21-22 july 2015

India’s 1st indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine tested

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 16 July 2015 successfully tested India’s first indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine generating a nominal thrust of 19 tonnes at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri.

The rocket was hot tested for duration of 800 seconds, which is approximately 25% more than the engine burn duration in flight.

The engine will be used for powering the Cryogenic stage (C25), the upper stage of the next generation GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching four tonne class satellites.

This cryogenic engine of C25 Stage operates on Gas Generator Cycle using extremely low temperature propellants – Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) at 20 Kelvin (-253 deg C) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at 80K (-193 deg C).

The various subsystems of the engine are – regeneratively cooled Thrust Chamber, Gas Generator, LOX and LH2 high speed turbopump systems, flow control components, close loop mixture ratio control system, Pyrogen igniters, fluid systems, etc. The turbopump system rotates at a speed of 36000 rpm with a power level of 2 MW.

This high performance cryogenic engine was conceived, configured and realised by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), the lead centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) responsible for developing liquid propulsion systems for Indian Space Programme.

The Engine design was totally in-house effort with experts from different fields like fluid dynamics, combustion, thermal, structural, metallurgy, fabrication, rotor dynamics, control components, etc., working together. The fabrication of major subsystems of the engine was carried out through Indian Industries. Assembly and Integration of the engine and Testing were carried out in ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), a unit of ISRO.

The recent successful endurance hot test of the first high thrust cryogenic engine is the tenth test in a series of tests planned and executed as part of the development of the engine employing complex cryogenic technology. The performance of the engine closely matches with the pre-test prediction made using the in-house developed cryogenic engine mathematical modelling and simulation software.

Pankaj Munjal appointed as CMD of Hero Motors Group

Pankaj Munjal was on 20 July 2015 appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hero Motors Group. He succeeded O P Munjal, who was elevated to the position of Chairman Emeritus.

Pankaj Munjal joined the Hero group in 1988 as a trainee and was appointed as its Co-Chairman and Managing Director in December 2011.

About Hero Motors Group
Hero Motors is a former moped and scooter manufacturer based in Delhi, India. It is a part of multinational company Hero Group, which currently owns Hero Motocorp and Hero Cycles.

The group comprises cycle major Hero Cycles; auto parts manufacturing companies Hero Motors Ltd, ZF Hero Chassis Systems and Munjal Kiriu Industries; hospitality arm Munjal Hospitality and luxury home decor products company Oma Livings.

Indigenous Visibility Measuring System, DRISHTI, installed at IGI Airport

An indigenously designed and developed Visibility Measuring System DRISHTI was installed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi on 20 July 2015. The CAT III B IGI Airport, New Delhi, is now the first Airport in the country to have 10 indigenous systems operating in all its three runways.

The system developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru will be used for reporting the runway visual range, which is a critical parameter for safe landing and take-off of aircraft in poor visibility conditions (<25 to >2000 meters).

Drishti system
• It is very cost-effective and is a mandatory system required at all airports as per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
• The complete system is engineered in such a way to enable easy installation and maintenance.
• It can perform health monitoring of the system through web enabling from Bengaluru itself.

Earlier, CSIR-NAL and India Meteorological Department (IMD) signed a partnership agreement to jointly execute a mega project for installation of nearly 70 Drishti systems, at various Airports of the country.

The Drishti field site system is completely designed and fabricated at CSIR-NAL. IMD has established the dual mode Landline and Wi-Fi communication along with multiple displays at Air Traffic Control Room and Approach Radar Room.

The data from Drishti systems at IGI Airport can be viewed on a single screen at ATC, which would aid the MET officer to easily report visibility data to pilots.

BCCI constituted IPL working group to study Lodha committee verdict

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 20 July 2015 constituted a working group to study the verdict of the Supreme Court appointed RM Lodha Committee relating to the IPL 2013 scandal.

The four member group includes IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, BCCI secretaryAnurag Thakur, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Choudhuryand former India captain Sourav Ganguly.The panel will be assisted by the BCCI's legal head Usha Nath Banerjee.

The committee will share their recommendations with the Governing Council within a time frame of 6 weeks after consulting all the key stakeholders. The following working group will also prepare the road map for the forthcoming edition of the IPL and related matters.

BCCI's formed the committee after an IPL governing council meeting in Mumbai on 19 July 2015, which was held after the Lodha committee decision. Justice RM Lodha-headed panel on IPL Betting Scandal on 14 July 2015 suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years.

Indian Railways and Odisha Government signed MoU for Dasappla-Bolangir Railway Line

The Union Railways Ministry and the Odisha Government on 20 July 2015 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for implementation of Dasapalla-Bolangir segment of Khurda Road-BolangirNew Broad Gauge Railway Line on cost sharing basis.

The agreement was signed by Ved Parkash Dudeja, Executive Director (Works) Ministry of Railways and Sanjay Rastogi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, Odisha Government.

About Khurda Road-Bolangir Project
Khurda Road-Bolangir (289 km), new broad gauge line project, was taken up by Indian Railways at an anticipated cost of 3050 crore rupees. To complete this project, Odisha Government consented to provide land free of cost and sharing 50 percent of the construction cost for Dasapalla to Bolangir line.

The project will be completed in three years of time after handing over of the land by the state. This Railway line running across the state from east to west will usher the six districts- Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Boudh, Subarnapur and Bolangir into a new era of development.

Railway Network in Odisha
The State of Odisha, being a mineral rich state, has a special place in economic scenario of the country and Indian Railways is aware of its responsibility to cater to the needs of transportation of people and goods.

Today, Odisha stands prominently in Indian Railways network having total length of 2516 km. Rail network density in Odisha is 6.00 km/ lakh of population against national average of 5.44 km/lakh of population.

The signing of MoU by Odisha Government will help in accelerating the development in the districts falling on Khurda-Bolangir line and will help create job opportunities in this naxal-affected state.

Bhanu Pratap Sharma appointed as Chairperson of FSSAI

Bhanu Pratap Sharma was on 20 July 2015 appointed as Chairperson of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with effect from 3 July 2015. Sharma is an IAS officer of 1981 batch from Bihar cadre.

Sharma was given this additional charge of FSSAI for three months or till the appointment of a regular incumbent. Currently, he is the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• FSSAI is a nodal statutory agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health in India through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
• FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and operates under aegis of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food products for human consumption.

UNSC adopted resolution endorsing Iran nuclear deal

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 20 July 2015 unanimously adopted a resolution 2231 (2015) that establishes a monitoring system for Iran’s nuclear programme.

This adoption of the resolution will clear path for removal of all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. It also guarantees that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)will continue to verify Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The resolution 2231 (2015) was supported by representatives of all 15 countries on the Security Council. The Council’s adoption of the current resolution triggers the JCPOA coming into effect in 90 days.

The passing of resolution marks UN endorsement of the JCPOA, which is described as the culmination of diplomatic efforts by the so-calledE3+3– China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – and Iran, to reach a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

The agreement with Iran was reached on 14 July 2015 in Vienna, Austria. In the agreement, Iran reaffirmed that it will under no circumstances ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.

By the resolution, the Security Council also decided that on the date ten years after the JCPOA Adoption Day, as defined in the agreement, all the provisions of this resolution shall be terminated, and none of the previous resolutions shall be applied.

Benoy Behl won the Best Documentary Producer award at Madrid International Film Festival

Film-maker Benoy Behl in fourth week of July 2015 won the Best Documentary Producer award at Madrid International Film Festival. He was awarded for producing and directing a documentary film titledIndian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism.

Bhel shot the documentary for XPD Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, which was released by Ministry of External Affairs in February 2014.

The film is shot extensively in Tibet, Kalmykia in European Russia, Ladakh, Spiti, Arunachal Pradesh, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Karnataka.

The film traces the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism to its roots in ancient India’s Nalanda University and the hundreds of year-old spiritual relationship that India share with Tibet.

The documentary features quotes and analogies from various Tibetan Buddhist teachers and scholars including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Prof Samdhong Rinpoche.

Telugu cartoonist Pamarthy Shankar won Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award

Pamarthy Shankar, a cartoonist working with the prominent Telugu Daily newspaper Sakshi, on 11 July 2015 won the Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award for sketching Nelson Mandela. He was presented the award at Cascais in Portugal by World Press Cartoon Director Antonio Antunes.

A Nelson Mandela caricature drawn by Shankar after the death of the iconic South African anti-apartheid leader in December 2013, fetched him the award for the year 2014. Shankar's caricature was displayed at a World Press Cartoon exhibition at Cascais in Portugal along with the top 50 works by other cartoonists in 2014.

Other two cartoonists who won awards in the caricature category are:
• Alfredo from Argentina, who won the second prize for sketching late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
• Iranian cartoonist Yaser Khanbarai, who won the third prize for sketching US President Barack Obama.

The Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award's jury comprised of globally renowned cartoonists like Adriana Mosquera Soto, Rainer Ehrt, Ferruccio Giromini, Antonio Antunes and Jaume Capdevila.

The World Press Cartoon awards are presented in three categories every year, namely general, caricature and political. The Award carries a cash reward of 10000 Euros (about 800000 rupees).

Telugu cartoonist Pamarthy Shankar won Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award

Workshop held to discuss Pam Rajput Committee’s recommendation on Status of Women

High Level Committee (HLC) on Status of Women headed by Pam Rajput, constituted by former UPA government, was in news in fourth week of July 2015.

The committee came in news after a workshop to discuss its recommendations to generate a working road map to empower women was held in New Delhi on 20 July 2015.

The meeting was called to work out actionable points to empower women on the basis of the report of High Level Committee that is a voluminous report comprising of four parts. The workshop discussed the recommendations under four groups including
• Women and Economy
• Women and Social Empowerment
• Women, Media and Information Technology
• Women and Law and lastly, Institutional Mechanism and Governance

The High Level Committee on Status of Women presented its first copy of the Preliminary Report to the Minister for Women and Child Development, Krishna Tirath on 3 February 2015.

It identified Violence Against Women, Declining Sex Ratio and Economic Disempowerment of Women as three key burning issues which require immediate attention of the nation, and action by the government.

Maurice Obstfeld appointed as Chief Economist of IMF

White House economic adviser Maurice Obstfeld was on 20 July 2015 appointed as Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with effect from 8 September 2015. Obstfeld will succeed outgoing IMF economist Olivier Blanchard.

He will be responsible for handling the IMF's huge, troubled rescue programs for Greece and Ukraine while keeping a close eye on the slowdown in the global economy.

Maurice Obstfeld is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. However, he was on leave from Berkeley since mid-2014 to serve on the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

He is known around the globe for his work on international economics and is considered as one of the most influential macro-economists in the world. Obstfeld has written two influential textbooks on International Economics, one with Nobel Prize winner and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Japanese Cabinet approved Defence White Paper 2015

The Japanese Cabinet on 21 July 2015 approved the Defence White Paper for the year 2015. In the White Paper 2015, the cabinet described the security situation surrounding Japan as increasingly tough. The defence white paper for 2015 examines a range of global threats.

The annual paper was approved after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party rejected a draft version as it had failed to contain any reference to China’s construction of offshore platform in the East China Sea.

Highlights of the Defence White Paper 2015
• In this 400-plus page document, Japan demanded China to stop the construction of a new offshore platform that could be used for military purposes in the East China Sea (ECS).
• Japan also criticized China for its military spending, saying it is now 41 times higher than in fiscal year 1989.
• It referred to successful test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by Democratic People's Republic of Korea, claiming that its nuclear tests pose a significant threat to Japan's security.
• It also pointed to the conflict between Russia and the United States and Europe over the crisis in Ukraine, as well as Moscow's increased military activity in the Asia-Pacific, the Arctic, Europe and near the mainland of the United States.

Japan released its first white paper on defence in 1970 and has been compiling new versions of the Defence White Paper every year since 1976.

Union Government launched National Career Counselling portal

Union Government on 20 July 2015 launched National Career Counselling Portal to modernize all government-run employment exchanges. The portal was launched under the aegis of National Career Service (NCS) project of Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The portal aims to bring on board around 20 million job seekers already registered with employment exchanges across India. It also aspires to bring 900000 establishments and companies on the portal.

NCS project aims at transforming all the government-run employment exchanges.

Highlights of the National Career Counselling portal
• The web portal will be a one-stop platform for both job providers and job seekers where registration can be done online.
• It will offer registration for job aspirants and employers for free. But to avoid misuse, job seekers will be required to link their Aadhar number when registering with the website.
• The companies and organizations will need to submit their society registrations or company registration certificate copies while getting empanelled on the job portal.
• It will provide basic platform for searching and applying for jobs on the portal.
• It will provide candidates career-related counselling either by its helpline numbers or visiting these centres.
• It will also help candidates on job posting, aptitude assessment, job matching, training providers, skill courses and guidance on self-employment and entrepreneurship.

22 july

Noted Hollywood actor Olaf Pooley passed away

Famous Hollywood actor Olaf Pooley passed away on 14 July 2015 following congestive heart failure. He was 101. He is survived by his son Seyton, daughter Kirstie and four grandchildren.

Pooley was most famous for his role as villainous scientist Professor Stahlman in Doctor Who show, which he starred in during the 1970s.

Pooley was also known for his role in another cult series, Star Trek: Voyager, in which he played the Cleric in the 2000 episode Blink of an Eye, which was directed by his then-wife, Gabrielle Beaumont.

He was the oldest-living actor to have starred in both cult classics Doctor Who and Star Trek: Voyager.

He was also a guest director at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and directed Anthony Hopkins in The Waltz of the Toreadors.

However, in the later years, Pooley turned to painting and was a permanent artist in residence at the Santa Monica Art Studios in California.

BCCI announced venues for ICC World Twenty20; Kolkata's Eden Gardens to host final

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 21 July 2015 announced venues for the Men and Women ICC World Twenty20. The World Twenty20 will be hosted by India from the 11 March to 3 April 2016.

BCCI in its press release said that finals of the 2016 World Twenty20 cricket tournament will be held at iconic Eden Gardens ground in Kolkata.

Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi will be the other venues along with Kolkata.

These venues will host the matches subject to fulfilling the prescribed requirements of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI while adhering to the statutory obligations that are mandatory for hosting an international match.

Besides, the BCCI also constituted a tournament managing committee with Jagmohan Dalmiya as its chairman. The other committee members are Anurag Thakur, Amitabh Choudhary, Anirudh Chaudhry, G Ganga Raju, Rajiv Shukla, Ashish Shelar and Ashirbad Behera.

Union Government launched Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on 21 July 2015 launched the Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan, a countrywide campaign, to create mass awareness and capacity building for safe and hygienic food.

The initiative complements the widely popular multi-media campaign Jago Grahak Jago which empowers the consumers of its rights and demands. This campaign, planned by CII and Consumer Organization VOICE, and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), is an effort towards building a culture of food safety in the country.

Under the campaign, nationwide sensitisation sessions on cleaning, hygiene & sanitation for safe food, Walkathons and Media dissemination programmes for Consumers, Street Food Industries will be organized across the country.

The ministry also launched a website and a logo of the campaign and also signed a pledge for adopting safe food practices.

India and Singapore signed agreement to enhance maritime cooperation

India and Singapore on 21 July 2015 signed Technical Agreement (TA) on sharing white-shipping information to enhance maritime cooperation between the two navies. The agreement was signed during the visit of Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan to Singapore.

The White-shipping refers to commercial shipping information about movement of cargo ships.

About Singapore Navy and the Indian Navy
The Singapore Navy and the Indian Navy conduct the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) together annually. In 2015, the SIMBEX was held in May, this was the 22nd in the series.

Both navies also interact regularly through high-level visits, dialogues, joint military training, courses and other professional exchanges.

Hisao Tanaka resigned as CEO and President of Toshiba

Hisao Tanaka on 21 July 2015 resigned as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Toshiba. He will be succeeded by Masashi Muromachi, who is presently the Chairman of Toshiba.

Moreover, Toshiba's other officials Norio Sasaki and Atsutoshi Nishida also resigned as Vice Chairman and Advisor, respectively.

Background
Hisao Tanaka resignation came as a backdrop of appointment of an independent panel by Toshiba which pointed that the firm had overstated its operating profit by a total of 151.8bn yen (1.22 billion US dollar).

The panel submitted a report to the company on 20 July 2015 asserting that top management intended to pad profits and delay reporting losses.

About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include information technology and communications equipment and systems, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, consumer electronics, household appliances, medical equipment, office equipment, lighting and logistics.

New fish species named Puntius Dolichopterus discovered in Kerala

A new species of cyprinid fish christened as Puntius Dolichopterus was discovered from a small water stream in Alappuzha district’s Kayamkulam city of Kerala.

Puntius Dolichopterus that is found in small and shallow water channels has been included in the fish family Cyprinidae. These fishes are edible and can be utilized as ornamental fish.

The fish was discovered, named and described by Mathews Plamoottil, head of the department of zoology, Baby John Memorial Government College, near Kollam city.

The finding of the discovery was published in the latest issue of‘International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology covering July – September 2015 period.

After being examined, this new species also received Zoo bank register number from International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature, the official body approving the new names of animals. Six specimens of this fish have been deposited in the Government Museum (Zoological Survey of India) at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

About Puntius Dolichopterus
• Name of the species dolichopterus has been coined from two Greek words ‘dolikhos’ that means elongated and ‘pteron’ that means wing or fin.
• They are between 7.3 and 8.7 cm in length.
• It is characterised by the longer pectoral fin, shorter dorsal fin, unusually elongated dorsal spine, longer head, lesser number of lateral line scales and pre-dorsal scales.
• It can be further differentiated from its relative species in having 3-4 longitudinal lines present below lateral line
• It carries a silvery body with dorsal fin of light orange red, pectoral and anal fin greenish yellow, ventral fin yellow, caudal fin dusky and an inconspicuous dusky spot present on 21 and 22 scales.
• Its spine of dorsal fin is rigid, strong and long and has a pair of small barbels.

Its relative species namely Puntius nigronotus, Puntius viridis, Puntius nelsoni and Puntius parrah are found in Kerala, Puntius dorsalis are found in Chennai and Puntius chola and Puntius sophore resides in the water bodies of the Ganga River.

Ananth Narayanan appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Myntra

Former McKinsey director Ananth Narayanan on 21 July 2015 was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Flipkart-owned fashion store Myntra. He will assume the charge on 1 October 2015.

He will succeed Myntra’s co-founder Mukesh Bansal who is presently serving as the head of Flipkart's commerce platform.

With the appointment of Narayanan, Bansal will assume the role of Chairman of Board of Myntra and will contribute to Myntra's vision, strategy and overall direction.

Prior to this appointment, he was leading McKinsey’s product development in Asia and its Automotive Practice in India. He has worked with McKinsey for 15 years across four offices, namely Chicago, Shanghai, Taipei and Chennai.

Since, the acquisition of Myntra by Flipkart for more than 300 million US dollars in May 2015, the company in June 2015 also roped in Google Chromecast head Ambarish Kenghe as Senior Vice President and Head of Product.

Union Government extended Interest Subvention Scheme to banks

Union Government on 21 July 2015 extended Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) to Public Sector Banks (PSBs), private sector commercial banks, rural regional banks (RRBs), cooperative banks and NABARD. It was extended to ensure availability of crop loans of up to 3 lakh rupees to farmers at 7 percent per annum.

The decision to continue interest subvention on short term crop loans was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the fiscal 2015-16. The Cabinet also approved an additional interest subvention of 3 percent per annum for those farmers who repay on time.

The government also decided to provide interest subvention to small and marginal farmers with Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for loans against negotiable warehouse receipts post-harvest at annual interest of seven percent for six months.

The government will also give relief to farmers affected by natural calamities, where the interest subvention of two percent will continue to be available to banks for the first year on the restructured amount.

Besides, the Cabinet also approved a Central Agricultural University at Samastipur in Bihar. According to the approval, the existing agricultural university at Pusa will be converted into an international level institution through strengthening of infrastructure, manpower and other provisions.

The cabinet also gave its in-principle nod for the revival of Banana Research Centre at Goraul in Vaishali, Bihar.

SC rejected Union Government’s review plea seeking OBC status for Jats

The Supreme Court of India on 21 July 2015 quashed pleas of Union Government and Jat organizations asking the court to reconsider its verdict that had scrapped the March 2014 notification to include Jats in the central list of the Other Background Classes (OBC) category in nine states.

The two petitioners were seeking to declare the Jat community as socially and economically backward class to grant them OBC reservation.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justice Rohinton F Nariman dismissed the plea and declared Union Government decision to grant OBC status to JAT community as unconstitutional.

Earlier in March 2015, Supreme Court had struck down the Union Government’s decision to grant Jat community reservation in jobs and educational institution, terming it as a reflection of negative and retrograde governance.

Background
UPA government's decision to grant OBC status to the Jat community on the eve of the 2014 General Elections had drawn strong reactions from other backward class communities which viewed the move as vote bank politics.

The NDA government had defended the UPA's decision in the Supreme Court.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) had in its report advised the government against grant of OBC status to Jats. It said the community is not socially and educationally backward to be entitled to a share in 27 percent OBC quota in jobs and admission to educational institutions. The NCBC had also said that the community is adequately represented in armed forces, government services and educational institutions.

Committee to draft bill for protection of indigenous people of Manipur constituted

State Government of Manipur on 21 July 2015 constituted a five-member committee to draft a bill for the protection of indigenous people of the state. The committee will be headed by State Law Minister Thoudam Debendra Singh.

Other members of the committee will include three MLAs namely Dr Bijoy Singh, N Biren and RK Anand. Special Secretary (Home) M Yaiskul will be the convener.

The committee has been asked to submit the draft bill at the earliest so that state government may introduce the bill in the state legislative assembly within one month.

The committee may co-opt representatives of the Joint Committee on Inner-Line Permit System (JCILPS) as its members.

The committee was constituted in backdrop of withdrawal of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVTMW) Bill, 2015. The decision to withdraw the MRVTMW Bill was unanimously taken on 15 July 2015.

After the decision, the state’s Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that he would introduce a new Bill related to the implementation of ILP system, as desired by the people of Manipur, within three months.

NDRI scientists developed technique to decrease cholesterol level in Ghee

A team of scientists at National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal of Haryana in July 2015 developed a technique to decrease cholesterol level in Ghee (clear butter). Best part of this technique is that ghee produced using this technique has been found up to the prescribed standards.

Use of this technique will help in reducing the level of cholesterol in Ghee up to 85 to 90 percent. It also does not affect the taste and quality of the ghee.

NDRI has transferred the technology to Vaishal Patliputra Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Ltd, Patna (popularly known as Patna Dairy Project) as per the memorandum of understanding signed between the two bodies. The officials of the Patna dairy has planned to launch the product within two months.