. It consists of 10-member countries- Cambodia, Brunei,Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It came intoexistence on August 8, 1967, after adoption of ASEAN declaration (also known as BangkokDeclaration). It is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

NITI Aayog to rank 115 aspirational districts by April 2018January 13, 2018

Government think-tank National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has announced torank 115 backward (aspirational) districts by April 2018. It was announced at ‘Transformation ofAspirational Districts’ conference.These 115 backward districts include 35 districts affected by Left Wing Extremists (LWE) violence, 55districts just affected by LWE and another 15 including districts in Jammu and Kashmir andnortheast affected by terrorism.Key Facts

These 115 backward districts will be ranked on 10 socio-economic parameters which will includenutrition, education and health. Moreover NITI Aayog will also set up a mechanism for real-timemonitoring of government’s development programmes by April 2018. It will also create dashboard



which will reflect change in ranking of districts on continuous basis by the end of March 2018.Background

The Union Government had selected 115 backward districts for rapid transformation by 2022 in linewith Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to create a “New India” over the next five years. Duringthe Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had askedcollectors and officers-in- charge (Prabhari Officers) of the 115 aspirational districts to come up withpioneering innovations to achieve visible results for development. Government has embarked uponmajor policy initiative for rapid transformation of these 115 districts that are lagging on specificdevelopment parameters.

IIP growth hits 17-month high of 8.4% in November 2017January 13, 2018

India’s factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose to 8.4% in November2017 from 2% in October 2017. It was due to robust performance by manufacturing and capital goodssectors.According to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), it was highest growth registered byIIP in 17-months. The previous high was recorded at 8.9% in June, 2016.IIP Growth in November 2017

Manufacturing sector: Recorded an impressive growth of 10.2%.

Mining output: Recorded 1.1% growth.

Electricity generation: Recorded 3.9%..

Capital goods output: It is a barometer of investment. It grew by 9.4%.

Consumer durables output: It grew just by 2.5%. It reflected weakness in urban demand.

Consumer non-durables production: Recorded growth of 23.1%.Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

The IIP is composite indicator that measures short-term changes in volume of production of a basketof industrial products during a given period with respect to chosen base period. It is compiled andpublished monthly by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Statistics andProgramme Implementation.Sector wise items and weightages: It covers 407 item groups. Sector wise, the items included fallsinto 3 categories viz. Manufacturing (405 items), Mining (1 items) & Electricity (1 item). The weightsof the three sectors are 77.63%, 14.37%, 7.9% respectively.The revised eight core Industries have a combined weightage of 40.27% in the IIP. Decreasing orderof weightage of core industries (base year 2011-12) is Petroleum Refinery production (weight:28.04%), Electricity generation (19.85%), Steel production (17.92 %), Coal production (10.33 %), CrudeOil production (8.98 %), Natural Gas production (6.88 %), Steel production (17.92 %) and Fertilizerproduction (2.63 %).Base year: The CSO had revised the base year of the IIP from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in May 2017 tocapture structural changes in the economy and improves the quality and representativeness of theindices. The revised IIP (2011-12) reflects the changes in the industrial sector and also aligns it withthe base year of other macroeconomic indicators like the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and GrossDomestic Product (GDP).

North Koel Reservoir Project: Water Resources Ministry ink MoU with Bihar and JharkhandJanuary 13, 2018

The Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has inkedMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bihar and Jharkhand for completion of balance works ofNorth Koel reservoir project.Moreover, supplementary Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between Ministry of WaterResources, National Water Development Agency, NABARD with both states for funding under LongTerm Irrigation Fund (LTIF) for the project.Funding

The project is scheduled to be completed in 30 months at the estimated cost of Rs. 1622.27 crores. Ofthis Rs. 1013.11 crores will be borne by Union Government as grant from LTIF under Pradhan MantriKrishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). I60% will be financed by Central Government from LTIF and



remaining 40% of cost will be borne by the States through loan financed by NABARD.North Koel Reservoir Project

The project is situated on North Koel river, tributary on Sone River. It aims to provide irrigation to111,521 hectares of land annually in most backward and drought prone areas in Jharkhand and Bihar.The construction of the projected originally had started in 1972 and continued till 1993 when it wasstopped by the Bihar forest department over environmental concerns.The Mandal dam as part of the project had threatened to submerge portions of the Palamau TigerReserve and Betla National Park. The National Wildlife Board (NWB) had cleared the project in June2017 with certain conditions.North Koel River

North Koel River rises on Ranchi plateau in Jharkhand. It joins the Sone River (only right banktributary of Ganga River) a few miles north-west of Haidarnagar. Its principal tributaries are theAuranga and the Amanat. It meanders through the northern part of Betla National Park.

Environment Ministry refuses captive breeding of ChiruJanuary 13, 2018

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has refused to allowcaptive breeding of Chiru (Tibetan antelope), whose underfur is used for making famous shahtooshshawls.The suggestion for captive breeding was made by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science &Technology, Environment & Forests asking to consider captive breeding as it will add to livelihood ofpeople of Kashmir.Shahtoosh shawls

Chiru for long time have been hunted for their underfur, which is renowned for its quality which istraditionally woven into an extremely fine fabric to make Shahtoosh shawls. It takes three to fivehides to make a single shawl. Moreover, the wool cannot be sheared or combed and to collect the fur,the animals have to be killed. At present, Shahtoosh shawls’ sale and possession is banned in Indiaand in many countries.Parliament panel view

The Parliament panel was of view that MoEFCC should conserve and breed Chiru goat, which canthen be given to shawl makers for collecting hair. This would increase number of these goats butwould also add to sustainable livelihood opportunities of people of Kashmir, who are lot dependanton the handicraft of embroidered shawls. It also cited that China and Mongolia are breeding Chirugoats for its wool, which is very expensive. The cost of an embroidered shahtoosh shawl can run intocrores of rupees.MoEFCC Argument

Chiru is assessed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)2017. Their current low population can only be maintained with continued high levels of protectionin its natural. Any relaxation in protection regime of animal will lead to rapid population decline dueto commercial poaching.Chiru inhabits high-altitude Tibetan plateau and requires large expanse of land for its movement andranging patterns to fulfil its feeding and breeding requirements. Rearing it in captivity is extremelydifficult. Besides, any attempt to do conservation breeding at very high altitude regions of Ladakhmay not be economical or feasible as humans cannot be posted there continuously for more than 2-3months. Moreover Chinese also have failed to keep Chiru in captivity due to its poor survival rates.Chiru (Tibetan antelope)

Its Scientific name is Pantholops hodgsonii. This antelope is considered to be close to goat family. Itlives at a 3,250-5,500 metre elevation in high altitude plains and montane valleys comprising ofalpine and desert steppe and pasture, distinguished by low vegetation cover and productivity.Predators such as wolf, lynx, snow leopard, and red fox are predators of chirus and their youngcalves.Protection Status: ‘Near Threatened’ in IUCN Red List. It has been enlisted in Schedule I of WildlifeProtection Act, 1972. To enhance its protection, its prime habitats have been declared as WildlifeSanctuaries viz. Karakorma Wildlife Sanctuary and Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.



Nepal starts receiving internet connection from ChinaJanuary 13, 2018

Nepal has started accessing internet from China after commercial operation of Nepal-China opticalfibre link via Rasuwagadhi gateway across Himalayan Mountains became operational.The commercial operation of Chinese bandwidth project now ends Nepal’s sole dependence on Indiafor internet bandwidth. It is considered as loss for India, both revenue wise and strategically.Key Facts

The actual volume of Chinese internet bandwidth that Nepal will receive has not been disclosed. Itbelieved that initial speed by Chinese fibre link will be 1.5 Gigabit per second (gbps), less than 34gbpsprovided by India.Chinese internet bandwidth will provide alternative source for Nepal to meet ever-increasingbandwidth demand as use of Internet has been increasing rapidly in the Himalayan country.Chinese Internet gateway is also expected to facilitate service providers in Nepal to establishbandwidth connection with other countries via China. It is also considered as milestone fordeveloping internet infrastructure in Nepal and boost bilateral relations between both countries.Background

Nepal is currently linked to global internet connectivity through Indian telecom operators viadifferent optical fibre connections in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Birgunj, among others. This gaveIndia complete monopoly in supplying internet to Himalayan nation. In December 2016, state ownedNepal Telecom (NT) had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Telecom toacquire internet bandwidth. NT had begun test transmission of project from September 2017.

China launches two BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into spaceJanuary 13, 2018

China has successfully launched two BeiDou-3 satellites to provide navigation and positioningservices to countries along Belt and Road initiative (BRI) by the end of 2018.The two satellites were designated as BeiDou-3 M7 and BeiDou-3 M8 (26th and 27th satellites) inBeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).Key Facts

These two satellites were launched on board of Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang SatelliteLaunch Centre in southwestern province of Sichuan. This was first launch of the BeiDou satellites in2018. China is plannig to send 18 BeiDou-3 satellites into space in 2018.These two satellites were based on newly-developed dedicated satellite bus and weigh about 1 metricton each. Both spacecraft had two deployable solar arrays and are designed to be operational forabout 12 years. These newly-launched satellites represent third phase of BDS system (BeiDou-3). Thefirst BeiDou-3 satellite was launched in March of 2015BeiDou

BeiDou is 2nd generation of Chinese homegrown navigational system seen as rival to US’s GlobalPositioning System (GPS). It was named after Chinese term for plough or Big Dipper constellation.It comprises constellation of total 35 satellites in two separate satellite constellations viz. limited testsystem (operational since 2000) and full-scale global navigation system which is currently underconstruction. The first BeiDou satellite was sent into space in 2000.It became operational in December 2011, with constellation of 10 satellites providing services inChina only. In December 2012, it began offering services to customers in Asia-Pacific region. On itscompletion in 2020, it will provide services to global customers.Currently it used for civilian services in field of navigation, messaging, transportation and weatherforecasting sectors. It also has military applications.

EC constitutes Umesh Sinha Committee for considering social media expansionJanuary 13, 2018

The Election Commission (EC) has constituted 14 member committee headed by Umesh Sinha tosuggest changes to Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) in view of socialmedia expansion.Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 prohibits displaying any election matter by means of television or similarapparatus, during the period of 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in aconstituency. It does not include social and new media under its ambit.



Composition: The Committee will be headed by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha.It will comprise of 9 officers of EC, one nominated member each from Ministry of Law, Informationand Broadcasting Ministry, IT Ministry, Press Council of India (PCI) and National BroadcastersAssociation (NBA).Terms of Reference of the Committee

The committed will study impact of new media and social media during the “silence period” i.e.during 48 hours period prior to elections and its implication in view of Section 126 of RP Act, 1951. Itwill suggest modifications to the RP Act, 1951and model code of conduct (MCC). It will also examinedifficulties faced in regulating media platforms during the prohibitory 48 hours in a multi-phaseelection It will submit its report within three months.

Indian Navy decommissions INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat warshipsJanuary 13, 2018

Indian Navy has decommissioned INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat warships at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai(Maharashtra), after a glorious 30 and 28 years respectively in the service of the nation.During their glorious service over almost three decades, these ships had participated in numerousoperations including Operations Parakram and Vijay.Key Facts

INS Nirbhik and INS Nirghat in their new avatars were commissioned at Poti in erstwhile USSR (nowin Russia) in December 1987 and December 1989 respectively. These ships belonged to Killersquadron and were forward deployed off Gujarat on numerous occasions for patrollingThey had four gas turbine engines that enabled them to achieve fast speeds close to 40 Knots. Theirweapon package included four Surface to Surface missile, medium range AK 176 gun and close rangeAK 630 in addition to small calibre guns packs a lethal punch. These ships were manned by a crew of70 sailors and seven officers.These ships were inheritors of proud legacy as their original avatars were flag bearers of navaloffensive action on Karachi Harbour during India-Pakistan war in 1971.

Ministry of Petroleum launches Saksham 2018 CampaignJanuary 13, 2018

The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum& Natural Gas has launched month long Saksham 2018 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav).Saksham is annual flagship event of PCRA with active involvement of Oil & Gas PSUs along withother stakeholders like State Governments.Key Facts

Saksham aims at creating focused attention on fuel conservation through people centric activitiesand sensitize masses about conservation and efficient use of petroleum products leading to betterhealth and environment. It also aims to intensify efforts for making citizens aware aboutconservation and effective utilization of petroleum products. It seeks to enthuse masses with newenergy coupled with all-out effort for saving precious fuel, which will also contribute in keeping ourenvironment green.Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA)

The PCRA is an organization under the aegis of the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Itwas established in 1978. It is engaged in promoting energy efficiency in various sectors of theeconomy. It helps government in proposing policies and strategies aimed at reducing India’sdependency on oil, in order to save money, reduce environmental impact of oil use and also conservefossil fuel.

January 14-15, 2018Kerala Government launches Kerala Accelerator Program for early-stage startups

January 14, 2018

Kerala Government has introduced Kerala Accelerator Program, a virtual accelerator program forthree months, to promote startups in the early revenue stage. It was launched by Kerala StartupMission (KSUM) in association with Zone Startups India.Kerala Accelerator Program

This program will help startups achieve product-market fit through a curated customer validationprocess. It will introduce startups to investors, relevant customers and industry connects. It will



provide both live and virtual mentoring sessions.Under, it mentors will visit state capital Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi to interact with selectedstartups. It also provides a one week residential program in Bangalore and Mumbai to selectedstartups. It also provides weekly reviews, customer interactions and an end-of-programme ‘demoday’ with investors.Zone Startups

Zone Startups is global brand of early stage tech accelerators and venture funds operated by Torontobased Ryerson Futures Inc. Its Indian subsidiary has been set up as joint-venture of Ryerson FuturesInc., Simon Fraser University (Vancouver), BSE Institute Limited and Department of Science andTechnology (Government of India).

India’s first-ever FDI in fertiliser sector: Yara acquires Tata Chemicals urea plantJanuary 14, 2018

Norwegian fertiliser giant Yara International has announced completion of its acquisition of TataChemicals’ 1.2 million tonnes per annum production capacity urea plant at Babrala in Uttar Pradesh.The Rs. 2,682-crore acquisition deal includes transfer of all assets and liabilities (including workingcapital) relating to Babrala unit. It marks first foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s highlyregulated urea sector.Key Facts

The acquisition represents a major step of Yara as it deepens its footprint in India, world’s secondlargest fertiliser market after China. Moreover, a greenfield urea-ammonia plant of this size atBabrala will entail a setting up cost of $1 billion.Yara is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Current it does annual sales of $35-40 million in India. Muchof it comprises premium micronutrients, complex and water-soluble fertilisers used in high-valuecrops such as banana, grapes, apples, sugarcane, chilli and vegetables grown mainly in Maharashtra,Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Rizhao: China commissions new missile frigateJanuary 14, 2018

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has commissioned Rizhao, a new missile frigate, in a navalport in Dalian, China. It is China’s indigenous missile frigate named after Rizhao city in ShandongProvince of China.Rizhao

The Rizhao missile frigate is 140 metres long and 16 metres wide. It was designed and made in China.It has a displacement of nearly 4,000 tonnes. It is equipped with advanced weapons systems and hasability to attack enemy ships and submarines on its own or in coordination with other naval forces. Itwas launched in April 2017. Frigates are naval vessels intermediate between corvettes anddestroyers.

Delhi is richest state, Jain wealthiest community: NFHS-4 wealth indexJanuary 14, 2018

According to wealth index released on basis of data from fourth round of National Family and HealthSurvey (NFHS-4) Delhi is richest state and Jain wealthiest community in the country.The NFHS-4 was conducted among more than 6 lakh households in 2015-16. It was largest samplesize and was carried out just couple of years ago that provided useful source of information inanalysing India’s socio-economic landscape.Wealth index

The wealth index as part of NFHS-4 was prepared on basis of information of scores on ownership ofconsumer goods such as television and bicycles and household characteristics such as availability ofclean drinking water.This information was used to classify all households into wealth quintiles. Those in lowest quintilewere poorest 20%, while those in top were richest 20% of lot. The report then used these quintilescores to classify population for states, caste and religious groups and rural-urban areas into eachquintile.Key Facts

State wise wealth Distribution: Delhi and Punjab are richest states with over 60% of theirhouseholds in the top wealth quintile. They are followed by Goa with 54.5% households in top



bracket. Bihar is poorest state half of its households in the bottom quintile. Rajasthan has mostequitable wealth distribution with similar number of households in all quintiles.Wealth distribution in religious groups: Jains are the most prosperous religious community in Indiawith 70% of its population in the top quintile. Only 1.5% of Jain households fall in lowest twoquintiles. Sikhs follow next, with 59.6% of their people in the top wealth quintile. Hindus and Muslimshave similar and also most equitable wealth distribution across all quintiles.Community wise wealth distribution: Upper castes in India have almost double families in topquintile as compared to any other caste. Scheduled tribes are the poorest with 45.9% of their peoplein lowest quintile.Rural and Urban wealth: Poverty is predominantly a rural phenomenon in India. 29% of rural Indiabelongs to bottom quintile, while it is just 3.3% for urban India. 29% of the rural population haswealth levels equivalent to bottom 20% of the country’s population.Concern: High levels of income and wealth inequality are matter of great concern in India. NFHS-4statistics on disparity in wealth-holdings across various categories shows that there cannot be onesize fits all policy if the government is serious about addressing this problem.

Teen Murti Chowk renamed after Israeli city HaifaJanuary 15, 2018

The iconic Teen Murti Chowk in central New Delhi was renamed as Teen Murti-Haifa after IsraeliCity Haifa in solemn ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israelicounterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.The idea of renaming Teen Murti road and chowk after Haifa was proposed in New Delhi MunicipalCouncil (NDMC) council meeting during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in July 2017.This year marks the centenary year of Battle for Haifa. The renaming of the iconic war memorial isaimed at being symbolic gesture of India’s friendship with Israel.Teen Murti Chowk

Teen Murti Chowk was named to mark role of the three cavalry regiments. The three bronze statuesat Teen Murti represent Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of 15 ImperialService Cavalry Brigade in British Indian Army. The brigade had carried out victorious assault onfortified city of Haifa also known as Battle for Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.There are various accounts of this heroic battle – all narrate valour with which lancers undertookassault on garrisoned city protected by joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary. The



liberation of Haifa cleared supply route for Allies (Britain, France and Italy) to city through sea. 44Indian soldiers made ultimate sacrifice during liberation of the city in WW I.Till date, 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or “Haifa Day” to respect soldiers wholost their lives in battle and to mark end of 400 years of Turkish control over the city.

7th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2018 held in KarnatakaJanuary 15, 2018

7th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) 2018 under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharatprogramme was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from January 14-20, 2018. The event was organised byUnion Ministry of Culture,It was inaugurated by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar in the presence of Ministerof State for Culture Mahesh Sharma.Key Facts

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav aims to celebrate national integration and idea of unity in diversity ofcountry. It celebrates rich culture and heritage of India. It aims to provide platform to bring togetherartists from each corner of country. It covers events including art forms from classical and folk,music and dance, theatre to literature and visual arts. It also showcases gallery of Indian art formsand tradition for the discerning audience.Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat Programme

It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Ekta Diwas (31st October 2016) on the occasionof birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Its objective is to

Strengthen cultural relations of various parts of country and to embolden mutual connection between peopledwelling in different states.Celebrate unity in diversity culture of nation and bolster sentimental bonds between people of different states.Strengthen sentiments for National Unity between the citizens of states and states governed by union governmentby conducting various activities throughout the year under this campaign.Showcase rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand andappreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity.Establish long-term engagements and create environment which promotes learning between States by sharingbest practices and experiences.

India, UK ink MoUs to enable return of illegal Indian migrants and sharing of criminal recordsJanuary 15, 2018

India and United Kingdom (UK) have signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) dealingwith return of Indians residing in Britain as illegal migrants and sharing of criminal records andintelligence.The MoUs were signed by India’s Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and UK’sMinister of Immigration Caroline Nokes in London.Key Facts

MoU on return of illegal Indian migrants: It paves way for quicker and more efficient process fordocumentation and return of Indians who are illegally residing in United Kingdom. It also commitsboth countries to take more flexible approach to verify identity and nationality of individuals tospeed up returns process.MoU on criminal records exchange: It will help in sharing of criminal records, fingerprints andintelligence between Indian and British law enforcement bodies. It will help police forces from bothcountries to strengthen their law enforcement and protect the public from known criminalsincluding sex offenders. It will also allow courts of both countries to get access to more informationto support tougher sentencing decisions.

NCDEX launches India’s first agri-options trading in GuarseedJanuary 15, 2018

The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) unveiled India’s first agricultural-commodity options in Guarseed designed as hedge for farmers to safeguard against price risks. Itwas launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi.Key Facts

NCDEX’s guarseed option is one of the most liquid contracts on the exchange platform. Its three



options contracts in guarseed will expire in February, March and April 2018 and will be madeavailable for trading.NCDEX is second exchange after MCX to launch options trading in commodities. In October 2017,MCX had launched gold options. Market regulator SEBI had allowed NCDEX to launch options inSeptember 2016 and later had clarified that options will have futures as underlying for settlement.Significance

Options are derivatives which give a buyer right but not obligation to buy or sell an underlying assetor instrument at specific price on or before a certain date. The option trading is powerful tool tohedge price risks and will boost the development of agri-commodity market. It is considered as oneof major steps towards taking farmers out of situation resulting in drastic fall in prices of some agri-commodities due to higher production. This initiative will benefit farmers and ensure better pricesfor their produce in the coming days.Importance of Guarseed

Guar gum is extracted from guar seed which is used by drilling companies to thicken water mixedwith sand and pumped through shale rock cracks to extract gas. It is also used as thickening agent inproducts such as ice cream, bread, pasta, sausages and pastries.North American oil and gas industry are mostly uses guar gum from India. Increase in crude oilprices creates demand for guar in North America’s shale gas industry. Rajasthan, Haryana and partsof Gujarat are major guar producers in the country.

Elcysma Ziroensis: New moth species discovered in Arunachal PradeshJanuary 15, 2018

Researchers from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have discovered a new species of moth,scientifically named Elcysma Ziroensis from Talley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.The discovery was published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, an international journal onconservation and taxonomy.Key Facts

Elcysma Ziroensis is commonly called Apatani Glory, named after a local tribe called Apatani. It wasdiscovered at an elevation of 1,700m in Ziro. This discovery represents the first record of Elcysmafrom Arunachal Pradesh.This species has only been seen during autumn, notably in month of September. This indicates that itis univoltine species, meaning it has one brood of young in a year.Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

It is a wildlife sanctuary as well as a bio-diversity hotspot located in Arunachal Pradesh. It is situatedat altitude of 2400 metres with rivers like Pange, Sipu, Karing and Subansiri flowing through theReserved Forest and Sanctuary. Talley is plateau with dense forest of silver fir trees, pine clad plateauof beautiful grandeur, and vast wasteland. It mainly comprises sub-tropical and alpine forests andhas variety of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered. It is home to highly endangeredspecies like clouded leopard. Pleioblastus simone is a bamboo variety only found in Talley Valley.Arunachal Pradesh as a whole contains 40% of the floral and faunal species in India.

India contributes $50,000 to UN Youth Envoy’s officeJanuary 15, 2018

India has contributed $50,000 to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s Office ofEnvoy on Youth to help with its mission of involving young people in the world body’s goals.The contribution was handed over by Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India’s UN Mission to theYouth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake.Key Facts

The contribution made by India is voluntary with no strings attached. It is in addition to regularpayments India makes to UN’s general and peacekeeping budgets. Jayathma Wickramanayake fromSri Lanka was appointed the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth in June 2017 at the age of 26.The Youth Envoy’s works to raise international awareness and attention to youth issues amongothers. Its mission aims to promote engagement of youth and advocate for them across all the fourpillars of UN’s work –human rights, peace and security, sustainable development and humanitarianaction.



IRFC’s green bonds: India INX lists 1st debt security at IFSCJanuary 15, 2018

The India International Exchange (India INX) has listed the Indian Railway Finance Corporation’s(IRFC’s) green bonds on its debt listing platform-Global Securities Market (GSM).With this, IRFC green bonds became first debt security to be listed on exchange at InternationalFinancial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat’s GIFT city. India INX’s GSM segment is India’s first debtlisting platform. It allows raising funds in any currency of choice by both foreign and Indian issuersfrom investors across the globe.Indian Railway Finance Corporation

IRFC is finance arm of Indian Railway. It raises financial resources for expansion and runningthrough capital markets and other borrowings. It raises money mainly through financial bonds andfrom banks and financial institutions. In 2017, IRFC had raised $500 million from 10- year green bondfrom investors in Asia, Europe and offshore US through listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).Green Bonds

Bonds basically are debt instruments which help issuer to get capital while the investors receivefixed income in the form of interest. In case of Green Bonds, the issuer gets capital from the investorsonly if investment (capital) is being raised to fund green projects relating to renewable energy oremission reductions etc.India International Exchange (India INX)

Indai-INX is India s first international exchange at IFSC Gujarat International Financial Tech (GIFT)City, Gandhinagar. It is wholly-owned subsidiary of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), through its globalbourse. It is one of the world’s most advanced and fastest trading technology platforms with turn-around time of 4 micro seconds. It will operate for 22 hours a day allowing international investorsand NRIs to trade from anywhere across globe. It trades in equity derivatives, currency derivatives,commodity derivatives including Index and Stocks. It also offers depository receipts and bonds.

India ranks 30th on WEF’s Global Manufacturing IndexJanuary 15, 2018

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 30th position among 100 countries on itsGlobal Manufacturing Index (GMI).The index was released as part of WEF’s first Readiness for the future of production Report whichanalysed development of modern industrial strategies and urges collaborative action.Readiness for future of production Report

The report was developed by WEF in collaboration with A.T. Kearney. It analyses and measures howwell positioned 100 countries will shape and benefit from changing nature of production throughadoption of emerging technology as part of Fourth Industrial Revolution in production. It calls fornew and innovative approaches to public-private collaboration are needed to acceleratetransformation.It has categorised 100 countries into four groups viz. Leading (strong current base, high level ofreadiness for future), High Potential (limited current base, high potential for future), Legacy (strongcurrent base, at risk for future) or Nascent (limited current base, low level of readiness for future).Key Highlights of Report

Top 10 countries in GMI: Japan, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, UnitedStates, Sweden, Austria and Ireland.BRICS nations: China (25th), Russia (35th), Brazil (41st) and South Africa (45th). China was placedamong ‘leading countries’. Indian and Russia were placed in ‘Legacy’ group while Brazil and SouthAfrica are in ‘nascent’ ones.The 25 ‘leading’ countries were placed in best position group to gain as production systems stand onbrink of exponential change. No country was placed in frontier of readiness group.About India: It is 5th-largest manufacturer in world with total manufacturing value added of overUS $420 billion in 2016. Its manufacturing sector has grown by over 7% per year on average in pastthree decades and accounts for 16-20% of India’s GDP. Demand for Indian manufactured products isrising.India was ranked 9th in terms of scale of production and at 48th place for complexity. It was ranked3rd for market size. It was ranked poorly (90th or even lower) in parameters like female participation



in labour force, trade tariffs, regulatory efficiency and sustainable resources.Overall, India ranked better than its neighbours Sri Lanka (66th), Pakistan (74th) and Bangladesh(80th). Other countries that ranked below India include Turkey, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, NewZealand, Mauritius and UAE.World Economic Forum

WEF is independent international organization committed to improving state of world by engagingbusiness, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industryagendas. It was incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971. It is headquartered in Geneva,Switzerland.

India, Israel sign 9 agreements in space, defence, cybersecurityJanuary 15, 2018

India and Israel have signed nine agreements to boost cooperation in the areas of space, cybersecurity and oil and gas between both countries.The agreements were signed following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Ministers NarendraModi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in New Delhi. Netanyahu is first Israeli PrimeMinister to visit India in span of last 15 years and second one overall. Ariel Sharon was first and onlyIsraeli Prime Minister to visit India in 2003.List of agreement signed

Agreement on Film-co-production.Protocol on Amendments to Air Transport AgreementMoU on Cyber Security Cooperation between India and IsraelMemorandum of Intent (MoI) between Invest India and Invest in IsraelMedical Centre on Cooperation in field of Research in Homeopathic MedicineLetter of Intent (LoU) between IOCL and Phinergy Ltd. For cooperation in area of metal-air batteriesMoU between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Energy on Cooperation inOil andGas SectorLoI between IOCL and Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd for cooperation in the area of concentrated solarthermal technologiesMoU between Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH and Centre for IntegrativeComplementary Medicine, Shaare ZedekMoU between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Technion- Israel Institute ofTechnology for cooperation in field of space.

January 16, 2018International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure held in New Delhi

January 16, 2018

The International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (IWDRI) was held in New Delhi. Itwas inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.The workshop was organised by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaborationwith United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).Key Facts

The workshop aimed to take this dialogue on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and global cooperationfurther. It had brought together countries from different parts of the world with different socio-economic backgrounds and geographical features. It provided great opportunity to learn from theirunique experiences in their efforts towards building disaster resilient infrastructure.The workshop also saw participation of multilateral development banks, United Nations, privatesector and academics to identify best practices in infrastructure sector as well as key issues inexisting practices and ways to address them.

65th meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education held in New DelhiJanuary 16, 2018

The 65th Meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) was held under Chairmanshipof Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi.Education Ministers of 20 States, representatives of 28 states/UTs, members of CABE, heads of



autonomous organisations, Vice Chancellors of Universities attended the meeting.Resolutions adopted in meeting

Operation Digital Board will be launched in all schools in five years and will be undertaken jointly byCentre, State, Corporate Social Responsibility and community. It will improve quality of education.Under it, students will be empowered with 360 degree information with interesting learningexperience and increase teacher accountability.CABE also will ensure to provide Quality, Equity, Accessibility, Accountability and Affordability ineducation by pro-active action and plan.It will also promote Swacch Bharat, Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, Padhe Bharat, Sugamya Bharat andphysical education. It also resolved to promote human value education, life skill education,experiential learning to bring out good human beings out of education system.Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE)

CABE is the policy making advisory body of the HRB Ministry. The committee has representatives ofcentral organisation, universities, state and bodies including planning commission, NGOs and civicsociety. The CABE committee headed by HRD Minister is generally made for three years.

India, Sri Lanka sign four agreements for collaboration in ICT sectorJanuary 16, 2018

India and Sri Lanka signed four agreements for collaboration in Information and communicationtechnology (ICT) sector between both countries.The MoU for cooperation was signed by Union minister for Information Technology Ravi ShankarPrasad with his Sri Lankan counterpart in Colombo.Key Facts

The agreements were signed for collaboration in ICT sector and setting up of e-office system andconnecting of National Knowledge network (NKN) for collaboration among universities andacademics. With this, Sri Lanka became first country to be connected to NKN through Gigabyte (GB)optical fibre network. This will connect NKN to Lanka education & research network (LEARN) throughwhich universities on both sides can share best practices and research ideas. National Informaticscentre (NIC) has set up a model E-office system for Sri Lanka.National Knowledge Network (NKN)

NKN is a state-of-the-art multi-gigabit pan-Indian resource-sharing network aimed at digitallyconnecting all national universities, colleges and research establishments to create country-widevirtual classrooms. This project was launched in 2010 for period of 10 years. Currently, it iscomponent of umbrella “Digital India” programme.Objectives of NKN: It aims to connect universities, research institutions, libraries, laboratories,healthcare and agricultural institutions across country with high bandwidth (multi-gigabit)/lowlatency internet connection so that they can share the knowledge, information and data. Its core ideais to bring together all stakeholders from science, technology, higher education, healthcare,agriculture and governance to a common platform.Mandate of NKN

Establish high-speed backbone connectivity which will enable knowledge and information sharing.Enable collaborative research, development and InnovationFacilitate an ultra-high speed backbone for e-GovernanceLink to Global Networks to collaborate with research communities across the globe.Facilitate advanced distance education in specialized fields such as engineering, science, medicine etc.Facilitate integration of different sectorial networks in field of health, education, research, commerce andgovernance.

IPrism: CIPAM-DIPP launches IP competition for college & university studentsJanuary 16, 2018

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), Department of Industrial Policy andPromotion (DIPP), in collaboration launched ‘IPrism’ for college and university students.The one of its kind Intellectual Property (IP) Competition was launched by CIPAM-DIPP inassociation with ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON India.



Key Facts

The IPrism competition aims to foster culture of innovation and creativity in younger generation. Itwill provide young creators unique opportunity to see their creations recognized on nationalplatform. It invites students to submit films on piracy & counterfeiting under two categories of 30and 60 seconds. In another category, there is competition is for mobile gaming app on IP.Background

Counterfeiting and Piracy cause significant loss to film industry and pose serious safety threats toconsumers. By generating awareness it can help to tackle such crimes since limited knowledge abouttheir adverse social and economic impact leads to circulation and consumption of pirated contentand fake goods. The National IPR Policy adopted in May, 2016 that aims to create vibrant IPecosystem in country calls for creating IPR Awareness through outreach and promotional activities.CIPAM

The CIPAM is nodal professional agency under DIPP, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Its mandateis to effectively implement National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted in May 2016. Ithas been actively involved in many activities including a nation-wide IPR awareness campaign. It hasundertaken several measures to strengthen IP ecosystem in country.

BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement: India, Bangladesh, Nepal approve Passenger protocolJanuary 16, 2018

Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed on text of operating procedures for passenger vehicle movement(Passenger protocol) in sub-region under Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor VehiclesAgreement (MVA).Decision in this regard was taken at meeting of High-level officials of three countries held inBengaluru, Karnataka. It was convened and chaired by India’s Ministry of Road Transport andHighways (MoRTH).Passenger protocol

The passenger protocol agreed upon is document detailing procedures for cross-border movement ofbuses and private vehicles for transport facilitation in subregion. It will be signed by three countriesafter completing necessary internal approval processes in their government. The delegationsparticipating countries also agreed to continue to conduct trial movement of cargo vehicles alongscheduled routes from April 2018 onwards, before finalizing protocol for cargo vehicular movement.BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA)

The landmark MVA was signed by Transport Ministers of BBIN countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indiaand Nepal) in Thimphu, Bhutan in June 2015. India, Bangladesh and Nepal have already ratified MVAand have agreed to start its implementation among three signatory countries. Bhutan willbandwagon them after it ratifies the agreement.The agreement will permit member states to ply their vehicles in each other’s territory fortransportation of cargo and passengers, including third country transport and personal vehiclesThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing technical, advisory, and financial support to BBINMVA initiative as part of its assistance to South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)program. Earlier trail runs for cargo vehicles under MVA were conducted along Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka routes which had successfully establishes their economic benefits.SASEC program: It is projects-based economic cooperation initiative of ADB that brings togetherBBIN countries, Maldives, Sri Lanka and more recently, Myanmar. ADB (Manila) is secretariat ofSASEC.

Vajra Prahar: Indo-US joint military exercise to be held in SeattleJanuary 16, 2018

The Indo-US joint military exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) inSeattle in third week of January in line with the increasing military cooperation between bothcountries.In this edition of bilateral exercise, Indian Army team from the Pune-headquartered SouthernCommand will participate. The exercise will mainly focus on special operations in urban areas.Key Facts

The aim of the Vajra Prahar exercise is to promote military relations between two countries byenhancing interoperability and mutual exchange of tactics between Special Forces. Its objectives are



toShare best practices between two armies.Develop joint strategies by sharing expertise of conducting operations in a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment.Capitalise on rich repository of experiences of each other armies.

Background

‘Vajra Prahar’ is Indo-US Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and theUS started in 2010. It is conducted annually, but there was a gap of three years between 2012 and2015. The last edition was held in Jodhpur in March 2017.

3rd Raisina Dialogue held in New DelhiJanuary 16, 2018

The third edition of the geo-political conference – Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi. It wasinaugurated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Observer ResearchFoundation (ORF). The theme of the conference for this year is ‘Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas,Institutions and Idioms’.Raisina Dialogue

Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference held in New Delhi. It is envisioned to be India’s flagshipconference of geopolitics and geo-economics. The name of conference comes from Raisina Hill whichis the elevation in New Delhi where presidential palace of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan is located.It is organized on the lines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore. It is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectorial conclave, involving policy and decision makers, including cabinetministers from various Governments, high-level Government officials and policy practitioners,leading personalities from business and industry etc.The conference is held jointly by Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation(ORF), an independent think tank based in India. The first edition of conference was held in March2016 with theme “Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity”. The second edition of conference was heldin January 2017 with the theme “The New Normal: Multilateralism in a multipolar world”.

Coast Guards of India, Japan undertake joint naval exerciseJanuary 16, 2018

The biennial search and rescue exercise between Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Japan Coast Guard(JCG) was held near Chennai, Tamil Nadu in Bay of Bengal.This was eighth such in series of ‘National Maritime Search and Rescue Workshop and Exercise’.Ships and aircraft of Coast Guards from India and Japan, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) andNational Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) took part in it.Key Facts

The aim of the exercise was to augment operational level interaction and capacity building in areas ofsearch and rescue, pollution response and maritime law enforcement. It also aimed to share bestmanagement practices and continuation of personnel exchange.The two-day exercise comprised of workshop and search and rescue operations in Bay of Bengal. Observers from 27 maritime nations witnessed exercise, apart from representatives of NationalMaritime Search and Rescue Board from central and state departments.During exercise, rescue demonstrations by ships and aircraft showcased country’s search and rescuecapabilities and its commitment to safety of life in distress at sea.Background

Relations between the Coast Guards of two countries go back long way with ICG ships calling onports in Japan for professional interactions since 2000. This biennial exercise is continuation ofefforts by governments of two countries to enhance cooperation between two Coast Guards in fieldof maritime safety and security at sea.

January 17, 2018Odisha Government launches Mukshyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana

January 17, 2018

Odisha Government has launched Mukshyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana (MMKSY) to provide



financial assistance to the literature and cultural artists of state. It was launched by Odisha ChiefMinister, Naveen Patnaik.Features

The scheme is mainly for the welfare of literature and cultural artists of the state. It will providemonthly financial assistance of Rs. 1200 to literature and cultural artists of state. State governmenthas also lowered age in the eligibility criteria as compared to previous artist assistance scheme,under which only 4000 artists were being given Rs 1000 per month.The scheme will facilitate the identification of artists from all districts. It will benefit around 50000artists across the state. As per new eligibility criteria, male artist can get assistance under afterattaining age of 50 years (earlier it was 60 years) and female artist can get it at age of 40 years(earlier it was 50 years).

Sikkim Government allows people to forge fraternal ties with treesJanuary 17, 2018

Sikkim Government has allowed people from state to forge fraternal ties with trees. In this regard,State Forests, Department has issued notification titled Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity & Reverence)Rules 2017.The purpose of this move is to preserve trees by encouraging people to forge relationship ofbrotherhood or sisterhood with trees through tradition practice locally known as Mitini or Mith/Mit.Provision of notification

State government allows any person to associate with trees standing on his or her private land or onany public land by entering into Mitini relationship. Person can also adopt tree as if it was his/herown child, in which tree will be called adopted tree. Person can also adopt or preserve them inremembrance of a departed relative in which case tree shall be called smriti tree.In case person desires to enter into a relationship with a tree located on public land then permissionfrom forests department needs to be taken. If an individual wants to forge relationship with treewhich stands another person’s land, then concerned person shall execute agreement with owner andcompensate him in terms of market value of timber or wood contained in tree.It prohibits felling or damage to any tree registered as Mitini, smriti or adopted tree and points outthat any such violation will be treated as forest offence.Comment

Sikkim is one of cleanest and greenest north-eastern States. As per Forest Survey of India, 2015 forestcover of Sikkim is 47.80 % of State’s total geographical area. The recent notification has given formalrecognition to age-old tradition of promoting amity between man and nature, particularly trees.

PM inaugurates Rajasthan’s first oil refinery at BarmerJanuary 17, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd (HRRL) projectcommencement of oil refinery in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. It is first oil refinery to be set up inRajasthan.The project is undertaken as joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited(HPCL) and the Rajasthan government. HPCL owns 74% stake in the project, while the stategovernment owns 26%.Key Facts

The project includes refinery and petroleum complex of 9 MMTPA capacity. It is expected to beoperational in 4 years (2022-23) at a cost of Rs 43000 crores. It is largest investment in the state tilldate. It is expected to give major impetus to state’s economy and will bring to the state an additionalincome of Rs 34000 crores.It is also expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. Further, itis expected to bring an unprecedented surge in ancillary units, infrastructure development,improvement of healthcare services and establishment of education institutions in WesternRajasthan,

NITI Aayog launches first course under GIAN Program on Sustainable Urban PlanningJanuary 17, 2018

The NITI Aayog has launched first course on Sustainable Urban planning using remote sensing andGeographic Information System (GIS) at IIT Kanpur’s outreach centre in Noida.



This is first course conducted under Global Initiative on Academic Network (GIAN) Program ofUnion Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is actively supported by NITI Aayog andMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs.Key Facts

The course aims to give participants state-of-the-art remote sensing and GIS skills to allow themmanaging rapidly changing urban environment of Indian cities. Its prime focus is on issues such aswater resource management, water pollution and water treatment facilities.It is expected to contribute significantly to build trained manpower for Smart Cities that aims topromote sustainable and inclusive cities that provide core infrastructure and give decent quality oflife to its citizens through clean and sustainable environment and application of Smart Solutions.The participants for this course are mainly from Government departments such as ISRO, NationalMission on Clean Ganga, AP Remote Sensing Application Centre and students from differentengineering colleges and universities across country.Global Initiative on Academic Network (GIAN)

GIAN in Higher Education is scheme of HRD Ministry that aims to boost the quality of the country’shigher education through international collaboration. Its objective is to increase footfalls of reputedinternational faculty to Indian academic institutes and thereby bring in international academicexcellence in India’s higher education institutions. It facilitates participation of high qualityinternational academicians for delivering short-term courses and programs in Indian institutions.

Government ends Haj subsidyJanuary 17, 2018

The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has decided to end Haj subsidy from this year as a part of itspolicy to empower minorities with dignity and without appeasement.This decision was taken based on the recommendations of Afzal Amanullah Committee and May 2012Supreme Court order.Key Facts

The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. It is mandatoryreligious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslimswho are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey and can support their familyduring their absence.The number of Hajj pilgrims from India is largest among all countries around of world. Government’sHaj subsidy mainly included cheaper airfare and central assistance to pilgrims to reach specially-designed Haj departure terminals at airports. It also included food and medical care. Now onwards,proceeds from Haj subsidy will be used for educational empowerment and welfare of girls fromminority communities.Background

The Supreme Court in May 2012 had directed that Haj subsidy should be done away gradually by2022. The order of court reiterated Holy Quran verses (Verse 97 in Surah 3, Al-e-Imran mandatesthat Hajj should be taken up only if a Muslim can afford it) and said that amount spent should be usedin education and other measures for social development of the minority community.In accordance with the order, Union Government had constituted committee headed by formersecretary Afzal Amanullah to suggest framework for new Haj policy for 2018-22. It had submitted itsreport in October 2017. The committee had recommended for gradual withdrawal of Haj subsidy. Italso had recommended to allow older Muslim women to travel to haj without male guardians.Haj withot Mehram

Earlier, Union Government had allowed Muslim women above age of 45 to go on Haj without malecompany, in a group of at least four. Earlier, women were not allowed to travel without ‘Mehram’(husband or a male first blood relation as guardian).

Khap Panchayats can’t interfere in marriages of adults: Supreme CourtJanuary 17, 2018

The Supreme Court held that every adult has right to marry anyone and nobody including parents,khap panchayats or similar associations can question their choice of spouse.It also ruled that any kind of attack and interference on such adults opting for marriage, especiallyinter-caste marriage as ‘absolutely illegal’. The case has been listed for further hearing in February



2018.SC Ruling

The apex court asked Central Government to give its response on suggestions given by senioradvocate on ways to prevent harassment and killing of young couples in name of family honour whoopt for inter-caste marriages. It also issued strict direction to government to control such attacks. Italso warned Central Government that if it does not act towards banning Khap Panchayats then, itwill step in.Background

The SC was hearing petition filed against khap panchayats by NGO Shakti Vahini in 2010 seekingdirections to Centre and state governments for preventing honour crimes. Earlier it had soughtsuggestions from Shakti Vahini, amicus curiae and khap panchayats on the issue. It also had invitedkhap panchayats to hear their views before issuing order to stop them from harassing and killingcouples and women in the name of honour.Khaps Panchayats

Khaps are caste or community organisations representing clan or group of related clans. Theyfrequently make pronouncements on social issues and have often landed in controversies owing totheir diktats.

Department of Commerce and CII ink MoU for development of Logistics sectorJanuary 17, 2018

The Department of Commerce has signed MoU with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) forsetting-up institutional mechanism for the development of Logistics sector in the country.Both will work together for taking logistics sector to global levels both in terms of efficiency andcost. They will follow Commerce Ministry’s roadmap for modernizing logistics sector and bring it atpar with the global best.Road map

The road map aims to foster focused engagement with the industry and collaborate with theconcerned agencies including state Government’s and other related agencies. It will also undertakemutually agreed focused studies on logistics and promote Government’s policies on logisticsBackground

The Union Government has decided to reduce Logistics cost in country from the present 14% of GDPto less than 10% by 2022. For this purpose, a concerted effort in collaboration with Central Ministriesas well as State Governments has been initiated for simplifying the regulatory processes in bothdomestic and EXIM (export-import) logistics. Government also has granted infrastructure status tonumber of logistics activities, which will enable them to avail cheaper and long term commercialloans.

DAC clears procurements of assault rifles and carbinesJanuary 17, 2018

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hascleared procurement proposal of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines on fast track basis for Rs3,547 crore.DAC also simplified ‘Make II’ procedure which prescribes guidelines to be followed to develop andmanufacture defence equipment through Indian Industry.Procurement of assault rifles

The procurement of assault rifles aims enable the Defence Forces to meet their immediaterequirement for troops deployed on borders. They will be processed under government-to-government route to conclude deals at the earliest. Army had decided to go for two different rifles —import a high-tech rifle in small numbers for infantry soldiers on front lines and procure theindigenous rifle in large numbers to meet balance requirement.Make II procedure

The simplification of Make II procedure aims encourage participation of private sector in defencedesign and production and give boost to ‘Make in India’ programme in Defence Sector. Make IIprocedure prescribes guidelines to develop and manufacture defence equipment through Indianindustry.The revised procedure will make the procedure industry friendly, with minimal government control.



It will now allow Defence Ministry to accept suo motu proposals from industry and also allow start-ups to develop equipment for armed forces.The minimum qualification criteria to participate in ‘Make II’ projects also was relaxed by removingconditions related to credit rating and reducing financial net worth criteria. Now all vendors meetingcriteria will be allowed to participate in prototype development process instead of only two vendorsearlier. In addition there will be no need to submit detailed project report.After accord of approval by DAC, all clearances will be accorded by Service Head-Quarters (SHQ)which will also set up project facilitation teams to hand-hold the industry.

Maharashtra Government approves 1% reservation for orphans in government jobsJanuary 18, 2018

Maharashtra Government has approved 1% reservation for orphans in government jobs d educationfor orphans in the state under general category. Decision in this regard was taken at state Cabinetmeeting Chaired by Devendra Fadnavis.Key Facts

This reservation provision is termed as parallel reservation. It will be provided under generalcategory, which means government does not need to increase its caste reservation quota that hasalready reached 52%. Parallel reservation means, of total jobs available under general category, 1%will be reserved only for orphansThe reservation for orphans was needed as they do not know their caste and they cannot be includedin specific reservation category, due to which they are deprived of educational, economic and socialconcessions. The recently approved reservation provision will help in the rehabilitation of orphankids and help to secure their future. In Maharashtra, 3,900 orphans lived in government-runorphanages. The figure is apart from those living in private orphanages.

January 18, 2018PM Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu inaugurate iCREATE facility

January 18, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu inauguratediCREATE facility at Deo Dholera Village in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. iCreate aims to develop anecosystem in India to generate quality entrepreneurs.iCreate

iCreate is an independent Centre established with an objective of facilitating entrepreneurshipthrough blend of creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging emergingtechnologies. It main purpose is foster innovation to deal with major issues such as food security,water, connectivity, cybersecurity, IT and electronics, energy, bio-medical equipment and devices etc.

NPPA fixes retail price of 30 drug formulationsJanuary 18, 2018

Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed retail price for 30drug formulations, including those used for treatment of diabetes, bacterial infections and high bloodpressure. The prices were fixed/revised under Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

NPPA is independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals andFertilizers. It was set up in 1997. Its mandate is to fix/revise controlled bulk drugs prices andformulations, enforce prices and availability of medicines under DPCO, 2013. It also monitors pricesof decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels. The regulator implements andenforces the provisions of DPCO. It is also entrusted with task of recovering amounts overcharged bymanufacturers for controlled drugs from consumers.Essential medicines

Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the country’s population.They are listed with reference to the levels of healthcare namely primary, secondary and tertiary.They are generally based on the country’s disease burden, priority health concerns, affordabilityconcerns etc.In India, National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) formed in 2011 decides the essential medicines.The list is prepared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NPPA fixes ceiling price ofessential medicines of Schedule I under DPCO 2013.



The calculation for essential drugs is based on simple average of all medicines in particulartherapeutic segment with sales of more than 1%. In respect of medicines that are not under pricecontrol, manufacturers are allowed to increase the maximum retail price by 10% annually.

Maharashtra becomes first state to unveil Public Cloud PolicyJanuary 18, 2018

Maharashtra became first state in country to unveil Public Cloud Policy that virtually mandates stategovernment departments to shift their data storage onto cloud.Earlier in October 2017, State Government had formed four-member committee to draft policyframework on cloud usage, which had submitted a policy document that’s being now adopted aspublic cloud policy.Key Facts

The policy will result in additional private sector investments worth US $2 billion for cloud industryas government is one of biggest creators and consumers of data. It will aim to generate 5 lakh jobs innext five years.The policy is likely to be formally set in motion through detailed government resolution. In comingdays, five to six top cloud service providers like Amazon or Microsoft will be empanelled for datastorage onto cloud.Under the policy framework, state government will make mandatory its various departments forstoring data within country and to use public cloud in cases wherever Right to Information Act (RTI)is applicable. Later, it will also allow for enhanced security features for private and sensitive data tobe stored on the cloud.State Innovation and Start-up Policy

The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister also had approved State Innovation and Start-up Policy.Its objective is to attract Rs.5,000 crore investments in development of incubation and start-ups. Itwill be applicable till 2022.Under it, on an average three incubators in each of the 12 designated sectors and develop at least2,000 start-ups will be established in next five years. It will result in development of at least 10 lakhsq ft of incubation space within the state. It will provide Rs.2,500 crore for youth entrepreneurshipactivities (1% of State Budget).Under it, an establishment up to 5 years from date of its registration will be considered as start-up.Its annual turnover must be up to Rs. 25 crore. It should be based on innovative concept, innovativecommercialisation of products and services or it can also be based on innovative production methodsand processes.

Xian smog tower: China builds world’s biggest air purifierJanuary 18, 2018

China has constructed Xian smog tower, an experimental air purifying tower touted to be the world’sbiggest at height of over 100 meters (328 feet) in an attempt to fight air pollution.The tower is built in Xian in Shaanxi province and has brought positive effect on chronic smogproblem in China. It is undergoing testing by researchers at Institute of Earth Environment atChinese Academy of Sciences.Xian smog tower

Xian smog tower project was announced in 2015 to find low-cost method to artificially removepollutants from atmosphere such as PM2.5, nitrates and sulphur dioxide which are the most harmfulto human health.The polluted air is sucked into glasshouses of tower and is then heated up by solar energy. The hotair then moves through multiple cleaning filters and helps in reducing air pollution. The system inair purifier also works during winters as coatings on greenhouses enable glass to absorb solarradiation at higher efficiency.According to its original design, the full-sized tower will reach 500 metres (1,640 feet) high withdiameter of 200 metres (656 feet). This tower size will capture greenhouses in nearly 30 squarekilometres and will be capable of purifying the air for small-sized city.Signficance

During the tests, the tower has managed to produce more than 10 million cubic metres (353 millioncubic feet) of clean air day since its launch. It was able to bring down the smog to moderate levels the



day when air quality was severe. However, the results were preliminary as of now. It has alsoimproved quality of air after observations were made over distance of 10 square kilometers in thepast few months.

10th Global Forum for Food & Agriculture held BerlinJanuary 18, 2018

The 10th edition of Global Forum for Food & Agriculture was held in Berlin, Germany from 18th-20th January 2018. The theme of this year’s event is “Shaping the future of livestock – sustainably,responsibly, efficiently”.Indian delegation to the event is led by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture & FarmersWelfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.Key Facts

The event was organised by Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMEL)in cooperation with GFFA Berlin e.V., Senate of Berlin and Messe Berlin GmbH. It also included 10thBerlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference. The discussions during the conference focussed onsustainable and productive animal production among other issues.Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)

The GFFA is international conference that focuses on central questions concerning future of globalagri-food industry. It is world’s largest conference of agriculture ministers. It is held duringInternational Green Week (IGW).It provides common platform to representatives from worlds of politics, business, science and civilsociety opportunity to share ideas and enhance understanding on selected topic of currentagricultural policy.

President presents 2016 Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardsJanuary 18, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind presented Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) andSangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2016 at function held at RashtrapatiBhavan, New Delhi.Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

The Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are recognised asamong most coveted national honours bestowed on performing artists as well as teachers andscholars of performing arts in the country. They are given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’sNational Academy of Music, Dance & DramaSangeet Natak Akademi Awards are given in categories of music, dance, theatre, other traditionalarts and puppetry, and for contribution and scholarship in performing arts. The award since 2003consists of Rs. 1 lakh, a citation, an angavastram (shawl), and tamrapatra (brass plaque).2016 list of winners

Akademi FellowsArvind ParikhR VedavalliRam Gopal BajajSunil KothariAkademi Awards 2016

MusicHindustani Vocal Music: Padma TalwalkarHindustani Vocal Music: Prabhakar Karekar.Hindustani Instrumental Music- Tabla: Arvind MulgaonkarHindustani Instrumental Music- Violin: Kala RamnathCarnatic Vocal Music: Neela RamgopalCarnatic Vocal Music: K OmanakuttyCarnatic Instrumental Music – Mridangam: J VaidhyanathanCarnatic Instrumental Music – Violin: Mysore M ManjunathOther Major Traditions of Music- Sugam Sangeet: Ratnamala Prakash.Other Major Traditions of Music – Sugam Sangeet: Ahmed Hussain and Mohd Hussain.



Other Major Traditions of Music – Nata Sankirtana, Manipur: Ningthoujam Shyamchand Singh

Classical DanceBharatanatyam: Geeta Chandran.Kathak Dance: Jitendra MaharajKathakali: Kalamandalam Ramachandran UnnithanManipuri: Maisnam Kaminikumar SinghKuchipudi: A B Bala Kondala RaoOdissi: Ratikant MohapatraSattriya: Haricharan Bhuyan BorbayanChhau: Gopal Prasad DubeyContemporary: Anita R Ratnam

TheatrePlaywriting: Kusum KumarDirection: Satyabrata RoutDirection: Bipin KumarDirection: Rajkamal NayakActing: Gireesan VActing: Oinam Biramangol SinghActing: Mohan JoshiTheatre Arts – Music for Theatre: Anjana PuriOther Major Traditions of Theatre- Yakshgana: K Govind Bhat

Traditional/ Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre and PuppetryTraditional Theatre (Kalavantulu), Andhra Pradesh: Annabattula Lakshmi, Mangatayaru andAnnabattula Leela Folk Music, Gujarat: Yogesh GadhaviFolk Music, Himachal Pradesh: Vidyanand SaraikTraditional Music, Goa: Somnath D ChariPala, Odisha: Laxmidhar RoutMand, Rajasthan: Chiranji Lal TanwarFolk Music (chakri), Jammu & Kashmir: Gulzar Ahmad GanieFolk Music, Bihar: Braj Kishor DubeyPuppetry: Prabhitangsu DasPuppetry: Dattatreya Aralikatte

Overall Contribution/ Scholarship in the Performing ArtsAvinash PasrichaPappu Venugopal Rao

Government planning to set up of Cyber Warrior Police Force to tackle internet-related crimesJanuary 18, 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to set up Cyber Warrior Police Force (CWPF) andIndian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to tackle internet-related crimes such as cyberthreats, child pornography and online stalking. These divisions will be set up under MHA’s newlycreated Cyber & Information Security (CIS) Division.Cyber Warrior Police Force (CWPF)

The CWPF is likely to operate under National Information Security Policy and Guidelines wing ofMHA’s CIS division. It is proposed to be raised on lines of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). So far,there has been no decision on the CWPF’s jurisdiction, where it will derive its powers or personnelfrom and whether it will be empowered to make arrests.Background

CIS Division was created in November 2017. It has four wings, namely Security Clearance, CyberCrime Prevention, Cyber Security and Information Security Wings each headed by Under Secretarylevel Officer. Its two divisions cybercrime and information security have already begun operations. Itis also proposed to appoint the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Deputy CISO.



MHA has already issued communique asking states/UTs to consider setting up state as well asdistrict cybercrime coordination cells. The State Cybercrime Coordination Cells be headed byadditional director general (ADG) or inspector-rank official, and district cybercells by a deputysuperintendent of police (DySP) or additional superintendent of police-level official. The State cybersecurity cells will form foundation of centralised CWPF.

Agni-5 ballistic missile successfully test-firedJanuary 18, 2018

Indigenously developed long-range surface-to-surface Agni-5 ballistic missile was successfully testfired successfully from Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island, Odisha.It was overall fifth developmental trial test of the long-range missile carried out by Strategic ForcesCommand of Indian Army to check its operational readiness. The last test of missile was conductedin December 2016 from same test range.Agni-5 ballistic missile

The Agni-5 is three-stage solid propellant nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM),indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).It is about 17 metres long, 2 metres wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes. It has strikerange of over 5,000 kilometres and can carry nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. Thus, it can hitmost northern parts of China and other parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. It has not yet inducted intothe Services.Unlike other missiles of Agni series, Agni-5 is most advanced missile having new technologiesincorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine. It is also a fire andforget missile, which once fired cannot be stopped, except by interceptor missile which only US,Russia and Israel have.It carries Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) payloads. A single MIRVequipped missile that can deliver multiple warheads at different targets. It is also incorporatesadvanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer for navigation andguidance.Comment

After some few more trials, it will be inducted into arsenal of tri-Service Strategic Forces Commandwhich manages India’s nuclear arsenal. Once this missile is inducted into Services, India will joinsuper exclusive club of countries with ICMBs (range of over 5,000-5,500 km) alongside US, Russia,China, France and United Kingdom.India at present in its armoury of Agni series has Agni-1 (700 km range), Agni-2 (2000 km range,)Agni-3 and Agni-4 (2500 km to more than 3500km range).



January 19, 2018India to set up $350 million Solar Development Fund for solar projects

January 19, 2018

India announced setting up of $350 million Solar Development Fund for financing solar projectsunder the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The fund was announced by Minister of Power and Newand Renewable Energy R K Singh at first ever ISA outreach programmes ‘International Solar AllianceForum’ held in Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2018.World Future Energy Summit (WFES)

WFES is an annual event dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and cleantechnologies. It is hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company and staged at AbuDhabi National Exhibition Centre.WFES includes summit, an exhibition, Project Village, Round Table Discussions, Young FutureEnergy Leaders program, corporate meetings and social events. It attracts world leaders,international policy makers, industry leaders, investors, experts, academia, intellectuals andjournalists to discuss practical and sustainable solutions to future energy challenges. It also providesopportunity for those having interest in addressing climate change to come together to sharesolutions, reach agreements and continue to make progress.Major announcements made during WFES 2018

India signed LoIs / MoUs of 9 solar related projects which various company and bankers. It will signover 100 projects by April 2018 under ISA umbrella. YES Bank committed financing solar projects ofover $5 Billion. CLP and NTPC Limited announced forging partnership deal with ISA and committedto make voluntary contribution of $1 million each to ISA fund corpus. International Energy Agency(IEA) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) also announced entering into partnership with ISA.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

ISA was established by the Paris Declaration as an alliance dedicated to promotion of solar energyamong its member countries. The ISA Framework Agreement entered into force in December 2017making ISA formally treaty based International Intergovernmental Organization with headquartersat Gurugram, India. As of now the ISA Framework Agreement has been signed by 48 countries,Its major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity andmobilisation of investment of over US $1000 billion into solar energy by 2030. It also aims to bringtogether countries with rich solar potential to aggregate global demand, thereby reducing pricesthrough bulk purchase, facilitating deployment of existing solar technologies at scale and promotingcollaborative solar R&D and capacity building.

Maharashtra approves Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna to promote climate-resilientagriculture

January 19, 2018

Maharashtra Government has approved Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna, a Rs.4,000-croreproject aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture. It will be roll out in 2018-19 and continuetill 2023-24.The Scheme has been named after social activist Nanaji Deshmukh who has worked in fields ofeducation, health, and rural self-reliance, and has been honoured with Padma Vibhushan.Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojna

The scheme will be implemented in 5,142 villages across 15 districts. Its objectives are to improve soilquality, develop foodgrain varieties which can sustain climate variations and effect necessarychanges in the crop pattern as per the availability of water in a particular region.Main objectives of scheme

Promote very idea of sustainable development in agricultural sector.Eliminate the problems of ground water salinity problems.Improve conditions of the agricultural yields to overcome the climatic changes.Promoting the quality of the soil such that quality of food grains produced can be improved.Cultivate new variety of grains that will more sustainable and adaptable to climatic changes.

The scheme will cover small- and medium- scale farmers, who are more vulnerable to the impact ofclimate change. The total cost of project is Rs 4,000 crore, 70% of which will be borne by World Bank



while state will contribute 30% over six yearsThe entire project will focus on promoting climate resilient method of agriculture and cultivationthat will be monitored within various districts and villages in the state. It also strives at doublingincome of state farmers by next few years till 2022 for farmers belonging to medium and smallgrades to help overcome loses.Under it, state government will also try and take new measures to help change the pattern ofcultivation of the crop depending on the availability of the water. This will help in making the statedrought free.

India’s First Automatic Early Warning Dissemination System to come up in OdishaJanuary 19, 2018

India’s first automatic Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) will be commissioned byMarch 2018 in Odisha. The project aims to establish fool-proof communication system to addressexisting gaps in disseminating disaster warning up to community level.Key Facts

The EWDS is a first-of-its-kind automatic public address system in the country. The project is beingimplemented under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project with World Bank’s help. It will provideOdhisa’s entire population residing on 480 km length coastline a pre-warning siren in event ofoccurrence of natural disasters like tsunami or cyclone. It will help to warn vast population of stateresiding along its coast from State headquarters through loud sirens from towers installed at 122locations in six coastal districts in event of occurrence of natural disasters like a tsunami or cyclone.The districts are Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam.How EWDS Works?

The EWDS comprises certain devices inbuilt into it like as Satellite-Based Mobile Data VoiceTerminals (SBMDVT), Digital Mobile Radio (DMR), Mass Messaging System (MMS) and UniversalCommunication Interface (UCI) which help in inter-operability among different communicationtechnologies.Whenever, there is slightest hint of disasters like tsunami or cyclone or any other natural calamity, itwill broadcast warning to entire state just by press of button from control room in state capitalBhubeneswar. With press of button, loud sirens will go off at same time and warning sound willheard in localities to radius of 1.5 km. With this pre-warning, EWDS will help people to move to saferplaces before government agencies start evacuation.

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Odisha wins prestigious UNWTO AwardJanuary 19, 2018

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust in Odisha has won prestigious United Nations World TourismOrganisation (UNWTO) Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprise at 14th UNWTO Awardsceremony held in Madrid, Spain.The award was given in recognition of Mangalajodi’s business model that is both economically viableand environmentally sustainable based on principles of community ownership and Eco Tourism.Key Facts

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust is community owned and managed venture promoted by RBSFoundation India and Indian Grameen Services on banks of Chilika Lake in OdishaThe villagers of Mangalajodi were once associated with poaching of birds near Chilika Lake but nowthey stand as true defenders of wildlife in the region. The change was mainly due to a coordinatedeffort in implementing an awareness campaign on importance of preserving natural species andbenefits associated with wildlife tourism.The change has soared numbers of birds from 2000 (during peak unsustainable hunting) to overthree lakh in the region. Moreover other visible impacts this change has resulted in increasingrevenue through ecotourism, sharp fall in poaching incidents and increasing support of villagers.

Chilika LakeChilika Lake is largest coastal lagoon or brackish water lake in India and Asia and second largest lagoon in the world. It islocated at mouth of Daya River, flowing into Bay of Bengal. It spread over Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odishastate on east coast of India, covering an area of over 1,100 km2It is largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on Indian sub-continent. It is one of hotspot ofbiodiversity in country and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in IUCN Red List of threatened Animals.



It was designated as the first “Ramsar Site” of India on account of its rich bio-diversity and ecological significance.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO is United Nations agency responsible for promotion of responsible, sustainable anduniversally accessible tourism. It is leading international organization in field of tourism. It promotestourism as driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability. Itoffers leadership and support to sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. It isheadquartered in Madrid, Spain. Its membership includes 156 countries, 6 territories and over 500affiliate members

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan crosses 1 crore markJanuary 19, 2018

The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has crossed one crore mark in antenatalcheck-ups. It was launched in 2016 to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups topregnant women across country. It has provided quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women onthe 9th of every month.Key Facts

The scheme is helping in making safe pregnancy to become social movement in country. It also issuccessful in reaching out to difficult and remote areas. Since its launch, more than 25 lakh check-ups were conducted in high priority districts identified by Health Ministry for focussed attention.Maharashtra has reported largest number of check-ups among non-empowered action group statesand Rajasthan has reported largest number of check-ups among the empowered action group states.More than 4,800 private sector doctors have pledged to provide voluntary service under PMSMA.Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

It is scheme implemented by Health Ministry to provide free health check-ups to pregnant women atgovernment health centres and hospitals in both rural and urban areas. The national programmeaims to provide pregnant ladies free ante-natal services (ANC) and required treatment for free on 9thof every month.Objectives

Provide healthy life to the pregnant women.Lowering the maternity mortality rate.Making pregnant women aware of their health issues and diseases.Making sure safe delivery and healthy life of the baby.

Beneficiary: The scheme is applicable only for pregnant women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6months.Facilities: The scheme provides all kinds of medical checkups completely free to pregnantwomen. These checkups take place at medical centres, government and private hospitals and privateclinics across the country. These free of cost tests includes blood pressure, sugar level, weight,haemoglobin test, blood test and screening.Colour Coding: Women will be marked differently using different colour stickers based on theirhealth problems so that doctors can easily detect the problem.Different colour stickers will be RedSticker for Serious patients, Blue Sticker for High blood pressure and Yellow Sticker for Otherdiseases.

Sudeep Lakhtakia appointed as new DG of National Security GuardJanuary 19, 2018

Senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia was appointed as new Director General of National SecurityGuard (NSG). He will succeeded SP Singh, who retired from the post.Lakhtakia is a 1984-batch IPS officer of Telangana cadre. He is currently serving as special DG ofCentral Reserve Police Force (CRPF).National Security Guard (NSG)

NSG is a Federal Contingency Deployment Force under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It wasraised in 1984, with a view to protect states against internal disturbances and terrorism. It is notcategorised under uniform nomenclature of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).It has special forces mandate and its core operational capability is provided by Special Action Group(SAG) drawn from Indian Army. NSG personnel are often referred as Black Cats because of black



dress and black cat insignia worn on their uniform.The NSG is trained to conduct counter terrorist task to including counter hijacking tasks on land,sea, and air, Bomb disposal and Post Blast Investigation (PBI) and Hostage Rescue missions. It isintended for use only in exceptional situations and not meant to take over functions of State PoliceForces or other Para Military Forces.

Anandiben Patel appointed as Governor Madhya PradeshJanuary 19, 2018

President Ramnath Kovind has appointed former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel asGovernor of Madhya Pradesh. She will replace Gujarat governor Om Prakash Kohli who is holdingadditional charge of office of Governor of Madhya Pradesh.Anandiben Patel

Born: November 21, 1941Career Profile: She is former school teacher, a gold-medalist in MSc and also winner of President’sMedal.She was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1994. She was the cabinet minister for education in the BJP-ledgovernment in Gujarat from 2002 to 2007.She also had held important portfolios of urban development, revenue and disaster management andwas earlier in charge of education ministry, steering successfully some of key projects of then CMNarendra Modi, including one for boosting female literacy.She had succeeded Narendra Modi as first woman chief minister of Gujarat, when he was elected asPrime Minister of India following BJP’s victory in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. She had resigned from postof CM in 2016.Constitutional provisions of Governor

Governor is constitutional head of state.Article 153: It says that there shall be Governor for each state. 7th Constitutional Amendment Act,1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor for two or more states.Article 156: Governor is appointed by President and hold office during the pleasure of President. Itshould be also noted that this article also mentions tenure of Governor. In this regard it says thatGovernor shall hold office for the term of 5 years from date he enters upon his office.

India joins Australia Group export control regimeJanuary 19, 2018

India was admitted as the 43rd member of the Australia Group, an informal bloc (group) of countriesthat keeps a tight control over exports of substances used in making of chemical weapons.Significance

The inclusion will help to raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation, though it is notsignatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and help in acquiring critical technologies. India is firstSouth Asian nation to become its full-time member of Australia Group. It is also expected tostrengthen India’s bid to enter 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).Comment

With its admission into Australia Group, India is now part of three of the four key export controlgroups in world dealing with non-proliferation. This includes Missile Technology Control Regime(MTCR), an informal and voluntary partnership among 35 countries that regulates trade in sensitiveequipment and technologies to ensure there is no proliferation of missile and unmanned aerialvehicle technology capable of carrying payloads above 500kg for more than 300km. India had joinedit in June 2016.India had joined Wassenaar Arrangement, which is also an informal grouping of 42 countries,exercising control over the export of dual-use goods and technologies in December 2017.Now, NSG, which controls the export of sensitive nuclear technologies and equipment, with the aimof preventing nuclear weapons’ proliferation is only export control group that India is not part of.China has repeatedly blocking India’s entry in NSG. Significantly, China is not member of WassenaarArrangement, MTCR and Australia Group.India’s entry into three of four export control regimes burnishes its credentials i.e. a reference tocountry’s position that it has scrupulously adhered to rules governing non-proliferation of sensitive



technologies and equipment.Australia Group

It is multilateral export control regime (MECR) and informal group that works to counter spread ofmaterials, equipment and technologies that could contribute to development or acquisition ofchemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups through harmonisation ofexport controls. It was established in 1985.Coordination among participant countries of Australia Group helps them to fulfil their obligationsunder Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to the fullestextent possible. It has now has 43 members. China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea are not its members.

January 20, 2018TRAI recommends allowing mobile services during air travel

January 20, 2018

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended allowing mobile telephony andInternet services for passengers during air travel in country through both satellite and terrestrialnetwork.TRAI’s recommendation comes on request of Department of Telecom over proposal to introducevoice, data and video services over Indian airspace for domestic, international and overflying flightsin Indian air space.TRAI recommendations

Both Internet and Mobile Communication on Aircraft (MCA) service should be permitted as In-FlightConnectivity (IFC) in the Indian airspace. The MCA services should be permitted with minimum3000 meters height restriction in Indian airspace for its compatibility with terrestrial mobilenetworks.Flexibility to IFC service providers: There should be flexibility to IFC service providers for mobileservices in terms of use of technology and frequencies inside aircraft cabin consistent withinternational standards, provided no harmful interference is caused.Onboard Wi-Fi: Internet services through Wi-Fi onboard should be made available when electronicdevices are permitted to be used only in-flight or airplane mode and announcement regarding thisshould be made after boarding is completed and the aircraft is about to taxi.IFC Service Provider: It should be created for IFC services at annual licence fee of Rs. 1 only initially,after entering into an arrangement with telecom licence holder having appropriate authorisation.IFC service provider should be permitted to use either INSAT systems (Indian Satellite System orforeign satellite capacity leased through Department of Space) or foreign satellites outside INSATsystems in the Indian airspace.Gateway Deployment: It should be in India for an effective mechanism to lawfully intercept andmonitor in- cabin Internet traffic while aircraft is in Indian airspace. The onboard Internet trafficmust be routed to Satellite Gateway on Indian soil. Routing of traffic through satellite gateway inIndia should be imposed regardless of whether the satellite in question is an Indian satellite systemor not.Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

TRAI is an independent regulator of telecommunications business in India. It was established in 1997through Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. Its mandate is to regulate telecom servicesand deliver fair and transparent environment for fair competition in telecom market. TRAI also fixesor revises the tariffs for telecom services in India.

2018 to be observed as National Year of MilletsJanuary 20, 2018

Government has approved 2018 as National Year of Millets to boost production of the nutrient-richmillets and the sunrise agri industry involved in it. Earlier in November 2017, India had forwardedproposal to United Nations (UN) for declaring year 2018 as ‘International Year of Millets’.Significance

Observation of Year of Millets will help in promotion of production and consumption of millets willsubstantially contribute in fight against targeted hunger and mitigate effect of climate change inlong run. Popularizing millets will also benefit future generations of farmers as well as consumers.



Millets are smart food and good for consumers, farmers and planet multiple and has untapped usessuch as food, feed, biofuels and brewing.Millets

Millet is a common term to categorize small-seeded grasses that are often termed nutri-cereals ordryland-cereals. It mainly includes sorghum, ragi, pearl millet, small millet, proso millet, foxtailmillet, barnyard millet, kodo millet etc. They are adapted to harsh environment of semi-arid tropics.They require low or no purchased inputs, thus they are backbone for dry land agriculture.Benefits of Millets

Nutritional Superiority: Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice owing to their higherlevels of protein with more balanced amino acid profile, crude fibre and minerals such as Iron, Zinc,and Phosphorous. It provides nutritional security and act as shield against nutritional deficiency,especially among children and women.Health Benefits: Pellagra (niacin deficiency), Anaemia (iron deficiency), B-complex vitamin deficiencycan be effectively tackled with intake of less expensive but nutritionally rich food grains like millets.It can also help tackle health challenges such as obesity, diabetes and lifestyle problems as they aregluten free and also have low glycemic index and are high in dietary fibre and antioxidants.Income and livelihood Source: Millets are important staple cereal crop for millions of small holderdryland farmers. They offer nutrition, resilience, income and livelihood for farmers even in difficulttimes. They have multiple untapped uses such as food, feed, fodder, biofuels and brewing. Thus,millets are Smart Food as they are Good for the Farmer and Good for Planet.Resilient of Climate Change: Millets are photo-insensitive and resilient to climate change. They arehardy, resilient crops that have low carbon and water footprint. They can withstand hightemperatures and grow on poor soils with little or no external inputs. In times of climate change theyare often last crop standing and thus are good risk management strategy for resource-poor marginalfarmers.

Mauritius was largest source of FDI in India in 2016-2017: RBIJanuary 20, 2018

According to Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Companies2016-17 released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mauritius was largest source of foreign investment(FDI) in India.The census yields carry comprehensive information on market value of foreign liabilities and assetsof Indian companies arising on account of FDI, ODI and other investments.Key Facts

Mauritius was largest source of FDI in India (21.8% share at market value) followed by USA, UK,Singapore and Japan. Singapore (19.7%) was major ODI destination, followed by Netherlands,Mauritius, and US.18,667 companies had participated in census, of them 17,020 had FDI/overseas direct investment(ODI) in their balance sheets in March 2017. 96% of responding companies were unlisted in March2017 and most of them had received only inward FDI.Unlisted companies had higher share of FDI equity capital vis-a-vis listed companies. Further, over80% of 15,169 companies that reported inward FDI were subsidiaries of foreign companies (singleforeign investor holding over 50% of total equity).The manufacturing sector accounted for nearly half of total FDI at market prices, information andcommunication services (ICTS) and financial and insurance activities were other major sectors thatattracted FDI. Total sales, including exports, of foreign subsidiaries in India increased by 18.7%during 2016-17 whereas their purchases, including imports, increased by 20.1%.

Government launches National CSR Data Portal & Corporate Data PortalJanuary 20, 2018

The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has launched National CSR Data Portal & CorporateData Portal for bringing accountability and transparency for corporate India.The portals aim to provide easy accessibility to general public and also ensure high level ofcompliance. It will also help in institutionalising and consolidating the CSR activities.National CSR Data Portal

The portal will capture information on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities carried out by



eligible companies, filed on MCA21 registry in their financial statements. It will contain all filedinformation that can help to generate pre-defined reports with respect to expenditure across states,districts and development sectors.It will also provide feedback on projects to be given by registered users. Moreover, the open access todata will help researchers and also improve quality of data filed by companies, as well as involveintended beneficiaries in giving valuable feedback to companies.Corporate Data Portal

The portal aims at making all financial and non-financial information of companies available in user-friendly format to general public. It will also have facility to generate pre-defined reports and alsocustomised reports. The portal will enable greater transparency and creation of tools for strongerCorporate Governance.Significance

These portals are expected to bring 100% transparency in corporate governance by making publicover 4-crore filings of nearly 1.2 million companies. They will also promote corporate transparencyand accountability to public at large. They are also expected to become platforms for learning andsharing of ideas and information. They will also facilitate social audit of CSR projects and bringtogether CSR contributors, implementers and beneficiaries and align CSR activities with nationaldevelopment goals.

Government launches Liveability Index to rate 116 Indian citiesJanuary 20, 2018

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs (MoHUA) launched the Liveability index to rate 116Indian cities.Liveability index is tool that aims to measure quality of life in 99 smart cities, capital cities and thosewith a population of over one million. It will be funded by the World Bank and ranking of these citiesis expected to be ready by June 2018.Key Facts

The index is set of indicators to assess the liveability standards in cities. It will measure the quality oflife in 116 major cities including capital cities and those with population over one million. It will assesscities on comprehensive set of 79 parameters. Marks scored will decide the quantum of incentive.These 79 parameters (57 core indicators and 22 supporting indicators) are based on four broadpillars: physical (weightage 45%), institutional (25%), social (25%) and economic (5%).These parameters includes local governance, education, employment, social infrastructure, health,safety, physical infrastructure such as housing, availability of open spaces, security, land use, energy,availability of water, solid waste management, pollution, etc.IPSOS Research Private Limited in alliance with Athena Infonomics India Private Limited andEconomist Group Limited were selected for assessing the liveability indices in 116 cities. They wereselected through an international bidding process under World Bank-funded Capacity Building forUrban Development (CBUD) program. This assessment will be conducted along with EconomicIntelligence Unit of The Economist, a London-based weekly that has already developed a liveabilityranking for 140 cities globally.Significance

The rating will help cities attain a liveable city status, get them more investments and improvetourism. It will also serve as a knowledge base for taking policy decisions and for planning. The indexmarks shift to data driven approach to urbanisation and promote competitive spirit among cities.These indicators are organised in 15 distinct categories, designed for measuring various institutional,social, economic and physical aspects that affect quality of life of citizens and determine theliveability of city.

MeitY launches Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiativeJanuary 20, 2018

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched Cyber SurakshitBharat initiative to strengthen cybersecurity ecosystem in India in line Government’s vision for a‘Digital India’. It was launched in association with National e-Governance Division (NeGD) andindustry partners.



Cyber Surakshit Bharat

Cyber Surakshit Bharat is first public-private partnership of its kind. It will leverage the expertise ofthe IT industry in cybersecurity. The founding partners include leading IT companies such asMicrosoft, Intel, WIPRO, Redhat and Dimension Data. Its knowledge partners include Cert-In, NIC,NASSCOM and FIDO Alliance and premier consultancy firms Deloitte and EY.Objective: Spread awareness about cybercrime and building capacity for safety measures for ChiefInformation Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT staff across all government departments.Operations: It will be operated on three principles of awareness, education and enablement. It willinclude an awareness program on importance of cybersecurity. It will also include a series ofworkshops on the best practices and enablement of the officials with cybersecurity health tool kits tomanage and mitigate cyber threats.Training programmes: It will conduct series of training programmes across country in the next sixmonths. It will be attended by CISOs and technical officials from central government, stategovernments and UTs, PSBs, PSUs and defence forces, defence PSUs and technical arms of Air Force,Army and Navy.

Government announces 9 new Smart CitiesJanuary 20, 2018

Union Minister of Housing and Urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has announced a new batch of 9smart cities under Smart City Mission. With the addition of these 9 smart cities in the fourth round,the total cities picked up under Smart City Mission have reached 99.Key Facts

The nine cities include three from Uttar Pradesh –Moradabad, Bareilly and Saharanpur, Bihar Sharif(Bihar), Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Havelli), Erode (Tamil Nadu), Daman and Diu, Itanagar (ArunachalPradesh) and Kavaratti (Lakshadweep). The selected nine cities have proposed an investment of Rs12,824 crore. This will impact 35.3 lakh persons living in these areas.The total proposed investment in 99 cities will be to the tune of Rs 2.03 lakh crore. As on January2018, 189 projects worth Rs. 2237 crore were completed and another 2,948 projects worth Rs. 1.38lakh crore are in various stages of implementation.Background

The Smart City Mission is flagship scheme of Union Government that will cover 100 cities and itsduration is five years (2015-16 to 2019-20). The focus of mission is on sustainable and inclusivedevelopment and set examples which can be replicated in other parts of the city and other cities ofthe country.Under the scheme, each city will get Rs.500 crore (Rs. 100 crore per year) from the Centre forimplementing various projects. Centre is going to spent Rs. 48,000 crore over five years. States willcontribute matching fund of Rs. 48,000 crore from their internal resources or through marketborrowing and through private sector.The selection of the cities was based on scores of cities for carrying out urban reforms in areasincluding sanitation and governance. Cities that score highest were picked for the project, to beimplemented over a 10-year period.There are 10 core infrastructure elements to be undertaken under Smart City Mission viz. adequatewater supply; assured electricity supply; efficient urban mobility and public transport; sanitation,including solid waste management; affordable housing, especially for the poor; robust IT connectivityand digitalization; good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation; sustainableenvironment; safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly; and healthand education.

Mercedes-Benz first to launch locally-made BS-VI-compliant carJanuary 20, 2018

German auto major Mercedes-Benz has unveiled India’s first BS-VI-compliant S Class car producedat its Pune facility. The BS-VI-compliant S Class car was unveiled more than two years ahead ofGovernment’s deadline of April 2020 for switching to new BS-VI emission norms.Key Facts

BS-VI-compliant S Class can run on BS-IV fuel, which will bring down NOx emissions by 68% and PMby 82%. This will lower the CO2 burden by 13% and fuel demand by 10%. This will pave way for other



car manufacturers to introduce their vehicles which are compliant with new emission regulationBharat Stage Norms

Bharat stage (BS) emission standards are emission standards instituted by Central Government toregulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motorvehicles. The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by Central Pollution ControlBoard (CPCB) under Ministry of Environment & Forests and climate change. These standards arebased on European regulations were first introduced in 2000.BS-VI

The Union Government in October 2016 had decided to skip one stage and migrate to BS-VI directlyfrom BS-IV from April 2020 to fight the growing pollution. At present, all new vehicles beingregistered are BS- IV-emission compliant. By switching to BS-VI, India will join league of US, Japanand European Union, which follow Euro Stage VI emission norms.Implications of BS-VI standard on environment

BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10ppm sulphur. It will also bring down NOx emissions from diesel cars by 68% and 25% from petrolengine cars. Cancer causing particulate matter emissions from diesel engine cars will also comedown by a phenomenal 80%.

Website Accessibility Project launched to make 100 websites accessible to persons with disabilitiesJanuary 20, 2018

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched Website Accessibility Project to make 100websites various State Governments/UTs accessible to persons with disabilities (Divyangjans) underAccessible India Campaign. It was launched by Union Minister for Social Justice and EmpowermentThaawarchand Gehlot on the occasion of ‘National Conference on Improving Accessibility’.Website Accessibility Project

The Department of Divyangjan had initiated ‘Website Accessibility Project’ for StateGovernments/UTs under Accessible India Campaign through ERNET India, an autonomous scientificsociety under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) to make total 917 websitesaccessible. The accessible websites are those into which Persons with Disabilities can perceive,understand, navigate and interact with web and also contribute to web.Accessible India Campaign

Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is nationwide campaign that aims to makebarrier free environment for persons with disabilities all over the country for safe, dignified life ofPersons with Disabilities. It aims to enable persons with disabilities to gain universal access, equalopportunity for development, independent living and participation in an inclusive society in allaspects of life. The campaign is implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is inline with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to which India is asignatory.

January 21-22, 2018Explained: Office of profit

January 21, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind on the recommendation of Election Commission of India (ECI) hasdisqualified 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Delhi, citing that they held offices of profit. In2016, the ECI had issued show cause notices to 27 AAP MLAs from Delhi who held offices asparliamentary secretaries, after petition was filed seeking their disqualification.What is ‘office of profit’?Office of profit is a position in government which cannot be held by Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA) or Member of Parliament (MP). The post can yield salaries, perquisites and other benefits. Ithas not been defined in Constitution or Representation of the People Act, 1951.But different courts have interpreted it as position with certain duties that are more or less of publiccharacter. However, legislator cannot be disqualified from either Parliament or state assembly forholding any office. It can be done only incase of holding: an office; office of profit; office under unionor state government; office exempt by law from purview of disqualificatory provisions. All fourconditions have to be satisfied before MP and MLA can be disqualified.Basic criteria to disqualify an MP or MLA



According to Articles 102(1)(a) and 191(1)(a) of Constitution, legislators (MP or MLA) can be barredfrom holding office of profit under Central Government or state government as it can put them inposition to gain financial benefit. They can be disqualified incase they are being of unsound mind,undischarged insolvent and not being Indian citizen or for acquires citizenship of another country.Under the RPI, 1951 too, holding an office of profit is grounds for disqualification.Purpose of including ‘office of profit’ for disqualificationMakers of Constitution wanted that legislators (MP or MLA) should not feel obligated to Executive inany way, which can influence them while discharging legislative functions. In other words, theyshould be free to carry out her duties without any kind of governmental pressure.How do EC/ courts decide office of profit cases?In March 2006, President APJ Abdul Kalam had disqualified Jaya Bachchan of form Rajya Sabha withretrospective effect from July 2004 for holding an office of profit as chairperson of UP FilmDevelopment Council.The Supreme Court (SC), in Jaya Bachchan case (2006) disqualifying her from Rajya Sabha had heldthat office of profit is relevant if office is capable of yielding profit or pecuniary gain and not whetherperson actually obtained a monetary gain.It had held that if office carries with it or entitles holder to any pecuniary gain other thanreimbursement of out of pocket or actual expenses, then office will be office of profit for purpose ofArticle 102 (1)(a). However, if person acquires contract or licence from government to performfunctions, which government would have itself discharged, will not be held guilty of holding an officeof profit.Issue of parliamentary secretariesPrime Ministers and Chief Ministers usually appoint parliamentary secretaries from their ownparties who are MPs or MLAs assisting Minister in their performing their duties.West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab andManipur have had similar incidents of parliamentary secretaries as office of profit. In West Bengal,Telangana and Punjab, the respective High Courts had called appointments of parliamentarysecretaries “unconstitutional” and struck down the appointments. The Supreme Court also hadstruck down Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and MiscellaneousProvisions) Act, 2004 in July 2017.

Om Prakash Rawat appointed New Chief Election CommissionerJanuary 21, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Election commissioner Om Prakash Rawat (64) as newChief Election Commissioner. He will succeed Achal Kumar Joti who has retired from post.Moreover, President also appointed former finance secretary Ashok Lavasa as Electioncommissioner. Both will have tenure of six years in office or till he or she attains the age of 65 years,whichever is earlier.Om Prakash Rawat

Om Prakash Rawat is 1977-batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre. He was appointed toElection Commission in August 2015. He has held several important portfolios at Centre and statelevel during his long bureaucratic career.Prior to his appointment as Election Commissioner, he had had retired as Secretary, Ministry ofHeavy Industries and public enterprises. He had earlier also served as director in defence ministry in1993. During this tenure, he was deputed to South Africa in May, 1994, as UN election observer tooversee first post-apartheid elections.He has also served as principal secretary to Babu Lal Gaur, the then Chief Minister of MadhyaPradesh from 2004 to 2006. He received Prime Minister’s award for excellence in PublicAdministration for his initiative “recognition of forest rights in 2010.Background

ECI is permanent and independent constitutional body established directly by Constitution of Indiato ensure fair and fair elections in the country. It is multi member body and currently has threemembers including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).They all are appointed by the President. They hold office for term of six years or until they attain age



of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The service conditions and tenure of office of Chief ElectionCommissioner and Election Commissioners are determined by an act of parliament titled The ChiefElection Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Act, 1991.The CEC and election commissioners have equal power and receive equal salary, allowances andother perquisites, which are similar to judge of Supreme Court. In case of difference of opinionamongst CEC and Election Commissioner, matter is decided by Commission by majority.

Bharat Ke Veer anthem launched in New DelhiJanuary 22, 2018

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched official anthem for “Bharat Ke Veer” sungand composed by singer Kailash Kher. Bharat Ke Veer is an initiative with corpus fund to help thefamilies of paramilitary troopers killed in the line of duty. So far, it has raised Rs. 12.93 crore for kinof paramilitary personnel killed in the line of dutyBharat ke Veer

Bharat ke Veer is web portal and mobile application launched by MHA. It is IT based platform toenable willing donors to contribute towards family of braveheart who sacrificed his life in line ofduty. The portal is supported by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and powered by State Bank ofIndia (SBI).The amount so donated through it will be credited to the account of ‘Next of Kin’ of those CentralArmed Police Force or Central Para Military Force soldiers. To ensure maximum coverage, a cap ofRs. 15 lakh is imposed on donation and donors will be alerted if amount exceeds, so they can chooseto divert part of the donation to another account or the corpus.Bharat Ke Veer corpus will be managed by committee made up of eminent persons of repute andsenior Government officials. The committee will decide to disbursement of fund equitably tobraveheart’s family on need basis.

President felicitates 112 first ladiesJanuary 22, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has felicitated 112 exceptional women achievers at Rashtrapati Bhawanin New Delhi. These women achievers ‘FIRST LADIES’ are those who are first to set milestone ofachievement in their respective fields. This ‘First Ladies’ is second leg of the ‘100 Women Achievers’campaign of the Ministry.Key Facts

These 112 women were selected after extensive research process by Ministry of Women & ChildDevelopment (WCD). They are those who have been first in any field like first woman judge, firstwoman porter, first woman to head missile project, first para-trooper, first Olympian among others.Their felicitation aims to inspire other women to break the glass ceiling and do women of Indiaproud.Among those who were honoured by President include

Bachendri Pal: first Indian woman to reach the Mount Everest summit;

Deepa Malik: first woman to win a medal at the Paralympics;

Priya Jhingan: First Lady Cadet to join the Indian Army;

P V Sindhu: Olympic silver medallist

Nicole Faria: winner of the Miss earth title;

Karnam Malleswari: Olympic medal winning weightlifter Karnam Malleswari

Anshu Jamsenpa: First Indian woman to scale Mt Everest for fifth time.

Chhavi Rajawat: India’s first woman Sarpanch

Diana Edulji: First ODI captain of the first ever Indian Women’s Cricket Team.Background

Every year on March 8 (Women’s Day), WCD Ministry honours Nari Shakti Puruskars to thosewomen who have contributed to society but have remained unsung. These awards are conferred byPresident of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The WCD Ministry in 2015 had collaborated with Facebookto recognise ‘100 Women Achievers’ who have excelled in diverse sectors of public work. It started torecognise different ways those women who have broken the glass ceiling and ventured into unusual



fields.

OPV Vijaya: Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel launchedJanuary 22, 2018

The second indigenously built offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named Vijaya built by Larsen and Toubro(L&T) Shipyard for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was launched at Kattupalli Shipyard, Tamil Nadu. It isexpected to be inducted into service by September 2018 after trials on the equipment.OPV Vijaya

The OPV is 98 metre long and 14.8 metres wide with gross tonnage of 2,100 tonnes. It has enduranceof 5,000 nautical miles with cruising speed of 12-14 knots which can be increased to 26 knots. Theship is fitted with two units of diesel driven engines of 9,000 kw each with low fuel consumption.It is equipped with state-of art radar, navigational and communication system. It will be utilised forday and night patrol and surveillance, anti-terrorist, anti-smuggling operations and coastal security.It is fitted with 30 mm automatic gun with Fire Control System (FCS) and two units of 12.7 mm gunwith FCS.Its navigation and communication system are capable of operating in tropical conditions. It also hascapacity to carry one integral twin engine helicopter which will further enhance operational,surveillance, search and rescue capability. It will be manned by 102 crew, including 14 officers.Background

The Defence Ministry as part of rapid expansion of Indian Coast Guard to strengthen maritimesecurity mechanism had signed Rs 1,432 crore contract with L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli toindigenously design and build seven OPVs. The first OPV named Vikarm as part of the deal waslaunched in October 2017. It was country’s first-ever such defence craft to be built in privateshipyard. It will be inducted into service by March 2018 after completing necessary trials on fittedequipment and machineries.

ONGC to acquire Government’s entire 51.11% stake in HPCLJanuary 22, 2018

The Union Government and state-run oil explorer ONGC clinched deal for acquisition ofgovernment’s 51.11% stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) for a consideration of Rs.36,915 crore. The deal will be closed by end of January 2018. Earlier empowered panel headed byfinance minister Arun Jaitley had approved price bid for acquisition. The all-cash deal will helpgovernment boost its non-debt capital receipts and meet disinvestment target (Rs 72,500 crore).Significance

Through this acquisition, ONGC is gaining midstream and downstream presence and access tomarketing network. This acquisition will make ONGC India’s first vertically integrated oil major, havingpresence across value chain in sector. The integrated entity will have advantage of having enhancedcapacity to bear higher risks, take higher investment decisions and neutralising impact of volatilityof global crude prices. As for HPCL, deal will help it in further leveraging synergy at various levels ofvertical value chains as part of integrated oil and gas group. It also will enable ONGC to mitigate riskof crude price volatility.Background

In 2017-18 Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that state-run oil companieswill be merged to create ‘oil major’. Following this Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCAE) inJuly 2017 had granted ‘in-principle’ approval to the strategic sale of HPCL to ONGC. This alsoincluded change in management control, but allowed HPCL to retain its brand as subsidiary of thenational oil explorer.Market Share

During 2016-17, HPCL had turnover of Rs 2,13,489 crore and profit after tax of Rs 6,502 crore. Itmarkets around 35.2 million tonne of petroleum products accounting for market share of about21%and has around 15,000 fuel retail outlets. ONGC contributes around 70% of Indian domesticproduction of crude oil and natural gas.

Manipur Government launches health assurance scheme for poor & disabled peopleJanuary 22, 2018

Manipur Government has launched the Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT), a healthassurance scheme for the poor and disabled people. It was launched by Manipur Chief Minister N



Biren Singh.The CMHT scheme will provide cashless treatment to poor at government hospitals, health centresand other empanelled selected private hospitals.Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) Scheme

The scheme will provide insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh per eligible family in treatment of sevencritical identified critical ailments – cardiovascular diseases, neurological conditions, kidneyailments, liver ailments, cancer, neo-natal diseases and burns per year. The beneficiaries will beidentified from Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC). They may get themselves enrolled for schemewith help of ASHA workers at kiosks opened in nearby PHCs, CHCs and District Hospitals.Significance

The CMHT Scheme will have convergence with Government of India programme like PMs JanaAushadhi Programme and Free Diagnostic Programme. It will be truly IT platform driven scheme.Along with Chief Minister-gi Sotharabashing gi Tengbang (CMST) scheme, state government is ableto provide two most noble social security schemes to its people.

Government launches Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage-Free CitiesJanuary 22, 2018

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the ‘Protocol for StarRating of Garbage-Free Cities’ in Goa. It has been developed under Swachh Bharat Mission – Urbanfor rating cities on 7-star rating system based on multiple cleanliness indicators for solid wastemanagement.Key Facts

Indicators: These include Door to Door garbage Collection, source segregation, sweeping, scientificprocessing of waste, bulk generator compliance, scientific land filling, construction and demolitionmanagement, plastic waste management, dump remediation & citizen grievance redressal systemetc.Rating: Cities will be rated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 star based on their compliance with protocolconditions specified for each of rating. City will be given rating of 3 star or above only after it isdeclared ODF (Open Defecation Free).Cities can self-declare themselves as 1-star, 2-star or 4-star provided that MoHUA carry outadditional verification through independent third party to certify cities as 3-star, 5-star or 7-star.Cities need to get themselves recertified every year to retain their star-status.Significance: It provides stakeholders with single metric to rate a city’s cleanliness, rather thanseparately evaluating multiple factors which contribute to city’s overall cleanliness and garbage freestatus. It will assess many cities for having higher stars as compared to only one city being “Cleanestcity” under Swachh Survekshan.

January 23, 2018Scientist S. Somanath takes charge as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

January 23, 2018

Noted scientist S Somanath took charge as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He succeeded K Sivan, who was recently appointed as Chairman ofISRO.Prior to his elevation, he was Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), the lead centreresponsible for liquid engines and stages for all launch vehicles and satellite programs of ISRO,.S Somanath

S Somanath had joined ISRO in 1985 and was team leader for Integration of PSLV during its earlydevelopment phase and during first flight of PSLV and successful second flight PSLV-D2. He also wasAssociate Director (Projects) of VSSC and also Project Director of GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle. He hasreceived ‘Merit Award” and ‘Performance Excellence award’ from ISRO and ‘Team excellence award’for GSLV Mk-III development.Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

VSSC is major space research centre of ISRO, under the Department of Space (DOS). It is mandated tofocus on rocket and space vehicles for India’s satellite programme. It is located inThiruvananthapuram, in the Indian state of Kerala. VSSC has emerged as one of the main researchand development establishments within ISRO.



It was established in 1963 and it has its beginnings as Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station(TERLS) in 1962. It was later renamed in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian spaceprogram. VSSC is an entirely indigenous facility working on development of sounding rockets,Rohini and Menaka launchers, and ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III families of launch vehicles.

First International Dam Safety Conference held in ThiruvananthapuramJanuary 23, 2018

The first International Dam Safety Conference-2018 was held in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram(Kerala) from January 23-24, 2018.It was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was presided over by UnionMinister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal.Key Facts

This Conference is fourth in series organized under aegis of ongoing Dam Rehabilitation andImprovement Project (DRIP). It was organized jointly by Central Water Commission (CWC), KeralaWater Resources Department (KWRD), National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC), and Collegeof Engineering, Trivandrum (CET).As many as 550 delegates from over 20 countries, including US, Switzerland, Spain and Australiatook part in the conference. Moreover, seven dam safety manuals developed under DRIP were alsoreleased for implementation during the conference.Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA)

A software programme known as Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA)was also launched to document authentic asset and health information pertaining to the large damsin the country. DHARMA is a web tool to help dam owners to digitise all dam-related data effectively,store, monitor and take appropriate actions to ensure need-based rehabilitation.Background

CWC is managing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with the financial assistancefrom World Bank to rehabilitate about 225 dams in India. The earlier conferences organized in years2015, 2016 and 2017 and had received overwhelming response in terms of professional participation,technical papers contributed and participation by Indian and overseas organizations in theexhibition.These conferences had brought together dam professionals and experts in various inter-relateddisciplines from within India and around world to discuss, reflect and share technology andexperience in addressing dam safety issues and strategies to address them.

India ranked 62nd on WEF’s Inclusive Development Index 2018January 23, 2018

India was ranked at 62nd place among emerging economies on Inclusive Development Index(IDI-2018) released by World Economic Forum (WEF).Norway again remained world’s most inclusive advanced economy, while Lithuania again topped listof emerging economies. India’s position is much below China (26th) and Pakistan (47th).Inclusive Development Index (IDI)

Inclusive Development Index (IDI) measures progress of 103 economies on three individual pillars –growth and development; inclusion; and inter-generational equity. It has been divided into two parts.The first part covers 29 advanced economies and second 74 emerging economies. The index takesinto account the living standards, environmental sustainability and protection of future generations fromfurther indebtedness. The index also has classified countries into five sub-categories in terms of five-year trend of their overall Inclusive Development Growth score — receding, slowly receding, stable,slowly advancing and advancing.Highlights of IDI-2018

Top 5 advanced economies: Norway followed by Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Denmark.Only two advanced economies have shown ‘advancing’ trend. Small European economies dominatetop of index, with Australia (9) the only non-European economy in the top 10. Of the G7 economies,Germany (12) ranks highest followed by Canada (17), France (18), UK (21), US (23), Japan (24) and Italy(27).Top-five most inclusive emerging economies: Lithuania, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Latvia and Poland.



BRICS economies: Russia was ranked at 19th, followed by China (26), Brazil (37), India (62) and SouthAfrica (69).Rich and poor countries alike are struggling to protect future generations, as it cautioned politicaland business leaders against expecting higher growth to be panacea for social frustrations, includingthose of younger generations who have shaken politics of many countries in recent years.India related facts: It was ranked 60th among 79 developing economies in IDI-2017. India was amongten emerging economies with ‘advancing’ trend, despites its low overall score. Of three pillars thatmake up index, India was ranked 72nd for inclusion, 66th for growth and development and 44th forinter-generational equity. India’s neighbours: China (26th), Nepal (22), Bangladesh (34), Sri Lanka(40) and Pakistan (47th).

India ranked 81st on Global Index of Talent CompetitivenessJanuary 23, 2018

India was ranked 81st among 118 countries in 2017 Global index of talent competitiveness (GTI) list. India has improved its position from 92nd last year. The index measures ability of countries tocompete for talent i.e. how countries grow, attract and retain talent. It is produced by global businessschool INSEAD in partnership with Adecco Group and Tata Communications.Key Facts

Top Countries: Switzerland is followed by Singapore and US. European countries dominate topranks, with 15 out of the top 25 places. Developed, high-income countries are still the global talentchampions while Zurich, Stockholm and Oslo take the top spots in the GTI cities’ ranking.BRICS countries: India’s ranking was last among the five BRICS countries in 2017. China has movedup to 43rd now, Russia to 53rd, South Africa to 63rd and Brazil to 73rd position.India faces serious risk of worsening brain drain. In terms of formal Education, India ranks 67th andin Lifelong Learning it ranks 37th. In terms of pool of Global Knowledge Skills (63rd) is solidcompared with other emerging markets. India also has plenty of room for improvement is inminimising brain drain while achieving brain gain by luring back some of its talented diasporamembers as iit ranks 98th in the Attract pillar and in retaining its own talent it ranks 99th.

Indian economy to grow at 7.4% in 2018: IMFJanuary 23, 2018

In its latest World Economic Outlook (January 2018 update) released by International Monetary Fund(IMF), India is projected to grow at 7.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 as againstChina’s 6.8%.The projection makes India fastest growing major economy following slowdown in 2017 due todemonetisation and implementation of goods and services tax (GST).Key Facts

IMF has projected that global economy is expected to grow 3.9% this year, faster than 3.7% forecastearlier in October 2017. Some 120 economies, accounting for three quarters of world GDP, have seenpickup in growth in year-on-year terms in 2017. It is the broadest synchronised global growthupsurge since 2010.IMF projected India’s GDP growth rate at 7.4% in 2018 and 7.8% in 2019. China, during the sameperiod, is expected to grow at 6.8% and 6.4% respectively. The aggregate growth forecast foremerging markets and developing economies for 2018 and 2019 remain unchanged, with marked



differences in outlook across regions.Emerging and developing Asia will grow at around 6.5% over 2018-19, broadly the same pace as in2017. The US will grow 2.7% and 2.5% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, higher by 0.4 and 0.6% pointthan earlier estimate.World Economic Outlook (WEO)

The report contains analysis and projections of integral elements of IMF’s surveillance of economicdevelopments and policies in its member countries and of developments in global financial marketsand economic system. It is usually prepared twice a year and is used in meetings of the InternationalMonetary and Financial Committee.

India inks $120 million loan agreement with World Bank to fund improved water supply inUttarakhand

January 23, 2018

India has signed $120 million loan agreement with multilateral lending agency World Bank to helpincrease access to improved water supply services in peri-urban areas in Uttarakhand. Theagreement was signed between Government of India, Government of Uttarakhand and World BankBoard.Key Facts

The loan amount will be used for Uttarakhand Water Supply Program for Peri-Urban Areas to helpstate to increase water supply coverage as well as ensure sustainable water supply service delivery inperi-urban areas. The program will develop and implement service-oriented and efficient watersupply policy for peri-urban areas, strengthen current monitoring and evaluation systems. It willalso provide dedicated incentives for preparation and adoption of water supply ‘master-plans’ inperi-urban areas.Background

Population growth and urbanization has led to rise of significant peri-urban areas mostly in the plainregions of Uttarakhand. They are still classified as rural but are effectively urban in nature in termsof density of population, structure of economy and aspirations of the people.It has resulted in actual disconnect between formal classification of these populated areas and theiractual nature, including provision of water supply, along with unique governance, infrastructure, andservice delivery challenges. From 2001 to 2011, the state’s urban population has grown by nearly 42%,which is substantially higher than national average of 32%. State has made significant strides inpiloting and implementing various innovative approaches in water supply and sanitation servicesbut in peri-urban areas have not been prime focus.

First NIIF investment: To set up $3-billion platform with DP WorldJanuary 23, 2018

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has made its first investment by partneringwith DP World to create $3-billion investment platform for ports, terminals, transportation andlogistics businesses in India.The platform will invest in opportunities in ports sector and beyond sea ports into areas such as riverports and transportation, port-led special economic zones, freight corridors, inland containerterminals, and logistics infrastructure including cold storage.Significance

Efficient logistics and cargo movement are critical components for continued growth anddevelopment of Indian economy and particularly the manufacturing sector. The platform will reducethe cost of moving cargo between port and origin and destination.Background

In October 2017, Government had secured investment commitment of up to $1 billion from AbuDhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). It was first institutional investor in NIIF Master Fund andshareholder in Fund’s investment management company — the National Investment andInfrastructure Limited. Apart from ADIA, four domestic institutional investors also be joined theNIIF Master Fund including ICICI Bank, HDFC Group, , Kotak Mahindra Life and Axis Bank.National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIFF)

NIIF was set up in December 2015 to catalyse funding into the country’s infrastructure sector. It hasbeen registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Category II Alternate



Investment Fund.It has a targeted corpus of Rs 40,000 crore to be raised over the years — 49% of it will be funded bygovernment at any given point of time. The remaining 51% will be raised from domestic and globalinvestors, including international pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral/bilateralinvestors.It has been set up as a fund of funds structure with aim to generate risk adjusted returns for itsinvestors alongside promoting infrastructure development. Its Governing Council us chaired byFinance Minister Arun Jaitley has already been set up to act as an advisory council to the NIIF.

India’s richest 1% corner 73% of wealth generation: Oxfam SurveyJanuary 23, 2018

According to latest survey released by the international rights group Oxfam, richest 1% in Indiacornered 73% of the wealth generated in country in 2017. The survey shows worrying picture ofrising income inequality.It was released as part of report titled ‘Reward Work, Not Wealth’, revealing how global economyenables wealthy elite to accumulate vast wealth even as hundreds of millions of people struggle tosurvive on poverty pay.Highlights of Report

Globally 82% of wealth generated in 2017 worldwide went to 1%, while 3.7 billion people that accountfor poorest half of population saw no increase in their wealth. Year 2017 saw unprecedented increasein number of billionaires, at rate of one every two days.Billionaire wealth has risen by average of 13% year since 2010. It was six times faster than the wagesof ordinary workers, which have risen by a yearly average of just 2%. Women workers often findthemselves at bottom of the heap and nine out of 10 billionaires are men.In India, 67 crore population comprising the population’s poorest half saw their wealth rise by just1%. Wealth of India’s richest 1% increased by over Rs 20.9 lakh crore, an amount equivalent to totalbudget of central government in 2017-18.India’s top 10% of population holds 73% of the wealth and 37% of India’s billionaires have inheritedfamily wealth. They control 51% of the total wealth of billionaires in the country. There are only fourwomen billionaires in India and three of them inherited family wealth.It will take 941 years for minimum wage worker in rural India to earn what top paid executive at aleading Indian garment firm earns in year.The report has urged Indian government to ensure that country’s economy works for everyone andnot just the fortunate few. It asked government to promote inclusive growth by encouraging labour-intensive sectors that will create more jobs; effectively implementing the social protection schemesand investing in agriculture.

January 24-25, 2018Bharat Parv to be held at Red Fort on Republic Day

January 24, 2018

Cultural extravaganza Bharat Parv will be held at the Red Fort in Delhi as part of the Republic Daycelebrations. The prime objective of the event is to promote rich cultural diversity of country,generate a patriotic mood and to ensure wider participation of general public.Key Facts

The Bharat Parv event includes display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by ArmedForces Bands, Cultural Performances from different regions of country, Multi-Cuisine Food Court,Craft Mela and Photo Exhibition by Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP).It will also include cultural performances choreographed in Folk and Tribal Dances and Musicarranged through North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes fromdifferent States and Union Territories.The Food Court will have stalls set up by States/UTs. Moreover, National Association of StreetVendors of India (NASVI) will showcase street food from different regions as well as by Institutes ofHotel Management and ITDC. The Craft Mela will showcase the diverse handicrafts of the countrywith 50 stalls. There will also be Theme State Pavilions where each State will showcase theirstrengths along with tourism products.



Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palanichamy receives UNESCO AwardJanuary 24, 2018

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanichamy received UNESCO Award of Merit awarded tothe iconic Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirapalli.The award of merit was awarded by UNESCO Asia Pacific region for the reconstruction activitiesundertaken in temple without in least affecting its traditional splendour and Vedic rituals.Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

It is considered as one of the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divyadesams). It isVaishnava temple built in Tamil or Dravidian style of architecture. It is located on an islet formed bytwin rivers: Coleroon and Cauvery. The temple complex is situated in sprawling ground of more than156 acres.The temple and 1000 pillared hall were constructed in the Vijayanagar period (1336–1565) on the siteof an older temple. It has seven prakaras or enclosures. Its Gopuram also called as “Raja Gopuram isthe biggest gopuram in Asia. It annually hosts 21-day festival during the Tamil month of Margazhi(between December and January) which attracts over 1 million visitors.UNESCO Asia-Pacific awards for cultural heritage conservation programme

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific awards for cultural heritage conservation programme is aimed atacknowledging efforts taken to restore and conserve historical structures without affecting theirheritage value. The awards are classified under four categories – Awards of Distinction, Awards ofMerit, Award of Excellence and Award for New Design in Heritage Context.

India Ranked 177 in Environmental Performance Index (EPI)January 24, 2018

India has been ranked 177 among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) –2018. This index has been developed by Yale University and Columbia University in collaborationwith the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Thisreport has been released on 23 January, 2018 on the sidelines of World Economic Forum meet inDavos.Top and Bottom Five Countries in 2018 EPI

Top 5 countries are Switzerland, France, Denmark, Malta and SwedenTo bottom countries are Nepal, India, Congo, Bangladesh, Burundi

About the Index

Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is calculated on the basis of data gathered from 24 individualmetrics of environmental performance. These 24 individual metrics are then aggregated into ahierarchy that begins with 10 major environmental issues categories.

Air Quality (household solid fuels and PM2.5 exposure)1.Water & Sanitation2.Heavy Metals (lead exposure)3.Biodiversity & Habitat4.Forests (tree cover loss)5.Fisheries6.Climate & Energy (CO2, Methane and Black Carbon Emissions)7.Air Pollution (SO2 and NOx emission)8.Water resources (wastewater treatment)9.Agriculture (sustainable practice)

The above 10 environmental issue categories are then divided into two policy objectives viz.Environment health and Ecosystem Vitality. The overall EPI is based on a country’s performance inthese 10 issue categories and two policy objectives. High rank in the EPI shows long-standingcommitments to protecting public health, preserving natural resources and decoupling greenhousegas (GHG) emissions from economic activity.The 2018 Report Key Notes About India

The report has ranked India as fourth worst country worldwide in curbing environmental pollution. India hasslipped from 141st position in 2016 report.The low rank of emerging economies including China (120) and India (177) indicates strain population pressures



and rapid economic growth impose on the environment.As per the report, substantial populations still suffer from poor air quality, most notably in India, China, andPakistan (169).

Report also notes that the low scores on the EPI are indicative of the need for national sustainabilityefforts on a number of fronts, especially cleaning up air quality, protecting biodiversity and reducingGHG (green house gas) emissions.

8th National Voters’ Day observedJanuary 25, 2018

The Election Commission of India (ECI) celebrated 8th National Voters’ Day across nation forenhanced participation of citizens in electoral process.The objective of the Day is to increase enrollment of voters, especially of newly eligible ones. It alsospreads awareness among voters regarding effective participation in electoral process. The themefor this years National Voters’ Day is ‘Accessible Elections’ to spread awareness among votersregarding effective participation in the electoral process.Key Facts

Various events and national level function were held in New Delhi. President Ram Nath Kovindpresented away awards for best electoral practices to District Collectors, Superintendents of Policeand other functionaries involved in election management. Media Award 2017 was also given infunction. To mark the day, Election Commission and Facebook also launched new feature on thesocial media Facebook to send reminder to users aged 18 years and above to take the pledge to vote.Background

National Voters’ Day was initiated in 2011 to commemorate the foundation day of the ElectionCommission of India (ECI) which came into existence on 25th January 1950. This day is also utilizedto spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process.ECI is permanent and independent constitutional body established directly by Constitution of Indiato ensure fair and fair elections in the country. It is multi-member body and currently has threemembers including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Narayanan appointed Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems CentreJanuary 25, 2018

Senior scientist Dr V Narayanan has assumed charge as Director of ISRO’s Liquid PropulsionSystems Centre (LPSC). He succeeded S Somanath who was appointed as Director of VikramSarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).Prior to this appointment, he was Associate Director of LPSC and was guiding liquid propulsionactivities of ISRO and was instrumental in finalising the Liquid Propulsion Roadmap of ISRO for thenext 20 years.Dr V Narayanan

Narayananhad joined ISRO in 1984 and since then has functioned in various capacities. He is rocketpropulsion expert and outstanding scientist, guiding ISRO team that designed 200 tonne thrust Lox-Kerosene Semi Cryogenic Rocket Engine.He had played crucial role in successful development of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and made itoperational for GSLV Mk II vehicle when India was denied complex Cryogenic PropulsionTechnology. He also had played vital role in successful launch of GSLV Mk III vehicle in its maidenattempt in 2017 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota.As Project Director for C25 Cryogenic Project, he had led team that successfully developedindigenous C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by 20 tonne thrust Cryogenic Engine using Liquid Oxygenand Liquid Hydrogen propellant combination.He is Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (FINAE) and Member of Space PropulsionCommittee of International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and member in various national andinternational professional bodies.He has published large number of technical papers in national and international journals.Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)

LPSC is research and development centre functioning under ISRO. It is engaged in development ofliquid and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles and auxiliary propulsion systems for both



launch vehicles and satellites. It is headquartered Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and functions underDepartment of Space.It has developed liquid propellant stages for PSLV, control systems for SLV-3, PSLV, ASLV and GSLV,satellite propulsion systems including those for INSAT and IRS. It also has developed indigenouscryogenic upper stage for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) which was successfullytest fired by ISRO in August 2007.It has two units located at Valiamala, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and Bengaluru, Karnataka. It isaugmented by ISRO’s Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri of Tamil Nadu.

Government to increase number of ‘AMRIT’ pharmacy stores 4 timesJanuary 25, 2018

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced to increase number of AMRIT pharmacystores by four times by end of 2018 from the existing 111 outlets in bid to make low-cost medicinesmore accessible.So far, 52 lakh patients have been benefited by buying discounted drugs (60 to 90% less than marketprice) from AMRIT (Affordable medicine and reliable implants for treatment) stores and have savedover Rs. 267 crore. The total maximum retail price of medicines sold off these 111 AMRIT stores wasRs. 486 crore but their sale price was Rs 219 crore.AMRIT scheme

The AMRIT (Affordable medicine and reliable implants for treatment) scheme aims to reduceexpenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and cardio vascular (heart) diseases to makehealth care affordable for poor. Its intended beneficiaries are patients suffering from cancer andheart diseases (non-communicable diseases).Under it, retail outlets in the name of AMRIT pharmacy are opened to sell drugs for cancer and heartdiseases at highly discounted rates on market rates. The project is implemented by government-owned HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) which is deputed to establish and run AMRIT chain of pharmaciesacross the country.These drugs and implants under the scheme will be sold based upon authentic prescriptions fromdoctors. At the AMRIT outlets, 202 cancer and 186 cardio-vascular drugs will be available at reducedrate of 60 to 90% compared to market rates.

Government announces 4 new schemes to promote young scientistsJanuary 25, 2018

The Ministry of Science & Technology has announced four new schemes to promote young scientistsand researchers in the country. They are Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) Scheme,Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship, Distinguished Investigator Award (DIA) and AWSAR(Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research).The schemes primarily aim at early recognition and reward to young talent in the field of science. They focus on youth to empower, recognize and motivate them.TARE Scheme

It aims to tap latent potential of faculty working in state universities, colleges and private academicinstitutions who are well trained but having difficulty in pursuing their research due to variedreasons including lack of facilities, funding and guidance. Up to 500 TAs (Teacher Associateships)will be supported under this scheme.This scheme facilitates mobility of such faculty members to carryout research in well-establishedpublic funded institution such as IITs, IISc, IISERS and other National Institutions (NITs, CSIR, ICAR,ICMR labs, etc) and Central Universities located preferably nearer to institution where facultymember is working.Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship

The scheme was instituted to enhance international mobility of Indian research students havingpotential to create talented pool of globally trained manpower. It will provide opportunity forresearch students to gain exposure and access to top class research facilities in academia and labsacross the world.It will offer opportunities for up to 100 PhD students admitted in Indian institutions for gainingexposure and training in overseas universities /institutions of repute and areas of importance tocountry for 1 year period during their doctoral research. The selected fellows will be paid a monthly



fellowship amount, one-time contingency/preparatory allowances to cover visa fee, airport transfercharges, medical insurance etc.Distinguished Investigator Award (DIA)

The scheme was initiated to recognize and reward Principal Investigators (PIs) of Department ofScience and Technology (DST) projects that have performed remarkably well. It aims to reward bestPIs of completed projects and also motivate ongoing PIs to perform exceedingly well.It seeks to effectively improve productivity of research undertaken and overall efficiency of researchecosystem. It will be one-time career award devised to specifically cater to younger scientists whohave not received any other prestigious awards or fellowships. The award carries a fellowship andoptional research grant for 3 years, based on peer review of project proposal submitted. AWSAR (Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research) Scheme

The scheme aims to encourage, empower and endow popular science writing through newspapers,magazines, blogs, social media, etc. by young PhD Scholars and Post-Doctoral Fellows during courseof their studies and research pursuits. It also seeks to tap tremendous potential of young scientists topopularize & communicate science and also to inculcate scientific temperament in the masses.The scheme also carries monetary incentive to each of 100 best entries from PhD scholars in yearalong with Certificate of Appreciation besides getting the story published/projected in mass media.In addition, three leading stories from selected hundred will be also awarded cash prize. Further,twenty entries will be selected from articles submitted exclusively by Post-Doctoral Fellows relatingto their line of Research for monetary incentive and most outstanding story to be given a cash prizeof Rs.1,00,000/-.

UDAN Phase-II: 325 routes awarded; 40% for North East, hillsJanuary 25, 2018

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has awarded 325 air routes under the second phase ofgovernment’s flagship UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) regional connectivity scheme. Around 40%or 129 of 325 air routes were awarded to newly created category of ‘priority areas’ that includeJammu and Kashmir, Northeastern and hill states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and LakshadweepIslands,Key Facts

The routes under phase-II were awarded to 15 airlines and helicopter operators after bidding process.These include major domestic airlines such as SpiceJet, IndiGo, Jet Airways and Air India subsidiaryAlliance Air and four helicopter operators — Heligo Charters, Heritage Aviation, Pawan Hans, andSkyone AirwaysAirports to be connected under phase-II: Total 78 airports i.e. 36 served airports, 13 underservedairports and 29 unserved airports will be connected. In addition, 31 helipads/ heliports will beconnected through Helicopters in priority areas.Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Outflow: These proposed routes will get VGF estimated at Rs. 487crores per annum for fixed wing operations and Rs. 130 crores for Helicopter operations per annumin the Priority areas. The government provides VGF or subsidy for 50% of seats set aside for beingoffered at discounted rates by airlines and all seats up to 13 passenger seats for helicopters.UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) Scheme

The UDAN RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) was launched in October 2016 to develop theregional aviation market. It is vital component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016.It also aims to make flying affordable by providing connectivity to un-served and under-servedairports of the country through revival of existing airstrips and airports so that persons in regionaltowns are able to take affordable flights.It is applicable on flights covering distance between 200 km and 800 km with no lower limit set forhilly, remote, island and security sensitive regions. It seeks to reserve a minimum number of UDANseats i.e. seats at subsidized rates and also cap fare for short distance flights. It has unique market-based model to develop regional connectivity. It has Viability Gap Funding (VDF) mechanism to meetthe VGF requirements under the scheme. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is implementing agency ofthe scheme.



SARAS PT1N: Upgraded indigenous transport aircraft makes successful maiden flight January 25, 2018

SARAS PT1N, the new upgraded version of indigenous transport aircraft SARAS developed byNational Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL) successfully made its maiden flight in Bengaluru, Karnataka.The aircraft took off from HAL airport, Bengaluru and flew for about 40 minutes at the maximumheight of 8500 feet at the speed of 145 knots.The primary objective of the test was to evaluate system performance that will be collected in about20 flights. The data collected from this shall be used to freeze the design of production versionaircraft.SARAS PT1N

SARAS PT1N is a 14-seater passenger aircraft designed and developed by CSIR-NAL, a frontlineaerospace research laboratory. The production version aircraft will have 19-seat capacity.The indigenous aircraft development is seen as culmination of efforts of team CSIR-NAL, IAF-ASTE,Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), HAL and Directorate General ofAeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).Background

The aircraft programme is named after Indian crane Saras. It was first conceptualised in the 1990s toestablish short-haul civil aviation market. The original design of the plane included maximum take-off weight of 6,100kg and a maximum payload of 1,232kg.The first prototype of the plane had made its first flight in May 2004. SARAS PT1N is upgradedversion of plane, after second prototype of SARAS that had crashed during test flight killing all threecrew members on board in March 2009.

MIS portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme launched January 25, 2018

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched ManagementInformation System (MIS) portal for Anganwadi Services Training Programme.The portal has been developed by Ministry of WCD in collaboration with National Informatics Centre(NIC) for submission of applications and estimates by NGOs for carrying out Anganwadi Services(ICDS) Training through Anganwadi Workers Training Centres (AWTC) and Middle-Level TrainingCentres (MLTC).Key Facts

The phase 1 of portal will enable NGOs to submit proposals to respective states/UTs which in turnwill process proposals and recommend requirement of funds for running programme. On thisrequest, Central government will further examine proposal and release funds. It will ensure thatfunds are released timely and reach beneficiaries for training purpose.Anganwadi Services Training Programme

The programme comes under Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme whichis centrally sponsored scheme. The training to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), Anganwadi Helpers(AWHs) and Supervisors at AWTCs and MLTCs is part of the Anganwadi Services.The AWTCs and MLTCs are run either by respective state governments/UT administrations or byNGOs under supervision of states/UTs. The Union Government releases funds required forimplementation of scheme to states/UTs.

Government launches Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls January 25, 2018

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has launched beneficiary module (i.e.Phase -1) of Rapid Reporting System (RRS), a web based on line monitoring for Scheme for AdolescentGirls (SAG).The RRS portal will facilitate monitoring of SAG and take corrective measures by ensuring fasterflow of information, accurate targeting of beneficiaries and reduction of leakages. It has beendeveloped by Ministry of WCD in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC).Scheme for Adolescent Girls

The scheme aims at providing them nutritional support, motivating out of school girls to go back toformal schooling or skill training under its non-nutrition component. It also provides nutritionalsupport and girls are also equipped with information on health, hygiene and guidance on existing



public services.It is centrally sponsored scheme implemented using platform of Integrated Child DevelopmentServices (ICDS) Scheme. Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are focal point for delivery of services. Ministryof WCD is implementing scheme in selected 508 districts across country.It is implemented through Centre and State share in ratio of 50:50, for nutrition component 60:40 forrest of activities for State/UTs with legislation, 90:10 for NE and 3 Himalayan States and 100% forUTs without legislative assemblies.

January 26, 2018India, Vietnam sign two agreements

January 26, 2018

India and Vietnam have signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance cooperationin field of information and broadcasting and space cooperation.The MoUs were signed following bilateral meeting between PM Narendra Modi and his visitingcounterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc ahead of the India-Asean Commemorative Summit in New Delhi.Vietnam is a key pillar in India’s Act East Policy and strategic partner in South East Asia.MoUs singed are

MoU to enhance cooperation in field of information and broadcasting: It aims to enhancecooperation in the field of information and broadcasting, based on principles of equality andreciprocity pursuant to their national laws and regulations.MoU on space cooperation: It is implementation arrangement between ISRO and National RemoteSensing Department of Vietnam. It seeks to establish tracking and data reception station and dataprocessing facility in Vietnam under ASEAN India Space Cooperation.It will define framework and conditions of cooperation for establishment of facility to provide Indianremote sensing satellite data over ASEAN region. It will enable remote sensing applications, whichinclude natural resources management, ocean development and disaster management to ASEANmember states.

Chinese scientists for first time successfully clone monkeysJanuary 26, 2018

Chinese scientists for first time have successfully cloned two identical long-tailed macaques(monkeys), named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua using same technique that produced Dolly sheep twodecades ago. This development makes them world’s first primates – the order of mammals thatincludes monkeys, apes and humans – to be cloned from non-embryonic cell.Key Facts

These two identical long-tailed macaques were cloned using process called somatic cell nucleartransfer (SCNT), which involves transferring the nucleus of cell, which includes its DNA, into eggwhose nucleus is removed.Since cloned Dolly sheep was born in Scotland in 1996 using SCNT, scientists have successfully usedthis technique to clone more than 20 other species, including cows, pigs, dogs, rabbits, rats and mice.Similar work in primates earlier, had always failed, leading some scientists to wonder if primateswere resistant.Chinese Scientists were successful to clone macaques using modulators to switch on or off certaingenes that were inhibiting embryo development. Their technique worked only when nuclei weretransferred from foetal cells, rather than adult ones, as was the case with Dolly. In all, it took 127 eggsto produce two live macaque births.Significance

Genetically identical animals are useful in research because confounding factors caused by geneticvariability in non-cloned animals can complicate experiments. This development breaks technicalbarrier for the cloning of primate species, including humans. It will make possible to study diseasesin populations of genetically uniform monkey and test new drugs for a range of diseases beforeclinical use.Concerns

The research underscores important role at the cutting-edge of biosciences, where scientists have attimes pushed ethical boundaries but calls for debate on what should or should not be acceptable



practice in primate cloning.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)SCNT is a laboratory technique for creating an ovum with donor nucleus. In it, nucleus containing the organism’s DNAof somatic cell (a body cell other than sperm or egg cell) is removed and rest of cell discarded. The nucleus of somaticcell is then inserted into enucleated egg cell which reprograms somatic cell nucleus by the host cell. The egg, nowcontaining nucleus of somatic cell, is stimulated with a shock and will begin to divide forming blastocyst (an early stageembryo with about 100 cells) with almost identical DNA to original organism. It can be used in embryonic stem cellresearch, regenerative medicine i.e. “therapeutic cloning.” It can also be used as first step in process of reproductivecloning.

ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit issues Delhi DeclarationJanuary 26, 2018

The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit was held in New Delhi to celebrate the 25th anniversaryof the establishment of sectoral dialogue between two sides under the theme of “Shared Values,Common Destiny”.It issued joint statement titled Delhi Declaration after the plenary session focusing on counter-terrorism, identity security, military cooperation, and bilateral financial support.India and 10 ASEAN countries for first time mentioned cross-border movement of terrorists andmade commitment to counter the challenge through close cooperation as part of the declaration.Key Highlights of Delhi Declaration

Strengthening relations: Called for strengthening and deepening ASEAN-India StrategicPartnership for mutual benefit, across the whole spectrum of political-security, economic, socio-cultural and development cooperation.Terrorism: Deepen cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, violentextremism and radicalisation through information sharing, law enforcement cooperation andcapacity building under existing ASEAN-led mechanism.Cyber-security: Strengthen cooperation on cyber-security capacity building and policy coordination,including through supporting the implementation of ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy.Transnational crimes: It called for strengthening cooperation to combat other transnational crimes,including people smuggling, trafficking in persons, illicit drug trafficking, cybercrime, and piracy andarmed robbery against ships.Political and Security Cooperation: Reaffirm importance of maintaining and promoting peace,stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.It calls for other lawful uses of seas and to promote peaceful resolutions of disputes, in accordancewith universally recognised principles of international law, including 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).Economic Ties: Both sides reaffirmed to work to further strengthen ASEAN-India economicrelations, including through full utilisation and effective implementation of ASEAN-India Free TradeArea. They also called for swift conclusion to comprehensive and mutually beneficial RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2018 to further trade ties. They also look forward toestablish ASEAN-India Trade and Investment Centre.Physical and digital connectivity: Reaffirmed their commitment to enhance physical and digitalconnectivity in line with Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and ASEAN ICT Masterplan (AIM)2020 by availing $1-billion line of credit (LoC) announced by India. They will also work towardsencouraging early completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway Project andextend it to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in Indian and Pacific Oceans and addressthreats to these resources including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, loss of coastalecosystems and the adverse impacts of pollution, , marine debris and ocean acidification.Maritime cooperation: It emphasised need to promote maritime transport cooperation andencourage potential private sector participation in development of seaports, maritime logisticsnetwork and maritime services in order to create greater efficient linkages and continue discussionson these priority areas.MSMEs: It calls for promotion of stable and sustainable growth for MSMEs, including through



technology transfer, as well as enhancing capacity building, technical assistance, access toinnovation and opportunities to integrate into global and regional value chains were agreed upon.Peaceful exploitation of outer space: India and ASEAN countries will continue to collaborate inpeaceful exploitation of outer space, through implementation of the ASEAN-India Space CooperationProgramme. It will include launching of satellites, sustainable exploitation of ground, sea,atmospheric and digital resources for equitable development of region.ASEAN

ASEAN is regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian countries whichpromotes Pan-Asianism and intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political,security, military, educational and socio-cultural integration amongst its members and other Asiancountries.It consists of 10-member countries- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It was established on August 8, 1967 through ASEANdeclaration (also known as Bangkok Declaration). Its secretariat is located in Jakartaa, Indonesia.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways inks MoU with IL&FS for construction of Zojila tunnelJanuary 26, 2018

The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has inked MoU with IL&FS TransportationNetworks Ltd for construction of the 14.150 km long, 2-lane bi-directional Zojila Tunnel in Jammu &Kashmir.This would be India’s longest road tunnel and longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia. On completion,the tunnel will provide all weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.Zojila Tunnel Project

The project aims at construction of 14.150 km long two lane bidirectional single tube tunnel withparallel 14.200 km long egress tunnel between Baltaland Minamarg in J&K with total capital cost ofRs. 6808 crore. The duration for construction of the project is 7 years.Its main objective is to provide all whether connectivity to strategically important Leh region in J&Kwhich at moment is limited to 6 months in year because of snow on passes and threat of avalanches.It will be first of its kind tunnel in such geographical area. It will have all modern technical safetyarrangements such as cut and cross ventilation system, two axial fans, uninterrupted power supply,fully transverse ventilation system, CCTV monitoring, variable messaging boards, traffic loggingequipment, tunnel radio, emergency telephone system etc.Comment

The project has strategic and socio-economic importance and will be instrument for development ofeconomically backward districts in J&K. It will also bring about all round economic and socio-cultural integration of these regions. This project, along with other ongoing projects like 6.5 km longZ-Morh tunnel at Gagangir will ensure safe, fast and cheap all weather connectivity betweenKashmir and Ladakh. They will also increase employment potential for local labourers for projectactivities. It will also boost employment as local businesses will get linked to national market andregion will receive round the year tourist traffic.

IAF Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously conferred with Ashok ChakraJanuary 26, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind awarded India’s highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra (31)posthumously to Indian Air Force (IAF) Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala. He had laiddown his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. He is the third AshokChakra for the IAF and its first for ground combat. Other two IAF officers are Rakesh Sharma (firstand still only Indian citizen to go to space) and Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon posthumouslydecorated with the Param Vir Chakra in 1972.Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala

He had joined the IAF in 2005 and was ‘Corporal’ when he was martyred. He was part of small Garudcommando batch attached to Indian Army’s specialized counter-insurgency force, Rashtriya Riflesunder the aegis of ‘Op Rakshak’ in J&K, when he was martyred.On November 18, 2017, the Rashtriya Rifles-Garud team, acting on intelligence inputs, surroundedhouse in Chandragarh village in Hajin in J&K, when they came under heavy fire from terrorists holedup inside. Nirala, armed with light machine gun (LMG) had displayed conspicuous bravery in



confronting terrorists and killing two to three of them despite himself being hit by bullets. Thegunfight resulted in the killing of six terrorists. Corporal Nirala had exhibited most conspicuousgallantry in fighting with terrorists and made supreme sacrifice.Ashoka Chakra

It is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra and isawarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrificeother than in the face of the enemy.

2018 Padma AwardsJanuary 26, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has announced names of recipients of year 2018 Padma awards viz.Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. He approved conferment of Padma Awards on85 persons.Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards bestowed for distinguished service of highorder in various disciplines- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade andindustry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.The 2018 list includes 3 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 73 Padma Shri Awardees. 14awardees are women, 16 awardees are from category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs while 3 areposthumous awardees. The list also includes unsung persons and also people who rendered selflessservice at the grassroots.PADMA VIBHUSHAN

It is the second highest civilian award.

No Name Field State

1 Illaiyaraja Art-Music Tamil Nadu

2 Ghulam Mustafa Khan Art-Music Maharashtra

3 Parameswaran Parameswaran Literature and Education Kerala

Padma Bhushan

It is the third highest civilian award.

No Name Field State

1 Pankaj Advani Sports- Billiards/Snooker Karnataka

2 Philipose Mar Chrysostom Others-Spiritualism Kerala

3 Mahendra Singh Dhoni Sports-Cricket Jharkhand

4 Alexander Kadakin (Foreigner) Public Affairs Russia

5 Ramachandran Nagaswamy Others-Archaeology Tamil Nadu

6 Ved Prakash Nanda (OCI) Literature and Education US

7 Laxman Pai Art-Painting Goa

8 Arvind Parikh Art-Music Maharashtra

9 Sharda Sinha Art-Music Bihar

Padma Shri

It is the fourth highest civilian award.

No Name Field State

1 Abhay Bang (Duo) Medicine Maharashtra



2 Rani Bang (Duo) Medicine Maharashtra

3 Damodar Ganesh Bapat Social Work Chhattisgarh

4 Prafulla Govinda Baruah Literature and Education-Journalism Assam

5 Mohan Swaroop Bhatia Art-Folk Music Uttar Pradesh

6 Sudhanshu Biswas Social Work West Bengal

7 Saikhom Mirabai Chanu Sports-Weightlifting Manipur

8 Pandit Shyamlal Chaturvedi Literature and Education-Journalism Chhattisgarh

9 Jose Ma Joey Concepcion III (Foreigner) Trade & Industry Philippines

10 Langpoklakpam Subadani Devi Art-Weaving Manipur

11 Somdev Devvarman Sports-Tennis Tripura

12 Yeshi Dhoden Medicine Himachal Pradesh

13 Arup Kumar DuttaLiterature and Education

Assam

14 Doddarange Gowda Art-Lyrics Karnataka

15 Arvind Gupta Literature and Education Maharashtra

16 Digamber Hansda Literature and Education Jharkhand

17 Ramli Bin Ibrahim (Foreigner) Art-Dance Malaysia

18 Anwar Jalalpuri (Posthumous) Literature and Education Uttar Pradesh

19 Piyong Temjen Jamir Literature and Education Nagaland

20 Sitavva Joddati Social Work Karnataka

21 Malti Joshi Literature and Education MP

22 Manoj Joshi Art-Acting Maharashtra

23 Rameshwarlal Kabra Trade & Industry Maharashtra

24 Pran Kishore Kaul Art J&K

25 Bounlap Keokangna(Foreigner) Others-Architecture Laos

26 Vijay Kichlu Art-Music West Bengal

27 Tommy Koh(Foreigner) Public Affairs Singapore

28 Lakshmikutty Medicine-Traditional Kerala

29 Joyshree Goswami Mahanta Literature and Education Assam

30 Narayan Das Maharaj Others-Spiritualism Rajasthan

31 Pravakara Maharana Art-Sculpture Odisha

32 Hun Many (Foreigner) Public Affairs Cambodia

33 Nouf Marwaai(Foreigner) Others- Yoga Saudi Arabia



34 Zaverilal Mehta Literature and Education-Journalism Gujarat

35 Krishna Bihari Mishra Literature and Education West Bengal

36 Sisir Purushottam Misra Art-Cinema Maharashtra

37 Subhasini Mistry Social Work West Bengal

38 Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong (Foreigner) Others-Spiritualism Thailand

39 Keshav Rao Musalgaonkar Literature and Education MP

40 Dr Thant Myint – U(Foreigner) Public Affairs Myanmar

41 V Nanammal Others-Yoga Tamil Nadu

42 Sulagitti Narasamma Social Work Karnataka

43 Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan Art-Folk Music Tamil Nadu

44 I Nyoman Nuarta (Foreigner) Art- Sculpture Indonesia

45Malai Haji Abdullah Bin Malai HajiOthman(Foreigner)

Social Work Brunei

46 Gobaradhan Panika Art-Weaving Odisha

47 Bhabani Charan Pattanaik Public Affairs Odisha

48 Murlikant Petkar Sports-Swimming Maharashtra

49 Habibullo Rajabov(Foreigner) Literature and Education Tajikistan

50 M R Rajagopal Medicine-Palliative care Kerala

51

52 Sampat Ramteke(Posthumous) Social Work Maharashtra

53 Chandra Sekhar Rath Odisha

54 S S Rathore Civil Service Gujarat

55 Amitava Roy Science and Engineering West Bengal

56 Sanduk Ruit (Foreigner) Medicine- Ophthalmology Nepal

57 R Sathyanarayana Art-Music Karnataka

58 Pankaj M Shah Medicine- Ophthalmology Gujarat

59 Bhajju Shyam Art-Painting MP

60 Maharao Raghuveer Singh Literature and Education Rajasthan

61 Kidambi Srikanth Sports-Badminton Andhra Pradesh

62 Ibrahim Sutar Art-Music Karnataka

63 Siddeshwara Swamiji Others-Spiritualism Karnataka

64 Lentina Ao Thakkar Social Work Nagaland

65 Vikram Chandra Thakur Science and Engineering Uttarakhand



66Rudrapatnam Narayanaswamy Tharanathan(Duo)

Art-Music Karnataka

67Rudrapatnam Narayanaswamy Thyagarajan(Duo)

Art-Music Karnataka

68 Nguyen Tien Thien (Foreigner) Others-Spiritualism Vietnam

69 Bhagirath Prasad Tripathi Literature and Education UP

70 Rajagopalan Vasudevan Science and Engineering Bihar

71 Panatawane Gangadhar Vithobaji Literature and Education Maharashtra

72 Romulus Whitaker Others-Wildlife Conservation Tamil Nadu

73 Baba Yogendra Art Madhya Pradesh

74 A Zakia Literature and Education Mizoram

Government announces PM’s Shram Awards for 2016 to 50 workersJanuary 26, 2018

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has announced Prime Minister’s Shram Awards for the year2016 to be awarded to 50 workers including 3 women employed in Departmental Undertakings &Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Central/ State Governments and Private Sector Unitsemploying 500 or more workers. In 2016, 34 workers are from PSUs and 16 workers are from PrivateSectors.2016 Shram Awards

Shram Ratna Award: No nomination was found suitable for it.Shram Bhushan: 12 workers from SAIL, BHEL and TATA Steel Ltd. were selected.Shram Vir/Shram Veerangana Award: 18 workers from Naval Dockyard, Ordinance Factory,Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, TATA Steel, Hindalco Industries, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., BrahmosAerospace were selected.Shram Shree/Shram Devi Award: 20 workers from Cement Corporation of India, Naval Ship RepairYard, TATA Motors, Surat Lignite Power Plant, Larsen & Toubro Ltd. etc were selected.Shram Awards

They were instituted in 1985 and are announced every year by Ministry of Labour and Employment.These awards are given to workers in PSUs, Departmental Undertakings of Central/StateGovernments and Private Sector units employing 500 or more workers.Objective: It recognises workers for their distinguished performance, innovative ability, outstandingcontribution in the field of productivity and exhibition of exceptional courage and presence of mind. It also recognises outstanding contributions made by workmen as defined in Industrial Dispute Act,1947 in organizations both in public and private sectorThere are four types of Shram awards viz. Shram Ratna (monetary award of Rs. 2 lakhs and Sanad),Shram Bhushan (Rs. 1 lakh and Sanad), Shram Vir / Shram Veerangana (Rs. 60000 and Sanad),Shram Devi / Shram Shree (Rs. 40000 and Sanad).

WEF launches Global Centre for CybersecurityJanuary 26, 2018

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched new Global Centre for Cybersecurity in a bid tosafeguard world from hackers and growing data breaches — especially from nation-states. Thecentre will be headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and will become operational from March 2018Global Centre for Cybersecurity

The Global Centre for Cybersecurity will function as an autonomous organization under WEF. It willhelp to build a safe and secure global cyberspace. Its aim is to establish first global platform forgovernments, businesses, experts and law enforcement agencies to collaborate on cybersecuritychallenges. It will draw on WEF’s government and industry support to work towards more securecyberspace through its established multistakeholder approach.



Mandate of Global Centre for Cybersecurity

Consolidate existing cybersecurity initiatives of WEF.Establish independent library of cyber best practices.Help partners to enhance knowledge on cybersecurity.Work towards an appropriate and agile regulatory framework on cybersecurity.Serve as laboratory and early-warning think tank for future cybersecurity scenarios.

World Economic Forum (WEF)

WEF is Swiss nonprofit foundation, based in Geneva. It is recognized as international institution forpublic-private cooperation. It is committed to improve state of world by engaging business, political,academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.WEF is best known for its annual winter meeting for five days in Davos, a mountain resort inGraubünden, in eastern Alps region of Switzerland. The meeting brings together some internationalpolitical leaders, 2,500 top business leaders, selected intellectuals, and journalists to discuss the mostpressing issues facing the world.

Rotavac: First India-designed vaccine to pass WHO testJanuary 26, 2018

Rotavac became first Indigenously developed vaccine from India to be pre-qualified by World HealthOrganisation (WHO). It means that vaccine can be sold internationally to several countries in SouthAmerica and Africa.So far, several vaccines from India have been pre-qualified by WHO, but Rotavac is first vaccineentirely developed locally to get this status in safety and efficacy.Rotavac

Rotavac conceived and developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Limited. It protects againstchildhood diarrhoea caused by the rotavirus. It was developed under the joint collaboration betweenIndia and United States in area of medical research.It was developed under public-private partnership (PPP) model that involved Ministry of Science andTechnology, institutions of the US Government and NGOs in India supported by Bill and MelindaGates Foundation.The vaccine was built on strain of the virus isolated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS), New Delhi over 30 years ago. It has been included in India’s national immunisationprogramme. The vaccine was tested in field for over a year, have not shown any negative effect.Significance

This recognition signifies credible industrial, scientific and regulatory process in place to developvaccines in India. It paves the way for health and humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF, GAVIand Pan-American Health Organization to procure Rotavac for public health vaccinationprogrammes across the world.Rotavirus

It is a most common causative agent of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea (MSD) among infants below 11months age group in India. It spreads from person to person due to bacterial and parasiting agentsthat are primarily transmitted through contaminated food or water. It is responsible for estimated36% of hospitalisations for childhood diarrhoea around world and for estimated 200,000 deaths inlow- and middle-income countries. In India, diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, kills nearly 80 thousandchildren under age of 5 years and up to 10 lakh hospitalizations each year.

January 27, 2018Mehul Garg: Indian-origin boy sets new Mensa record

January 27, 2018

Indian-origin boy Mehul Garg (10) in United Kingdom became youngest applicant in decade toachieve highest score in Mensa IQ test, beating geniuses like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.He scored maximum score of 162 to become a member of Mensa. His score is two points higher thanEinstein and Hawking.Mehul Garg is from Reading Boys Grammar School in Reading, southern England. He can solveRubik’s Cube in 100 seconds. He has been shortlisted for ‘Child Genius 2018’ show on Channel 4.Mensa IQ test



Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. It is non-profit organization open topeople who score at 98th percentile or higher on standardized, supervised IQ or other approvedintelligence test.Its mission is to identify and foster human intelligence for benefit of humanity, encourage researchinto nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence and provide stimulating intellectual and socialenvironment for its members. It was established in October 1946 and is headquartered inLincolnshire, England. So far it has 134000 members.

Alpha Design Technologies wins firing simulator order from India ArmyJanuary 27, 2018

Alpha Design Technologies Ltd. has signed Rs. 45-crore deal with Ministry of Defence to supplyindigenous simulators for gunnery and missile firing from BMP II vehicles to Indian Army.Under this deal, as many as 57 simulators will be manufactured at company’s Bengaluru facility andwill be supplied to Indian Army over two years period.Key Facts

The BMP II is a Soviet-origin amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. The simulators will be used totrain missile firing personnel. Currently, Indian Army firing personnel train fully on actual BMPvehicles. The use of simulators will save vehicle wear and tear to large extent.Background

Alpha Design Technologies Ltd is mid-size company focussing on defence electronics products. Thesimulators bid for BMP II vehicles was floated about five ye`ars back for Indian public and privateenterprises and involved trials over two years.

India-Japan Smart Grid Pilot Project inaugurated in PanipatJanuary 27, 2018

India-Japan Smart Grid Pilot Project was inaugurated Panipat, Haryana to solve the variouscomplications faced by the power distribution sector. It was inaugurated by State Chief MinisterManohar Lal Khattar in the presence of Japanese Minister Keniko Sen.Key Facts

India-Japan Smart Grid Pilot Project was initiated under intensive relations between Japan and Indiaand Central Government’s flagship Make in India Programme. The project aims to make electricitydistribution network smarter and disseminate Japanese technologies in India.It also seeks to improve capacity of power companies to provide operational know-how concerningpower distribution to effectively use smart grid-related technologies to reduce distribution lossesand failure rate of distribution transformers. It also seeks to improve the frequency of power failures,by providing Japanese operational know-how concerning power distribution systems includingmastering those technologies.Under this project, smart meters were installed at homes of customers in Panipat to perform datacollection as well as monitoring and control through supervisory control system called SCADA. Itspurpose is to demonstrate peak load reduction technology, distribution grid monitoring and controltechnology and power distribution loss reduction technology aimed at power meter tampering,power theft, and omission of bill collection.Background

The Union Ministry of Power has launched fourteen smart grid pilot projects to modernize powerdistribution networks in India for building next generation power distribution networks with lesselectrical waste. The project in Panipat, Haryana is one of the fourteen smart grid pilot projects.Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) had inkedMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Haryana Government in December 2015 fordemonstration of Smart Grid Pilot Project in Panipat.

Government relaxes norms of Atal Pension Yojana to expand coverageJanuary 27, 2018

The Union Finance Ministry has relaxed norms of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) to allow small financebanks and payment banks to offer APY distribution. The move is expected to help expand coverage ofthe scheme and strengthen existing channels of APY distribution.Key Facts

The APY scheme follows same investment pattern as applicable to National Pension Scheme (NPS)



contribution of Central government employees. During financial year 2016-17, the scheme has earnedreturn of 13.91%. There are more than 84 lakh subscribers registered under APY scheme with an assetbase of more than Rs. 3,194 crore.At present 233 Banks and Department of Post are involved with the implementation of the scheme.With relaxation of the norms, now 11 Payment Banks and 10 Small Finance Banks (SFBs) can alsooffer APY distribution.Atal Pension Yojana

APY became operational from June 1, 2015 with an aim to provide affordable universal access toessential social security protection to unorganized work force of country, which makes major chunkof labour force (88%). It had replaced earlier Swavalamban scheme.It is available to all citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years (thus minimum period ofcontribution by subscriber is 20 years). Under scheme, subscriber will receive a minimumguaranteed pension of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000 per month, depending on his contribution, from age of 60years.There is no exit to the scheme before the age of 60. In case of death of subscriber, the spouse of thesubscriber shall be entitled for the same amount of pension till his or her death.Uttar Pradesh with 11.41 APY accounts is highest contributing state of the scheme followed by Bihar (8.87 lakh subscribers) and Tamil Nadu (6.60 lakh).

India to host informal WTO Ministerial gathering in March 2018January 27, 2018

India has announced to host informal Ministerial meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO) inMarch 2018 in New Delhi to muster support for issues and also help to multi-lateral process.It was announced by Deepak Jagdish Saksena, India’s ambassador and permanent representative toWTO during informal WTO ministerial gathering at Davos on the sidelines of the World EconomicForum (WEF) annual summit.Key Facts

About 40 WTO members from both rich and developing nations are being called by India for thisinformal meeting to “revitalise” the multi-lateral trade body. The objective of meeting is to discussways to revitalise WTO to ensure predictable and transparent system of rule-making in the area ofinternational trade.The meeting will be taking place after collapse of the WTO 11th Ministerial Conference (MC 11) heldin Buenos Aires in December 2017. It will be held in backdrop of rich nations forming groupings toprepare ground for pushing new issues such as investment facilitation, preparing rules for e-commerce, promoting gender equality, reducing subsidy on fisheries, unreported and unregulatedfishingBackground

India has been keenly pushing agriculture issues including permanent solution on publicstockholding issue for food security at WTO Ministerial Conferences. It has also been raising its voiceagainst bringing new issues proposed by developed countries, especially those which are not directlylinked to trade.India had expressed its disappointment over US’s refusal to agree on public stockholding issue atrecently concluded WTO’s MC 11 in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2017. The MC 11 hadconcluded in deadlock without any substantial outcome as consensus eluded the 164-member body.The deadlock came after US and other developed countries blocked permanent solution ongovernment stockholding for food security purposes and toughened stand on new issues by Indiaand other developing countries. US also had refused to re-affirm the multilateralism and the Dohadevelopment mandate in MC11.

Punjab Government launches Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas YojanaJanuary 27, 2018

Punjab Government has launched Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY) for the welfare ofthe downtrodden citizen across the state.This scheme is aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of the society. It will be on theline of Antyodaya principles (Antyodaya’ means rise of the last person) and will be implemented inthe state’s rural areas.



Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY)

The objective of scheme is to identify poor and distressed households which have been deprived ofthe benefits of the various welfare schemes launched by state government. It will give distressedsections much need socially or economically or psychologically help.Its purpose is to benefit 18 marginalized sections living in rural areas of state. It will provide benefitof welfare schemes for debt stressed farmers, poor families that have woman as sole bread earner,out-of-school children, martyred soldiers, families of AIDS patients, differently-abled, abandoned oldpersons, drug addicts etc.It aims to will give more focus on encouraging voluntary organizations, various civil societyorganizations, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and other socially committed persons to contribute tothe welfare of the downtrodden. Moreover, under the scheme will be no financial implication.

Kolkata becomes first Indian metro to get floating marketJanuary 27, 2018

Kolkata, capital of West Bengal became first metro city in India to get floating market. It wasinaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.The floating market is located on lake at Patuli in South Kolkata which is 400 metres long and 60metres wide. The lake has been transformed into the floating market similar to the one in Thailand.Key Facts

The aim of floating market is to rehabilitate over 200 shopkeepers from nearby market that wasdemolished for the widening of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass (EMB) — an important road thatconnects the northern parts of Kolkata o the eastern and southern tips.The market will host at least 114 boats, each one accommodating two shops. These shops will sellregular or daily-use items that include vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish and meat and poultry.Shoppers can approach these boats through wooden walkways.Special provisions have been made to ensure that water in lake does not stink and the aquatic lifesurvives. Nets will be routinely used to fish out vegetable peel, fish scales and other waste from thewater. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is executing agency of floatingmarket.

January 28, 201828 January 2018: World Leprosy Day

January 28, 2018

The World Leprosy Day is observed internationally every year on last Sunday of January month toraise global awareness of Leprosy. This year it was observed on 28 January. Observance of the dayfocuses on target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children.The day was initiated by French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau in 1954 as way to raiseglobal awareness of this deadly ancient disease and call attention to the fact that it can be prevented,treated and cured.Leprosy

Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind. It iscaused by by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), whichmultiplies very slowly in the human body. The bacterium has a long incubation period (on average 5years or longer). The disease affects nerve endings and destroys the body’s ability to feel pain andinjury. It is chronic granulomatous disease that mainly affects skin and peripheral nervous system. Itcan also affect the eyes and respiratory system. It is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT).Treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), despite being eliminated globally as publichealth problem in 2000, leprosy continues to mar lives of individuals, and impacts families andcommunities. In 2015, Leprosy affected 212 000 more people globally of them 60% were in India.

Asha Bhosle selected for fifth Yash Chopra Memorial AwardJanuary 28, 2018

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle (84) was chosen for fifth edition of Yash Chopra MemorialAward for her outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry. She will be presented with awardin February 2018 by Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. She was selected by jury memberscomprising Chopra’s wife Pamela Chopra, filmmakers Boney Kapoor, Madhur Bhandarkar, singer



Alka Yagnik, actor Padmini Kohlapure, scriptwriter Honey Irani, Anu and Shashi Ranjan.Asha Bhosle

Born as Asha Mangeshkar on 8 September 1933 in Sangli, Maharashtra. She is best known as aplayback singer in Hindi cinema. In her illustrious music career spanning nearly seven decades shehas recorded over 11,000 songs in 20 different languages. Her work includes film music, pop, ghazals,bhajans, traditional Indian classical music, folk songs, qawwalis, and Rabindra Sangeets. She is sisterof playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.Yash Chopra Memorial Award

The award has been instituted by MP T Subbarami Reddy in the memory of renowned filmmakerYash Chopra, who died in 2012, in association with Anu Ranjan and Shashi Ranjan. The award alsocarries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. The list of previous recipients of award include melody queen LataMangeshkar and actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, and Shah Rukh Khan.

India’s Green Revolution pioneer Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat passes awayJanuary 28, 2018

Noted agricultural scientist and pioneer of India’s Green Revolution, Gurcharan Singh Kalkat (92),passed away in Chandigarh after a brief illness.He was known for his role in bringing Green Revolution and several exemplary agricultural reformsin Punjab. His contribution had ensured overall development and a phenomenal growth in theagriculture sector.Gurcharan Singh Kalkat

He was born in Hoshiarpur’s Sahora village on June 17, 1926. He had obtained his BSc Agriculturedegree from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now Pakistan) in 1947.He had joined Ohio State University in January 1957 as a Rockfeller Fellow and had completed hisPhD in agricultural zoology-entomology in December 1958. He was later honoured withDistinguished International Student Award of the university.Kalkat also had worked as a senior agriculturist with the World Bank and was stationed atWashington DC from 1978-1989. During this period, he worked on agriculture and rural developmentprogrammes of Nigeria and Ghana where he was pioneer in introducing shallow tubewells forirrigation and hand pumps for drinking water. He also supervised implementation of World Bankassisted programmes in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia.During his tenure as director agriculture, Punjab and agriculture commissioner (additionalsecretary), India had witnessed Green Revolution. He also had held reins of Punjab AgriculturalUniversity, Ludhiana as its vice chancellor from 1998 to 2001. He was awarded Padma Shri andPadma Bhushan for his work.

PM Narendra Modi to visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman in February 2018January 28, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on four-day official state visit to Palestine, Oman andUAE in February 2018.This will be the first ever visit by Indian Prime Minister to Palestine and PM Modi’s second visit toUAE and first to Oman. During the visit, PM Modi will hold talks with the leadership in the countrieson “matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events.Key Facts

Palestine visit: PM Modi will hold meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who hadvisited India last May 2017 when India had reassured unwavering support towards Palestinian cause.PM Modi’s visit to Palestine comes less than month after Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu’s India trip in January 2018.UAE visit: PM Modi will hold talks with the leadership on key issues of defence, security and trade.He will also address Sixth World Government Summit to be held in Dubai at which India is ‘Guest ofHonour’. He will also meet the Indian community.Oman visit: During the visit, PM Modi’s focus will be on intensifying cooperation in key sectors suchas trade and defence. He will also meet the Indian community. Bilateral trade and investmentbetween India and Oman remain robust and buoyant. It saw decline during 2014-15 and 2015-16, hasresumed its upward trend with an increase of 3.6% from $3.8 billion in 2015-16 to $4 billion in 2016-17.



India, Lao PDR sign civil aviation cooperation agreementJanuary 28, 2018

India and Lao PDR have signed civil aviation cooperation agreement for providing SkyRev360, acomprehensive e-data gathering, invoicing and collection system.The agreement was signed between Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Lao Air TrafficManagement, Department of Civil Aviation.SkyRev360

SkyRev360 is fully automated and comprehensive data gathering invoicing and collection servicesystem. It has been developed by AAI in collaboration with International Air Transport Association(IATA) under the Government’s Make in India initiative. It helps to eliminate inaccuracies errors anddelays for better revenue management with less manual processing. It was launched in February2017 by AAI.It helps airport operators world-wide in avoiding revenue leakages, reducing redundancies, disputesand easy integration with all external systems. It also helps in curtailing the debt collection period tothe minimum.Features

Data gathering and processing module: It can ensure essential data of invoices latest and mostcomplete.Invoicing module: It maintains all account attributes and allows for extensive view of associateddata, including aircraft specifications, flight movements, billing ledger records, etc.Collection: Its all data collections are managed with IATA Enhancement & Financing Services (E&F)process, which offers efficiencies and automation to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) andairlines by settling through IATA Settlement Systems.Airline queries: All queries and disputes related to billing and collection from your air operators arehandled by IATA team.Dashboard and reports: It continuously reports incidents, airspace usage, traffic volumes, economicvalues etc.

President Ram Nath Kovind launches Pulse Polio programme for 2018January 28, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has launched Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) Programme for year 2018by administering polio drops to children at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event was organised on theeve of the National Immunisation Day (NID), observed on 28 January. More than 17 crore children ofless than 5 years across the country will be given polio drops as part of Government’s drive toeradicate polio from the country.Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI)

PPI Programme is massive immunization programme of Government to sustain polio eradicationfrom the country. It was launched by Central Government in co-operation with internationalagencies, state governments and non-government/voluntary organizations in 1995 as result of WorldHealth Organization’s (WHO) Global Polio Eradication Initiative.PPI Programme was initiated with objective of achieving 100% coverage under OPV. It aims to reachunreached children through improved social mobilization, plan mop-up operations in areas wherepoliovirus has almost disappeared and maintain high level of morale among the public. Under thisprogramme, all children under 5 years are given 2 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in month ofDecember and January every year until polio is eradicated.Polio

Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children belowage of 5. It is transmitted from person-to-person. It mainly spreads through faecal-oral route (e.g.contaminated water or food). After entering body, it multiplies in the intestine, from where it caninvade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. Its initial symptoms include fever, fatigue,headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in limbs. In some cases, it causes permanentparalysis. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented by immunization.

India, Cambodia ink 4 pactsJanuary 28, 2018

India and Cambodia have signed four agreements to boost bilateral cooperation between both



countries. The agreements were signed after comprehensive talks between Prime Minister NarendraModi and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen in New Delhi.Key Takeaways from comprehensive talks

Defence, security and counter-terrorism: Both leaders held talks to boost ties in key areas ofdefence, security and counter-terrorism and called for concerted global efforts to eliminateterrorism, including blocking terror financing and dismantling terrorist bases.Enhance bilateral defence ties: They agreed to further enhance bilateral defence ties, includingthrough exchanges of senior-level defence personnel and capacity building projects. They alsodiscussed exploring ways to intensify development partnership and boost ties in key sectors,including trade and investment, energy conservation, agriculture, and tourism and culture.Maritime Security: They also expressed keen interest in enhancing cooperation in maritime domain,including preservation of coastal and marine environment, anti-piracy cooperation, security of sealanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in Indo-Pacific Region. They also supported complete freedom of navigation and overflight and pacificresolution of maritime issues based on international law.Agreements signed are

Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP): It seeks to promote cultural exchange and strengthen the friendly

relations between both countries.Credit Line Agreement: It was signed between India’s EXIM Bank Government of Cambodia for Line of Credit

(LoC) to finance Stung Sva Hab Water Resource Development Project for US$ 36.92 million.Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters: It seeks to improve effectiveness of both countries in

prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes through cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters.MoU on Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking: It seeks to increase bilateral cooperation on

issues of prevention, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking.Background

India-Cambodia bilateral relations are warm and cordial. The relations go back to 1st century ADwhen Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts ofSoutheast Asia. Cambodians are predominantly Buddhist but retain strong influence of Hindumythology, rituals and idolatry.

MeITY launches Stree Swabhiman Initiative for Women Health and HygieneJanuary 28, 2018

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) has launched Stree SwabhimanInitiative. Its aim is to create sustainable model for providing adolescent girls and women an accessto affordable sanitary products by leveraging Common Service Centres (CSCs).Stree Swabhiman Initiative

Under this initiative, Common Service Centres (CSC) will provide access to affordable, reliable andmodern (eco-friendly) sanitary

napkins (menstrual pads) to adolescent girls and women in rural areas. Its purpose is to improveawareness on menstrual health and hygiene of women, thus help to protect dignity and rights ofwomen. Under this initiative, semi-automatic and manual sanitary napkin manufacturing units willbe set up at CSC for producing affordable and eco-friendly sanitary napkins. These micromanufacturing units will be operated by women entrepreneurs and generate employment for 8-10women.Common Service Centres

CSCs are ICT enabled front end service delivery points at the village level for delivery of governmentand private services. They are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme. They are the



access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India.

January 29, 2018Acid attack victims to get quota in Central Government jobs

January 29, 2018

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued notification to provide quota to peoplewith autism, mental illnesses, intellectual disability and victims of acid attacks in Centralgovernment jobs.In case of direct recruitment, 4% of the total number of vacancies, up from existing 3%, in groups A, Band C will be reserved for people with Benchmark disability i.e. person with not less than 40% of aspecified disability. The additional 1 % reservation to existing 3% reservation is as per the provisionRights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.Key Facts

As per the notification, 1% of each posts will be reserved for people with blindness and low vision,deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acidattack victims and muscular dystrophy. Besides, 1% posts each shall be also reserved for peoplesuffering from autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness.Moreover, all government organisations will have to appoint ‘grievance redressal officers’ to lookinto complaints.Intellectual disability

It is a condition characterised by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning such asreasoning, learning and problem solving. It is in adaptive behaviour that covers a range of everydayskills.

Australian Open 2018: Roger Federer wins Men’s Singles titleJanuary 29, 2018

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (World No. 2) has retained his Men’s Singles title by winning 2018Australian Open. In the summit clash played at Melbourne, he defeated Croatia’s Marin Cilic (Worldno. 6) in five sets 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. It was Federer’s sixth Australian Open Crown (earlier won in2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2017) and overall 20th Grand Slam singles titles. With this, he joins elitegroup of Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf who have won 20 or more Grand Slamsingles titles.Other Category Winners

Women’s Singles: Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) won women’s Singles title in 2018 Australian Open by

defeating Simona Halep (Romania) by 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4 score.Men’s Doubles: Oliver Marach (Austria) and Mate Pavić (Croatia) pair won the title by defeating Juan Colombian

pair of Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah by 6–4, 6–4 score.Women’s Doubles: Tímea Babos (Hungary) and Kristina Mladenovic (France) pair won the title by defeating

Russian pair of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina by 6–4, 6–3 score.Mixed Doubles: Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) and Mate Pavić (Croatia) pair won the title by defeating Tímea

Babos (Hungary) and Rohan Bopanna (India) by 2–6, 6–4, [11–9] score.



2018 Republic Day parade: Maharashtra wins best tableau prizeJanuary 29, 2018

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave away Republic Day Parade 2018 best tableauaward to Maharashtra and best marching contingent award to Punjab Regiment Contingent.The ceremonial Republic Day Parade 2018 was held on 26 January 2018 at Rajpath to celebrate 69thRepublic Day. It was presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind and 10 leaders of Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were guests of honour. India’s military might was fully displayedduring the annual celebrations.Total of 23 tableaux (14 from States & Union Territories, 2 from Ministry of External Affairs and restof the tableaux from other Ministries/Departments) participated in this year’s Republic Day Parade.Ministry of External Affairs 2 tableaux depicted long socio-cultural, religious, educational & traderelations between India and 10 ASEAN countriesRepublic Day Parade 2018 Awards

Best marching contingentAmong Three Services: Punjab Regiment (1st).

Among para-military and other auxiliary forces: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Best TableauState wise

First: Tableau from Maharashtra depicting coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was awarded first prize.

Second: Tableau from Assam depicting traditional masks and sastras begged second prize.

Third: Tableau of Chhattisgarh depicting Ramgarh’s ancient amphitheatre along with artistes performing dance,

based on Kalidasa’s Meghadootam was awarded third prize.



Union Ministries/Departments Category: Tableaux of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports depicting ‘Khelo

India’ was given first prize.School children items category

First prize: South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur (Maharashtra) performing ‘Baredi Dance’ from Madhya

Pradesh.Consolation prizes: It was awarded to North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur (Nagaland) for performing

Sangrai Mog Dance of Tripura and Oxford Foundation School, Najafgarh, Delhi for performing Shikshit Bharat,Shashakt Bharat dance.

NASA interested in India-made thermal spray coating technologyJanuary 29, 2018

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is interested in new India-made thermalspray coating technology used for gas turbine engine in spacecraft.It has been developed by Dr. Satish Tailor, Rajasthan-based researcher working with Jodhpur-basedMetallizing Equipment Company (MEC).Key Facts

The technology is called controlled segmented Yttria-Stabilised Zirconia (YSZ)-Plasma sprayedcoating technology. It has potential to reduce thermal spray coating cost by almost 50%. It developsvertical cracks (segmentation) in coating, beneficial for gas turbine engine application used inspacecraft.The new technology has advantage over current, costly techniques such as SPS or EB-PVD depositedcoatings. These present technologies develop such cracks through very expensive processes (inseveral crore) and are not controllable.Significance

The YSZ thermal barrier coatings produced by atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) technique haspotential of wider industrial and strategic acceptability. It can be industrially adopted to make astrain-tolerant coating more economical.Thermal Spray Coating Technology

Thermal spray coating refers to number of processes in which substrate is coated to improvefunctional performance. It involves the deposition of coatings from stream of high velocity finelydivided particles in molten or semi-molten state impinging onto the substrate.Many types of coating materials can be applied by thermal spray processes. These coatings can rangein thickness from thousandth of inch up to eighth of inch. Thermal spray coatings are used to protectparts from wear, abrasion, corrosion, high temperatures, etc. and also to build dimensions onundersized parts.

Khelo India Pledge Launched at Khelo India School Games CarnivalJanuary 29, 2018

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched Pledge for Khelo India at Khelo India SchoolGames Carnival in Delhi. The pledge resonates with vision of Khelo India programme and is aimed atinspiring youngsters to build mass participation and excellence in sports. It also is promise toparticipant and encourages sportsmanship spirit.Khelo India School Games

Khelo India School Games was launched under Khelo India Programme. It was held at multiplevenues across Delhi from January 31 to February 8, 2018. It encompassed 16 sports disciplines underwhich overall 199 gold medals, 199 silver medals, 275 bronze medals, to were awarded. It aimed atcreating platform to showcase hidden talent, fostering young sports prodigies and creatingawareness and cognizance about physical fitness as well as good health amongst youngsters.Khelo India programme

The Khelo India Programme was launched in 2016 for building inclusive and comprehensive sportsecosystem in country. It aims at inculcating sports into the day to day lives of youngsters early on intheir lives. It subsumed earlier three different schemes into one namely: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan(RGKA), National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) and Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS).Objectives

Promote Sports for All as well as Sports for Excellence and create an active population with healthy lifestyle.



Mainstream sport as tool for individual development, community development, economic development andnational development.Impact entire sports ecosystem, including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching forexcellence, competition structure and sports economy.Engage youth living in disturbed and deprived areas, in sporting activities, to wean them away from unproductiveand disruptive activities and mainstream them in nation-building process.

Parliamentary Group to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five MPsJanuary 29, 2018

The Parliamentary Group has decided to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to fiveMembers of Parliament. They are

Dr Najma Heptulla: She is former Rajya Sabha MP and was selected for this award for the year 2013.

Hukumdev Narayan Yadav: He is Lok Sabha MP and was selected for this award for the year for 2014.

Ghulam Nabi Azad: He is Rajya Sabha and was selected for this award for the year for 2015.

Dinesh Trivedi: He is Lok Sabha MP and was selected for 2016.

Bhartruhari Mahatab: He is Lok Sabha MP and was selected for 2017.

Outstanding Parliamentarian Award

The Outstanding Parliamentarian Award was established in 1992 by Shivraj Patil who was then theSpeaker of Lok Sabha. The Indian Parliamentary Group selects an outstanding sitting Member ofParliament after considering his/her overall contribution in Parliament.

MHA to set up Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre in New DelhiJanuary 29, 2018

The Union Home Ministry will set up Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), an apexcoordination centre in New Delhi to deal with cybercrimes.It also has asked States to establish similar mechanism in every district and released funds forsetting up of cyber-forensic training laboratory-cum-training centre for police officials in each State.It also has released funds to Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children Scheme.Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

It will be apex coordination centre to deal with cybercrimes based in New Delhi. It will coordinatewith State governments/UTs and closely monitor cyberspace and social media with due emphasis onvernacular content. It will also block those websites which flout Indian laws and circulate childpornography and communally and racially sensitive content.It will also maintain list of suspects and leads generated during investigations in cybercrime casesand will be shared with law enforcement agencies through secured internal network. Under thisframework, state governments will set up State cybercrime coordination cell at headquarter-leveland also establish district cybercrime cells.Background

Over a period of time, there has been phenomenal increase in use of computers, smart phones andinternet in India. With this increase, cybercrimes have emerged as major challenge for lawenforcement agencies. The cybercrime cases are of varied types ranging from defacement ofgovernment websites, online financial frauds, online stalking and harassment, and data thefts.Moreover, these cybercrime cases pose technical, legal and administrative challenges in investigationwhich require strengthening of institutional mechanism. Institutionalisation of I4C comes in wake of1,44,496 cybersecurity attacks observed in country during 2014-16 period. MHA already has createdCyber and Information Security Division, a new wing to deal with new-age challenge.

VINBAX: Indian, Vietnam hold first military exercise in JabalpurJanuary 29, 2018

The India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX-2018) was conducted at Jabalpur in MadhyaPradesh. It is the first military exercise between the two countries. The six day-long military exercise(from January 29 to February 3, 2018) was conducted as part of joint training undertaken withfriendly foreign countries by Indian Army.Key Facts

VINBAX-2018 was Table Top Exercise to carry out training for Peace Keeping Operations underUnited Nations (UN) mandate. It was jointly undertaken between 15 officers each from Indian Army



and Vietnam People’s Army. The joint exercise was especially designed to enable and train officersfrom Vietnam in United Nations Peace Keeping Operations. The joint exercise was of mutualinteraction and shared experiences amongst both armies. It also further strengthened cultural andhistorical ties between both nations and took bilateral relations forward to greater heights.Background

Defence ties between India and Vietnam have been on an upswing with the primary focus beingcooperation in the maritime domain. Both countries had signed a protocol on defence cooperation in1994. The partnership was thereafter elevated to strategic level in 2007 and pact on boostingbilateral defence cooperation was signed in 2009. The strategic partnership was elevated to acomprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016.

Highlights of Economic Survey 2017-18January 29, 2018

Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley tabled the Economic Survey 2017-18 in Parliament during 2018budget session. The survey was authored by chief economic adviser in the finance ministry ArvindSubramanian. The survey projects economy to grow in the range of 7% to 7.50% in the next fiscal year2018-19 in the post-demonetisation year. Suvey 2017-18 was in pink colour to highlight gender issues.Key Highlights of Survey

Growth Forecast: The real GDP growth projections for 2017-18 is expected to be around 6.75%, whichis further expected to reach to 7-7.5% in 2018-19 driven by major reforms initiated by thegovernment. There was reversal of declining trend of GDP growth in second quarter of 2017-18. Thegrowth during this period was led by industry sector. Agriculture, industry and services sectors areexpected to grow at the rate of 2.1%, 4.4%, and 8.3% respectively in 2017-18.Fiscal discipline: The fiscal deficit as percentage to GDP to remain stable at 3.2%, indicating thatgovernment’s priority still lies in fiscal consolidation.Inflation: Lower CPI inflation average to 3.33% will be seen but higher WPI Inflation average to 2.9%in 2017-18.Exports: Growth of exports rebounded into positive one during 2016-17 and expected to grow fasterin 2017-18 to 12.1% after remaining in negative territory for a couple of years.Forex reserves: India can be rated as among the best performing economies in the world with itsforeign exchange reserves shooting to $409.4 billion.Goods and Services Tax (GST): It has given new perceptive of Indian economy and new data onindirect taxation has emerged. There has been a 50% increase in number of indirect taxpayers.India’s formal sector: The formal non-farm payroll is substantially greater than currently believed tobe. When formality was defined in terms of social security provisions like EPFO/ESIC, then theformal sector payroll was found to be about 31% of the non-agricultural work force. When it wasdefined in terms of being part of the GST net, then such formal sector payroll share was found to be53%.International exports of states: For the first time in India’s history, data on the international exportsof states was dwelled in Economic Survey. It indicates strong correlation between exportperformance and states’ standard of living. States exporting internationally and trading with otherstates were found to be richer. Thus, such correlation is stronger between prosperity andinternational trade.Firms and Exports: India’s exports are unusual as largest firms account for a much smaller share ofexports than in other comparable countries. Top 1% of Indian firms account only for 38% of exportsunlike in other countries where they account for substantially greater share – (72%, 68%, 67% and55% in Brazil, Germany, Mexico and US respectively). Such tendencies were also found to be true fortop 5-10% of the Indian companies.Desire for male child: Indian society exhibits a strong desire for male child. It pointed out that mostparents continued to have children until they get number of sons. Various scenarios leading toskewed sex ratios have been mentioned in survey and it also gave comparison on sex ratio by birthbetween India and Indonesia.Tax disputes: Tax departments in India have gone in for contesting against in several tax disputesbut with low success rate which is below 30%. About 66% of pending cases accounted for only 1.8% of



value at stake. It further stated that 0.2% of cases accounted for 56% of value at stake.Impact of climate change on agricultural yields: Extreme temperature increases and deficiency inrainfall have due to climate change and its impact on agricultural yields has been captured in survey.The impact was found to be twice as large in un-irrigated areas as in irrigated ones.

January 30, 2018Himachal Pradesh launches Zero Budget Natural Farming project to promote organic farming

January 30, 2018

Himachal Pradesh Government has launched Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) project topromote organic farming. It was launched by Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur. The project aims toincrease agriculture produce and the income of farmers by the year 2022.Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

ZBNF is set of natural farming methods where cost of growing and harvesting plants is zero. It is afarming practice that believes in natural growth of crops without adding any fertilizers andpesticides or any other foriegn elements. It is different from organic farming.The word Zero Budget refers to zero net cost of production of all crops. This means that farmersneed not purchase fertilizers and pesticides in order to ensure the healthy growth of crops. Theinputs used for seed treatments and other inocluations are locally available in form of cowdung andcow urine.It requires almost no monetary investment and envisages use of ‘Jeevamrutha’ and ‘Beejamrutha’.The main aim of ZBNF is eliminate use of chemical pesticides and uses biological pesticides andpromote of good agronomic practices. Farmers use earthworms, cow dung, urine, plants, humanexcreta and such biological fertilizers for crop protection.It lowers cost of inputs of farmers and gives better capacity to increase the incomes. It also protectssoil from degradation and helps in retaining soil fertility and is climate change resilient.

Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: 238th anniversary of India’s first newspaper celebratedJanuary 30, 2018

Journalists and social activists celebrated 238th anniversary of India’s first newspaper the Hicky’sBengal Gazette. 29 January is also celebrated Hicky’s Day to pay tributes to the fighter-journalistJames Augustus Hicky who is considered as founder of journalism in India.Hicky’s Bengal Gazette

Hicky’s Bengal Gazette (Original Calcutta General Advertiser) was an English language weeklynewspaper published in Kolkata (then Calcutta), the then capital of British India. It was founded byJames Augustus Hicky. It began publication on January 29, 1780 and was published for two years. Itwas the first newspaper printed in Asia. The newspaper in its time was strong critic ofadministration of Governor General Warren Hastings. It was important for its provocativejournalism well before its time and its fight for free expression in India.

President Ram Nath Kovind pitches for simultaneous electionsJanuary 30, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has called for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.He made this state while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament on the commencement of theBudget Session.He made this statement arguing that frequent elections impede speed of development as officialshave to assist in conducting polls. He called for sustained debate on subject of simultaneous electionsand urged all political parties to arrive at consensus on this issue.Need for simultaneous elections

Frequent elections affect the governance as imposition of model code of conduct in poll bound areas puts on holdall developmental activities on that area and also affects the bureaucracy’s functioning.Elections in India are big-budget exercise. Expenditure can be reduced by conducting simultaneous elections.Law Commission in its 170th report titled Reform of Electoral Laws (1999) had suggested holding simultaneouselections at all levels for stability in governance.Frequent elections disrupt normal public life and affect functioning of essential services. Moreover, frequentelections lead to frequent disruption of road traffic by political rallies and also lead to noise pollution.Crucial manpower especially teachers is often deployed on election duties for prolonged period of time. If



simultaneous elections are held, then this manpower will be made available for other important tasks.Difficulties

Not all voters are highly educated to know who to vote for. They may get confused and may not know whetherthey are voting for candidates contesting assembly or parliament elections.Frequent elections bring politicians back to the voters, create jobs (though temporary) and prevent the mixing oflocal and national issues in the minds of the voters.The issue of logistics and requirement of security personnel, election and administrative officials needs to beconsidered.There is dearth of enough security and administrative officials to conduct simultaneous free and fair electionsthroughout the country in one go.Mostly elections in big states are held various phases mainly due to security concerns. If this is situation, holdingsimultaneous elections for all the states, it may need to be held in many phases stretching over many months.

Background

The idea of ‘one nation one election’ has been proposed for many years starting with LawCommission suggestion in 1999. Most recently, Parliament’s standing committee 2015 reportsuggested holding simultaneous election to save public money and end policy paralysis because ofimpact of the model code of conduct. It had pegged the cost of holding elections for Lok Sabha andstate assemblies at Rs. 4500 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had pitched for this idea.

India becomes third largest producer of crude steelJanuary 30, 2018

According to recent report published by World Steel Association (WSA), India has overtaken US tobecome the world’s third largest steel producer in 2017. India’s crude steel production has grown by6.2% to 101.4 million tonnes (MT) in 2017 compared to 95.5 MT in the previous year.Key Facts

China has remained world leader by producing 831.7 MT in 2017, up 5.7% from 786.9 MT in the year-ago period. Japan is second largest global steel producer and had witnessed negative growth in steeloutput declined by 0.1% to 104.7 MT in 2017 from 104.8 MT in 2016.The Global steel production had reached 1,691.2 MT in 2017, up by 5.3% compared to 2016 whenoutput was 1,606.3 MT. Crude steel production increased in all regions in 2017 except in CIS(Commonwealth of Independent States), which has remained stable.World Steel Association (WSA)

WSA is a non-profit organisation and is one of the largest industry associations in world. Itsmembers represent approximately 85% of the world’s steel production. It includes over 160 steelproducers with 9 of the 10 largest steel companies, national and regional steel industry associations,and steel research institutes. It was founded in July 1967 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

January 31, 2018Soumitra Chatterjee presented with France’s Legion d’Honneur

January 31, 2018

Legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee (83) was awarded France’s highest civilian award,Legion d’Honneur. He was presented the medal by French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler at afunction in Kolkata, West Bengal.Chatterjee was awarded in recognition of his remarkable career and his outstanding contribution inpromoting Indian cinema in France and his long-standing attraction for our country.Soumitra Chatterjee

He was born on 19 January 1935 in Mirjapur Street, Calcutta in West Bengal. In his acting careerspanning almost six decades, he has acted in more than 200 films. He had debuted in his mentorSatyajit Ray’s film Apur Sansar (1959) and went on to work with director in 14 films.Besides acting, he has also dabbled in painting, written and directed plays, composed poems, editedBengali magazine and is also a much-acclaimed elocutionist.He has been awarded Padma Bhushan (2004), India’s highest award in cinema Dadasaheb PhalkeAward (2012). In 1999, he became first Indian to be awarded with Commandeur de l’ Ordre des Arts etdes Lettres, France’s highest award for artistes.



Legion d’Honneur

Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (Officer of the Legion of Honour) was created in 1802 by firstemperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the highest civilian award given by the Frenchgovernment to person for his outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality. ActorsAmitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan were also awarded in 2007 and 2014. Other Indians who werealso awarded are Amartya Sen, Ravi Shankar, Zubin Mehta, Lata Mangeshkar, JRD Tata and RatanTata among others.

Government inks $100 Million loan agreement for Project to Boost Rural Economy of Tamil NaduJanuary 31, 2018

The Union Government has inked $100 million Loan Agreement with World Bank for Project to BoostRural Economy of Tamil Nadu. The loan is from the International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD) and has a 5-year grace period and maturity of 19 years.Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project

The project aims to promote rural enterprises, facilitate their access to finance and createemployment opportunities for youth, particularly women in selected blocks of Tamil Nadu across 26districts. It will create enabling environment for producer organizations and enterprises to promotebusinesses across select value chains.The project will be operational in 120 blocks across 3,994 villages in 26 Districts of Tamil Nadu with411,620 direct beneficiaries. It will be rolled out in phased manner and in first phase 26 blocks willcovered in all project districts, followed by 52 blocks in second phase and remaining 42 blocks inthird phase.Under this project, communities will identify commodities and subsectors in the value chain forpreparing business plans based on the analysis. 30% of the financing for these s plans will be throughmatching grant program from project and remaining 70% will be leveraged from other financialinstitutions.The project will work with targeted households that are already part of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Itwill also specifically support eligible households from socially and culturally disadvantaged groups toharness their existing assets, skills, and resources.It will also test selected innovations and start-up ideas or scaled up them under newly createdplatform known as Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Marketplace. This platform will identify,showcase and celebrate innovative solutions related to themes that have potential to impact ruraleconomic growth in state.Moreover, it will have e-governance architecture with use of ICT along with a robust ManagementInformation System (MIS) to monitor and track results real time.

Vinod Paul: First Indian to receive WHO’s IhsanDogramaci Family Health Foundation PrizeJanuary 31, 2018

NITI Aayog member Dr Vinod Paul became first Indian to be awarded prestigious IhsanDoğramacıFamily Health Foundation Prize by World Health Organisation (WHO). It will be formally presentedat World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2018.Background

He was selected unanimously for the prestigious award by WHO Board from six other shortlistedcandidates from Algeria, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan for distinguishedcontributions towards improving the health and well-being of families, especially in developingcountries.Dr Vinod Paul

Dr Paul is internationally renowned researcher, clinician, educator and public health advocate in thearea of family health, with special focus on newborn health. His efforts have brought long-neglectedissue of newborn health to centre-stage of strategies for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) andSustainable Development Goals (SDGs).He is instrumental in establishing the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in2005-06. He is recognized world over as leading expert in universal health coverage and humanresources for health.He has played key role in formulating national child health guidelines and programmes in India.Prior to joining as Member, NITI Aayog, he was head of the Department of Pediatrics at AIIMS, New



Delhi.He has published numerous articles on various issues, including on children’s, women’s andadolescents’ health, in international peer-reviewed journals and several books and monographs. Hisbook on paediatrics is standard textbook for medical students in India and several other countries.IhsanDoğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize

WHO’s IhsanDoğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize is global honour conferred in recognition toservices in field of family health. It was established in 1980 to promote and raise standard of familyhealth by acknowledging individuals who have given distinguished service in this field. It is namedafter Professor Ihsan Doğramacı, a paediatrician and child health specialist.

Government inks $250 Million Loan Agreement with ADB to Improve Rural Connectivity in 5 StatesJanuary 31, 2018

The Union Government has inked $250 Million Loan Agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB)to Improve Rural Connectivity in 5 States viz. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha andWest Bengal under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The loan proceeds will be used tofinance the construction of 6,254 kilometres all-weather rural roads in these 5 States under thePMGS).Key Facts

It is first tranche Loan of the $500 million Second Rural Connectivity Investment Program for Indiaapproved by the ADB Board in December 2017. The program is aimed to improve rural connectivity,facilitate safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for ruralcommunities through improvements to about 12,000 kms Rural Roads across 5 States.Significance of ADB-funded investment program

Provide continued assistance to PMGSY and support the Government’s long-term goal for rural development.It will have transformative impact in terms of rural economy and will bring greater efficiency in terms of accessand connectivity for rural people in 5 States.Under it about 2,000 technical personnel will be imparted training on road safety and maintenance.It will also support Government’s drive for innovative approaches to reduce costs, conserve non-renewablenatural resources and promote use of waste materials in rural road construction.It builds upon $800 million ADB-financed first Rural Connectivity Investment Program in 2012 that added about9,000 kms of all-weather rural roads in the same States.The road designs under it take into account climate risks (such as increased rainfall and storm surges) withmeasures such as greater elevation of road embankments, slope protection, and better drainage.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

PMGSY was launched in year 2000 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an objective to providesingle all-weather road connectivity to all eligible unconnected rural villages (habitations). The UnionMinistry of Rural Development is nodal implementing authority. It was fully funded scheme by thecentral government.

Mihir: High performance computing facility inaugurated at NoidaJanuary 31, 2018

Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) has inaugurated high performance computer system (HPC) orsupercomputer Mihir (meaning sun) at National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting(NCMRWF), Noida.The HCP will provide facility for improving weather/climate forecasts. It is country’s largest HPCfacility in terms of peak capacity and performance. It also propelled India’s ranking to Top 30 in thelist of HPC facilities in world.Key Facts

With this, MoES has acquired HPC facility total of 6.8 Peta Flops (PF) which has been installed at twoof its constituent units: 4.0 PF HPC facility named ‘Pratyush’ at Indian Institute of TropicalMeteorology (IITM), Pune and 2.8 Peta Flops facility at NCMRWF, Noida. It also improved India rankto 4th position after Japan, UK and US interms of dedicated HPC resources for weather/climateforecasts.Mihir HPC facility will improve following services

Weather forecasts at block level over India which can predict extreme weather events.



High resolution seasonal and extended range forecasts of active and break spells of Monsoon.Very high resolution coupled models for prediction of cyclones with more accuracy and lead time.Ocean state forecasts including marine water quality forecasts at very high resolution.Tsunami forecasts with greater lead time.Air quality forecasts for various cities.Climate projections at very high resolution.

Significance of new HPC facilityHelp in meeting operational requirements of MoES and also support research and development activities onvarious problems related to Earth Science.Help MoES in developing several services for societal benefits catering by building state-of-the-art systems formulti-hazard risk reduction from floods/droughts, cyclones, heat/cold waves, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Government launches GeM 3.0January 31, 2018

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched third version of the Government e-Marketplace(GeM 3.0) . The earlier version GeM 2.0 was launched as pilot project in August 2016.GeM 3.0 will offer standardised and enriched catalogue management, powerful search engine, realtime price comparison, template-based Bid and RA creation, demand aggregation, e-EMD, e-PBG,user rating, advanced MIS and analytics and more.Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

GeM is an Online Market platform to facilitate procurement of goods and services by variousMinistries and agencies of the Government. It has been envisaged as National Procurement Portal ofIndiaIt aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement of goods and servicesand eliminate corruption. It functions under Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D),Ministry of Commerce and Industries. It is completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal humaninterface.GeM 3.0

It has powerful search engine and price comparison using third party sites – multisource and realtime. It has performance based User Rating and online vendor assessment (optional). It has marketbased-bundling and bunching of products and services. It also has multi-Cart Functionality andoffers more Services with bid and RA Facility.Benefits of GeM 3.0

Completely transparent transactions across all rangesMarket Based generic requirements across all government agenciesOpen and dynamic market place with rating based on performance of user on websiteGeneric standards established through universal service levels and cost comparison enabledStandardisation of specifications of both products and services enabling empirical price comparability

INS Karanj: Third submarine of Scorpene class launchedJanuary 31, 2018

Indian Navy has launched Scorpene submarine INS Karanj at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd(MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra. It the third Scorpene class submarine built by MDL under ambitiousProject 75 of the Indian Navy.INS Karanj has been named after older submarine as per Indian naval tradition that was in operationfrom 1969 to 2003. It served country for 34 years and was also part of operations in 1971.Key Facts

INS Karanj has an overall length of 67.5 metres and height of about 12.3 metres. Its hull form, fin andhydroplanes are specifically designed to produce minimum underwater resistance.In all, six scorpion submarines being indigenously built at MDL under Project 75 with help of Frenchnaval defence and energy company DCNS. The first of these, INS Kalvari was commissioned inDecember 2017 and second, INS Khanderi is undergoing sea trials. Remaining 4 submarines will beinducted gradually by 2020.These are diesel-electric attack submarines equipped with anti-ship missile. The first four



submarines will be conventional, while last two will be equipped with the Air Independent Propulsion(AIP) system, which will enable them to stay underwater for longer duration.The state-of-the-art Scorpene submarines have superior stealth and ability to launch cripplingattacks with precision-guided weapons. The attacks can be carried out with torpedoes both whilesubmerged or on urface — in all war theatres, including the tropics.

Thar Link Express receives extension for three more yearsJanuary 31, 2018

India and Pakistan have extended agreement of Thar Link Express, second solitary rail servicebetween both countries for three more years i.e. till 2021. The Thar Express links Jodhpur (India) andKarachi (Pakistan) via Munabao (Rajasthan)-Khokhrapar (Sindh province) border crossing and carriesonly passengers.Thar Link Express is Indian portion of international passenger train operated weekly by IndianRailway using its own coaches and locomotives, between Jodhpur and Munabao. Passengers fromMunabao clear customs and are transported to across border to Zero Point station where TharExpress takes passengers to Karachi, Pakistan.Background

The agreement to link the two countries by rail service through Munabao-Khokhrapar link wassigned in 2006 to facilitate people-to-people contact. It was set to expire in March 2018, but has nowbeen extended to January 31, 2021. The Munabao-Khokhrapar link was destroyed during 1965 warbetween two countries but the service was again revived after 41 years in February 2006.India and Pakistan Rail service

India and Pakistan currently have only two trans-border trains. They areSamjhauta Express: Operates on Delhi-Lahore route via Attari-Wagah border crossing. It carries both

passengers and freight.Thar Express: It links Jodhpur (India) and Karachi (Pakistan) via Munabao-Khokhrapar border crossing. It

carries only passengers.

India 6th wealthiest country: New World Wealth ReportJanuary 31, 2018

According to New World Wealth Report, India was ranked sixth in list of wealthiest countries withtotal wealth of US $8,230 billion in 2017.The total wealth, refers to private wealth held by all individuals living in each country/city. Itincludes all their assets (property, cash, equities, business interests) less any liabilities. However itexcludes government funds.Key Facts

Top 10 Wealthiest Countries are United States (1st, total wealth held US $ 64,584 billion), China (2nd,$24,803 billion), Japan (3rd, $19,522 billion), United Kingdom (4th, $9,919 billion), Germany (5th,$9,660 billion), France (7th, $6,649 billion), Canada (8th, $6,393 billion), Australia (9th, $6,142 billion)and Italy (10th, $4,276 billion).Meanwhile, during period under consideration global wealth rose by 12% (from US $192 trillion at theend of 2016 to US %215 trillion at the end of 2017) and China’s wealth saw an increase of 22% .India was best performing wealth market globally in 2017 as its total wealth swelled from US $6,584billion in 2016 to US $8,230 billion in 2017, registering a 25% growth. Over the past decade(2007-2017) India’s total wealth increased from US $3,165 billion in 2007 to US $8,230 billion in 2017, ajump of 160%.India is home to 3,30,400 HNWIs (individuals with US $1 million or more in net assets). Globally,India was ranked 9th in this aspect while US topped the list with 50,47,400 HNWIs (high-net-worthindividuals).India is also home to 20,730 multi-millionaires, 7th largest in world and in terms of residentbillionaires (individuals with US $1 billion or more in net assets), India with 119 such individuals wasnamed among the top three countries globally, after US and China.

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Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation [January, 2018] · 2018-03-08 · World Bank Report projects 7.3% growth for India in 2018 ... NCDEX launches India’s ﬁrst agri-options