19-20 August 2015
19 August
Bangladesh lifted South Asian Football Federation U-16 title
Bangladesh Under-16 team on 18 August 2015 won their first-ever South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) under-16 title. In the title clash at the Sylhet District Stadium of Bangladesh, the hosts defeated defending champions India 4-2 in penalties.
Bangladesh got the lead through Fahim Murshed when he found the net in the 46th minute. India equalised the score after the hour mark through Amay Morajkar's left-footer. The match went into penalties after both sides failed to score the second goal.
In the shoot out, Bangladesh did not miss any of their penalties, while India failed to score its second and fourth helping the home side clinch the title for the first time. Earlier, Bangladesh had beaten India in the group stage as well.
Besides India and Bangladesh, the tournament was participated by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives.
TPP Nair, SP Misra, Romeo James recommended for 2015 Dhyan Chand Award
The selection committee headed by former Indian hockey captain Zafar Iqbalon 18 August 2015 recommended the names of TPP Nair, SP Misra and Romeo Jamesfor 2015 Dhyan Chand award. Their names were shortlisted from the names of 60 applicants.
TPP Nair, the former captain of the Indian volleyball team, led the Indian team which bagged a bronze medal in the 1958 Tokyo Asian Gamesand a silver medal in the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games.
SP Misra is the former captain of Davis Cup and at present is the chairman of the All India Tennis Association Selection Committee (AITASC).
Romeo James, the former goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team, represented the country in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympicswhere India finished fifth.
Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand award is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, given by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002 and carries a cash prize of 5 lakh rupees, a plaque and a scroll of honour.
In 2014, the award was conferred on three individuals, namely Gurmail Singh (Hockey), KP Thakkar (Swimming-Diving) and Zeeshan Ali (Tennis).
M-Wallet app SBI Buddy launched
State Bank of India (SBI) on 18 August 2015 launched a mobile wallet (M-wallet) application named SBI Buddy. The application was launched in collaboration with Accenture and Mastercard.
The services of the application will be available to both the existing as well as non-SBI customers.
Features of Buddy
• The application is available in 13 languages
• It carries several features like cash transfer, bill payment, all types of ticket bookings payment and booking for movies, hotels as well as for shopping.
• It also has features like reminders to settle dues, recharge and pay bills instantly.
At present, the app is available to all android mobile phone users, but soon will be launched for other mobile operating software. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
The application was launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who also unveiled the logo and website of SBI Foundation that will be the implementing agency for the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of the State Bank group.
The foundation will promote, encourage, develop causes related to education, environment, women empowerment, children welfare and manage all the CSR activities of the SBI Group.
Allahabad HC directed government servants, politicians to send children to government schools
The Allahabad High Court on 18 August 2015 directed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that all government officials, elected representatives, members of judiciary and all other persons who get any benefit or salary from state exchequer or public fund send their children to primary schools run by the state Board for Secondary Education.
Passing the judgement, Justice Sudhir Agarwal also ruled that penal provisions be laid down for those who violated the order.
The Court in its direction asked the chief secretary to take steps within six months so as to make the aforesaid directions effective from the next academic session of primary schools. It also asked him to submit a compliance report immediately after the lapse of six months.
The decision came after the court took a serious note of the condition of the primary schools of the state while hearing a writ petitions filed by Umesh Kumar Singh and several others challenging the process of selection of Associate Teachers for government-run primary and junior high schools for the years 2013 and 2015.
While hearing the PIL, the court said that until wards of Judges, people’s representatives and bureaucrats do not study compulsorily in these schools, the condition will not improve.
The court also pulled up the state's Basic Education department for negligent and casual amendments in rules pertaining to appointment of teachers, besides Government Orders issued time-to-time which, it said, paved way for multifarious litigations resulting in not only delay in appointment of primary teachers, but also a very heavy pressure on the court.
Comment and Analysis
The decision of Allahabad High Court would help in improving the deteriorating status of the quality of education of primary and secondary education in Government schools of the state, and its success may give the boost of the same at India level.
As per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2012) released by PRATHAM, the quality of school education in the country is in poor condition and it is falling to dangerous levels and indirectly allowing the invasion of the private sector.
To support its cause, it presented some critical facts like
• In 2008, only about 50 percent of Standard 3 students could read a Standard 1 text, but by 2012, it declined to 30 percent - a fall of 16 percent.
• In 2012, about 50 percent of the Std 3 kids were not able to correctly recognise digits up to 100, the age in which they are supposed to learn two digit subtractions. In 2008, about 70 percent of the kids could do this.
• Similar deterioration in standards of education was also noted among Std 5 students.
India’s First Lady Suvra Mukherjee passed away
India’s First Lady Suvra Mukherjee, wife of President Pranab Mukherjee, passed away on 18 August 2015 following a cardiac arrest in New Delhi. She was 74.
Suvra Mukherjee was born on 17 September 1940 in Jessore, Bangladesh. She was married to Pranab Mukherjee in 1957. Suvra was a vocalist of Rabindra Sangeet and was an ardent fan of India’s national poet Rabindranath Tagore.
She was the founder of the Geetanjali Troupe to propagate Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy as expressed through his songs and dance-dramas. For many years, she performed in the poetic dance-dramas in different parts of India and across Europe, Asia and Africa.
She had also written two books Chokher Aloey (personal account of her close interaction with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) and Chena Achenai Chin (a travelogue recounting her visit to China).
UNP led UNFGG coalition won the Sri Lanka Parliamentary Elections 2015
United National Party (UNP) led United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) coalition on 18 August 2015 with 106 seats emerged as the winner in the 2015 Parliamentary elections of Sri Lanka. But it failed to secure absolute majority in the Parliament of 225 members.
The final tally of the Parliamentary elections held on 17 August 2015 was announced by Sri Lanka’s Election Department. The elections were held ten months ahead of schedule to elect 225 members to Sri Lanka's 15th Parliament.
UNP led by incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe emerged the winner with his alliance taking 45 percent of the vote cast, or about 51 lakh votes. The main opposition party the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that is an alliance led by Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to secure 95 seats with 42 percent of votes casted or about 47 lakh votes.
Tamil National Alliance with 16 seats and the JVP with 6 emerged as the next largest parties in the new parliament which will start functioning from the 1 September 2015.
Wickremesinghe also received the highest ever preferential votes in Sri Lankan history with 550000 people marking their preference for him in his constituency Colombo.
The Kumbh Mela: Mapping the Ephemeral Megacity authored by Tarun Khanna released by Akhilesh yadav
The Kumbh Mela: Mapping the Ephemeral Megacity: Authored by Tarun Khanna and edited by Rahul Mehrotra, Felipe Vera and Diana Eck
Book titled The Kumbh Mela: Mapping the Ephemeral Megacity authored by Tarun Khanna was released by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 17 August 2015. The book, a product of Harvard University, is edited by Rahul Mehrotra, Felipe Vera and Diana Eck.
The book which is a kind of research work of the University tells the story of the Kumbh Mela, the largest celebration on earth that depends on the positions of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. It also narrates that people mostly Hindus travel certain places along holy rivers, like Ganga, to take bath and cleanse themselves from sin.
In 2013, a team from Harvard University monitored the large-scale event from its preparation through to the actual celebration, investigating and documenting the prototypes for flexible urban planning and offering organizers advice on issues around environmental protection.
This substantial hardcover presents their comprehensive research findings along with city maps, aerial images and photographs of this most fascinating feat of urban planning.
Kishor Piraji Kharat appointed as MD and CEO of IDBI Bank
Kishor Piraji Kharat was on 18 August 2015 appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI).
Earlier, he had served Union Bank of India as an Executive Director and before that he had served Bank of Baroda for three decades. He has wide exposure across various verticals of banking and international business including credit, information technology and general administration in India and overseas.
Kishor Kharat is a graduate in commerce and law and a certified associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
IDBI was constituted on 1 July 1964 under IDBI Act 1964. It is based on the model of Developmental Bank of Canada with a motive to provide direct and indirect finance to Industries. It works under the Union Government.
Himachal to make Sanskrit mandatory in government schools
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on 17 August 2015 announced that Sanskrit will be introduced as a mandatory subject in all Government schools of the state. The announcement came while he was presiding over the meet of the Himachal Sanskrit Academy.
He also directed the academy to complete the formalities to take overTungesh Sanskrit College at Cheog, so that it could be run in a better way. Cheog is a village in Theog Tehsil in Shimla District of the state.
Few other directions given by the Chief Minister
• He urged the Academy members to continue with their activities and make earnest efforts to promote Sanskrit and said that there would not be any dearth of funds to the Academy from the State Government to run its affairs.
• He also asked them to prepare programmes and projects and to submit the same to the Union Government as there was no deficiency of funds for Sanskrit Colleges and Academies with them.
• He also directed to transfer the ownership of ‘Divya Jyoti’ monthly magazine to the Academy and approved publication of research journal (bi-annual) of the Academy jointly with HP University.
The Chief Minister also decided to revive the earlier status of the constitution of the Academy and it was also decided that the age limit for appointment of secretary of the Academy would not be more than 65 which would be appointed for a term of five years from the date of appointment. It was approved to keep the status of secretary as it was earlier.
Aditi Chauhan became India's first woman to play in English league football
Aditi Chauhan, India’s international football goalkeeper, on 16 August 2015 became the country’s first woman to play English league football.
She made her debut for the women’s team of the West Ham United in the opening game of the season against Coventry City.
West Ham United Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club (FC) affiliated with West Ham United FC. They were formed in 1991 and play at Hornchurch Stadium, Upminster the home of Hornchurch FC. They are currently in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division.
Malayalam actor Paravoor Bharathan died
Malayalam actor Paravoor Bharathan died on 18 August 2015 in Kerala after suffering from age-related ailments. He was 86. Bharathan is survived by his wife Thankamani, three sons and a daughter.
Bharathan was known for his versatility in the Film Industry as he had played a variety of roles including negative roles, character roles and comedy roles. He acted in nearly 300 regional films.
Bharathan began his career in the late 1940s in drama, he first appeared in films in 1951 and till 2009, he was an integral part of the film industry. Some of his much talked about films include In Harihara Nagar, Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava, Aniathipravu, and Meleparambil Aanveedu.
He was born at Vavakkad in North Paravoor, Cochin State in 1929.
19 August
Olympic champion Sebastian Coe elected as President of IAAF
The former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe on 19 August 2015 was elected as the sixth President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The British Olympian was elected as the President at the 50th IAAF Congress in Beijing, China.
Coe will take office on 31 August 2015 after the end of the 2015 IAAF World Championships of Beijing. He succeeds Senegalese Lamine Diack, 82, who has led the IAAF for 16 years.
The 58-year-old Briton defeated his rival Sergey Bubka, a former Olympic pole vault champion, by 115 votes to 92.
Sebastian Coe
• He is a British politician and former track and field athlete.
• As a middle-distance runner, Coe won four Olympic medals, including the 1500 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984.
• He set eight outdoor and three indoor world records in middle-distance track events – including, in 1979, setting three world records in the space of 41 days – and the world record he set in the 800 metres in 1981 remained unbroken until 1997.
• Post retirement, he became the Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992 to 1997, and became a Life Peer on 16 May 2000.
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded on 17 July 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation. Since October 1993, it has been headquartered in Monaco.
Greece Crisis and its impact on World Economy
Genesis
Greece was admitted to European Union (EU) in 1981 and it became eurozone member on 1 January 2001. Though Greece was not welcomed in the EU but it was the strategic concerns to ensure democracy and stability in Southern Europe at the height of cold war that led to group comprising of wealthy Western European Powers to admit Greece.
Causes of Crisis
Greece became the epicenter of Europe’s’ debt crisis after Wall Street imploded in 2008. The present day crisis actually started in 2009 when Greece was unable to pay its debt and restructure its economy. There were various inter-linked factors:
Inefficient pension system: Greece spent 17.5 percent of economy on pension payment, which was the highest in EU according to recent estimates.
Benefits: Government employers had some of the best worker benefits in Greece, for example some workers got bonuses for turning up for work on time.
Early retirement: According to government data, an average Greek man retires at 63 and woman at 59. But in some military and police senior retirement was as early as 40 or 45. Also there were benefits to female employees to retire at 43.
High unemployment and work culture issues: Unemployment rate in Greece stands around 25.6 percent.
Tax evasion: Greece has struggled to collect taxes especially from wealthy citizens and in creating more equitable tax system.
All these factors led to high government debt in Greece and the deficit was as high as 177 percent in 2014.
Impact on India
- India’s largest trading partner is EU and it exports nearly $40 billion to EU.
- World financial markets are closely linked. Investors will pull out money from the Indian market thus affecting the Indian economy
- When world bond markets get into a problem, Indian government would find difficult to borrow money and it would affect domestic investment and growth. It will also push down currency and cause inflation.
Conclusion
Greece owns nearly 315 billion Euros worth of debt. Of this 60 percent is owed to the European financial system. Greece exit or its default on payments will hit investor’s confidence leading to retrieval of money by the investors. This in turn will cause cascading effect the fallout of which will hit the global markets.
Karnal Singh assigned additional charge of Director of Enforcement Directorate
Karnal Singh, an IPS officer of 1984 batch of union territories cadre, was on 19 August 2015 assigned the additional charge of Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED). He will handle the office of the director for a period of three months or until further orders for a regular appointment.
His name for the post was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. This is the first time an IPS officer has been chosen for the key post under the Department of Revenue.
Singh, who is currently serving as Special Director in Centre Region of Enforcement Directorate, will replace Rajan S Katoch. Kotoch was given three extensions as ED Director.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
The ED is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India. It is mandated to investigate cases of money laundering and foreign exchange rule violations.
It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It comprises officers of the Indian Revenue Service, Indian Police Service and the Indian Administrative Service.
SM Khan-headed team constituted to assess situation in FTII by Union Government
The Union Government on 19 August 2015 constituted a three member team to assess the situation over the student protest in Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune.
The three-member team will be headed by the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) SM Khan and comprise two more I&B Ministry officials.
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
FTII is an autonomous institute under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and aided by the Central Government of India. It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune. Since its inception in 1960, FTII has become India's premier film and television institute, with its alumni becoming technicians, actors and directors in the film and television industry.
It has been accorded the status of Institute of National Importance by the Union Government.
FTII is a member of the International Liaison Centre of Schools of Cinema and Television (CILECT), an organisation of the world's leading schools of film and television
FTII Controversy
The panel was constituted a day after five students of the institute were arrested from the FTII campus on charges of rioting and other offences after a group of striking students gheraoed FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe. He was gheraoed as a protest against irrational and unjustified assessment of their incomplete diploma projects.
The students have been on strike for the last 69 days against the appointment of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the institute. The indefinite strike began on 12 June 2015.
RBI granted 'in-principle' approval to 11 Payment Banks applicants
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 August 2015 granted in-principle approval to 11 payment banks applicants under the Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks. The guidelines were issued on 17 November 2014.
The 11 payment banks granted the approval includes
• Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited
• Airtel M Commerce Services Limited
• Cholamandalam Distribution Services Limited
• Department of Posts
• Fino PayTech Limited
• National Securities Depository Limited
• Reliance Industries Limited
• Shri Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi
• Shri Vijay Shekhar Sharma
• Tech Mahindra Limited
• Vodafone m-pesa Limited
RBI's “in-principle” nod will be valid for a period of 18 months, during which time the applicants have to comply with the requirements under the Guidelines and fulfill the other conditions as may be stipulated by the Reserve bank.
On being satisfied that the applicants have complied with the requisite conditions laid down by it as part of “in-principle” approval, the Reserve Bank would consider granting to them a licence for commencement of banking business under Section 22(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Until a regular licence is issued, the applicants cannot undertake any banking business.
Payments Bank
A payments bank differs from conventional banks as it cannot lend to its customers. It is allowed to take deposits, allow remittances and provide simple financial products. The payments bank will need to invest 75 percent of its funds in government securiti
The minimum capital needed to set up a payments bank is set at 100 crore rupees. The bank will be allowed to accept savings deposits of up to 1 lakh rupees from each customer.
Debut Novelist Zia Haider Rahman won the James Tait Black Award 2015
Bangladesh novelist Zia Haider Rahman on 19 August 2015 won the James Tait Black award 2015 for his debut novel In the Light of What We Know. He received this prize during the 2015 Edinburgh international book festival.
Born in rural Bangladesh, Rahman was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and later at Cambridge, Munich, and Yale Universities. Prior to shifting to the writing career, he had worked as an investment banker and a human rights lawyer.
About In the Light of What We Know
The novel’s story is based on an investment banker in a lead role who receives a visit from an old friend and addresses a whole range of issues including Afghanistan war, the rise of Muslim fundamentalism and global banking crisis.
In his novel, Rahman also explores problematic areas of politics and finance, which are often exiled from the pages of fiction. The novel’s impressive scope is complemented by Rahman’s ability to locate the personal in the political.
It is a novel that intertwines global finance, politics and personal relationships, and a biography that offers a portrait of working-class family life.
About James Tait Black award
• James Tait Black award is an annual literary award bestowed for literature written in the English language in UK and is the oldest literary award of UK.
• It was instituted in 1919 in memory James Tait Black. The award carries monetary prize of 10000 British pounds.
• It is given in three categories- Fiction, Biography and Drama by the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Haryana, Maryland agreed to cooperate in biotechnology, life sciences
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Lt Governor of Maryland Boyd K. Rutherford, on 18 August 2015 have agreed to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of bio-technology, life sciences and agriculture, cyber security and engineering.
They also decided to find out scope for working with companies engaged in the sector of low-cost housing.
The decision was taken during a meet of Khattar with Lt. Governor in Annapolis (Maryland). At present, Khattar is leading a 20-member delegation of officials and businessmen on a 10-day trip to the US and Canada.
During the visit to Maryland, the chief minister visited the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he sought cooperation and guidance from its Bloomberg School of Public Health for upgrading the Kalpana Chawla University of Health Sciences being set up at Karnal in Haryana as a Centre of Excellence.
The Haryana Government has decided to set up the university in memory of the first Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
Maryland
Maryland is a Mid-Atlantic state that's defined by its abundant waterways and coastlines on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic. Its largest city, Baltimore, US has a long history as a major seaport.
Fort McHenry, birthplace of the US national anthem, sits at the mouth of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, home to the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center. Blue crabs are Maryland's culinary specialty.
Union Government issued final notification demarcating ESZ around Okhla Bird Sanctuary
The Union Government on 19 August 2015 issued the final notification demarcating the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Okhla bird sanctuary.
The announcement was made by the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who also said that the final notification was issued after the National Board of Wild Life cleared the process of demarcating the ESZ.
The ESZ around the sanctuary will be the area up to 100 meters from the eastern, western and southern boundary. In the northern boundary, the ESZ will expand up to 1.27-km from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, which extends up to DND flyover across the riverbed situated in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district and southeast district of NCT Delhi.
Earlier, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had passed an order barring development of any infrastructure within 10 kilometer radius from the sanctuary's boundary.
Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Okhla Bird Sanctuary is at the Okhla barrage over Yamuna River and is situated in Noida Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border. It is known as a haven for over 300 bird species, especially water birds.
In 1990, an area of 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) on the river Yamuna was designated as bird sanctuary by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The site is located at the point where the river enters Uttar Pradesh.
Pakistan and Russia signed defence agreement that includes the sale of four Mi-35 helicopters
Pakistan and Russia on 19 August 2015 signed a landmark defence agreement that includes the sale of four Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopters to Pakistan. The agreement was signed by top defence officials from Pakistan and Russia in Rawalpindi.
The Mi-35 helicopter is an exceedingly modernised version of the Mi-24 (Hind) combat helicopter with new onboard equipment and avionics. It also has a more powerful engine and a different tail rotor.
Both countries were negotiating for this deal since 2014. It is after the visit of the Chief of Pakistan Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to Russia in June 2015, that Russia sent a draft contract for the delivery of four Mi-35M Hind E combat helicopters to Pakistan.
The signing of agreement signals a major thaw in relations between the two Cold War rivals. Earlier in November 2014, Pakistan and Russia had signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening military-to-military relations.
Pakistan-Russia relations
The Soviet Union (Russia) and Pakistan first established the diplomatic and bilateral relations on 1 May 1948. For the most of the Cold War, the Soviet Union relations with Pakistan have seen ups and downs during the different periods of Pakistan.
In 1947-50s, Soviet Union enjoyed relatively healthy and strong relations with Pakistan when it was under the civilian control but the relations went ultimately cold soon after the U.S.-backed 1958 military coup. In the mid 1970s, the relations were quickly improved and warmed.
The last time when the Russian Defence Minister visited Pakistan was in November 2014, first time in 45 years. The last visit took place as far back as 1969, when USSR Defence Minister Andrey Grechko visited Pakistan.
World Humanitarian Day observed with theme Inspiring the World's Humanity
19 August: World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day was observed on 19 August 2015 with the theme Inspiring the World's Humanity. The theme calls on people to join any of the world’s humanitarian organizations and become an active messenger of Humanity.
The day is dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the globe.
World Humanitarian Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as part of a Swedish-sponsored resolution on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations, and set as 19 August.
The day was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq in which the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his colleagues were killed.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Chitranjan Swarup passed away
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Chitranjan Swarup passed away on 19 August 2015 in Delhi following a prolonged illness. He was 70. He belonged to ruling Samajwadi Party.
He was a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Uttar Pradesh state assembly from Muzaffarnagar constituency. He was elected as a MLA on a Congress ticket in 1974 for the first and later on a Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket in 2002 and 2012.
He had held various portfolios including Urban Development, Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation, Water Supply, Muslim Waqf, Overall Urban Development, Minority Welfare and Haj in the UP government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Prasar Bharti, Digital Television Russia inked MoU
Prasar Bharti and Digital Television Russia on 20 August 2015 signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation which will set the stage for a new media era in both the countries. This purposeful and meaningful MoU was inked in New Delhi.
The MoU is aimed at co-producing TV programmes, repackaging and dubbing popular programmes from the both countries.
It also covers technology modernisation, news exchange and programmes.
YouTube tied-up with Whistling Woods International to set up YouTube Space
Google-run video sharing portal YouTube on 19 August 2015 tied-up with Whistling Woods International (WWI) to set up YouTube Space in Mumbai, a collaboration and production facility for YouTube video creators. However, the firms did not disclose any financial details.
Slated to open in late 2015, the YouTube Space Mumbai facility will allow YouTube creators and students at WWI to learn about video production and collaborate with other creators.
YouTube and WWI will also develop original courses to train the next generation of Indian filmmakers to succeed in digital and online media.
YouTube Space Mumbai is the seventh such facility for the YouTube. It has similar facilities in Tokyo, Los Angeles, London, New York, Brazil, and Berlin. The facilities are designed in a way so that the creators can produce original digital video content.
About Whistling Woods International
• Whistling Woods International (WWI) is a film, communication and media arts institute owned by Subhash Ghai, Bollywood director. It is promoted by Mukta Arts Limited.
• The primary campus of WWI is the Mumbai campus, which is located inside Mumbai's film & television production hub Filmcity.
Kerala Government inaugurated a 12 MW solar power project at Cochin International Airport
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on 18 August 2015 inaugurated a 12 MW solar power project at the Cochin International Airport. Spread over 50 acres, the project is reportedly the single largest solar project which has been constructed in an airport in India.
With this project, Cochin airport became the first airport in India to run on solar power. This project is estimated to generate approximately 50000 units of electricity daily. Through this project, the airport will technically become grid power neutral.
The project comprises 46150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex. The project is executed by Bosch Energy and Building Solutions (BEBS) team in India.
Bangladesh became first country to receive funds from UN for Solar Home Systems
Bangladesh on 20 August 2015 became the first country to receive funds from the United Nations (UN) for its fast growing solar home systems. The UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) issued 395286 carbon credits worth 3.56 million US Dollar to two Bangladeshi organisations.
Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) and Grameen Shaktiare the two organisations that won the carbon credits. The UNFCCC has issued 212482 carbon credits to the IDCOL and 182804 credits to Grameen Shakti.
The IDCOL is a state-owned development financial institution dedicated to promote and finance infrastructure and renewable energy projects, while Grameen Shakti, set up by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, aims to take clean solar power systems and communication technology to villages.
Solar home systems of Bangladesh
Supported by various international organisations like the World Bank and Global Environment Facility (GEF), Bangladesh has installed around 6 million small solar home systems covering over 10 percent of its 160 million population.
Being one of the lowest carbon emitters and one of the most climate-change vulnerable countries, Bangladesh has emerged as one of fastest growing solar energy users with rural households using renewable energy for lighting, running fans and TVs and charging mobile phones.
Solar home systems are helping Bangladesh cut carbon emissions by reducing use of kerosene in rural areas.
R Gandhi panel recommended conversion of UCBs into Regular Banks
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) High Powered Committee on Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) headed by RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi in its report has recommended conversion of UCBs with business size of 20000 crore rupees or more into regular banks. This will allow them to grow and proliferate further for financial inclusion.
RBI on 20 August 2015 placed the panel’s report on its website and invited suggestions and comments from public on this report by 18 September 2015.
The important recommendations made by the HPC are briefly as under:
1. Business Size and Conversion of Multi-State UCBs into joint stock bank: A business size of 20000 crore rupees or more may be the threshold limit beyond which a UCB may be expected to convert itself into a commercial bank. The conversion need not be de jure compulsory. However, the types of businesses to be undertaken by those choosing not to convert may remain within the limits of plain vanilla products and services and hence, growth will be at a much slower pace. Their expansion in terms of branches, area of operations and business lines may thus be carefully calibrated.
2. Conversion of UCBs into Small Finance Banks (SFBs): Smaller UCBs with business size of less than 20000 crore rupees willing to convert to SFBs can apply to the Reserve Bank for conversion provided they fulfil all the eligibility criteria and selection processes prescribed by the Reserve Bank and further provided that the licensing window for SFBs is open.
3. Issue of fresh licences: Licenses may be issued to financially sound and well-managed co-operative credit societies having a minimum track record of 5 years which satisfy the regulatory prescriptions set by the Reserve Bank as licensing conditions. For providing banking access in unbanked areas, the Reserve Bank may put in place an appropriate set of incentives for existing banks to open branches there.
4. Board of Management (BoM) in addition to Board of Directors (BoDs): Putting in place a BoM as suggested by the Malegam Committee has to be one of the mandatory licensing conditions for licensing of new UCBs and expansion of existing ones.
5. Entry Point Norms: The new Entry Point Norms (EPNs) may be as under:
• To operate as a Multi-State Urban Co-operative Bank- 100 crore rupees
• To operate beyond two districts and as a State level UCB - 50 crore rupees
• To operate as District level UCB (upto 2 districts) - 25 crore rupees
• In case of conversion of co-operative credit societies in unbanked areas and in the north-east, suitable relaxation may be made by the Reserve Bank.
6. Depositors as voting members: The depositors ought to have a say on the Boards of UCBs. For this, a majority of the board seats may be reserved for depositors by making suitable provisions in the bye-laws.
Background
The High Powered Committee on Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) under the chairmanship of RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi was constituted on 30 January 2015. The committee was formed to examine and recommend permissible business lines and appropriate size, and examine the issues with regard to conversion of UCBs into commercial banks besides determining whether the time is opportune to issue new licenses to UCBs as recommended by the Expert Committee on Licensing of New UCBs (Malegam Committee).
The committee was formed in accordance to the recommendation made by the Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) on UCBs in its meeting held on 20 October 2014.
Lahore High Court banned film ‘Phantom’ from release in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Lahore High Court on 20 August 2015 banned the release of Bollywood movie ‘Phantom’ in Pakistan. It also banned its airing on the cable networks and its sale in the form of CDs.
The order to ban the release of the Saif Ali Khan-starrer film in the theaters in Pakistan was issued by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan of the Lahore High Court.
The decision was taken on a plea of by Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. The petitioner in his plea argued that the film set on post-26/11 attacks contains filthy propaganda against him and his outfit. The film could be a direct threat to his life as the dialogues of the film could poison the minds of the public.
Before issuing a short-order on the film, which was scheduled to release on 28 August 2015, the judge asked that if the film is banned in cinemas what the government could do to stop it from being available in the markets in CDs.
It questioned the government after it observed that Indian and other movies are easily available after their release in the market
The film based on crime author Hussain Zaidi’s novel ‘Mumbai Avengers’ is set in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and deals with global terrorism.
In the past, Saif Ali Khan's 'Agent Vinod' and Salman Khan's 'Ek Tha Tiger' were also banned from being screened in cinema halls in the country although they are freely available on CDs and DVDs in Pakistan.