15-16 October 2015

15 october

Union Cabinet approved RCE for Kaladan Multi Modal Project in Myanmar

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 October 2015 gave its approval for the Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of 2904.04 crores rupees for the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar.
Since the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India's grant assistance to Myanmar.
The project will provide an alternate access route to the North-Eastern region of India and contribute towards the region's economic development. Being a key connectivity project, it will promote economic, commercial and strategic links between India and Myanmar.

Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project
The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar.
Highlights of the project
• The project will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border
• It is expected that the project will contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products.
• It will provide a strategic link to the North-East and will help in reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor.
• It will serve the economic, commercial and strategic interests of India.
• It will contribute to the development of Myanmar, and its economic integration with India.

Kundhavi Kadiresan appointed as FAO Assistant Director-General

An Indian national, Kundhavi Kadiresan was on 14 October 2015 appointed as the Assistant Director of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. She was appointed at the post by FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva.
Kadiresan succeeded Hiroyuki Konuma who retired from FAO earlier in 2015.
As FAO’s Assistant-Director General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Kadiresan’s primary objectives are to advocate FAO’s policies throughout the region, support the coordination and monitoring of regional events, knowledge and information exchange and the further development of regional norms and standards. This includes joint UN approaches on policy and regulatory frameworks, collaborative capacity development of FAO constituents, resource mobilization and aid coordination.

Kadiresan will lead the prioritization of FAO’s work across the region in close consultation with technical specialists in the Organization and in partnership with relevant regional organizations.
About Kundhavi Kadiresan
• Kadiresan has more than 25 years of senior managerial experience in economic and policy development.
• She holds a Ph.D in Economics and an MBA in International Business.
• Kadiresan, an economist, has spent most of her professional career with the World Bank Group.
• She has worked in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America, where she led senior-level policy dialogues and managed large loan portfolios.
• With extensive experience in both developed and developing countries, Kadiresan brings a strategic perspective and pragmatic approach to the developmental challenges facing the world.

US university honoured Tibetan PM Sangay with Presidential Medal for promoting peace

Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay on 14 October 2015 was awarded with the prestigious Presidential Medal by Salisbury University in Maryland, US for promoting peace and understanding.

PM Sangay dedicated the medal to the sufferings of the Tibetan people and the non-violent Tibetan movement to reinstate freedom and dignity inside Tibet.

Lobsang Sangay was born in Darjeeling, India in 1968. He becameSikyong (equivalent to Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile on 8 August 2011. He obtained his BA (Hons) and LLB degrees from the University of Delhi in India. He obtained his LLM degree from the Harvard Law School in 1995.

He is also the recipient of the 2004 Yong K. Kim' 95 Prize of excellencefor his dissertation Democracy in Distress: Is Exile Polity a Remedy? A Case Study of Tibet's Government-in-exile.

The Presidential Medal is the highest honour awarded by the Salisbury University to an individual for leadership and forward thinking.

China operationalised Zam Hydropower station on Brahmaputra River in Tibet

China on 13 October 2015 operationalised the Zam hydropower station on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). It is considered to be the highest-altitude hydropower station in the world.

While the first unit began operations in November 2014 itself, the present initiative connected the remaining five units to the power grid.

Features of Zam or Zangmu hydropower station

• It was built on the river Brahmaputra that is also known as the river Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet.
• It was built at a cost of 1.5 billion US dollars in Shannan Prefecture in the South East China.
• It produces 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.

Comment

The construction of the project raised apprehensions in India as it is feared that diversions of water affect projects in the downstream in Arunachal Pradesh.

However, as it is a run-of- the-river project and bilateral institutional arrangements are in place since 2008 on sharing river water information it is less likely it will strain the relations between India and China.

India, Israel signed pacts on Double Taxation Avoidance & Cultural Exchange

India and Israel on 14 October 2015 signed two agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation. The agreements were inked after President Pranab Mukherjee, who was in Jerusalem on the final leg of his tri-nation tour to West Asia, held a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin.
The two agreements which were signed includes
• A cultural exchange programme for 2015-2018
• The amendment to the protocol on Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement

The pact on tax avoidance will help plug loopholes in tax evasion and ensure that the Indian or Israeli companies are taxed only where they have permanent establishments.
President Pranab Mukherjee's three-day historic visit to the Jewish state, the first by an Indian Head of State, was held between 13 October and 15 October 2015.
During this visit to Israel, President Mukherjee also addressed the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). He also visited to the Holocaust Museum.

India, US and Japan began five-day Malabar Exercise 2015

The Navies of India, United States and Japan on 14 October 2015 began the five-day Malabar exercise 2015 on the Eastern Coast in which several warships, aircraft carriers and fast attack submarine will be participating.

Malabar 2015 is a latest in the continuing series of exercises conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues. Generally, the United States and India annually hold naval drills to sharpen skills, but this year the fleet of aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates conducting war games included a warship from Japan.
The Naval personnel of the three countries will participate in the event called Complex, High-end war-fighting exercise. During the exercise which includes both ashore and at-sea training, there would be knowledge sharing sessions as well.
In the exercise to be undertaken at-sea, the sessions include military-to-military coordination, submarine familiarisation, air defence and surface warfare exercises.
Participation of three countries in Malabar 2015
The US Navy’s fleet will include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS City of Corpus Christi and the new littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth as well as a Ticonderoga-class destroyer.
The Indian Navy will dispatch a Rajput-class destroyer, a Brahmaputra-class frigate, a Shivalik-class frigate, a fleet support ship and a Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine. India and the United States will also deploy P-8 Maritime Surveillance aircraft.
Japan will only participate with the Akizuki-class destroyer Fuyuzuki, that was commissioned in March 2014. The Fuyuzuki is specifically designed for anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare and is also capable of engaging airborne threats.
Why the joint naval drill by India, US and Japan a major concern for China?
The Malabar exercises have been held by India and the US since 1992. This year exercises assumed significance over India's move to invite Japan, much to the annoyance of China, which views Japan as a strategic rival in the Asia Pacific region.
This is the first such Naval drill involving navies of three countries in the Bay of Bengal in eight years, a matter of concern for China. The last time India hosted multilateral drills in its waters was in 2007, which prompted disquiet in China where some saw it as a US-inspired security grouping on the lines of NATO in Europe.
A multi-nation Malabar exercise in 2007 involving Japan, Singapore and Australia besides India and Japan also drew diplomatic objections from China.

Portugal became the first European country to sign the MoU on establishment of Nalanda University

Portugal on 9 October 2015 became the first European country to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of Nalanda University.

The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Portuguese Ambassador to India Ana Martinho and Dr Jitendra Nath Misra, the Ambassador of India to Portugal.

With this, Portugal became the 17th country overall and the fourth outside the East Asia Summit to do so.

About Nalanda University

• The revived university is located at Rajgir in Nalanda District in Bihar.

• It is a non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution mandated to be engaged in the pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies.

• It was established through Nalanda University Act, 2010 and formally inaugurated on 19 September 2014.

About ancient Nalanda University

The ancient Nalanda University was established in 427 AD during the reign of Gupta king Sakraditya. It was destroyed in 1193 AD by the Turkish army of the Bakhtiyar Khilji, the military general of the army of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

Dell Inc acquired EMC Corporation for 67 billion US dollars

Dell Inc and EMC Corporation on 12 October 2015 signed a definitive agreement under which Dell, together with its owners will acquire EMC Corporation, while maintaining VMware as a publicly-traded company.

This will the biggest tech deal in history with a 67 billion US dollars acquisition of EMC Corp by Dell. The owners of Dell include Michael S Dell, founder, chairman and CEO of Dell, MSD Partners and Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing.
VMware Inc is a US company that provides cloud and virtualization software and services. It is a subsidiary of EMC Corporation.
Terms of the definitive agreement between Dell Inc and EMC
• A valuation for each share of tracking stock of 81.78 US dollars, EMC shareholders would receive a total combined consideration of 33.15 US dollars per EMC share and the total transaction would be valued at approximately 67 billion US dollars.
• VMware will remain an independent publicly-traded company.
• The transaction is expected to be financed through a combination of new common equity as well as new debt financing and cash on hand. There are no financing conditions to the closing of the transaction.
• Michael S Dell and related stockholders will own approximately 70 percent of the company’s common equity, excluding the tracking stock, similar to their pre-transaction ownership.
• Following completion of the transaction, Michael S Dell will lead the combined company as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
• Dell’s headquarters will remain in Round Rock, Texas and the headquarters of the combined enterprise systems business will be located in Hopkinton, Mass.

Uttar Pradesh Government launched mobile app mSehat for health workers

Uttar Pradesh government on 13 October 2015 launched the mobile app mSehat for health workers to record maternal and infant data in real-time.

The application was developed by Kellton Tech, a company that was selected as the technology partner for the initiative by State Innovations in Family Planning Services Agency (SIFPSA).

The application is aimed at improving the infant mortality rate outcomes.

Key Features of mSehat

• mSehat is a cloud-hosted solution to facilitate remote access and enrolment from across the region through 2G-enabled mobile devices.

• The recorded data will be stored in the cloud, which will act as the central repository.

• The initial implementation will be done in five districts, namely Mirzapur, Faizabad, Sitapur, Bareilly and Kannauj, and later it will be extended to the entire state.

• In the first phase, 10252 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers will be equipped with smart phones.

• Tablets will be given to 1719 Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs) and 300 people comprising medical officers, medical officers in-charge & SIFPSA staff.

Union Government approved performance-linked payment for CIL officers

The Union Government on 14 October 2015 gave a green signal to payment of Performance Related Pay (PRP) to executives and non-unionised supervisors of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries.

The recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries were approved by the Union Cabinet to regularise the 2007 Pay Revision implemented by CIL with effect from 1 January 2007 in the loss making subsidiaries.

The payment will be given out of the corpus created by pooling the profits of CIL subsidiary companies, duly setting off the losses of the loss making subsidiaries and stand-alone profits of CIL, excluding dividends received from its subsidiary companies.

However, it will be done with the condition that the corpus for payment of PRP should be treated as a yearly corpus with no provision for carrying it forward to subsequent years.

Dell Inc acquired EMC Corporation for 67 billion US dollars

Uttar Pradesh Government launched mobile app mSehat for health workers

Uttar Pradesh government on 13 October 2015 launched the mobile app mSehat for health workers to record maternal and infant data in real-time.

The application was developed by Kellton Tech, a company that was selected as the technology partner for the initiative by State Innovations in Family Planning Services Agency (SIFPSA).

The application is aimed at improving the infant mortality rate outcomes.

Key Features of mSehat

• mSehat is a cloud-hosted solution to facilitate remote access and enrolment from across the region through 2G-enabled mobile devices.

• The recorded data will be stored in the cloud, which will act as the central repository.

• The initial implementation will be done in five districts, namely Mirzapur, Faizabad, Sitapur, Bareilly and Kannauj, and later it will be extended to the entire state.

• In the first phase, 10252 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers will be equipped with smart phones.

• Tablets will be given to 1719 Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs) and 300 people comprising medical officers, medical officers in-charge & SIFPSA staff.

Union Government approved performance-linked payment for CIL officers

The Union Government on 14 October 2015 gave a green signal to payment of Performance Related Pay (PRP) to executives and non-unionised supervisors of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries.

However, it will be done with the condition that the corpus for payment of PRP should be treated as a yearly corpus with no provision for carrying it forward to subsequent years.

Iran’s Parliament approved Vienna Agreement on Iran Nuclear Programme

Majlis, Iran’s parliament, on 13 October 2015 approved the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) or Vienna agreement paving the way for implementation of the historic nuclear agreement.
Ending a 12-year stand-off, the agreement was signed by Iran and P5+1 countries comprising of the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), Russia, China, France and Germany on 14 July 2015 on the Iran nuclear programme.

While on one hand, the agreement gives Iran to develop its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes, on the other hand it lifts the economic sanctions on Iran.

Main highlights of the Vienna agreement
• Restrictions on defensive arms will be lifted before those on offensive arms, that is, the conventional arms embargo will last another five years, and restrictions on ballistic missile technology will last eight years
• A violation of the deal could lead to the automatic “snap-back” of sanctions within 65 days, if a dispute-resolution process failed.
• 800 Iranian individuals and entities will be delisted from the list of multilateral and international sanctions
• The UN ban on Iranian student’s ability to study nuclear physics will be lifted.
• The IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges will be tested at laboratory level in the first 8 years of the Iran Deal
• Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium will be partly sold on the international market, partly diluted, and partly converted into fuel
• The excess centrifuges will be stored on-site in Natanz
• Iran has not allowed the IAEA to use remote streaming cameras at nuclear facilities
• The economic sanctions against Iran would be lifted immediately after verification of its compliance with the deal
• The deal also provides for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed outside of the EU, like the banking and insurance restrictions on Iran by the EU and the US.
• The draft provides for the lifting of restrictions for the EU to import oil and gas from Iran, as well as exports of oil and gas production equipment to Iran.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN's nuclear watchdog, signed a separate agreement with Iran on the military aspects of its nuclear activities. The separate agreement focuses on the issue of the Parchin military site
• Iran and P5+1 group are to hold ministerial-level meetings at least twice a year to evaluate how the agreement is being implemented
• Iran agreed to a 15-year moratorium on enriching uranium beyond 3.67 percent. The enrichment would be conducted only at the Natanz facility, while the Fordo facility would not conduct any enrichment activities or store fissile material
• Iran also agreed to store no more than 300 kg of low-enriched uranium. The Arak reactor would not be used to produce plutonium under the deal. The spent fuel would be handled by international mediators

Union Cabinet approved MoU with Mozambique for cooperation in renewable energy

The Union Government on 14 October 2015 approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India and Mozambique.

The agreement was inked between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Government of India and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Government of Mozambique in New Delhi on 5 August 2015.

Highlights of the MoU

• The agreement aims at establishing a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation, investment promotion and partnership on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity.

• The focus will be on the development of new and renewable energy technologies in the field of conducting on-the-job and specialized training courses on renewable energy field, research & development and of technology transfer in renewable energy.

Omid Kordestani appointed as Executive Chairman of Twitter

Former Google adviser Omid Kordestani was on 14 October 2015 appointed as Executive Chairman of Twitter. He succeeded Jack Dorsey, who stepped down as Executive Chairman to take up the post of Chief Executive Officer of Twitter.

Kordestani is a technology industry veteran who played a significant role in building Netscape, an early web browser, and then spent more than a decade in senior positions at Google. He is also a Non-Executive Director at Vodafone, the UK based telecom group.
Kordestani joined Google in 1999, leading worldwide revenue generation efforts and operations of the sales organisation. Later in 2014, he became the Chief Business Officer of Google and since then he oversaw all revenue and customer operations as well as marketing and partnerships.

Tata Housing tied-up with Facebook to sell its affordable homes online

Real estate developer Tata Housing on 14 October 2015 tied-up with social networking firm Facebook to sell its affordable homes online. For this purpose, Tata Housing launched the new campaign titled Social sell on Facebook

Through this new campaign Social sell, the company plans to sell around 250 units of its new five-acre residential project in Goa called Goa Paradise. The initiative is in line with the company’s target to generate over 30 percent of its overall sales online in the next five years.
Tata Housing started selling homes online in India in 2013 through its partnership with Google as part of The Great Shopping Festival. Currently, the company has sold around 2000 homes online in the last three years.
Earlier, Tata Housing tied up with real estate portal Housing.com and online marketplace Snapdeal to sell its housing units across the country.

DRDO Missile Complex renamed as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex

The country’s prestigious DRDO Missile Complex in Hyderabad was on 15 October 2015 renamed as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar during an event at Research Centre Imarat on the occasion of the 84th Birth Anniversary of Dr Kalam, the Missile Man.

Dr Kalam joined the Missile Complex, DRDO in 1982 and was a part of it for nearly two decades. The Missile Complex comprises Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI), which are considered to be the brain child of Dr Kalam.

As founder Director, Dr Kalam conceived and steered RCI as a generator of critical missile technologies.
Parrikar also inaugurated two advanced R&D facilities of RCI- Outdoor RCS Test Facility ORANGE at Dundigal and Kautilya Advanced Research Centre at RCI, Hyderabad.

16 october

Zaheer Khan retired from International Cricket

Zaheer Khan, one of India’s finest pacers, on 15 October 2015 retired from all forms of international and first-class Cricket. However, he will continue to play in IPL for one more season.
Zaheer, with 311 wickets, is the fourth highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests behind Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417). He was also the third highest wicket-taker in international cricket among left-arm pacers.

Zaheer Khan
He played his debut ODI match on 3 October 2000 against Kenya at Nairobi (Kenya); while he played his debut Test match on 10 November against Bangladesh at Dhaka. Nicknamed Zak, he is a left-arm fast-medium bowler of Indian cricket team, was known for his hostile seam and pace bowling, especially fast inch-perfect Yorkers.
Zaheer with 311 Test wickets was the second-most successful Indian pace bowler in Test cricket, behind Kapil Dev with 434 Test wickets.

He was one of the key members of the 2011 ODI World Cup winning team, leading the pace attack with 21 wickets in just 9 games. He was also the part of 2003 World Cup squad of Indian cricket team that lost the final match against Australia at Johannesburg, South Africa by 125 runs.
In 2011 he was conferred with the Arjuna Award, India's second highest sporting award by the President of India. In 2008, he was also selected as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

Details of his cricket career
Test:Bowled in 165 innings of 92 test matches and took 311 wickets. He batted in 127 innings and had scored 1231 runs of which 75 was his highest score.
ODI: Bowled in 197 innings of 200 ODI internationals and took 282 wickets. He batted in 101 innings and had scored 792 runs of which 34 not out was his highest score.
T20Is:Bowled in 17 innings of 17 matches and took 17 wickets. He batted in 4 innings and had scored 13 runs of which 9 was his highest score.

India, Israel signed 10 MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation

India and Israel on 15 October 2015 inked ten Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) in various fields. The MoUs were signed as part of the President Pranab Mukherjee's state visit to Israel.
Mukherjee was on a three-day visit to Israel from 13 to 15 October 2015. He visited the country at the invitation of Reuven Rivlin, President of State of Israel. He is the first ever President of India to visit Israel.
During the tour to Israel, President Mukherjee was accompanied by a high level delegation including Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Members of parliament, senior officials, senior representatives of our educational and academic institution and media representatives.

List of Agreements/MoUs signed during the visit of President to Israel
• Protocol amending the Convention and the Protocol for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital: The agreement is in connection with the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital.
• Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2015-2018:The programme was signed in connection with exchange of culture and art experts, performing arts festivals, plastic arts, photography and design, architecture museums and exhibitions music, cultural heritage and archaeology etc.
•MoU between Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev:This agreement is in connection with academic objectives of each institution and to promote better understanding between the faculty and students of JNU and the faculty and students of BGU.
• Agreement of Cooperation between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur: The areas agreement is about the cooperation for program offered at either university which is felt to be desirable and reasonable for the development of cooperation between the two institutions.
• MoU for Institutional Collaboration between Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IITKGP) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, (BGU): The objective of MOU is to promote interaction and collaboration between faculty, staff and students of the two institutions through visits and exchange programs, carry out joint academic and research programs, joint supervision of doctoral and masters students, on a reciprocal basis.
• MoU between Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel:The MOU is about to promote better understanding between the faculty and students of JNU and the faculty and students of HUJI.
• Framework for Academic Collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and the University of Haifa Haifa, Israel: The Parties have decided to enter into this Framework of Academic Collaboration (the "Agreement”) in order to promote, facilitate and consolidate international cooperation in education and research, based on the principles of reciprocity and mutual benefit.
• MoU between the University of Delhi, Delhi and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, (BGU), Beer Sheva, Israel: The MoU was inked for three kind of exchanges and they are
a) Exchange of information and academic materials that are of mutual interest
b) Exchange between the two institutions relating to:
I. Academic faculty and administrative staff
II. Research staff
III. Visiting scholars
IV. Students
V. Other staff mutually agreed upon
c) Provision of briefing/orientation services by each institution for visitors from the other institution
d) Other forms of co-operation which the two institutions may jointly arrange
• Agreement of Cooperation between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and the University of Delhi, India: The program shall be on
a) Exchange of faculty members
b) Exchange of students
c) Joint research projects
d) Joint conferences
e) Exchange of research materials
• MOU between the University of Delhi, India and IDC, Herzilya, Israel: The two institutions shall seek to promote
a) Exchange of information and academic materials that are of mutual interest
b) Exchange between the two institutions relating to:
I. Academic faculty and administrative staff
II. Research staff
III. Visiting scholars
IV. Students
V. Other staff mutually agreed upon
Beside these agreements/MoUs, the President during the visit was conferred an honorary doctorate by Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He also participated in a function organized by our Embassy in Tel Aviv for the Indian community in Israel. He also addressed the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

India-Israel diplomatic relations
India established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 and since then the relationship has evolved into a multi-dimensional partnership. The two countries are engaged in a range of issues of bilateral interest including cooperation in agriculture, science & technology, education, etc.

Myanmar signed National Ceasefire Agreement with 8 armed ethic rebel groups

Myanmar Government on 15 October 2015 signed a peace deal, called the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), with eight armed ethnic rebel groups. But the most active seven rebel groups have stayed out of the deal.
The peace deal was signed in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw and is the culmination of two years of peace talks between the government and rebels. Representatives from the United Nations, China and the US witnessed the signing.

Main highlights of the NCA
• To monitor de-escalation of fighting, the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) will be formed.
• As conditions improve, the government will increase development work. Priority will also be given to international assistance and investments that benefits the people in the region.
• Additionally, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) will be formed to facilitate political dialogue, as provided in the NCA.
• The Ethnic Armed Organisations have assented to the Three Main National Causes. These are
i. Non-disintegration of the union
ii. Non-disintegration of national solidarity and
iii. Perpetuation of national sovereignty
• At the same time, the government has accepted the demands of the Ethnic Armed Organisations to establish a union based on the principles of democracy and federalism.
Some groups that have not signed the peace deal includes
The United Wa State Army (UWSA): It is the largest group among those who have not signed the deal. It operates with some 25000 members on the border of China.

Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO): Its Independence Army (KIA) controls large areas of north-eastern Kachin state and has regularly clashed with the Burmese army since a ceasefire collapsed in 2011.
Shan State Army: It is one of the largest groups which operated to resist the activity of the military government of Burma in Shan State. SSA was formed in 1964 by a merger of existing resistance groups, and recruited and trained thousands of local Shan people.

Comment
With this, , the President Thein Sein hopes that six decade long conflict may come to an end, and a road of peace will be followed.
Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been engaged in an armed conflict with various ethnic rebel groups seeking greater autonomy since independence from the British in 1948. This violence has resulted in killing of tens of thousands, displacement of hundreds of thousands and more.

RBI formed Financial Inclusion Fund with 2000 crore rupees corpus

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 15 October 2015 formed a single Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) with a corpus of 2000 crore rupees. The fund was formed by merging the Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund (FITF).

The RBI also finalised the new scope of activities and guidelines for utilisation of the new FIF in consultation with the Union Government. The new FIF will be administered by the reconstituted Advisory Board constituted by Union Government and will be maintained by NABARD.
Guidelines of Financial Inclusion Fund
• The overall corpus of the new FIF will be 2000 crore rupees.
• Contribution to FIF would be from the interest differential in excess of 0.5 percent on RIDF and STCRC deposits on account of shortfall in priority sector lending kept with NABARD by banks.
• All the assets and liabilities of the erstwhile FITF as well as prior commitments from FITF for projects already sanctioned will be transferred to/reimbursed from FIF.
• The Fund will be in operation for another three years or till such period as may be decided by RBI and Union Government in consultation with other stake holders.
Objective of Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF)
• To support developmental and promotional activities with a view to securing greater financial inclusion
• The development and promotional activities include creation of FI infrastructure across the country, capacity building of stakeholders, creation of awareness to address demand side issues, enhanced investment in Green Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution and increased technological absorption capacity of financial service providers/users.
• The fund shall not be utilized for normal business/banking activities.
• To help create an eco-system that would support banks investment for future business expansion.
• To mobilise significant investment required for further facilitating investments from banks and other financial institutions in addition to ICT-BC (Information Communication Technology – Business Correspondent) model as a mode for expanding banking operations in the unbanked areas
• To address the key concerns which would help scaling the FI efforts like lack of proper connectivity, lack of training facilities for BCs, evolution of an appropriate business model, etc.

Purposes of Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF)
• Support for funding the setting up and operational cost for running Financial Inclusion & Literacy Centers in sync with the objective of Union Government for setting up Financial Literacy Centers up to the block level under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).
• Setting up of Standard Interactive Financial Literacy Kiosks in Gram Panchayats and any other financial literacy efforts under taken by banks in excluded areas
• Support to NABARD & Banks for running of Business & Skill Development Centers including R-SETIs (to the extent not provided by State Governments) to impart skill sets necessary for undertaking income generating activities and for providing forward linkages for marketing activities.
• Sharing the cost of Government projects in connection with laying of last mile fibre optic network, funding of other technological or infrastructure related projects involved in improving or creating network connectivity, etc; in excluded areas.
Eligible Institutions that can seek support from Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF)
• Financial Institutions viz, Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks and NABARD.
• Eligible institutions with whom banks can work for seeking support from the FIF:-

Non Government Organisations
Self-Help Groups
Farmer's Clubs
Functional Cooperatives
IT enabled rural outlets of corporate entities.
Well-functioning Panchayats
Rural Multipurpose kiosks / Village Knowledge Centres
Common Services Centres (CSCs) established by Service Centre Agencies (SCAs) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
Primary Agricultural Societies (PACs)

Background
The Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund (FITF) were constituted in the year 2007-08 for a period of five years with a corpus of 500 crore rupees each to be contributed by Government of India (GOI), RBI and NABARD in the ratio of 40:40:20.
The guidelines for these two funds were framed by the Union Government itself. In April 2012, RBI decided to fund FIF by transferring the interest differential in excess of 0.5 percent on RIDF and STCRC deposits on account of shortfall in priority sector lending.

Australian Government re-approved Carmichael Coal Mine Project to be built by Adani Group

The Federal Government of Australia on 15 October 2015 gave its nod to Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project, one of the world’s largest coal projects, backed by Adani Group.

However, the approval granted is subject to 36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history.

Conditions imposed on Adani

• Implement advice from Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.

• Protect and improve 31000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat.

• Fund 1 million Australian dollars for a research to improve conservation of threatened species over 10 years.

• Protect DoongmabullaSprings through monitoring of groundwater and triggers to enforce limits.

Why the mine fetched controversy?

• The mine drew a significant controversy due to its potential impact on the Great Barrier Reef, which is stretched over 1500 miles along the eastern Queensland coast and covers an area the size of Great Britain, Switzerland and the Netherlands combined. The barrier nurtures 1500 different species of fish, 400 species of coral, 4000 species of mollusc and hundreds of bird species.

• The mine is also said to have an impact over groundwater systems at its site. The company has applied for a water license to extract up to 12.5 gallons per year from the Belyando Riverfor use at the mine. The mine will also utilize groundwater that flows to the surface during the process of dewatering the open cut pits and underground mines.

• The mine will also emit 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 60 years. The burning of coal will also produce an estimated 130 m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

• The site is home to a number of endangered species. The main concern is site’s adverse effects on two vulnerable animal species, namely the humble Yakka Skink - a secretive lizard known to hide under rocks and inside hollow logs - and the Ornamental Snake.

The timeline

• The Carmichael project was first approved by Queensland’s Coordinator-General on 8 May 2014.

• Originally, the operational life was proposed for 150 years, which is now reduced to 60 years.

• On the 29 July 2014, Greg Hunt, federal Minister for Environment, gave his green signal for the mine to proceed.

• On 5 August 2015, the federal Department of Environment and Adani Group signed consent orders in the Federal Court to set aside approval of the project.

• The July 2014 federal approval of the Carmichael project was challenged by Mackay Conservation Group in January 2015 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

• In August 2015, the project was temporarily blocked by the Federal Court due to environmental concerns.

About Carmichael Coal Mine Project

The Carmichael coal mine is a thermal coal mine in the north of the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, Australia. First proposed in 2010, the entire project will be built by Adani Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of India's Adani Group, with an investment of approximately 16.5 billion Australian dollars.

The project will excavate and transport about 60 million tonnes of coal a year for export, mostly to India, for 60 years.

The mine will cover an area seven times the size of Sydney Harbour. As per the plan, the mining will be conducted by both open-cut and underground methods.

Australian Government re-approved Carmichael Coal Mine Project to be built by Adani Group

The Federal Government of Australia on 15 October 2015 gave its nod to Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project, one of the world’s largest coal projects, backed by Adani Group.

However, the approval granted is subject to 36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history.

Conditions imposed on Adani

• Implement advice from Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.

• Protect and improve 31000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat.

• Fund 1 million Australian dollars for a research to improve conservation of threatened species over 10 years.

• Protect DoongmabullaSprings through monitoring of groundwater and triggers to enforce limits.

Why the mine fetched controversy?

• The mine will also emit 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 60 years. The burning of coal will also produce an estimated 130 m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The timeline

• The Carmichael project was first approved by Queensland’s Coordinator-General on 8 May 2014.

• Originally, the operational life was proposed for 150 years, which is now reduced to 60 years.

• On the 29 July 2014, Greg Hunt, federal Minister for Environment, gave his green signal for the mine to proceed.

• On 5 August 2015, the federal Department of Environment and Adani Group signed consent orders in the Federal Court to set aside approval of the project.

• The July 2014 federal approval of the Carmichael project was challenged by Mackay Conservation Group in January 2015 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

• In August 2015, the project was temporarily blocked by the Federal Court due to environmental concerns.

About Carmichael Coal Mine Project

The project will excavate and transport about 60 million tonnes of coal a year for export, mostly to India, for 60 years.

The mine will cover an area seven times the size of Sydney Harbour. As per the plan, the mining will be conducted by both open-cut and underground methods.

Central Victim Compensation Fund set up with 200 crore rupees by Union Government

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on 14 October 2015 introduced a scheme called Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF) with an initial amount of 200 crore rupees. The scheme aims at enabling support to victims of various attacks, such as rape, acid attacks, human trafficking and women killed or injured in the cross border firing.

States were asked to accordingly modify the State Victim Compensation Schemes to reduce inconsistency in quantum of compensation amount notified by them and claim financial support from the CVCF.

Key objectives of the scheme

• To support and supplement the existing Victim Compensation Schemes (VCS) notified by states/UT administrations.

• To reduce disparity in quantum of compensation amount notified by different states / UTs for victims of similar crimes.

• To encourage states / UTs to effectively implement the Victim Compensation Scheme notified by them under the provisions of Section 357A of Cr. P.C.

• To continue financial support to victims of various crimes especially sexual offences including rape, acid attacks, crime against children, human trafficking, etc.

The victims will be compensated on the grounds of various injuries, loss and death with respect to acid attack, rape, human trafficking, disabilities and burns affected on them. Women victims of cross-border suffering permanent or partial disability or death will also be compensated under the scheme.

Rameswaram, birthplace of Dr. Abdul Kalam, included as 498th town under AMRUT

Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on 15 October 2015 declared that former President Dr. Abdul Kalam’s birth place Rameswaram has been included in Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)for providing basic urban infrastructure.

The announcement was made on the occasion of 84th birth anniversary of Dr. Kalam at a programme organised at DRDO.
Rameswaram is the 498th to be included in the Mission. With the addition of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu would have 32 cities and towns under Atal Mission.

Besides, a committee comprising of Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Manohar Parrikar, Pon Radhakrishnan and former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy will work out the details of a Memorial for Dr. Kalam at Rameswaram. This Committee will consult all concerned before giving a final shape to the Memorial.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 April 2015. The mission aims at providing basic infrastructure facilities in 500 cities with an outlay of 50000 crore rupees over the next five years (2015-16 to 2019-20).

SC declared National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) unconstitutional

The five-judge Constitutional Bench of Supreme Court (SC) in a collective order on 16 October 2015 ruled that 99th Constitutional Amendment Act and the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014is unconstitutional and void.

It also upheld the Collegium system that existed before the NJAC as operative. Collegium System was established by the SC in 1993 for the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.

Moreover, the apex court rejected the plea of the Union Government that the petition challenging NJAC Act be referred to a larger Bench in light of the two 'Judges Cases' of 1993 and 1998 and scheduling a hearing on November 3 to improve the Collegium system.

Although the NJAC Act was upheld by Justice J Chelameswar but he recused himself from passing any judgment on the NJAC statute as the majority of four had already held it unconstitutional.

The five-judge bench comprised of Justices JS Khehar, J Chelameswar, Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and AK Goel.

Background

The Union Government on 13 April 2015 notified the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 and the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014. It was designed to replace the existing Collegium system of appointing judges of higher judiciary, viz., Supreme Court and High Courts.

The NJAC Bill and the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty First Amendment) Bill, 2014 were passed unanimously by the Lok Sabha on 13 August 2014 and Rajya Sabha on 14 August 2014 respectively. Subsequently these Bills were ratified by the required number of State legislatures before getting the President’s assent on 31 December 2014.

National Judicial Appointment Commission: Pros and Cons

President Pranab Mukherjee concluded his 3-nation tour to Jordan, Palestine and Israel

President Pranab Mukherjee on 15 October 2015 concluded his 3-nation tour to Jordan, Palestine and Israel. During his 6-day visit, which took place from 10 October to 15 October 2015, President Pranab signed various agreement and MoUs with three nations to boost the bilateral ties.
During his visit, he also met the leaders of the three nations namely President and Prime Minister of Israel Reuven Rivlin and Benjamin Netanyahu respectively, His Majesty King Abdullah-II Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, President and Prime Minister of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and Rami Hamdallah respectively.

During this tour, he stayed in Jordan (10 to 12 October 2015), Palestine (12 to 13 October 2015) and Israel (13 to 15 October 2015). Mukherjee’s visit to these three countries was the first ever visit by an Indian President.
Major Highlights of the visit
• President invited Israel to participate in the transformation of India and sought Israel’s participation in Digital India programme.
• He was conferred honorary doctorate by Hebrew University in Jerusalem, University of Jordan and Al-Quds University, Palestine.
• The president extended invitation to the countries to invest in India and also sought steps to further deepen the ties.
• The accompanying academic delegation exchanged Memoranda of Understanding in all the three places.
• A road and a roundabout in Ramallah, Palestine named after India as Sharia-e-Al-hind (India road) and Midan-e-Al-hind (India roundabout) were inaugurated.
• President inaugurated a street named after Mahatma Gandhi in Amman, Jordan.
• Six agreements/MoUs signed with Jordan on trade and economic, and investment cooperation
• India gave 5 million US dollars grant to Palestine as Budgetary assistance
• Ten agreements/MoUs including Double Taxation Avoidance & Cultural Exchange signed with Israel

SC allowed use of Aadhar Card for all Central and State Welfare schemes on voluntary basis

The Supreme Court on 15 October 2015 allowed the use of Aadhaar cards for all central and state schemes, including Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and employee provident fund and pension schemes, on voluntary basis.

After the concession, the citizens can avail benefits under welfare schemes. Also, the absence of an Aadhaar card will not disallow people from benefiting from these schemes.

Pre-conditions set by Supreme Court

• The government cannot force citizens to enrol for the card.

• The government cannot make it a criterion for benefits under various schemes.

The order was passed by a Constitution Bench of five judges, Justices M Y Eqbal, C Nagappan, Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy. The bench was headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu.

Earlier on 7 October 2015, a three-judge bench of SC had refused to modify its August 11 2015 order limiting the use of Aadhar cards to LPG subsidy, Kerosene and Public Distribution System (PDS).

The order came after the Union Government and its various regulators such as RBI, IRDA, SEBI, TRAI moved the court, requesting it to lift the restraint so that Aadhaar can also be used to linking other services

Union Government flagged off Science Express Climate Action Special train

The Union Government on 15 October 2015 flagged off the Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS) from Safderjung Railway Station in New Delhi.

The train is a unique collaborative initiative of Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Ministry of Railway.

Highlights of SECAS

• The initiative seeks to sensitise the citizens on how Climate Change can be combated through mitigation and adaptation.

• It will also put forth India’s action and the role of civil society in combating Climate Change.

•As per the plan, the train will travel across the country for about 7 months. It will halt at around 64 stations in 20 states and will cover about 18000 kilometres.

• 40 educators have also been deployed to inform around 60 lakh people about climate change issues and how it can be tackled at individual level.

Each coach of the train is covered by a specific theme:

• Coach 1:Understanding Climate Change
• Coach 2: Impact of Climate Change
• Coaches 3 and 4:Adaptation
• Coaches 5 and 6: Mitigation
• Coach 7:International Negotiations on Climate Change
• Coach 8: Handprint
• Coaches 9 and 10: Exhibition put up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• Coach 11:Exhibition put up by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF)
• Coach 12: A Kids Zone
• Coach 13: The Joy of Science (JOS) Hands-on Lab

About Science Express

Science Express is an unprecedented mobile science exhibition mounted on a 16-coach AC train. Indian Railway has custom-built the train for Department of Science & Technology (DST).

DST launched the Science Express in October 2007. Since then, it has travelled about 122000 kilometres across the country in seven phases of 6-7 months duration each.

From 2007 to 2011, the train was running as Science Express displaying the world of micro and macro cosmos, spreading the awareness about strengths of science in meeting global challenges, including latest discoveries and innovations in the field of modern science.

In the year 2012, Science Express was redesigned on the theme Biodiversity and since then it has been running as Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS).

International Religious Freedom Report 2014 released

The International Religious Freedom Report 2014 was released on 14 October 2015 by the US State Department. The Report attempts to give voice to those oppressed people and to document when and where the universal human right to religious freedom was violated.

The report comprises almost 200 distinct reports on countries and territories. It details the actions of Non-State Actors who committed some of the most egregious human rights abuses and caused significant damage to the global status of respect for religious freedom.

Anti-Semitism continued to be a major problem around the globe with increases in anti-Semitic incidents recorded in many countries. Other concerning trends over the year included increasing use of combating terrorism and extremism as an excuse for unreasonable religious restrictions.
Negative Developments in 2014
• In 2014, governments in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and throughout Asia have failed to protect the citizens against the abuses committed by non-state actors including terrorist organizations who have set their sights on destroying religious diversity.
• Governments in Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have lacked in responding to the societal tensions and discrimination against the citizens. For instance, in Pakistan, the government’s general failure to investigate, arrest, or prosecute those responsible for religious freedom abuses promoted an environment of impunity.
• In numerous authoritarian countries around the world have put undue restrictions on religion in the name of combating terrorism and violent extremism
Positive Developments in 2014
• Religious and civil society groups took steps to promote greater respect for religious diversity.
• Improved status of largest population of Christians in Middle East and in Egypt: Under the interim and al-Sisi governments, there have been encouraging improvements in the status of Christians in Egypt. The new Egyptian constitution provides increased human rights protections.
• Release of Religious Prisoners in Turkmenistan: In October, the government granted amnesty to and released from prison eight of nine Jehovah’s Witnesses long incarcerated as a result of their religious convictions, including their principled objection to compulsory military service.
• Societal Response to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and forms of intolerance: After the February 14-15 terrorist attacks in Denmark, thousands of people of different faiths formed a human ring outside the synagogue in Copenhagen to send a powerful statement that Jews should be able to have their religion in peace.
• Constitutional Chamber ruling part of religion law unconstitutional in Kyrgyzstan: On 4 September, a nine-judge panel of Kyrgzstan’s Constitutional Chamber ruled sections of the 2008 Religion Law unconstitutional, which eased registration requirements for religious organizations with fewer than 200 members.
Status of India in the Report
• While the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, mandates a secular state, it also stipulates that citizens practice their faith in a way that does not adversely affect public order, morality, and health. Six out of 29 state governments of India enforced existing anti-conversion laws.
• There are operative anti-conversion laws in six of the 29 states: Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka top the list of states in which Christians faced incidents of targeted communal violence in 2013. There were as many as 151 incidents of anti-Christian violence, with Andhra Pradesh registering 41 cases, Chhattisgarh 28, and Karnataka 27.
• Hundreds of legal cases remained pending from violence during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Nanavati-Mehta Commission on the 2002 riots ultimately released its Final Report on 18 November 2014.
• Civil society activists and Sikh advocacy groups continued to express concern about the government’s failure to hold accountable those responsible for the 1984 communal violence in New Delhi that resulted in the deaths of more than 3000 persons.
The International Religious Freedom Report, 2014 has been prepared by the US State Department and was submitted to the Congress in compliance with section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.
The report, collated by the Office of International Religious Freedom, is based on information from government officials, religious leaders, nongovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights monitors, religious groups, academics, and others.

Pedana fabric recommended for the Handloom Brand

Pedana’s handloom woven fabric made of yarn dyed with natural in the first week of October 2015 was recommended by the Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC), Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, under the Ministry of Textile for recognition as one of the India Handloom Brands.

The fabric was recommended for the brand under the special products category.

The Pedana fabric is produced by Pedana-based Shyamala Arts and Crafts (SAC), and is one of the five textile products from Andhra Pradesh which was recommended to be included in Handloom Brands. The other four textile products are: Venkatagiri sari, Uppada Jamdaani sari, Mangalagiri cotton sari and Dharmavaram sari.

The Handloom Brand was issued by the Ministry of Textiles for the eligible textile products to ensure quality and genuineness of the product under its Handloom Brand Scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 August 2015.

Malaysia proposed to invest 30 billion US dollars for urban development in India

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia on 15 October 2015 proposed to invest 30 billion US dollars in urban development and housing projects in India.

The redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station adjoining area as a mini-smart city is proposed to be taken up with an investment of about 24 billion US dollars. CIDB also proposed to take up a Green City Project at Garhmukhteshwar in Uttar Pradesh involving housing and Ganga cleaning projects with an investment of about 4 billion US dollars.
The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) of the Union Ministry of Urban Development will be associated with these projects.
CIDB is a Malaysia based government agency which has so far implemented various construction projects overseas with an investment of 24 billion US dollars since its inception in 1995 and projects worth 8 billion US dollars are still under execution.

Jharkhand signed GCA with GAIL for construction of Urja Ganga Jagdishpur-Haldia Pipeline

The Government of Jharkhand and GAIL (India) Limited on 15 October 2015 inked a Gas Cooperation Agreement (GCA) for creation of Natural Gas and City Gas Distribution infrastructure. The infrastructure will assist the construction of Urja Ganga Jagdishpur-Haldia Pipelineproject in the state.

The project aims at connecting eastern India to the national natural gas grid.

As per the terms of agreement, GAIL will set up a 174 kilometres main line and 166 kilometres spurlines in Jharkhand as part of the 2050 kilometres Jagdishpur-Haldia gas pipeline project linking Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The pipeline will pass through six districts, Bokaro, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, East Singbhum and Ranchi.

After completion, the pipeline can also be used to provide Natural Gas as fuel to the Steel Authority of India plant in Bokaro and fertilizer plant at Sindri.

The agreement will also assist the establishment of pipeline connectivity from the seven Coal Bed Methane (CBM) blocks awarded in the state to various consumption centres.

World Food Day observed with the theme Social Protection and Agriculture

16 October: World Food Day
World Food Day (WFD) was observed across the world on 16 October 2015 with the theme Social Protection and Agriculture. The day is observed with an aim to raise public awareness about hunger challenges and encourage people worldwide to take action in the fight against hunger.
The theme aims to underline the role social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food. Social protection is, moreover, a viable alternative for stimulating agricultural production and local economic activity.

The theme particularly reflects WFOs (World Farmers Organisation) intention to highlight important agriculture-related issues, drawing attention to achievements in rural development and encouraging agricultural food production.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated agricultural production must increase by 60% globally to meet the food demand that will be required to feed the 9.2 billion people who will inhabit our planet in 2050.
In order to guarantee this result and face this challenge, it is crucial to ensure that farmers have access to infrastructures, credit and functioning markets. Farmers also need to have access to science, innovation and knowledge, which are essential for the development of the agricultural sector.
Apart from the World Food Day, the FAO also observed World Food week from 12 October to 16 October 2015. The week was observed with the opening of the 42nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security. The main highlights of the week were launch of the new edition of FAO's flagship publication, World Food Day 2015 Ceremony at Expo Milano and others.

World Food Day (WFD)
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October globally to commemorate the date of establishment of the FAO in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
World Food Day was established by FAO's Member Countries at the 20th General Conference of FAO in November 1979. The Hungarian Delegation suggested the idea of celebrating the WFD worldwide during the General Conference.
Since then, it is being observed every year in more than 150 countries, raising awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger. World Food Day was first held on 16 October 1981.

TRAI made mandatory for telecom operators to compensate for call drops from 1 January 2016

Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indian (TRAI) on 16 October 2015 made it mandatory for mobile service providers (MSPs) to compensate consumers call drops with effect from 1 January 2016.
The notification was issued by the TRAI as ninth amendment to the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations, 2012.
What has been mandated to MSPs?
• Credit the account of the calling consumer by one rupee. However, such credit in the account of the calling consumer will be limited to three dropped calls in a day.
• Send a message through SMS/USSD to the calling consumer within four hours of the occurrence of call drop and details of the amount credited into his account.
• In case of post-paid consumers provide the detail of the credit in the next bill.

The implementation of the mandate will be closely watched by the TRAI which will also keep a watch on the measures being initiated by service providers to minimise the problem of dropped calls.
It will undertake a review of the mandate and its implementation after six months.
What is a call drop?
Call drop represents the service provider’s inability to maintain a call once it has been correctly established, that is, calls dropped or interrupted prior to their normal completion by the user, the cause of the early termination being with the service provider’s network.
In the past one year, the instances of call drops have increased too much causing too much problem to the consumers. As a result, TRAI had in June 2015 and July 2015 conducted drive tests in Mumbai and Delhi, which showed unsatisfactory network quality. TRAI than convened a meeting of all telecom operators to improve quality of network.
Off late, the call drop issue is starting to improve. Telecom operators like Airtel, Aircel, Idea, Vodafone and Tata Tele have been able to contain the problem and nearly half of the defective mobile sites have been fixed to address the menace.