9-10 MARCH 2016 ENG

UNFPA, UNICEF launched Global

Programme to Accelerate Action to End

Child Marriage

09-MAR-2016

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on 8 March 2016 jointly launched the Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage.

It is a multi-country initiative and is part of a global effort to prevent girls from marrying too young.

Features of the Programme

• It will help protect the rights of millions of the world’s most vulnerable girls by involving families, communities, governments and young people.

• It will support those already married as girls in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East where child marriage rates are high.

• As part of this global programme, both the agencies will work with governments of countries with a high prevalence of child marriage

• It seeks to uphold the rights of adolescent girls, so that girls can reach their potential and countries can attain their social and economic development goals.

• It will focus on proven strategies, including increasing girls’ access to education and health care services, educating parents and communities on the dangers of child marriage.

• It will strive towards increasing economic support to families and strengthening and enforcing laws that establish 18 as the minimum age of marriage.

• It will emphasize the importance of using robust data to inform policies related to adolescent girls.

• It is being supported by Canada, the European Union, Italy, Netherlands, and the UK.

Significance of the Programme

• Child marriage is a violation of the rights of girls and women.

• Girls who are married as children are more likely to be out of school, suffer domestic violence, contract HIV/AIDS and die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

• The successful execution of the programme is critical because it affects 15 million girls a year.

• If current trends continue, the number of girls and women married as children will reach nearly 1 billion by 2030.

• Child marriage hurts economies and leads to intergenerational cycles of poverty.

• The programme supports the Target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals that vouches for elimination of child marriage by 2030.

• The Target 5.3 mandates elimination of all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations.

IAEA to transfer Sterile Insect

Technique under 2.3 Million Euro

Project to Combat Zika

09-MAR-2016

The Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 8 March 2016 approved a 2.3 million euro initiative to help Latin American and the Caribbean countries fight against Zika virus. The spread of the virus will be tackled with a nuclear technique that has been used to suppress various insect pests.

Under this project, IAEA will transfer the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), a form of pest control that uses ionizing radiation to sterilize male insects mass-produced in special rearing facilities.

Major highlights of the project

• The IAEA will donate special equipment and train local staff on the use of the technique against the Aedes mosquito that carries Zika virus.

• The project will strengthen national and regional mechanisms for control of the Aedes mosquito population.

• Sterilized male mosquitoes will be released over affected areas, where they will mate with wild females, which will not produce any offspring. This will significantly reduce mosquito populations and disease transmission.

The project was drawn on the lines of recommendations of an international experts’ meeting that took place in February 2016 in Brazil to discuss the use of the technique as part of a comprehensive approach to controlling mosquito populations.

So far, Zika has spread to 31 countries and territories in the Americas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a public health emergency of international concern, predicting that Zika could infect three to four million people in the Americas in 2016. The virus may be associated to neurological disorders and it has no immediate cure.

About Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a form of pest control that uses ionizing radiation to sterilize male insects mass-produced in special rearing facilities.

Since 1997, SIT has been transferred to numerous countries by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The technique is being transferred to combat pests that affect food and crops, and insects that transmit diseases – including mosquitoes.

The IAEA, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), spearheads global research in the development and application of SIT.

India, ASEAN Plus multilateral military

exercise FORCE 18 concluded in Pune

09-MAR-2016

Exercise FORCE 18, the largest ground forces multinational field training exercise on Humanitarian Mine Action and Peacekeeping Operations concluded on 8 March 2016 in Pune, Maharashtra.

The closing ceremony of the multilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and Armies of countries from the ASEAN Plus was presided over by General Dalbir Singh, Chief of Army Staff.

The closing ceremony began with marching in of contingents from the participating ASEAN Plus countries followed by National Anthem and ASEAN Anthem.

FORCE 18, which was conducted from 2 March to 8 March 2016, was the largest Ground Forces Exercise ever conducted on Indian soil.

The Indian Army contingent of 40 soldiers was led by Lt Col Sophia Qureshi, a Woman Officer from the Corps of Signals. Qureshi now has the rare distinction of becoming the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army training contingent in such a large multinational exercise. The officer also happens to be the only Woman Officer Contingent Commander amongst all other ASEAN Plus contingents present for the exercise.

About ASEAN

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian countries.

• It was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

• Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

• Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, and socio-cultural evolution among its members alongside protection of regional stability as well as providing a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully.

George Henry Martin, legendary

producer for the Beatles, died

09-MAR-2016

The legendary music producer George Henry Martin died on 8 March 2016. He was 90 years old.

George Martin was popularly known as the fifth Beatle as he signed the Beatles and became their indispensable mentor and collaborator.

About George Henry Martin

• He was an english record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer, and musician.

• He served as producer, collaborator and mentor to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr of the Beatles.

• During his six-decade career in the music industry, he produced almost all of the Beatles' recordings and also worked with Gerry & the Pacemakers, Jeff Beck, America, Cheap Trick and other acts.

• He produced jazz, comedy and classical albums before signing the Beatles in 1962. The young band members were rough around the edges, but Martin was the first to saw their commercial promise.

• Over the years, he helped score, arrange, and produce many of the band's biggest hits, including “Yesterday” and "Love Me Do."

• His 1979 autobiography, All You Need Is Ears, chronicles his discovery of the Beatles and their creative process.

• In 2006, working with his son, Giles Martin, he helped develop the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil show "Love" in Las Vegas.

• Between 1967 and 2007, he won 6 Grammy Awards in various categories.

• In recognition of his services to the music industry and popular culture, he was made a Knight Bachelor in 1996.

• He was named by the Guinness World Records as the most successful producer ever, with more than 50 No. 1 hit records over five decades in the USA and the UK alone.

ICICI Bank launched iWork@Home

programme for its women employees

09-MAR-2016

ICICI Bank on 7 March 2016 launched iWork@Home programme for its women employees to prevent them from dropping out of its workforce.

The iWork@Home is an information and communication technology initiative and will enable employees work from home.

Features of iWork@Home

• It allows women employees to have access to their required operating systems in a safe and secure manner by creating a seamless office-like environment.

• By using the platform, employees can carry out multiple tasks that include checking documents for loan disbursement, image-based verification of cheques for clearance and processing of export-import documents for payments, etc.

• It was developed in-house by ICICI Bank in partnership with students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

• To address data security and privacy related issues, facial recognition technology is incorporated that will scan the face to ascertain identity.

• Women in all roles, except those in direct customer-facing ones, would be eligible for this initiative based on their life stage needs.

• These would include young mothers, expectant mothers, those suffering from medical conditions among others.

• Initially, the facility will be available for one year and can be extended beyond the period based on the requirements of the employee.

• At present, the bank has about 30 per cent women in its overall workforce.

Mahindra Group CMD Anand Mahindra

conferred France’s Knight of the

Legion of Honour

09-MAR-2016

Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Group Anand G Mahindra was on 5 March 2016 conferred with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).

The honour was conferred upon by François Richier, Ambassador of France to India, at the Residence of France in New Delhi.

Anand Mahindra was chosen for the highest French civilian distinction in recognition of his outstanding national and international achievements and initiatives at the helm of the Mahindra Group.

About National Order of the Legion of

Honour

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

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

• The order's motto is Honour and Fatherland.

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

• In the past, personalities such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Amitabh Bachchan, Manish Arora and JRD Tata were honoured with the prestigious award.

Capital Local Area Bank became first to

get Small Finance Bank license from

RBI

09-MAR-2016

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 4 March 2016 granted the license to the Capital Local Area Bank Ltd to start operations as a Small Finance Bank (SFB). With this, the bank will become the first SFB in the country to start operations.

Earlier, on 16 September 2015, the RBI granted in-principal approval to 10 entities, including the Capital Area Bank, to set up SFB.

About Capital Area Bank Ltd

• It is the largest Local Area Bank in the country and operates from Jalandhar in Punjab.

• It has completed 16 years of operation on 14 January 2016.

• It has been operating in three contiguous Districts of Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur in Punjab for the initial 13 years.

• In January 2013, the Reserve Bank of India accorded the approval for expansion in the area of operation of the Bank to two more Districts of Ludhiana and Amritsar in Punjab.

• The Bank has about 80 percent of its business in rural and semi urban areas, with Priority Sector Lending of 68.27 percent of the Adjusted Net Bank Credit as on 31 March 2015.

• The conversion of the Bank is expected to give boost to the expansion plan of the Bank.

• Business of the Bank is expected to grow to 11800 Crore rupees, as on 31 March 31 2021, during the five years operations of the Bank as a SFB.

Widow Marriage included under

Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana in

Madhya Pradesh

09-MAR-2016

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 8 March 2016 announced inclusion of widow marriage under the state government’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. The announcement made on International Women's Day in Bhopal aims at promoting marriage of widows.

While announcing that marriages will also be solemnised under the Yojna, CM Chouhan said that two lakh rupees will be sanctioned for widow marriage.

Besides, he also announced that to prevent violence against women, state government will open Usha Kiran Centres in every district of the state.

CA Media appointed Vivek Jain as CEO

of digital business

09-MAR-2016

CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd. on 8 March 2016 appointed Vivek Jain as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

CA Media Digital is the digital wing of CA Media LP, which is owned by The Chernin Group, KKR and other investors.

Who is Vivek Jain?

• Before joining CA Media Digital, Vivek Jain worked at a leadership position at Reliance Jio.

• Before working at Reliance Jio, he worked for Amazon, Google, and Motorola and other companies in the US.

• He holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.

About CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd

• CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd is India's only organization that manages the exclusive digital rights of India's top talents in the fields of film, sports, entertainment and music.

• Its first venture, Fluence, is India's leading celebrity digital network which connects India's biggest celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, and more with their fans and brands through their digital presence across different platforms.

CA Media appointed Vivek Jain as CEO

of digital business

09-MAR-2016

CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd. on 8 March 2016 appointed Vivek Jain as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

CA Media Digital is the digital wing of CA Media LP, which is owned by The Chernin Group, KKR and other investors.

Who is Vivek Jain?

• Before joining CA Media Digital, Vivek Jain worked at a leadership position at Reliance Jio.

• Before working at Reliance Jio, he worked for Amazon, Google, and Motorola and other companies in the US.

• He holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.

About CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd

• CA Media Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd is India's only organization that manages the exclusive digital rights of India's top talents in the fields of film, sports, entertainment and music.

Cycling event of Indian Army with

theme Cycle to Recycle flagged off

09-MAR-2016

Cycle to Recycle: Theme of Indian Army cycling event

Cycling event of Indian Army with the theme ‘Cycle to Recycle’ was flagged off on 8 March 2016 from Pangsau Pass on the India-Myanmar border.

It was flagged off by Brigadier DK Singh, Commander of the 25 Sector Assam Rifles based at Lekhapani in Tinsukia district.

Key features of the Cycling event

• It was organised as part of the Assam Rifles 181st raising day celebrations.

• The event is an effort to create public awareness about the need of nature and environment conservation.

• The 1000-km-long bicycle expedition from Pangsau Pass (3727 feet in altitude, lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India-Burma border) was participated by of 10-member army team.

• The expedition will pass through the North-East States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya.

• During the event the cycling team will visit the schools and colleges on the way and interact with students on various environmental issues.

• They will also meet the ex-servicemen from the Assam Rifles to find and mitigate their problems.

The event will culminate on 16 March 2016 in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya.

Meghalaya police extended Operation

Hillstorm 3 by three months

09-MAR-2016

Operation Hillstorm 3: Combat operation of Meghalaya police
Combat operation of Meghalaya police, code-named 'Hillstorm 3', was in news on 8 March 2016. Operation Hillstorm-3 was launched by Meghalaya Police on 24 February 2016 in the Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts of the state.

It was launched against the backdrop of intelligence reports that GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) militants have entrenched in Durama hills areas.

The Meghalaya have sought 12 additional companies of central paramilitary forces and six units of CoBRA battalion for its operation against militants in the Garo Hills region.

Special Force-10 Commandos, who are under intense commando training in jungle warfare, would also be inducted for special operations against the militants in Garo Hills.

Rajya Sabha passed Bureau of Indian

Standards Bill, 2015

09-MAR-2016

Rajya Sabha on 8 March 2016 passed Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015. The bill seeks to replace the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986.

It extends the ambit of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to include services, processes and products while ensuring production of world class goods.

Union Cabinet approved Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015

The Bill also proposes to make BIS a national standards body, introduce mandatory hallmarking of precious metals, prevent misuse of standard marks and provides for recall of ISI marked products not conforming to relevant standards. Now, the Bureau of Indian Standards would also get the legislative backing to formally represent India abroad.

At present, the BIS is not formally recognised as a national standards body of the country, though it has been representing India in various international bodies.

Earlier, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 3 December 2015.

The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 7 August 2015 by Ram Vilas Paswan, the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Karnataka launched Mukhyamantri

Santwana Harish Yojana for accident

victims’ free treatment

09-MAR-2016

The Karnataka Government on 8 March 2016 launched Mukhyamantri Santwana Harish Yojana to provide free treatment to road accident victims for the first 48 hours in the nearest government or private hospital.

The scheme is named after Harish Nanjappa, who donated his eyes moments before his death in a road accident in February 2016.

Key highlights of the scheme

• It will provide assistance to victims of road accidents across the state irrespective of their financial status or nationality.

• Immediate medical relief will be provided to the victim during the Golden Hour with financial aid up to 25000 during the first 48 hours of treatment.

• The victim will receive medical care for first 48 hours and get treatment at any hospital. All hospitals will be directed not to reject accident victims.

• A software covering hospital registration, patient registration, claims submission and packages will be installed for the proper implementation of the scheme.

• Emergency toll free helplines will also be set up to help accident victims.

Indian men and women won Gold at

World Team Table Tennis

Championship

09-MAR-2016

Indian men's and women's team on 6 March 2016 bagged the gold medals at the Second Division of the World Team Table Tennis Championship held in Kuala Lumpur.

Indian women’s team defeated Luxemburg 3-1 in the event final of the Second Division, while Indian men’s team emerged victorious over Brazil with a score of 3-2.

In the women's team final, Mouma Das gave a winning start to her team when she defeated Danielle Konsbruck 3-0. Then, Manika Batra led India 2-0 against Tessy Gonderinger, who managed to win the third game. However, Manika clinched the fourth game to win 3-1 and provide India with a 2-0 lead.

Thereafter, India’s K Shamini lost her singles to Sarah De Nutte in straight games but Manika defeated Danielle 3-0 in the reverse singles to secure a win for India.

About World Table Tennis

Championships

• The World Table Tennis Championships have been held since 1926, biennially since 1957.

• Five individual events, which include men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's double and mixed doubles, are currently held in odd numbered years.

• The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, are held in even numbered years.

President Pranab Mukherjee presented

2015 Nari Shakti awards

09-MAR-2016

President Pranab Mukherjee on 8 March 2016 presented Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2015 to 15 women, 5 organisations, one state and panchayat. The awards were conferred on the occasion of International Women's Day at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The awards are annually given by the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development to institutions and individuals who have made exceptional contribution towards empowerment of women specially belonging to vulnerable and marginalised sections of society. It carries cash award of two lakh rupees and a certificate for institutions and one lakh rupees and a certificate for individuals.

Haryana was awarded as a state for demonstrating improvement with work in improving Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) during 2015. Anganwadipuram Gram Panchayat, Mallapuram of Kerala was awarded for their work towards women empowerment. Through its activities the panchayat helped women to hold leadership roles and promoted women in decision making.

Other awardees of Nari Shakti

Puraskar include

Individual awardees include
• Lucky Kurien, Maharashtra - Sister Lucky Kurien has been working for Women and Children from the past 18 years. She founded the Maher NGO and helped 2691 women to get sheltered, rehabilitee 2339 and provides help to 59 women in marriage.
• Dr. Saurabh Suman, Bihar – She is the Secretary of NGO Bihar Seva Sansthan that works for the welfare and empowerment of women in Bihar, with a focus on the District of Nawada. She organized ISRO sponsored research programme for participation of women in agriculture development, and training on basic information technology and mobile training course.
• Basanti Devi, Uttarakhand - She is an environmentalist, who educated women woodcutters in Uttarakhand on the dangers of deforestation, and prevented the Kosi from drying up. She convinced the women in the valley to fight opposition from men and forest guards and form community based organizations for forest conservation.
• Suparna Baksi Ganguly, Karnataka – She is committed environmentalist and animal activist. She is founder member of an animal welfare agency Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA). Her organisation supported various animal welfare initiatives and running four centres in Bangalore for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for monkeys, snakes and birds
• Meena Sharma, Rajasthan – She is renowned journalist from the rural background who took up fighting gender discrimination as her mission in life. She highlighted the state of old parents neglected by their own children and illegal sex determination and sex selective abortions through various sting operations.
• Preeti Patkar, Maharashtra – She is social worker and human rights activist and co-founder of the organization Prerana. She done pioneering work in the red-light districts of Mumbai to protect children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking for the past 28 years.
• Uttara Padwar, Madhya Pradesh – She runs a grassroots organisation named Prayas Shiksha Samiti working for fighting extreme poverty, malnutrition and diseases in tribal communities like Baigas, Gonds, Abhujhmarias.
• Polumati Vijaya Nirmala, Andhra Pradesh - She is working on Women and Child Right issues and conducted number of trainings, workshops, campaigns and awareness meetings on Gender Sensitization and Human Trafficking in West and East Godavari Districts. She has participated in 27rescue operation and provides counseling services. She has formed 27 community vigilance group, 35 Adolescents groups, and 15 red light area level victim collectives for prevention of Human Trafficking and abuse.
• Vasu Primalni, Delhi – She is a triathlete, rock climber and is also well-known for her international stand-up comedy with shows done all over the world. Her comedy picks up on issues of contemporary relevance including environment, women’s safety, rape, and diversity issue
• Sujata Sahu, Haryana – She is the founder of 17000ft foundation that is working to create an impact and improve the quality of school education in the remote villages of Ladakh. She started with distributing story books to the children in their native language in Ladakh and her organization made 600 visits in one year to schools in far flung areas of Ladakh to inculcate in children the habit of learning better through reading books
• Jyoti Mhapsekar, Maharashtra - She is founding members of Stree Mukti Sanghatana. She is a renowned playwright and has written numerous plays on women’s issues, children’s education, child labour, waste management and the environment. She has participated in several International Women Playwrights conferences and was Convener of VIII conference in 2009.
• Sumita Ghosh, Delhi - She is the founder and managing director of Rangsutra, a social enterprise which seeks to bring about socio economic development and inclusive growth in rural India by engaging both: the community and the market.
• Anjali Sharma, Delhi - She is practicing law as a senior associate in a New Delhi based Law Firm called "Integral Law Offices", which does extensive work in the commercial, corporate, contract and arbitration law fields. Anjali is also an animal rights activist, and is an Executive Committee Member of and Legal Advisor to the Animal Welfare Board of India, which a statutory body is functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• Krishna Yadav, Delhi – She is an Illiterate woman and working in the field of rural development and entrepreneurship. At present, she is a successful food processing entrepreneur with annual turnover of more than 3 crore rupees.
• Shakuntala Majumdar, Maharashtra - She is the founding member of Thane SPCA, is among the most influential people in the Country's Animal Welfare environment with 20+ years of rich experience in this space. She is an Honorary Animal Welfare officer appointed by the Government of India and by the Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare laws in India by the Bombay High Court.

Organisations who were awarded

include

• Gudiya Shyam Sevi Sansthan, Varanasi
• Jagori, Delhi
• Kanaklata Women Urban Cooperative Bank (Institution), Assam
• Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (Institution), Delhi

• Breakthrough Trust

Maharashtra, Telangana singed 5 MoUs

to facilitate construction of irrigation

barrages across Godavari

09-MAR-2016

Telangana and Maharashtra on 8 March 2016 signed 5 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate construction of irrigation barrages across the River Godavari and its tributary Penganga.

The MoUs were signed by Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Telangana Devendra Fadnavis and K Chandrashekar Rao respectively in Mumbai.

Highlights of MoUs

• An inter-state water board will be formed to oversee implementation of previously agreed and future inter-state river projects on Godavari.

• It will oversee the implementation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award of 1979.

• The chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of the board will be held by chief ministers of respective States in rotation manner in alternative years.

• Ministers and secretaries of various departments of two States will be the members of the board.

• The head office of the board will be located in Hyderabad.

• Among other projects, the board will oversee the implementation of following –

1) Lendi Project

2) Pranahita Project (tummidi hatti project), Kaleshwaram Project (Medigadda barrage)

3) Barrage on Penganga, a tributary of Godavari, at Raju Peta

4) Barrage on Penganga at Chanaka-Korata

5) Lower Penganga project

CCEA approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala

Yojana to provide free LPG connections

to BPL households

10-MAR-2016

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10 March 2016 approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

The scheme seeks to provide free LPG connections to women from below poverty line (BPL) households and builds on the objective of achieving universal coverage of cooking gas in the country.

Incidentally, this is the first time the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala

Yojana

• Under the scheme, a financial support of 1600 rupees will be provided for each LPG connection to the BPL households.

• The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories.

• This will benefit about 1 crore 50 lakh households below the poverty line in 2016-17.

• It will be implemented at an estimated cost of 8000 crore rupees over three years between April 2016 and March 2019 to cover 5 crore BPL households.

• It is complimentary to Prime Minister’s Give It Up campaign under which 75 lakh middle class and lower middle class households have voluntarily given up their cooking gas subsidy.

Significance of the scheme

In India, the poor have limited access to cooking gas (LPG). The spread of LPG cylinders has been predominantly in the urban and semi-urban areas with the coverage mostly in middle class and affluent households.

But, there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels. According to an estimate of the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 5 lakh deaths in India alone occur due to unclean cooking fuels.

Most of these premature deaths were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Indoor air pollution is also responsible for a significant number of acute respiratory illnesses in young children.

According to experts, having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.

Against this backdrop, the Union Government took up the challenge of providing LPG connections to BPL households. This measure will empower women and protect their health.

It will also reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking and provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.

Union Cabinet approved creation of

Nominated Authority in Ministry of

Coal

10-MAR-2016

The Union Cabinet on 10 March 2016 approved creation of a post of Nominated Authority in the Ministry of Coal.

The post will be of Joint Secretary level and was created as per the Section 6 of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.

The Union Government shall act through the Nominated Authority for the following purposes -

• Conduct the auction process and allotment with the assistance of experts

• Execution of the vesting order for transfer and vesting of Schedule I coal mines pursuant to the auction

• Executing the allotment order for any Government company or corporation in pursuance of Section 5 of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015

• Recording and mutating incorporeal rights of whatsoever nature including, consents, permissions, permits, approvals, grants, registrations

• Collection of auction proceeds, adjustment of preferential payments and transfer of amount to the respective State Governments where Schedule I coal mine is located in accordance with the provisions of the Act

The creation of Nominated Authority post would resolve the uncertainties that had affected the coal sector and improve coal availability to the core sectors of the economy thereby enabling it to develop at faster pace.

ISRO launched Indian Regional

Navigation Satellite System-1F

10-MAR-2016

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 10 March 2016 launched the country’s sixth Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)-1F, on board the trusted launch vehicle PSLV C-32.

The lift off took place from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikotta, India’s spaceport at 4:01pm. Satellite IRNSS-1F was launched after the 54-and-a-half hour countdown that started on 8 March 2016.

XL version of PSLV was used in PSLV-C32 and it was the twelfth time that the 'XL' configuration was flown.

Salient features of Indian Regional

Navigational Satellite System

(IRNSS)-1F

• The lift off mass of IRNSS – 1F is 1425 kg and the dry mass is 598 kg.
• Its configuration is similar to that of IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D AND 1E.
• The two solar arrays of IRNSS-1F consisting of Ultra Triple Junction solar cells generate about 1660 watts of electrical power.
• The Mission life of IRNSS-1F is 12 years
• IRNSS-1F carried two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1F will transmit navigation service signals to the users.
• This payload will be operating in L5 band (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz).
• Highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is the part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
• The ranging payload of the satellite consists of C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.
• IRNSS-1F also carries Corner Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.

IRNSS-1F will form part of the home-grown seven satellites Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) to provide accurate position information services, similar to the GPS in the whole country and up to 1500 km around it.

This is India’s second mission in 2016, and the first one was also the successful insertion of an IRNSS-1E navigation satellite byPSLV C-31 on 20 January 2016.

The other four IRNSS satellites which

were launched

• IRNSS-1A Mission launched by PSLV C-22 in July 2013
• IRNSS-1B Mission launched by PSLV C-24 in April 2014
• IRNSS-1C Mission launched by PSLV C-26 in October 2014
• IRNSS-1D Mission launched by PSLV C-27 in March 2015

Union Cabinet approved MoU between

India and IMF for setting up South

Asia Regional Training and Technical

Assistance Center

10-MAR-2016

The Union Cabinet on 10 March 2016 gave its approval for entering into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the IMF for setting up of South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) in India.

The Cabinet also authorised the Finance Minister to approve related decisions in respect of India’s contribution for setting up of the centre, including Letter of Understanding for financial contribution by India, site of the SARTTAC, representative of India on the Steering Committee on SARTTAC, etc.

Features of SARTTAC

• It will be a collaborative venture between the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and 6 member countries belonging to South Asia.

• It will help in capacity building of Government officials including State level in macro, fiscal, monetary policies by the IMF and greater coordination between the six member countries of South Asia.

• The six member countries are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Additional member countries could join SARTTAC at a later stage.

• It will bring in the best practices from across the globe, as well as the South Asian region, resulting in innovative solutions to fiscal, monetary and financial issues and effective response through use of IT and innovative techniques.

• It will enhance revenue mobilization and development of policies aimed at more effective public and financial management. This will result in economic development and inclusive growth in the country.

Union Cabinet approved MoU between

India and Bahrain on Cooperation for

Prevention of Human Trafficking

10-MAR-2016

The Union Cabinet, presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10 March 2016 gave its approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bahrain on cooperation for prevention of human trafficking, especially trafficking in women and children, rescue, recovery, repatriation and re-integration of victims of trafficking.

This MoU aims at increasing the bilateral cooperation between the two nations on the issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking especially women and children expeditiously.

The MoU is expected to be signed during Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s upcoming visit to Bahrain in the first week of April 2016.

Key highlights of the MoU

• To strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially that of women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country.

• Taking preventive measures that will eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking.

• Anti-trafficking Cells and Task Force will work on both sides to prevent human trafficking.

• Police and other concerned authorities will work in close cooperation and exchange information which can be used to interdict human traffickers.

• The repatriation of victims will be done as expeditiously as possible and home country will undertake the safe and effective re-integration of the victims.

• A Joint Task Force with representatives from both sides will be constituted to monitor the working of the MoU.

Signing and ratification of BIMSTEC

Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance

in Criminal Matters approved

10-MAR-2016

The Union Cabinet, presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10 March 2016 gave its approval for signing and ratification of the Bay of Bengal Initiative on Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been designated as the Central Authority under Article 15 of the Convention.

The need for signing BIMSTEC

Convention:

The establishment of regional arrangements for mutual assistance in criminal matters will greatly contribute to more effective cooperation in the control of criminal activities.

The Convention aims to extend widest measures of assistance to each other through mutual cooperation for enhancing capability and effectiveness of the Member States in investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes related to terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber-crimes.

After signing as well as ratification of the Convention from the Indian side, the Instrument of Ratification will be deposited to the Secretary-General of BIMSTEC and the Convention will enter into force on 30th day of the deposit of last instrument of ratification.

About BIMSTEC

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia.

• It comprises of seven countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

• The main objective of BIMSTEC is technological and economical cooperation among South Asian and South East Asian countries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Tapan Kumar Chand elected President

of Aluminium Association of India

10-MAR-2016

Tapan Kumar Chand was elected as the President of the Aluminium Association of India (AAI). His election took place unanimously on 29 February 2016 at the National Governing Council Meeting of the AAI in Bhubaneshwar.

He succeed SK Roongta who is the former Chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Vedanta Group.

At present, Tapan Chand is the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco), which is a Navaratna Central Public Sector Undertaking.

About Aluminium Association of India

• It is the apex body representing the entire spectrum of Indian aluminium industry.

• It was founded in 1981 and is registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act and operates from Bengaluru in Karnataka.

• It is being recognized and supported by the Union Government through various ministries and in particular the Ministry of Mines.

• It represents entire spectrum of Indian Aluminium Industry - primary producers, downstream manufacturers, equipment & product manufacturers, end users, technologist, metallurgists, research and development organisations etc.

• It is internationally recognized and a member of International Body of Aluminium Associations.

India, Bangladesh signed 2 billion US

dollar Line of Credit

10-MAR-2016

India and Bangladesh on 9 March 2016 signed a 2 billion US dollar Line of Credit (LOC) to implement socio-economic development projects in Bangladesh and strengthen bilateral relations. The LOC was extended by Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the Government of India.

The 2 billion US dollar LOC is the

biggest credit line India has so far

extended to any country.

The LOC agreement to this effect was signed in Dhaka, Bangladesh by Yaduvendra Mathur, Chairman & Managing Director, EXIM Bank, and Mohammad Mejbahuddin, Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

The agreement was inked in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement during his visit in Bangladesh in June 2015.

Key highlights of the LOC

• The LOC of 2 billion US dollars is the largest ever GOI-supported LOC extended by Exim Bank to any country.

• With the signing of the LOC, EXIM Bank, till date, has extended two LOCs to Bangladesh, on behalf of Government of India, taking the total value of LOCs to 2.862 billion US dollars.

• India first extended a LOC of 1 billion US dollars to Bangladesh in 2010.

• Of this, 200 million US dollar was later converted into grant and the line of credit was enhanced from 800 million US dollar to 862 million US dollar in 2015 by means of an amendment to the agreement.

• The Second Line of Credit will fund social and infrastructure development projects in the power, railways, road, transport, information and communication technology, shipping, health and technical education sectors.

Projects covered under the first LOC of

862 million US dollars include:

• Procurement of buses, locomotives, passenger coaches and other rolling stock, laboratory equipment.

• Construction of 2nd Bhairab and 2nd Titas Bridge, Khulna-Mongla port rail line, 3rd and 4th Dual Gauge track between Dhaka-Tongi section and doubling of dual gauge track between Tongi-Joydebpur, rehabilitation of the Kulaura-Shahbajpur section of Bangladesh Railway.

• Replacement and modernization of signalling system of three stations between Ashuganj and Akhaura section of Bangladesh Railway.

Indian Army’s cycling event for nature

flagged off from Pangsau Pass

10-MAR-2016

Pangsau Pass: The pass offers one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains

Pangsau Pass (Pan Saung Pass) was in news in the second week of March 2016. It came into news after a cycling expedition with the theme‘Cycle to Recycle’ was flagged off by the Indian Army on 8 March 2016 as part Assam Rifles’ 181st raising day celebrations.

Pangsau Pass is at an altitude of 3727 feet and lies on the crest of thePatkai Hills on the India-Burma border. The Pass offers one of the easiest routes into Burma from the Assam plains. It is named after the closest Burmese village, Pangsauthat lies 2 km beyond the pass to the east.

Key characteristics of the Pangsau Pass

• It is the reputed route of the 13th century invasion of Assam in India by the Ahoms, a Shan tribe.

• In the late 19th century, the pass was recognised as the possible railway route from India to Myitkyina in north Burma through theHukawng Valley.

• The pass became famous during World War II for being the initial obstacle encountered by American General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell's forces in their effort to build a land route to isolated China after the fall of Burma to the Japanese.

• Because of the fierce gradients and the mud which makes getting up to the pass difficult, it was nicknamed "Hell Pass" during the World War-II.

• The Pangsau Pass Winter Festival is celebrated every year at Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh and is the second most popular tourism event of the State. The festival unearths the magnificent isle of culture of the Tangsa tribes, their cuisines and the exotic countryside.

Chhattisgarh State Budget 2016-17

presented

10-MAR-2016

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on 9 March 2016 presented the Annual State Budget 2016-17 in the legislative assembly. This was his 10th successive budget as he also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister.

The focus and attention of the budget is agriculture, Infrastructure, and social sector.

The Budget pegged the Annual Development Plan for the year 2016-17 at 70056 crore rupees and estimated the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at 7.6 percent in the fiscal 2016-17.

Main Highlights

• Seven Pillars of Development: Farmers, Inclusive Development, Communications, Health, Security, Self-reliance and Capacity-building

• Capital expenditure for infrastructure: Share of the sector in the budget was raised by 18.6 percent. In the fiscal year 2015-16, it was raised nu 16.9 percent.

• Social sector expenditure: It was increased by over 16 percent, with its share in the budget increasing from 37% to 40%.

• Agriculture Department’s budget: It was increased by 26 percent.

Infrastructure

a) Development of road network: Government announced plans to construct 13000 kilometer long road with an investment of 42000 crore rupees over the next three years. The budget allocation for this is a massive 6101 crore rupees representing an increase of 56% over the preceding year.

b) Expansion of rail network: Government decided to develop 780 kilometres of railway lines on three arterial routes, namely Raipur Baloda Bazar-Jharsuguda, Ambikapur-Barvadih and Dongargarh Kawardha-Mungeli-Bilaspur-Katghora. For the purpose, it opted to continue unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strategy, with equity infusion from Railways and the State Government.

c) Development at Airports: It seeks to develop Raigarh and Jagdalpur (Bastar) airstrips as airports for regular flights.
d) Electricity: It will be provided to un-electrified 818 villages and all 9000-plus un-electrified schools by March 2017. The project will be executed through project outlays totaling 761 crore rupees, besides a massive 700 crore rupees programme of network strengthening for the Bastar and Sarguja regions, involving the setting up of 80 sub-stations in two years.

e) Urban development: 225 crore rupees was allocated for AMRUT Mission. Under this, sewerage system for Raipur has been approved at a cost of 650 crore rupees. Provision has also been made for buying the Raipur-Kendri railway line land to decongest Raipur traffic and to create public transport facilities to the airport and Naya Raipur. Naya Raipur too has received sizeable allocations for basic civic infrastructure like sewerage and a bus rapid transit system (BRTS).

Social Sectors

a) Health: The public health system will be strengthened by expanding bed capacity by 44 percent through creation of 2400 additional hospital beds. Besides, the D.K.S. Hospital campus at Raipur will be developed as a super specialty hospital with ultramodern facilities, including the first PET-scan facility in the State. A 100-bed hospital cum trauma centre for Bastar will be developed at Jagdalpur in the PPP mode and a 100-bed super specialty hospital too would be established there with NMDC’s help. At present, Chhattisgarh is running the most inclusive health insurance scheme in the country, providing universal health insurance with cover of 30000 rupees per year.

b) Insurance: Cover under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana was enhanced to 50000 rupees.

c) Malnutrition: To combat malnutrition, Mukhya Mantri Amrit Yojana was announced under which flavoured milk will be given weekly to children in all anganwadis, and soya milk in all elementary schools of select three districts.

d) Prime Minister’s Housing for All by 2022 Mission: The government will provide an additional support from the State exchequer in the form of additional subsidy of up to 4 lakh rupees per house, over and above the subsidy of 1 lakh rupees per house already provided for, for in-situ housing redevelopment in slums.

e) Urban sanitation: It doubled the subsidy on toilet construction through the state exchequer.

f) Education: 7 general public universities will each receive 20 crore rupees, while Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Universities will together get another 40 crore rupees.

i. Swami Vivekanand Gyanodaya Yojana was announced for all-round improvement of colleges, with an outlay of 84 crore rupees.

ii. Vivekanand Gurukul Unnayan Yojana will be launched for all-round development of weaker section students in residential schools.

iii. Youth will be the beneficiaries of various entrepreneurship development schemes such as incubator-cum-accelerator, interest-free loans for startups and a venture capital fund.

iv. Mukhya Mantri Yuva Swavlamban Yojana was launched to train and place 5000 college students in IT and BPO sectors. 144 crore rupees was allocated for skill development schemes.

v. For development of urban facilities in rural areas under Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, four clusters have been identified in Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Kabirdham and Bastar districts.

Agriculture

To tackle the agricultural distress caused due to drought, the government pledged its resources for interest-free converting crop loans of drought affected farmers to medium term loans and offering them partial waiver, besides providing them to one quintal of free improved seeds for the next kharif season.

i. 200 crore rupees was allocated for launching Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

ii. The outlay for irrigation projects this year stands increased by 173 crore to 2891 crore rupees.

iii. Land records will be comprehensively made available online under the comprehensive new e-Dharti Yojana.

iv. Fire stations will be established this year in 10 cities across the State.

Tax concessions

Tax concessions in VAT were announced for consumers. These include removal of VAT from cycle and cycle parts, brooms, mops, brushes and wipers.

a) In order to create a level playing field for local retailers competing with online retailers, VAT on mobile phones has been reduced from 14% to 5%.

b) In a major tax relief for the state’s steel industry, the Chief Minister announced reduction in the VAT rate on iron ore, pig iron, sponge iron, iron ore pellets, ingots, billets and ferro-alloys from 5% to 2%.

Fiscal Discipline

The 2016-17 budget projects a revenue surplus and a fiscal deficit of 2.88 percent, well within the FRBM limit of 3% of GSDP.

The State’s overall debt-to-GSDP ratio is the lowest among all states and Chhattisgarh is among the leading states in terms of the ratio to GSDP of both tax revenue and non-tax revenue.

It also has the highest ratio of developmental expenditure to GSDP in the country and the second highest social sector expenditure to GSDP ratio.

DIPP gave approval for 12 industrial

licenses to Reliance Defence Ltd

10-MAR-2016

The DIPP on 9 March 2016 announced that it gave approval for 12 industrial licenses to the Reliance Defence Ltd, which a subsidiary of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure Ltd.

The licenses were sanctioned to the Strategic Business Units (SBUs) of the company in February 2016 by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Reliance Defence Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Reliance Helicopters Ltd, Reliance Propulsion Systems Ltd, Reliance Aerostructure Ltd and Reliance Naval Systems Ltd are some of the SBUs under the Reliance Defence Ltd that got licenses.

Under the licenses, Reliance Defence will be allowed to manufacture systems to address the defence requirements in India and overseas markets and forge tie-ups with international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Some of the defence systems that will be manufactured under the licenses will be - helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), all-terrain combat vehicles (ATCVs), night-vision devices, sensors, etc.

Tata Power arm inked agreement with

IRRL to acquire 30 MW wind farm in

Maharashtra

10-MAR-2016

Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power, on 9 March 2016 signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Indo Rama Renewables Limited (IRRL) to acquire its 100% subsidiary Indo Rama Renewables Jath Limited (IRRJL). IRRJL owns a 30 MW wind farm in Sangli District of Maharashtra.

IRRJL’s wind farm is fully operational since July 2013 and has executed a long-term power purchase agreement with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Limited. The wind farm is registered under the Generation Based Incentive scheme of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

With this acquisition, Tata Power’s total generation capacity will increase to 9130 MW and its operational Wind power generation capacity to 570 MW with wind turbines located across five states, which are Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. TPREL also has 250 MW of wind projects under construction across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

About Indo Rama

• Indo Rama Renewables Jath Limited (IRRJL) is a 100% step down subsidiary of Indo Rama Synthetics India Limited (IRSL).

• IRSL is one of India’s largest players in the business of manufacturing polyester.

• It has an integrated manufacturing complex spread over 250 acres at Butibori, near Nagpur in Maharashtra with a capacity of more than 6 Lac tonnes per annum.

• IRRJL operates a 30 MW wind farm in District Sangli of Maharashtra comprising of 15 numbers of 2000 KW G 97 Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) supplied by Gamesa India.

About Tata Power Renewable Energy

Limited

• TPREL is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Tata Power Company Ltd.

• TPREL is Tata Power’s primary investment vehicle for the clean and renewable energy based power generation capacity.

• TPREL’s present operating capacity is 244 MW, comprising 190 MW wind and 54 MW solar, located in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Lok Sabha passed Enemy Property

Amendment Bill 2016

10-MAR-2016

Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, on 9 March 2016 passed the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016. The bill seeks to make amendments to the 48-year-old Enemy Property Act, 1968.

The amendments are aimed at plugging the loopholes in the Enemy Property Act to ensure that the enemy properties that have been vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India remain so and they do not revert back to the enemy subject or enemy firm.

Main highlights of the Bill

• The bill guards against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan after the 1965 and 1971 wars.

• The bill also includes the properties of those persons who migrated to China after the Indo-China War of 1962.

• Once an enemy property is vested in the Custodian, it shall continue to be vested in him as enemy property irrespective of whether the enemy, enemy subject or enemy firm has ceased to be an enemy due to reasons such as death and others.

• The law of succession does not apply to enemy property.

• There cannot be transfer of any property vested in the Custodian by an enemy or enemy subject or enemy firm and that the Custodian shall preserve the enemy property till it is disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Earlier on 7 January 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee promulgated the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2016to make amendments to the Enemy Property Act, 1968.

Background

In the wake of Indo-China War 1962 and Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971, many people from India migrated to China and Pakistan respectively and adopted their nationality. The properties and companies of such persons were taken over by the Union Government under the Defence of India Rules framed under the Defence of India Act, 1962.

The Central Government through the Custodian of Enemy Property for India is in possession of enemy properties spread across many states in the country. In addition, there are also movable properties categorized as enemy properties.

First-ever NCC Girls Everest Expedition

flagged off

10-MAR-2016

The Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh on 9 March 2016 flagged off the first-ever all girls National Cadet Corps (NCC) Mount Everest expedition.

The aim of mountaineering expeditions in NCC is to strengthen the character and instill qualities of courage, comradeship, discipline and leadership in the cadets. NCC has always been in the forefront in adventure activities.

The all girls team comprising of 10 girl cadets and 15 service personnel will be led by Colonel Gaurav Karki.
The plan of conducting the first-ever NCC Girls Expedition to Mt Everest was proposed by Director General NCC Lt. Gen. A. Chakravarty in 2014.

Background

The first mountaineering course for NCC Cadets was conducted for 42 days at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling in 1961. Every year, NCC sponsors 354 boy and girl cadets for basic mountaineering courses at HMI, Darjeeling, NIM Uttarkashi, ABVIMAS Manali and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM & WS), Pahalgam.

Mountaineering Expedition as an adventure activity was introduced in NCC in the year 1970. Since then, NCC conducts two mountaineering expeditions every year, one each for boy and girl cadets thus having launched more than 70 expeditions to various peaks.

Jean Arnault appointed as head of UN

Political Mission in Columbia

10-MAR-2016

Jean Arnault was on 9 March 2016 appointed as the head of United National Political Mission in Columbia. An announcement in this regard was made by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, the USA.

In his new capacity, Arnault, a French national, will also serve as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Colombia.

Before the present elevation, he had been serving as the Delegate of the Secretary-General to the Sub-Commission on End of Conflict Issues within the Colombia peace process.

Earlier, Arnault moderated the peace process in Guatemala before being appointed the head of the verification mission in the country (MINUGUA).

He also worked in senior positions with the UN in Afghanistan, Burundi, Georgia, and was the UN Special Adviser to the Group of Friends of Democratic Pakistan.

United Nations and Colombian Government launched trust fund for peace building needs

Background

The UN Security Council in January 2016 approved setting up of a UN Political Mission in Colombia. The mission would consist of unarmed international observers to monitor disarmament.

It will also assist in finalising a peace agreement between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC-EP).

The FARC-EP is a guerilla movement and at present, the FARC-EP and the Government of Columbia are in peace talks in Havana, Cuba to end the 5 decade long armed conflict in the country.

Jean Arnault, as the Delegate of the UN Secretary General worked closely with the negotiating teams of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP.

Allahabad HC asked UP government to

stop illegal mining in Sonbhadra

district

10-MAR-2016

The Allahabad High Court (HC) on 9 March 2016 asked the Uttar Pradesh (UP) to immediately stop illegal mining in reserved forest areas of Sonbhadra district.

High Court’s bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Yashwant Varma took a strict note of illegal mining in the Sonbhadra and ordered the state Principal Secretary of Mining, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police of Sonbhadra to take immediate action.

Frightening Level of Mercury Content in the Environment of Sonbhdra District: CSE

The High Court also instructed the State government to take action against those officials, who are responsible for illegal mining.

While disposing off a PIL, the bench also asked the State to take necessary steps to recover all losses occurred due to illegal mining.

About Sonbhadra district

Sonbhadra or Sonebhadra is the 2nd largest district of Uttar Pradesh. It is the only district in India which borders four states namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattishgarh Jharkhand and Bihar.

It lies between Vindhya and Kaimur hills. It is a hilly region with natural beauty due to which first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru called Sonbhadra “The Switzerland of India”.

Lupin completed acquisition of GAVIS

Pharma

10-MAR-2016

Drug major Lupin on 9 March 2016 announced completion of the acquisition of privately held US-based GAVIS Pharmaceuticals LLC and Novel Laboratories (GAVIS).

The acquisition of GAVIS Pharma was announced by Lupin of 23 July 2015.

The deal was cash-free and debt-free and it was funded by a bridge loan, with 10 crore rupees from existing cash reserves deployed for it.

With this acquisition, Lupin received access to a host of specialty generic drugs and niche products, mainly in dermatology, gastro-intestinal and injectables. GAVIS’s New-Jersey based manufacturing facility will now become Lupin’s first manufacturing site in the US.

Both the companies will now have a portfolio of 120 in-market products, 185 cumulative filings pending approval and a deep pipeline of products under development for the US.

The acquisition created the fifth largest portfolio of Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) filings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). GAVIS has 62 ANDA filings pending approval with the US FDA and a pipeline of over 65 products under development. 72% of these filings pending approvals represent niche dosage forms with 18 Para IVs and 8 FTFs products. GAVIS’ pending approvals address a market of over 9 billion US dollars.

About Lupin Limited

• Lupin Limited is a transnational pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai.

• It is the seventh-largest company by market capitalization and the 10th-largest generic pharmaceutical company by revenue globally.

• Lupin is the fifth-largest generic pharmaceutical company in the US by prescription-led market share and 3rd largest Indian pharmaceutical company by revenue.

• It has the distinction of being the fastest growing generic pharmaceutical player in the US and Japan.

Rajya Sabha passed National

Waterways Bill, 2015

10-MAR-2016

The Rajya Sabha on 9 March 2016 passed National Waterways Bill, 2015. The Bill seeks to unleash the navigation potential of India’s larger river ways resources.

As part of this Bill, under entry 24 of the Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the Union government can make laws on shipping and navigation on inland waterways that are classified as national waterways.

The Bill identifies additional 101 waterways as national waterways. It also specifies the extent of development to be undertaken on each waterway.

Earlier, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 21 December 2015.

The National Waterways Bill, 2015 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 5 May 2015 by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari.

Comment

This National Waterways Bill, which was passed by both the houses of Parliament, on being a law, will provide an alternative form of transportation in India. It will also open economic opportunities to new regions.

At present, this transportation facility is dominated by road and rail.

Union Government signed Raptor MoU

on conservation of birds of prey

10-MAR-2016

The Union Government on 7 March 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on conservation of birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia at the Convention on Migratory Species Office in Abu Dhabi.

The MoU was signed by T.P Seetharam, the Ambassador of India to the UAE.

With the signing of the Raptor MoU, India became the 56th signatory state to sign it.

The MoU is also in conformity with the provisions of the existing Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, wherein the birds have been accorded protection.

What is a Raptor MoU?

• The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia is an international, legally non-binding, agreement to protect migratory birds of prey.

• It was concluded on 22 October 2008 and came into effect on 1 November 2008.

• It is an agreement under Article IV paragraph 4 of the CMS.

• It seeks willingness of the signatory Range States for working for conservation of the raptor species and their habitats.

• An action plan has been formulated which primarily envisages the conservation action for Raptor species.

• The MoU extends its coverage to 76 species of birds of prey out of which 46 species including vultures, falcons, eagles, owls, hawks, kites, harriers, and more which are also found in India.

• The CMS or Bonn Convention, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to conserve migratory species throughout their range.

• India has been a party to the CMS since 1 November 1983.

Brazilian percussionist, Nana

Vasconcelos, died

10-MAR-2016

Eight time Grammy Award-winning Brazilian percussionist, Nana Vasconcelos, died on 9 March 2016 in Recife, Brazil. He was 71.

The musician from Brazil was known for his wide instrumental range and major role in free spirited jazz and world music of the 1970s and 1980.

Nana Vasconcelos

• He was a master of the single-string percussion instrument known in Portuguese as the berimbao (multi-toned Afro-Brazilian instrument).

• The American jazz magazine DownBeat named Vasconcelos percussionist of the year every year from 1983 to 1991.

• Nana who learnt music from his father and started playing drum kit at the age of 12 rose to prominence after he moved to Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s and started playing with Nascimento.

• He is best known for collaborations with Brazilians Milton Nascimento and Egberto Gismonti, Argentine Gato Barbieri and Americans Don Cherry and Pat Metheny.UNFPA, UNICEF launched Global