17-18 September

17 sept

Shot putter Manpreet Kaur shattered 18-year-old national record

Railways shot putter Manpreet Kaur on 16 September 2015 shattered an 18-year-old national record en route to a sixth title at the 55th National Open Athletics Championship at Kolkata.
Patiala-based shot putter broke the record of Harbans Kaur of 17.43 metres that came in 1997 by throwing 17.96 metres in her second attempt to claim the gold medal, a hat-trick of titles at the National Open.

With this, Manpreet Kaur (25) also qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics that is scheduled to be held from 5 August to 21 August 2016.
The IAAF entry standard for 2016 Rio Olympics in women's shot put is 17.80m, while the top three in London 2012 Olympics threw 20m plus.

International Day of Democracy observed with the theme Space for Civil Society

15 September: International Day of Democracy

The International Day of Democracy was observed on 15 September 2015 across the world with the theme Space for Civil Society.

The theme was chosen to highlight the fact that space for civil society organizations is shrinking in a range of countries covering every continent in recent years.

It is evident from the fact that some Governments have adopted restrictions that limit the ability of NGOs to work or to receive funding.

As the civil society is at the core of the democratic values and practices, the theme is a reminder to Governments to work together with civil society for achieving common goals for a better future.

About International Day of Democracy

• It was created by the UN General Assembly through a resolution in 2007 to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy.
• It was observed for the first time in 2008.
• Though the word Democracy is nowhere is mentioned in the UN Charter of 1945, the UN has played a pivotal role in nurturing Democratic values, practices and institutions.
• The theme for the 2014 was: Engaging youth on democracy.

RBI granted In-principle Approval to 10 Applicants for Small Finance Banks

Seeking to promote financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16 September 2015 granted in principle approval to 10 entities to set up small finance banks. These small finance banks will provide basic banking services to small farmers and micro industries.
The in-principle approvals were granted under the Guidelines for Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the private sector issued on 27 November 2014.

The approval granted includes
• Au Financiers (India) Ltd., Jaipur
• Capital Local Area Bank Ltd., Jalandhar
• Disha Microfin Private Ltd., Ahmedabad
• Equitas Holdings P Limited, Chennai
• ESAF Microfinance and Investments Private Ltd., Chennai
• Janalakshmi Financial Services Private Limited, Bengaluru
• RGVN (North East) Microfinance Limited, Guwahati
• Suryoday Micro Finance Private Ltd., Navi Mumbai
• Ujjivan Financial Services Private Ltd., Bengaluru
• Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Ltd., Varanasi

The approval has been granted within a month of the RBI giving nod to 11 entities for launching Payments Banks. The RBI statement said that the in-principle approval will be valid for 18 months to enable these entities to comply with the requirements under the guidelines on Small Finance Banks.
On being satisfied that the applicants have complied with the requisite conditions laid down by it as part of in-principle approval, the RBI would consider granting them a licence for commencement of banking business underSection 22(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Until a regular licence is issued, the applicants cannot undertake any banking business.
The small finance banks can provide basic banking services like accepting deposits and lending to the unbanked sections such as small farmers, micro business enterprises, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.

Pivot to Asia doctrine & China’s South China Sea activism shaping the meeting between Xi and Obama

Pivot to Asia doctrine: Policy of the US administration for more enhanced and pro-active engagement with the Asia Pacific region.

The term Pivot to Asia or alternatively called as Pivot to Pacific or Pivot to Asia-Pacific was in news in the third week of September 2015 as the administrations of the USA and China are gearing up for the summit level talks in the White House.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Barack Obama, the President of the USA, during his four day meeting to the USA starting from 22 September 2015.

Pivot to Asia-Pacific refers to the policy of Obama administration that calls for more enhanced and pro-active engagement with the Asia Pacific region. It was announced in 2011.

Under the policy, one of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will be to lock in a substantially increased investment—diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise—in the Asia-Pacific region.

Policy wise, it was nothing but a shift from extensive engagement of the country with the trouble ridden Middle East and the South Asia regions to more stable and peaceful Asia-Pacific region.

As per the USA, the new strategy is necessary to sustain its global leadership in the strategic, political and economic spheres as the region has become the hub of the global economy.

However, there are apprehensions in some quarters that the policy is primarily aimed at curtailing the ‘Rising China’ that is set to overtake the USA position as the world’s largest economy in the coming years.

The USA’s deepening engagement with India, growing military presence in the Pacific region, stiff opposition to China’s assertion in the South China Sea are also seen as the USA’s efforts to rebalance its relations vis- a- vis China and the region as a whole.

India Cements won Moin-ud Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament 2015-16

India Cements on 16 September 2015 won the Moin-ud Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament 2015-16 by defeating Hyderabad XI. This was the third title for the winning team.

The final match was held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

India Cements stood victorious by virtue of taking the first-innings lead against Hyderabad XI in the three-day final match.

For India Cements, while bowlers Vignesh and L Balaji played a crucial role by picking up three wickets each, its captain and player-of-the-final Abhinav Mukund stood for the team with a centuary.

B Anirudh, Hyderabad President’s XI batsman, was declared as the player of the tournament for scoring three centuries in the tournament.

The trophy and the awards were handed over by the ICC President Zaheer Abbas.

About Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament

• It was held for the first time in 1930-31.
• Apart from teams from Hyderabad, regional cricket associations participate in the event on invitation basis.
• The tournament is being held in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in September every year.
• It had the first-class status from 1930-31 to 1937-38, and from 1962-63 to 1973-74.
• It is held by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

Afghan refugee teacher Aqeela Asifi awarded with 2015 Nansen Refugee Award by UNHCR

Afghan refugee teacher Aqeela Asifi was on 15 September 2015 awarded with the 2015 Nansen Refugee Award by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Asifi dedicated her life to bring education to refugee girls in Pakistan.

Aqeela Asifi was awarded for her brave and tireless dedication to education for Afghan refugee girls in the Kot Chandana refugee village in Mianwali, Pakistan. Despite minimal resources and significant cultural challenges, Asifi guided a thousand refugee girls through their primary education.
Asifi is a former teacher who fled from Kabul with her family in 1992, finding safety in the remote refugee settlement of Kot Chandana. She was dismayed by the lack of schooling for girls in the village. But she was determined to give these girls a chance to learn and with time she convinced the community and began teaching just a handful of pupils in a makeshift school tent.
About UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award
• UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award recognizes extraordinary humanitarian work on behalf of refugees, internally displaced or stateless people.
• The award includes a commemorative medal and a 100000 US dollars monetary prize. This prize money is further used by the laureate to fund a project that complements their existing work in consultation with UNHCR.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• The UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• It safeguards the rights and well-being of refugees and stateless people. In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives.
• UNHCR is on the front lines of the world's major humanitarian crises including Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and countless other emergencies.

Apus Group tied-up with mobile advertising network InMobi

Apus Group, one of the world’s biggest Android application development companies, on 15 September 2015 tied-up with the Indian mobile advertising network InMobi.

With this tie-up, Bengaluru-based InMobi will share its expertise to help Apus establish a larger footprint in India and increase its user base. In return, the Beijing-based Apus will help InMobi monetise its platform by giving access to over 200 million users across the Apus user system.
The cooperation will include local brand building, user base growth, monetization and relevant product technology.
About Apus Group
• Founded in June 2014, APUS Group is dedicated to provide the best mobile products and user experience for Android tablet and smartphone owners around the world.
• APUS Group is the developer of APUS Launcher, APUS Browser, APUS Booster+, APUS Search, APUS Radar, APUS Message Center, APUS Flashlight, and other products and services.

About InMobi
• InMobi is the world’s most powerful mobile advertising platform enabling brands, developers and publishers to engage mobile consumers globally.
• Recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the 50 Most Disruptive Companies, InMobi reaches over 1.4 billion unique mobile devices across 200 countries.

5 cities officially named as candidates to host 2024 Summer Olympics

International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 16 September 2015 announced name of five cities namely Los Angeles, Hamburg, Paris, Rome and Budapest as candidates to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The final list of bidders was declared after the deadline for submissions ended on 15 September 2015. IOC will elect the winning bid at its session in Peru in 2017.
Out of the five cities, Los Angeles and Paris has hosted the games twice. Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984 while Paris hosted the 1900 and 1924 Olympics.

If any one of the two cities wins the bid to host the game, then they will join London to host the prestigious games three times. London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
On the other hand, Rome has hosted the Olympics Games once in 1960 whereas Hamburg and Budapest, if they win, will be hosting the multi-sport extravaganza for the first time.
Further, Hamburg is the first-time bidder of the Olympic Games.

India, Cambodia signed two MoUs on Tourism & Mekong Ganga Cooperation Initiative

India and Cambodia on 16 September 2015 signed two MoUs on Tourism and Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.
Vice-President Ansari is on three-day visit to Cambodia from 15 September to 17 September 2015.

On the one hand, the tourism MoU is aimed at boosting tourist movement between the two countries. On the other hand, the MoU on Mekong-Ganga relates to five ‘quick impact projects’ undertaken by India andthese are:
• 50000 US dollars grant to Cambodia for the upgradation of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in existence since 2004
• Two projects in healthcare, especially to do with malaria
• One project on agriculture
• One on women’s empowerment
Besides, both sides also discussed possibilities of shoring up of trade and investment, and agreed that the bilateral investment protection agreement must be signed as soon as possible.
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established in the year 2000 at Vientiane, Laos, at the first MGC Ministerial Meeting. It comprises six member countries, namely India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. MGC takes its name from two rivers Ganga and Mekong.

Godavari, Krishna Rivers formally linked at Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village in Andhra Pradesh

To manage Godavari’s flood waters which goes waste into the sea every year, two Rivers namely Godavari and Krishna were formally linked on 16 September 2015 in Andhra Pradesh.
The two rivers were formally linked by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who released waters from Godavari at Ibrahimpatnam Ferry village near Vijayawada.
To mark the occasion Krishna-Godavari confluence was named asKrishna - Godavari Pavitra Sangamam meaning holy confluence in Telugu.

The two rivers were linked under the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Schemeon Godavari River at Pattisam village in West Godavari district.
Under the scheme, waters from River Godavari will be lifted and diverted towards Krishna River in the neighbouring Krishna district. From here, then the water that will come to Krishna River would be diverted to the parched Rayalaseema region.
Originally, the inter-linking of River Godavari and Krishna was envisaged under the multi-purpose Polavaram projectwhich was given the national project status with the division of the Andhra Pradesh into two States, viz., Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
However, the project was put on hold by the Chandrababu Naidu government due to cost concerns.
How the inter-linking will benefit the state?
• The linking of the two major rivers in the State will facilitate in utilising about 80 TMC of the 3000 TMC of the Godavari’s flood waters which goes waste into the sea every year.
• The delta region of river Krishna faces acute shortage of water for irrigation from June to August.
• It was an historical near Ibrahimpatnam upstream of Prakasam Barrage will fulfill the long cherished dreams of the farmers of Krishna and Guntur districts.
• After interlinking of Godavari-Krishna, the state government has plans to divert the waters to the drought prone Rayalaseema region.
• The place of confluence of the two rivers near Ibrahimpatnam would be developed as a spiritual and tourism centre.

Nepal's Parliament approved the New Constitution

After seven years of painstaking efforts and deliberations, Nepal's Constituent Assembly on 16 September 2015 approved the new Constitution and endorsed the Preamble of the draft Constitution. Article 301 of the Constitution, defines title and date of commencement of the Constitution.
The new Constitution, which was passed by a 507-25 vote in the 601-seat Assembly, has split the country into seven federal provinces.

The lawmakers from Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN Maoist supported the draft Constitution; however, it saw protests by the ethnic minority groups who opposed the makeup, borders and size of the provinces.
As many as 25 lawmakers belonging to pro-Hindu and pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal cast their vote against the bill.
Most of the Madhes-based parties, whose combined strength is 60, boycotted the voting process along with smaller opposition parties.
The bill will become Nepal's new charter once the lawmakers sign and the Constituent Assembly Chairperson Subash Nemwang authenticate it, which is likely to be done on 20 September 2015.
After this authentication, the President Ram Baran Yadav will announce the promulgation of new constitution through the sovereign body elected by the people.

NGT passed directions to prevent pollution of Yamuna River

Seeing the festive season soon, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 16 September 2015 passed slew of directions to prevent pollution in River Yamuna.
In its direction, bench headed by the NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued ban on immersion of idols except those made from bio-degradable materials.

Main Directions given by NGT
• It allowed immersion of those idols, which are made from bio-degradable material and not with plastic or plaster of Paris.
• Those idols will be immersed in which the colours used are environment-friendly
• Favouring designated sites for immersion of idols, the tribunal directed Irrigation Department of the Delhi government and Uttar Pradesh to hold a meeting with the Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to immediately identify such sites.
• It directed the concerned authorities to notify and publicise about immersion of idols on ghats to enable the people know about identified sites for immersion.
• It also ordered all the public authorities including the Delhi government to provide mobile toilets or bio-toilets near the ghats.
• It also warned that commercial/construction activity with machines should not be carried, except for floriculture and silviculture (regeneration of forests) would be allowed to be carried on by any of the authorities, particularly DDA.
• DDA has been asked to ensure maintenance of nearly 63.56 hectare of river banks/flood plains which have been developed as biodiversity parks.

Nana Patekar established Naam Foundation to fund drought relief for farmers

To provide aid to farmers to overcome drought conditions, Actor Nana Patekar in third week of September 2015 established an organization named Naam Foundation.
The Naam Foundation, a brain child of Nana Patekar and fellow Marathi actor Makrand Anaspure, was set up for donating money to drought affected farmers. The foundation will collect the contributions from people and for this purpose Nana Patekar has opened a bank account with State Bank of India, where people can deposit money for the cause.

Money collected by Naam Foundation would also be used to provide gainful employment to youth in villages facing drought.
Inspired by Nana Patekar’s effort to help out the farmers suffering from drought other bollywood actor Akshay Kumar also reached out to Maharashtra's drought-hit farmers who have committed suicide. He has earmarked a sum of 90 lakh rupees to financially help 180 families of those farmers who killed themselves because of the acute agrarian crisis. On 15 September 2015 in Beed district in Marathwada, the actor distributed 50000 rupees to each of the 30 widows who had lost their husbands.

Hangzhou City of China chosen to host 2022 Asian Games

The capital city of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou in East China was on 15 September 2015 chosen by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to host the 2022 Asian Games. The OCA made the decision at its 34th Congress meeting in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan.

Hangzhou was the only candidate city for the 2022 Asian Games, the XIX edition of games.
It will be the third Chinese city to host the Asian games following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010. Hangzhou is best known for the West Lake, a placid and tourist attraction. It is also home base of Chinese Internet (ecommerce) giant Alibaba.
In 2014, Incheon, city of South Korean, hosted the Asian Games, while Indonesia’s Jakarta city is going to host the 2018 Asian Games.
About Asian Games
• Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a pan-continental multi-sport event (44 sports events) among athletes from all over Asia.
• It is held after every four years and is organized by the OCA since 1982. It was first held in 1951 in New Delhi, India under the aegis of Asian Games Federation (AGF).
• It is often described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

Union Government banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang for 5 years

The Union Government on 15 September 2015 banned the Naga rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang (NSCN-K) for five years. The organisation was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

NSCN-K was banned following due legal process as it had unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire agreement with the Union government and perpetrated a string of terror attacks. On 26 March 2015, it gunned down four Assam Rifles personnel in Kohima and killed four civilians in a bomb blast at Wokha.
On 3 May 2015, it killed eight jawans of Assam Rifles and Naga Territorial Army. And in June 2015, it was involved in brutal killing of 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra Regiment in an ambush in Chandel, Manipur.

About National Socialist Council of Nagaland
• The NSCN was established in 1980 with an aim of establishing a sovereign state of Nagalim by unifying all the areas inhabited by the Naga people in Northeast India and Myanmar.
• It was founded by Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and SS Khaplang opposing the Shillong Accord of 1975 signed by the then Naga National Council (NNC) with Union Government.
• In 1988, Naga nationalist Military group had split into two factions- NSCN-K led by SS Khaplang (a Myanmarese Naga) and the NSCN-IM jointly led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.
• In 2001, both factions had settled a ceasefire agreement with the Union government.
• NSCN (K) has its headquarters in Taga in Myanmar and is estimated to have around 700-800 cadres and the same number of sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers.

Blackstone Group LP acquired UK’s Serco Group Plc

Private equity (PE) investor Blackstone Group LP repurchased the India-based Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) operations of the UK’s Serco Group Plc for about 2558 crore rupees. The deal is a combination of equity and debt.
The acquisition is the largest deal by Blackstone in India in terms of enterprise value. The deal also marked the re-entry of the PE firm in the BPO business.

Earlier in 2011, Blackstone had sold the BPO business, formerly known as Intel net, to Serco for 383 million US dollars.
About Blackstone
The Blackstone Group LP is an American multinational private equity, investment banking, alternative asset management and financial services corporation based in New York City.

Blackstone was founded in 1985 as a mergers and acquisitions boutique by Peter G Peterson and Stephen A Schwarzman, who had previously worked together at Lehman Brothers, Kuhn, Loeb Inc.

About Serco
Founded in 1929 as RCA Services Limited, Serco Group Plc is a British outsourcing company based in Hook, Hampshire. The group operates public and private transport and traffic control, aviation, detention centers, schools etc. on behalf of its clienteles.

EPFO increased maximum insurance cover to 6 lakh rupees

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on 16 September 2015 increased the life insurance cover of its subscribers from 3.6 lakh to 6 lakh rupees.

The central board of trustees (CBT), the highest decision-making body of the EPFO, also decided that the subscriber will not be required to serve continuous employment of one year in a company before being eligible for insurance benefit.
About 40 million contributing members of the EPFO will be benefitted from the decision taken at the 208th CBT meeting in Hyderabad.
The life cover, called Employees Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI), is paid to the family of the EPF subscriber in case of his/her demise.

Union Finance Ministry launched NXT DIGITAL-Headend In The Sky platform

The Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley on 15 September 2015 launched the Headend In The Sky (HITS) digital platform initiative, under the brand name NXT DIGITAL promoted by Hinduja Group.

The platform will provide viewers access to over 500 television channels of their choice be it international, national, regional and local; besides a host of other services like e-applications and TV everywhere.
Customers in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab and Karnataka will now have greater access to channels of their choice with other states soon joining in. The customers will now pay for what they want to see and it will also enable increase in revenues to the government due to full transparency.
The Hinduja-Hits Network will serve Multi System Operators (MSOs) as well as Local Cable Operators (LCOs) and aims to tap the transition from analogue to digital mode of cable TV services under the government's Digital India initiative and Make In India mission.
About NXT DIGITAL
• The NXT DIGITAL Broadcast Centre is a state-of-the-art next-generation MPEG-4 facility that has been designed and purpose-built to provide a variety of services to the cable distribution fraternity and their customers all across India.
• The technology is future-proof and would offer enhanced television experiences for the subscriber whilst allowing the cable fraternity to manage their networks effortlessly using new-age cloud solutions.
• Through NXT DIGITAL’s uniquely designed and assembled COPE (Cable Operators Premises Equipment), Digitalizing of Indian cities and the space of broadcast distribution will help India register quantum growth

Sun Pharma entered into an agreement to acquire InSite Vision

The largest Indian drugmaker, Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd, on 16 September 2015 entered into a deal to acquire US-based InSite Vision Inc. for about 300 crore rupees.
As per the terms of the agreement and merger plan, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Pharma will make a tender offer for all of the issued and outstanding common stock of InSite Vision at 0.35 US dollars per share in cash.

About Sun Pharma
Sun Pharma was established in 1983 by Dilip Shanghvi in Vapi, Gujarat. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company manufactures and sells pharmaceutical formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients in India, US and across the world.
The Chairman of the Sun Pharma is Israel Makov. Dilip S. Shanghvi is the founder-cum-Managing Director of the company.

Union Finance Ministry launched NXT DIGITAL-Headend In The Sky platform

The Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley on 15 September 2015 launched the Headend In The Sky (HITS) digital platform initiative, under the brand name NXT DIGITAL promoted by Hinduja Group.

18 sept

Madhya Pradesh Government launched M-Shiksha-Mitra mobile app for teachers

To provide various services and teaching-related work to teacher in a simple and easy way, Madhya Pradesh Government in September 2015 launched M-Shiksha-Mitra mobile app. With this, Madhya Pradesh became the first state to develop such mobile app for teachers.
The app developed by NIC that carries several facilities can be downloaded from Google Play Store in android mobile phone.

Features of the app
• Teachers can use Shiksha-Mitra mobile app to browse salary slip, funds sent to school under various heads, scholarships, different circulars and GPF statement easily.
• Through it, they can send SMS about their problem and know status of its redressal. The app will also be used for applying for leave and also e-attendance.
• Facility of free 200 SMSs has been given in the app.
The app can be logged onto by using user name and password issued for Education Portal. All principals, head masters, school in-charge persons and teachers have been directed to register their mobile number on education portal.

Expert Group on tackling cyber crimes submitted its report to Ministry of Home Affairs

An Expert Group on tackling cyber crimes submitted its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 15 September 2015.

The report was titled Roadmap for Effectively Tackling Cyber Crimes in the Country and was prepared after examining the global practices on cyber crime prevention.

Among the other measures suggested by the expert panel, establishment of a Indian cyber crime coordination centre or I4Cwas the most prominent that will have following features

• It will monitor, analyze and counter cyber crimes and facilitate online reporting of cyber offences.
• It will have real-time analytics of various categories of cyber crimes along with their place of origin and incidence of occurrence.
• It will facilitate India’s cooperation from global internet giants like Google, Facebook, etc that having servers abroad in tackling crimes such as child pornography and fake identity.
• Besides a national coordination agency at the centre it will have branches in states and UTs.
• It will be synced with the national intelligence grid (NATGRID) and crime and criminal tracking network system (CCTNS) to pick up and gather information of cyber crimes and analyse and predict future trends.
• It will be set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with an estimated cost of 500 crore rupees.

About the Expert Committee

The five member group consisting of experts and professionals was set up by the MHA on 24 December 2014.

The formation of the committee became necessary as a fast growing economy India is susceptible to International and domestic Cyber attacks and there is a need to ensure Cyber Crime free environment.

As per an estimate, there has been almost 40 percent annual increase in cyber crimes registered in the country during the past 2-3 years.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul received Icon Award by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance

Veteran Test cricketer of West Indies Shivnarine Chanderpaul was on 12 September 2015 honoured with the Icon Award by the Indo-Caribbean Alliance.
The 41-year-old left-handed batsman was given the award in New York along with three others, namely television personality Lakshmee Singh, New York City council member Eric Ulrich and businessman Dave Kadernauth.
Icon Award is the highest awardgiven by the New York City-based Indo-Caribbean Alliance.

Chanderpaul as a Cricketer
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is a Guyanese cricketer and former captain of the West Indies cricket team. He is the first Indo-Caribbean to play 100 Tests for the West Indies, and captained them in 14 Tests and 16 One Day Internationals. He is well known for his unorthodox batting stance, which has been described as crab-like.
In 2008 he was named as one of the five Cricketers of the Year by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, and as the Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council.
As one of the most prolific run-scorers in West Indies cricket, he amassed 11867 runs from 164 Tests at an average of 51. He is only second to Brian Lara in aggregate.
In One Day Internationals, he has scored 8778 runs in 268 matches.
Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA)
ICA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Queens, New York. It was founded in 2008 by three residents who wanted to organize their community to create the programs and services in the underserved Indo-Caribbean and South Asian enclaves of South Queens including Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Ozone Park, South Jamaica and Jamaica.

Our mission is to unify and advance Indo-Caribbean and South Asian interests by fostering joint and collaborative actions among different peoples, organizations and businesses. The alliance acts as a liaison and an advocate to government agencies, elected officials and other non-profit organizations to create specialized educational, arts and social service programs.

India ranked 22nd in Asian Football Technical Ranking released by AFC

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on 6 August 2015 released a new technical ranking system which has placed India on 22nd spot among the continent’s 46-member countries. The position of India is the highest among the South Asian nations.

South Korea topped the list among the Asian nations followed by Saudi Arabia and Iran at number 1 and number 3 positions respectively.

How the rankings were decided?

The positions of the countries were decided while keeping in account the performance of the national team and clubs (at AFC competitions) in the previous four years.

The performance of the national team was based on the recent FIFA ranking points, which carried a weightage of 30% in the calculation, while the performance of the clubs of a particular country carried 70% weightage. The calculation was done based on the four latest Asian Champions League or AFC Cup seasons.

Disney Researchers invented ways to network VLC devices using IoT technology

Disney Researchers on 7 September 2015 announced that Internet of Things (IoT) technology can be successfully used in Visible Light Communication (VLC) devices to network them and thereby creating smarter devices.

To prove this, they successfully experimented with Light Emitting Diode (LED) based bulbs.

It was announced in a research paper titled Linux Light Bulbs: Enabling Internet Protocol Connectivity for Light Bulb Networks.

How LEDs were made smart by using IoT?

Off-the-shelf commercial LED light bulbs were modified so that they could send and receive visible light signals. For this, a System-on-a-Chip running the Linux operating system, a VLC controller module with the protocol software and an additional power supply for the added electronics were introduced to them.

The Linux OS was created in such a way that the signals transmitted through LEDs compatible with Internet protocols.

Now, these VLC-enabled LEDs were used to broadcast beacons making it possible to detect the location and communicate with the objects like toys and communication devices like smart phones, etc.

What is Internet of Things (IoT)?

IoT refers to a network of internet connected devices which are embedded with electronic sensors, light operating systems and data transmitting technologies.

By using the Internet the data collected by sensors in the IoT devices like cars, power systems and even as small as tooth brushes transmitted to other networked devices and data processing systems.

Thus, the information generated by processing the data will be used by the companies and individuals to make better decisions and create smarter environments.

As per an estimate, there will be roughly 100 billion IoT based devices in the world by 2025, with 2 million new sensors deployed every hour.

National Athletic Coach Nikolai Snesarev resigned

Renowned Russian middle and long distance coach Dr Nikolai Snesarev, whose contract runs till the end of 2016 Rio Olympics, resigned from his position of athletic coach for India in the third week of September 2015.

He stepped down from the position due to poor infrastructure and a lack of facilities

Nikolai sent his resignation letter to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) citing Article 21 of the SAI constitution under which one has to give a month’s notice before terminating the contract midway.

Nikolai Snesarev is globally known for consistently creating world champions. He is also acknowledged for the rise of India’s two Olympic prospects Lalita Babar in 3000m steeplechase and OP Jaisa in long distance running.

Report titled Achieving the malaria MDG target released by WHO & UNICEF

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 17 September 2015 jointly released the Achieving the malaria MDG target report.

The report concluded that the malaria Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target to stop and reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015 was achieved.

India stood at the third placeafter Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo in terms of number of cases and number of deaths due to malaria.

Highlights of Achieving the Malaria MDG Target report

• Malaria death rates have plunged by 60 percent since 2000, translating into 6.2 million lives saved and the vast majority of them are children.
• The malaria MDG target to have halted and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015, has been met convincingly, with new malaria cases dropping by 37 percent in 15 years.
• An increasing number of countries are on the verge of eliminating malaria. In 2014, 13 countries reported zero cases of the disease and 6 countries reported fewer than 10 cases.

• The fastest decreases were seen in the Caucasus and Central Asia, which reported zero cases in 2014, and in Eastern Asia.
• Despite tremendous progress, malaria remains an acute public health problem in many regions.
• In 2015 alone, there were an estimated 214 million new cases of malaria, and approximately 438 000 people died of this preventable and treatable disease.
• About 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are still at risk of malaria.
• In 2015, 89 percent of all malaria cases and 91 percent of deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Fifteen countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, accounted for 80 percent of malaria cases and 78 percent of deaths globally in 2015.
• Children under 5 account for more than two-thirds of all deaths associated with malaria. Between 2000 and 2015, the under 5 malaria death rate fell by 65 percent or an estimated 5.9 million child lives saved.
• The surge in funding has led to an unprecedented expansion in the delivery of core interventions across sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2000, approximately 1 billion insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) have been distributed in Africa.
• Between 2000 and 2015, the proportion of children under 5 sleeping under an ITN in sub-Saharan Africa increased from less than 2 percent to an estimated 68 percent.

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights written by Salman Rushdie released

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights: Salman Rushdie

The book titled Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights authored by the British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie was released on 8 September 2015.

The book can be easily called as an update to Rushdie’s ancient eastern classic, A Thousand and One Nights and is a work of fiction, blends history, mythology, and a timeless love story.

The book opens in the 12th century Spain. The story revolves around the great Spanish-Muslim philosopher Ibn Rushd, languishing in exile for his enlightened views, and an evil genie in disguise Dunia. The story jumps to New York City where Ibn Rushd and Dunia’s distant descendants discover that they have special powers.

The climax of the book is action-packed with an epic war being fought by powerful genies over the future of humanity.

Pakistan to generate 40000 MW nuclear power as part of Nuclear Energy Vision 2050

Pakistan set to itself a target of generating 40000 MW nuclear energy. It will be achieved as part of the Nuclear Energy Vision 2050.

An announcement in this regard was made by the Chairman of the PAEA on 17 September 2015 at the 59th IAEA General Conference at Vienna in Austria.

While PAEA stands for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, IAEA stands for the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Features of Nuclear Energy Vision 2050

• Its objective is to supply one-fourth of Pakistan’s total energy requirement as predicted for 2050.
• As part of the vision, 8800 MW and 40000 MW of nuclear energy will be produced by 2030 and 2050 respectively.
• To implement the vision, 32 nuclear power plants (NPPS) will be set up in eight identified sites by constructing 8 plants at a site.

Comment

In July 2015, Pakistan experienced an acute power crisis as Karachi plunged into darkness. The blackouts along with heat wave claimed lives of over 1000 people.

At present, Pakistan is generating only 725 MW nuclear energy and 20000 MW from other sources.

Though the vision is expected to play a crucial role in the development of Pakistan, there exist few persisting concerns related to Pakistan’s nuclear energy programme as a whole.

The concerns are-China’s assistance to Pakistan in the nuclear front as a rebalancing act vis-à-vis India and chances of terrorist organizations taking control of NPPs.

Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka released

The report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) was released on 16 September 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The OISL was appointed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2014.

The OISL investigated the last phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka between 2002 and 2011 and concluded that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed by both sides-Sri Lankan Security Agencies and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

To deliver justice to the victims, the report recommended the establishment of a hybrid special court by integrating international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators.

Some of the most serious crimes documented in the report are

Unlawful killings: committed by both parties, as well as by paramilitary groups linked to the security forces. Tamil politicians, humanitarian workers, journalists and ordinary civilians were among the alleged victims of Sri Lankan security forces and associated paramilitaries.
LTTE also reportedly killed Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese civilians, through indiscriminate suicide bombings and mine attacks, as well as assassinations of individuals including public officials, academics and dissenting Tamil political figures.

Sexual and gender-based violence: sexual violence was committed against detainees, often extremely brutally, by the Sri Lankan security forces, with men as likely to be victims as women and not a single perpetrator of sexual violence related to the armed conflict is so far known to have been convicted.

Enforced disappearances: Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans for decades, including throughout the 26-year armed conflict were affected by it. A large number of individuals who surrendered during the final phase of the war were disappeared, and remain unaccounted for. Many others, including people not directly linked to the conflict, disappeared, typically after abduction in ‘white vans.’

Torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment: Brutal use of torture by the Sri Lankan security forces was widespread throughout the decade and some of the more commonly used centres had rooms that were set up with torture equipment, illustrating the premeditated and systematic nature of the use of torture.

Recruitment of children and their use in hostilities, as well as abduction and forced recruitment of adults:Extensive recruitment and use of children in armed conflict by the LTTE and by the paramilitary Karuna group, which supported the Government following its spilt from the LTTE in 2004 was documented. Children were often recruited by force from homes, schools, temples and checkpoints, and, after basic training were sent to the frontlines.

Attacks on civilians and civilian objects: Repeated shelling by Government forces of hospitals and humanitarian facilities in the densely populated ‘No Fire Zones,’ which the Government itself had announced but which were inside areas controlled by the LTTE occurred.

Denial of humanitarian assistance:The Government may have deliberately blocked the delivery of sufficient food aid and medical supplies in the Vanni in the Northern Province, which may amount to the use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare.

Violations during the detention of internally displaced people (IDPs) in closed camps: Almost 300000 IDPs were deprived of their liberty in camps for periods far beyond what is permissible under international law.

Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) launched by Union Government

To transform the lives of people living in the areas which are affected directly or indirectly by mining, the Union Government on 17 September 2015 launched the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).
The programme is meant for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining related operations, using the funds generated by the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

DMFs were created under theMines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 in all the districts of the country affected by mining related operations.

The objective of PMKKKY
• To implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government
• To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts
• To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas by including all aspects of living, to ensure substantial improvement in the quality of life. The aspects include
a) High priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environment conservation will get at least 60 % share of the funds.
b) For creating a supportive and conducive living environment, balance funds will be spent on making roads, bridges, railways, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources.
Role of DMFs in PMKKKY implementation
As per the Union Government notification on 17 September 2015, the role of DMFs would be implementing the mission through the funds generated from the contributions made by miners. In this regard, the notice said
a) in case of all mining leases executed before 12 January, 2015 (the date of coming into force of the Amendment Act) miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs; and
b) where mining leases are granted after 12 January 2015, the rate of contribution would be 10% of the royalty payable.

For this purpose, the Union Government has issued a directive to the State Governments, under Section 20A of the MMDR Act, 1957, laying down the guidelines for implementation of PMKKKY and directing the States to incorporate the same in the rules framed by them for the DMFs.
The DMFs have also been directed to maintain the utmost transparency in their functioning and provide periodic reports on the various projects and schemes taken up by them.

4th meeting of India-Kuwait Joint Working Group on Hydrocarbons held in New Delhi

The 4th meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Working Group on Hydrocarbons was held on 16 September 2015 in New Delhi.

The meeting was jointly headed by Ashutosh Jindal, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Dr. Ahmad Al-Qattan, representative of the Kuwaiti Oil Sector.

During the meeting, both sides discussed various issues of bilateral engagement in the hydrocarbon sector and expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved on the decisions taken during the 3rd Joint Working Group signed in 2014 in Kuwait.

The two sides also discussed opportunities for joint investment in the oil & gas sector in India and abroad.

India-Kuwait relations in oil sector

• Kuwait has been a reliable supplier of crude oil to India for decades.
• During 2014-15, Kuwait was the fourth largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Venezuela and it meets about 10 percent of India’s energy needs.
• India’s imports from Kuwait during 2014-15 were 13.38 billion US dollars of which Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) accounted for 12.28 billion US dollars.
• Kuwait embarked on its Development Plan (2015-2020) under which it is expected to award contracts worth over 115 billion US dollars in various sectors including oil and gas sector both upstream and downstream, petrochemicals, gas processing, pipeline, etc.
• As Indian companies are becoming truly global during the recent decades, the Kuwait Development Plan presents huge opportunities for OVL (ONGC Videsh Limited) and other energy companies.

Three Gulbarga varsity researchers derived soluble melanin from a micro organism

Three scientists, principal investigator Dayanand Agsar, co-investigator M. B. Sulochana and research scholar D. N. Madhusudhan, of Gulbarga University made a major breakthrough in simplifying the production of the melanin.

The team of scientists derived the water-soluble melanin from a new micro organism Tyrosinase from Actino bacterium.

At present, the melanin being used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry is either derived from chemical formulations or derived from micro-organisims other than Tyrosinase and is insoluble in water.

The three scientists worked under the major research project funded by the Department of Biotechnology of the Union government.

The trio’s findings were also published in the prestigious Biomed Research International in April 2014 and the Journal of Cluster Sciences of the Springer publications in March 2014.

About melanin

Melanin is a pigment produced in the skin of almost all organisms on earth. It is produced by the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine, followed by polymerization. There are three basic types of melanin, viz., Eumelanin, Pheomelanin and Neuromelanin.

It is used widely by pharmaceutical companies for treatment of a type of skin cancer, melanoma. It is also widely used in the cosmetics industry in the production of Skin Protection Factor (SPF) creams.

Hero Cycles acquired Firefox Bikes in all-cash transaction

The world's largest bicycle manufacturer by volume, Hero Cycles, on 17 September 2015 announced the acquisition of Firefox Bikes Pvt. Ltd. for an undisclosed sum in an all-cash deal.

As per the deal, Hero Cycles acquired 100% stake in Firefox. Both the companies also mutually agreed that Firefox Bikes will continue to remain a separate business entity post the acquisition.

The deal includes the Firefox brand of bicycles, accessories and spares along with exclusive distribution rights of Trek and other global brands.

Hero Cycles also announced that it will setup a Hero Innovation Centre to upgrade its line of cycles.

About Hero Cycles

Hero Cycles Limited is the world’s largest bicycle maker based in Ludhiana, Punjab. The group was established by the four Munjal Brothers in 1956. The slogan of Hero Cycles Limited is Cycle of Life

8th Edition of Global Innovation Index 2015 released

The 8th edition Global Innovation Index (GII) 2015 was released on 17 September 2015 jointly by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The GII 2015 was based on the theme of Effective Innovation Policies for Development.

The index shows the new ways through which emerging-economy policymakers can boost innovation and spur growth by building on local strengths and ensuring the development of a sound national innovation environment.

The index is topped by Switzerland for being the most innovative nation. Countries like China, Malaysia, Viet Nam, India, Jordan, Kenya and Uganda are among a group of countries outperforming their economic peers as per the GII 2015.

Although India's ranking has slipped further to 81 in the list, compared to 76 in 2014, but it remained at the top of the regional ranking of Central and Southern Asia.

Highlights of the GII 2015
• Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States of America are the world’s five most innovative nations.
• The United Kingdom (UK) with second place on the list is up from the 10th position in 2011.
• In terms of innovation quality, US and the UK stay ahead of the pack, largely as a result of their world-class universities, closely followed by Japan, Germany and Switzerland.
• Top-scoring middle-income economies on innovation quality are China, Brazil and India with China increasingly outpacing the others.
• A number of low-income economies are innovation achievers with Sub-Saharan Africa standing out- Rwanda at 94th place, Mozambique at 95th and Malawi at 98th. In addition, Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso and Uganda are generally outperforming other economies at their level of development.
• India's ranking has slipped further to 81 in the list, compared to 76 in 2014.
• A number of eastern European countries like Bulgaria (39th), or Montenegro (41st) display dynamism and an upward trend.
• In North America, The United States of America (5th) remains the top innovation performer, while Canada (16th) remains in the GII top 25 after slipping from the top 10 in 2012.
• Latin America and the Caribbean is a region with improving but largely untapped innovation potential. Brazil (70th), Argentina (72nd), and Mexico (57th) stand out as economies performing above the region’s GII average.
• In Western Asia, economies have started to diversify and spur innovation in new sectors. This has allowed for Saudi Arabia (43rd), United Arab Emirates (UAE) (47th) and Qatar (50th) to achieve top GII positions within the region.
• With half of its economies in the top 40, South East Asia and Oceania maintained its innovation dynamism with Singapore (7th) and Hong Kong (China) (11th) remain at the top of the regional rankings.

Rank Country
1. Switzerland
2. United Kingdom
3. Sweden
4. Netherlands
5. United States of America
6. Finland
7. Singapore
8. Ireland
9. Luxembourg
10. Denmark

Central and Southern Asia region in GII 2015
India remained at the top of the regional ranking of Central and Southern Asia, followed by Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka, which has significantly improved its position.

Most countries in the region remain outside the top 100 of the GII. However, the economies at the top of the regional rankings can serve as models of good innovation policies with stronger institutions that will help stimulate higher levels of innovation-driven regional development in the coming years.

How GII 2015 was calculated?
The GII 2015 was calculated as the average of two sub-indices. The Innovation Input Sub-Index gauges elements of the national economy which embody innovative activities was grouped in five pillars:
(1) Institutions
(2) Human capital and research
(3) Infrastructure
(4) Market sophistication
(5) Business sophistication

The Innovation Output Sub-Index captures actual evidence of innovation results was divided in two pillars:
(6) Knowledge and technology outputs
(7) Creative outputs.

About the Global Innovation Index
• The Global Innovation Index is published annually since 2007, it is now a leading benchmarking tool for business executives, policy makers and others seeking insight into the state of innovation around the world.
• The Global Innovation Index (GII) creates an environment in which innovation factors are under continual evaluation with 141 country profiles including data, ranks and strengths and weaknesses on 81 indicators.
• GII follows a transparent computation methodology including 90 percent confidence interval for each index ranking and an analysis of factors affecting year-on-year changes in rankings.

SC stayed implementation of Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015

The Supreme Court (SC) of India on 17 September 2015 stayed the implementation of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015. The Act prescribes for minimum educational qualifications for contesting in local bodies' elections.
The SC bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar also issued notices to the Haryana government and the State Election Commission seeking their response in 4 weeks to a petition filed.
The notice was issued after the validity of the Act was challenged by 3 candidates, namely Rajbala from Swami Nagar (Fatehbad district), Kamlesh from Kaimri village (Hisar district) and Preet Singh from Bhambhewa Beri village (Jhajjar district).

They challenged the implementation of the Act on the ground that they were rendered ineligible to contest the ongoing Panchayat elections of the state due to not fulfilling the minimum educational qualification prescribed.
The stay by the apex court shortly after the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to intervene with the law.
What is the Act all about?
The Act that was notified on 8 September 2015, just a day ahead of the nominations opened for the Panchayat polls, fixes matriculation as minimum educational qualification for elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
It fixed matriculation as essential qualification for general candidates contesting the Panchayat elections while the women candidates of general category were prescribed a minimum qualification of middle standard or class 8th.
On the other hand, men contesting in Scheduled caste category were prescribed a minimum qualification of middle standard or class 8th while women in SC category were prescribed a minimum qualification of class 5th.
The amendments also required that candidates should not have any dues in co-operative banks, electricity bills should be paid up and there should be a functional toilet at home.
With the passage of the Act, Haryana had become the second state after Rajasthan to pass such a law prescribing minimum educational qualification foe contesting PRI elections.
Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2014
The Rajasthan Ordinance, promulgated on 20 December 2014, also prescribed minimum educational qualifications to contest in local body elections, and effectively kept out illiterate persons from the democratic process.

The Ordinance was challenged in the Supreme Court by the noted social activist Aruna Roy on the grounds that violated the inclusive spirit of the 73rd and 74th Amendments and served as an exit for illiterate people.
However, the apex court had refused to entertain the petition in January 2015 and had asked the petitioner to approach the state’s high court.

2000-year old Nangchen Stupa with Lord Buddha's relics sent by Emperor Ashoka restored in China

An Indian monk Gyalwang Drukpa, in September 2015 helped restore and renovate a 2000-year-old lost Nangchen Stupa with Lord Buddha relics sent by Emperor Ashoka.
Gyalwang, the spiritual head of Drukpa lineage of Buddhism based in Ladakh, consecrated the renovated stupa with all religious rites in Qinghai province of China, located adjacent to Tibet Autonomous Region.
Along with Nangchen stupa, an Ashokan pillar and a huge golden statue of Buddha was also consecrated by Gyalwang.

The Nangchen stupa, first to be discovered in the Tibetan region, is one of the 19 stupas containing Lord Buddha's relics that were sent by Emperor Ashoka to China. These stupas are a symbol of advent of Buddhism from India to China.
Out of 19 stupas, so far 4 stupas including Nangchen have been discovered. The other three were discovered in Xian, Nanjing and near Ayuwang in Zhejiang Province. The fate of the other 15 sent by Ashoka to China is unknown.
According to legends, about 2500 years ago disciples of Buddha retrieved on skull bone, two scapulas, four teeth and 84000 pearl-like Sariras (relics) after cremation of Lord Buddha’s body.
Buddhist records say that Emperor Ashoka collected all of Sakyamuni's sarira, stored them in pagoda-shaped shrines before sending them to different parts of the world.

Advent of Buddhism in China
As per records, advent of Buddhism in China was recorded in 68 AD when the first Buddhist temple White Horse was built in Luoyang by Chinese monk Xuanzan who travelled to India during the early Tang dynasty (between 629 and 645 AD).

During his travels, he visited holy sites, learned the lore of his faith, and studied with many famous Buddhist masters, especially at the famous center of Buddhist learning at Nalanda University.
He set up a large translation bureau in Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), drawing students and collaborators from all over East Asia. He is credited with the translation of some 1330 fascicles of scriptures into Chinese. His strongest personal interest in Buddhism was in the field of Yogācāra, or "Consciousness-only".

Union Government presented Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards 2013

The Union Minister of Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya on 17 September 2015 presented the Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) and National Safety Awards (NSA) for the Performance Year 2013.

This year, 28 Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar were shared by 132 individuals. These winners were selected out of a total of 193 applications received from different industries for the Performance Year 2013.
For the Performance year 2013, the total number of NSA Award Winners and Runners-up in the ten schemes adds up to 98 (53 winners and 42 runners-up). They were selected out of 199 applications received under various schemes.
These awards work both as an impetus as well as a catalyst to unleash the latent and untapped potentials of the promising workers at the plant level while recognizing the excellent performance of the companies in preventing accidents and promoting safety at work place.
About Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP)
• VRP is awarded in recognition of outstanding suggestions given by a worker or group of workers and implemented by the management in the form of cash prize and a certificate.
• The certificate of merit is given in three categories: Class A- Five of 75000 rupees each, Class B- Eight of 50000 rupees each and Class C- Fifteen of 25000 rupees each.
About National Safety Awards (NSA)
• The NSA is given in recognition of outstanding safety performance of industrial establishments, construction sites, ports and installations to stimulate and maintain the interests of both the management and the workers in accident prevention programmes.
• This award is given under twelve schemes, out of which ten are meant for Factories /Construction sites /Installations under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and two are for Ports.
• Under each award, a Shield and a Certificate of Merit is given to each of the Award Winners and Runners-up.
The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has been operating the Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards since 1965. These Award schemes are operated by its technical wing namely the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai.

Uneven Monsoon and its Effects on Indian Economy

‘Monsoon’ is the word derived from Arabic word ‘Mausam’ and it means the seasonal reversal of wind direction. In India south-west monsoons arrives in early June till September. This is the time when India receives most of the rainfall.

The arrival of monsoon and its evenness plays a very crucial role in determining the growth and inflation prospects of the Indian economy in a particular year.

However, in the months of June and July 2015, the rains have been 9% lower than normal, with sharper deficits in some areas. Further, as per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall during August-September 2015, the remaining two months of the rainy season, would be poor at 84%.

Rainfall is said to be normal when it falls between 96% and 104 % of the long term average. Kerala, where the monsoon hits first and has traditionally seen rains much higher than national average, has also witnessed a 30% rain deficit this season

The rains so far have been patchy in their distribution, which means while some areas have experienced an excess and even deadly flooding, others have had drier spells. Yet, plotted on a rainfall map, at least 35% of the country’s area appears to be in the deficient category, while 35% has received normal rains. In another 30% area, rainfall has been surplus.

Impact of uneven monsoon on various parameters

Impact on growth: It is expected that at the end of the ongoing year growth in agricultural sector would reduce by 5% from the previous year. This will also take away 0.7% percentage points from the overall GDP growth of India. This will also have a detrimental effect on demand in the non-agricultural sector

Impact on agriculture: India being an agricultural country where around 60% of population depends on agriculture for their livelihood and also its contribution is around 16% to the GVA. The importance of monsoon cannot be overlooked. 40% of the cropped area in our country depends entirely on rain water. July is the most crucial month for sowing and has the strongest correlation with food grain production. Even though cumulative rainfall is only 4.1% below normal (till 24 July 2015), we believe the shortfall in rains over the first three weeks of July will dampen food grain production to some degree. Sowing of rice -- the main kharif staple -- has progressed well because of good rains in the northwest which accounts for 29% of rice output. In states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana sowing of rice has been badly hit. Not only rain deficit, uneven distribution of the showers has also turned out to be an issue, as in West Bengal where floods affected sowing of rice. However, coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds could suffer from poor rains and low reservoir levels in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Also deficient monsoon will make soil drier compared to normal and there will also be lesser water to be used for irrigation. All these factors will mean that there is lesser production during the Rabi or winter season as well.

Impact on rural demand: In March and April 2015, unseasonal and pre summer rains damaged crops in regions already reeling from inadequate monsoons. A second year of weak monsoon will decrease the efficacy of India’s irrigation system and hit farm output and farmers. Already rural wage growth has plummeted to around 8%. This will adversely affect rural demand.

Impact on food inflation:Poor monsoon could stoke food prices, which have been increasing steadily, with retail price inflation quickening to 5.4% in June 2015, compared to a 4.8% rise in April 2015.

Impact on FMCG sector:Poor monsoon has a lot of detrimental effects on the FMCG sector. The demand goes down – this happens predominantly in the rural areas – and input costs increase to a significant extent. At present in rural areas, volume growth in sales of FMCG products is around 11-13% but the weak monsoon could drag it down to 8-10%.

Impact on power sector:Since the water levels will be lower than normal in several hydroelectric dams, there will be lesser electricity. Across 91 water reservoirs touched 87.09 billion cubic metres (bcm), down 13.2% from 100.36 bcm a year earlier and even lower than the normal 10-year average of 90.68 bcm. During the intense heat of May and June, rains act as a cooling factor and without enough rainfall, there will be greater usage of electricity

Conclusion

Given the current situation, a multi-pronged strategy to permanently deal with monsoon deficiency requires exploring newer drought tolerant and climate-conducive crop varieties, reducing dependence on rainfall by increasing irrigation ecosystem, enhancing employment opportunities to non-farm poor, improving skill sets at the farm gate, bringing sea change in farm-to-fork transaction chain etc.

Mahesh Rangarajan resigned as Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

Mahesh Rangarajan on 17 September 2015 resigned as the Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).

He was appointed as the Director of NMML in June 2014 by the then UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Rangarajan is a teacher, author and historian with a special interest in environmental history and colonial history of British and contemporary India.

About Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML)
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), a memorial to Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India, is housed in the historic Teen Murti House campus located south of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the capital city of India.
Designed by Robert Tor Russel and built in 1929-30 as part of Edwin Lutyens' imperial capital, Teen Murti House was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief in India.

India, US created Joint Challenge Coin to mark partnership

India and the United States (US) on 17 September 2015 jointly created a Joint Challenge Coin to symbolise their unique partnership in creating a next-generation aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy.

One side of the coin reads Forward Together We Go andChale Saath Saath in Hindi, which is the vision statement of US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The other side of this coin which is golden in colour has the flags of India and the United States and an aircraft carrier floating on blue water.
The joint challenge coin was created by the joint working group at their first meeting in US in August 2015 to symbolise partnership. The establishment of working group for a next-generation aircraft carrier to bolster the Indian Navy's blue-water capabilities was announced in January 2015 during Obama's visit to India.