Mercer is the world's largest human resources consulting firm. This firm

conducts a worldwide survey called "Mercer Quality of Living Survey". This

survey takes under consideration several criteria such as political stability,

health care, education, crime, recreation and transport. This survey helps

governments and major companies to place employees on international

assignments.

On 23 February 2016, 18th Mercer Quality of Living Survey was released. This

survey included 230 cities.

Seven Indian cities were ranked in the list are:

• Hyderabad – rank 139

• Pune – rank 144

• Bangalore – rank 145

• Chennai – rank150

• Mumbai – rank 152

• Kolkata – rank 160

• New Delhi – rank 161

Vienna in Austria topped the list followed by Zurich in Switzerland and

Auckland in New Zealand.

25th Feb, 2016 Reports/Surveys

Mercer Quality of Living Survey 2016

India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) started on 19

February 2016 in Goa. It is a 10 days exercise.

It is the first time that these exercises are being conducted in

India.

Aims of these exercises are to increase interoperability

amongst the three navies and to develop common

understanding and procedures for maritime security

operations.

25th Feb, 2016 Defense

Naval Exercise IBSAMAR started in Goa

In any country regions are identified to be prone to earthquake or seismic activities. at some regions chances of seismic activities are more and at some regions it is less. These regions have been classifies from Zone -1 to Zone - 5. Zone - 1 : No Seismic activity zone Zone - 2 : Least active seismic activity zone. Zone - 3: Moderate seismic activity zone. Zone - 4: High seismic activity zone. Zone - 5: Highest seismic activity zone. These classifications are done countrywide. But when these classifications are done in specific city or area then they are called Seismic Microzone. On 22 February 2016 the Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the Seismic microzonation reports for Delhi and Kolkata in New Delhi. This will help identify areas of Delhi and Kolkata where there can be more or less scismic activities.

25th Feb, 2016 Science and tech

Seismic Microzonation reports for Delhi and

Kolkata

Former Chief Justice of India Handyala

Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was selected as the next

Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission on 23

February 2016.

65-year-old Justice Dattu will have tenure of five years.

25th Feb, 2016 Appointments

HL Dattu selected as Chairperson of National

Human Rights Commission

The Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a paper slip

which will come out of the electronic Voting Machine (EVM)

once a voter casts his vote, showing which symbol and

candidate the vote has been cast for.

Assam’s Chief Electoral Officer announced that VVPAT will be

introduced in 10 constituencies (around 2400 polling booths)

in upcoming assembly polls.

25th Feb, 2016 Policies/Initiative

VVPAT to be introduced in 10 constituencies in

Assam assembly polls

On 23 February 2016 Scientist KN Vyas was appointed as Director of

the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

He replaced Dr Sekhar Basu, who is now the Chairman of Atomic

Energy Commission and Secretary to the Union Government,

Department of Atomic Energy.

25th Feb, 2016 Appointment

KN Vyas appointed as Director of Bhabha Atomic

Research Centre

The Assam Cabinet on 23 February 2016 approved the detailed

project report (DPR) for a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS)

for Guwahati.

The cabinet also gave green signal to setting up of the

Guwahati Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRCL).

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will lay the foundation stone

for the Metro project in Khanapara area on 29 February 2016.

The 203 kilometres Metro corridor will be completed in three

phases.

Phase I will cover a length 61.4 kilometres covering 54

stations.

25th Feb, 2016 Policies/ Initiatives

Metro Rail for Guwahati

Swap in economics means when two financial bodies (in this

case financial department of india and financial departments

of SAARC nations) exchanges cash or any other financial

instrument (such as gold).

RBI offered an Swap Arrangement to SAARC nations on 15

November 2012. This is known as SAARC Swap Arrangement.

SAARC member countries includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh,

Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

On 23 February 2016 RBI extended this Arrangement till 14

November 2017.

25th Feb, 2016 Economics

RBI extended SAARC Swap Arrangement

It became world's first parliament to do so.

It is also the first project of its kind in a public building in

Pakistan.

The venture was funded by China as an act of friendship.

Cost of the solar power plant is around 55 million dollar.

It was officially launched during President Xi Jinping’s visit in

2015.

25th Feb, 2016 International

Parliament of Pakistan to run on solar power

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