1-2 Sept. 2016
Ashok Chawla appointed Chancellor of TERI University
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on 31 August 2016 officially appointed former Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla as the new Chancellor of TERI University.
The decision to appoint Chawla was taken in its meeting held on 19 August 2016 by the governing council of TERI.
With this, the University ended its last association with former Chancellor and Head R.K. Pachauri, who was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015.
Chawla has also been serving as the Chairman of Teri since February 2016.
About The Energy and Resources Institute
•The Energy and Resources Institute was established in 1974.
•It was formerly known as Tata Energy Research Institute.
•It is a research institute based in New Delhi that conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development.
•In 2013, the institute was ranked as the topmost global think-tank by the International Centre for Climate Governance (ICCG).
Union Cabinet approves creation of PDF to catalyse Indian economic presence in CLMV countries
Union Cabinet on 31 August gave its approval to create a Project Development Fund (PDF) for catalysing Indian economic presence in the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). The PDF will be created with a corpus of 500 Crore rupees.
CLMV countries have a unique position in the regional value chains and offer a gateway for market access to China/EU and other markets due to various trade agreements.
Key Highlights
• PDF will be housed in Department of Commerce.
• It will be operated through the EXIM Bank.
• It will be governed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the chairpersonship of the Commerce Secretary.
Advantage
• India will have the advantage in the regional value chain by securing a dedicated market for domestic raw materials and intermediate goods on a long term basis.
• This regional access will provide a dedicated market for Indian raw materials and intermediate goods besides a dedicated source for inputs and raw materials for Indian industry.
As per government, despite plenty of opportunities in the CLMV region, Indian businesses in these countries so far have been constricted due to limited information, infrastructure and other contingent risks.
Creation of the PDF will benefit India's industrial community for business expansion, and maintain cost competitive supply chains, besides integrating with global production networks.
Water table rises in Ganga basin but so does salinity: Study
A group of researchers have concluded that the gravest threat to groundwater in India is not over-exploitation but arsenic and salt contamination.
The study titled Groundwater quality and depletion in the Indo-Gangetic Basin mapped from in situ observationswas published on 29 August 2016 in the journal Nature Geoscience.
The study was concluded after analysing groundwater levels from 3429 wells and spatial data in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The study also highlights the fact that unsustainable levels of groundwater extraction are largely limited to urban agglomerations in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Key highlights of the study
•About 23% of the 300 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) is extremely saline about 40% is contaminated by arsenic.
•Compiled water-table records indicate substantial spatial variability.
•Canals built in the 19 and 20 centuries significantly influenced groundwater trends. Water accumulated at the origins of the canal tended to leak out. The leakage led to high recharge and sometimes floods.
•The largest water depletion occurred in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Pakistan’s Punjab.
Brazil President Dilma Rousseff removed from office by Brazilian Senate
Brazil’s Senate on 31 August 2016 removed President Dilma Rousseff from office for breaking budgetary laws, thus, putting an end to the impeachment process that has paralyzed the politics of the nation for nine months.
A total of 61 senators voted in favour of her dismissal and 20 against, meeting the two-thirds majority needed to remove Rousseff from the presidency for illegally using money from state banks to boost public spending. With this, the 13 years of rule of leftist Workers Party came to an end.
Background
Rousseff was already suspended from the office in May 2016. She was accused of breaking fiscal laws in her management of the federal budget, which is illegal under Brazilian law. Rousseff was also accused of taking illegal state loans to hide budget holes in 2014, covering up the country’s problems as it slipped into its deepest recession in decades.
Rousseff came to political prominence as the heir-apparent to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2011.
She was first Sworn in as the Brazil's first female president in 2011. She was also re-elected to a second term in 2014.
Corruption cases during the rule of Brazil's Leftist Workers Party
The leftist Workers Party came to power in 2003. And since then, there has been a series of corruption outrages involving politicians from the governing party and also opposition parties. The two biggest corruption cases were:
Mensalao: The Mensalao scandal was a vote-buying case of corruption that threatened to bring down the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2005. The public funds were illegally used to pay a number of Congressional deputies in exchange for backing the government in crucial votes. However, the Supreme Court, in its trial in 2012, convicted 25 politicians, bankers and businessmen, some of whom were top members of the Workers' Party.
Operation Car Wash: It is an investigation being carried out by the Federal Police of Brazil since March 2014. It has uncovered evidence that Brazil's biggest construction firms overcharged Petrobras for building contracts. Prosecutors allege that the Workers' Party partly financed its campaigns and expenses through these kickbacks.
Michel Temer sworn in as President of Brazil
Michel Temer, Brazil's former Vice President, was on 31 August 2016 sworn in as the President of Brazil. Temer is expected to stay in power until the next scheduled election in late 2018.
His appointment came following the removal of Dilma Rousseff from the office through the Senators' voting.
Senators voted 61-20 to convict Rousseff for illegally using money from state banks to boost public spending, an act seen as a leading factor behind the massive 60 billion US dollars deficit, the worst recession being faced by Brazil, leaving millions of people out of work.
Michel Temer's appointment as President of Brazil
Michel Temer, who served as Vice-President of Brazil, was appointed as the Interim President of the country following the suspension of Dilma Rousseff from the office in May 2016.
Under Brazil's constitution, the Vice-President takes over as the President on an interim basis if the president is suspended from office.
About Michel Temer
Temer is a discreet politician who seems always to be hovering around the centre of everything important, but never in the spotlight. But recently he has come out of the shadows by ending the Rousseff presidency and beginning a new era in Brazil.
His most notable achievement as a politician has been to help the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) in forming coalitions with every president in past two decades. He is currently the party president.
He presided over Brazil's lower house of Congress during the years of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso government (1995-2002), when Brazil underwent a liberal programme of privatisations.
Kudankulam Plant Unit-2 synchronised with Southern Power Grid
The second reactor of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) was on 29 August 2016 successfully synchronised to the Southern Power Grid situated at Abhishekapatti, Chennai. This marks the generation of electricity and its supply to the grid by the second reactor.
The Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactor of Kudankulam is now generating 245 MWe power to the southern grid from the second unit. Output from Kudankulam 2 is being divided between four states: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.
However, the unit will be shut down for a mandatory inspection of the turbine generator after a few days of operation. Generation of power will be raised to 250 MWe, 500 MWe, 750 MWe, 900 MWe and then 1000 MWe in stages.
At every stage, tests will verify the technical parameters mandated by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Timeline
• Construction of the Kudankulam units began in 2002.
• Kudankulam 1 achieved first criticality in mid-2013, was connected to the grid in October 2013 and entered commercial operation in December 2014.
• Construction of Kudankulam 2 was completed in July 2015, and it was loaded with its first fuel in May 2016.
• Following the completion of safety tests, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) began the process of approaching criticality on 8 July 2016 by diluting neutron-absorbing boric acid in the primary coolant water.
• A controlled self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction was attained on 10 July 2016.
Background
The Kudankulam units are India's first pressurized water reactors to enter operation and are the largest reactors in the country. The two Kudankulam units have been built by NPCIL and also commissioned and operated by NPCIL under IAEA safeguards, with supervision from Russian specialists.
The grid connection of Kudankulam 2 brings India's installed nuclear generating capacity to 6780 MWe. Kudankulam 2 is the second of two AES-92 VVER-1000 reactors supplied by Russia's Atomstroyexport under a Russian-financed contract.
Enriched uranium fuel for the entire life of the plant will supplied by Russia.
Indian-origin Ajei Gopal named CEO of ANSYS
A software industry veteran Ajei Gopal on 30 August 2016 was named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a leading US company ANSYS.
Gopal will take over the charge of the Pennsylvania-based company with effect from 1 January 1 2017.
James Cashman, who has served as ANSYS’ CEO since 2000, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective from January 2017.
Who is Ajei Gopal?
•Gopal began his career as a member of the technical staff at Bell Communications Research.
•He has served as a member of the ANSYS Board since 2011.
•Previously, he served as interim president and COO at California-based technology company Symantec.
•He was senior vice president and general manager at Hewlett-Packard from 2011.
•He worked at IBM from 1991 to 2000.
•He has 23 US patents to his name.
•He has obtained a doctorate in computer science from Cornell University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
About ANSYS
•ANSYS produces engineering simulation software used for testing product designs across a wide spectrum of industries including rockets and wearable technology.
•The company was founded in 1970 by John A. Swanson as Swanson Analysis Systems, Inc (SASI).
•SASI developed its business in parallel with the growth in computer technology and engineering needs.
•In 1994, SASI was sold to TA Associates.
•The new owners took SASI’s leading software, called ANSYS, as their flagship product and designated ANSYS, Inc. as the new company name.
Union Cabinet approves simplification of FDI Policy 2016 in various sectors
The Union Cabinet on 31 August 2016 approved simplification and liberalisation of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy, 2016 in various sectors. These radical changes in FDI regime were introduced by the Union Government on 20 June 2016.
The FDI policy amendments are aimed at providing ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, incomes and employment.
Radical Changes in FDI Policy regime
• Radical Changes for promoting Food Products manufactured/produced in India: To permit 100 percent FDI under government approval route for trading in respect of food products manufactured in India.
• FDI in Defence Sector up to 100%: FDI beyond 49% has been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology. FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act, 1959.
• Review of Entry Routes in Broadcasting Carriage Services: 100 percent FDI allowed under automatic route for Teleports, Direct to Home, Cable Networks and Mobile TV. Moreover, infusion of FDI beyond 49% in a company not seeking permission from Ministry will result in change in the ownership pattern.
• Pharmaceutical Sector: 100% FDI under automatic route in Greenfield pharma, FDI up to 100% under government approval in Brownfield pharma and 74% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield pharmaceuticals.
• Civil Aviation Sector: To permit 100% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. In Scheduled Air Transport Service and regional Air Transport Service, it has now been decided to raise FDI limit to 100%. For NRIs, 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under automatic route.
• Private Security Agencies:FDI up to 49% is now permitted under automatic route in this sector and FDI beyond 49% and up to 74% would be permitted with government approval route.
• Establishment of branch office, liaison office or project office:No approval from Reserve Bank of India or separate security clearance would be required in cases where FIPB approval or license/permission by the concerned Ministry has already been granted.
• Animal Husbandry: It has been decided to do away with the requirement of controlled conditions for FDI in Animal Husbandry, Pisciculture, Aquaculture and Apiculture.
• Single Brand Retail Trading: It has been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having cutting edge technology.
Background
In past two years, Union Government has brought major FDI policy reforms in a number of sectors viz. Defence, Construction, Insurance, Pension Sector, Broadcasting Sector, Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Single Brand Retail Trading, Manufacturing Sector, Civil Aviation, and Asset Reconstruction Companies.
Measures undertaken by the Government have resulted in increased FDI inflows at 55.46 billion US dollars in financial year 2015-16, as against 36.04 billion US dollars during the financial year 2013-14. This is the highest ever FDI inflow for a particular financial year.
However, it was felt that the country has potential to attract far more foreign investment which can be achieved by further liberalizing and simplifying the FDI regime. Accordingly, Union Government radically liberalized the FDI regime on 20 June 2016.
Sony Pictures to acquire sports channels of Zee for 385 million US dollar
Sony Pictures Networks India on 31 August 2016 announced the acquisition of sports broadcasting business of Zee Entertainment for 385 million US dollar in an all-cash deal.
Zee's TEN Sports channels being acquired include TEN 1, TEN 1 HD, TEN 2, TEN 3, TEN Golf HD, TEN Cricket, TEN Sports. These channels operate in several countries including the Indian sub-continent, Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong, Middle East, Caribbean.
TEN Sports holds cricket rights in South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. It also holds the rights for world wrestling, some football leagues, WTA and ATP tennis events, golf tours, Asian and Commonwealth Games athletics, motor Sports and cycling events, including Tour de France.
About Sony Pictures Networks
•Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. (SPNI) is an Indian company, which handles Sony Pictures' diversified interests in India.
•It was previously known as SET India Pvt. Ltd and then Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd.
•The group now includes a motion pictures corporation (MSM Motion Pictures), television distribution business (MSM Media Distribution) and digital entertainment business.
•Sony Entertainment Television and SAB TV are the main brands of SPNI although it owns many other brands and companies under the umbrella Sony brand.
•On 3 November 2015, MSM was renamed Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited after 21 years.
Dhingra Commission submits its report to Haryana Chief Minister
Justice SN Dhingra Commission set up on 31 August 2016 by the Haryana government submitted its report to the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal. It hinted at irregularities.
The commission was set up in May 2015 to probe the circumstances of grant or rejection of licences for development of colonies, group housing societies and commercial complexes in Gurgaon.
Highlights of the Report
• The 182-page report has two parts of which the first part contains the findings and the second contains evidence.
• The report elaborates the manner adopted to commit irregularities and the people behind it.
• The Commission has reportedly examined more than 200 cases of grant of Change of Land Use (CLU) licences.
The scope of the Dhingra commission was expanded in August 2015 and it was asked to probe grant of all licenses to colonisers and individuals in four villages of Gurgaon, namely Shikohpur, Sikanderpur, Badah and Kherki Dhaula, by the previous Congress government in Haryana.
Bezwada Wilson, Thodur Madabusi Krishna receive Ramon Magsaysay Award 2016
Carnatic singer Thodur Madabusi Krishna and Bezwada Wilson, campaigner for eradication of manual scavenging, on 31 August 2016 received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2016.
They were among six persons who received the award. Four others who received the award are: Conchita Carpio-Morales of the Philippines, Dompet Dhuafa of Indonesia, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and Vientiane Rescue of Laos.
About Bezwada Wilson
• Wilson, the national convenor of the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), got the award for asserting the inalienable right to a life of human dignity.
• He has been leading a grassroot movement to eradicate the degrading servitude of manual scavenging in India, reclaiming for the Dalits the human dignity that is their natural birthright.
• He has spent 32 years on his crusade, leading not only with a sense of moral outrage but also with remarkable skills in mass organising, and working within India’s complex legal system.
About Thodur Madabusi Krishna
• Krishna won the award under the Emergent Leadership category for bringing social inclusiveness in culture. He is a Carnatic music vocalist.
• His forceful commitment as artist in breaking barriers of caste and class to unleash what music has to offer not just for some but for all led to his selection for the award.
AK Sinha committee constituted to study silt in river Ganga in Bihar
Union Government on 1 September 2016 constituted an expert committee to study slit in river Ganga in Bihar. The four-member committee will be headed by Member of Ganga Flood Control commission AK Sinha.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within 10 days.
Other members of the committee are Chief Engineer of Central Water Commission SK Sahu, Prof. of IIT, AK Gosain and members of National Disaster Management Authority Dr. Rajnish Ranjan.
Background
The committee was formed on request of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kumar during his meet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested him to send an expert team to study silt in Ganga which caused devastating prevailing flood in the state. He also said the centre should frame National Silt Policy to sort out various problems related to rivers throughout the state.
Railway launches insurance scheme for passengers travelling on e-ticket
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 1 September 2016 launched an insurance scheme for passengers travelling on e- ticket. The insurance cover will be up to 10 lakh rupees.
The insurance coverage will be available in case of train accidents and other untoward incidents, including terrorist attack, dacoity, rioting, shooting or arson.
Features of the Scheme
• A person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website will be eligible for the travel insurance and it is optional.
• To avail the facility, train passengers will have to pay 92 paisa premium.
• The insurance cover will not be applicable for children up to 5 years of age and foreign citizens.
• The facility will be available only for confirmed and RAC ticket passengers.
• There will be no refund of the premium in case of ticket cancellation.
• The scheme offers travellers or nominees a compensation of 10 lakh Rupees in the event of death or total disabilty, 7.5 lakh Rupees for partial disability, up to 2 lakh Rupees for hospitalisation expenses and 10000 rupees for transportation of mortal remains from the place of a train accident.
• The compensation claim has to be made within four months of the incident and the insurance company is required to process the claim within 15 days of receipt of the require documents.
Shriram General Insurance Company, ICICI Lombard and Royal Sundaram General Insurance have been roped in by Indian railways for providing the insurance cover.
CIL, ICFRE signs MoU to monitor Environment related issues in Coal Mining Projects
Coal India Limited (CIL) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) on 1 September 2016 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for effectively monitoring of environment related issues in the coal mining projects.
The arrangement would help CIL in proper compliance and monitoring of the conditions that are laid down by the MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change) for environment and forest clearances.
Key Facts of the MoU
• It will help in improving the rehabilitation and reclamation of the mined out areas.
• The MoU covers assessment and monitoring of
a) Plantation and eco restoration activities
b) Preparation of wild life management plans
c) Preparation of environmental impact assessment
d) Environmental management plans
e) Capacity building for the executives of CIL on environment and forestry issues and more
Gujarat, AAI, Union Government sign tripartite MoU to build small airports
The Gujarat government on 1 September 2016 signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to develop 11 small airports and airstrips under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
The MoU was signed to boost regional air connectivity in the State.
Highlights of the MoU
• MoU was signed to develop the 11 air-strips / airports which are in working or not in working position, so that the state aviation sector may develop to provide easy connectivity to the passengers of state.
• Airports of Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Surat, Porbandar, Mehsana, Mandvi, Amreli, Kandla, Keshod and Deesa will be developed, which fall under un-served-underserved category.
• The Centre will provide the financial resources under viability gap funding of the RCS.
• The infrastructural development will take place as per the RCS of civil aviation ministry.
• Apart from developing infrastructure at the 11 airports, the Union Government will provide subsidies to airline operators, including cheaper fuel.
With this MoU, Gujarat became the third State after Jharkhand and Maharashtra to have signed such an agreement to seek the Centre’s support to provide financial assistance to create infrastructural facilities in small airports.
Veteran trade union leader Sharad Rao passes away
Veteran trade union leader Sharad Rao passed away on 1 September 2016 in Mumbai. He was 78.
Rao is acknowledged for his role in mobilising the work force in both the organised and unorganised sectors.
About Sharad Rao
•Rao was associated with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
•He headed several unions including the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Trust (BEST) Workers’ Unionand the Municipal Mazdoor Union.
•He also served as the leader of Mumbai Autorickshawsmen’s union, the largest rickshaw union in the city.
•Rao was once a trusted lieutenant of veteran socialist leader George Fernandes. Rao took over control of trade unions run by Fernandes after the latter moved to national politics.