Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare launched new initiatives to
combat Tuberculosis
23-MAR-2016
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on 21 March 2016 launched three new initiatives to combat Tuberculosis (TB).
The initiatives were launched to mark the World Tuberculosis day that is observed annually on 24 March.
Details related to the new initiatives
Bedaquiline Drug
• The new anti-TB drug was launched to combat Drug Resistant TB as part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
• It is a new class of drug is a diarylquinoline that specifically targets Mycobacterial ATP synthase, an enzyme essential for supply of energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most other mycobacteria.
• It will available at six identified tertiary care centres across the country. These sites have advanced facilities for laboratory testing and intensive care for patients.
• It will be given to multi-drug resistant TB patients with resistance to either all fluoroquinolone and/or all second line injectables and extensive drug resistant TB.
500 Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines
• These are in addition to the existing 121 CBNAAT machines that are functional in the country.
• The CBNAAT is a revolutionary rapid molecular test which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance, simultaneously.
• This test is fully automated and provides results within two hours.
• It is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool and can be used in remote and rural areas without sophisticated infrastructure or specialized training.
• This highly sensitive state-of-art technology will be used for diagnosis of TB among key populations like children, PLHIV and extra pulmonary TB patients.
Third line ART programme for People
Living with HIV
• The life-saving third line antiretroviral therapy (ART) will cost nearly 1.18 lakh rupees per patient per year.
• Providing these free would not only safe lives but improve socioeconomic conditions of the patients. This initiative brings India’s ART programme at par with programmes in the developed countries.
Along with these initiatives the Minister also released the TB India 2016 Annual Report and the Technical and Operational Guidelines for TB Control in India 2016.
These comprehensive set of guidelines are for management of all forms of TB, including drug resistant TB, strategies for intensified case finding and single-window care for patients suffering from HIV and TB.
And, a new radio campaign with TB ambassador Amitabh Bachchanand social media campaign were also launched on this occasion.
India’s Agasthyamala Biosphere
Reserve among 20 World Heritage
Sites added by UNESCO
23-MAR-2016
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was on 19 March 2016 included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It is one among the 20 new sites adopted by the council to its Network.
It was included at the meeting of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme of UNESCO in Lima.
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
• Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Ghats, in the southern part of India.
• The biosphere reserve includes peaks reaching 1868 meters above sea level and comprises mostly of tropical forests.
• It is home to 2254 species of higher plants including about 400 that are endemic.
• It is also a unique genetic reservoir of cultivated plants especially cardamom, jamune, nutmeg, pepper and plantain.
• The site includes three wildlife sanctuaries, Shendurney, Peppara, Neyyar and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve.
Besides Agasthyamala, 17 national sites and one trans-boundary site shared between Spain and Portugal were also included in the UNESCO’s Network of Biosphere Reserve. The Council also approved 9 extensions to existing Biosphere Reserves.
Following the withdrawal of two sites at the request of Austria, the total number of biosphere reserves now stands at 669 in 120 countries, including 16 trans-boundary sites.
List of World Network of Biosphere
Reserves 2016
• Monts de Tlemcen (Algeria)
• Beaver Hills (Canada)
• Tsá Tué (Canada)
• Lake Bosomtwe (Ghana)
• La Hotte (Haiti)
• Agasthyamala (India)
• Balambangan (Indonesia)
• Hamoun (Iran)
• Collina Po (Italy)
• Barsakelmes (Kazakhstan)
• Belo-sur-Mer—Kirindy-Mitea (Madagascar)
• Isla Cozumel (Mexico)
• Atlas Cedar (Morocco)
• Gran Pajaten (Peru)
• Albay (Philippines)
• Fajas de Sao Jorge (Portugal)
• Tejo/Tajo (Portugal and Spain)
• Jozani-Chwaka Bay (Tanzania)
• Isle of Man (United Kingdom)
The Man and the Biosphere Programme
It was created by UNESCO in the early 1970s as an intergovernmental scientific endeavour to improve relations between people around the world and their natural environment. Biosphere reserves are places for learning about sustainable development aiming to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with the sustainable use of natural resources.
New reserves are designated each year by the International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme, which brings together elected representatives of 34 UNESCO Member States.
World Poetry Day 2016 observed
globally
23-MAR-2016
21 March-World Poetry Day
World Poetry Day was observed across the world on 21 March 2016. The main objective of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.
It is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster.
UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999 to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.
How World Poetry Day is celebrated?
Each country is invited to celebrate the day of 21 March in its own way, with the active participation of National Commissions, NGOs and the public and private institutions concerned (schools, municipalities, poetic communities, museums, associations, publishing houses, local authorities and so on).
For its part, UNESCO will endeavour to encourage and support national initiatives designed, inter alia, to:
• further the introduction of poetry as an important feature of arts education in school curricula;
• raise awareness in schools so that World Poetry Day will be celebrated in the most interdisciplinary way possible by and in schools;
• encourage the award of poetry prizes;
• mobilize municipal authorities so that they will contribute actively to the preparation and celebration of World Poetry Day; and
• promote the creation of a network of prizes in each Member State (and Associate Member);
• elaborate an electronic repertoire of poetic institutions and/or associations in different.
Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare launched new initiatives to
combat Tuberculosis
23-MAR-2016
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on 21 March 2016 launched three new initiatives to combat Tuberculosis (TB).
The initiatives were launched to mark the World Tuberculosis day that is observed annually on 24 March.
Details related to the new initiatives
Bedaquiline Drug
• The new anti-TB drug was launched to combat Drug Resistant TB as part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).
• It is a new class of drug is a diarylquinoline that specifically targets Mycobacterial ATP synthase, an enzyme essential for supply of energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most other mycobacteria.
• It will available at six identified tertiary care centres across the country. These sites have advanced facilities for laboratory testing and intensive care for patients.
• It will be given to multi-drug resistant TB patients with resistance to either all fluoroquinolone and/or all second line injectables and extensive drug resistant TB.
500 Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid
Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines
• These are in addition to the existing 121 CBNAAT machines that are functional in the country.
• The CBNAAT is a revolutionary rapid molecular test which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance, simultaneously.
• This test is fully automated and provides results within two hours.
• It is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool and can be used in remote and rural areas without sophisticated infrastructure or specialized training.
• This highly sensitive state-of-art technology will be used for diagnosis of TB among key populations like children, PLHIV and extra pulmonary TB patients.
Third line ART programme for People
Living with HIV
• The life-saving third line antiretroviral therapy (ART) will cost nearly 1.18 lakh rupees per patient per year.
• Providing these free would not only safe lives but improve socioeconomic conditions of the patients. This initiative brings India’s ART programme at par with programmes in the developed countries.
Along with these initiatives the Minister also released the TB India 2016 Annual Report and the Technical and Operational Guidelines for TB Control in India 2016.
These comprehensive set of guidelines are for management of all forms of TB, including drug resistant TB, strategies for intensified case finding and single-window care for patients suffering from HIV and TB.
And, a new radio campaign with TB ambassador Amitabh Bachchanand social media campaign were also launched on this occasion.
India’s Agasthyamala Biosphere
Reserve among 20 World Heritage
Sites added by UNESCO
23-MAR-2016
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was on 19 March 2016 included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It is one among the 20 new sites adopted by the council to its Network.
It was included at the meeting of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme of UNESCO in Lima.
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
• Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Ghats, in the southern part of India.
• The biosphere reserve includes peaks reaching 1868 meters above sea level and comprises mostly of tropical forests.
• It is home to 2254 species of higher plants including about 400 that are endemic.
• It is also a unique genetic reservoir of cultivated plants especially cardamom, jamune, nutmeg, pepper and plantain.
• The site includes three wildlife sanctuaries, Shendurney, Peppara, Neyyar and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve.
Besides Agasthyamala, 17 national sites and one trans-boundary site shared between Spain and Portugal were also included in the UNESCO’s Network of Biosphere Reserve. The Council also approved 9 extensions to existing Biosphere Reserves.
Following the withdrawal of two sites at the request of Austria, the total number of biosphere reserves now stands at 669 in 120 countries, including 16 trans-boundary sites.
List of World Network of Biosphere
Reserves 2016
• Monts de Tlemcen (Algeria)
• Beaver Hills (Canada)
• Tsá Tué (Canada)
• Lake Bosomtwe (Ghana)
• La Hotte (Haiti)
• Agasthyamala (India)
• Balambangan (Indonesia)
• Hamoun (Iran)
• Collina Po (Italy)
• Barsakelmes (Kazakhstan)
• Belo-sur-Mer—Kirindy-Mitea (Madagascar)
• Isla Cozumel (Mexico)
• Atlas Cedar (Morocco)
• Gran Pajaten (Peru)
• Albay (Philippines)
• Fajas de Sao Jorge (Portugal)
• Tejo/Tajo (Portugal and Spain)
• Jozani-Chwaka Bay (Tanzania)
• Isle of Man (United Kingdom)
The Man and the Biosphere
Programme
It was created by UNESCO in the early 1970s as an intergovernmental scientific endeavour to improve relations between people around the world and their natural environment. Biosphere reserves are places for learning about sustainable development aiming to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with the sustainable use of natural resources.
New reserves are designated each year by the International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme, which brings together elected representatives of 34 UNESCO Member States.
World Poetry Day 2016 observed
globally
23-MAR-2016
21 March-World Poetry Day
World Poetry Day was observed across the world on 21 March 2016. The main objective of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.
It is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster.
UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999 to recognise the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.
How World Poetry Day is celebrated?
Each country is invited to celebrate the day of 21 March in its own way, with the active participation of National Commissions, NGOs and the public and private institutions concerned (schools, municipalities, poetic communities, museums, associations, publishing houses, local authorities and so on).
For its part, UNESCO will endeavour to encourage and support national initiatives designed, inter alia, to:
• further the introduction of poetry as an important feature of arts education in school curricula;
• raise awareness in schools so that World Poetry Day will be celebrated in the most interdisciplinary way possible by and in schools;
• encourage the award of poetry prizes;
• mobilize municipal authorities so that they will contribute actively to the preparation and celebration of World Poetry Day; and
• promote the creation of a network of prizes in each Member State (and Associate Member);
• elaborate an electronic repertoire of poetic institutions and/or associations in different.
8th BRICS Summit to be held in Goa
23-MAR-2016
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 22 March 2016 announced that India will host the 8th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit from 15 October to 16 October 2016 in Goa.
India will host the summit in its capacity as chair of the influential bloc comprising five countries with 42% of the world population and combined GDP of over 16 trillion US dollars.
India assumed chairmanship of BRICS from Russia on 15 February 2016 and it will last till 31 December 2016.
The minister also unveiled a logo and a website of the Summit in New Delhi. The logo for the Summit is a lotus having colours from all the five member countries and a traditional Namaste in the centre.
The theme of India’s BRICS Chairmanship is Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions.
During India's BRICS Chairmanship,
five-pronged approach will be adopted.
They are:
• Institution building to further deepen, sustain and institutionalise BRICS cooperation
• Implementation of the decisions from previous Summits
• Integrating the existing cooperation mechanisms
• Innovation: New cooperation mechanisms on government-to-government, Track-II, business-to-business and people-to-people to tap the full potential of BRICS cooperation
• Continuity: Continuation of mutually agreed existing BRICS cooperation mechanisms.
In 2015, the seventh BRICS summit was held from 8 to 9 July in the Russian city of Ufa in Bashkortostan.
World Meteorological Day 2016 observed with the theme Hotter, Drier, Wetter. Face the Future
23-MAR-2016
23 March: World Meteorological Day
The World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2016 was observed across the world on 23 March 2016. The theme for the WMD 2016 was Hotter, Drier, Wetter. Face the Future.
The theme of WMD 2016 tries to bring focus on the climate change that is disrupting the natural pattern of the seasons. The climate change is also increasing the frequency and intensity of certain extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall. These ongoing changes provide a foretaste of a hotter, drier, wetter future.
Every year on the occasion of WMD, awards for meteorological research are also given. These awards include The International Meteorological Organization Prize, Professor Dr. Vilho Vaisaila Award and The Norbert Gerbier-Mumm International Award.
23 March is celebrated as World Meteorological Day to commemorate the entry into force of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Convention in 1950 aimed at creating the organisation.
WMO became the UN's specialized agency for meteorology, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences in 1951. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. At present, WMO is represented by 189 member states and territories.
The theme for World Meteorological Day 2015 was Climate Knowledge for Climate Action.
Punjab Legislative Assembly passed
the Punjab Settlement of Agricultural
Indebtedness Bill, 2016
23-MAR-2016
Punjab Legislative Assembly on 22 March 2016 passed The Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtedness Bill, 2016. The bill specifies that the interest payable on debt shall be calculated at such rate as may be notified by the government.
Features of the Bill
• This would be in accordance with the interest rates charged by banks on yearly basis.
• The bill, aimed at providing fair and expeditious settlement of agriculturists debt-related disputes.
• It also specifies that the pledged property of the debtor who has repaid to the creditor double or more than double the principal amount or pays any amount which makes the total repayment equal to double the principal amount shall stand released and debt deemed to be discharged.
• Legislation also proposed that on and from the commencement of the Act, no Civil Court shall entertain any new suit filed for the recovery of any debt covered under the Act.
• Once the Act is enforced, any suit pending before a civil court, in respect of any such debt shall be transferred by that court to the Forum having jurisdiction in the matter.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change notified environment
standards for Gensets
23-MAR-2016
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on 22 March 2016 notified new environment standards for Gensets running on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)/Natural Gas (NG), Diesel with LPG/NG and Petrol with LPG/NG operated in various cities/towns in India.
The standards for Gensets running on
LPG/NG, or in combination with
diesel/petrol have been notified for
the first time.
The primary aim of the new standards for Gensets is to control air and noise pollution emanating from the operation of Gensets. These standards were recommended by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) after consultations with industries and other stakeholders.
In all, the three fuel modes of operation, a three-tier classification have been adopted.
Key highlights of the new standards:
• These standards will control the air and noise emission profile across different category of Gensets and will be revisited in 4-5 years once air and noise emission quality data and technological details pertaining to Gensets are available.
• These standards have mandated certification for Gensets in terms of Type approval and Conformity of Production for air emission as well as noise emission.
• The manufacturers are required to obtain the certification for engine products by empanelled agencies, which will help in regulating the unorganised sector thereby help in curbing the illegal import of Gensets in the country, which were observed to have higher air and noise emission values.
Justice H L Dattu appointed as member of International Coordinating Committee Bureau
23-MAR-2016
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu on 22 March 2016 was appointed a member of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) Bureau in Geneva.
NHRC, India will now be representing Asia-Pacific Region along with Mongolia, Qatar and Australia.
No other National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) from the Asia Pacific region nominated a candidate against Dattu to fill the position of a member vacated by the representative of NHRI of South-Korea.
About International Coordinating
Committee of National Human Rights
Institutions
• The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) is a global network of NHRIs administrative bodies set up to promote, protect and monitor human rights in a given country.
• The ICC coordinates the relationship between NHRIs and the United Nations human rights system.
• The ICC Bureau is an important human rights body, which serves as the Management Committee of the ICC.
• The ICC Bureau implements all the decisions of the ICC General Meetings and directs the operations of the ICC between these meetings.
• All sub-committees and working groups report to the ICC Bureau.
Union Government released Detailed
Project Report on Forestry
Interventions for Ganga
23-MAR-2016
Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti on 22 March 2016 released the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Forestry Intervention for Ganga.
The DPR envisioned policy and law interventions, concurrent research, monitoring and evaluation, and mass awareness campaigns to rejuvenate and develop forests in the Ganga River basin.
Highlights of the Detailed Project
Report
• Extensive plantations in natural, agriculture and urban landscapes besides conservation interventions such as soil and water conservation, riparian wildlife management, wetland management, and supporting activities were proposed in the report.
• Altogether, 40 different plantation and treatment models have been selected for implementation by Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• The project will be implemented over a period of five years by the State Forest Departments of these five states in Phase-I (2016-2021).
• The project envisages active involvement of two battalions of Eco Task Force in the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh for raising plantations in difficult terrains.
• The State Forest Departments in five states are also expected to involve ITBP, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Civil Society organizations for various proposed activities including monitoring and awareness campaigns.
Preparation of the Detailed Project
Report
• The DPR has been prepared by Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun after extensive consultations with various stakeholders and incorporating science based methodology.
• This included use of remote sensing and GIS technologies for spatial analysis and modeling of pre-delineated Ganga riverscape covering 83946 sq.km out of a much larger Ganga River basin within the country.
• FRI designed four sets of field data formats to obtain the site based information on proposed forestry plantations in natural, agriculture and urban landscapes along the river course and other conservation interventions.
• More than 8000 data sheets were obtained from five states along the river course.
• The FRI also developed software to collate, analyze and report generation on potential plantation and treatment models.
Union Government used telephone
feedback mechanism under CPGRMS
for the first time for grievance
redressal
23-MAR-2016
CPGRMS: Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System
The abbreviation CPGRMS was in news on 22 March 2016 as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh initiated a telephone feedback mechanism under the CPGRMS for the first time.
Using this facility, feedback regarding the response given by the officials will be collected from the complainants who used the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.
Features of the CPGRMS
• The Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) is a web based portal to receive grievances from citizens on the functioning of Government.
• It was launched in 2007 to improve public service delivery and making governments citizen-centric.
• The portal also allows senior officials to monitor the progress of redressal of grievances at different levels.
• Between June 2014 and February 2016 around 12 lakhs grievances were registered. At present, on an average 1500 grievances are disposed off in a day and nearly 45000 grievances in a month.
• Around 12000 officers across the departments were designated by the Union Government for processing the grievances registered under the portal.
• It has been designed and implemented in all the Ministries and Departments of Government of India. A customized software with local language interface has also been designed for the state governments. This software is called CPGRAMS - States.
• The state module of CPGRAMS has been implemented in 9 States/Union Territories namely Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttrakhand, Jharkhand and Punjab.
• In October 2015, a mobile application for the portal was launched that provides for a Quick Response (QR) code which can be scanned on to the smart phone after which the grievance can be sent from the phone directly on to CPGRAMS.
Union Government launched Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana
23-MAR-2016
The Union Finance Minister Aurn Jaitley on 22 March 2016 launched the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana in Mumbai.
The revamped scheme is aimed at reducing distress in the farm sector and to boost the agricultural sector in the country.
On this occassion, the Minister also launched the NABARD Agri-Credit Monitoring portal to help financial institutions to monitor the status of agricultural loans given to farmer and unveiled the Roadmap of E-Shakti Expansion Programme of digitization of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bhima Yojana
• To avail the scheme, farmers will pay a uniform premium of only 2 percent for all Kharif crops and 1.5 percent for all Rabi crops.
• In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, farmers will pay a premium of only 5 percent.
• The balance premium, after farmers paying the premium at very low rate, will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
• There will not be any upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90 percent, it will be borne by the Government.
Significance of the scheme
• Compared to the previous agriculture insurance schemes, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana is significant due to the following reasons -
• Under the previous agriculture insurance schemes, there was a provision of capping the premium rate which resulted in low claims being paid to farmers. This capping limited the Government outgo on the premium subsidy.
• Now, this capping was removed and farmers will get full sum insured without any reduction against their claim. Also, farmers will have to pay much lower premiums compared to the previous schemes.
• While formulating the scheme, localized risks, including post harvest losses were also taken into account to ensure no farmer is alone in times of distress.
• The usage of technology will be encouraged to a great extent. Smart phones will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers.
• Remote sensing technology will also be deployed to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
Union Government and Industry
Association signed MoU for effective
redressal of consumer complaints
23-MAR-2016
Department of Consumer Affairs under the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on 22 March 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Industry Association for effective redressal of consumer complaints.
Under the MoU, the Industry Association comprising ASSOCHAM, CII, DICCI, FICCI and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry will implement six-point agenda to address consumer complaints.
The MoU will broadly cover the
following areas under six-point
agenda:
• Collaborative programmes on developing and implementing a self-regulated code of fair business practices
• Establishing a Consumer Affairs division/vertical within the Industry Body
• Initiating advocacy action against unfair trade practices and preventing fake
• Counterfeit and sub-standard products and services and adoption of voluntary standards by Industry members
• Earmarking of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) funds for consumer awareness and protection activities
• Partnering with the National Consumer Helpline and State Consumer Helplines for grievance redressal;
• Launching joint consumer awareness, education and training programmes under the “Jago Grahak Jago”
Three priority areas under six-point
agenda
The six-point agenda will cover three priority areas, namely
• Redressal of consumer grievances
• Enhancement of consumer awareness
• Protection and action against misleading advertisements, fake and counterfeit products.
A Joint Working Group will monitor the implementation of agenda.
Besides, a self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct and video spots on consumer advocacy by the Industry Bodies was also released during the celebrations of World Consumer Rights Day 2016.
Germany’s Nico Rosberg won 2016
Australian Grand Prix
23-MAR-2016
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany on 20 March 2016 won the 2016 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
Rosberg's 15th Formula One victory was also his fourth in succession after he won the final three races of last season.
Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, winner of 2015 Australian Grand Prix, secured the second place in the race.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany came third for Ferrari after leading for much of the race.
Results of the Australian Grand Prix
|
Ranking |
Player |
Team |
|
1 |
Nico Rosberg |
Mercedes |
|
2 |
Lewis Hamilton |
Mercedes |
|
3 |
Sebastian Vettel |
Ferrari |
|
4 |
Daniel Ricciardo |
Red Bull Racing |
|
5 |
Felipe Massa |
Williams |
|
6 |
Romain Grosjean |
Haas |
|
7 |
Nico Hulkenberg |
Force India |
|
8 |
Valtteri Bottas |
Williams |
|
9 |
Carlos Sainz |
Toro Rosso |
|
10 |
Max Verstappen |
Toro Rosso |
About Australian Grand Prix
• The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually in Australia, currently under contract to host Formula One until 2023.
• The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 79 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928.
• Since 1985, the race has been a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship and is currently held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne.
• Prior to its inclusion in the World Championship, it was held at a multitude of venues in every state of Australia.
• It became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1985.
• The winner of the race is presented with a circular plate, recently named the Jack Brabham trophy, and a perpetual trophy, the Lex Davison trophy.
Brussels came under terrorist attack;
Scores killed
23-MAR-2016
Brussels: The capital city of Belgium
Brussels was in news on 22 March 2016 as the city came under terrorist attack. A series of explosions, claimed by the Islamic State, took place at the Zaventem Airport and Maalbeek metro station killing at least 34 people and injuring more than 200.
With this attack, Belgium became the second European capital that came under terrorist attack in a span of less than 5 months.
Earlier, on 13 November 2015, Terrorists attacked six locations around Paris killing around 130 civilians and injuring another 200 people and security personnel.
However, the attack on Belgium is of more strategic concern as the headquarters of both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) are located in this city.
Nepal became Dialogue Partner of
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
23-MAR-2016
Nepal on 22 March 2016 became a dialogue partner of the Beijing-based regional security grouping, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Nepal was officially made a dialogue partner after a memorandum was signed during the Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visit to China.
As a dialogue partner, Nepal will be able to participate in the multi-field cooperation of the Organisation.
Beside Nepal, Azerbaijan also officially became a SCO dialogue partner on 21 March 2016 upon the signing of a similar memorandum.
About Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO)
• SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization which was established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
• India, Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are observer states.
• Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are the dialogue partners of the organization before the recently joined Nepal and Azerbaijan
• Its prototype is the Shanghai Five mechanism.
Main goals of the SCO are
• Strengthening mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries;
• Promoting effective cooperation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture as well as education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields;
• Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, moving towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order
OECD released Standardised e-format
for Exchange of Country-by-Country
reports to assist Tax Administration
23-MAR-2016
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 22 March 2016 released its standardised electronic format for the exchange of Country-by-Country (CbC) reports between jurisdictions -- CbC XML Schema - along with the related user guide.
The CbC reports are electronically transmitted between competent authorities in accordance with the CbC XML Schema. These will assist tax administrations in obtaining a complete understanding of the way in which Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) structure their operations.
Through this format, tax authorities would be annually provided key information on the global allocation of income and taxes paid, together with other indicators of the location of economic activity within the MNE group.
Information for the CbC report would be collected by the country of residence of the reporting entity for MNE group. Subsequently, the same would be exchanged under the relevant international exchange of information agreement, in particular the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Exchange of CbC reports in the format of the CbC XML Schema.
It also covers the information about the particular entities that will do the business in a particular jurisdiction and the business activities each entity engages in.
CbC XML Schema
• It is part of efforts to ensure the swift and efficient implementation of the BEPS measures, which was endorsed by the G-20 leaders as part of the final BEPS package in November 2015.
• The first exchanges of CbC reports will start in 2018, with information on the year 2016.
• The country-by-country reporting template does not apply to groups with annual consolidated revenue in the immediately preceding fiscal year of less than 750 million euros.
• The OECD/G20 BEPS Project seeks to ensure that profits are reported where economic activities are carried out and value created.
• The overall aim is to close the gaps in existing international rules that allow corporate profits to disappear or be artificially shifted to low or no tax environments, where companies have little or no economic activity.
• It is primarily designed to be used for the automatic exchange of CbC reports between competent authorities.
• In recent times, India and many other countries have strengthened their cooperation on tax matters as part of ways to prevent illicit fund flows.
Background
Paris-based OECD has prepared a standardised electronic format for information exchange to help tax authorities have a better understanding about the way multinational firms structure their operations as India and other countries are stepping up vigil against tax evasion.
The move is part of larger efforts, agreed upon by G-20 countries, including India, to clamp down on activities that lead to Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).
Indian Coast Guard vessel Arnvesh
commissioned
24-MAR-2016
The Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), ICGS Arnvesh, of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was commissioned on 21 March 2016 in Visakhapatnam.
The vessel was commissioned by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht.
The ship is mainly intended to undertake surveillance at sea, coastal patrol, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.
Arnvesh is the 16th vessel among the 20 vessels in this category being constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
Key highlights of ICGS Arnvesh
• Arnvesh is equipped with the most-advanced navigational and communication sensors and equipment, including night vision capabilities.
• It is fitted with 40/60 Bofors gun onboard as main armament.
• The 300-tonne and 50-m long vessel is propelled by triple Rolls Royce Kamewa water jets and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots.
Union Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare launched Longitudinal Ageing
Study in India
24-MAR-2016
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 22 March 2016 launched the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI).
The Longitudinal Ageing Study is the largest survey of its kind. It will survey more than 60000 elderly over 25 years plan. The survey will provide scientifically validated data on various issues of the elderly.
The study will be important as it will investigate various health structures, and impact of social determinants on health of the elderly. It will also help in framing evidence-based policy.
About Longitudinal Ageing Study in
India
• LASI is the largest study on older population in the country.
• The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and University of Southern California (USC), USA is undertaking the LASI under the aegis of the Ministry of Union Health and Family Welfare.
• LASI is jointly funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the United States’ National Institute on Ageing, and the United Nations Population Fund-India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
inaugurated broadband connectivity to
NE States via Bangladesh
24-MAR-2016
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 March 2016 inaugurated broadband connectivity to North Eastern States via Bangladesh to strengthen telecom services in the region.
Under the project, an international gateway for broadband connectivity will be set up at Agartala in Tripura.
Using this platform, connectivity will be provided to other North Eastern States like Manipur, Nagaland, etc through Bangladesh.
The cost of the project is around 19 crore rupees and BSNL will bear annual operational expenditure of around seven crore rupees from its own resources.
Background
During the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015, an agreement on this project was signed between India and Bangladesh. The agreement was signed between the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company limited.
Before this link, telecom connectivity for networks was provided to North East from Chennai via Kolkata. The new link is a short route cable between Cox Bazar cable landing station in Bangladesh to Agartala through Akhaura.
NGT fined Uttarakhand-based
developer DHDPL 20 lakh rupees for
construction on Ganga floodplain
24-MAR-2016
National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 22 March 2016 fined 20 lakh rupees on Uttarakhand-based Darrameks Hotels and Developers Pvt Ltd (DHDPL) for construction on Ganga floodplains.
It was fined for constructing a hotel within 200 meters from the Ganga river bank.
Main Highlights of the Order
- It slapped the environmental compensation on the developer for violating the order passed by Uttarakhand High Court. In the said order, the HC had prohibited construction of any commercial unit within 200 meter of the river bank.
- DHDPL also violated the conditions set in the Consent to Establish issued by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB).
- The developer through the use of JCBs (mechanical excavators) for levelling the area has disturbed the immediate/direct catchment of the River Ganga by changing the drainage pattern.
- It also pulled up Uttarakhand government for issuing No Objection Certificate (NoC) to the hotel, located adjacent to the river, without inspecting the site in question.
- It constituted a committee headed by Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to inspect the site in district Tehri Garhwal of Uttarakhand and give its recommendations with respect to the hotel project and its impact on Ganga.
- It directed the committee to submit its report within four weeks and prohibited DHDPL from further construction on the area till the time the panel submits its report.
The judgement came on a petition filed by Rajiv Savara, a chartered accountant. In the petition he had alleged that illegal commercial construction on the river bank was posing a serious threat to the ecology and causing irreparable damage to the river.
9th International Abilympics started in
France
24-MAR-2016
9th International Abilympics started on 23 March 2016 at Bordeaux in France. Abilympics is coined from Olympics of abilitiesof persons with disabilities.
It is a global work skills competition held every four years. The event aims to promote social awareness in the field of skills development and employment both locally and internationally, and foster friendship among the competing nations.
Abilympics
The name Abilympics comes from the idea of organizing a competition to promote the skills of persons with disabilities. It combines Abilities with the idea of the Olympics.
The concept was developed in Japan in 1972 based on the model of the skills competition named WorldSkills and on the Paralympic Games.
That year, the first national final of the Abilympics was held in Tokyo under the banner Acquiring professional skills leads to a bright future.
The International Abilympics Federation (IAF) was officially created during the 3rd International Abilympics in Hong-Kong in 1991.
The others countries which hosted the Abilympics are Australian in 1995, Czech Republic in 2000, India in 2003, Japan in 2007 and Korea in 2011.
World Tuberculosis Day 2016 observed
with theme Unite to End TB
24-MAR-2016
24 March: World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) 2016 was globally observed on 24 March 2016 with the theme Unite to End TB.
The theme was selected against the backdrop of the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
The Goal 3 of the Agenda aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, including a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030.
About World Tuberculosis Day
• It is annually celebrated on 24 March to commemorate the day on which Dr. Robert Koch discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus in 1882.
• The day aims to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease.
• It is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The other seven includes World Health Day (7 April), World Blood Donor Day (14 June), World Immunization Week (24-30 April), World Malaria Day (25 April), World No Tobacco Day (31 May), World Hepatitis Day (28 July) and World AIDS Day (1 December).
WHO’s End TB Strategy
• In May 2014, at the World Health Assembly, governments agreed on an ambitious 20-year (2016-2035) strategy to end the global TB epidemic.
• The strategy envisions a world free of TB with zero deaths, disease and suffering.
• It also sets targets and outlines actions for governments and partners to provide patient-centered care, pursue policies and systems that enable prevention and care, and drive research and innovations needed to end the epidemic and eliminate TB.
About Tuberculosis
• It is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs.
• It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease.
• It is the second biggest killer next only to HIV/AIDS worldwide.
• As per an estimate, around 9 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died in 2013. In India, one person dies every two minutes due to this disease.
• TB can be completely cured if proper and regular medication is taken.
Justice (retd) Permod Kohli appointed
Chairman of Central Administrative
Tribunal
24-MAR-2016
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 23 March 2016 approved the appointment of Justice (retd) Permod Kohli as the Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). He is a former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.
He was appointed for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or till attaining the age of 68 year, whichever is earlier.
About Justice (retd) Permod Kohli
• Born in 1951 in the town of Rajouri, Jammu and Kasmir, he joined Bar at Jammu in 1972.
• He became Advocate General of Jammu & Kashmir in December 1990.
• He is an expert in Constitutional, Civil and Taxation cases
• He remained Legal Advisor to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Sri Mata Vaishno Devi University till elevation.
• He as Judge has provided services to the High Courts of Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and Punjab & Haryana.
• In 2011, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
About Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
• Article 323A of Part 14A of the Indian Constitution provides for establishment of CAT and was inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
• It was constituted in November 1985 under Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. It was set up at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Allahabad.
• The CAT is headed by a Chairman who is a sitting or retired Judge of a High Court. Besides the Chairman, the authorized strength consists of 16 Vice-Chairmen and 49 Members.
• The Tribunal follows the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and the procedure, prescribed by Evidence Act or Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) does not apply.
• Today, there are 17 Benches of the Tribunal located throughout the country wherever the seat of a High Court is located, with 33 Division Benches.