15-16 September

15 September

Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Frank D Gilroy died

Renowned American playwright and director Frank D Gilroy passed away on 12 September 2015 following age related illness in Monroe, New York. He was 89. He is survived by his wife and five grandchildren.

In 1965, he won prestigious Pulitzer Prize for theatrical adaptation of his play The Subject Was Roses. The play was premiered on Broadway in May 1964 with a cast comprising Jack Albertson, Irene Dailey and Martin Sheen. Gilroy also received the Tony Award for Best Play for The Subject Was Roses in 1965.
Later, he wrote a screenplay for a 1968 film adaptation starring Albertson and Patricia Neal, which earned both actors Oscar nominations, resulting in a win for Albertson.
He also directed movies for television and the big screen including the Desperate Characters in 1971. Before writing the plays, Gilroy served in the army from 1943 to 1946.
Gilroy was born in October 1925 in New York City, United States.

Government to provide additional 50 days work to farmers under MGNREGA in drought-hit areas

Union Government on 14 September 2015 decided to provide additional 50 days of unskilled manual work in the financial year 2015-16 in drought-hit areas under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. The additional days will be provided to bring relief to farmers in view of deficit monsoon in various parts of the country.
At present, 100 days of work is provided to rural job card holders under the MGNREGA, in such rural areas where drought or natural calamities has been notified. The drought areas will be notified in consultation with states.

The decision was taken after monsoon deficit reached 16 percent across the country, which could affect kharif crops and rural income.
The move of the Union Government will allow state governments to provide additional wage employment to rural poor in the drought affected areas.
Earlier, Government had announced diesel subsidy scheme for farmers to help save standing crops. It has also announced appropriate input support measures to rejuvenate water-stressed horticulture crops in drought-hit areas.
It has also decided to provide assistance for additional interventions for production of fodder for mitigating adverse impact of drought on livestock in drought-hit blocks.
Apart from this, the Union Government has made flexible allocation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and other centrally sponsored schemes. It has put in place crop contingency plan for 600 districts.

Union Government formed Mihir Shah Committee on restructuring water agencies

The Union Ministry of Water Resources on 11 September 2015 constituted a seven-member committee to advise it on restructuring the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

The expert committee will be headed by former Planning Commission member Mihir Shah.

The committee was mandated to suggest ways for optimal development of water resources in the country.

In doing so, the committee will undertake elaborate mapping exercise as part of river basin planning that will include mapping and characterizing of aquifiers.

Further, it will also work on water resource planning, augmenting and budgeting in an integrated manner.

The formation of the committee assumes significance as most Indian rivers found to be polluted and it is high time the rejuvenation of rivers takes place.

The committee was mandated to submit its report in three months.

Meeting of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) on Climate Change held in New Delhi

Meeting of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) on Climate Change was held for two days from 14 September to 15 September 2015 in New Delhi. This was the first meeting of LMDCs to be held in India.

The objective of the meeting was to exchange, coordinate and harmonize views on the negotiating text for the Conference of Parties-21 (COP-21) of the UNFCC to be held in Paris in December 2015.

UNFCC stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The primary agenda of the COP-21 is to finalise post-2020 climate action plans as the Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol is set to expire by the end of 2020.

About Like-Minded Developing Countries

• It is a negotiating group on climate change related issues at the global level.
• It consists of 12 countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, China, Ecuador, El Salvador, Malaysia, Iran, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Venezuela and the South Centre and Third World Network.
• They members represent 50 percent of the global population.

Nepal Constituent Assembly rejected proposal for Hindu nation in favour of secularism

The Constituent Assembly of Nepal on 14 September 2015 overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to declare Nepal a Hindu state and reaffirmed to remain secular.
Pro-Hindu National Democratic Party Nepal made the proposal to amend the Constitution to make the country a Hindu state. The proposal to amend the constitution received the support of only 21 lawmakers in the 601-seat Constituent Assembly, which means that the proposal was rejected by more than two-thirds of the members.

Background
The erstwhile Hindu state, Nepal was declared a secular state in 2007 after the success of the People's Movement of 2006 and end of monarchy in the country.
It was defined as a secular state under the Interim Constitution, which was promulgated on 15 January 2007. The promulgation provided freedom to practice one’s religion and it specifically denied the right to convert another person.
The now-defunct constitution of 1990, which was in effect until 15 January 2007, described the country as a Hindu Kingdom, although it did not establish Hinduism as the state religion.

India-Maldives joint military training Exercise EKUVERIN 2015 held in Kerala

India-Maldives joint military training Exercise EKUVERIN 2015 was held at the Pangode Military Station in Trivandrum, Kerala. It was held for fifteen days between 31 Aug and 13 Sep 2015.

The exercise saw the participation of the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces.

In total 90 soldiers took part in it, 45 each.

It was the sixth edition of the bilateral annual exercise started in 2009 in Belgaum, Karnataka.

Exercise EKUVERIN is alternatively held in India and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two countries and increased understanding between both armies.

SC sought Centre's response on States' petition against ban on publication of CM photos in Govt. Ads

The Supreme Court (SC) on 14 September 2015 sought the Union Government’s response on pleas made by several state governments for the recall of the ban on publishing photographs of Chief Ministers and bureaucrats in government advertisements.

The directive was given by a bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose while hearing pleas filed by state governments of Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka and West Bengal.

The pleas of the state governments were against the ban imposed by the SC in its May 2015 judgment.

In its judgment, the SC directed that only photographs of the President, Prime Minister (PM) and Chief Justice of India (CJI) can feature in the newspaper advertisements released by state and central government departments.

The judgment was based on the recommendations of court-appointed NR Madhava Menon committee.

Why State Governments opposed to SC directives?

States argue that they are autonomous political and administrative entities in the federal scheme of the Constitution of India.

Hence, they have every right, akin to the Union Government, to publish photographs of their politico-administrative heads in advertisements.

Further, denying this right to them is also goes against the basic structure doctrine as federalism is considered as the fundamental feature of the Constitution.

UNGA adopted Document on Advancing Security Council Reforms

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 14 September 2015 unanimously adopted a document for reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The document was adopted without a vote.
In a draft decision submitted by Assembly President Sam Kutesa (Uganda), the body also decided to reaffirm its central role on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other related matters.

Further, the Assembly also decided to convene the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council during the seventieth session starting from 15 September 2015, if member states so decided.
The proposal which was adopted for the first time in 23 years has been welcomed by India as it will boost India's bid for a permanent seat in the revamped world body.
Reaction of members to the decision
The adoption of the document has been termed by some members as “landmark and historic” and by some as technical rather than substantive progress.
For instance, delegate from Saint Lucia, speaking for the L.69 Group of Developing Countries, termed the adoption as “landmark” decision and a game-changing development in the shadow-boxing” that had thus far taken place behind the scenes.
Further, India’s speaker, associating with the “L.69” and “G4” groups (Brazil, Japan, Germany and India) called the adoption as “historic initiative.”

On the other hand, Italy’s delegate, speaking for the Uniting for Consensus Group said that it could not interpreted as an endorsement in “substance or procedure.” China called it as technical decision only.

UN adopted Resolution proclaiming 9 December as International Genocide Commemoration Day

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 11 September 2015 adopted the resolutions that proclaims 9 December as International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
The resolution on International Day initiated by Armenia is intended to commemorate and honour the victims of the crime of genocide around the world, and to raise awareness of the Convention and its role in protecting populations from future genocides.
The resolution was adopted without a vote in the 193-member Assembly and it reiterates the responsibility of each individual State to protect its populations from genocide through appropriate and necessary means.
Why 9th December adopted as International Genocide Commemoration Day?
UNGA decided to proclaim 9 December as International Genocide Commemoration Day because the day marks anniversary of the signing of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This convention was one of the first United Nations conventions to address humanitarian issues.
It was adopted in response to the atrocities which were committed during the World War II and through GA Res. 180(II) UN recognised that genocide is an international crime, which entails the national and international responsibility of individual persons and states.
The Convention has since then been widely accepted by the international community and ratified by the overwhelmingly majority of States.
Genocide
UN defines genocide as a crime that is committed against members of a national, ethnic or religious group solely because they are members of that group. It also entails there being intent to exterminate a particular group.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Dethroned in an Internal Party Leadership Ballot

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was on 14 September 2015 ousted from the power as leader of the ruling centre-right Liberal Party.

He was ousted after he lost to challenger Malcolm Turnbull in an internal party leadership ballot. In the ballot, Abbott received 44 votes while Turnbull received 54 votes.
With this, Turnbull, the former Communication Minister of Australia, became Australia's fourth prime minister since 2013 and overall he is the 29th Prime Minister of Australia.
However, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will remain deputy leader of the Liberal Party. Bishop secured 70 votes, against 30 votes against her cabinet colleague Kevin Andrews.
This internal party leadership ballot was an outcome of the leadership challenge posed by Turnbull claiming that Tony Abbott was incapable of providing the economic leadership the country needs. Prior to challenging the leadership of Tony Abbott, Turnbull had resigned from the cabinet.
Under the Australian parliamentary system, Prime Minister is not directly elected by voters but he is the leader of the party or coalition that can command a majority in parliament.
The last Australian prime minister to serve a full term was John Howard, who left power in 2007. In that year, Kevin Rudd was elected as the prime minister, but was ousted by his own party member Julia Gillard, who went on to become Australia’s first female prime minister.
However, Julia Gillard was later ousted by Rudd itself in a leadership vote in June 2013, months before a general election was won by Tony Abbott's Liberal Party and its coalition partners the National Party.

QS World University Rankings 2015-16 released; IISc-B & IIT-D figured in top 200

QS World University Rankings 2015-16 was released on 15 September 2015. It was the 12th edition in the series of annual global university ranking list.
While Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the USA was adjudged as the top university in the world, the Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore (IISc-B) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) were ranked 147 and 179 respectively.

The list was prepared using six performance indicators that assessed institutions’ global reputation, research impact, staffing levels and international complexion.
The six performance indicators with corresponding weightages: Academic reputation (40%), Employer reputation (10%), Student-to-faculty ratio (20%), Citations per faculty (20%), International faculty ratio (5%) and international student ratio (5%).

Highlights of the 2015-16 List
• MIT topped the list of universities in the world for record fourth time.
• Harvard University climbed two places to rank second, followed by the University of Cambridge and Stanford University in joint third.
• The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) of the USA was ranked the fifth best university.
• Out of the top 10 universities, five universities belonged to the USA, four belonged to the UK and the remaining one university was ETH Zurich University located in Switzerland.
• Among Asian universities National University of Singapore topped the list with the 11th position.
List of Indian University with Rankings

University	Rankings
IISc-Bangalore	147
IIT-Delhi	179
IIT-Bombay	202
IIT-Madras	254
IIT-KANPUR	271
IIT-KHAGRAPUR	286
IIT-ROORKEE	391
IIT-Guwahati	451-460
University of Delhi	481-490
University of Calcutta	601-350
Punjab University	700+
University of Pune	700+

We Care Solar won $1 million ‘Powering the Future We Want’ grant of the United Nations

We Care Solar on 14 September 2015 won 1 million US dollar ‘Powering the Future We Want’ grantgiven by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Dr. Laura Stachel, co-founder of We Care Solar, accepted the award at a ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York.
We Care Solar provide renewable energy at low cost with a medical device that prevents maternal and child complications during labour in areas without electricity.

Besides, Masdar, a renewable energy company, received a special award, and BYD, an electric vehicle company, was chosen to receive special recognition.
Powering the Future We Want grant
The “Powering the Future We Want” grant initiative is carried out by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC), a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organization in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The grant is offered in form of one million US dollars to fund future capacity development activities in energy for sustainable development. The Grant is awarded to an individual, institution or partnership based on past and current achievements.

Report titled Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms released

A report titled Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms was released on 14 September 2015.

The report captures the findings of an assessment conducted jointly by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the World Bank Group and KPMG as the knowledge partner, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The assessment, the first of its kind, was conducted to take stock of reforms implemented by states in the period January to June 2015 based on the 98-point action plan for business reforms agreed between DIPP and State and Union Territory governments in December 2014.
Data for the assessment was collected through a structured questionnaire that was sent to each state and union territory government. Following the completion of the data collection, the data was evaluated in detail to ensure that the same yardstick was applied to measure progress for all states.

Top 10 State Rankings in terms of implementation of 98-point action plan

Rank	State	Score
1	Gujarat	71.14 percent
2	Andhra Pradesh	70.12 percent
3	Jharkhand	63.09 percent
4	Chhattisgarh	62.45 percent
5	Madhya Pradesh	62.00 percent
6	Rajasthan	61.04 percent
7	Odisha	52.12 percent
8	Maharashtra	49.43 percent
9	Karnataka	48.50 percent
10	Uttar Pradesh	47.37 percent

Highlights of the Report

Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have implemented over 50 percent of the 98 point action plan business reforms studied in the assessment.
Gujarat took the top position in a list that ranked states on the ease of doing business.
Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are also among the top 10 states in the assessment.
No state has implemented 75 per cent or more of the proposed reforms.
Punjab leads in the area of Setting up a Business, as it features an online single window system for registrations and licenses that cover most of the regulatory services in the country. Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also made significant progress in this area.
States including Maharashtra followed by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, were ranked highest in Obtaining Infrastructure Related Utilities, with clearly defined timelines for electricity, water and sewage connections.
Karnataka received the highest score on Registering and Complying with Tax Procedures.
Jharkhand leads the country in Carrying out Inspections, since its labour management system implementation has also focussed on inspections reform.
States have made good progress in general tax reforms like mandating e-registration for VAT and CST; allowing online payment and filing of returns for various state taxes.
Twenty nine states allow VAT to be paid online and 28 states allow CST to be paid online.
While most states allow e-filing of VAT and CST, 21 states have established helplines for users.
Twenty five states have defined timelines for VAT registration and 21 have defined timelines for CST registration.
Twenty six states are yet to introduce reforms along a wide range of labour inspections under various acts, or on inspections related to building permits.
About 25 states lack online availability of information on land banks and use of GIS systems to track industrial land parcels.
The report also highlights the need to properly communicate, monitor and evaluate these reforms, to ensure that their impact is being felt on the ground.

Sports Ministry recognized the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation as Regional Sports Federation

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 14 September 2015 recognized the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation as Regional Sports Federation with a view to promote and give due acknowledgement and importance to sports having regional spread.

This recognition grants a major role to the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation (IKF) in promoting and developing Kalarippayattu sport in India.
About Kalarippayattu Sport
• Kalaripayattu sport is a Martial art sport that is performed in Southern state of Kerala and in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
• The word kalari in Kalaripayattu has been derived from Sangam literature which describes both a battlefield and combat arena.
• It is considered to be one of the oldest fighting system in existence with its origin dating back to 3nd century BC to the 2nd century AD when each warrior in Sangam era received regular military training.

RBI, Nepal Rastra Bank signed MoU for Exchange of Supervisory Information

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 14 September 2015 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information.

The MoU was signed by Meena Hemchandra, Executive Director of RBI and Nepal Rastra Bank’s Executive Director Narayan Prasad Paudel in New Delhi. With this agreement, RBI seeks to promote greater co-operation and share supervisory information among the authorities.

The RBI has so far entered into MoU with supervisors of 27 countries and Letter for Supervisory Co-operation and Statement of Co-operation with supervisors of one country each to promote greater co-operation and share supervisory information.

Malcolm Turnbull sworn in as 29th Prime Minister of Australia

Malcolm Turnbull was on 15 September 2015 sworn in as the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Turnbull was sworn in by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.

With this, Turnbull, the former Communication Minister of Australia, became Australia's fourth prime minister since 2013. Turnbull gained the power as leader of the ruling centre-right Liberal Party after defeating Tony Abbott in an internal party leadership ballot.
In the ballot, Abbott received 44 votes while Turnbull received 54 votes.
About Malcolm Turnbull
• Malcolm worked as a journalist before he began legal practice in 1980. He successfully defended the former MI5 agent Peter Wright in his efforts to publish his memoirs, Spycatcher.
• In 1987 Malcolm established his own investment banking firm and during that time co-founded a number of Australian companies including OzEmail Ltd.
• His political career began in 2004 when he was elected as the Member for Wentworth and upon entering Parliament; he joined the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
• In December 2007, Malcolm was appointed as a Shadow Treasurer and following a leadership ballot in September 2008, he was elected to lead the Liberal Party as Leader of the Opposition, a position held until 1 December 2009.
• Malcolm was the Minister for Communications from September 2013 to September 2015.

16 sept

Jeremy Corbyn elected as leader of Labour Party in UK

Jeremy Corbyn on 12 September 2015 was elected as the leader of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom.

Consequent upon this election, he was also became the leader of the opposition in the House of Commons.

The election had become necessary as Ed Miliband resigned from the post following defeat of the party in the 2015 general election.

Corbyn has been the member of the parliament representing the Islington North constituency since 1983.

The election of Corbyn assumes significance to the UK politics in specific and the EU in general as he is long known for his radical left-wing leanings.

His radical agenda includes-Renationalization of railways and the energy sector, withdrawal of the UK from NATO, proposal to dismantle the Trident nuclear missile programme, withdrawal of the military from Syria, etc.

Narsingh Pancham Yadav won bronze at 2015 World Wrestling Championships

Narsingh Pancham Yadav on 13 September 2015 won bronze medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships held in Las Vegas, the USA. He won the medal in the Men’s 74kg Freestyle category.

Though Narsingh lost the semi final game to Unurbat Purevjav (Mongolia), he could defeat Zelimkhan Khadjiev (France) 12-8 in the bronze medal play-off.

Narsingh’s win confirmed quota place for India in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This is the first time that an Indian wrestler has earned an Olympic berth with a medal at the World Championship.

However, still it is not sure who will represent India in the mega event.

Since, as per the rules, an Olympic berth is for the country concerned and not the wrestler who might have secured it.

Besides Narsingh, double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar is also strong contender for representing India in the category. However, it should be noted that Sushil Kumar did not participate in the event.

Renowned Classical dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama died

Veteran Classical dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama passed away on 13 September 2015 in Palakkad district of Kerala following brief illness. She was 77. Satyabhama is credited with purifying the Mohiniyattam dance form by weeding out external influences.

Sathyabhama was born at Shoranur in 1937 and had started learning classical dance at a very early age. She performed for the first time in 1955 during the silver jubilee of the Kalamandalam (Kerala's Deemed University of Art and Culture) in front of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
She was the first woman to be the Vice Principal of Kerala Kalamandalam and later she became its Principal till she retired in 1992.
She was regarded as a doyen of Mohiniyattam and was well-known for her experimental reforms in this classical dance form. She also brought changes to the mohiniyattam costumes. The designs she created follows Kerala traditions in color, pattern and have become the signature of Kalamandalam style.
She has left a rich legacy of 35 Mohiniyattom compositions, the details of which are narrated in her book, Mohiniyattam- history, techniques and performance.
Various awards were conferred onto her for her perfection in various dance forms including Padma Shri (2014), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1976), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994), Kerala Government’s Nruthya Natya Puraskaram (2005), Kalamandalam Award (1988) etc.
About Mohiniyattam dance
• Mohiniyattam is a classical dance form of Kerala and is considered as a very graceful form of dance meant to be performed as solo recitals by women.
• The word Mohiniyattam means dance of the enchantress and it has been derived from the words Mohini meaning a woman who enchants onlookers and the word aattam means graceful body movements.
• It is one of the eight Indian classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

MP government constituted one-member commission to probe Petlawad explosion incident

Madhya Pradesh government on 15 September 2015 constituted a one-member commission to probe the Petlawad explosion incident in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. Retired High Court judge Justice Aryendra Kumar Saxena is the chairman of the Commission.
The commission’s headquarters will be at Indore and will to submit its report in 3 months.

The Commission will find out, among other things, the circumstances under which the explosion took place. It will also find that who was responsible for the incident and whether the landlord or the tenant had the license to store or use explosives.
The Commission will also find out if any complaint against illegal storage of explosives in the building had been filed in the past and what action was taken on it. It will also suggest the ways to prevent such incidents in future.
Petlawad explosion
At least 89 people were killed and nearly 100 injured after a massive blast caused by mining gelatin stored in a building ripped through a crowded area in Petlawad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on 12 September 2015.
The cause of the explosion was attributed to stored explosives that detonated, along with a cooking gas cylinder.

Tambul Leaf Plates conferred with SEED Special Recognition Award

Tambul Leaf Plates was on 9 September 2015 conferred with the SEED Special Recognition Award in Nairobi, Kenya.

The onetime special award was presented to the Indian based organisation to mark the 10th anniversary of the annual SEED Awards.

About SEED

• It is a global partnership for action on sustainable development and the green economy.

• Its founding partners are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the united nations environment programme (UNEP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

• It supports innovative small-scale and locally driven entrepreneurs around the globe who integrate social and environmental benefits into their business model from the outset.

SEED Awards

• They were given for the first time to 5 enterprises in 2005 on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in New York.

• So far, 202 inspirational social and environmental enterprises were honoured with the awards.

• The Special Recognition Award winner -Tambul Leaf Plates- was the winner of the 2013 SEED Low Carbon Winner Award.

About Tambul Leaf Plates

• It produces and markets biodegradable disposable dinnerware from the fallen sheath of the arecanut plant.
• Its activities help in reducing plastic waste pollution and creating a value chain on the basis on an abundant natural resource.

• Since 2011, it has been able to generate sustainable livelihood for 2000+ rural youths and promote 100+ arecanut leaf plate making units.
• It played a major role the income of the producers has increased by more than 100 per cent over these years.
• It also provides entrepreneurial and production skills trainings. So far, 330 rural youths benefitted.
• Its founder is Arindam Dasgupta and it has major operations in North East India.

Ashok-Alexander Sridharan became first PIO to be elected as mayor of Bonn in Germany

Ashok-Alexander Sridharan on 14 September 2015 became the first Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to be elected as the mayor of Bonn in Germany.

He will officially take charge on 21 October 2015.

Sridharan also became the city’s first mayor from an immigrant background. He was born in Bonn in 1965 to an Indian Diplomat and German mother.

He belongs to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) party, to which the German Chancellor Angela Merkel also belongs to.

It was for the first time in 21 years that a candidate from the CDU won the Bonn mayoral election leaving the Social Democratic Party (SPD) out in the cold.

Bonn is the 18th most populated city in Germany and the provisional capital of erstwhile West Germany.

Natura Brasil selected for 2015 UNEP Champions of the Earth award in entrepreneurial vision category

Natura Brasil on 13 September 2015 selected for the 2015 UNEP Champions of the Earth award in the entrepreneurial vision category.

It was selected for unparalleled commitment to trailblazing sustainable business models.

Natura is a Brazilian brand leader in cosmetics, fragrances and personal care in the direct selling model.

Achievement of Natura Brasil

• After its moderate inception in Brazil in 1969, it has spread to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, France, Mexico and Peru through over 1.7 million consultants.

• It focuses on developing competencies that will enhance the business in an entrepreneurial and socially responsible manner.

• It dedicates special attention to its suppliers and the 33 local communities it works with in order to ensure the sustainable supply chain of ingredients.

• It prioritizes recycled and recyclable materials in its packaging, analyzing their environmental impact throughout the product's lifecycle.

• Through the Amazon Program, launched in 2011, Natura seeks to curb deforestation by fostering sustainable standing forest economy in the Amazon region.

• By taking an eco-innovation life-cycle approach, the company experienced average annual growth of 26 per cent from 2005-2010, and doubled in size from 2007-2011.

• The socio-environmental benefits of selecting suppliers based on high sustainability performance were worth over 750000 US dollars in 2012 alone.

• This laudable business model was recognized when Natura received Benefit Corporation sustainability certification, which highlights high standards of environmental and social stewardship.

About UNEP Champions of the Earth Award

• It is United Nation's top environmental accolade awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It recognizes visionary people and organisations all over the world that exemplify leadership and advocate action on sustainable development, climate change and a life of dignity for all.
• The annual award was established in 2004.
• The awards are conferred in four categories viz., policy leadership, entrepreneurial vision, inspiration and action and science and innovation.

American Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr announced retirement after defeating Andre Berto

American Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr on 12 September 2015 announced retirement from the 19-year-long career in the ring.

He took the decision after the win against Andre Berto in the Welterweight World Championships held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, the USA.

The present win was his 49th overall and he never lost a game since his first match in 1996.

With this win, he tied with the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano in terms of number of wins in the professional league.

Achievements of Floyd Mayweather Jr

• He is widely recognized as the best boxer of his generation and amongst the greatest fighters of all time.

• He is undefeated as a professional and is a five-division world champion, having won twelve world titles and the lineal championship in four different weight classes.

• He is a two-time Ring magazine Fighter of the Year (winning the award in 1998 and 2007)

• He won the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Fighter of the Year award in 2007, 2013 and the Best Fighter ESPY Award in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

• His historic win against Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 considered as the fight of the century of boxing that fetched him 220 million US dollars.

Pentagon established first-ever country special cell IRRC to speed up defence ties with India

IRRC: India Rapid Reaction Cell
The abbreviation IRRC was in news in September 2015. IRRC stands for India Rapid Reaction Cell and was established in January 2015 by Pentagon to exclusively focus on advancing Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
IRRC is Pentagon’s first-ever country special cell and is headed by Keith Webster, Director of International Cooperation Office of the Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

The cell was established as part of Joint Statement issued during the visit of the US President Barack Obama to India as chief guest of the Republic Day 2015 parade. Obama is the first US president to become the chief guest of the RD parade.
The cell since its establishment has been instrumental in accelerating projects under DTII. DTII came into being in 2012 after the then US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed then Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to undertake an initiative to provide increased US senior level oversight and engagement to get beyond these obstacles.
DTII seeks to co-develop and co-produce military equipment in six pathfinder projects. These include among others
• Next-generation Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Roll-on, roll-off intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
• Mobile electric hybrid power sources
• Uniform integrated protection ensemble increment-2 (chemical, biological warfare protection gear for soldiers).

Indian-Origin Lawmakers Seema Malhotra, Lisa Nandy appointed to Shadow Cabinet in UK

Indian-origin British Members of Parliament (MPs), Seema Malhotra and Lisa Nandy, were appointed as to the shadow cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn, the newly-elected leader of Labour Party in the United Kingdom (UK) in third week of September 2015.
Malhotra was appointed as the shadow chief secretary for Treasury, while Nandy was appointed as shadow secretary for energy and climate change.

Seema Malhotra, 43-year-old, became MP for the London seat of Feltham and Heston in 2011 in a by-election following the death of Alan Keen (Conservative). In August 2014, she was given the newly created role of shadow minister for preventing violence against women and girls by the then Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Lisa Nandy, 36 year-old, is a British Labour Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Wigan constituency, in Greater Manchester, since the 2010 general election. Elected to Parliament on 7 May 2010, she became the constituency's first female MP and one of the first six Asian female MPs elected to Parliament.
She is the daughter if Indian Marxist Dipak Nandy, who was the founder and first director of the left-wing think-tank Runnymede Trust.
What is a Shadow Cabinet?
Shadow cabinet is a group of politicians who hold a political post with their party, but whose party is not in government (that is, an opposition party). A member of the shadow cabinet is a shadow minister and its leader is called the Leader of Opposition.

Indian-Origin Lawmakers Seema Malhotra, Lisa Nandy appointed to Shadow Cabinet in UK

Hungary declared emergency in areas near Serbian border to check Migrant crisis

Hungary on 13 September 2015 declared a state of emergency in two southern counties that shares its border with Serbia to stop migrants entering illegally.
This state of emergency empowers the Hungarian police to detain anyone trying to breach a razor-wire fence built on the border with Serbia. It also gives police more powers and allows for the deployment of troops pending parliamentary approval.

Main elements of emergency
• Police buses will now take asylum applicants to registration centres, but if their applications are refused they will now be returned to Serbia rather than being given passage through Hungary.
• Anyone who crosses the border illegally will face criminal charges, and 30 judges have been put on standby to try potential offenders.
• The laws also make it a criminal offence - punishable by prison or deportation - to damage the newly-built four-metre fence along Hungary's 175 kilometre border with Serbia.
Earlier, in lieu of the migrant crisis, Hungarian Defence Minister Csaba Hende resigned.
The declaration of emergency is part of the refugee crisis which the European Union (EU) nations has been facing from Africa especially Syria. The outflow of refugee from Syria in large numbers is the result of civil war it has been witnessing since last few years that has led to many fleeing conflict zone.
Earlier, to tackle this crisis Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands had already introduced border controls to cope up with a flood of refugees, which warned that they could face up to one million migrants’ arrivals in 2015.

India, Sri Lanka exchanged four agreements to ensure peace and stability in the region

India and Sri Lanka on 15 September 2015 exchanged four agreements in various fields including medicare facilities. The agreements were exchanged with an aim to ensure peace and stability in the region.
These agreements were exchanged during the visit of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe to India from 14 September to 16 September 2015.

The Four agreements exchanged between the two sides were
• Exchange of letters on orbit frequency coordination of satellite for SAARC region
• Exchange of MoU regarding supply of medical equipment to 200 bed ward complex at district hospital, Vavuniya
• Exchange of letters on establishment of emergency ambulance services in Sri Lanka
• Exchange of MoU regarding renewed India’s grant assistance for implementation of SDP
Besides, exchanging four agreements, the two sides also held talks on different issueslike
• Fishermen issue - The two sides agreed that the fishermen associations on both sides should continue their efforts to find a solution to the issue. It should be seen as a humanitarian issue that affects livelihoods.
• Sri Lankan Tamil community – It was discussed that the Sri Lanka should achieve genuine reconciliation and development, so that all Sri Lankans, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, can live a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka also called for cooperation in several sectors including trade, economics and technology.
• The two sides discussed the ways to combat terrorism and work together for security and stability in maritime neighbourhood.

Shauryanjali Exhibition on 1965 Indo-Pak War inaugurated

1965 Indo-Pak War Exhibition named Shauryanjali was inaugurated in New Delhi by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 15 September 2015. The exhibition celebrates the victory of India over Pakistan and remembers the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
Remembering the unmatched valor and bravery of Indian Armed forces, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveiled a commemorative coin on the occasion.

1965 Indo-Pak War
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmish that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This war started following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, which was designed to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir to precipitate an insurgency against rule by India.
The hostilities between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared following diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and USA and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration. The declaration was signed by Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan.

World's longest Continental Volcanic Chain discovered in Australia

The team of scientists led by Rhodri Davies, an earth scientist at Australian National University, have discovered the longest chain of continental volcanoes of the world in Australia, stretching almost 2000 km along Australia's east coast.

The findings were published in the journal Nature on 14 September 2015 with the title Lithospheric controls on magma composition along Earth’s longest continental hotspot track.
The 1240-mile-long (2000 kilometres) chain of fire spanned most of eastern Australia, from Hillsborough in the north, where rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, to the island of Tasmania in the south. This track is three times the length of famous Yellowstone hotspot track on the North American continent.
Findings
The volcanic chain includes 15 ancient volcanoes that researchers already knew about, but they have now shown that these 15 volcanoes formed from the same hotspot in the Earth's mantle over the past 33 million years, as the Australian continent moved northwards.
This type of volcanic chain is named as a Cosgrove Hotspot Track and they are unusual as they do not form over a tectonic plate boundary, where most volcanoes are found. Instead they form over hotspots caused by magma plumes almost 3000 km below the Earth's surface.
This newly discovered Cosgrove hotspot track is now located under the sea a little to the northwest of Tasmania, which means that there's no risk of them erupting anymore.
The groups of volcanoes are around 700 km apart. The researchers also found that some areas of the Australian continent are too thick to let the heat of the mantle plumes rise close enough to Earth's surface for it to melt and form magma.
It is the only place where Earth's solid outer layer, called the lithosphere, is thinner than 130 km that volcanoes formed.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina won the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award 2015

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 14 September 2015 won the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award for Policy Leadership to address the issue of climate change. She was chosen by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for this prestigious award.

Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated leadership in making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response. UNEP noted that Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. Cyclones, floods and droughts have long been part of the country's history, but they have intensified in recent years.
However, through a number of forward-looking policy initiatives and investments, Bangladesh has successfully confronted the challenge of climate change at the core of its development. The award cites the progressiveBangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan of 2009.
This action plan made this South Asian nation the first developing country to frame such a coordinated action plan. Bangladesh is also the first country to set up its own Climate Change Trust Fund, supported by nearly 300 million US dollars of domestic resources from 2009-2012.
Moreover, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Constitution was amended in 2011 to include a constitutional directive to the State to protect the environment and natural resources for current and future generations.
In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the other winners announced so far are the National Geographic Society (Science and Innovation); Brazilian cosmetics firm Natura (Entrepreneurial Vision); and South Africa’s Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (Inspiration and Action).
About UNEP Champions of the Earth Award
• It is United Nation's top environmental accolade awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It recognizes visionary people and organisations all over the world that exemplify leadership and advocate action on sustainable development, climate change and a life of dignity for all.
• The annual award was established in 2004.
• The awards are conferred in four categories- Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision, Inspiration and Action and Science and Innovation.

Delhi government approved Victim Compensation Scheme

Delhi Government on 15 September 2015 approved Victim Compensation Scheme. It enhanced the upper limit of compensation to rape victims to 5 lakh rupees from existing 3 lakh rupees and to the victims of acid attack to 7 lakh rupees from 3 lakh rupees.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meet headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Main highlights of Victim Compensation Scheme
• The scheme also includes victims of gang-rape, unnatural sexual offences and burns.
• Earlier, as per the scheme, victim’s kin were eligible to get a compensation of 3 to 5 lakh rupees for loss of life, but the new scheme has proposed 5 to 10 lakh rupees.
• The scheme also proposes same amount of compensation for those with loss of any limb resulting in 80 percent permanent disability.
The scheme was approved after Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal recently wrote a letter to Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain, demanding an approval for this long-pending scheme

Only Marathi-speaking people to get autorickshaw permit in the state: Maharashtra Government

Maharashtra government on 15 September 2015 issued an order stating that the state government will give away one lakh new auto-rickshaw permits for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), but only to those applicants who speak Marathi. The new permits will be issued from 1 November 2015.

For availing the auto-rickshaw permit, the applicant must speak Marathi and should have a domicile certificate to show that he has been a resident of the state for the past 15 years. Apart from knowing Marathi language, applicant should be 8th class pass.
For the MMR region, 1 lakh permits will be issued and for few other cities such as Solapur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad around 7500 permits will be issued. Also, the new auto-rickshaws would have GPS and RPRS system installed.
Moreover, the state government also gave the old permit holders time till October 2015 to renew their expired auto-rickshaw permits by paying a penalty of up to 20000 rupees.
Although this rule that the permit holder should know the local language always existed, but it was rarely followed. The last permits were issued in 1997.

Union Cabinet approved Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission for overall development of rural areas

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 September 2015 approved the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).

The Mission approved with an outlay of 5142.08 crore rupees is a bid to transform rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces.

The mission aims to create 300 Rurban growth clusters over the next 3 years, across the country.

Main elements of Rurban Mission

Development of Rurban growth clusters, which have latent potential for growth, in all States and UTs to trigger overall development in the region. These clusters are essentially Smart Villages.
Rural growth clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities.
Further, these clusters would be well delineated areas with planned layouts, which would be duly notified by the State/UTs. These plans would be finally integrated with the District Plans/Master Plans as the case may be.
The States would prepare Integrated Cluster Action Plans for Rurban Clusters in accordance with the Framework for Implementation prepared by the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The clusters will be geographically contiguous to Gram Panchayats with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas.
There would be a separate approach for selection of clusters in Tribal and Non-Tribal Districts.
As far as practicable, clusters of village would follow administrative convergence units of Gram Panchayats.
The Mission envisages institutional arrangements both at the State and Center to ensure smooth implementation of the Mission.
The Mission also has an Innovation budget towards facilitating research, development and capacity building.

Funding of the Mission

The funding for Rurban Clusters will be through various schemes of the Government converged into the cluster.
The SPMRM will provide an additional funding support of up to 30 percent of the project cost per cluster as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) as Central Share to enable development of such Rurban clusters.
In addition to the Critical Gap Funding, proactive steps have been taken to ensure the success of the mission with adequate budget provisions for supporting the State Government towards project development, capacity building and other institutional arrangements at the state level.

Fourteen components of Rurban growth clusters

To ensure an optimum level of development, fourteen components have been suggested as desirable for the cluster. These include

Skill development training linked to economic activities
Agro Processing/Agri Services/Storage and Warehousing
Digital Literacy
Sanitation
Provision of piped water supply
Solid and liquid waste management
Village streets and drains
Street lights
Fully equipped mobile health unit
Upgrading school /higher education facilities
Inter-village road connectivity
Citizen Service Centres- for electronic delivery of citizen centric services/e-gram connectivity
Public transport
LPG gas connections

Conclusion

The scheme through development of rurban growth clusters aimed at catalyzing overall regional growth, would thus simultaneously benefit the rural as well as urban areas of the country, by achieving twin objectives of strengthening rural areas and de burdening the urban areas hence leading to balanced regional development and growth of the country.

British-Indian Sunjeev Sahota shortlisted for Man Booker Prize 2015

British-Indian author Sunjeev Sahota was on 15 September 2015 shortlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize 2015.

Sahota's novel The Year of the Runaways, his second novel, centres around the lives of 13 Indian men who live in a house in Sheffield, each in desperate search of a new life.
Tarlochan, a former rickshaw driver, will say nothing about his past in Bihar; and Avtar has a secret that binds him to protect the chaotic Randeep. Randeep, in turn, has a visa-wife in a flat on the other side of town: a clever, devout woman whose cupboards are full of her husband's clothes, in case the immigration men surprise her with a call.
Sweeping between India and England and between childhood and the present day, The Year of the Runaways is a story of an unlikely family thrown together by circumstance.
Sahota is among the six novelists short-listed for the award. The winner of the prize will be announced on 13 October 2015 and will be presented with the prize money of 50000 British pounds.
Other Novelists short-listed
The others whose books have been short-listed are:
• British writer Tom McCarthy for his book Satin Island
• Anne Tyler (US) for A Spool of Blue Thread
• Hanya Yanagihara (US) for A Little Life
• Marlon James (Jamaica) for A Brief History of Seven Killings
• Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria) for The Fishermen
About Man Booker Prize

The prize was launched in 1969 with an aim to promote the finest in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English and published in the United Kingdom.
To maintain the consistent excellence of the Man Booker Prize, the judges are chosen from a wide range of disciplines including critics, writers, academics, poets, politicians and actors, all with a passion for quality fiction.
The winner of the Man Booker Prize is awarded with the prize money of 50000 british pounds and all the shortlisted authors are awarded with a cheque of 2500 british pounds

21st International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer observed across the world

16 September: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

21st International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed across the world on 16 September 2015. The theme and the slogan for the year 2015 are 30 Years of Healing the Ozone Togetherand Ozone: All there is between you and UV respectively.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer that was signed on 22 March 1985.

On this day, States were invited to devote the Day to promote activities in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol and its amendments.

In India, the Day was celebrated through organising various competitions for school children like poster design competition, painting competition and slogan-writing competition.

Further, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar released a booklet titled Montreal Protocol: India’s Success Story on the occasion.

The UN General Assembly in 1994 proclaimed 16 September as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer to commemorate the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

Montreal Protocol

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed on 16 September 1987. It has been recognized as the most successful international environment treaty in history, which has received universal ratification; all countries in the world have now ratified this landmark agreement.

As of 1 January 2015 the production and consumption of key Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) like chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), CTC halons, Methyl Chloroform and Methyl Bromide have already been phased-out globally.

As per expert estimates, GHG emissions have been reduced by more than 11 Giga tonnes CO2 equivalent per year through the ODS phase-out activities of the Montreal Protocol.

India and Montreal Protocol

India became Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer on 18 March 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone layer on 19 June 1992.

The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, have been put in place to control production, consumption, export, import and trade with the non-Parties to the Montreal Protocol. These Rules are being enforced under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 with effect from 19 July 2000.

These Rules have been further amended to align with the accelerated phase-out of HCFCs and the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2014 has been published in the Gazette of India in April 2014.

Indian-American Swetha Prabakaran chosen for Champions of Change Award in US

Swetha Prabhakaran, an Indian American teen, was on 15 September 2015 awarded with the prestigious Champions of Change Award of US at the White House. She is among eleven young women selected by the White House as Champions of Change.

Prabhakaran, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, founded a non-profit organisation Everybody Code Now! to empower the next generation of youth to become engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs.
She was chosen for the award in recognition of her efforts for empowering the community by imparting education of Internet coding through her non-profit Organisation. This organisation has raised thousands of dollars for STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) activities in schools.
She was born in Indianapolis to Indian parents who later immigrated from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli to US in 1998.
About Champions of Change award
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
The award is given by White House to those who support working families and help make change in their companies or communities.