1971 Bangladesh Liberation War hero
Lieutenant General JFR Jacob died
13-JAN-2016
Lieutenant General Jacob-Farj-RafaelJacob (retired), hero of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and former Governor of Goa and Punjab, died on 13 January 2016 after prolonged illness in New Delhi. He was 92.
About Lieutenant General JFR Jacob
• Jacob, who negotiated the surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka, was best known for his role in India's victory in the 1971 war. During the war, He served as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command by being the Major General.
• He was born in the Bengal Presidency under British India in 1923.
• Jacob joined the army at the age of 19 and also fought in World War II and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and retired from Army in 1978.
• He also served as the Governor of Goa and Punjab after his retirement.
• He authored two books named Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation and An Odyssey in War and Peace: An Autobiography Lt Gen. J.F.R. Jacob.
• He was awarded with Commendation of Merit, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Friends of Liberation War Honour.
Union Cabinet approved MoU between India
and Maldives for co-operation in health sector
13-JAN-2016
The Union Cabinet, presided by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 13 January 2016 gave its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Maldives on co-operation in the field of health.
The MoU was signed in January 2014 and it will especially assist Maldives to develop of human resources and facilities for healthcare. The enhanced cooperation in the health field will increase relations between the two countries to greater extent.
The main areas of co-operation under the MoU
include-
• Management of healthcare sector and public health services.
• Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities.
• Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies.
• Traditional and complementary Medicine.
• Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts.
• Medical and health research development.
• Health promotion and disease prevention.
• Telemedicine
Background
India and Maldives signed three Memoranda of Understanding(MoUs) when President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom made his first visit to India on 2 January 2014. Apart from the co-operation in the Health field, they have also signed to extend Manpower requirements of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and for allotment of plot to the High Commission of Maldives in India.
Book titled Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian
Polity in Perspective released by Hamid Ansari
13-JAN-2016
Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective: Prof (Dr) P J Alexander
The book titled Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective was on 12 January 2016 released by the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
The focus of the book is on the role of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, on shaping the polity of modern India.
The book was edited by Prof Alexander and with contributions from eminent persons like Justice K T Thomas, Dr Rajan Kurukkal, Dr B Vivekanandan, M G Radhakrishnan and others.
It was published by T M Varghese Foundation.
CII Partnership Summit 2016 concluded in
Vishakhapatnam
13-JAN-2016
The 22nd edition of Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit -cum-Sunrise Andhra Pradesh Investment Summit was concluded on 12 January 2016 at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The summit was held in cooperation with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India.
The summit, which commenced on 10 January 2016, was organised to showcase investment opportunities in Sunrise Andhra Pradesh.
Key highlights of the Summit
• Medical devices manufacturing park will be established in Andhra Pradesh with a potential investment of 20000 crore rupees.
• Andhra Pradesh became first state to release retail policy.
• Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh to set up naval facility in Vishakhapatnam.
• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited inked MoU with Andhra Pradesh Government for investment of 38500 crore rupees.
• Union government announced the sanction of greenfield petrochemical complex and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Visakhapatnam and a Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Vijayawada.
Lenovo to launch new smartphone under
Google’s Project Tango
13-JAN-2016
Project Tango: Google’s 3D technology project that allows users to explore their physical environment on mobile devices without using external signals like GPS.
The term Project Tango was in news in the second week of January 2016 as Lenovo, a Chinese multinational computer technology company, announced that it entered into a partnership with Google for the project.
As part of the partnership, Lenovo will launch a new smartphone that can “see” and map out surroundings without external signals like satellite-based global positioning system (GPS).
Features of Google’s Project Tango
• It gives a mobile device the ability to navigate the physical world, similar to how we do as humans, without using GPS or other external signals.
• The project was unveiled by Google in June 2014 and has features like motion tracking, depth perception, area learning that are based on 3D technology.
• It brings a new kind of spatial perception to mobiles and tablets by adding advanced computer vision, image processing, and special vision sensors.
• The project works on various Android device platforms that run C, Java, and Unity.
• It is an open project in the sense that it allows technology partners and developers community to develop to create new user experiences.
USIBC appointed Edward Monser, Punit Renjen
as Vice Chairs of Council Board
13-JAN-2016
The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) Board of Directors on 12 January 2016 selected Council board members Edward Monser, President of Emerson, and Punit Renjen, CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Deloitte Global), as USIBC Vice Chairs.
The announcement came at the heels of former Cisco CEO John Chamber’s recent appointment to USIBC Chairman.
Renjen and Monser together represent over 60 years of experience and expertise in global manufacturing, business strategy, and business development, reflecting USIBC’s directive to maintain a diverse leadership.
o is Punit Renjen?
• Renjen belongs to Rohtak, Haryana.
• He grew up in India and did his schooling at Lawrence School in Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh.
• He holds a bachelor’s degree with honours and a master’s degree in management from Willamette University, US.
• He is the first Indian-origin person to head a Big-Four audit firm.
• He has been working with Deloitte for the last 28 years.
• Earlier, he served as the chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP.
• He was one of The Top 25 Consultants ranked by Consulting Magazine in 2007.
Who is Edward Monser?
• Edward L. Monser has been serving as the president of Emerson since 2010.
• He served as the company’s chief operating officer from 2001-2015 and is also a member of its Office of the Chief Executive.
• He began his career as a senior engineer at Rosemount in 1981. After serving in several engineering management positions, he was named Rosemount’s director of technology in 1987.
• He obtained a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1980.
• He also holds a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Michigan University.
• He is an alumnus of the executive education program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
About U.S.-India Business Council
• The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) was formed in 1975 as a business advocacy organization to enlighten and encourage the private sectors of both India and United States.
• The organization serves as a direct link between business and Government leaders, resulting in increased trade and investment to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Employees Provident Fund Organization won
the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16
13-JAN-2016
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization won the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN). The Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions will present the award in the 19th National Conference on e-governance to be held in Nagpur on 22 January 2016.
The EPFO bagged the national award in the ‘innovative use of technology in e-governance’ category and the retirement body will get a cash prize of 200000 rupees.
What is Universal Account Number (UAN)?
• UAN is an e-initiative of EPFO, launched in July 2014.
• In this initiative, all active employees are provided a universal number which can be linked to various provident fund account numbers provided to them while working in different organisations
• Statistically, 5.65 crore employees in 457000 organisations were allocated with UAN till November 2015.
• A single account number can be used through all of workers’ employments with various organisations.
• It enables the employees to switch their provident fund deposits automatically, when they change their job, just by providing UAN to the new employer.
• It also allows employees to have access to their provident fund account to view their balance and deposits on the portal, without going through the Employer.
About National Awards for e-Governance
These are presented every year to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
Purpose of Award
The purpose of the award is to:
• Recognize achievements in the area of e-Governance
• Disseminate knowledge on effective methods of designing and implementing sustainable e-Governance initiatives
• Encourage incremental innovations in successful e-Governance solutions
• Promote and exchange experiences in solving problems, mitigating risks, resolving issues and planning for success.
There would be two awards for each category:
Gold Award: It carries a certificate for the Project and one certificate to each team member not exceeding seven in numbers (including Project Head) along with cash award of 200000 rupees to be shared equally among eligible team members.
Silver Award: It carries a certificate for the Project and one certificate to each team member not exceeding seven in numbers (including Project Head) along with cash award of 100000 rupees to be shared equally among eligible team members.
Categories of awards
• Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering
• Outstanding performance in Citizen-Centric Service Delivery
• Innovative Use of Technology in e-Governance
• Incremental Innovations in existing projects
• Best District level initiative in citizen-centric service delivery through ICT
• Innovative use of GIS Technology in e-Governance
• Innovative use of mobile technology in e-Governance
• Sectoral Award: (Focus Sector for 2015-16: Financial Inclusion)
• Innovative Use of ICT by Central Government PSUs
• Innovative Use of ICT by State Government PSUs/Cooperatives/Federations/Societies
• Outstanding e-Governance initiative by Academic and Research institutions
• Use of ICT for Development by Non-Government Institutions
Amitabh Bachchan made honorary life member
of Mohammedan Sporting
13-JAN-2016
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan on 12 January 2016 was bestowed honorary life membership of Kolkata’s soccer outfit Mohammedan Sporting.
Sporting president Sultan Ahmed handed over the club’s life membership to Bachchan.
Bachchan was also invited to be the chief guest of the club’s 125th anniversary gala event to be held later in 2016.
About Mohammedan Sporting Club
• Mohammedan Sporting Club was founded in 1891 at Kolkata.
• It is one of the oldest and leading football clubs in India.
• At present, the club plays in the I-League 2nd Division and premier division of Calcutta Football League(CFL).
• It was the first Indian club to win CFL in 1934 and continued their run till 1938 season.
• Before Independence, numerous triumphs against British teams earned the club huge support from every section of Indian society.
• The club also became the first Indian club to win the Durand Cup in 1940.
• After Independence, the club also became the first Indian club to win on foreign soil by lifting the Aga Khan Gold Cupin 1960.
• Mohammedan Sporting along with Mohun Bagan A.C. and East Bengal F.C. are tagged as the Big Three.
20th National Youth Festival inaugurated in
Naya Raipur
13-JAN-2016
The 20th National Youth Festival was on 12 January 2016 inaugurated by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at Rajyostav Sthal in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh to mark the National Youth Day.
The five day long annual festival is celebrated by the Union Government in partnership with a state government on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
For the 20th National Youth Festival, Chhattisgarh was chosen as the partner state with the theme India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony.
Features of 20th National Youth Festival
• It is an annual gathering of students being jointly organised by Chhattisgarh Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan and National Service Scheme.
• The festival will see the participation of over 6000 youths from across the country except West Bengal.
• It will see contests in 18 different disciplines, including folk dance, folk song, drama, classical music, classical dance, extempore etc.
• For the first time in the youth festival, para-trooping would be displayed by the Indian Army along with weapons and explosives used during war.
• It comprises a Youth Parliament where representatives of student unions and Universities would discuss key issues of the country particularly on the theme-India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony.
• National Industry Conclave: The conclave, which is held annually during the festival, saw the participation of various ministries and companies.
• In the conclave, the participants discussed issues related to skill development such as public private participation, reforms in skills for industrial development and improving livelihood in rural India through Skill India.
• On this occasion, Tata Group announced that it would establish 40 skill centres.
• Mascot: Wild Buffalo, the state animal of Chhattisgarh, in famous dancing pose was chosen as the mascot of the event.
• The mascot was named as Sanghi (friend), which symbolises strength, gives message of physical fitness to youth of nation and its dancing pose signifies festive zeal.
Union government announced greenfield
petrochemical complex and NIPER in
Visakhapatnam
13-JAN-2016
Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals Ananth Kumar on 12 January 2016 announced the sanction of greenfield petrochemical complex and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Visakhapatnam and a Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Vijayawada.
The announcement was made at Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) partnership summit 2016 in Visakhapatnam.
The proposed petrochemical complex will be constructed by public sector companies Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). This would be an additional Medical Devices Park to the prior announced one in Gujarat in December 2015.
Greenfield petrochemical complex, will have a potential investment of 20000 crore rupees will be manufacturing medical devices and NIPERwould help meet the demand for specialized manpower for making Visakhapatnam as a pharmaceutical hub.
Along with these, Union Government will expand the student capacity of Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Vijayawada to 5000 from the existing 200 and the institute will also offer graduate and post graduate courses in plastic engineering and that there are 28 CIPET centers all over the country.
US, Jordan signed Joint Action Plan on
cooperation to counter Nuclear Smuggling
13-JAN-2016
United States and Jordan on 11 January 2016 signed a Joint Action Plan (JAP) to improve efforts against nuclear and radiological smuggling. The partnership will help in enhancing the efforts to combat nuclear terrorism.
The JAP was signed by Secretary of State John Kerry and Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in Washington.
The measure strengthens US-Jordanian efforts to work to detect and prevent nuclear and radiological smuggling incidents. The US has similar agreements with 13 other countries, including Iraq, Ukraine and Lithuania.
The plan is the fourteenth such arrangement the State Department has concluded worldwide, and Jordan’s third with a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region partner.
This Joint Action Plan strengthens an already excellent partnership that will make the United States, Jordan, and the region more secure.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
The term MENA is an acronym referring to the Middle East and North Africa region and covers an extensive region, extending from Morocco to Iran, including all Middle Eastern and Maghreb countries. The term is roughly synonymous with the term the Greater Middle East.
Indian-American professor developed Galacto-
Seismic method to hunt Dark Matter
13-JAN-2016
An international team of scientists led by Indian-American Sukanya Chakrabarti devised a new method, galactoseismology, to detect dwarf galaxies dominated by dark matter. The method also explains ripples on the outer disk of the galaxy.
Sukanya Chakrabarti, an assistant professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, presented her findings at a press conference hosted by the American Astronomical Society meeting in Kissimmee on 7 January 2016. Findings were submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The discovered method use waves in the galactic disk to map the interior structure and mass of galaxies, much similar to seismologist who uses seismic waves to gather details about the interior of the earth. This method will help in the hunt for the mysterious space phenomenon.
In the process, the team used the spectroscopic observations to calculate the speed of three Cepheid variables in the Norma constellation. Cepheid variables are the stars that are used as yardsticks to calculate the distance of galaxies.
The team used Cepheid variables to locate the dark matter dominated dwarf galaxy some 3 lakh light years away. In contrast, the disk of Milky Way Galaxy terminates some 48000 light years away from earth.
The study tracks a cluster of Cepheid variables which are travelling at an average speed of 450000 miles per hour (MPH), that is, 437000 MPH faster than the stars in stellar disk of the Milky Way.
Later they explained that the radial velocity is the proof they have been looking for, and it can be concluded that it is not a part of our galaxy.
Dark Matter
Dark Matter is a hypothetical kind of matter that can’t be seen with telescopes but make up about 85 percent of the mass of the universe. It is one of the biggest quirks of modern day physics and has not been understood completely.
The existence and properties of dark matter are inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, on radiation, and on the large-scale structure of the universe. Dark matter has not been detected directly, making it one of the greatest mysteries in modern astrophysics.
BHEL commissioned 520 MW Vizag thermal
power plant in Andhra Pradesh
13-JAN-2016
harat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) on 11 January 2016 announced that it commissioned the first unit of the 2x520 MW Vizag thermal power project in Andhra Pradesh.
While the project, which is located in Visakhapatnam, is owned by the Hinduja National Power Company Limited (HNPCL),it is being executed by BHEL on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis.
The project is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal and uses single flow condenser and sea water as main cooling water.
And, it is in addition to the four 500 MW thermal sets supplied and executed by BHEL. They are already in operation at Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station of NTPC in Visakhapatnam district.
Monte Irvin, Hall of Fame outfielder, passed
away
13-JAN-2016
Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, an outfielder who starred for the New York Giants in the 1950s, died on 11 January 2016 in Houston, Texas, the USA. He was 96.
Irvin was the oldest living former Negro Leagues player. He lived in a retirement community in Houston prior to his death.
Who was Monte Irvin?
• Irvin was a left fielder and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) who played with the Newark Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Cubs.
• He grew up in New Jersey and was a standout football player at Lincoln University.
• He left Lincoln to spend several seasons in Negro league baseball. However, his career was interrupted by military service from 1943 to 1945.
• When he joined the New York Giants, he became one of the earliest African-American MLB players.
• He played in two World Series for the Giants.
• He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
• After his playing career, he played the role of a baseball scout and held an administrative role with the MLB commissioner's office.
DAC approved major changes in Defence
Procurement Procedure
13-JAN-2016
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 11 January 2016 approved major changes in the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.
The DPP 2016, which will take at least another two months for it to be notified, allows government funds up to 90 percent of development costs to private companies to push research and innovation. It also aims to enhance private sector participation and speed up procurement process.
The new DPP will streamline defence acquisitions and give a big impetus to indigenisation through the Make in India initiative.
Key highlights of DPP 2016
• A new category will be created to promote domestic manufacturing, including government funding for Research & Development and recognition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in technology development.
• Under the new category for Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) equipment, it will be mandatory for 40 percent of the content to be sourced locally.
• Validity of the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been brought down to six months from the earlier one year. It will help the defence forces to issue tenders faster.
• Addition of the policy to fund Indian private entities in R&D to encourage more local development.
Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group signed MoU to
set up naval facility in Vishakhapatnam
13-JAN-2016
Reliance Defence Ltd, a unit of Anil Ambani led Reliance Infrastructure Ltd led on 10 January 2016 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Government to set up a world class naval facility in the state.
The announcement regarding the MoU was made at Andhra Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
The proposed facility will be established with an initial investment of 5000 crore rupees. And, it will be setup on the East Coast of India at Rambilli, which is 70 kilometers south of Visakhapatnam.
Earlier, in March 2015, Reliance acquired the Pipavav shipyard on West Coast in Gujarat. These two facilities will build submarines and aircraft carriers and also provide services including maintenance and refitting of ships.
US increased H-1B and L-1 petition fees
14-JAN-2016
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on 12 January 2016 notified revised petition fees for H-1B and L-1 visas. The increase in the fees is in tune with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 that was signed into law by Barack Obama, the President of the USA, on 18 December 2015.
As per the revision, the petitioners must submit an additional fee of 4000 US dollars for certain H-1B visas and 4500 US dollars for certain L-1A and L-1B visas.
The increased fees are applicable to petitioners who applied on or after 18 December 2015 and will be in force till 30 September 2025.
This fee is in addition to the base processing fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 fee (when required), as well as the premium processing fee, if applicable.
Further, the additional fees apply to petitioners who employ 50 or more employees in the United States, with more than 50 percent of those employees in H-1B or L (including L-1A and L-1B) nonimmigrant status.
Impact on India
The upward revision in fees is considered as a setback to Indian information technology companies as they are much dependent on the popular H-1B or L type visas to send their employees for onsite services to the USA.
As per a study released in September 2014 by the NASSCOM, India’s IT industry trade association, Indian IT companies paid between 70 and 80 million US dollars annually for the U.S. Treasury in the form various visa fees.
With the present hike in the visa fees, Indian IT companies are expected to pay between 1.4 billion and 1.6 billion US dollars annually till 2025.
UN released dataset titled Trends in
International Migrant Stock: The 2015 Revision
14-JAN-2016
The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) on 12 January 2016 released the dataset titled Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 Revision. The compilation was released at the UN DESA headquarters in New York, the USA.
The dataset analysed trends in migration flows across the world, even country as well as region wise, between 2000 and 2015.
As per it, the number of international migrants, persons living in a country other than where they were born, reached 244 million in 2015for the world as a whole, a 41 per cent increase compared to 2000.
And, India has the largest diaspora in the world in 2015 as 16 million people from India were living outside of their country.
Key findings of the dataset
• Most international migrants are of working age. In 2015, 177 million of them or 72 percent were between ages 20 and 64.
• Out of the 244 international migrants, there are 20 million refugees across the world.
• The number of international migrants has grown faster than the world’s population. As a result, the share of migrants in the global population reached 3.3 per cent in 2015, up from 2.8 per cent in 2000.
• There are, however, considerable differences between large regions of the world.
• In Europe, Northern America and Oceania, international migrants account for at least 10 per cent of the total population.
• By contrast, in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than 2 per cent of the populations are international migrants.
• In 2015, two out of three international migrants lived in Europe or Asia. Nearly half of all international migrants worldwide were born in Asia.
• Among major regions of the world, Northern America hosts the third largest number of international migrants, followed by Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Oceania.
• Between 2000 and 2015, Asia added more international migrants than any other major region, or a total of 26 million additional migrants.
• In 2015, most international migrants living in Africa, or 87 per cent of the total, originated from another country of the same region.
• In 2015, two thirds of all international migrants were living in only 20 countries, starting with the USA, which hosted 19per cent of all migrants, followed by Germany, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
About the Population Division of the UN DESA
• It estimates the global number of international migrants at regular intervals, monitors levels, trends and policies related to international migration.
• It collects and analyses information on the relationship between international migration and development.
• At regular intervals, it releases the dataset on international migration that represents the most recent information available on numbers of international migrants for all countries or areas of the world.
Union Government released Draft for the Rights
of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015
14-JAN-2016
The Union Government in second week of January 2016 released a Draft Bill, which proposes reservation benefits for transgender persons.
The Draft Bill, titled The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015, was formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Key highlights of Rights of Transgender
Persons Bill, 2015
• The draft states that transgender persons who by birth do not belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes may be declared as Backward Class. They will be entitled for reservation under the existing ceiling of OBC category.
• Transgender persons will not be prevented from competing for seats which are not reserved for them.
• The bill will provide for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national policy for ensuring overall development of the Transgender Persons.
• Transgender should be declared as the third gender, and a Transgender Person should have the option to identify as man, woman or transgender as well as have the right to choose any of the options independent of surgery/hormones.
• Only the nomenclature transgender should be used and nomenclatures like other or others should not be used.
• Transgender persons will also be issued a proper certificate for their identity by a state-level authority duly designated or constituted by respective the state or UT.
• Transgender students will be able to avail scholarship, entitlements, fee-waiver, free textbooks, free hostel accommodation and other facilities at subsidised rates.
Union Government formed Arvind Panagariya
committee on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed
Corridor
14-JAN-2016
Union Government on 11 January 2016 formed a five-member high level committee to monitor the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Corridor (bullet train project). The committee will be headed by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya.
The mandate of the committee is to look into the overall operations and technical issues, Make in India component and financial outlay of the 90000 crore rupees worth project.
Further, the committee will also overview the project’s strategic importance for India-Japan bilateral relation. Earlier, in December 2015, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and assistance in the execution of the project.
Apart from the Chairman, the members of the committee are-
• AK Mittal, Railway Board Chairman
• S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary
• Shantikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary
• Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
NHAI signed MoU with ISRO and NECTAR to use
spatial technology for monitoring National
Highways
14-JAN-2016
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on 13 January 2016 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) withNational Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) to use spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways.
NHAI will receive satellite data and geospatial technology acquired by both Indian and foreign satellite product companies from National Remote Sensing Centre under ISRO. It uses that data & technology to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR),prefeasibility status in new alignment, upgrade or road widening, monitoring of road segments which provide inputs in highway and infrastructure projects.
While, Aerial images for infrastructure planning which are acquired using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by NECTAR will be used in monitoring the construction process, road asset management, feasibility report and DPR preparation, immediate assessment and remedy of problematic spots.
NHAI will take up some pilot projects with both NRSC and NECTAR to identify and finalise actual use and benefits of both satellite data & geospatial technology and UAV technology in highway and infrastructure sector.
Veteran stage actor Brian Bedford passed away
14-JAN-2016
Acclaimed stage actor Brian Bedford passed away due to cancer on 13 January 2016 in Santa Barbara, California, the USA. He was 80.
Bedford, who won a Tony Award on his first of seven nominations, appeared on the stage and in film, and is known for both acting in and directing Shakespeare.
About Brian Bedford
• Born on 16 February 1935 in Morley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Bedford attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London from 1952 to 1954.
• He is known for his English-speaking interpretations of the French playwright Molière, including Tony Award nominated performances inTartuffe, The Molière Comedies and The School for Wives, for which he received the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.
• He also appeared with James Garner in the 1966 film Grand Prix.
• In 1967, he was a regular on the short-lived CBS television seriesCoronet Blue.
• He also provided the voice of Robin Hood in the 1973 Disney filmRobin Hood.
• In 1997, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
UNICEF presented David Beckham with Danny
Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award
14-JAN-2016
David Beckham on 12 January 2016 was presented with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award at the sixth biennial UNICEF Ball in Los Angeles.
Sir Elton John and David Furnish presented the award to Beckham at the event, honouring him for his tireless work to save and improve the lives of children around the world.
Beckham has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005. In 2015, the footballer launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund, making a personal commitment to use his voice, influence and connections to raise vital funds and rally for lasting change for children.
The Danny Kaye Humanitarian Leadership Award is named after Danny Kaye, star of Hans Christian Andersen and White Christmas. Kaye was one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. He was the first ever celebrity representative for UNICEF, and was a Goodwill Ambassador from 1954 until his death in 1987.
Jharkhand to set up fast track courts for trial of
witchcraft-related attacks
14-JAN-2016
For speedy trial of cases relating to witchcraft incidents, the Jharkhand Government on 13 January 2016 decided to set up fast track courts in five districts.
As per an official release, the courts will be formed in Ranchi, Chaibasa, Khunti, Palamau and Simdega districts.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Raghubar Das. The decision is based on the reports of witchcraft-related attacks in some rural areas of the state.
As per the reports, around 40 to 50 women, on an average, are branded as witches and killed in Jharkhand. Since Jharkhand’s creation in November 2000, the state has witnessed more than 700 killing of women for being engaged in witchcraft
President gave nod to Sugar Cess
(Amendment) Bill, 2015
14-JAN-2016
President Pranab Mukherjee on 8 January 2016 gave his assent to the Sugar Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill raises the ceiling of the impost from 25 to 200 rupees per quintal, which will help sugarcane growers and cash-starved mills.
The bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 15 December 2015. However, the opposition members had joined ranks in the Rajya Sabha to oppose its consideration on 23 December 2015.
The bill, which was declared a money bill, became a law after President Mukherjee’s nod as it was not returned by the Upper House to the Lok Sabha within 14 days of its consideration there, as required under the rules.
Key highlights of Sugar Cess (Amendment) Bill,
2015
• The Sugar Cess (Amendment) Act, 2015 has amended the Sugar Cess Act, 1982.
• The principal Act provides for the imposition of a cess as an excise duty on the production of sugar. The rate of sugar cess is notified by the central government from time to time. The principal Act specifies the ceiling on the cess at 25 rupees per quintal under the Act. The Bill proposes to increase this ceiling to 200 rupees per quintal of sugar.
• The cess was proposed to be increased in order to meet the government’s expenditure on interventions to ensure payment of dues to sugarcane farmers.
FIFA dismissed Secretary General Jerome
Valcke
14-JAN-2016
The FIFA Emergency Committee on 9 January 2016 decided to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect.
FIFA said that Markus Kattner will continue to serve as acting Secretary General.
Frenchman Valcke was provisionally suspended from football for his alleged involvement in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets. He was released from his duties on 17 September 2015 after being accused of a series of FIFA ethics code breaches. Formal adjudicatory proceedings against him were opened on 7 January 2016 by the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.
Appointed in 2007, the former right-hand man of FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied any wrongdoing.
FIFA'S ethics committee has already recommended that Valcke should be banned from all activities of football for nine years.
Blatter and Vice-president Michel Platini were both suspended for eight years in December 2015 following a FIFA ethics investigation. Valcke has now been sacked twice by FIFA.
Subhashini Vasanth honoured with Neerja
Bhanot Award
14-JAN-2016
Bengaluru-based activist Subhashini Vasanth on 13 January 2016 was honoured with Neerja Bhanot Award. She was presented the award for her endeavour to help people in distress and for empowering widows of martyrs and their families across the country.
Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor presented the award to Vasanth at a ceremony held in Chandigarh.
Who is Subhashini Vasanth?
• Subhashini Vasanth lost her husband Col Vasanth V, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra in 2008 for his selfless, supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Since the death of her husband, she has been helping the families of martyrs.
• She started the Vasantharatna Foundation in memory of her husband. The foundation provides education scholarships, conducted empowerment programmes and outbound learning programmes for women and children.
• Subhashini is also a Bharatnatyam exponent known for her intense abhinaya and immaculate footwork.
• She and Veena Prasad have co-authored the biography of Col Vasanth, titled Forever Forty.
About Neerja Bhanot Award
• The Neerja Bhanot Award is an award of recognition conferred once a year by the The Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust in India.
• It is awarded to an Indian woman, subjected to social injustice, who faces the situation with grit and determination and extends help to other women in similar distress.
• The annual Neerja Bhanot Award was instituted in 1990 and named in honour of Senior Flight Purser, Neerja Bhanot, who saved hundreds of lives while sacrificing her own, during a Pan Am Flight 73 hijack at Karachi Airport in September 1986.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, a citation and a trophy.
Union Cabinet approved Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojana to boost the farming sector
14-JAN-2016
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 January 2016 approved the New Crop Insurance Scheme,‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ to boost the agricultural sector.
The theme of the Scheme is One Nation – One Scheme. In this, all shortcomings and weaknesses of all previous schemes were removed and incorporated with the best features of all schemes.
Highlights of the scheme are:
• Farmers will pay a uniform premium of only 2 percent for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops.
• In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, farmers will pay a premium of only 5 percent. The balance premium, after farmers paying the premium at very low rate, will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
• There will not be any upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government.
• Earlier, there was a provision of capping the premium rate which resulted in low claims being paid to farmers. This capping limited the Government outgo on the premium subsidy. Now, this capping was removed and farmers will get full sum insured without any reduction against their claim.
• The usage of technology will be encouraged to a great extent. Smart phones will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
Kerala became first State to achieve 100%
primary education
14-JAN-2016
Kerala became the first state in the country to achieve 100 percent primary education. To this effect, a declaration was made by the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari on 12 January 2016 at a special ceremony organised at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
The success of Kerala in achieving total primary education can be attributed to various initiatives undertaken by the Kerala Literacy Mission in the last two decades.
Especially, the Athulyam Scheme, which was implemented in two stages, played a key role in addressing the educational needs of illiterate adults.
The second stage of the scheme, namely Mission 676, targeted those between ages 15 and 50 who, for one reason or the other, dropped out of the formal education process.
Prior to the Athulyam Scheme, the fourth standard equivalency programme was started in 2000 in association with local bodies.
As a result, Kannur became the first district in the country to achieve total primary education in 2001.
Gadkari inaugurated 2nd Liquid Chemical Berth
of Mumbai Port Trust
14-JAN-2016
Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on 13 January 2016 inaugurated Mumbai Port Trust’s second liquid chemical berth at Pir Pau, Mumbai.
With commissioning of this berth, the cargo handling capacity of the Port will increase by 2.5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum.
About Second Liquid Chemical Berth
• The project is built at an expense of 127 crore rupees.
• It is designed to handle 55000 DWT (deadweight tonnes) vessels carrying liquid bulk chemicals and POL products, which can be upgraded to 65000 DWT in future.
• The safety standards provided at this facility are conforming to the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) norms.
The berth that will result in substantial reduction of cost for importers with faster turnaround of ships carrying big parcel size was developed under the Sagarmala initiative
Earlier in the day Gadkari opened the new bridge across River Thirumalairajanar in Karaikal. The bridge replaced the 160 year old bridge built during French regime.
He also inaugurated the construction of approach road for the road over bridge at Arumparthapuram in Puducherry.
Jharkhand to add drinking water crisis in local
disasters list
14-JAN-2016
Jharkhand government on 12 January 2016 decided to add the ongoing crisis of drinking water in the list of special local disasters of the State.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting and will cover those districts where the rainfalls have been less than 75 percent of the normal or where the groundwater level has gone below by four meters or more.
As per the decision, the state will spend 10 percent of the state disaster relief funds in those areas to fight the crisis of drinking water.
Jharkhand has been facing drought like situation and receiving less than normal rainfall for last three years and before that, it has faced drought two years from 2009 to 2011.