2016 South Asian Games concluded; India finished at top with 308 medals

17-FEB-2016

12th South Asian Games (SAG) 2016 concluded on 16 February 2016 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai of Guwahati, Assam. The game that saw 228 events in 23 sports disciplines was held from 5 February to 16 February 2016.

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal declared the Games closed at a colourful closing ceremony. The main attraction of the closing ceremony was different bands played from the north eastern region, namely Still Waters (Sikkim), The Soul Rebels (Arunachal Pradesh), Salvator (Manipur), Boomarang (Mizoram) and Purple Fusion (Nagaland).

12th South Asian Games inaugurated in Guwahati

The event saw participation of about 2600 athletes from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. It was co-hosted by Guwahati, Assam and Meghalaya capital, Shillong. The games were conducted in 26 venues across the cities of Guwahati and Shillong. 17 venues were in Guwahati and 9 venues were in Shillong.

India finished at the top with a record 308 medals - 188 Gold, 90 Silver and 30 Bronze, which put to shade its previous best of 214 medals at the 2006 Games in Colombo. Athletics, Shooting, Archery, Wrestling, Boxing, Weightlifting and Swimming were the events that witnessed the Indian master-class.

Medals Tally

Countries	Gold Medal	Silver Medal	Bronze Medal	Total
India	188	90	30	308
Sri Lanka	25	63	98	186
Pakistan	12	37	57	106
Afghanistan	7	9	19	35
Bangladesh	4	15	56	75
Nepal	3	23	34	60
Maldives	0	2	1	3
Bhutan	0	1	15	16

India made clean sweep in Boxing (won 10 Gold medals at stake), tennis and kabaddi (won both men and women gold). Besides, Shooter Chain Singh’s 6 Gold, new Games records by swimmers Sandeep Sejwal and Sayani Ghosh, and magical performances in track and field are some of the moments that Guwahati and Shillong will remember for many days to come.

And, not to mention, Sri Lanka, the one country that made India toil hard, and even beat them on several occasions. Its swimmers, notably Mathew Abheysinghe, and track athletes made the headlines with some flawless performances. In a nutshell, it was all India at the Games, and, it was the country’s flag, at the end, on which the closing credits rolled.

Ei Prithibi Ek Krirangan was the theme song of the 12th South Asian Games, which literally translates to "The world is a playground". It was written by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, an Indian lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam. Games slogan was ‘Play for Peace, Progress and Prosperity’.

Tikhor, a one-horned rhino that represents endangered fauna of Assam found in Kaziranga National Park, was the official mascot of the event.

13th South Asian Games will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2019.

Interest rates on various National Saving Schemes amended to spur economic growth

17-FEB-2016

The Union Ministry of Finance on 16 February 2016 announced changes to regulations that govern interest rates on various National Saving Schemes (NSSs).

The changes primarily focused on aligning interest rates on NSSs with other comparable saving instruments so that the operation of NSSs will become market oriented.

The changes, which will come into effect from 1 April 2016, were announced in the interest of overall economic growth of the country, even while protecting their social objectives and promoting long term savings.

At present, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Senior Citizen Savings Scheme and Monthly Income Scheme, National Saving Certificates, Public Provident Fund and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) are considered as part of NSSs.

Key changes to National Saving Schemes

• The present interest rate spread enjoyed by the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme and the Monthly Income Scheme over the G-sec rate of comparable maturity viz., of 75 basis points (bps), 100 bps and 25 bps respectively were left untouched.

• The spread of 25 bps that long term instruments, such as the 5 yr Term Deposit, 5 year National Saving Certificates and Public Provident Fund (PPF) currently enjoy over G-Sec of comparable maturity were left untouched. This will help the self-employed professional and salaried classes and encourage long term savings.

• The 25 bps spread that 1 yr., 2yr. and 3 yr. term deposits, KVPs and 5 yr Recurring Deposits have over comparable tenure Government securities, shall stand removed. This will make them closer in interest rates to the similar instruments of the banking sector.

• The interest rates of all NSSs would be recalibrated on a quarterly basis to align the small saving interest rates with the market rates of the relevant government securities.

• The compounding of interest which is biannual in the case of 10 yr National Saving Certificate, 5 yr National Saving Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra shall be done on an annual basis.

• Premature closure of PPF accounts shall be permitted in genuine cases, such as cases of serious ailment, higher education of children, etc. This shall be permitted with a penalty of 1% reduction in interest payable on the whole deposit and only for the accounts having completed five years from the date of opening.

Why these changes were announced?

At present, small saving schemes offer higher interest rates when compared to that of other comparable public and private saving instruments in the market.

This interest rate disparity is perceived to limit the banking sector’s ability to lower deposit rates in response to the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

In effect, there is insufficient monetary transmission leading to higher interest rate regime in the financial market, which in turn is leading to less investment and ultimately resulting in lower economic growth.

Hence, in the context of easing the transmission of the lower interest rates in the economy, the government took a comprehensive view on the social goals of National Small Savings Schemes and revised them accordingly.

These new regulations are expected to help the economy move to a lower overall interest rate regime eventually and thereby help all, particularly low-income and salaried classes.

West Bengal government launched Utkarsh Bangla Scheme for school-dropouts

17-FEB-2016

West Bengal government on 16 February 2016 launched Utkarsh Bangla Scheme, a welfare scheme for school-dropouts, in Kolkata.

Utkarsha Bangla is aimed at giving vocational training to school dropouts. Each youth will get training ranging from 400 to 1200 hours. The school-dropouts will be trained free of charge in tailoring, driving, repairing television and other electronic equipment and beauty courses etc.

During the inauguration programme, the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee said that in the last four years, state administration has trained 15 lakh boys and girls in vocational streams. Out of which about 10 lakh secured jobs.

Besides Utkarsh Bangla, Banerjee also inaugurated a number of industrial training institute buildings. She also inaugurated the campus of Amity University in Kolkata.

She also operationalised the Online Single-Window Clearance System portal for industrial projects and inaugurated industrial estates in Durgapur and Beliaghata from the programme venue in Kolkata.

On this occasion, she gave away awards to national and state-level winners for excellence in skill development as well.

Syria approved humanitarian access to besieged areas: UN

17-FEB-2016

United Nations on 16 February 2016 said that the Syrian government has approved humanitarian access to seven besieged areas. According to the UN, almost half a million people live in besieged areas.

The seven areas are those deemed by the 17-member International Syria Support Group to be most in need of relief. These seven areas are
• Deir el-Zour, a city in the east under siege from so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
• Foah and Kefraya, in northern Idlib province that is besieged by rebels
• Madaya, Kafr Batna, Muadhamiya, and Zabadani, all in rural Damascus area that is under siege from government forces

The move comes following the agreement reached between the world powers in second week of February 2016 that sought a nationwide cessation of hostilities and to accelerate and expand aid deliveries.

58th Annual Grammy Awards announced

17-FEB-2016

The 58th Annual Grammy Awards were held on 15 February 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year, which was from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.

The nominations of the award were announced on 7 December 2015.

List of Top Grammy Awards Winners

Category	Album	Artist
Record of the Year	Uptown Funk	Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Album of the Year	1989	Taylor Swift
Song of the Year	Thinking Out Loud	Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge
Best New Artist		Meghan Trainor
Best Pop Solo Performance	Thinking Out Loud	Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance	Uptown Funk	Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album	The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern	Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap
Best Pop Vocal Album	1989	Taylor Swift
Best Dance Recording	Where Are Ü Now	Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber
Best Dance/Electronic Album	Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü	Skrillex and Diplo
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album	Sylva	Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
Best Rock Performance	Don't Wanna Fight	Alabama Shakes
Best Metal Performance	Cirice	Ghost
Best Rock Song	Don't Wanna Fight	Alabama Shakes
Best Rock Album	Drones	Muse
Best Alternative Music Album	Sound & Color	Alabama Shakes
Best R&B Song	Really Love	D'Angelo & Kendra Foster, songwriters (D'Angelo and The Vanguard)
Best R&B Album	Black Messiah	D'Angelo and The Vanguard
Best World Music Album	Sings	Angelique Kidjo
Best Children's Album	Home	Tim Kubart
Best Music Video	Bad Blood	Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar; Joseph Kahn, video director; Ron Mohrhoff, video producer
Best Music Film	Amy	Asif Kapadia, video director; James Gay-Rees, video producer

Indians in 58th Annual Grammy Awards

• Indo-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia won Grammy Award for Best Music Film for his documentary Amy.

• Amy is a 2015 British documentary film that depicts the life and death of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. It was directed by Asif Kapadia.

About Grammy Awards

• A Grammy Award was originally called Gramophone Award.

• It is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the mainly English-language music industry.

• The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 4 May 1959 to honour the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958.

• Following the 2011 ceremony, NARAS overhauled many Grammy Award categories for 2012

Indian Railways won 36th National Chess Team Championship

17-FEB-2016

Indian Railways on 14 February 2016 won the 36th National Chess team Championship in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. For the Indian Railways team it was the first ever title.

To win the championship the team defeated Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) team in the final.

Earlier, to reach the final, the Railways team beat its counterparts - Odisha, Gujrat, Air-India, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, Airport Authority of India, Tamil Nadu and Delhi - in the championship that began on 8 February 2016.

Indian Railway team was represented by the following chess playersfrom different Zonal Railways

1. Karthikayan

2. Deepan Chakkravarthy

3. Rathnakaran

4. Arghyadip Das

5. Swapni Dhopade

Fashion designer Manish Arora conferred Knight of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest honour

17-FEB-2016

Fashion designer Manish Arora on 16 February 2016 was awarded with theChevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), France's highest civilian honour.

French Ambassador Francois Richier presented the award to Arora for his renowned and critically-acclaimed contribution to the fashion world.

About Manish Arora

• Manish Arora is an Indian fashion designer based in New Delhi.

• In early 2011, he was appointed creative director of the womens wear collection of the French fashion house Paco Rabanne. However, he left the company in May 2012.

• In 2000, he participated in the first-ever India Fashion Week held in New Delhi and represented India at the Hong Kong Fashion Week.

• In 2004, he was awarded the Best Women's Prêt Designer at the first ever Indian Fashion Awards.

• In May 2005, he participated in the Miami Fashion Week where he was presented with the designer's choice for Best Collection Award.

About National Order of the Legion of Honour

• The National Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur) is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802.

• The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer),Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) andGrand'Croix (Grand Cross).

• The order's motto is Honour and Fatherland.

• The Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur is France’s premier award to recognise eminent accomplishments of service to France. It is bestowed on both citizens of France as well as foreigners.

• In the past, personalities such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Amitabh Bachchan and J.R.D Tata have been honoured with the prestigious award.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk led Ukrainian Government survived No-confidence Motion

17-FEB-2016

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk led government in Ukraine on 16 February 2016 survived a no-confidence vote hours after the President Petro Poroshenko asked him to step down.

The no-confidence motion required 226 votes in the parliament, but only 194 out of the 339 members of the parliament supported it. This means the government will probably be safe at least until the next parliament session starts in September 2016.

The PM Yatsenyuk has been criticised over the slow pace of reforms and faces allegations of corruption. Yatsenyuk's public support has eroded amid Ukraine's economic problems.

Yatsenyuk became prime minister after the country’s Russia-friendly president was chased from power in February 2014 following massive protests. Later, Poroshenko was elected as the President with widespread support and a seal of approval from western leaders.
Earlier in the second week of February 2016, the IMF managing director Christine Lagarde threatened to halt the delivery of Ukraine’s 17.5 billion dollar aid package if the country is counting on to keep the economy afloat.

UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian annexation of Crimea

Comment and Analysis

Ukraine has been under a threat of political instability since 18 March 2014, the month when the internationally recognised Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation. This annexation led to dethroning of the then Ukraine’s pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. He was impeached (dismissed) on 22 February 2014 and toppled after he rejected an EU-Ukraine trade pact.

This no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister is a new blow to the future of Ukraine as it is could act as a threat to the Minsk ceasefire agreements, whose full implementation had been pushed back to an uncertain date in 2016. As per previous plan the agreement was supposed to be effective in December 2015.

Results of Swachh Survekshan 2016 announced; Mysuru declared cleanest city in India

17-FEB-2016

Union Urban Development Miniser M Venkaiah Naidu on 15 February 2016 announced the results of Swachh Survekshan 2016 survey.

Under the Swachh Survekshan 2016, 73 cities were surveyed for cleanliness and categorized based on the marks scored by each of them.

Out of the 73 cities, while Mysuru in Karnataka was adjudged as the cleanest city, Dhanbad in Jharkand was adjudged as the least clean city.

The survey was conducted for total marks of 2000 and the cities weredivided into the following four categories based on their percentage of marks.

• Leaders (> 70 percent): 15 cities

• Aspiring Leaders (60 – 70 percent): 20 cities

• Acceleration required (50 – 60 percent): 18 cities

First Silk Road train arrived in Tehran from China

17-FEB-2016

The first train connecting Iran and China packed with Chinese goods arrived in Tehran on 15 February 2016. The arrival revived the ancient Silk Road trade route and also highlighted the economic possibilities for Iran since the lifting of international sanctions.

The train, also referred to as Silk Road train, passed through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to Iran, travelling a distance of 10399 kilometres. It had left Yiwu city in east China's Zhejiang province on 28 January 2016. The train, carrying 32 containers of commercial products, took 14 days to make the journey. Compared to the sea voyage of the cargo ships from China's Shanghai city to Iran's Bandar Abbas port city, the travel time of the train was 30 days shorter.

Why the revival of ancient Silk Route?

• In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the idea of creating a new Silk Road through Russia and the Ukraine into Europe. Under the title One Belt, One Road, this plan is China's new national vision to improve its connectivity to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

• The revival will reduce the overall transportation cost as the journey through train was 30 days shorter than the sea voyage from Shanghai to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

• China is Iran’s biggest trading partner and accounts for one third of its foreign trade. The rail route will boost bilateral trade between both countries as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had agreed in January 2016 to build economic ties worth up to 600 billion US dollars within the next 10 years.

China launched Silk Road Infrastructure project in Northwest Province of Gansu

About ancient Silk Route

• The Silk Route was an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East from China to the Mediterranean Sea.

• It derived its name from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried out along its length, beginning during the Han dynasty. The Central Asian sections of the trade routes were expanded around 114 BCE by the Han dynasty, largely through the missions and explorations of Chinese imperial envoy, Zhang Qian. The Chinese took great interest in the safety of their trade products and extended the Great Wall of China to ensure the protection of the trade route.

• Trade on the Silk Route was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance, political and economic relations between the civilizations.

• In addition to economic trade, the Silk Road served as a means of carrying out cultural trade among the civilizations along its network.

China set up 1.6 billion dollars fund to support maritime Silk Road development

Comment

The location of Iran is strategically important as it is in the Middle East (West Asia) and shares land borders with 8 nations. It also has sea channels on its northern and south-western coasts. By connecting Iran through revived Silk Road China will leverage Iran’s strategic location to get access to extensive delivery routes connecting to the Eurasia and Middle East.

Haryana, South Korean state of Chungcheongbuk to collaborate on technology and development

17-FEB-2016

South Korean state of Chungcheongbuk and Haryana on 16 February 2016 agreed to enter into a sister-statehood relationship for development.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar accepted the proposal for such a relationship made by a visiting South Korean delegation. The South Korean delegation was led by Section Chief of Chungcheongbuk Government Lee Iksoo.

Besides, Khattar invited South Korean businesses and investors to the Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit-2016 scheduled to be organized in Gurgaon from 7 to 8 March 2016.

India successfully test-fired indigenously developed Prithvi II missile from Chandipur

17-FEB-2016

India on 16 February 2016 successfully test fired its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile from the Chandipur, off Odisha coast. The medium range missile is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines.

As part of a user trial, the missile with a strike range of 350 km, test was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR). It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.

The first missile to be developed by DRDO under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), Prithvi-II was inducted into India's armed forces in 2003.

The last user trial of the surface-to-surface Prithvi-II was successfully conducted on 26 November 2015 from the same test range in Odisha.

Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali died

17-FEB-2016

The former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali passed away on 16 February 2016 in Cairo, Egypt. He was 93.

Boutros-Ghali served as UN Chief from January 1992 to December 1996 and became the first secretary general to be deprived of a second term as he struggled to impose the UN’s writ in a post-cold war world. He was the first African to hold the position. He helped secure peace deals between Israel and Egypt.

Who was Boutros Boutros-Ghali?

• Born on 14 November 1922 in Cairo, Egypt, Boutros Boutros-Ghali was an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the UN.

• An academic and former Vice Foreign Minister of Egypt, he oversaw the UN at a time when it dealt with several world crises, including the break-up of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan Genocide.

• In 1992, he submitted An Agenda for Peace, a suggestion for how the UN could respond to violent conflict. However, he was criticised for the UN's failure to act during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, which officially left over one million people dead, and he appeared unable to muster support in the UN for intervention in the continuing Angolan Civil War.

• He was then the first Secretary-General of the Organisationinternationale de la Francophonie from November 1997 to December 2002.

• He supported the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly and was one of the initial signatories of the Campaign's appeal in 2007.

• He also published two memoirs, Egypt's road to Jerusalem: A diplomat's story of the struggle for peace in the Middle East, andUnvanquished: A US-U.N. Saga.

Northern Central Railway commissioned ultra modern computer-based signalling system at Khurja Jn

18-FEB-2016

North Central Railway in association with the Construction and open line Units of the Railway on 14 February 2016 commissioned an ultra modern computer-based signaling system at the Khurja junction.

With this commissioning, the Khurja Yard, which is a part of the Allahabad Railway Division, will have a 256 possible movements leading to immense flexibility and faster clearance of trains.

Features of the signaling system

• The system will also lead to better reliability, safer shunting operation, better handling of long goods train, enhanced line capacity and fully computerized operation.

• Overall, the newly installed system will improve traffic movement on important Ghaziabad Kanpur Section and lead to an ultra modern centralized traffic centre system.

• This re-signaling work was executed as part of the project of Modernization of Signalling and telecommunication System on Ghaziabad – Kanpur Section costing 440 crore rupees.

• A substantial part of the project was executed through a soft funding by German Development Bank.

PM Modi released guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana at Kisan Mela in MP

18-FEB-2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 February 2016 launched the guidelines for operationalization of thePradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The guidelines were issued at a farmers’ convention in Sherpur village of Madhya Pradesh.

The PMFBY is a path breaking scheme for crop insurance and was approved by the Union Cabinet on 13 January 2016.

The Yojna will come into force from the 2016 Kharif season (from June to October in India). It aims at boosting the agricultural sector of India and envisages a uniform premium of only 2 percent to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops, and 1.5 percent for Rabi crops. The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5 percent.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister Modi also presented a trophy of Krishi Karman Award to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. On the other hand, Modi was conferred with Kisan Mitra and Kisan Hiteshi Samman on behalf of Madhya Pradesh government for his historic decisions in the interest of farmers’ community.

Union Cabinet approved nomination of NITI Aayog CEO as part-time member of Telecom Commission

18-FEB-2016

Union Cabinet on 17 February 2016 approved nomination of the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog as a part-time member of the telecom commission. With this decision, Amitabh Kant will assume the role by virtue of his position as the NITI Aayog CEO.

The new role for the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog CEO was envisioned as the institution replaced the Planning Commission the Secretary of which was a part-time member in the telecom commission.

The NITI Aayog CEO will lend value to the deliberations of the commission as the NITI Aayog was mandated to serve as a think tank of the government.

About Telecom Commission

• It was set up by the Union Government in 1989 with administrative and financial powers to promote rapid development in all aspects of telecommunications.

• The statutory commission consists of a chairman, 4 full-time members and 3 part-time members.

• With the addition of NITI Aayog CEO, the commission will have 4 part-time members.

United Nations and Colombian Government launched trust fund for peacebuilding needs

18-FEB-2016

The United Nations (UN) and the Government of Colombia on 17 February 2016 announced the launch of a new multi-partner trust fund in Bogota to respond to stabilization and peacebuilding needs.

The Fund will be managed by the Government and the UN, in close cooperation with interested donors. The Fund will especially support conflict areas in the lead-up to and aftermath of possible peace agreements with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP).

Norway, Sweden and the UN’s own Peacebuilding Fund are the first contributors, helping the new fund kick off with an initial 8 million US dollars.

Earlier on 25 January 2016, the Security Council approved a new UN political mission to monitor disarmament should a final agreement to end Latin America’s longest armed conflict be reached. The FARC rebels and the Government have been in talks seeking to end the 51-year conflict that has left nearly a quarter of a million victims.

About FARC-EP

• The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army is a guerrilla movement involved in the continuing Colombian armed conflict since 1964.

• It has been known to employ a variety of military tactics in addition to more unconventional methods, including terrorism.

• The FARC–EP claims to be an army of peasant Marxist–Leninists with a political platform of agrarianism and anti-imperialism.

• In 1964, the FARC–EP was established as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party after the Colombian military attacked rural communist enclaves in the aftermath of The Violence.

David Shulman won Israel Prize for Religious Studies for Research on India

18-FEB-2016

Renowned Indologist Professor David Shulman on 14 February 2016 was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for Religious Studies for his breakthrough research into the literature and culture of southern India.

Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett approved the recommendation of the prize committee, headed by Professor Shaul Shaked.

Who is David Shulman?

• David Dean Shulman is an Indologist and regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the languages of India.

• His research incorporates many fields, including the history of religion in South India, Indian poetics, Tamil Islam, Dravidian linguistics and Carnatic music.

• He was formerly Professor of Indian Studies and Comparative Religion at The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and professor in the Department of Indian, Iranian and Armenian Studies.

• At present, he holds an appointment as Renee Lang Professor of Humanistic Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

• He is also a published poet in Hebrew, a literary critic, a cultural anthropologist.

• He has authored and co-authored more than 20 books on various subjects ranging from temple myths and temple poems to essays that cover the wide spectrum of the cultural history of South India.

• Through his books and translations, he introduced the field of India studies to Israeli academia and the general public, acting as a sort of ambassador for Indian civilisation in Israel.

• He is a peace activist and a founding member of the joint Israeli-Palestininian movement Ta'ayush.

• Bilingual in Hebrew and English, he has mastered Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, and reads Greek, Russian, French, German, Persian, Arabic and Malayalam.

• He won the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 1987, making him the first Israeli to be conferred with the honour.

About Israel Prize

• The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is generally regarded as the state's highest honour.

• It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset (Israel's legislature) and the Supreme Court President.

• The prize was set up in 1953 at the initiative of the Minister of Education Ben-Zion Dinor, who himself went on to win the prize in 1958 and 1973.

• In 2015, Israeli immunologist Zelig Eshhar was honoured with the Israel Prize for life sciences.

Tata Motors, Bharat Forge tied up for $11 billion Indian Army’s FICV Programme

18-FEB-2016

FICV: Future Infantry Combat Vehicle

The abbreviation FICV was in news in the second week of February 2016 as Tata Motors, Bharat Forge and the USA-based General Dynamics tied up for defense bid under Future Infantry Combat Vehicle programme.

The FICV Programme involves development of compact combat vehicles for the Indian Army that will replace Russian-designed BMP (Sarath BMP-II) series armed vehicles that are in operation since 1980.

The nearly 10 billion US dollar project is touted as India’s largest indigenous defense program.

Features of Future Infantry Combat Vehicle Programme

• The FICV is an amphibious, tracked, armoured vehicle and will be operated by a crew of 3 members consisting of the commander, gunner and driver with an additional capacity to carry 7 fully equipped infantrymen.

• The weight of the vehicle will be kept at around 20 tonnes so that it can be transported by air and other means in combat zones.

• It will have the strike power of a 45 tonne Main Battle Tank (MBT) including rapid fire cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, grenade launcher and an anti-tank missile.

• It will be fully amphibious and all terrain capability for high mobility to keep pace with new advancement in weaponry system.

Tamil Nadu announced Free Bus Pass Scheme for senior citizens

18-FEB-2016

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on 18 February 2016 announced a free bus pass scheme for senior citizens in Chennai.

The scheme would come into effect from 24 February 2016, the day that coincides with the birthday of Jayalalitha.

Highlights of the Scheme

• People above 60 years of age can avail the free travel facility in non-AC buses being run by the state run Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai.
• The beneficiaries will be given ten tokens every month for the free travel,

Based on the response to the scheme from the senior citizens, it would be extended to the whole state. The announcement was a part of promises which were made by AIADMK in the 2011 election manifesto.

Apple to set up Technology Development Centre in Hyderabad

18-FEB-2016

Apple Inc. in the second week of February 2016 announced setting up of a Technology Development Centre (TDC) in Hyderabad, Telangana. For Apple, it will be the first TDC outside the USA.

With this announcement, Apple joined other big technology firms like Microsoft, Google and Facebook that focused on Hyderabad to expand their operations in Asia.

The centre will be set up at an estimated investment of 25 million US dollars and occupy 250000 square feet in Tishman Speyer's WaveRock facility.

The proposed TDC is of strategic value as, at present, Apple Inc. is the world’s largest mobile technology company and India is the world's fastest-growing smart phone market.

The setting up of the TDC is also part of Apple’s recent efforts to expand operations beyond the USA. Earlier, in January 2016, it announced setting up of Europe’s first iOS Development Centre in Italy.

Amazon launched Tatkal initiative for small businesses

18-FEB-2016

E-commerce giant Amazon on 17 February 2016 launched Amazon Tatkal, an initiative that enables small and medium businesses (SMBs) to go online and sell products on Amazon.

Amazon Tatkal offers registration, imaging and cataloguing services as well as basic seller training, all in about 60 minutes.

Starting with New Delhi, Amazon Tatkal will gradually pass throughout the nation, engaging with thousands of entrepreneurs, artisans, manufacturers and sellers and help them sell online on the spot.

Key highlights of Amazon Tatkal

• Amazon Tatkal is a specially designed studio-on-wheels offering a suite of launch services including registration, imaging and cataloguing services, as well as basic seller training mechanisms.

• It will enable thousands of interested sellers to start selling on Amazon in real time and experience the benefits of launching an online business.

• Amazon Tatkal will visit seller-dense pockets across multiple cities in the country and engage with local businesses over the next several months.

Union Cabinet approved Trade Facilitation Agreement

18-FEB-2016

Union Cabinet on 17 February 2016 approved Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It approved the Notification of Commitments, its ratification and acceptance of the Instrument of Acceptance of Protocol of TFA to the WTO Secretariat.

India is the 71st country to give nod to the agreement that seeks to ease customs procedures to boost commerce.

As per the Trade Facilitation Agreement adopted by the WTO on 27 November 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland, the TFA shall enter into force for the notified members (107 countries) upon acceptance by two-third WTO Members.

The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit.

India decided against signing WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement

It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

These objectives are in consonance with India’s “Ease of Doing Business” initiative.

National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF)

Besides, Union Cabinet also approved the constitution of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF). NCTF will facilitate both domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the Agreement and it will be set up under the Joint Chair of Secretary, Department of Revenue and Secretary, Department of Commerce.

Amendment to the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Representation of the People Act, 1950 approved

18-FEB-2016

The Union Cabinet on 17 February 2016 gave its approval to amend Section 11 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

This approval will enable the Election Commission to carry out limited delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the Cooch Behar District of West Bengal. This became necessary consequent upon the exchange of 51 Bangladeshi enclaves and 111 Indian enclaves respectively between India and Bangladesh with effect from 31 July 2015.

This is in pursuance of the Constitution (One Hundredth Amendment) Act, 2015 and also allows for introduction of a Bill, namely, the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament.

Background

In a historic pact between India and Bangladesh, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves (Chhitmahals) in Indian Territory and 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh territory were exchanged with effect from 31 July 2015.

The move altered the geography and demography of the district of Cooch Behar in West Bengal.

With a view to carry out consequential geographic and demographic alterations vis-à-vis the electoral mosaic of the affected areas, the Election Commission requested to amend Section 11 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This will enable them to carry out limited delimitation of constituencies in the affected areas before the ensuing State Assembly elections in West Bengal.

What is Delimitation?

Delimitation means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body. The job of delimitation is assigned to a high power body. Such a body is known as Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Commission.

In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002.

The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.

Paani Foundation joined hand with Maharashtra Government for water conservation

18-FEB-2016

Paani Foundation, a not-for-profit company, started by Actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao was in news on 17 February 2016. The foundation came into news after Khan and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that it will work with the state government to solve the water crisis in the state.

Paani Foundation is a not-for-profit company whose main objective is to bring about a change in outlook about water conservation. It will communicate, impart knowledge and bring a change in outlook at the grassroots level about water conservation and watershed management.

Operation of the foundation is led by Satyajit Bhatkal who is its CEO, while Khan’s ex-wife Reena Dutta is COO.

The members of the advisory board of the Foundation are Ratan Tata, Nita Ambani, Deepak Parekh, Baba Kalyani, Anu Aga, Dr Avinash Pol, Popatrao Pawar, Svati Chakravarty and Atul Kulkarni. Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), a not-for-profit NGO founded in 1993, is a knowledge partner.

Odisha Government to introduce self-certifying scheme for industries to set up units

18-FEB-2016

Odisha government on 17 January 2016 decided to introduce a self-certifying scheme for non-hazardous industries.

This scheme will ease the process of doing business in the state by shortening the inspection process at the initial levels required for non-hazardous industries to set up units.

The decision in regard to the scheme was taken at a high-level meeting in Bhubaneswar, presided over by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

The Chief Secretary suggested the Labour and ESI Department to expedite the process for notifying the self-certification scheme. The department was also asked to simplify the compliance process to Labour and Factories Act as a step for facilitating setting up of more industrial units and creation of more jobs.

Jharkhand and Adani Group inked MoU to set up thermal power plant

18-FEB-2016

The Jharkhand government and Adani Group on 17 February 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investment of 15000 crore rupees in the state to set up a 1600 MW capacity thermal power plant.

The MoU was signed between Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Rajesh Adani, managing director, Adani Group during the Jharkhand Investors Summit at Make In India Week in Mumbai.

The Adani Group has entered into an agreement with Bangladesh Power Corporation to provide it energy and the proposed plants in Jharkhand will help the company to supply power to Bangladesh.

The proposed plants will be set up in Godda and Sahibganj districts of the state.

The Jharkhand government announced that it is expecting a total investment of over 62000 crore under various Make in India projects.

The biggest investment to the state has been committed by the Adani Group which will invest 50000 crore rupees for power and fertiliser manufacturing plants.

The state is also getting an investment of 2000 crore from Vedanta group to set up a steel plant.

Union Cabinet gave in-principle approval to LIGO-India project to study gravitational waves

18-FEB-2016

The Union Cabinet on 17 February 2016 gave in-principal approval to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) - India project to study gravitational waves.

The approval coincided with the announcement of international scientists in February 2016 about the detection of gravitational waves in the LIGO facilities located in the USA.

LIGO-India is a part of the IndIGO (Indian Initiative in Gravitational-wave Observations) initiative and seeks to move one Advanced LIGO detector from Hanford to India.

What, Why & How of India’s gravitational wave observatory initiative IndIGO

Features of LIGO-India Project

• It will establish a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in India in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the USA that is run by Caltech and MIT.

• It will involve constructing eight kilometer long beam tube at ultra-high vacuum on a levelled terrain.

• The project will bring unprecedented opportunities for scientists and engineers to dig deeper into the realm of gravitational wave and take global leadership in this new astronomical frontier.

• It will bring considerable opportunities in cutting edge technology for the Indian industry.

• The project will motivate Indian students and young scientists to explore newer frontiers of knowledge, and will add further impetus to scientific research in the country.

• It piloted by the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• It is envisaged as an international collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory and three lead institutions in the IndIGO consortium.

• The three lead institutions are - Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) Gandhinagar, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore.