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Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation [March,2018]

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Current Affairs Today: Monthly PDF Compilation [March, 2018]

© 2018 GKToday | All Rights Reserved | https://www.gktoday.in 2

Contents......................... . .....................................................................................

Month Highlights: March – 2018 3 ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Date Wise: Current Affairs Updates 14 .................................................................................................................................................................................. March 1, 2018 14 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Cabinet approves MoU between India-Jordan for mining, beneficiation of Rock Phosphate 14 ...................................................................... Cabinet approves MoU between India and Jordan on Cooperation in Health Sector 14 ................................................................................... Cabinet approves agreement between India and Jordan on Customs Matters 15 ................................................................................................ Manufacturing growth falls to four-month low in February 2018: PMI 15 .......................................................................................................... DAC approves Rs. 9,435-crore procurement proposals for three services 15 ...................................................................................................... Pakistan admits being added grey list of FATF 16 ...................................................................................................................................................... Core sector grows at 6.7% in January 2018 17 ........................................................................................................................................................... CCEA doubles Bank guarantee limit for pulses & oilseeds for NAFED 17 ............................................................................................................ Union Cabinet approves Action Plan for Champion Sectors in Services 18 .......................................................................................................... ATGM Nag successfully test fired in desert conditions 18 ........................................................................................................................................

March 2, 2018 19 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Only 13% of over hundred tiger conservation areas meet global standards: Survey 19 ..................................................................................... Maharashtra’s first Mega Food Park inaugurated at Satara 19 ................................................................................................................................. Shakti Sthala: World’s largest solar park launched in Karnataka 19 ........................................................................................................................ Size INDIA: NIFT to conduct National Sizing Survey to develop size chart 20 .................................................................................................. CBDT achieves important milestone of signing 200 APAs 20 ................................................................................................................................ Cabinet approves Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 21 ................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority 22 .................................................................................................... Paschim Lehar: Tri-service maritime exercise concludes 22 ..................................................................................................................................... India, Jordan ink 12 agreements 23 .................................................................................................................................................................................

March 3, 2018 23 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Arunachal Express connecting Naharlagun-Anand Vihar flagged off 23 ............................................................................................................... Navjot Kaur: First Indian woman to win gold medal at Asian Wrestling Championships 23 ............................................................................ China to build nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Liaoning within 7 years 24 ........................................................................................................ PSBs begin to rationalise 35 overseas operations 24 .................................................................................................................................................. ICG C-162: Bharati Defence delivers interceptor boat to Coast Guard 25 ........................................................................................................... Government approves Rs 2,919 crore projects under Nirbhaya fund to create 8 safe cities 25 ...................................................................... Indian Navy sailboat INSV Tarini arrives in Cape Town, South Africa 26 ............................................................................................................ India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plant 26 ........................................................................................................................... March 3: World Wildlife Day 27 .....................................................................................................................................................................................

March 4-5, 2018 28 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... India and Vietnam inked 3 agreements 28 .................................................................................................................................................................... Odisha Government launches Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas programme 28 ................................................................................................................. India, Vietnam inks MoU on Cooperation in field of atomic energy 28 ................................................................................................................. Krishna Kumari Kohli: Pakistan elects first Hindu woman to Senate 29 ............................................................................................................... India 12th largest overseas holder of US securities in 2017 29 ................................................................................................................................ Myanmar puts off border agreement with India 30 ................................................................................................................................................... 90th Academy Awards (Oscars 2018) 30 .................................................................................................................................................................... Marshall Islands to launch world-first digital legal tender 31 .................................................................................................................................... Silver copper telluride (AgCuTe): Researchers develop thermoelectric compound 32 ......................................................................................

March 6, 2018 32 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Neil Basu: Indian-origin UK officer appointed new Chief of Scotland Yard’s Counter-terrorism Unit 32 ..................................................... Services PMI contracts to 47.8 in February 2018 32 ................................................................................................................................................. Government sets up Subhash Chandra Garg Committee to regulate fintech sector 33 ..................................................................................... India-US team test-fires M777 ultra-light howitzers in Pokhran 33 ...................................................................................................................... WTO to set up compliance panel in solar dispute case between India, US 33 ..................................................................................................... India’s first HeliTaxi service launched in Bengaluru 34 .............................................................................................................................................. Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India’s biggest Oil Supplier 34 ................................................................................................................................ Saposhi: Threat of new malware looms over cyberspace 35 .................................................................................................................................... Animal Welfare Board of India headquarters shifted from Chennai to Ballabhgarh 36 .....................................................................................

March 7, 2018 36 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Government launches #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaign 36 ....................................................................................................................... Commerce Ministry to devise strategy on product standards 37 ............................................................................................................................ Street Lighting National Programme: 49 lakh LED street lights installed 37 ....................................................................................................... India for the first time starts importing LNG from US 38 ........................................................................................................................................ 40 Participants attend 46th Know India Programme 38 .......................................................................................................................................... HRD Ministry allocates Rs.1000 crore for research in S&T under IMPRINT-II 38 ............................................................................................ European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approves India’s membership 39 ................................................................................... Sukhad Yatra App and Toll-free Emergency number for Highway users launched 39 .....................................................................................

March 8, 2018 40 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France 40 .................................................................. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Hellenic on Renewable Energy Cooperation 40 ............................................................................






Balkrishna Doshi wins Pritzker Prize 40 ....................................................................................................................................................................... US move to raise import duty on steel may hit India’s steel market: ISA 41 ........................................................................................................ Cabinet approves two relief measures for stressed telecom sector 41 .................................................................................................................... CCEA approves Rs 1,151 crore Scheme for in-situ management of crop residue to fight air pollution 42 .................................................... India-China trade hits record $84.4 billion in 2017 42 ............................................................................................................................................. CCI imposes Rs. 54 crore fine on 3 airlines for unfair business practices 43 .......................................................................................................

March 9, 2018 43 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 43 .......................................................................................................................................................................................... I – Metros: Government launches association of all Indian Metro Rail companies 44 ....................................................................................... Swachh Shakti 2018 celebrated in Lucknow under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 44 ................................................................................................ Government launches Udyam Sakhi Portal for Women Entrepreneurs 45 ........................................................................................................... Government launches National Nutrition Mission 45 ................................................................................................................................................ Government expands Beti Bachao Beti Padha to pan India 46 ................................................................................................................................ SUVIDHA: Government launches 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin under Janaushadhi Pariyojana 46 ...................................... WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugs 47 ............................................................................................................................................................ NITI Aayog launches Women Entrepreneurship Platform 47 .................................................................................................................................. Karnataka Government approves state flag proposal 48 ...........................................................................................................................................

March 10, 2018 48 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... First ever ‘crime-free zone’ along India, Bangladesh international border launched 48 ..................................................................................... Rajasthan passes bill for death penalty for child rape of girls below 12 49 ........................................................................................................... Diu becomes first Union Territory to run 100% on solar power 49 ...................................................................................................................... IREDA & European Investment Bank ink Loan Agreement for Renewable Energy Financing in India 49 .................................................... Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia, living will 50 ........................................................................................................................................... CP TPP: 11 countries sign revised TPP trade pact without US 50 ........................................................................................................................... India, France sign strategic pact on use of each other’s military bases 51 .............................................................................................................. Indian, French companies ink pacts worth 13 billion euros 52 ................................................................................................................................. India, France ink 14 agreements 52 ................................................................................................................................................................................ ISA-ADB, NDB, GCF, AfDB and AIIB sign joint declarations of financial Partnership 53 ................................................................................

March 11-12, 2018 53 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 Passed in Rajasthan 53 ........................................................................................................... India B wins Deodhar Trophy 2018 54 ......................................................................................................................................................................... Australia wins 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 54 .......................................................................................................................................................... Kinzhal missile: Russia successfully launches hypersonic missile 54 ........................................................................................................................ NCRB celebrates its 33rd Inception Day 55 ................................................................................................................................................................. First Indo-French Knowledge Summit held in New Delhi 55 .................................................................................................................................. India wins Best Exhibitor Award at ITB – Berlin 55 ................................................................................................................................................... India’s first coastal policing academy set up in Gujarat 55 ........................................................................................................................................ MILES-18: First ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea held in Andaman 56 ...................................................................................................... Samvedna 2018: IAF’s first multilateral HADR air exercise in South Asia 56 ...................................................................................................... India, France co-hosts International Solar Alliance summit 57 ................................................................................................................................

March 13, 2018 57 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Death penalty should stay: 12 out of 14 states/UTs 57 .............................................................................................................................................. India attracts $209 billion FDI in 2014-2017: Government 58 ............................................................................................................................... National Conference on Counterfeiting & Role of Enforcement Agencies held in New Delhi 58 ................................................................... Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India inks MoU with RBI 58 ......................................................................................................................... Government institutes Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation 59 ...................................................................... Government forms Tribunal to solve Mahanadi Water dispute between Odisha & Chhattisgarh 59 ............................................................. IIP expands at 7.5% in January 2018 60 ....................................................................................................................................................................... Government forms committee to probe illegal cultivation of HT Cotton 60 .......................................................................................................

March 14, 2018 61 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Bidya Devi Bhandari: Nepal’s 1st woman President re-elected for 2nd term 61 ................................................................................................... Foreign law firms can’t practice in India, but their lawyers can advice: SC 61 ..................................................................................................... C-17 Globemaster: IAF for first time lands its largest transport aircraft at Arunachal Pradesh’s Tuting airfield 62 ................................... IATA partners with Civil Aviation Ministry and National Aviation University 62 ................................................................................................ President inaugurates World Hindi Secretariat in Port Louis, Mauritius 63 .......................................................................................................... ICMR wins 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research 63 ................................................................................................................................................... India-UK Joint Team wins Newton-Bhabha Fund for Groundwater Arsenic Research project 64 ................................................................. Delhi End-TB Summit: PM launches campaign to eradicate TB from India by 2025 64 .................................................................................

March 15, 2018 64 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... US challenges India’s export subsidy programmes at WTO 64 ............................................................................................................................... QOL-2C: AYUSH Drug developed by CCRAS for cancer patients 65 ................................................................................................................... India-Sri Lanka: Cabinet approves MoU between for promoting cooperation in IT and Electronics 65 ....................................................... India-Iran: Cabinet approves Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation 66 ................................................................................................ CCEA approves continuation of Urea Subsidy Scheme 66 ....................................................................................................................................... WHO SEARO countries adopt Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action to eradicate TB 66 ..................................................................... 15th March: World Consumer Rights Day 67 .............................................................................................................................................................. World Happiness Index 2018: India ranks 133 67 ...................................................................................................................................................... Environment Ministry gives nod to Neutrino project 68 ...........................................................................................................................................






India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition Index 69 .............................................................................................................................................. March 16, 2018 70 .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passes bill to have two-tier Panchayati Raj 70 ....................................................................................................... China develops artificial heart with rocket technology 70 ........................................................................................................................................ Haryana passes bill for death penalty for child rapists 71 .......................................................................................................................................... Sach-Gaurav: India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo born 71 ..................................................................................................................................... Lok Sabha passes Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017 71 .................................................................................................................................. Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 72 ...................................................................................................................... LaQshya program launched to improve quality of maternity care 72 .................................................................................................................... Pune tops in urban governance: ASICS 2017 report 73 ............................................................................................................................................

March 17, 2018 74 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic 74 ........................................................................................................................................................ Jaipur to witness 8th Theatre Olympics 75 .................................................................................................................................................................. Prime Minister inaugurates 105th Indian Science Congress 75 ............................................................................................................................... India inks $120 Million Loan agreement with to improve Rail Infrastructure 75 ................................................................................................ Odisha Government to collaborate with RIMES for disaster management 76 ..................................................................................................... Krishi Unnati Mela held in New Delhi 77 .....................................................................................................................................................................

March 18-19, 2018 77 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... Philippines withdraws from International Criminal Court 77 ................................................................................................................................... CISF launches mobile app for lost items at airports 78 ............................................................................................................................................. Government imposes anti-dumping duty on Ofloxacin import from China 78 ................................................................................................... NITI Aayog releases SATH-E Roadmaps 79 ............................................................................................................................................................... C-437: Indian Coast Guard commissions interceptor boat 79 ................................................................................................................................ Ptilomera nagalanda: New species of water strider found in Nagaland 79 ........................................................................................................... President releases commemorative coins on Nabakalebar festival 80 ....................................................................................................................

March 20, 2018 80 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... March 20: World Sparrow Day 80 ................................................................................................................................................................................ Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik given additional charge as Governor of Odisha 81 .......................................................................................... President of India inaugurates Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 81 .................................................................................................... Gulf Shield 1 military exercise of 23 countries held in Saudi Arabia 81 .................................................................................................................. Airbnb inks four MoUs for promotion of tourism in North-East 81 ....................................................................................................................... Varuna 2018: Indian Navy hosts bilateral naval exercise with French Navy 82 .................................................................................................... Indian hands over 18 locomotives to Myanmar 82 ..................................................................................................................................................... India, EU ink cooperation agreement to share earth observation data from each other’s satellite 83 ............................................................. India, Hong Kong sign double tax agreement 83 ........................................................................................................................................................

March 21, 2018 83 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ICFRE and TIFAC ink MoU for supporting Forest Based Communities 83 ......................................................................................................... Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Skill Development ink MoU on skill development at KVKs 84 ....................................................... Government to set up Plastic Park in Jharkhand‘s Deoghar District 85 ................................................................................................................ National Cultural Audiovisual Archives becomes world’s first Trusted Digital Repository 85 .......................................................................... NITI Aayog, Piramal Foundation ink agreement to improve health, education in Aspirational Districts 86 ................................................. BIRAC celebrates its 6th Foundation Day 86 .............................................................................................................................................................. Government scraps export duty on sugar 87 ............................................................................................................................................................... UGC grants full autonomy to 62 higher educational institutes 87 .......................................................................................................................... Government launches Sand Mining Framework to check illegal extraction 87 ...................................................................................................

March 22, 2018 88 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians 88 ........................................................................................ Cabinet approves revision of DTAA between India and Qatar 88 .......................................................................................................................... Parivara and Talawara: Cabinet approves inclusion of communities ST list in Karnataka 88 .......................................................................... Cabinet approves opening of 18 new missions in Africa by 2021 89 ..................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves amendments in Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 89 .............................................................................................................. Cabinet approves North-East Industrial Development Scheme 2017 89 ............................................................................................................... 22 March: World Water Day (WWD) 90 ..................................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet extends term of commission on sub-categorisation of OBCs 90 ............................................................................................................. Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission 91 ........................................................................................................

March 23, 2018 92 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Global carbon emissions hit record high in 2017: IAE 92 ......................................................................................................................................... Fluorimeter: DAE develops device to measure uranium traces in water 92 .......................................................................................................... Parliament passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 92 ...................................................................................................................... Raja Ravi Varma’s painting on Tilottama fetches over Rs.5 crore at New York auction 93 .............................................................................. 44 African countries sign agreement to establish African Continental Free Trade Area 94 ............................................................................ India’s first sign language dictionary of 3000 words launched 94 ......................................................................................................................... MCX launches world’s first brass futures contracts 95 .............................................................................................................................................. BrahMos missile with indigenous seeker successfully test-fired for first time 95 ................................................................................................ Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar: MEA launches engagement programme with Regional Media 96 ..............................................................

March 24, 2018 96 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... First National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement held in New Delhi 96 ...................................................................................................... Indian Navy’s warship INS Ganga decommissioned 96 ............................................................................................................................................






Canadian mathematician Robert P. Langlands wins Abel Prize 2018 97 ............................................................................................................... NAIPUNYA RATHAM: Andhra Pradesh Government launches World on Wheels 97 ...................................................................................... March 24: World Tuberculosis Day 97 ......................................................................................................................................................................... GSL delivers second AOPV to Sri Lankan Navy Ahead of Schedule 98 ................................................................................................................ ISRO–BHEL tie up for Production of Space Grade Lithium-Ion Cells 98 ............................................................................................................. ISRO postpones launch of Chandrayaan-2 mission 99 .............................................................................................................................................. Krem Puri: World’s longest sandstone cave discovered in Meghalaya 100 ............................................................................................................ Earth Hour 2018 observed across the world 100 ........................................................................................................................................................

March 25-26, 2018 101 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. JS Rajput nominated as India’s representative to Executive Board of UNESCO 101 ............................................................................................ March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 101 ....................................... Print Biennale India 2018: First International Exhibition of Graphic Prints held in New Delhi 102 .............................................................. Chhattisgarh wins National Water Digest Award 102 ................................................................................................................................................ Ministry of Culture organises Madhavpur Mela in Gujarat 102 ............................................................................................................................... Brazzaville declaration signed to protect world’s largest tropical peatland 103 .................................................................................................... Government releases Draft policy on Defence Production 103 ................................................................................................................................ Government may relax protected area permit rules 104 ...........................................................................................................................................

March 27, 2018 104 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. National Conference on Down Syndrome held in New Delhi 105 .......................................................................................................................... Surat: First district to have 100% solar powered health centres 105 ...................................................................................................................... ISA, India sign Host Country Agreement 105 .............................................................................................................................................................. Government launches E-Tribes India on e-commerce platforms 106 .................................................................................................................... GPI Tracker system: SWIFT broadens payment tracking capabilities 106 ............................................................................................................ TESS: NASA, SpaceX collaborate to search for exoplanets 107 ..............................................................................................................................

March 28, 2018 108 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. AAI signs MoU with Assam Government to develop villages in Kamrup district 108 ........................................................................................ India’s first insect museum opened in Tamil Nadu 108 ............................................................................................................................................. Department of Posts launches Cool EMS Service between India and Japan 109 ................................................................................................. India and China agree roadmap for addressing Trade Imbalance 109 ................................................................................................................... Atal Innovation Mission ink SOI with SAP Global to foster innovation 109 ......................................................................................................... Skill India partners with Ministry of Power for implementation of Saubhagya Scheme 110 ............................................................................. 93% rural households with access to toilets using them: NARSS 2017-18 110 .................................................................................................... Exim Bank extends $500 million loan facility to 15-nation ECOWAS 111 .............................................................................................................. Government launches Study in India programme to attract foreign students 111 ................................................................................................ K2-229b: Hot, metallic Earth-sized planet discovered 112 ......................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves MoU between India and Canada on IPRs 112 ..............................................................................................................................

March 29, 2018 113 .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves India, UK and Ireland MoU on organised crime 113 .................................................................................................................. CCEA approves bulk export of all edible oils 113 ......................................................................................................................................................... Cabinet approves re-structuring of NSDF and NSDC 113 ........................................................................................................................................ CCEA approves continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme 114 .............................................................................. Cabinet approves MoU between India and SACEP for cooperation on Oil and Chemical Pollution 114 ....................................................... Cabinet approves amendments to National Medical Commission Bill 115 ............................................................................................................. CCEA approves new Integrated Scheme for School Education 115 ........................................................................................................................ CCEA approves enhancing coverage of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana 116 ..................................................................................... CCEA approves continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy and City Compost Scheme 117 .................................................................................

March 30, 2018 117 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... India receives first US LNG shipment at Dabhol under long-term deal 117 .......................................................................................................... Hindon Elevated Road: India’s longest elevated road inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh 118 ..................................................................................... Rajasthan’s first mega food park inaugurated at Ajmer 118 ...................................................................................................................................... China launches twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space 118 ......................................................................................................................... First National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses held in New Delhi 119 ..................................... Madhya Pradesh’s Kadaknath chicken gets Geographical Indication tag 119 ....................................................................................................... InSight Mission: NASA’s first mission to explore deep interior of Mars 119 ......................................................................................................... ISRO successfully launches GSAT-6A satellite 120 ..................................................................................................................................................... Government launches Swachh Bharat Summer Internship 121 ................................................................................................................................

March 31, 2018 121 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... PFMS portal processes record transactions on single day 121 .................................................................................................................................. SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act: Government to File Review Petition 121 .................................................................................................. Kaziranga National Park: Rhino population rises marginally 122 ............................................................................................................................. Pakistan Test Fires Submarine Launched Cruise Missile BABUR 122 ..................................................................................................................... Russia Conducts Another Test for ICBM Sarmat Missile 122 .................................................................................................................................. Interstitium: Scientists discover new organ in human body 122 ............................................................................................................................... Chandra Bhushan Kumar appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner 123 ........................................................................................................ Government appoints Vineet Joshi as first DG of National Testing Agency 123 ..................................................................................................






GKToday’s Monthly PDF E-Book comprises two documents viz. (1) Subjective (News Summaries & Updates)Compendium (2) Objective Current Affairs (MCQ) Compendium. This part is News Compendium covering MonthlyHighlights and Date Wise Updates published in GKToday. We have provided Current Affairs Questions Compendiumseparately. These documents are suitable for SSC, Bank PO, Bank Clerical, IBPS, CLAT, Railways, State Level / UnionPublic Services examinations. Visit https://store.gktoday.in for other documents.

Month Highlights: March – 2018Government Policy and SchemesPFMS portal

The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal has processed record Rs 71,633 crore transactions on asingle day. This was a historical record breaking volume of digital transactions achieved by PFMS.

Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI) 2018Government is going to launch Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI) 2018 aimed at engaging college youthwith Swachhata work in villages in coming Summer vacation. The initiative will be launched by Ministry ofDrinking Water and Sanitation.

Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme and City Compost SchemeThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy(NBS) Scheme and City Compost Scheme beyond 12th Five Year plan till 2019-20. The proposal was forwarded byDepartment of Fertilizers.

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)The CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved proposal of enhancing scope of PradhanMantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY).

Integrated Scheme on School EducationThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved new Integrated Scheme on School Educationfor period 2018 to 2020. The new scheme will subsume existing schemes related to education such as SarvaShiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans SchemeThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund forEducation Loans Scheme. It also approved continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest SubsidyScheme for period from 2017 to 20.

Cool EMS ServiceDepartment of Posts under Ministry of Communications has launched Cool EMS Service between India andJapan. It is one-way service from Japan to India which allows customers in India to import Japanese food items forpersonal use which is allowed under Indian regulations.

E-Tribes IndiaThe Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, (TRIFED), under Ministry of Tribal Affairshas launched E-Tribes India banners on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM.

Study in India programmeThe Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) has approved ‘Study in India’ programme to attractforeign students to pursue higher education in India.

ISA, India sign Host Country AgreementThe International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) signed Host Country Agreement inNew Delhi. The agreement gives ISA juridical personality an power to contract, acquire and dispose off movableand immovable properties and also to institute and defend legal proceedings.

Protected area permit rulesMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA) is planning to relax the protected area permit (PAP) regime to enable foreigntourists to access border areas. The move is being initiated to promote tourism, create job opportunities for thelocals and generate revenue for the states.

Draft policy on Defence ProductionThe Ministry of Defence has released draft policy on defence production that aims to make India one of the topfive manufacturers of defence platforms with active participation of public and private sectors.

NAIPUNYA RATHAMAndhra Pradesh Government launched multi-utility vehicle NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels to bringtechnology to remote corners. It was launched at State Secretariat in capital Amaravathi by Chief MinisterN.Chandrababu Naidu.

Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke DwaarExternal Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched ‘Videsh Aaya






Pradesh ke Dwaar’, an engagement programme with regional media in Hyderabad, Telangana. The initiative aimsenhance public diplomacy outreach of MEA and its commitment to take objectives of foreign policy to people atgrassroot-level.

India’s first sign language dictionaryThe Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first Sign Language Dictionary of 3000. Thedictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC) underDepartment of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).

Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection MissionThe Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved launch of Ayushman Bharat-NationalHealth Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). The scheme will integrate two on-going centrally sponsored schemes viz.Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

Commission on sub-categorisation of OBCsThe Union Cabinet has approved second and final extension of term of Commission constituted to examine issueof Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes in Central List for period of twelve weeks upto June, 2018.

North-East Industrial Development Scheme 2017The Union Cabinet has approved North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017 to promoteemployment in North Eastern Region states including Sikkim.NEIDS is combination of the incentives coveredunder the earlier two government schemes with a much larger outlay.

18 new missions in Africa by 2021The Union Cabinet has approved opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa over four year period from2018-2021.

India Development Foundation of Overseas IndiansThe Union Cabinet has given its approval for closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI).The purpose of closure is to enhance synergies in channelizing contributions of Indian diaspora toGovernment’s flagship programmes such as National Mission for clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission.

Sand Mining FrameworkThe Union Ministry of Mines has launched Sand Mining Framework to help states deal with the sand miningissues, including demand supply deficit and illegal extraction. It was launched at the third National Conclave onMines & Minerals held in New Delhi.

Full autonomy to 62 higher educational institutesThe University Grants Commission (UGC) approved proposal to grant full autonomy to 62 higher educationalinstitutions which have maintained high standards of excellence under Autonomous Colleges Regulation.

National Cultural Audiovisual ArchivesThe National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA) project of Ministry of Culture was certified as world’s firstTrusted Digital Repository as per ISO 16363:2012 standard. The certification was granted by PrimaryTrustworthy Digital Repository Authorisation Body Ltd. (PTAB), United Kingdom.

Plastic ParkThe Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has approved proposal of setting up of Plastic Park in DeogharDistrict, Jharkhand. The project will be set up at cost of Rs.120 crores in an area of 150 acres. Moreover, it willalso set up Central Institute for Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) and Plastic Recycling unit at Deoghar.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs)The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship havesigned MoU to conduct skill development training programmes for agriculture and allied sector. These skilldevelopment training programmes will be conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs).

SATH-E RoadmapsNITI Aayog has released comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiative Sustainable Action forTransforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E) project to introduce system-wide GovernanceTransformation in school education.

LaQshya programThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched LaQshya program aimed at improving quality of maternitycare in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT). It is being implemented to ‘fast-track’ interventionsfor achieving tangible results.

Urea Subsidy SchemeThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of Urea Subsidy Scheme from2017 upto 2020 and implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for disbursement of fertilizer subsidy.






TB Free India CampaignPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched Tuberculosis (TB) Free India Campaign after he inaugurated Delhi End-TB Summit in New Delhi. The summit was co-hosted by Union Health Ministry, World Health Organisation(WHO) South East Asia Regional Office and Stop TB Partnership.

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has launched Women Entrepreneurship Platform(WEP) on the occasion of International Women’s day (March 8, 2018). WEP’s theme song ‘ Naari Shakti’composed and sung by renowned singer Kailash Kher was also released.

SuvidhaMinistry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has launched ‘Suvidha’, a 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, underPradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). It was launched by Union Minister for Chemicals &Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananthkumar on occasion of International Woman’s day.

Beti Bachao Beti PadhaUnion Government has expanded Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme from 161 districts to all 640districts of the country. The initial focus of BBBP was limited to districts which were either below nationalaverage or were worse in their own states in terms of absolute values of Chid Sex Ratio (CSR).

National Nutrition MissionPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Nutrition Mission (NMM) at event held at Jhunjhunu inRajasthan on the occasion of International Women’s Day. NNM is comprehensive approach towards raisingnutrition level in country on a war footing.

Udyam Sakhi PortalThe Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises launched Udyam Sakhi Portal (www.udyamsakhi.org) forwomen entrepreneurs on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Swachh Shakti 2018The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with Uttar Pradesh Government had organizedSwachh Shakti 2018, a Women’s Convention on occasion of International Women’s Day in Lucknow. This year,Uttar Pradesh had hosted Swachh Shakti 2018, being largest state in country (in terms of population) with massiverural populace.

I-MetrosThe Union Housing Ministry has launched I-Metros, an association of all Indian Metro Rail companies for mutualsharing of ideas & experiences for nurturing excellence their performance.

Scheme for in-situ management of crop residueThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Rs. 1,151 crore Central Sector Scheme for in-situ management of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.

Sukhad Yatra mobile app and Toll-free Emergency numberMinistry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has launched Sukhad Yatra mobile application and 1033 Toll-free Emergency number for highway users. It also launched scheme for District Driving Training Centres and willprovide grant of financial assistance for Road Safety Advocacy and awards for outstanding work in Road Safety.

IMPRINT-IIThe Ministry of Human Resource Development has sanctioned Rs. 1000 crore for phase II of Impacting ResearchInnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India programme to boost research and innovation in the country.

Know India Programme40 participants of Indian Origin from 9 countries attended 46th edition of Know India Programme (KIP). MadhyaPradesh was partner state of this edition.KIP is initiative (scheme) of Ministry of External Affairs for Persons ofIndian Origin (PIO) between the age group of 18 to 30 years.

Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has installed 49 lakh LED street lights in 28 states/UTs under the StreetLighting National Programme (SLNP). This information was given by Minister of State (IC) Power R K Singh in awritten reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

#YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaignThe Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaign on theoccasion of International Women’s Day 2018. It is second edition of such campaign that aims to create holisticapproach to issue of menstruation, which is experience that transcends culture, class, and caste.

Nirbhaya fundThe Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved projects worth Rs 2,919 crore underNirbhaya Fund for creating eight safe cities. They are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru,






Hyderabad and Lucknow.Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas programme

Odisha Government has launched ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas’ (Our Village, our development) programme to reachout to people in rural areas and involve themselves in developmental activities.

Arunachal ExpressA new train between Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and Anand Vihar Terminal in the national capital namedArunachal Express was flagged off. This is the second direct train for Arunachal Pradesh and overall 14th forNorth East to connect with the national capital.

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)The Union Cabinet approved establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) as an independentregulator for the auditing profession. It aims to tighten regulatory oversight over auditors and plug loopholes. Itwill be independent from those it regulates for enforcement of auditing standards and ensuring quality of audits.

Size IndiaNational Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi under Ministry of Textiles is going to conductNational Sizing Survey dubbed as Size India to develop comprehensive size chart for ready-to-wear industry basedon body measurements of Indian population. So far, 14 countries have successfully completed national sizingsurveys that include US, UK, France, Canada, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, China and Australia.

Shakti SthalaThe first phase Shakti Sthala solar park having total capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) was inaugurated indrought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, Karanataka. It is claimed to be world’s largest solar park. Thepark ties in with the Central Government’s scheme to generate 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2020. It hasbeen executed within record time of two years, with zero land acquisition.

Action Plan for Champion Sectors in ServicesUnion Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Commerce and Industry to give focused attention to 12identified Champion Services Sectors (CSS) for promoting their development and realizing their potential.

Science, Technology & EnvironmentInterstitium

Scientists have discovered new organ in human body and have named it as ‘interstitium’. It will be the 80th organin the human body. It might be might be also the biggest organ in human body.

Rhino population rises marginallyThe recent census carried out in Kaziranga National Park, Assam has revealed that there was a marginal increasein the population of the one-horned rhinoceros here. As per census report, currently there are 2,413 rhinos inKaziranga National Park registering a marginal increase of 12 rhinos compared to last census.

GSAT 6A communication satelliteThe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched GSAT 6A communication satellite onboard of GSLV-F08 rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. GSAT-6A is high power S-band communicationsatellite with a mission life of about 10 years.

NASA’s InSight MissionNASA will send first-ever mission named as InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesyand Heat Transport) dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars. InSight will be stationary lander that will belaunched in May 2018. Under this mission, stationary lander equipped with seismometer and heat transfer probewill be placed on surface of Mars to study red planet’s early geological evolution.

Beidou-3MEO satellitesChina has successfully sent pair of twin Beidou-3MEO satellites – Beidou-30 and Beidou-31 –into space as part ofits third and final stage of launching its domestic Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system.

Oil and Chemical Pollution in South Asian SeasThe Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and SouthAsian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) for cooperation on response to Oil and Chemical Pollutionin South Asian Seas Region.

K2-229b Dwarf planetScientists using Kepler 2 telescope have discovered hot, metallic, Earth-sized planet named K2-229b orbitingdwarf star located 260 million light years away. They had employed Doppler spectroscopy technique also known as‘wobble method‘ to discover and characterise this faraway planet.

India’s first insect museumIndia’s first insect museum with state-of-the-art amenities was unveiled at Tamil Nadu Agricultural Universitycampus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.






NASA’s TESS MissionNASA has partnered with private space launching company SpaceX to launch Transiting Exoplanet SurveySatellite (TESS) to search for exoplanets using the transit method. TESS is designed to carry out first spaceborneall-sky transiting exoplanet survey.

Brazzaville declarationThe Brazzaville declaration was singed to promote better management and conservation world’s largest tropicalpeatlands-Cuvette Centrale region in Congo Basin from unregulated land use and prevent its drainage anddegradation.

Earth HourThe twelfth edition of Earth Hour was observed across the world on 24 March 2018 to take a global call on climatechange. To mark this day, cities worldwide turned their lights off for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm localtime.

Chandrayaan-2 MissionThe Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed launch of India’s second lunar mission‘Chandrayaan-2’ from April 2018 to October-November 2018 as experts have suggested more tests. It will belaunched on board of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV-F10).

Space Grade Lithium-Ion CellsIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has entered into Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with BharatHeavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to transfer technology for manufacturing space grade Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) cells.

FluorimeterRaja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), an Indore-based unit of Department of AtomicEnergy (DAE) has developed instrument called Fluorimeter, to measure traces of uranium in water. The device iscapable of examining traces of uranium in sample of water from 0.1 PPB (Parts-per-billion) unit to 100 PPB.

Maharashtra Government bans use of plasticMaharashtra Government has banned complete use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing environmental andpublic health concerns. The ban will include plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups and plates, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging.

Ptilomera nagalandaScientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered new species of water strider named Ptilomeranagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra in Nagaland. It was found in river Intanki in Peren district of Nagaland.

Sach-GauravThe Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) has claimed that India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo malecalf named Sach-Gaurav was born in Hisar, Haryana. It was born to Murrah buffalo, at Hi Tech Sach Dairy Farm,100 kms from cloning laboratory, making it first buffalo calf to be born in field.

Artificial heart with rocket technologyChinese scientists have developed artificial heart using rocket technology and it is currently undergoing thoroughtesting experiments on animals. The artificial heart uses magnetic and fluid levitation from rocket system. Thistechnology can reduce friction in device to increase working efficiency and extend life span of power generator.

Neutrino projectThe Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has given environmental clearance to India-based NeutrinoObservatory (INO) project to be set up in Bodi West hills in Tamil Nadu. The approval was given by MoEF’sExpert Appraisal Committee (EAC) after taking up INO project issue as special case.

QOL-2CThe Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken development of coded drugAYUSH QOL-2C for improving quality of life in cancer patients.

Illegal cultivation of HT CottonThe Department of Biotechnology in Ministry of Science and Technology has constituted Field Inspection andScientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) to investigate matter of illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) orBG-III cotton in four states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

SaposhiCybersecurity agencies have detected a new malware called Saposhi that can take over electronic devices and usethem for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Saposhi Malware is capable of taking over electronicdevices and turning them into bots (device taken over by malware) which can then be used for any purpose,including DDoS attacks which, with enough firepower, can cripple entire industries.

Animal Welfare Board of IndiaGovernment has shifted headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to Ballabhgarh in Faridabad






District of Haryana from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was shifted after consultation with AWBI for bettercoordination between the Environment Ministry and AWBI for carrying out the animal welfare activities.

Cheaper TB drugsWorld Health Organization (WHO) has invited pharmaceutical companies around the world to submit proposalsto manufacture affordable versions of newer medicines for treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).

Silver copper telluride (AgCuTe)Researchers have developed silver copper telluride (AgCuTe), a novel compound that exhibits poor thermalconductivity but shows good electrical conductivity. It was developed by researchers from Jawaharlal NehruCentre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru.

Defence RelatedICBM RS-28 Sarmat

Russia has successfully test fired its latest nuclear Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) RS-28 Sarmat. Thismissile can carry an array of warheads capable of dodging missile defenses.

SLCM BABURPakistan Navy successfully test fired indigenously developed Submarine Launched version of Cruise Missile(SLCM) BABUR.

Offshore Patrol VesselThe Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) has delivered second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) to Sri Lanka Navy.This was overall the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) delivered in the current financial year.

INS Ganga decommissionedIndian Navy’s indigenously built warship INS Ganga (F22) was decommissioned in Mumbai, Maharashtra afterover three decades of service.

BrahMos MissileSupersonic cruise missile BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for first time with indigenously developed seekerat Pokhran test range, Rajasthan. So far, seeker, a critical technology in missiles was imported from Russia.

Varuna-18The Indo-French joint naval exercise Varuna-18 was held in Arabian Sea off Goa coast. It was aimed to exploremeasures to facilitate operational-level interactions between their armed forces and increase mutual cooperation,considering the common global threats.

Gulf Shield – 1 military exerciseThe Gulf Shield – 1 military exercise of 23 countries including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member stateswas held in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. It was organised by Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia. The onemonth exercise was largest military drill in region as it saw participation of participation of ground, naval and airforces of participating countries.

ICGS C-437The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned interceptor boat ICGS C-437 at Porbandar, Gujarat as part of itsefforts to strengthen coastal security. ICGS C-437 shall be based at Jakhau under administrative and operationalcontrol of commander Coast Guard Region (North West).

C17 GlobemasterThe Indian Air Force (IAF) for first time flawlessly landed its largest transport US-manufactured aircraft, C-17Globemaster at strategic Tuting Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh, which is close toChinese border. After the trial landing, C17 carried out operations mission and airlifted 18 tons of load.

Samvedna 2018Samvedna 2018, the first multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise of Indian AirForce (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations was held off the coast of Kerala. The multilateralexercise was spearheaded by IAF and conducted by Southern Air Command (SAC) and involved representativesfrom air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.

MILES-18The MILES-18, first-ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea was held at the Andaman sea. The three days exercisewas conducted as part of 10th edition of MILAN 2018. Milan 2018, a multi-national mega event was organised byAndaman Nicobar naval command with theme ‘Friendship Across the Seas’ to expand regional cooperation andcombat unlawful activities in critical sea lanes.

First coastal policing academy set up in GujaratIndia’s first national coastal policing academy, National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) to train police forcesin effectively safeguarding country’s shoreline will start functioning from April 2018. It will be launched fromcampus of Gujarat’s Fisheries Research Centre located in coastal Okha town in Devbhumi Dwarka district of






Gujarat.Kinzhal Missile

Russia successfully launched high-precision aeroballistic Kinzhal hypersonic missile from a MiG-31 supersonicinterceptor jet. During the test, the missile launch was normal and it hit preset target on the test site. It also met itsperformance characteristics and time indicators.

India-France Strategic pactIndia and France have inked strategic pact providing for use of each other’s military facilities including openingnaval bases to warships. The agreement reflects growing depth between both countries in defence ties and comesamid China’s growing military expansionism in Indo-Pacific region.

M777 ultra-light howitzersJoint investigation committee (JIC) comprising US and Indian officials has test-fired M777 ultra-light howitzers(ULH) at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The test was conducted in the wake of accident during its trial inSeptember 2017.

ICG C-162Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd (BDIL) delivered high-speed interceptor boat ICG C-162 to Indian CoastGuard (ICG) at BDIL jetty in Mangaluru, Karnataka. It is fifth interceptor boat delivered by BDIL’s Mangalurushipyard to ICG. The sixth boat will be delivered after three-and-a-half months of the delivery of the fifth boat.

Liaoning aircraft carrierThe China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) has announced to build its first nuclear-powered aircraftcarrier Liaoning by the middle of the next decade. It was announced as part of its list of ambitions hope to achievein weaponry and technical developments for People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy by 2025.

Paschim LeharTri-service maritime exercise Paschim Lehar conducted by Indian Navy concluded off western coast in ArabianSea. The objective of the exercise was to build interoperability between Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian AirForce and Coast Guard.

ATGM NagIndigenously developed Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Nag was successfully test-fired in desert conditionsagainst two tank targets at different ranges and timings. With this, the developmental trials of Nag missile havebeen completed and it is now ready for induction.

Finance, Business and EconomyIndia receives first LNG cargo from US

India received its first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) cargo from United States (US) under long-term supply deal. Thefirst US-sourced LNG shipment was imported by state-owned GAIL on board of its chartered LNG ship ‘MeridianSpirit’ from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG export facility in Louisiana.

Bulk export of all edible oilsThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for removal of prohibition on export of allvarieties of edible oils except mustard oil. It will provide additional marketing avenues for edible oils and oilseeds.

Global Payment Innovation Tracker systemThe SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform has expanded its GPI(Global Payment Innovation) Tracker system to help banks track their global transactions at all times and keep fullvigil on payments activity.

MCX launches world’s first brass futures contractsIndia’s largest commodities exchange platform, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) launchedworld’s first brass futures contracts. It will facilitate brass stakeholders to hedge their price risk. MCX Brass futureswill be the first non-ferrous contract with compulsory delivery option.

WEF Energy Transition IndexIndia was ranked at 78th among 114 countries on World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition Index(ETI) released as part of report titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition. The index ranks countries on howwell they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

World Happiness Index 2018India was ranked 133rd among 156 countries in World Happiness Index 2018, recently released by the UNSustainable Development Solutions Network. The index ranked 156 countries based on factors (parmaters) such asinequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita, social freedom, generosity, public trust (i.e. a lack of corruption ingovernment and business) and social support.

India attracts $209 billion FDI in 2014-2017India has attracted reaching US $208.99 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) during April 2014 to December






2017 period. The main sectors that received maximum FDI include services, computer software and hardware,telecommunications, construction, trading and automobile.

Relief measures for stressed telecom sectorUnion Cabinet has approved two key measures in telecom sector to facilitate investments, consolidation in thesector and enhancing ease of doing business. These include restructuring Deferred payment liabilities of spectrumauction of telecom service providers (TSPs) and Revising the limit of the cap for spectrum holding for TSPs.

Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India’s biggest Oil SupplierIraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become India’s top crude oil supplier by supplying 38.9 million tonnes (MT)crude oil in the current financial year. It was fifth of the India’s oil needs. India is 80% dependent on imports tomeet its oil needs.

Subhash Garg CommitteeThe Union Government has set up 8 member steering committee look into development and regulation offinancial technology (fintech) sector in India. It will be headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg.

India’s first HeliTaxiIndia’s first helicopter shuttle service (HeliTaxi) was launched in IT capital Bengaluru, Karnataka n a bid toprovide last-mile connectivity. The maiden trip of helitaxi was between Electronic City and KempegowdaInternational Airport in Bengaluru. It was provided by Thumby Aviation.

Services PMIThe Nikkei India Services Business Activity Index contracted at 47.8 in February 2018 compared with 51.7 inJanuary 2018. A reading above 50 implies an expansion while one below 50 denotes a contraction. The contractionshows that activity and new work in services sector declined for the first time since November 2017, with rates ofcontraction the fastest since August 2017.

World-first digital legal tenderMarshall Islands in Pacific Ocean is set to become first country in world to recognize cryptocurrency as its legaltender and adopt transparent crypto monetary system. The parliament of island has passed law to create the digitalcurrency called “Sovereign” with symbol SOV to raise some hard cash to pay bills and boost economy.

Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs)The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has crossed an important milestone of having signed 200 AdvancePricing Agreements (APAs). It was achieved after it entered into seven more APAs in February 2018.

Index of eight core industriesAccording to index of eight core industries released by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Core sector growthhas grown at faster pace of 6.7% in January 2018 against 3.4% in January 2017. The eight core sectors had grownby 4.2% in December 2017 and 7.4% in November 2017.

Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)According to Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), India’s manufacturing sector activityfell to four-month low in February 2018 as factory output and new business orders rose at slower pace.

Events & ObservancesMadhavpur Mela

The Union Ministry of Culture for the first time had organised Madhavpur Mela in Madhavpur Ghed inPorbandar District of Gujarat under the banner of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat. Its purpose is to bring various partsof country especially the North-East, close to each other.

Print Biennale India 2018The first-ever International Print Biennale, an International Exhibition of Graphic Prints was held in New Delhi.It was organised by Lalit Kala Akademi.

March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave TradeThe International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observedevery year on March 25 across the world.

March 24: World Tuberculosis DayThe World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) is observed every year on March 24 to raise public awareness about theglobal epidemic of Tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease.

22 March: World Water Day (WWD)The World Water Day (WWD) is observed every year on 22 March to spread message of preservation andrationaal consumption of water.

Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINEPresident Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) in New Delhi. Healso presented Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards.






March 20: World sparrow day (WSD)The world sparrow day (WSD) is observed every year on March 20 to raise awareness of the house sparrow andother common birds in urban environments and threats to their populations. The rationale for celebrating the Dayis to use it as a platform to underscore the need to conserve sparrows as well as the urban biodiversity.

Nabakalebar festivalPresident Ram Nath Kovind has released Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 10 commemorative coins on the occasion ofNabakalebar festival at a function held in Puri, Odisha. These coins were release to mark the festival which is asymbolic recreation of sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.

Krishi Unnati MelaThe three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela was held in New Delhi with focus on doubling farmers’ income. Theobjective of fair was to create awareness among farmers about latest agriculture-related technologicaldevelopments.

105th Indian Science CongressPrime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 105th session of Indian Science Congress (ISC) at Manipur CentralUniversity in Imphal. The focal theme of 5-day ISC is “Reaching the Unreached Through Science & Technology”.

8th Theatre OlympicsJaipur will co-host 8th Theatre Olympics, the largest international theatre festival being held for the first time inIndia. The Jaipur chapter of Theatre Olympics 2018 is organised by National School of Drama (NSD) under theaegis of Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Ravindra Manch Society and Art & Culture Department,Rajasthan Government.

15th March: World Consumer Rights DayThe World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is celebrated every year on March 15 to pay solidarity with theinternational consumer movement and give more attention to promote basic rights of consumers. This year thetheme promoted is “Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer”.

March 3: World Wildlife DayThe World Wildlife Day is observed every year on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness about the world’swild fauna and flora. It is celebrated to mark the signing of Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on this day in 1973.

Persons in news – Appointments / ElectionsVineet Joshi

Government has appointed former chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Vineet Joshi, as thefirst Director-General (DG) of the National Testing Agency (NTA). He will have tenure of five years.

Chandra Bhushan KumarGovernment has appointed senior bureaucrat Chandra Bhushan Kumar as Deputy Election Commissioner. He willhave tenure of five years. Bhushan is 1995 batch IAS officer of Union Territories Cadre.

JS RajputThe Ministry of Human Resource Development has nominated former NCERT director JS Rajput as India’srepresentative to Executive Board (EXB) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO).

Governor Satya Pal MalikPresident Ram Nath Kovind has given Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik (72) additional charge of Odisha untilregular arrangements are made. He was given additional charge after incumbent governor S C Jamir completed hisfive-year tenure.

Bidya Devi BhandariNepal’s first woman President Bidya Devi Bhandari (56) was relected for second term in office. In the presidentialelection, she defeated Nepali Congress (NC) leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with overwhelming majority. Ms. Bhandariwas elected with more than a two-thirds majority after she secured 39,275 votes while the Nepali Congress’s Ms.Rai garnered 11,730 votes.

Neil BasuSenior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer Neil Basu became first person of Asian heritage to be appointed asCounterterrorism Chief. He will take charge as Scotland Yard’s National Lead for Counter Terrorism (CT) andHead of Met Police’s Specialist Operations.

AwardsChhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh was awarded National Water Digest Award for Water Conservation-Diversion and increasing theirrigation capacity in the state






Robert P. LanglandsCanadian mathematician Robert P. Langlands (81) has won prestigious Abel Prize 2018 for his visionaryprogramme connecting representation theory to number theory. He will receive the award from Norway’s KingHarald V at an award ceremony in Oslo in May 2018.

Raja Ravi VarmaRenowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma’s untitled painting of Tilottama was sold for $795,000 (around Rs 5crore) at Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary South Asian art auction in New York. The winning bid was madeby anonymous private collector.

ICMRThe Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was awarded 2017 Kochon Prize for building tradition ofexcellence in Tuberculosis (TB) research and development. It had emerged winner from among 18 nominations.

IndiaIndia won Best Exhibitor Award at ITB–Berlin World Tourist Meet convened at Berlin, Germany. More than 100countries had participated in the mega meet with their respective Tourism Ministers.

Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017President Ram Nath Kovind presented Nari Shakti Puraskars 2017 to 30 eminent individuals and 9 distinguishedinstitutions at special ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan on occasion of International Women’s Day. Theywere felicitated in recognition of their efforts in rendering distinguished services for cause of women, especiallyvulnerable and marginalized women.

Balkrishna DoshiLegendary Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi (90), a pioneer of low-cost housing design has won the prestigiousPritzker Prize, considered architecture field’s Nobel. He is 45th Pritzker laureate and first from India to receive it.

Sports2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

World champions Australia won 27th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah cup 2018 for record 10th time. In the finalmatch held in Ipoh, Malaysia, Australia defeated defending champion England by narrow 2-1 goal margin.

India B wins Deodhar Trophy 2018India B won 45th edition of the Deodhar Trophy 2018 by defeating Karnataka in final match by 6 wickets at theHimachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

Navjot KaurAce wrestler Navjot Kaur won gold medal in the 65kg freestyle wrestling category of Senior Asian Championshipsheld in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. With this, she created history by becoming first Indian woman wrestler to win goldmedal in Senior Asian Championships.

Miscellaneous Terms and FactsKadaknath chicken

Chennai based Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India has awarded GeographicalIndication (GI) Tag to Madhya Pradesh’s Kadaknath chicken.

Hindon Elevated RoadHindon Elevated Road, India’s longest elevated road was inaugurated in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh by ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath. It connects UP Gate to Rajnagar Extension and will make it easier to commute betweenDelhi and Ghaziabad.

National Medical Commission (NMC) BillUnion Cabinet has approved certain amendments to National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill consideringrecommendations of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC) and general feedback frompublic.

SuratSurat district in Gujarat become first in country to have 100% solar powered Primary Health Centers (PHCs). All52 PHCs in the district are now powered by solar system.

Krem PuriThe world’s longest sandstone cave named Krem Puri was discovered near Laitsohum village in Mawsynram areain East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The cave is 24,583 metres (24.5 km) in length and is known for itscomplex cave systems hidden under its undulating hills.

African Continental Free Trade AreaThe 44 African countries from total 55 members of African Union (AU) have signed agreement to create AfricanContinental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the world’s largest free trade blocs. The agreement was signed at asummit held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017






The Parliament has passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to empower government to fix period ofmaternity leave and tax-free gratuity amount with an executive order.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016The Union Cabinet has approved proposal for moving official amendments in Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016.Once the Bill is enacted by Parliament, National Surrogacy Board (NSB) will be constituted at central level. TheStates/UTs will constitute State Surrogacy Boards (SSBs) and State Appropriate Authorities within 3 months ofnotification by Central Government.

Parivara and TalawaraThe Union Cabinet has given its in principle approval for inclusion of communities, namely ‘Parivara andTalawara’ as synonym of Nayaka at in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Karnataka.

International Criminal CourtPhilippines has announced to withdraw from International Criminal Court (ICC) citing reason of internationalbias and held that ICC was being utilised as a political tool against it.

Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES)The Odisha government will collaborate with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES)for strengthening its early warning services and enhancing preparedness for management of hazards in state. Thepartnership will be in field of drought monitoring and early warning for different natural disasters. RIMES isalready working with the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority.

Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017The Lok Sabha has passed Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to further ease procedures for doing business inthe country. The Bill seeks to amend the Specific Relief Act, 1963.

Delhi End TB Summit Statement of ActionThe Member Countries of World Health Organization-Regional Office for South-East Asia (WHO-SEARO),participating in Delhi End Tuberculosis (TB) Summit have adopted ‘Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action’.The summit was co-hosted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, WHO-SEARO and Stop TB Partnership inNew Delhi.

Newton-Bhabha FundIndia-United Kingdom (UK) Joint Team has won Newton-Bhabha Fund for project on Groundwater ArsenicResearch in Ganga River Basin. The project was undertaken by Department of Science and Technology (DST) incollaboration with Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK to find solutions to water challenges facedin pervasively arsenic-affected Ganga River Basin.

World Hindi SecretariatPresident Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated World Hindi Secretariat building in Port Louis, Mauritius. He alsolaunched secretariat’s logo, an Early Digital Learning Programme as well unveiled foundation stones of socialhousing project and large ENT hospital being built with Indian assistance.

International Solar Alliance summitIndia, France co-hosted first International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit at Rashtrapati Bhavan Convention Centrein New Delhi. The aim of the summit was to deliberate on finance mechanism for promotion of solar energy inmember countries, crowd-funding and technology transfer.

Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has passed The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 providingfor death penalty for convicts involved in rape of girls below 12 years of age.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership11 Pacific Rim countries have formally entered into Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership or CP TPP or TPP11 in Santiago, Chile. It is revised version of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)proposed by US, that was finalized after US withdrew from it.

Passive euthanasia, living willThe Supreme Court (SC) allowed passive euthanasia and right to give advance medical directives or ‘Living Wills’,stating that human beings have the right to die with dignity as part of fundamental right, but made sure to set outstrict guidelines that will govern when it is permitted.

DiuDiu has become the first and only Union Territory in the country to be fully run on solar energy. The UTgenerates total of 13 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar power generating facilities daily. Of this, 3 MW isgenerated by rooftop solar plants and 10 MW by its other solar power plants.

First crime-free zone’The director generals of Border Security Force (BSF), India and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have declared 8.3






km stretch of Indo-Bangladesh border as first ‘crime-free zone’. The stretch covers Gunarmath and Kalyani BorderOut Posts (BOPs) in India and Puthkhali and Daulatpur BOPs in Bangladesh across border.

Karnataka state flagKarnataka Government has decided to accept state flag proposed and designed by 9-member committeeconstituted by state Kannada and Culture department. It will be official flag in place of an unofficial red and yellowflag that is currently used in the state to signify local pride.

European Bank for Reconstruction and DevelopmentThe shareholders of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have given their nod to India’scandidature to international financial institution. With this, India will become 69th member of EBRD.

Rooppur atomic plantIndia, Bangladesh and Russia have signed tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation inconstruction of Rooppur nuclear power plant near Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is first initiative under India-Russianuclear deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third countries. It will also be India’s first atomic energyventure abroad.

Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 in Parliament. The billproposed by Finance Ministry aims to curb practice of evading criminal prosecution by economic offenders (wilfuldefaulters) who flee from country to evade clutches Indian law by remaining outside jurisdiction of Indian courts.

Grey list of FATFPakistan has confirmed that it will be added on ‘grey list’ of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June 2018,once an action plan is mutually negotiated. But it has disputed claims of being put on ‘black list’ from ‘grey list’,which are mainly non-cooperative countries. Earlier, Pakistan was on FATF grey-list from 2012 to 2015.

Date Wise: Current Affairs UpdatesMarch 1, 2018

Cabinet approves MoU between India-Jordan for mining, beneficiation of Rock PhosphateMarch 1, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indiaand Jordan for mining and beneficiation of Rock Phosphate and Muriate of Phosphate (MOP). It alsoapproved setting up production facility in Jordan for Phosphoric Acid/NPK/DAP Fertilizers with longterm agreement for 100% off-take to India. The MoU will ensure consistent supply of raw material,intermediaries and finish Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers to cater to needs of country at areasonable price.MoU on Cooperation in Field of Manpower

The Union Cabinet also approved the proposal for signing of MoU on Cooperation in the Field ofManpower between India and Jordan. It aims at enhancing collaboration between two countries inpromoting best practices in administration of contractual employment.The MoU will be valid for period of 5 years and incorporates provision of automatic renewal andmonitoring mechanism through Joint Technical Committee (JTC). It reflects latest reforms inrecruitment processes and enhances protection and welfare of Indian workers in Jordan. It isexpected to usher in greater transparency and curb malpractices in the recruitment process due touse of online portal for recruitment of Indian manpower.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Jordan on Cooperation in Health SectorMarch 1, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indiaand Jordan on cooperation in the field of Health & Medical Science. Working Group will be set up toto oversee the implementation of this MoU and further elaborate the details of cooperation.MoU covers the following areas of cooperation

Health Research.Tobacco Control.Chronic Disease Control.National Health Statistics.Health System Governance.Universal Health Coverage (UHC).






Health Finance and Health Economy.Services and Information Technology in Health.Regulation of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.Diagnosis, Treatment and Medication in Tuberculosis.

Cabinet approves agreement between India and Jordan on Customs MattersMarch 1, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing and ratifying Agreement between India and Jordan onCooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters. It will help in availability ofrelevant information for prevention and investigation of Customs offences. It is also expected tofacilitate trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between countries.Key Facts

The Agreement will provide legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence betweenCustoms authorities of two countries and help in proper application of Customs laws, prevention andinvestigation of Customs offences and facilitation of legitimate trade.Background

The draft text of Agreement was finalized with concurrence of Customs Administrations of bothcountries. It takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in area ofexchange of information on correctness of Customs value, tariff classification and origin of goodstraded between two countries.

Manufacturing growth falls to four-month low in February 2018: PMIMarch 1, 2018

According to Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), India’s manufacturingsector activity fell to four-month low in February 2018 as factory output and new business ordersrose at slower pace. The monthly PMI fell to 52.1 in February 2018 from 52.4 in January 2018,indicating modest improvement in operating conditions. A reading above 50 on index denotesexpansion and less than that indicates contraction in activitiesKey Facts

This is for seventh consecutive month that PMI remained above 50-point-mark that separatesexpansion from contraction. The expansion was primarily driven by significant rise inmanufacturing production, while there were reports of improved underlying demand, with domesticand external sources driving new business gains.In December 2017, PMI had touched a 60-month high of 54.7. In response to greater productionrequirements, firms raised their staffing levels during February 2018. Although modest, the pace ofjob creation was slightly faster than January.PMI Survey on prices front found that cost inflation has accelerated to sharpest since February 2017,adding to expectations that inflationary risks will continue over coming months. It also noted thatIndian manufacturers remained optimistic towards 12-month outlook for output during February2018.Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)

PMI is an indicator of business activity-both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is asurvey-based measure that asks respondents about changes in their perception of some key businessvariables from month before. It is calculated separately for manufacturing and services sectors andthen composite index is constructed.Implications for economy

PMI is usually released at start of month, much before most of official data on industrial output,manufacturing and GDP growth is made available. It is, therefore, considered a good leadingindicator of economic activity. Manufacturing growth measured by PMI is considered good indicatorof industrial output.

DAC approves Rs. 9,435-crore procurement proposals for three servicesMarch 1, 2018

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hasapproved various procurement proposals for three services estimated at about Rs. 9,435 crore.The proposals includes purchase of 41,000 light machine guns (LMGs) and over 3.5 lakh close quarterbattle (CQB) carbines, High-capacity radio relay (HCRR) and two Pollution control vessels (PCV). DAC






is Defence Ministry’s highest decision-making body on procurement.Key Facts

LMGs and CQB carbines: The carbines will be procured at cost of Rs. 4,607 crore and LMGs Rs. 3,000crore. The approval is first step in long-drawn defence procurement procedure, and conclusion offinal deals will take several years. Of the purchases, 75% will be through Indian industry under Buyand Make (Indian) category and balance through Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). It will enable thedefence forces to meet their immediate requirement for troops deployed on border. It will alsoaddress shortage of small arms for armed forcesHigh-capacity radio relay (HCRR): It will be procured at essential quantities for Indian Army and AirForce at about Rs. 1,092 crore. The HCRRs will provide fail-safe and reliable communication alongwith increased bandwidth in tactical battle area.Pollution control vessels (PCV): Indian Coast Guard will get two pollution control vessels (PCV) at anapproximate cost of Rs.673 crore. These PCVs will carry out pollution control and will be capable ofundertaking patrolling, search and rescue and limited salvage and fire-fighting operations at sea.They will be built by Indian shipyards at an approximate cost of Rs. 673 crore. It will enhance IndianCoast Guard’s (ICG) ability to rapidly undertake pollution control measures off east coast and islandterritories.

Pakistan admits being added grey list of FATFMarch 1, 2018

Pakistan has confirmed that it will be added on ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) inJune 2018, once an action plan is mutually negotiated. But it has disputed claims of being put on‘black list’ from ‘grey list’, which are mainly non-cooperative countries. Earlier, Pakistan was on theFATF grey-list from 2012 to 2015.Background

In February 2018 plenary session of FATF, US, UK, Germany and France had pushed for puttingPakistan on grey list for its ineffectiveness to deal Islamist terrorists especially Haqqani Network andits facilitators. FATF had decided to put Pakistan back on “grey list,” subjecting it to directmonitoring and intense scrutiny by the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) on terrorfinancing, pending further review in June 2018. The FATF decision was by consensus, after days ofclosed-door discussions within the 37-member group.Impact of Grey-listing

It will endanger Pakistan’s handful of remaining banking links to t outside world, causing realfinancial pain to the economy. It will squeeze Pakistan’s economy and make it harder to meet itsmounting foreign financing needs, including potential future borrowings from InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF). It will lead to downgrading of Pakistan’s debt ratings by international bankingand credit rating agencies, making it more difficult to tap funds from international bond markets. Itwill also suspend international funds and aid to Pakistan such as Coalition Support Funds (CSF),money which US owes to Pakistan for military operations.Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

FATF is an inter‐governmental policy making body that aims to establish international standardsfor combating money laundering and terrorist financing. It was established in 1989 during the G7Summit in Paris (France) to combat the growing problem of money laundering.It comprises over 39 member countries including India. FATF Secretariat is housed at theheadquarters of the OECD in Paris. Initially, FATF was only dealing with developing policies tocombat money laundering. But in 2001 its purpose was expanded to act against terrorism financing.Mandate

FATF set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operationalmeasures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to integrityof international financial system.Functions

Set international standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.Assess and monitor compliance with the FATF standards.Conduct studies of money laundering and terrorist financing methods, trends and techniques.






Respond to new and emerging threats, such as proliferation financing used for promoting proliferation of nuclear,chemical and biological weapons.

Core sector grows at 6.7% in January 2018March 1, 2018

According to index of eight core industries released by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Coresector growth has grown at faster pace of 6.7% in January 2018 against 3.4% in January 2017. Theeight core sectors had grown by 4.2% in December 2017 and 7.4% in November 2017.Key Facts

Cumulatively, the growth in eight core sectors during April-January this fiscal slowed to 4.3% asagainst 5.1% in the same period last fiscal. The growth in key sectors will have implications for Indexof Industrial Production (IIP) as these eight segments account for about 41% of the total factoryoutput.Breakup of January performance:

Petroleum refinery production: It jumped up by 11%.

Cement output: It jumped up by 20.7%.

Electricity generation: Its growth rose to 8.2%.

Coal sector output: It improved by 3%.

Steel production: It grew by 3.7%.

Crude oil production: It dropped by 3.2%.

Fertiliser output: It dropped by 1.6%.

Natural gas: Its output fell by 1%.Core Industry sector

Core industry can be defined as main industry of the economy. In most countries, there is particularindustry that seems to be backbone of all other industries and it qualifies to be the core industry. InIndia, there are eight core sectors comprising of coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products,fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.Latest weightage in core sectors: Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04%), Electricitygeneration (19.85%), Steel production (17.92%), Coal production (10.33%), Crude Oil production (8.98%),Natural Gas production (6.88%), Cement production (5.37%), Fertilizers production (2.63%)

CCEA doubles Bank guarantee limit for pulses & oilseeds for NAFEDMarch 1, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved proposal to double guarantee toRs. 19,000 crore from earlier Rs 9,500 crore to National Agricultural Cooperative MarketingFederation of India (NAFED) for obtaining credit from banks for procurement of pulses and oilseedsat the support price. The regularization and extension is for undertaking procurement operation ofpulses and oilseeds under Price Support Scheme (PSS).The CCEA also approved Government Guarantee up to Rs. 45 crore to the Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) for meeting its existing liability and settlement of extant claims. Theguarantee will be provided for period of 5 years, till 2021-22 and with waiver of 1% of governmentguarantee fee.Background

As the market price of almost all pulses and oilseeds are ruling below Minimum Support Price (MSP)as notified by Government, provision of Government Guarantee will help in protecting farmersproducing these commodities from making distress sales during peak arrival period. It will alsoprovide remunerative prices to encourage higher investment and production. It will also provide tosafeguard interest of consumer by making available supplies at reasonable price with low cost ofintermediation.National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)

NAFED is apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India. Itsheadquarters is located in New Delhi. It was founded in October 1958 to promote trade ofagricultural produce and forest resources across the nation. It functions under Ministry ofAgriculture.NAFED is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural






products in India. In 2008, it had established, National Spot Exchange, a Commodities exchange as ajoint venture of Financial Technologies (India) Ltd. (FTIL).

Union Cabinet approves Action Plan for Champion Sectors in ServicesMarch 1, 2018

Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Commerce and Industry to give focusedattention to 12 identified Champion Services Sectors (CSS) for promoting their development andrealizing their potential.12 identified CSS are

Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services (IT & ITeS), Medical ValueTravel, Transport and Logistics Services, Tourism and Hospitality Services, Accounting and FinanceServices, Audio Visual Services, Communication Services, Legal Services, Construction and RelatedEngineering Services, Environmental Services, Financial Services and Education Services.Key Facts

Cabinet also has directed Ministries/Departments concerned with these sectors to utilize availabledraft sectoral plans to finalize and implement Action Plans for identified CSS. The respectiveMinistries/Departments will finalize Action Plans and implementation timelines along withmonitoring mechanism to monitor implementation under overall guidance of Committee ofSecretaries (CoS) under Cabinet Secretary. Government will set up dedicated fund of Rs. 5000 croresto support initiatives for sectoral Action Plans of the Champion Sectors. These Action Plans willdevelop vision for each of these identified Champion Sectors by year 2022 and enumerate steps thatneed to be taken to achieve that vision.Significance

It will enhance competitiveness of country’s service sectors through implementation of focused andmonitored Action Plans. It will promote GDP growth, create more jobs and promote exports to globalmarkets. Competitive services sector will also add to competitiveness of manufacturing sector aswell.Background

The share of India’s services sector in global services exports was 3.3% in 2015 compared to 3.1% in2014. Based on this initiative, a goal of 4.2 % has been envisaged for 2022. Its share in Gross ValueAdded (GVA) was about 53% in 2015-16 (61 % including construction services).The Group of Secretaries in their recommendations to Prime Minister, had identified 10 ChampionSectors, including three (3) services sectors related sectors and seven (7) manufacturing, forpromoting their development and achieving their potential. It was subsequently decided thatDepartment of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the nodal department for ‘Make in India’ willspearhead initiative for Champion Sectors in manufacturing and Department of Commerce (DoC)will coordinate proposed initiative for Champion Sectors in Services.

ATGM Nag successfully test fired in desert conditionsMarch 1, 2018

Indigenously developed Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Nag was successfully test-fired in desertconditions against two tank targets at different ranges and timings. With this, the developmentaltrials of Nag missile have been completed and it is now ready for induction.ATMG Nag

ATMG Nag is one of five missile systems developed indigenously by DRDO under integrated guidedmissile development programme (IGMDP). The other four missiles are Agni, Akash, Trishul andPrithvi. It is manufactured by India’s sole missile producer, state-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited.The Nag missile is third generation ATMG which works on “fire and forget” principle. It hasoperational range of 500m to 4km (Land version) and 7-10km (when air-launched). It is equippedwith highly advanced Imaging Infrared Radar (IRR) seeker along with integrated avionics. Thistechnology is possessed by very few nations.It also possesses advanced passive homing guidance system. It has been designed mainly to destroymodern main battle tanks and other heavily armoured targets. It can be launched from land and air-based platforms.Variants: The helicopter launched version known of NAG missile is known as NAG (HELINA) can befired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) and HAL Rudra attack helicopter. The land-based






version of missile is at present available for integration on the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA).

March 2, 2018Only 13% of over hundred tiger conservation areas meet global standards: Survey

March 2, 2018

According to recent survey, only 13% of tiger conservation areas that are part of ConservationAssured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) Partnership meet global standards. The survey was conductedover hundred tiger conservation areas by 11 leading conservation organisations and countries withtiger ranges that are part of CA|TS Partnership.Key Findings

The surveyed area is home to approximately 70% of the world’s wild tigers. The survey found that atleast one-third of tiger conservation these areas are severely at risk of losing their tigers and most ofthese sites are in Southeast Asia.Two-thirds of surveyed area is reported fair to strong management, but their basic needs such asencroachment against poaching, engaging local communities and managing conflict between peopleand wildlife remained weak for all surveyed areas.Despite poaching being one of greatest threats faced by big cats, 85% of the areas surveyed do nothave the staff capacity to patrol sites effectively. 61% of areas in Southeast Asia have very limitedanti-poaching enforcement.Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) Partnership

CA|TS is set of criteria that allow tiger sites (conservation areas) to check if their management willlead to successful tiger conservation. It was officially launched in 2013 and was developed by tigerand protected area experts. It is organised under seven pillars and 17 elements of criticalmanagement activity. Its mission is to secure safe havens for wild tigers. It is important part of Tx2,WWF’s global tiger programme that aims to double wild tiger numbers by the year 2022.

Maharashtra’s first Mega Food Park inaugurated at SataraMarch 2, 2018

The Maharashtra’s first Mega Food Park named as Satara Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. was inauguratedat Degaon Village in Satara district by Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal.This is overall 12th Mega Food Park operationalized in country so far and 10th operationalized duringtenure of present government.Key Facts

The Mega Food Park will leverage additional investment of about Rs. 250 crores in 25-30 foodprocessing units in park. It will eventually lead to turnover of about Rs. 450-500 crore annually. Thepark will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmersin Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs) catchment areas.Mega Food Park Scheme

Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the scheme to give major fillip to foodprocessing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of supply chain withparticular focus on perishables.The scheme aims to create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along value chainfrom farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through cluster based approach.Projects under it are merged under comphrehensive flagship scheme of ‘Pradhan Mantri KisanSAMPADA Yojana’.Under it, common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre(CPCs) and facilities for primary processing and storage is created near farm in form of PPCs andCCs. For it, Government provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Parkproject.

Shakti Sthala: World’s largest solar park launched in KarnatakaMarch 2, 2018

The first phase Shakti Sthala solar park having total capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) wasinaugurated in drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, Karanataka. It is claimed to beworld’s largest solar park.The park ties in with the Central Government’s scheme to generate 100 gigawatts (GW) of solarpower by 2020. It has been executed within record time of two years, with zero land acquisition






Key Facts

The park’s development was initiated with creation of Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp. Ltd(KSPDCL) in March 2015 as joint venture between Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd(KREDL) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).KSPDCL had used “plug and play” model for development of park, under which it acquires anddevelops land as blocks for solar power generation, embedded with required government approvalsand gives it out to solar power developers (SPDs) through auctions.The solar park is spread over 13,000 acres and five villages. The land was taken on 25-year lease bygovernment from around 2,300 farmers. In return, these farmers are paid annual rental of Rs.21,000per acre, with scope for 5% increase every two years.The first phase of the Rs. 16,500 crore park will generate 600MW power, while the balance 1,400MWwill be commissioned in second phase by end year 2018. The park will decrease dependence ontraditional power sources and move to environmentally friendly ones to meet growing power needsof state.It will create employment and act as incentive for natives and farmers to explore new opportunitiesof socio-economic growth in the region. It will also curb mass migration of people from the regionwhich has been declared drought-hit in 54 of the last 60 years.

Size INDIA: NIFT to conduct National Sizing Survey to develop size chartMarch 2, 2018

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi under Ministry of Textiles is going toconduct National Sizing Survey dubbed as Size India to develop comprehensive size chart for ready-to-wear industry based on body measurements of Indian population. So far, 14 countries havesuccessfully completed national sizing surveys that include US, UK, France, Canada, Spain, Germany,South Korea, Mexico, China and Australia.Size India project

Size India project is scientific exercise where anthropometric data will be collected from 25,000sample (with men and women in equal numbers) population in age group 15 to 65 years across sixmajor cities. The six cities are Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west), New Delhi (north), Bengaluru (south),Hyderabad (centre), and Shillong (northeast).The survey entail measuring statistically relevant sample size pan country using human safetechnology of 3D whole body scanner, non-contact method of taking body measurements andanalyzing collected data. It will create database of measurements that will result in standardized sizechart which is representative of Indian population and can be adopted by apparel industry.Background

At present, in India, either US or UK size system of ‘Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large’ is being used,and people then go for fitting accordingly. But large percentage of population face difficulty infinding clothes that fit them perfectly according to their body measurements. This is mainly due todifferences in anthropometric built of people in different geographical regions across the country. But, this uniform size chart will have standard reference point for ready-to-wear industry and allIndia brands will have same size for person.

CBDT achieves important milestone of signing 200 APAsMarch 2, 2018

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has crossed an important milestone of having signed 200Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs). It was achieved after it entered into seven more APAs inFebruary 2018.All the seven were Unilateral APAs and pertain to pharmaceuticals, automobiles, financial and food &beverages sectors of the economy. With this, CBDT till has entered into 203 APAS (185 Unilateral and18 Bilateral APAs).Key Facts

The APAs signed so far covers international transactions in manufacturing, provision of softwaredevelopment services, provision of IT enabled Services (ITES), provision of contract R&D Services,payment of royalty, Distribution, provision of marketing support services, AMP expenses, provisionof engineering design support services, provision of sourcing support services, payment of interest,etc.






Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) Scheme

The APA scheme endeavours to provide certainty to taxpayers in domain of transfer pricing byspecifying methods of pricing and setting prices of international transactions in advance. Itsprovision was introduced in Income-tax Act, 1961 in 2012 and Rollback provisions were introduced in2014.The scheme aims to strengthen Government’s resolve of fostering non-adversarial tax regime. It hassignificantly contributed towards improving ease of doing business in India and has beenappreciated nationally and internationally for being able to address complex transfer pricing issuesin a fair and transparent manner.

Cabinet approves Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018March 2, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 inParliament. The bill proposed by Finance Ministry aims to curb practice of evading criminalprosecution by economic offenders (wilful defaulters) who flee from country to evade clutches Indianlaw by remaining outside jurisdiction of Indian courts.Features of Bill

It defines fugitive economic offender (FEO) as any individual against whom warrant for arrest inrelation to scheduled offence (enlisted in the this law) has been issued by any court in India, but heleaves or has left India to avoid criminal prosecution or refuses to return to

India to face criminal prosecution.The onus is on authorities to prove that an individual is a fugitive economic offender. It givesgovernment right to confiscate property of such economic offenders in India and abroad. Itsprovisions are also be applicable on proxy-owned properties of economic offenders.It is applicable in cases where total value involved in such economic offences is Rs.100 crore or more.It keeps banks and other financial institutions at Centre and provide help to them recover amount.It establishes Special Court under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 to declare aperson as FEO. The special court will also appoint ‘administrator’ to oversee confiscated property. Itwill be responsible for disposing of confiscated property and t property will be used to satisfycreditors’ claims.It debars fugitive economic offender from defending any civil claim at the discretion of any courtincluding High Court. If prior to the declaration, the alleged FEO returns to India and submits to theappropriate jurisdictional court, proceedings under this Act will cease by law.Background

There have been several instances of economic offenders (eg Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi) fleeingcountry to evade clutches Indian law to remain outside jurisdiction of Indian courts. The absence ofsuch offenders from Indian courts has several deleterious consequences. It hampers investigation incriminal cases, wastes precious time of courts of law, undermines rule of law in India.Further, most such cases of economic offences involve non-repayment of bank loans therebyworsening financial health of banking sector. Moreover, existing non-coherent civil and criminalprovisions in law are not entirely adequate to deal with severity of problem. This bill will provide






effective, expeditious and constitutionally permissible deterrent legal teeth to enforcing agencies toensure that such actions of FEO are curbed.

Cabinet approves establishment of National Financial Reporting AuthorityMarch 2, 2018

The Union Cabinet approved establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) as anindependent regulator for the auditing profession. It aims to tighten regulatory oversight overauditors and plug loopholes. It will be independent from those it regulates for enforcement ofauditing standards and ensuring quality of audits.National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

NFRA will independent regulator under Companies Act, 2013. Its mandate is for establishment andenforcement of accounting and auditing standards and oversight of work of auditors. It will ensurequality of audits to strengthen independence of audit firms and therefore, enhance investor andpublic confidence in financial disclosures of companies.Composition: NFRA will be 15 members body, consisting of Chairperson, three full-time Membersand one Secretary.Functions: It will overarching watchdog for auditing profession. It can debar an erring auditor orauditing firm for up to 10 years besides it can also slap heavy penalties. Even powers of Institute ofChartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to act against erring chartered accountants will be vested withNFRA.Jurisdiction: It extends investigation of Chartered Accountants and their firms to all listedcompanies as well as large unlisted public companies. Government will prescribe thresholds in therules. Government can also refer other entities for investigation where public interest is involved.However, inherent regulatory role of existing ICAI will continue in respect of its members andspecifically to audits pertaining to private limited companies and public unlisted companies belowthreshold limit notified in rules. Further, ICAI will continue to play its advisory role with respect toaccounting and auditing standards and policies by making its recommendations to NFRA.Impact: Establishment of NFRA will improve foreign/domestic investments, enhance of economicgrowth, support globalisation of business by meeting international practices and assist in furtherdevelopment of audit profession.NFRA and Quality Review Board (QRB): QRB will continue its quality audit in respect of privatelimited companies, public unlisted companies below prescribed threshold and also with respect toaudit of companies delegated by NFRA.Background

The need for establishing NFRA was in wake of accounting scams and to establish independentregulator independent from those it regulates for enforcement of auditing standards. Itsestablishment is in line with key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013 which was onspecific recommendations of Standing Committee on Finance (in its 21st report).

Paschim Lehar: Tri-service maritime exercise concludesMarch 2, 2018

Tri-service maritime exercise Paschim Lehar conducted by Indian Navy concluded off western coastin Arabian Sea. The objective of the exercise was to build interoperability between Indian Navy,Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard.Key Facts

The three-week long exercise tested operational readiness of Indian Navy’s Western Command andexecution of its operational plans, logistics and administrative plans. Over 40 naval assets includingaircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, frontline ships of Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet, includingnewly-inducted Kolkata class ones, submarines, potent missile vessels of 22nd Killer Squadron, patrolvessels and craft of local flotilla and Coast Guard participated in the exerciseThe exercise also witnessed intense flying activity by carrier-borne Mig29K, P-8I, IL-38SDs, Dorniersand Remotely Piloted Aircraft. It also witnessed enhanced participation by Indian Air Force (IAF)planes, in coordinated flying missions with Indian Navy’s air assets.Maritime role Jaguars, Su-30 MKI, AWACS and Flight Refuellers participated in large numbers fromdifferent airfields in Gujarat, Maharashtra and North India. Moreover, amphibious landing exercise






was also conducted, which included participation of the 91 Infantry Brigade of Indian Army.The exercise enabled testing and revalidation of operational plans and manoeuvres in a hostilemaritime scenario on India’s Western seaboard. It also rehearsed defence of Indian offshore assetslike oil rigs, escort operations of merchant ships and coastal defence.

India, Jordan ink 12 agreementsMarch 2, 2018

India and Jordan have 12 agreements covering areas as diverse as defence, mass media, health,culture and tourism. These agreements were signed after the highlevel talks between Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein in New Delhi. Jordanian King was onthree days visit to India. It was his only second to India, that too after more than a decade.Signed Agreements are

MoU on Defence CooperationCultural Exchange Programme (CEP)Customs Mutual Assistance AgreementMoU between PrasarBharati and Jordan TVTwining Agreement between Agra and Petra (Jordan)Visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holdersMoU for long term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPKMoU for setting up of the next generation Centre of Excellence (COE) in JordanMoU for cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine between India and JordanMoU between University of Jordan (UJ) and ICCR regarding setting up of a Hindi Chair at the UniversityCooperation between Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Jordan Media Institute (JMI)

India-Jordan Relations

Both countries had established diplomatic relations in 1950 after India became independent in 1947.Recent years have witnessed decisive impetus to the bilateral partnership. Both countries are facingcommon threat of terrorism and extremism. Over the last few years, political, security and economicdevelopments in West Asia are helping the two countries re-discover each other.India is Jordan’s fourth largest trading partner. Bilateral trade between both countries has totalledUS $2.2 billion in 2014-15. India exported $1.4 billion worth of goods to Jordan, and imported $857million. Since 2012-13, the balance of trade has been in India’s favour.

March 3, 2018Arunachal Express connecting Naharlagun-Anand Vihar flagged off

March 3, 2018

A new train between Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and Anand Vihar Terminal in the nationalcapital named Arunachal Express was flagged off. This is the second direct train for ArunachalPradesh and overall 14th for North East to connect with the national capital.Arunachal Express

The train will cover 2013 kilometre distance between Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh) and AnandVihar Terminal (New Delhi) in over 38 hours and will have 14 stoppages en-route. It has all air-conditioned LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches. It will offer all comfort and facilities to thepassengers.Background

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Itanagar in February 2018 had announcedincreasing frequency of Naharlagun-New Delhi AC Express train from one day week to twice and torechristened it as ‘Arunachal Express’.

Navjot Kaur: First Indian woman to win gold medal at Asian Wrestling ChampionshipsMarch 3, 2018

Ace wrestler Navjot Kaur won gold medal in the 65kg freestyle wrestling category of Senior AsianChampionships held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. With this, she created history by becoming first Indianwoman wrestler to win gold medal in Senior Asian Championships. This was also India’s first gold inthe ongoing championships. In the final match the women’s 65kg freestyle wrestling category,Navjot defeated Japan’s Miya Imai by 9-1 score.Earlier, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik had who won the bronze in 62kg freestyle






category after defeating Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Kassymova 10-7. These two medals have taken India’soverall medal tally to six, which consisted one gold, silver and four bronze medals.Navjot Kaur

Navjot Kaur (born 10 February 1990) represents India in the women’s freestyle wrestling in 67 kgcategory. She had won Bronze medal (67 kg category) at 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. InAsian Wrestling Championships, she had won Bronze medal in 2011, Silver medal in 2013. In 2013Wrestling World Cup held in Ulanbaatar she had won Bronze medal.

China to build nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Liaoning within 7 yearsMarch 3, 2018

The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) has announced to build its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Liaoning by the middle of the next decade. It was announced as part of itslist of ambitions hope to achieve in weaponry and technical developments for People’s LiberationArmy (PLA)-Navy by 2025.Key Facts

China has ambition to have four carrier groups operating with PLA-Navy by 2030. The Liaoning iscurrently only carrier in fleet, but its variant Type 001A is expected to go into full service by end of2018. The Type 001A was first aircraft carrier built indigenously by shipyard workers in China.Liaoning is derived from old and unfinished Soviet hull, purchased by China from Ukraine.At present, China’s navy has two aircraft carriers running on conventional oil. French Navy’sflagship, the Charles de Gaulle is only non-US aircraft carrier powered by nuclear reactors. US Navy’seach Nimitz-class and Ford-class carrier is run by nuclear power.

PSBs begin to rationalise 35 overseas operationsMarch 3, 2018

The state-owned banks have started rationalising overseas operations by consolidating 35 operationsand closing down non-viable branches as part of the clean and responsible banking initiative. Theconsolidation oncludes bank branches, remittance centres and representative offices.It will be without affecting international presence of PSBs in these countries. Moreover, 69operations also have been identified for further examination. It is part of government’s commitmentto ‘clean and responsible banking and move towards cost efficiencies and synergies in overseasmarket.Background

The rationalisation of overseas operations of banks comes at the time when jewellery designer NiravModi had allegedly cheated Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs.12,700 crore in connivance with PNBstaff and officials of overseas branches of other state-owned banks.Presently, public sector banks have about 165 overseas branches, besides subsidiaries, joint venturesand representative offices. State Bank of India (SBI) has largest number of overseas branches (52)followed by Bank of Baroda (50) and Bank of India (29). The state-owned banks have largest numberof branches in United Kingdom (32) followed by Hong Kong and UAE (13 each) and Singapore (12). Asper the banking sector agenda approved at PSB Manthan in November 2017 public sector banks(PSBs) have to examine all 216 overseas operations.






ICG C-162: Bharati Defence delivers interceptor boat to Coast GuardMarch 3, 2018

Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd (BDIL) delivered high-speed interceptor boat ICG C-162 toIndian Coast Guard (ICG) at BDIL jetty in Mangaluru, Karnataka. It is fifth interceptor boat deliveredby BDIL’s Mangaluru shipyard to ICG. The sixth boat will be delivered after three-and-a-half monthsof the delivery of the fifth boat.ICG C-162

The vessel will be based at Kochi, Kerala and will be used for patrolling purposes. It can accommodate11 crew members. The vessel was launched in January 2018 and has successfully completed theharbour and sea trials.It is 28 metres long with aluminium hull and weighs about 60 DWT. It is designed for a speed up to35 knots. It is fitted with new generation of Arneson Surface Drive propulsion system, propelled bytwo engines of 1650 kW each.

Government approves Rs 2,919 crore projects under Nirbhaya fund to create 8 safe citiesMarch 3, 2018

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has approved projects worth Rs 2,919 croreunder Nirbhaya Fund for creating eight safe cities. They are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad,Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow.Key Facts

The projects for safe cities will have special focus on women safety in public spaces and quickresponse systems to create deterrence against crime. Plans for safe cities were prepared incoordination with municipal corporations and police commissionerates of these cities.Delhi: Project worth Rs 663 crore was approved to enhance safety of public places like roads, schoolsand metro stations. It includes use of latest technology such as video monitoring, facial recognitionanalytics, and person tracking systems. It will also provide dedicated women safety patrol vans






equipped with GPS tracking and on-board video feed sharing to the existing fleet of the Delhi Police.Mumbai: Project worth Rs 252 crore was sanctioned to enable GIS mapping of criminal hotspots,video surveillance, training of investigating officers and quick response police teams. It will alsostrengthen Police Didi programme wherein female police officers interact with women living inslums.Chennai: It will receive Rs 425 crore for project that will create safe-zone clusters at hot crime zones,security in public transport, GIS-based crime mapping, capacity building of police authorities as wellas a helpdesk service for women. Moreover, cyber-crime and legal assistance compensation lab willalso be set up.Ahmedabad: Rs 253 crore was approved for ABHAYAM Vans for quick response to women indistress, ‘She Teams’ of women for surveillance and One Stop Crisis Centres. The project alsoenvisages redevelopment of Sabarmati River Front to make it more womenfriendly.Kolkata: It will get Rs 181.32 crore for various schemes, including for strengthening nine womenpolice stations. Bengaluru: It will get Rs 667 crore for projects which will be utilised for setting upwomen police outposts and creation of safety islands.Nirbhaya Fund

The fund is created by Ministry of Finance in 2013. It dedicated for implementation of initiativesaimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country. It is a non-lapsable corpusfund. It is being monitored by Empowered Committee of Officers under Secretary of Women andChild Development Ministry. It is an inter-ministerial committee appraises and recommends variousprojects (schemes) proposed by different ministries to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund. Between 2013and 2017, the corpus of Nirbhaya Fund has grown to Rs 3,100 crore.

Indian Navy sailboat INSV Tarini arrives in Cape Town, South AfricaMarch 3, 2018

Indian Navy’s sailboat INSV Tarini, led by all-women crew, reached Cape Town, South Africa as partof Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition. This stop is last phase of its maiden voyage to circumnavigateglobe before it depart Cape Town and return to Goa in April 2018, on completion of the voyage.So far the vessel has covered 1,75,00 nautical miles from its start in Goa in September 2017. Theexpedition was covered all five legs, with stop-overs at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (NewZealand), Port Stanley (Falklands-UK), and Cape Town (South Africa). The vessel has passed throughIndian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans so far.Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition

The Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition was flagged-off by Nirmala Sitharaman Goa in September2017. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and all women crew comprisesLieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya andPayal Gupta.The expedition is consonance with national policy to empower women to attain their full potential. Italso aims to showcase Nari Shakti on world platform and help in transforming societal attitudes andmindset towards women in India by raising visibility of their participation in challengingenvironments.The crew is collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on regular basis for accurateweather forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD), as also monitoring marine pollution onhigh seas. The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is 56-foot sailing vessel. It showcases ‘Make in India’initiative on international forum.

India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plantMarch 3, 2018

India, Bangladesh and Russia have signed tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) forcooperation in construction of Rooppur nuclear power plant near Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is firstinitiative under India-Russia nuclear deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third countries. Itwill also be India’s first atomic energy venture abroad.Rooppur nuclear power plant

Rooppur Nuclear project is having capacity of 2*1200 MWs. It is Bangladesh’s first atomic energy






project. It is being built with Russia’s help near Dhaka. After commissioning of this plant, Bangladeshwill become third South Asian country after India and Pakistan to harness atomic energy for energypurpose.Russia will build nuclear power plant for this plant on a turnkey basis. It means that contractor willcomplete whole project and they will be liable for any problems that arise in plant. Russia’s scope ofwork includes design, production and supply of equipment, construction, installation, start-up andcommissioning.India being not member of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will not participate directly inconstruction of atomic power reactors. But, Indian companies will be involved in construction andinstallation works and in supply of equipment of non-critical category.Background

In December 2014, India and Russia had signed ‘Strategic Vision for Strengthening Cooperation inPeaceful Uses of Atomic Energy’ to explore opportunities for sourcing materials, equipment andservices from Indian industry for construction of Russian-designed nuclear power plants in thirdcountries. Moreover, India had signed a civil nuclear cooperation deal, along with two moreagreements, with Bangladesh in April 2017 under which two sides can supply and manufactureequipment, material for atomic power plant.Comment

The nuclear deal with Bangladesh allows Indian nuclear establishment to grow, internationally as foryears it was not been able to grow due to sanctions imposed on New Delhi post 1974 Pokhran tests.However, it is not clear what kind of nuclear collaboration India is having with Bangladesh since bothcountries are not members of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an elite grouping of 48 members thatprevent nuclear proliferation by controlling export of materials, equipment and technology that canbe used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

March 3: World Wildlife DayMarch 3, 2018

The World Wildlife Day is observed every year on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness aboutthe world’s wild fauna and flora. It is celebrated to mark the signing of Convention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on this day in 1973.Significance of Day

It aims to create awareness and encourages people across the globe to protect endangered species.It also calls for taking up urgent steps to fight wildlife crime which has wide-ranging environmental, economicand social impacts.

The theme for this year is ‘Big Cats: Predators under Threat’. Big cats are among most widelyrecognized and admired animals across the globe. These predators are facing many and variedthreats, mostly caused by human activities. Overall, their populations are declining at disturbing ratedue to loss of habitat and prey, conflicts with people, poaching and illegal trade. The theme aims toraise awareness about plight of big cats and galvanize support for many global and national actionsthat underway to save these iconic species. It also expands definition of big cats being used, whichincludes not only lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar (4 largest wild cats that can roar) but also cheetah,snow leopard, puma, clouded leopard, etc.Background

The World Wildlife Day was designated by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 68thsession on 20 December 2013. On this day in 1973, CITES was adopted.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES is international agreement to regulate worldwide commercial trade in wild animal and plantspecies. Its aim is to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of the species inthe wild. It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN.It entered into force in July 1975.It is administered through United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It’s secretariat islocated in Geneva (Switzerland). CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, whichare obliged to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on how






threatened. In addition CITES also restricts trade in items made from such plants and animals, suchas food, clothing, medicine, and souvenirs.

March 4-5, 2018India and Vietnam inked 3 agreements

March 5, 2018

India and Vietnam have signed three agreements including landmark pact on civil nuclearcooperation to boost bilateral relations. These agreements were inked after Prime Minister NarendraModi held talks with visiting President of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang in New Delhi. Vietnam is one ofIndia’s closest strategic partners in the ASEAN region.Signed Agreements are

MoU on Economic and Trade Cooperation: Its purpose is to establish a framework for enhancingeconomic and trade promotion.MoU on Cooperation in the field of atomic energy: It was signed between the Global Centre forNuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM). Itspurpose is to strengthen the technical cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peacefulpurposes.Work Plan for years 2018-2022 in Agriculture: It was signed between Indian Council of AgriculturalResearch (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. Its purpose is topromote cooperation in transfer of technology and exchange of visits of technical experts in thefields of agriculture and allied.Key Takeaways from Joint Statement issued

India and Vietnam agreed to work for independent, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region wheresovereignty and international laws are respected and disputes are resolved through dialogue. Theyare committed to expanding maritime ties and ensure an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture.Both countries will work together for regional security, including maritime and cyber security. Theyrespect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and will further deepen ComprehensiveStrategic Partnership.Both countries agreed to increase cooperation in defence production and also explore possibilities inco-production and transfer of technology in defence sector as defence and security is importantpillar of the strong bilateral ties.Both countries will further strengthen trade and investment ties, including in sectors likeagriculture and agro-products, renewable energy, textiles and oil and gas. They will also strengthentheir longstanding bilateral partnership in oil and gas and explore possibilities of working with othercountries for trilateral partnership. They will increase two-way investment and hoped that bilateraltrade will reach $15 billion by 2020.

Odisha Government launches Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas programme March 5, 2018

Odisha Government has launched ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas’ (Our Village, our development) programmeto reach out to people in rural areas and involve themselves in developmental activities.As part of it, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off mobile video vans that will move across thestate to highlight various welfare schemes at villages in the state. It will enable people to connectwith the governmentKey Facts

Under this programme, people can directly send their grievances to Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) atSecretariat in Bhubaneswar through Wi-Fi enabled latest technology video wall vans. This initiativeadministration will help people in solving their grievances instantly. In the first phase of programme,these vans will reach Koraput, Jajpur, Ganjam and Sambalpur districts of state.

India, Vietnam inks MoU on Cooperation in field of atomic energyMarch 5, 2018

India and Vietnam have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in field ofatomic energy during official state visit Tran Dai Quang, President of Vietnam to India. It was signedbetween Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and Vietnam Atomic EnergyInstitute (VINATOM). Its purpose is to strengthen technical cooperation in field of atomic energy for






peaceful purposes.Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP)

GCNEP is sixth Research & Development unit under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). It islocated near Bahadurgarh, Haryana. It helps in capacity building, in association with interestedcountries and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is involved technology, human resourcedevelopment, education & training and giving momentum to R&D in enlisted areas.Objectives of GCNEP

Develop enhanced nuclear safeguards to effectively and efficiently monitor nuclear materials andfacilities.Establish accreditation facilities for radiation monitoring.Train manpower in field of Nuclear Security and Radiological Safety.Promote development of advanced, more proliferation resistant nuclear power reactors.Provide education in field of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems, Isotopes and RadiationTechnologies, nuclear forensic.

Krishna Kumari Kohli: Pakistan elects first Hindu woman to SenateMarch 5, 2018

Krishna Kumari Kolhi (39) from Sindh province in Pakistan became first-ever Dalit Hindu woman toget elected as Senator, member of upper house (Senate) of Muslim-majority country.She won the election for the reserved seat for women from Sindh province. She is a member ofBilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Her election represents major milestonefor women and minority rights in Pakistan. Earlier, PPP had elected first Hindu woman named RatnaBhagwandas Chawla as senator.Krishna Kumari Kohli

She belongs to remote village in Nagarparkar district of Thar in Sindh province of Pakistan. Kohliwas born in February 1979 in poor family. She and her family members had spent nearly three yearsin private jail (as forced bonded labours) owned by landlord of Kunri in Umerkot district. She wasgrade 3 student at time when her family held captive.She belongs to family of valiant freedom fighter Rooplo Kolhi, who had waged a war against invadingBritish colonialist forces when they had attacked Sindh from Nagarparkar side in 1857.At the age of 16, she was married to Lalchand. Even after marriage she pursued her studies and in2013 completed masters in sociology from the Sindh University. She had joined PPP as social activistalong with her brother, who was later elected as Chairman of Union Council Berano. She has activelyparticipated and worked for rights of downtrodden people of marginalised communities living inThar and other areas.

India 12th largest overseas holder of US securities in 2017March 5, 2018

According to recent figures compiled by US Treasury Department, India is 12th largest overseasholder of US government securities. India’s exposure to it has risen sharply to high of US $144.7billion at end of 2017.The preliminary data from June 2017 benchmark survey of foreign portfolio holdings of US securitiesshowed that total value of such holding was $18.44 trillion. Out of the total, $7.19 trillion was inequities, $10.29 trillion in long-term debt securities and $954 billion in short-term debt securities.Key Facts

India holdings in US government securities in 2017 have raised except for few months when totalexposure had declined. India’s holding of India went up to US $144.7 billion in December 2017, whichwas increase of little over $26 billion compared to year-ago period.In December 2016, India’s exposure was just $118.2 billion. While holding at end of December 2017 isat one-year high compared to December 2016, the exposure was slightly higher at $145.1 billion inSeptember 2017.In 2017, China was largest holder of US government securities with holdings to tune of $1.18 trillion,followed by Japan at $1.06 trillion. Ireland was third with holdings of $326.5 billion followed byCayman Islands ($269.9 billion), Brazil ($256.8 billion), UK ($250 billion), Switzerland ($249.6 billion),Luxembourg ($217.6 billion), Hong Kong ($194.7 billion) and Taiwan ($180.9 billion). Among the BRICcountries, India had the third largest exposure while that of Russia was lower at $102.2 billion.






Myanmar puts off border agreement with IndiaMarch 5, 2018

Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing agreement with India to streamline free movement ofpeople within 16 km along open border between two countries. It has cited domestic compulsionsand has asked for more time for the agreement to be sealed.Background

India and Myanmar share 1,643 km unfenced border along four states viz. Arunachal Pradesh (520km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit free movement regime(FMR) upto 16 km beyond border. In January 2018, Union Cabinet had approved agreement(Memorandum of Understanding) between India and Myanmar on land border crossing to enhanceeconomic interaction between people of two countries. To give it shape, Central Government hadasked four border states with Myanmar to distribute “border pass” to all the residents living within16 km from the border. The agreement has been deferred twice in the past seven months.

Significance of agreement

The agreement will facilitate movement of people on basis of valid passports and visas which willenhance economic and social interaction between two countries. It will facilitate regulation andharmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in borderareas of both countries.It will also give boost to economy of North East and leverage geographical connections withMyanmar to boost trade and people to people ties. It will also safeguard traditional rights of largelytribal communities residing along border which are accustomed to free movement across landborder.Free movement regime (FMR)

FMR was bilateral agreement between India and Myanmar that allows free movement of Indian andMyanmarese citizens within 16 km of the border without visa restrictions for 72 hours. Its purpose isto alleviate insecurity of tribals living along India and Myanmar border as they still continue to havetrans-border linkages with their kiths and kins. This regime has been in place to protect traditionalsocial relations among border people. However, it has been misused by militants and criminals whoare using it to smuggle weapons, narcotics, contraband goods and Fake Indian Currency Notes(FICN). Both countries are intend to put common system in place to append India’s concerns.Border Pass Proposal

There are over 250 villages with over 300,000 people living within 10 km of border who frequentlycross it through 150 small and large, formal and informal, border crossings. As per proposal, therewill be no restrictions on movement of people across borders. But, domiciles across the border will beallotted border passes and those going across for agriculture, work or to meet relatives need to carrypass all times.

90th Academy Awards (Oscars 2018)March 5, 2018

The 90th Academy Awards commonly referred to as Oscars was held at the Dolby Theatre inHollywood, Los Angeles, California (US). The award presented in 24 categories by Academy of MotionPicture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honouring best films of year 2017.The Shape of Water won the most number of awards totaling to four at the ceremony after it wasnominated into highest 13 categories. It was followed by Dunkirk, nominated for eight categories and






Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, nominated for seven categories.Winners are

Best Picture: The Shape of Water.Best Actress: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as Mildred Hayes).Best Actor: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour as Winston Churchill)Best Director: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water).Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney – I (Tonya)Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)Best Original Screenplay: Get Out – Written by Jordan Peele.Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me by Your Name – James Ivory based on the novel by André Aciman.Best Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049 – Roger A. DeakinsBest Original Score: The Shape of Water – Alexandre Desplat.Best Original Song: “Remember Me” from Coco.Best Sound Editing: Dunkirk – Richard King and Alex Gibson.Best Foreign Language Film: A Fantastic Woman (Chile) in Spanish.Best Film Editing: DunkirkBest Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049.Best Production Design: The Shape of Water.Best Sound Mixing: DunkirkBest Documentary-Feature: Icarus.Best Animated Feature Film: Coco.Best Animated Short Film: Dear Basketball.Best Documentary-Short Subject: Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405Best Live Action Short Film: The Silent Child.Best Make-Up and Hairstyling: Darkest HourBest Costume Design: Phantom ThreadAcademy Awards (Oscars)

Academy Awards, famously known as “Oscars” is a group of 24 artistic and technical honours thatrecognizes excellence in cinematic achievements in US film industry. It is given annually by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The award was first presented in 1929. Thewinners are awarded a copy of a statuette officially called the Academy Award of Merit (famouslyreferred as Oscar Award).

Marshall Islands to launch world-first digital legal tenderMarch 5, 2018

Marshall Islands in Pacific Ocean is set to become first country in world to recognize cryptocurrencyas its legal tender and adopt transparent crypto monetary system. The parliament of island haspassed law to create the digital currency called “Sovereign” with symbol SOV to raise some hard cashto pay bills and boost economy.Key Facts

The Marshall Islands is partnering with Israeli fintech startup Neema to launch its SOV. It will haveequal status with US dollar as form of payment. The island country will issue 24 million SOVs inInitial Currency Offering (ICO). It will be circulated as legal tender in the country, alongside itscurrent local currency, US dollar.SOV issued by Marshall Islands will be different from other cryptocurrencies including bitcoinbecause it will be officially recognized by law as legal tender and effectively backed by government.SOV is based on permissioned protocol, dubbed “‘Yokwe” (meaning “hello” in local island language),which requires blockchain users of this distal currency to authenticate and identify themselves, thusavoid anonymity that has kept other cryptocurrencies from gaining support from governments.Initially 6 million SOVs will be sold to international investors and proceeds from it will be used to payfor its budget, invest in projects to mitigate effects of global warming and support those people stillaffected by US nuclear testing. It will also hand out 2.4 million SOVs to its residents and they can useit for everything from paying taxes to buying groceries,






Background

The Marshall Islands is closely aligned with US under Compact of Free Association and uses USdollar as its official currency. Under compact association, US provides the Marshall Islands withabout $70 million each year in assistance. In turn, US runs a military base on Island’s Kwajalein Atoll.Venezuela was the first country to officially launch its own cryptocurrency named Petro, backed bycrude oil reserves but its validity as legal tender is not yet known.

Silver copper telluride (AgCuTe): Researchers develop thermoelectric compoundMarch 5, 2018

Researchers have developed silver copper telluride (AgCuTe), a novel compound that exhibits poorthermal conductivity but shows good electrical conductivity. It was developed by researchers fromJawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru.AgCuTe

The new material having thermoelectric properties is made from silver, copper, and tellurium. Itshows high levels of thermoelectric performance i.e. exhibits poor thermal conductivity in 25-425degree C range but shows good electrical conductivity.Due to its low thermal conductivity, one end of 8 mm-long AgCuTe rod which is contact with wasteheat remains hot while other end maintains cold temperature. This temperature difference results ingeneration of electrical voltage. The material also exhibits good electrical conductivity like metal atsame time.Significance: The compound shows ideal promise as thermoelectric material for converting wasteheat into electricity. Its potential applications as thermoelectric technology are in automobileindustry, thermal, chemical and steel power plants where large quantities of heat are wasted.

March 6, 2018Neil Basu: Indian-origin UK officer appointed new Chief of Scotland Yard’s Counter-terrorism Unit

March 6, 2018

Senior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer Neil Basu became first person of Asian heritage to beappointed as Counterterrorism Chief. He will take charge as Scotland Yard’s National Lead forCounter Terrorism (CT) and Head of Met Police’s Specialist Operations.Key Facts

Basu will replace Mark Rowley, Met assistant commissioner who has been in charge ofcounterterrorism unit since June 2014 and had resigned recently. He is currently Metropolitan PoliceDeputy Assistant Commissioner and will be promoted to rank of Assistant Commissioner forSpecialist Operations. Basu’s father is of Indian origin.Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard)

It is officially New Scotland Yard. It is metonym for headquarters of Metropolitan Police Service(MPS), the territorial police force responsible for policing most of London. Its name derives fromlocation of original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which rear entrance onstreet had called Great Scotland Yard. The first MPS was opened on 6 October 1829 on street calledGreat Scotland Yard, at rear of 4 Whitehall Place. Now, Scotland Yard building is owned by Indianbillionaire Yusuff Ali M.A, chairman of Lulu Group International.

Services PMI contracts to 47.8 in February 2018March 6, 2018

The Nikkei India Services Business Activity Index contracted at 47.8 in February 2018 compared with51.7 in January 2018. A reading above 50 implies an expansion while one below 50 denotes acontraction.The contraction shows that activity and new work in services sector declined for the first time sinceNovember 2017, with rates of contraction the fastest since August 2017.Key Facts

The fall in the services index outweighed the upturn seen in manufacturing PMI in February 2018.Business activity in services sector contracted in February 2018 due primarily to a decline in neworders. Both activity and new work in the services sector has declined for the first time sinceNovember 2017, with rates of contraction the strongest since August 2017.PMI

PMI is an indicator of business activity-both in the manufacturing and services sectors. It is






published by Markit Limited. It is a survey-based measure that asks respondents about changes intheir perception of some key business variables from month before. It is calculated separately formanufacturing and services sectors and then composite index is constructed. The index figure above50 denotes expansion in business activity and anything below 50 denotes contraction.

Government sets up Subhash Chandra Garg Committee to regulate fintech sectorMarch 6, 2018

The Union Government has set up 8 member steering committee look into the development andregulation of the financial technology (fintech) sector in India. It will be headed by Economic AffairsSecretary Subhash Garg. The move follows an announcement by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in theBudget.Members: Electronics and Information Technology Secretary, Financial Services Secretary, MSMESecretary, Chairperson of Central Board of Excise and Customs, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank ofIndia, Chief Executive Officer of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Joint SecretaryDepartment of Economic Affairs.Terms of References

Committee’s objective is to consider various issues relating to development of fintech sector in India.It will look into issues to make fintech-related regulations more flexible and generate enhancedentrepreneurship in area where India has distinctive comparative strengths vis-à-vis other emergingeconomies.It will find ways of using fintech in critical sectors of economy, including financing of micro, smalland medium enterprises (MSMEs), delivery of e-services to vulnerable sections of society,management of land records and other government services. It will also focus on how fintech can beleveraged to enhance financial inclusion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).It will examine means of using data available with Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) andinformation utilities such as credit information companies to make applications for financing ofMSMEs. It will also work with entities such as UIDAI to create and use unique enterpriseidentification number.

India-US team test-fires M777 ultra-light howitzers in PokhranMarch 6, 2018

Joint investigation committee (JIC) comprising US and Indian officials has test-fired M777 ultra-lighthowitzers (ULH) at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The team will review results of this test soon.The test was conducted in the wake of accident during its trial in September 2017.Background

In November 2016, India signed Rs 5,070-crore deal with US to procure 145 M777 ULH fordeployment on mountainous terrain in northern and eastern borders. It was first such induction ofartillery guns since Swedish Bofors guns in late-1980s, which got embroiled in political controversy.As part of deal, two M777 ULHs were brought to India May 2017 for field firing with Indianammunition to compile firing tables that provide data such as range and elevation. But duringSeptember 2017 trial firing, the projectile had bursted in barrel of howitzers. After accident, two sideshad formed joint team to examine issue.M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH) artillery Guns

It is manufactured by BAE Systems’ Global Combat Systems division. It is smaller and lighter. Itweighs 4,100 kg and can be easily transported by helicopters. It has effective firing range of 24 km.Under India-US M777 deal, 25 ULHs will be inducted directly with rest to be assembled at BAESystems facility in Maharashtra in partnership with Mahindra Group. The delivery is to be completedby 2021.Indian Army is going to deploy these artillery guns in high-altitude areas in Arunachal Pradesh andLadakh, bordering China. Its induction will give Indian defence forces a much needed operationaladvantage and an access to state of art technology.

WTO to set up compliance panel in solar dispute case between India, USMarch 6, 2018

The dispute settlement body (DSB) of World Trade Organization (WTO) has decided to set up panel toexamine whether India has complied with its 2016 ruling in case against US regarding domesticcontent requirements (DCR) rules for solar cells and modules.






Background

In 2016, the multilateral body had ruled against India for favouring local manufacturers in its solarpower programme, on petition filed by US. But after ruling, US had alleged that India continues toapply WTO-inconsistent measures and had approached WTO demanding action against India fornon-compliance of WTO ruling in December 2017. India, however, has maintained that it hascomplied with WTO’s ruling and had requested WTO to set up a panel to determine its compliancewith rulings of dispute.What is the issue?

In 2013, US had filed complaint before WTO, arguing that domestic content requirement imposedunder India’s ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (NSM) violates global trading rulesby unfavourably discriminating against imported solar cells and modules. In February 2016, WTOpanel had ruled that India had violated its national treatment obligation, by imposing the domesticcontent requirement. US had claimed that its solar exports to India have fallen by more than 90%since India had brought in the DCR rules.Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)

WTO is an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade. General Council ofWTO convenes as DSB to deal with disputes between WTO members. Such disputes may arise withrespect to any agreement contained in Final Act of Uruguay Round that is subject to Understandingon Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU).The DSB has authority to establish dispute settlement panels, refer matters to arbitration, adoptpanel, Appellate Body and arbitration reports, and maintain surveillance over implementation ofrecommendations and rulings. It can also authorize suspension of concessions in event of non-compliance with those recommendations and rulings.

India’s first HeliTaxi service launched in BengaluruMarch 6, 2018

India’s first helicopter shuttle service (HeliTaxi) was launched in IT capital Bengaluru, Karnataka n abid to provide last-mile connectivity. The maiden trip of helitaxi was between Electronic City andKempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. It was provided by Thumby Aviation.Need

Bengaluru has poor road density (measure of road length per square km area of land) as compared toother Indian cities. So such service was needed much more than other cities to ferry air passengersto and from the city. The decision to launch HeliTaxi was announced in August 2017 by UnionMinister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.Key Facts

HeliTaxi provides connectivity between Airport and Electronic City (located in south about 70 kmfrom airport in the city centre), home to hundreds of technology firms including, Infosys and othermultinationals. It has reduced travelling time between airport and Electronic City from two hours(by road) to 15 minutes.The fare is fixed at Rs. 4,130 per seat, including GST. It includes pick up from airport terminal tohelipad and allows carrying 15 kg luggage. People can book their seat through a mobile app named‘Heli Taxii’. Currently, the chopper service provider has employed only one helicopter to ferry airpassengers and will increase number depending on demand.

Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India’s biggest Oil SupplierMarch 6, 2018

Iraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become India’s top crude oil supplier by supplying 38.9 milliontonnes (MT) crude oil in the current financial year. It was fifth of the India’s oil needs.India is 80% dependent on imports to meet its oil needs. India had imported 184.4 MT of crude oilduring April-January period of 2017-18 period as compared to 213.9 MT in the entire 2016-17 fiscal,and 202.8 MT in 2015-16.Key Facts

Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil source but Iraq dethroned it. Saudi Arabia supplied30.9 MT of crude oil in first 10 months of current fiscal. Iran continued to be third largest supplier,selling 18.4 MT during April-January. This is the second year in a row that Iran has occupied thethird position. Venezuela is India’s fourth largest supplier with 15.5 MT during April-January,






followed by Nigeria with 14.9 MT.Imports from West Asia

India’s dependence on West Asia for its crude oil needed has increased from 58% in 2014-15 to 63.7%in April-January period of this fiscal. India had imported 109.9 MT out of 189.4 MT of total crudeimports in 2014-15 from region. In the current fiscal so far, West Asia has accounted for 117.5 MT ofcrude oil supplies to India.Reasons for increase of imports from Iraq

Iraq was able dethrone Saudi Arabia as India’s largest crude oil supplier mainly by supplying heavilydiscounted crude compared to crude oil sold by Saudi Arabia at Official Selling Price of OPEC. Ingiven time period, prices of crude oil had shot up following production cuts by OPEC members.However, Iraq did not followed the aggressive pricing due to its heavy dependence on oil revenues tofund its economy. Moreover, Indian refiners in recent years have invested heavily in modernisingplants to more efficiently process low grade crudes including Basra heavy crude from Iraq, givinggreater flexibility in the cost-saving oil grades they can buy.

Saposhi: Threat of new malware looms over cyberspaceMarch 6, 2018

Cybersecurity agencies have detected a new malware called Saposhi that can take over electronicdevices and use them for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Saposhi Malware is capable oftaking over electronic devices and turning them into bots (device taken over by malware) which canthen be used for any purpose, including DDoS attacks which, with enough firepower, can crippleentire industries.Key Facts

Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), a Central government body that deals withcyberattacks has so far has not issued any alert regarding Saposhi malware. Saposhi is similar in itsintensity to Reaper malware, which was taking over millions of devices at rate of 10,000 devices perday. In October 2017, CERT had issued alert about Reaper which is highly evolved malware capable ofhacking devices like Wi-Fi routers and security cameras and also hiding its own presence in bot.Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks

In DDoS attacks, malware first creates network of bots — called botnet and then uses botnet to pingsingle server beyond its capacity at same time. As number of pings are far beyond server’s capacity,server crashes and denies service to its consumers. Malwares like Saposhi, Reaper and Mirai areprimarily are used for DDoS attacks.For example, if large botnet attacks server of fleet cab provider, its server will crash, and scores ofconsumers will be unable to avail of its services, causing chaos in daily commuting as well as massivelosses to the company.

Recent DDoS attacks






In July 2016, small and medium internet service providers in Maharashtra had fallen prey to DDoSattack, which had caused disruption in services of several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in state.Mirai malware using botnet of 5 lakh devices, had caused servers of Dyn, a leading domain nameservice provider, to crash, affecting services of popular websites like Netflix, Twitter and Reddit.

Animal Welfare Board of India headquarters shifted from Chennai to BallabhgarhMarch 6, 2018

Government has shifted headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to Ballabhgarh inFaridabad District of Haryana from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was shifted after consultation withAWBI for better coordination between the Environment Ministry and AWBI for carrying out theanimal welfare activities.The Rule 3 of the Animal Welfare Board (Administrative) Rules, 1962 mentions that the headquarterof AWBI shall be at New Delhi or at such other place as central government, may, after consultationwith the Board direct.Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

AWBI is a statutory advisory body established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Crueltyto Animals Act, 1960. It frames a range of rules on how animals ought to be humanely treatedeverywhere. It has also frequently litigated to have stricter laws to ensure animals were not undulyharassed or tortured.Initially it was within jurisdiction of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Later in 1990, the subjectof Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred to Environment Ministry.The Board consists of 28 Members, who serve for a period of 3 years. Its headquaters is located atChennai, Tamil Nadu. Several government organisations, along with animal rights activists andparliamentarians, are represented on the Board.Functions of AWBI

It recognises Animal Welfare Organisations by granting them recognition if they meet its guidelines.It also appoints key people to the positions of (Hon) Animal Welfare Officers, who serve as the keypoint of contact between the people, the government and law enforcement agencies.It suggests changes to laws and rules about animal welfare issues. It also offers guidance toorganisations and officials such as police to help them interpret and apply the laws. It issuespublications to raise awareness of various animal welfare issues. Its education team gives talks onanimal welfare subjects, and trains members of the community to be Certified Animal WelfareEducatorsIt provides financial assistance to recognised AWOs, who submit applications to the Board.Categories of grants include Regular Grant, Cattle Rescue Grant, Provision of Shelter House forAnimals, Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, Ambulance for animals in distress and NaturalCalamity grant.

March 7, 2018Government launches #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaign

March 7, 2018

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched #YesIBleed menstrual hygienecampaign on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018. It is second edition of such campaignthat aims to create holistic approach to issue of menstruation, which is experience that transcendsculture, class, and caste.Key Facts

The “#Yes I Bleed” campaign has been initiated formally across all multi-media platforms, includingFacebook and YouTube to spread awareness about issue. The National Commission of Women (NCW)has extended full support to Shewings in endevour to spread awareness about the core issue of everywoman’s concern.Background

The United Nations has recognised menstrual hygiene as global public health and human rightsissue. Yet across the globe, period poverty as some call it, is reality for millions of women and girls.Menstruation is still taboo subject in India and even women are uncomfortable discussing in public.There is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a natural physiological processAccording to the results of the study, “Sanitary Protection: Every Woman’s Health Right”, only 12% of






Indian women have access to sanitary napkins and remaining 88% have no access as they findsanitary pads unaffordable. The use unsanitised cloth, tree leaves, husk sand and even ash. These cancause severe reproductive health problems and infections and can also lead to cervical cancer.In India’s rural areas, women lack of resources, education and awareness about personal hygiene andhygiene products and don’t even have any conversation around menstruation. It is necessary forpeople to understand that menstrual hygiene is of utmost importance and there should be opennessabout puberty and menstrual hygiene in the country.

Commerce Ministry to devise strategy on product standardsMarch 7, 2018

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has released draft Indian National Strategy forStandardisation for standardisation of products and services to provide level playing field todomestic industry and adopt best global practices. The strategy will play an active role and takeleadership positions in apex international forums in related areas besides creating responsemechanisms to global developments on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessmentpractices that impact market access of Indian goods and services.Key objectives of draft strategy

Positioning standards as key driver of all economic activities relating to goods and servicesCreate integrated infrastructure, roadmaps and institutions for their effective managementEnhance competitiveness of Indian goods and services in domestic and international markets.Develop comprehensive ecosystem for standards development taking into account diversity of interests andexpertise available.Provide level playing field to domestic industry and adopt best practices in standardisation, conformity assessmentand technical regulations.

Need for strategy

Rapid growth of Indian economy, its size and emerging relevance in global trade has made itessential to establish robust quality infrastructure in country with harmonised, dynamic and maturestandards ecosystem for goods. The standardisation will fuel economic growth and enhance ‘Made inIndia’ label as standards are widely recognised as catalysts for technical development, industrialgrowth, well-being of society and more recently for convergence of new and emerging technologies.The strategy for standardisation of products considers current state of development across sectors,existing quality infrastructure and policy directions in relation to domestic economic developmentsand trade in goods and services.

Street Lighting National Programme: 49 lakh LED street lights installedMarch 7, 2018

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has installed 49 lakh LED street lights in 28 states/UTsunder the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP). This information was given by Minister ofState (IC) Power R K Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)

The Programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015. It aims to replace1.34 crore conventional street lights with energy efficient LED lights by March, 2019. It is beingimplemented by EESL. It is world’s Largest Street Light Replacement Programme. Rajasthan was thefirst state to adopt this scheme.Objectives

Reduce energy consumption in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage peak demandMitigate climate change by implementing energy efficient LED based street lightingProvide sustainable service model that obviates need for upfront capital investment as well as additional revenueexpenditure to pay for procurement of LED lights.Enhance municipal services at no upfront capital cost of municipalities

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)

EESL was set up under Union Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiencyprojects. It is a joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural ElectrificationCorporation (REC) and POWERGRID. It leads market-related actions of National Mission forEnhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE). It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of






State DISCOMs.

India for the first time starts importing LNG from USMarch 7, 2018

India for first time has started process of importing Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) from United States.The development comes on the heels of India’s first import of crude oil from the US in October 2017.State-owned GAIL will discharge itsThe first US-sourced LNG shipment was imported by state-owned GAIL and was shipped it on boardof its chartered LNG ship ‘Meridian Spirit’ from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG export facility inLouisiana. It will be discharged at GAIL’s Dabhol terminal, Maharashtra.Key Facts

GAIL had signed 20-year Sale Purchase Agreement (SPA) with US’ natural gas exporter CheniereEnergy in December 2011. Under it, GAIL will purchase around 3.5 Million Tonne of LNG per yearfrom Sabine Pass. Cheniere Energy is currently operating and constructing its Sabine Pass LNGfacility in Louisiana and is constructing second liquefaction facility near Corpus Christi, Texas.This shipment will help GAIL to diversify its portfolio both on price indexation and geographicallocations. Moreover, this long-term SPA will also strengthening relationship between GAIL andCheniere and reinforcing India-US trade ties.Background

India primarily imports LNG from Qatar and Australia under long-term contracts. In recent times, ithas been trying to diversify its natural gas sources. Moreover, after former US President BarackObama lifted US’s 40 year-old oil export ban, Indian oil and gas companies in response boughtshipments of US crude to check for cost competitiveness and its compatibility with Indian refineryconfiguration. India is also trying to increase its use of natural gas in the energy mix from current 6%to 15% within five years inorder reduce dependence on oil and to secure energy supplies and reduceemissions by using more natural gas.

40 Participants attend 46th Know India ProgrammeMarch 7, 2018

40 participants of Indian Origin from 9 countries attended 46th edition of Know India Programme(KIP). Madhya Pradesh was partner state of this edition. As part of the initiative participants visitedMadhya Pradesh, Parliament House, President’s House and attended orientation programme at theForeign Service InstituteKnow India Programmes (KIP)

KIP is initiative (scheme) of Ministry of External Affairs for Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) betweenthe age group of 18 to 30 years. The scheme was launched in 2004 and has so far had 40 editions inwhich some 1,293 PIO youths have participated.Objective

Engage and make students and young professionals of Indian Diaspora (18 to 30years) feel sense of connect withtheir motherlandMotivated and inspire PIOs by transformational changes taking place in India and give them an exposure tovarious aspects of contemporary India’s forms of art, heritage and culture.

KIP is three-week orientation programme aimed at promoting awareness on different facets of life inIndia as well as the progress made by country in fields such as economic and education. It offersplatform for young PIOs to visit India share their views, experiences and expectations and forgecloser bonds with India.The participants are selected on basis of nominations received and recommendations of heads ofIndian Missions and posts. The participants are provided all the hospitality in India. In 2016, KIPscheme was revamped to extend number of days from 21 to 25 days including 10-day visit to one ortwo states.

HRD Ministry allocates Rs.1000 crore for research in S&T under IMPRINT-IIMarch 7, 2018

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has sanctioned Rs. 1000 crore for phase II ofImpacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India programme to boost research andinnovation in the country.Under the IMPRINT-II, a fund is being created by Department of Science and Technology (DST) and






HRD Ministry together, in which participation will come from industry and other interestedMinistries. The project will be run as a separate vertical in coordination with DST.Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India

IMPRINT India Programme is joint initiative of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and IndianInstitute of Science (IISc). It seeks to develop road map for research to solve major engineering andtechnology challenges in 10 technology domains relevant for country.These domains include health care, information and communication technology, energy, sustainablehabitat, nano‐technology hardware, water resources and river systems, advanced materials,manufacturing, security and defence, and environment and climate. These domains are distributedamong IITs Kharagpur, Kanpur, Bomaby, Rookree, Madras and IISC, Bengaluru.Objectives of IMPRINT

Identify areas of immediate relevance that requires innovation in the society.Ensure support and higher funding for research for identified areas.Measure outcomes of innovation and research efforts and its impact on people’s standard of living.

Significance

It will motivate technical institutions to conduct research in areas where the country is heavilydependent on foreign technology. Under IMPRINT-I Programme, 142 projects at cost of Rs. 318.71crore are already under implementation. These projects cover 10 crucial technology domainsmentioned above.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approves India’s membershipMarch 7, 2018

The shareholders of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have given theirnod to India’s candidature to international financial institution. With this, India will become the 69thmember of EBRD.The move follows Indian Government’s application to seek membership of EBRD back in December2017. It will set stage increase in joint investment with Indian companies in EBRD’s regions ofoperation.Key Facts

The EBRD’s Board of Governors, which represents all existing shareholders of the internationalfinancial institution, had voted in favour of India’s membership application. With shareholders’approval, the formal membership process will now get underway, which includes purchase of sharesby India at estimated cost of around 1 million euros.European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

EBRD is a multilateral developmental investment bank. It was established in 1991 after fall of theBerlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe. It is headquarteredin London, United Kingdom. It was initially focused to help former Communist states build theireconomies after Cold War and then expanded to support development in more than 30 countriesfrom central Europe to central Asia.It invests in 38 emerging economies across three continents with predefined set of criteria that aimto make its countries more competitive, better governed, greener, more inclusive, more resilient andmore integrated. It works only in countries that are committed to democratic principles, usinginvestment as tool to build market economies.

Sukhad Yatra App and Toll-free Emergency number for Highway users launchedMarch 7, 2018

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has launched Sukhad Yatra mobile application and1033 Toll-free Emergency number for highway users. It also launched scheme for District DrivingTraining Centres and will provide grant of financial assistance for Road Safety Advocacy and awardsfor outstanding work in Road Safety.Sukhad Yatra mobile application

It has been prepared by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to empower Highway user. Itskey feature includes provision for user to enter road quality-related information and to report anyaccident or pothole on highway.It also provides users with real-time data related to waiting time expected at plazas and variousfacilities like points of interest, highway nest and nest mini, etc. available across highway. It can also






be used by users to purchase FASTag tag and further facilitate highway user experience.Toll-free number 1033

It will enable users to report an emergency condition and highway-related feedback. Its service hasbeen integrated with various ambulance, tow away services along highway to ensure rapid responsetime in case emergency. The service is supported by a multi-lingual support and user locationtracking features to provide the user with accurate and responsive complaint resolution.Scheme for District Driving Training Centres

Under it, at least one model driving training centre will be set up in each district of States/UTs.MoRTH will provide financial assistance of up to Rs. 1 crore for these centres. Its objective is to createemployment and meeting requirement of HMV and LMV drivers in country.It also aims at inculcating habit of road safety, like attitudinal and behavioral changes among drivers.These centres will conduct training course for drivers carrying dangerous and hazardous goods. Theagencies that will open centre will provide infrastructure facilities like land, class rooms, simulator,etc.Scheme for grant of financial assistance

The financial assistance will be provided for administering Road Safety Advocacy and awards foroutstanding done in field of Road Safety. Under it, assistance up to Rs. 5 lakh will be provided toNGO, Cooperative Societies, Trust and other agencies for administering road safety programme.Three awards of Rs. 5 lakhs, Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 1 lakh will be given in each State/UT to individuals ofagencies engaged in road safety advocacy and allied activities.

March 8, 2018Cabinet approves Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France

March 8, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement betweenIndia and France. Decision in this regard was taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi. The agreement will be signed during forthcoming state visit of FrenchPresident to India.Key Facts

The agreement represents major milestone in enhancing people-to-people (P2P) contacts betweenboth countries. It will foster mobility of students, academics, skilled professionals and researchersand strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking betweencountries.The agreement is also testimony to India’s rapidly expanding multi-faceted relationship with Franceand symbolizes increasing trust and confidence between two sides. It will be initially valid for periodof 7 years and incorporates provision for automatic renewal and monitoring mechanism throughJoint Working Group (JWG).

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Hellenic on Renewable Energy CooperationMarch 8, 2018

The Union Cabinet has apprised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in field ofRenewable Energy between India and Hellenic.The MoU was signed by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and H.E. Nikos Kotzias,Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hellenic Republic during latter’s visit to New Delhi in November, 2017.Key Facts

Under this agreement, both countries aim to establish basis for cooperative institutional relationshipto encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on basis ofmutual benefit equality and reciprocity. The MoU envisages establishing Joint Working Group (JWG)to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. It also aims for exchange ofexpertise and networking of information.

Balkrishna Doshi wins Pritzker PrizeMarch 8, 2018

Legendary Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi (90), a pioneer of low-cost housing design has won theprestigious Pritzker Prize, considered architecture field’s Nobel. He is 45th Pritzker laureate and firstfrom India to receive it.He is one of the last living architects to have apprenticed with Franco-Swiss trailblazer Le Corbusier






distinguished his work by committing to sustainable architecture and inexpensive housing.Balkrishna Doshi

Born on 26 August 1927 in Pune, Maharashtra. He is considered as one of important figure of SouthAsian architecture and noted for his contributions to evolution of architectural discourse in India. Heis alumnus of prestigious JJ School of Architecture in Mumbai, Maharashtra.He had worked with legendary Le Corbusier in Paris in 1950 before returning to India to supervisearchitect’s projects in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. He established his studio Vastu-Shilpa(environmental design) in 1955 and worked with Louis Kahn and Anant Raje in designing campus ofIIM Ahmedabad.He also designed campuses of IIM Bangalore and Lucknow, National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT), Tagore Memorial Hall, Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad, among other fine campuses andbuildings across India, besides many low-cost housing projects.He is also known as an institution builder. He is first founder Director of School of Architecture,Ahmedabad, first founder Director of School of Planning, first founder Dean of Centre forEnvironmental Planning and Technology (also designed its building), founder member of Visual ArtsCentre, Ahmedabad and first founder Director of Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad.He was awarded Padma Shri in 1976 and 6th Aga Khan Award for Architecture for AranyaCommunity Housing, 1993-1995.Pritzker prize

The international Pritzker prize was established by Chicago’s Pritzker family in 1979. It is consideredto be one of the world’s premier architecture prizes, and is often referred to as the Nobel Prize ofarchitecture. It is awarded annually and bestows laureates with $100,000 along with bronzemedallion. Previous winners include world-renowned architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, IMPei, and Shigeru Ban.

US move to raise import duty on steel may hit India’s steel market: ISAMarch 8, 2018

According to Indian Steel Association (ISA), proposal by Trump administration to levy steep tariff onsteel imports may hit India’s domestic steel market. Recently, US had proposed to impose tariffs of25% on steel imports and 10% on imported aluminium to protect domestic steel industry from cheapimports. It had clubbed India as steel non-mature country with other steel surplus nations.Key Facts

The proposal, if implemented, will result in major shifts in existing global trade flows of steel andsteel products. It will encourage steel-surplus nations to divert their exports to vibrant consumptioncentres (countries) like India and distort their domestic markets considerably. It will dent growthprospects of developing nation like India, whose production and consumption of steel is inwardlooking.Though India is third largest producer of steel and produces 12% of world’s non-Chinese productionof steel, it has only 2.7% share in US imports. There are total of 16 trade remedies in place in USagainst Indian steel imports. This included 10 anti-dumping and 6 countervailing duties. All thesehad made it nearly impossible to export Indian Steel to US.

Cabinet approves two relief measures for stressed telecom sectorMarch 8, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved two key measures in telecom sector to facilitate investments,consolidation in the sector and enhancing ease of doing business. These include restructuring

Deferred payment liabilities of spectrum auction of telecom service providers (TSPs).Revising the limit of the cap for spectrum holding for TSPs.

Key Facts

Restructuring of Deferred Payment Liabilities of TSPs for spectrumIt extends time period for payment of spectrum bought in auction to 16 years from the present 10years. It will give one-time opportunity for TSPs to opt for higher number of instalment (maximum16 instalment) apart from currently permitted 10 instalmentsThe increased instalment is based upon principle that Net Present Value (NPV) of Payment Due isprotected as per respective notice inviting application for auction of spectrum from 2012. The totalamount received will be higher by Rs. 74,446 crore till 2034-35.






Revision of limits of cap for spectrum holdingBased upon the recommendations of TRAI and Telecom Commission, the Union Cabinet alsoapproved revision of limits of cap for spectrum holding. They are

Overall spectrum cap is revised from current limit of 25% to 35%.Current intra-band cap is removed. Instead, there is cap of 50% on combined spectrum holding in sub-1 GHzbands (700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands).There will be no cap for individual or combined spectrum holding in above 1 GHz band.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended revision in existing limits of cap forspectrum holding taking into consideration technological advancement, efficient use of spectrum,measures to facilitate consolidation etc. The revised spectrum caps limits may be revisited in futureafter Final Acts of World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2019.Comment

Restructuring of deferred payment liability will increase cash flow for telecom service providers inimmediate timeframe and provide them some relief. Revising spectrum limit cap holding willfacilitate consolidation of telecom licensees, thus aid mergers and acquisitions in the sector and mayencourage TSPs participation in future spectrum auction.

CCEA approves Rs 1,151 crore Scheme for in-situ management of crop residue to fight air pollutionMarch 8, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Rs. 1,151 crore Central SectorScheme for in-situ management of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT ofDelhi.It will promote agricultural mechanization for next two years (2018-20) to provide cost-effective andeco-friendly solution to farmers to deal with problem of stubble burning that result in raising airpollution levels in Delhi and neighbouring states every winter.Features of Scheme

Under this scheme, the proceeds from central fund will be used to establish Farm Machinery Banks(FMBs) for Custom Hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery. Government will provide80% financial assistance of project cost to cooperative societies of farmers, FPOs, SHGs, registeredfarmers societies or farmers groups, private entrepreneurs and group of women farmers. It will alsoprovide 50% financial assistance to farmers for procurement of agriculture machinery andequipment for in-situ crop residue management.Beneficiaries will be identified and selected for establishment of Farm Machinery Bank for CustomHiring and procurement of machines on individual ownership basis by state nodaldepartment/DLEC. They may tie up with Banks for credit requirements of beneficiaries.The central fund will also be used to create awareness among farmers about in-situ management ofcrop residue. The activities will involve mass awareness campaigns through documents, short andlong films, radio and TV programmes, demonstration camps at various levels and capacity buildingprogramme etc. It will also include advertisement in print media, star campaigning, award for villageor gram Panchayat for achieving Zero Straw Burning etc.Background

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Budget 2018-19 had announced special scheme with 100%Central share to support efforts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to addressair pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue.Significance

The scheme is expected to go long way in tackling air pollution issue in NCT of Delhi, as stubbleburning which has been identified as one of key problem areas, especially during post-harvest seasonof October-November when prevailing meteorological condition aggravates the situation further.

India-China trade hits record $84.4 billion in 2017March 8, 2018

According to data of Chinese General Administration of Customs, India-China bilateral trade hasreached $84.44 billion last year, a historic high with 18.63% year-on-year growth rate.This is regarded as historic landmark in bilateral relations of both countries, as volume of bilateraltrade for first time has touched $80 billion, well above the $71.18 billion registered in 2016.






Key Facts

India has emerged as the seventh largest export destination for Chinese products, and 24th largestexporter to China.India’s imports and exports: It has increased by 39.11% year-on-year to $16.34 billion in 2017. India’simports from China have increased by 14.59% to $68.10 billion.Significantly, diamonds along with copper, iron ore, organic chemicals and cotton yarn contributedto increase Indian exports to China. China’s exports on other hand were dominated by electricalmachinery and equipment,India’s trade deficit: It continues to remain high at $51.75 billion, registering a growth of 8.55% year-on-year in 2017. To arrest it, India is pressing China to open its IT and Pharmaceutical sectors forIndian firms, fertilizers, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical antibiotics.Comment

The bilateral trade has touched historic high despite bilateral tensions over number of bilateralissues including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China blocking India’s efforts to bringabout UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar and blocking India’s entry into NuclearSuppliers Group (NSG) as well as military standoff at Doklam plateau near Sikkim and Bhutan,lasting 73 days.For several years, bilateral trade between India and China had stagnated around $70 billion, despitethey had set target of $100 billion in 2015. Though it is still about $20 billion short, it is expect tradeand Chinese investments in India to pick up further as both governments are trying to scale downtensions and step-up normalisation process.

CCI imposes Rs. 54 crore fine on 3 airlines for unfair business practicesMarch 8, 2018

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed fine of more than Rs. 54 crore on JetAirways, InterGlobe Aviation and SpiceJet for unfair business practices with respect to fixing fuelsurcharge on cargo transport.The CCI order comes on complaint filed by Express Industry Council of India (EICI) against airlinesalleging cartelisation. It has directed three airlines to cease and desist from anti-competitivepractices. It is second order on same complaint in nearly three years.Key Facts

The penalties were imposed on airlines for concerted action in fixing and revising fuel surcharge(FSC), a component of freight charges. These airlines had acted in concerted manner in fixing andrevising FSC rates in violation of competition norms that prohibit anti-competitive agreements,including cartels.The penalties were imposed at the rate of 3% of three airlines average relevant turnover of last 3financial years and taking into consideration financial position of airlines at relevant time and notingthat FSC constitutes about 20-30% of cargo revenue.Competition Commission of India (CCI)

CCI is quasi-judicial statutory body established under The Competition Act, 2002. It was establishedin October 2003 and became fully functional in May 2009. It consists of Chairperson and 6 Membersappointed by Central Government.CCI aims to eliminate practices that adversely affect competition in different industries and protectinterests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade. Its mandate is to eliminate practices havingadverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect interests of consumers andensure freedom of trade in markets of India.It is also required to give opinion on competition issues on reference received from statutoryauthority established under any law and undertakes competition advocacy, create public awarenessand impart training on competition issues.

March 9, 2018Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017

March 9, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind presented Nari Shakti Puraskars 2017 to 30 eminent individuals and 9distinguished institutions at special ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan on occasion of






International Women’s Day.They were felicitated in recognition of their efforts in rendering distinguished services for cause ofwomen, especially vulnerable and marginalized women.Reciepents are

Nari Shakti awards

These awards aim to acknowledge achievement of women by bestowing awards on eminent womenand institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of women empowerment. Itestablished in 1991 and since then it is conferred annually by President on the occasion ofInternational Women’s Day on March 8 every year. It carries cash award of Rs. 1 lakh and certificatefor individuals and institutions. The Ministry of Women and Child Development announces thesenational level awards for eminent women, organisations and institutions.

I – Metros: Government launches association of all Indian Metro Rail companiesMarch 9, 2018

The Union Housing Ministry has launched I-Metros, an association of all Indian Metro Railcompanies for mutual sharing of ideas & experiences for nurturing excellence their performance. Itwas launched by P K Sinha, Cabinet Secretary at Conference on “Indian Metros: Collaborating forExcellence” held at Metro Bhawan in New Delhi.Key Facts

I – Metros platform will be forum for exchange of ideas, sharing of experience and pooling ofknowledge, best practices, innovations etc. among Indian Metro Rail companies to nurture excellencein performance. The conference on “Indian Metros: Collaborating for Excellence” was attended byrepresentatives of Metro systems from all over world to attend the management meeting of theCommunity of Metros (CoMET). On this occasion, “The Operator’s Story”- a publication by WorldBank and Railway and Transport Strategy Centre (RTSC), Imperial College London on findings of theresearch on “What makes Metros successful” was also released.

Swachh Shakti 2018 celebrated in Lucknow under Swachh Bharat AbhiyanMarch 9, 2018






The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with Uttar Pradesh Government hadorganized Swachh Shakti 2018, a Women’s Convention on occasion of International Women’s Day inLucknow. This year, Uttar Pradesh had hosted Swachh Shakti 2018, being largest state in country (interms of population) with massive rural populace.Key Facts

In Swachh Shakti 2018, 8000 women sarpanches, 3000 women Swachhagrahis and womenchampions from across country were recognised for their outstanding contribution towards makingSwachh Bharat. The event also included special exhibition, launch of film celebrating Swachh Shaktiand flagging off of 30 Swachhata Raths that will travel across State, spreading the message ofsanitation at the grassroots.Background

The Swachh Shakti initiative was launched by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2017 torecognise and felicitate women sarpanches, women Swachhagrahis and women champions fromacross country for their outstanding contribution towards making Swachh Bharat. In 2017 SwachhShakti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed and honoured over 6000 women sarpanchesfrom across country in Gujarat on occasion of International Women’s Day.Swachh Bharat Mission

SBM was launched in October 2014 with an aim to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to putfocus on sanitation. It aims to achieve Swachh Bharat or make India clean and Open Defecation Free(ODF) by 2019, as fitting tribute to the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.The SBM consists of two sub-missions Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), implemented in rural areas,and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), implemented in urban areas. It seeks to generate awareness tomotivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation practices, and encourage the use ofappropriate technologies for sanitation.So far, 314 districts and 3.23 lakh villages and 9 States and 2 UTs have been declared ODF. Themission has led to doubling of sanitation coverage from 38.70% to 78.98% since its launch.

Government launches Udyam Sakhi Portal for Women EntrepreneursMarch 9, 2018

The Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises launched Udyam Sakhi Portal(www.udyamsakhi.org) for women entrepreneurs on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Itwas unveiled by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of MSME, Giriraj Singh, in a program held atAmbedkar International Centre, New Delhi.Udyam Sakhi Portal

The portal is network to nurture entrepreneurship and create business models for low cost productsand services in order to empower women and make them self-sufficient and self-reliant. It willprovide assistance to women entrepreneurs through its platform for entrepreneurship learningtools, training programs for fund raising, incubation facility, provide mentors, one-on-one investormeet, provide market survey facility and technical assistance. It will cater needs of around 8 millionwomen from across country who have started and are running their own businesses and playingvital role in the growth of Indian economy.

Government launches National Nutrition MissionMarch 9, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Nutrition Mission (NMM) at event held atJhunjhunu in Rajasthan on the occasion of International Women’s Day. NNM is comprehensiveapproach towards raising nutrition level in country on a war footing.National Nutrition Mission (NMM)

NNM is an apex body under Ministry of Women and Child Development to monitor, supervise, fixtargets and guide nutrition related interventions across Ministries. It will monitor various schemescontributing towards addressing malnutrition.It comprises mapping of various schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition,incentivizing states/UTs for meeting targets, incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using ITbased tools, eliminating registers used by AWWs and introducing measurement of height of childrenat Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).It will also comprise social audits, setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres and involving masses






through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others.The mission has been set up with a three year budget of Rs. 9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18.The mission targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia among young children, women andadolescent girls and reduce low birth weight by at least 2% per annum. Though target to reducestunting is at least 2% annum, the mission will strive to achieve reduction in stunting from 38.4%(NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022.More than 10 crore people are expected to be benefitted by programme. It will cover all states anddistricts in phased manner. 315 districts will be covered in 2017-18 and 235 districts in 2018-19,remaining districts will be covered in 2019-20.

Government expands Beti Bachao Beti Padha to pan IndiaMarch 9, 2018

The Union Government has expanded Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme from 161 districtsto all 640 districts of the country. The initial focus of BBBP was limited to districts which were eitherbelow national average or were worse in their own states in terms of absolute values of Chid SexRatio (CSR).Background

As per data available in Health Management Information System (HMIS), there has beenimprovement in sex ratio at birth (SRB). The SRB which was 918 in 2014-15 has improved to 926 in2016-17 as per HMIS data. The successful implementation of BBBP programme in states and districtshas led government to decide to go Pan-India and expand the programme to all districts. However,looking at magnitude and criticality of problem and its spread across country, the expansion willtake care that no district is left out of BBBP ambit.Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

The scheme was launched by Prime Minister in January 2015 at Panipat, Haryana as comprehensiveprogramme to address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of womenover life-cycle continuum.The specific objectives of scheme are preventing gender biased sex selective elimination, ensuringsurvival and protection of the girl child and ensuring education and participation of the girl child. Its focusis on awareness and advocacy campaign, multi-sectoral action enabling girls’ education and effectiveenforcement of Pre-Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act.The scheme is being implemented as a tri-ministerial, convergent effort of Union Ministries ofWomen and Child Development (WCD), Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Human ResourceDevelopment (HRD). The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is nodal ministryfor programme at central level.

SUVIDHA: Government launches 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin under JanaushadhiPariyojana

March 9, 2018

The Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has launched ‘Suvidha’, a 100% Oxo-biodegradableSanitary Napkin, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). It was launchedby Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananthkumar on theoccasion of International Woman’s day.Key Facts

The affordable Suvidha sanitary napkins will be available for Rs. 2.50 per pad at over 3200Janaushadhi Kendras across India. It was launched under government’s vision of providingAffordable and Quality Healthcare for All. It will ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ forunderprivileged women. It will ensure affordability, hygiene as well as ease of use and disposal ofsanitary napkins.SUVIDHA napkin has special additive added in it, which makes it biodegradable when it reacts withoxygen after it is used and discarded. It will go long way in making basic hygiene requirement aid forwomen affordable especially for the underprivileged sections. It will be physically available at allJanaushadhi Kendras in country by World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28, 2018).Background

According to National Family Health Survey (NHFS) 2015-16, about 58% of women aged between 15to 24 years use locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins and tampons. Further, only 48% women in






rural areas have access to clean sanitary napkins and about 78% women in urban areas use hygienicmethods of protection during menstrual period. The use unhygienic aids during menstrual perioddue to non-affordability of some of branded of sanitary napkins causes fungal infections, UrinaryTract Infection, Reproductive Tract Infection, Cervical cancer and also make women vulnerable toinfertility. Moreover, the disposal of non-biodegradable sanitary napkins creates a hugeenvironmental problem.Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

The scheme was launched by Department of Pharmaceuticalsto provide quality medicines ataffordable prices to masses through special kendra’s known as PMBJP. These special kendras providegeneric drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy asexpensive branded drugs.Objectives

Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, throughexclusive outlets Jan Aushadhi Medical Store.Reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare by bringing down healthcare budget of every citizen throughproviding Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices.

Mission

Create awareness among public regarding generic medicines.Create demand for generic medicines through medical practioners.Provide all commonly used generic medicines covering all therapeutic groups.Provide all related health care products too under the scheme.Create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with highquality.

WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugsMarch 9, 2018

World Health Organization (WHO) has invited pharmaceutical companies around the world tosubmit proposals to manufacture affordable versions of newer medicines for treatment of drugresistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). It has now requested drug makers to submit Expression of Interest(EoI) for Bedaquiline and Delaminid, two new-generation drugs, recommended for DR-TB. The aim ofthis proposal is to replicate success of addressing HIV epidemic. Under WHO norms, drugssubmitted upon such requests and complying with its standards will be included in list forprocurement by UN and other organisations.Background

India has nearly 1.3 lakh DR-TB patients, most in the world. Currently Health Ministry gets only10,000 doses of Bedaquiline and 400 doses of Delaminid. These medicines are obtained as donationsfrom Janssen (US) and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (Japan), their respective manufacturers.Significance

EoI considered by WHO for two drugs will be key compounds to address challenges of DR-TB. It willencourage generic competition to start finding ways to make these medicines available in countrieswhere they are not yet registered. It will also allow generics manufacturers interested in producingthese two drugs and currently facing technical challenges. The pre-qualification will ensure greaternumbers of manufacturers are supplying quality medicines, which, in turn, means a morecompetitive market and more affordable prices.

NITI Aayog launches Women Entrepreneurship PlatformMarch 9, 2018

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has launched WomenEntrepreneurship Platform (WEP) on the occasion of International Women’s day (March 8, 2018).WEP’s theme song ‘ Naari Shakti’ composed and sung by renowned singer Kailash Kher was alsoreleased.Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

ObjectiveBuild vibrant ecosystem for women across country to help realise their entrepreneurial aspirations, scale-upinnovative initiatives and chalk-out sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.






Power vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem through an enabling network of industry collaborations, partnerships,mentors and peer-to-peer connect.Address bottlenecks faced by both aspiring and established women entrepreneurs by streamlining informationacross government and private sector schemes and initiatives with informative, interactive website as a dedicatedresource and knowledge base.

Key FeaturesWEP aspires to substantially increase number of women entrepreneurs to create and empowerdynamic new India by opening up avenues of growth and opportunity for women entrepreneurs.These aspirations of women entrepreneurs are manifested in three pillars on which WEP is built:

Ichha Shakti: Motivating aspiring entrepreneurs to start their enterprise.

Gyaan Shakti: Providing knowledge and ecosystem support to women entrepreneurs to help them foster

entrepreneurship.Karma Shakti: Providing hands-on support to entrepreneurs in setting-up and scaling up businesses.

The WEP platform will operate within broader framework of industry collaborations andpartnerships, which cut across sectors in economy. It will provide unique services such as creditevaluation of women-led startups by CRISIL and potential equity investments through an Rs. 10crore fund established by DICE Districts Partners of WEPShopClues.com will provide internship and dedicated mentorship and Mann Deshi Foundation toprovide digital and financial literacy to aspiring women entrepreneurs. Moreover, several otherleading corporates and industry bodies such as NASSCOM, CII, FICCI, SIDBI and Facebook willprovide business acceleration, mentorship and other start-up support for women entrepreneurs.

Karnataka Government approves state flag proposalMarch 9, 2018

Karnataka Government has decided to accept state flag proposed and designed by 9-membercommittee constituted by state Kannada and Culture department. It will be official flag in place of anunofficial red and yellow flag that is currently used in the state to signify local pride.Key Facts

The committee has recommended new tricolour having yellow (at top), white (in middle) and red (atbottom) colorus, with state’s emblem Gandaberunda (a two-headed mythological bird) in centre. Thewhite colour in new flag symbolizes peace and captures Karnataka’s image the best, while other twocolours are synonymous with Kannada identity. Now state government will make formal applicationto Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) under whose purview issue falls to amend Flag Code 2002to included state flag. The amendment will add provisions of including Karnataka flag as one of thesymbols in the Flag Code.Comment

If adopted with clearance from MHA, Karnataka will be the second state after Kashmir to have anofficial state flag. Karnataka has had unofficial state flag since mid-1960s when pro-Kannada groupswere agitating against the screening of non-Kannada films in the state. The earlier red and yellowunofficial flag was created by Kannada writer and activist Ma Ramamurthy for pro-Kannada politicalparty called Kannada Paksha. This unofficial flag is flown every year on November 1, Karnataka’sfoundation day, and is a common sight at public spaces in the state.Karnataka already has official state song and there is feeling that there is nothing wrong in havingstate flag.

March 10, 2018First ever ‘crime-free zone’ along India, Bangladesh international border launched

March 10, 2018

The director generals of Border Security Force (BSF), India and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) havedeclared 8.3 km stretch of Indo-Bangladesh border as first ‘crime-free zone’. The stretch coversGunarmath and Kalyani Border Out Posts (BOPs) in India and Puthkhali and Daulatpur BOPs inBangladesh across border.Key Facts

Bangladesh and India share 4,156 km long international border. It is longest international border






shared by India with its neighbours. It passes through five states viz. Assam (262 km), Tripura (856km), Mizoram (180 km), Meghalaya (443 km) and West Bengal (2,217 km).The first ‘crime-free zone’ stretch is one of most vulnerable to crimes like cattle smuggling andothers. Both border guarding forces with help of civil administrations of two countries, NGOs andlocal populance will help in ensuring that no crime takes place along stretch.Both forces will work together to ensure that no crime or anti-social activity occurs along thisstretch. This is pilot project that will be reviewed after 5-6 months. It will be extended to othertrouble-prone areas to target more difficult areas along 913 km of Indo-Bangladesh border underBSF’s South Bengal Frontier.

Rajasthan passes bill for death penalty for child rape of girls below 12March 10, 2018

Rajasthan Assembly has passed Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 by voice vote toamend Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 to add provisions providing for death penalty for thoseconvicted of raping girls of 12 years and below.The bill will become a law after it gets Presidential assent. With this, Rajasthan became second statein the country after Madhya Pradesh approving death sentence for those convicted of such rapes.Key facts

The Bill aims at protecting girl child by laying down deterrent punishment, including death sentence,to offenders of child rape of girls below 12. It inserts sections 376-AA and 376-DD in IPC, 1860. Thesesections provide, that whoever commits rape or gang-rape on a girl upto 12 years of age shall bepunishable with death or rigorous imprisonment. The capital punishment under it will be not lessthan 14 years and 20 years respectively for sections and which may extend to imprisonment for life,which means imprisonment for remainder of offenders’ whole life, and with fine.Background

According to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) 2016 report, cases of crimes against childrenhave shown a steady rise in Rajasthan. The state has recorded 4,034 such cases in 2016, which is 3.8%of crimes against children (98,344) registered across country. It stands fourth in crime againstwomen category. In 2015, the state had registered 3,689 cases of crime against children, increased by345 in year under review. State police had registered 728 cases of child rape in 2015, which increasedto 858 in 2016.

Diu becomes first Union Territory to run 100% on solar powerMarch 10, 2018

Diu has become the first and only Union Territory in the country to be fully run on solar energy. TheUT generates total of 13 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar power generating facilities daily.Of this, 3 MW is generated by rooftop solar plants and 10 MW by its other solar power plants.Key Facts

Diu’s peak-time demand for electricity goes up to 7 MW and now it daily generates about 10.5 MW ofelectricity from solar energy, making it electricity surplus. Despite scarcity of land, solar powerplants have been installed over more than 50 acres. The solar power also has come as big relief forlocal residents as their monthly bill charges have fallen by around 12%. It also has significantlyreduced electricity loss.Background

Diu has an area of just 42 square kilometres and population of 56,000. For water and electricity, theUnion territory was solely dependent on Gujarat government. The electricity supplied from powergrid owned by Gujarat government was causing huge line losses. To overcome this limitation, UT’sadministration has decided to set up solar power plants.

IREDA & European Investment Bank ink Loan Agreement for Renewable Energy Financing in IndiaMarch 10, 2018

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and European Investment Bank (EIB) havesigned loan agreement for second line of credit (LoC) of Euro 150 million on non-sovereign basis forrenewable energy financing in India. The LoC has tenure of 15 years including grace period of 3 years.It will be used for financing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects in India. It will benefitmore than 1.1 million households especially from clean energy produced with these funds.






European Investment Bank (EIB)

EIB is long-term lending institution of European Union owned by its member states. It is alsoengaged in multilateral financing and works closely with other EU institutions to implement EUpolicy. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe but it is also big investor globally. EIB’s activitiesfocus on four priority areas including innovation and skills, access to finance for infrastructure,smaller businesses and climate & environment.Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)

IREDA is dedicated financing arm of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for financing renewableand energy efficiency projects. It has been spearheading growth of renewable energy in country forover three decades. To meet financing requirement, it has been raising resources from variousbilateral and multilateral agencies, Masala bonds and domestic – taxable and tax-free bonds. It hasfinanced renewable and energy efficiency projects of financial value of over Rs. 34,534 crore till date.

Supreme Court allows passive euthanasia, living willMarch 10, 2018

The Supreme Court (SC) allowed passive euthanasia and right to give advance medical directives or‘Living Wills’, stating that human beings have the right to die with dignity as part of fundamentalright, but made sure to set out strict guidelines that will govern when it is permitted.The ruling was given by five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.Passive euthanasia is act of withdrawing or withholding medical support to dying patient who has nohope for revival or cure.SC Ruling

Fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of Constitution includes right to die withdignity. Dignity is lost if man is allowed or forced to undergo pain and suffering because ofunwarranted medical support.It distinguished passive euthanasia from suicide and active euthanasia. It called passive euthanasiaas mere acceleration of inevitable conclusion. It concluded that Active euthanasia is unlawful. It heldthat suicide involves overt acts which culminate in unnatural death.Valid ‘Living Will’ facilitates passive euthanasia and failure to legally recognise advance medicaldirective inconveniences right to smoothen dying process. In cases of terminally ill or permanentlyvegetative state patients, where there is no hope for revival, priority should be given to Living Willsand right of self-determination.It also laid down principles for execution of advance directives and spelt out guidelines andsafeguards to give effect to passive euthanasia. The directive and guidelines shall remain in force tillParliament brings a legislation in the field.

CP TPP: 11 countries sign revised TPP trade pact without USMarch 10, 2018

11 Pacific Rim countries have formally entered into Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for






Trans-Pacific Partnership or CP TPP or TPP11 in Santiago, Chile. It is revised version of Trans-PacificPartnership (TPP) proposed by US, that was finalized after US withdrew from it.Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

TPP11 includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singaporeand Vietnam. The combined population of these countries exceeds 500 million people and togethertheir economies account for 13% of global gross domestic product (GDP). With US, it would haverepresented 40%.It will be world’s third largest trade bloc after European Union (EU) and North American Free TradeAgreement (NAFTA). It will come into effect 60 days after six of the 11 member countries ratify theagreement domestically. It eliminates some requirements of original TPP demanded by US, includingrules to ramp up intellectual property protection of pharmaceuticals.

Background

The original 12-member agreement known as Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was thrown into limboin January 2017 when US President Trump withdrew from deal three days after his inaugurationciting reason of protecting US jobs and agreement will be blow for US’s manufacturing. The TTPagreement was originally conceived as counterbalance to China’s increasing economic influence inthe region. But after US withdrawal, remaining 11 countries had decided to forge ahead regardlessand finalized the agreement in January 2018.

India, France sign strategic pact on use of each other’s military basesMarch 10, 2018

India and France have inked strategic pact providing for use of each other’s military facilitiesincluding opening naval bases to warships. It was signed during official state visit of FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron to India. The agreement reflects growing depth between both countriesin defence ties and comes amid China’s growing military expansionism in Indo-Pacific region.Key Facts

The agreement will facilitate reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services betweenarmed forces of India and France during authorised port visits, joint exercises and joint trainingamong others. It will be crucial in order to maintain the safety of international sea lanes forunimpeded commerce and communications in Indo-Pacific region. The deal is similar to logisticalsupport pact (LEMOA) with US on use of each other’s land, air and naval bases and is indicator ofstrategic depth and maturity reached in India-France defence ties.






Key Takeaways from Joint Statement on Defence relations

Both countries have decided to create an annual defence dialogue at the ministerial level to exploreways to further deepen defence and strategic ties. They also signed pact on exchange and reciprocalprotection of classified or protected information.On ties in maritime security sphere, both countries will have unprecedented level of cooperation toensure peace and stability in Indian and Pacific Oceans. Space agencies of both countries will alsohave joint monitoring mechanism for developments in maritime sphere, while their navies of willshare intelligence and call their respective military bases for any requirement.Both sides also emphasised the importance of the joint military exercises and affirmed theirintention to enhance the level of the exercises. They acknowledged that Make-in-India initiativeoffers valuable opportunity for Indian and French defence enterprises to enter into co-developmentand co-production projects in defence sector, including through transfer of technologies.

Indian, French companies ink pacts worth 13 billion eurosMarch 10, 2018

Indian and French companies have exchanged 19 contracts and agreements worth over 13 billioneuros in sectors including new and renewable energy, smart grid, nuclear energy, aviation, cement,telecom among others. The agreements were formalised at Indo-French Economic Partnership (IFEP)signing ceremony held in New Delhi in the context of French President Emmanuel Macron’s officialstate visit to India.Key Facts

Aviation Sector: The biggest deals signed in terms of value were from civil aviation sector. Low-costcarrier SpiceJet signed $12.5-billion agreement with French aviation major Safran Group to supply155 CFM LEAP-1B engines for airline’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, along with spare engines to supportfleet.Safran also announced its eighth facility in India at Hyderabad, Telangana with 250 employees, forproduction of harnesses used in civil and military aerospace applications, for both local and foreignprograms.Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed agreement with French engineering company Egis forconducting study of three airports in the country — Lucknow, Pune and Trichy.Electric Mobility Sector: Four French companies — EdF International Networks, Citelum, G2M andSolstyce — signed an agreement to work together for developing charging infrastructure in India tosupport electric mobility.Renewable energy sector: Bharat Light & Power and EDF renewed their contract pertaining to dataacquisition to optimise wind and solar energy production. General collaboration agreement was alsosigned between French Commission for Atomic and Alternative Energy (CEA) and Vikram Solar toincrease production capacity of high performance solar cells and modules.Cement Sector: French cement maker Vicat announced investment of Rs 1,200 crore in Karnataka todouble its production capacity and investment of Rs. 510 crore in cement-grinding unit in AndhraPradesh.

India, France ink 14 agreementsMarch 10, 2018

India and France singed 14 key agreements in strategic areas of security, nuclear energy, protectionof classified information and also in field of education, environment, urban development andrailways.These agreements were signed after extensive bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modiand French President Emmanuel Macron in New Delhi. French President Macron was in India onfour-day official state visit. His visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral economic, political andstrategic dimension of engagement between India and France.Signed Agreement are

MoU on cooperation in the field of Environment.MoU on technical cooperation in the field of Railways.India-France Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.Agreement to facilitate Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications.






Letter of Intent for creation of permanent Indo-French Railways Forum.Agreement on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.MoU for co-operation in projects in ISA member countries in areas of solar energyImplementing Arrangement for pre-formulation studies of a Maritime Awareness Mission.Agreement regarding provision of reciprocal logistics support between their Armed Forces.Bilateral Arrangement on cooperation in matter of Hydrography and Maritime Cartography.Agreement regarding exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected informationCredit Facility Agreement of Euros 100 million for funding of Smart City Projects through a Challenge ProcessIndustrial Way Forward Agreement between NPCL and EDF, France for construction of six nuclear reactors atJaitapur, Maharashtra.Agreement on Prevention of Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, PsychotropicSubstances and Chemical Precursors and Related Offences.

India-France relations

India and France share close and friendly relation. The relationship is based on shared values and realconvergence on a whole range of regional and global issues. Both countries had announced aStrategic Partnership’ in 1998 and since then, relationship has been further strengthened.Both countries have enhanced and ongoing cooperation in defence, maritime, space, security, andenergy-related sectors. They are also increasingly working together on all issues of concernincluding terrorism, climate change, sustainable growth and development, infrastructure, smarturbanization, S&T cooperation, and youth exchanges.France is a major supplier of military equipment to India. It was one of few nations that did notcondemn India’s nuclear tests in 1998. It was first country with which India entered into agreementon Civil Nuclear Cooperation in 2008. France is one of largest suppliers of nuclear fuel to India. It alsosupports India’s bid to become permanent member of UN Security Council (UNSC) as well as G-8.The bilateral trade between India and France for period April 2016 to March 2017 had reached US$10.95 billion. France is 9th largest foreign investor in India with cumulative investment of US $6.09billion from 2000 to 2017. Close to 1,000 French companies are present in India. About 120 Indiancompanies have invested in France and employ close to 7,000 people.

ISA-ADB, NDB, GCF, AfDB and AIIB sign joint declarations of financial PartnershipMarch 10, 2018

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and African Development Bank (AfDb), Asian InfrastructureInvestment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Green climate fund (GCF), and NewDevelopment Bank (NDB) signed Joint financial partnership Declarations. The International EnergyAgency (IEA) also signed Joint partnership Declaration with ISA. The objective of these agreements isto deepen their cooperation in support of renewable energy. ISA had earlier signed threepartnerships with World Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank forReconstruction and Development (EBRD).International Solar Alliance (ISA)

The ISA was one of key takeaways at Paris Climate summit, 2015 (2015 UN Climate ChangeConference, COP 21 or CMP 11). It is aimed at tapping solar energy in the countries that lie partiallyor fully between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. ISA is first treaty-based intergovernmentalorganisation (entered into force in December 2017) to be headquartered at Gurugram, India.Its major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity andmobilisation of investment of over US $1000 billion into solar energy by 2030. It also aims to bringtogether countries with rich solar potential to aggregate global demand, thereby reducing pricesthrough bulk purchase, facilitating deployment of existing solar technologies at scale and promotingcollaborative solar R&D and capacity building.

March 11-12, 2018Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 Passed in Rajasthan

March 11, 2018

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has passed The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018providing for death penalty for convicts involved in rape of girls below 12 years of age.






Key Provisions

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 adds sections 376-AA and 376-DD to the Indian PenalCode, 1860.These amendments say that a person who is convicted of raping/gang-raping a girl up to twelve years of age, shallbe given a death sentence or rigorous imprisonment, which shall not be less than fourteen years and 20 years,respectively.The amendment bill also provides to award life sentence and life imprisonment to child rapists to ensure that theconvict doesn’t get out of the jail even after completing 14 years of sentence.

With this bill, Rajasthan has become second state after Madhya Pradesh to award death penalty andlifetime imprisonment to child rapists. In 2017, Madhya Pradesh assembly had passed ‘The PenalLaw (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill-2017’, which awarded death to similar convicts.

India B wins Deodhar Trophy 2018March 12, 2018

India B won 45th edition of the Deodhar Trophy 2018 by defeating Karnataka in final match by 6wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.Brief Scores: Karnataka 279-8 in 50 overs (Ravikumar Samarth 107, CM Gautam 76) lost to India B281-4 in 48.2 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 69, Ruturaj Gaikwad 58, Shreyas Iyer 61, Manoj Tiwary 59not out) by 6 wickets.Captain of India B: Ankit BawneCaptain of Karnataka: Karun NairPlayer of the match: Ravikumar Samarth (Karnataka)Deodhar Trophy

The Deodhar Trophy is a List A cricket competition in Indian domestic cricket. It is named after Prof.D. B. Deodhar (known as the Grand Old Man of Indian cricket). It is a 50-over knockout competitionplayed on an annual basis among five zonal teams – North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zoneand Central Zone. It was realigned in 2015-16 season with winners of Vijay Hazare Trophy playingtwo teams – India A and India B – selected by the BCCI. North Zone has won most titles i.e. forrecord 13 times.

Australia wins 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah CupMarch 12, 2018

World champions Australia won 27th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah cup 2018 for record 10th time.In the final match held in Ipoh, Malaysia, Australia defeated defending champion England by narrow2-1 goal margin. Earlier, in the classification match for third place, Argentina defeated host Malaysiaby 3-2 goals.Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament

It is an annual international men’s field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It has been named after9th king of Malaysia and ‘Father of Malaysian Hockey’ Sultan Azlan Shah also avid fan of field hockey.It was established in 1983 as biennial sporting event. It was converted into annual event after 1998,following its growth and popularity. Australia has won prestigious tournament for record 10 times in1983, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018. India had won it 4 times 1985, 1991,1995, 2009 and shared it in 2010 with South Korea.

Kinzhal missile: Russia successfully launches hypersonic missileMarch 12, 2018

Russia successfully launched high-precision aeroballistic Kinzhal hypersonic missile from a MiG-31supersonic interceptor jet. During the test, the missile launch was normal and it hit preset target onthe test site. It also met its performance characteristics and time indicators.Kinzhal missile System

The Kinzhal missile is one of array of new weapons developed by Russia. Kinzhal, the name meansdouble-edged Russian dagger. It can fly 10 times the speed of sound and has range of 2,000km. It isequipped with high-precision aeroballistic missiles supporting air strikes without entering enemy’sair defence zone. It can overcome air-defence systems.The missile system has no counterparts across globe owing to high flight performance characteristicof MiG-31 fighter jet and hypersonic missile with small radar signature and high maneuverability.






The first air unit equipped with Kinzhal system was deployed in Russia’s Southern Military Districtin December 2017.

NCRB celebrates its 33rd Inception DayMarch 12, 2018

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 33rd Inception Day on March 11, 2018. Onthis occasion, “Citizen Services” mobile application developed in-house by NCRB was also released.The application can be used by citizen for various services such as complaint registration and statuscheck, SOS – Stay Safe, View FIR detail, locate police stations, vahan-samanvay, emergency contactlist, police stations telephone directory etc.National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

NCRB is nodal agency under Union Home Ministry for authentic source of data on crime on variousparameters including accidents, suicides from across all the states of the country and prisons forpolicy matters and research. It was established on 11 March 1986 as the central police organisation. Itis headquartered in New Delhi.It is implementing and monitoring agency of Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS),a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan of Government. It also impartstraining in Information Technology (IT) and Finger Print Science for Indian Police Officers as wellForeign Police officers.NCRB publishes 4 annual publications on Crime, Prison Statistics, Accidental Deaths & Suicides andFinger Prints. These publications serve as principal reference points on crime statistics.

First Indo-French Knowledge Summit held in New DelhiMarch 12, 2018

The first Indo-French Knowledge Summit for university, scientific and technology cooperation wassuccessfully held in New Delhi. The two-day summit was organized by the French Embassy in Indiaand co-hosted by Ministry of Human Resource Development.Key Facts

The summit’s broader objective was to design roadmap of Franco-India cooperation for next fiveyears, in collaboration with companies. It offered common platform for common goal to increasestudent mobility, enlarge R&D collaborations and link campuses to companies by focusing onemployability.More than 350 people from nearly 80 Indian Institutions and 70 French Institutions along with keyenterprises participated in summit. It also had received support of Ministry of Science andTechnology, Campus France and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).It ended with landmark agreement on mutual recognition of educational qualifications between twocountries and record 15 other MoUs between universities and research institutions on jointinitiatives and partnershipsDuring this event, various sessions and round tables on several topics of mutual interest of both tcountries were held including on aerospace, agriculture and food processing, eco-energy, maths andinformation technology, strengthening employability among others.

India wins Best Exhibitor Award at ITB – BerlinMarch 12, 2018

India won Best Exhibitor Award at ITB–Berlin World Tourist Meet convened at Berlin, Germany.More than 100 countries had participated in the mega meet with their respective Tourism Ministers.India was represented by Minister of State (Independent charge) for Tourism Mr K. J. Alphons alongwith Tourism Ministry officials. India’s Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) presented short filmnamed “Yogi of the Racetrack” in the meet. The short film had received 3.2 million hits in 60 hours.ITB Berlin

The ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) is world’s largest tourism trade fair. It isrepresented by companies from tourism sector including hotels, tourist boards, tour operators,system providers, airlines and car rental companies. The fair takes place annually in March at MesseBerlin and always has official partner country.

India’s first coastal policing academy set up in GujaratMarch 12, 2018

India’s first national coastal policing academy, National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) to train






police forces in effectively safeguarding country’s shoreline will start functioning from April 2018. Itwill be launched from campus of Gujarat’s Fisheries Research Centre located in coastal Okha town inDevbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat.Key Facts

The first-of-its-kind national coastal policing academy will be created and run by multi-agency teamof paramilitary and defence forces to sharpen response and skills of marine forces of multiple stateswhich have sea lines.It will train police personnel and other security agencies staff in maritime laws, seamanship, boatwork, navigation, weapons handling, usage of sea guidance and surveillance gadgets and survivalskills for long haul operations on sea or during distress times when they may get stranded in theseterritorial waters running up to 12 nautical miles from shore.The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) will pilot establishment and running ofacademy. The Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will form coreto run academy. The BSF will also provide security to campus. Indian Navy an ICG will help designtraining curriculum, provide skilled trainers and ensure access to jetties and boats for trainees ofacademy. Gujarat government will provide two interceptor boats stationed at Okha to academy.It will have faculty from Indian Navy, ICG and BSF.Background

India has 7,517-km long coastline and has 12 major ports and 187 minor or intermediate ports. India’sterritorial waters end at 12 nautical miles while EEZ stretches to 200 nautical miles from the coast.At present there is no institute that trains marine or coastal police forces subjects related to coastalpolicing and security in professional manner. The need for training academy was specially felt afterIndia faced major sea-borne terror attack in November 2008 in Mumbai (financial capital of country)planned and articulated from Pakistan.

MILES-18: First ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea held in AndamanMarch 12, 2018

The MILES-18, first-ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea was held at the Andaman sea. The threedays exercise was conducted as part of 10th edition of MILAN 2018.Milan 2018, a multi-national mega event was organised by Andaman Nicobar naval command withtheme ‘Friendship Across the Seas’ to expand regional cooperation and combat unlawful activities incritical sea lanes.MILES-18

11 naval ships of 8 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, SriLanka and Thailand) and nine Indian ships had participated in MILES-18. It was aimed to enhanceinter-operability between participating countries. It also had enabled honing of search and rescueoperations procedures, maritime interdiction operations, core operational skills and exercise andvariety of maritime security scenarios.Background

Milan exercise was first held in 1995 with participation of just five navies. Its aim was to haveeffective forum to discuss common concerns in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and forge deepercooperation among friendly navies. The exercise is being hosted biennially by Indian Navy under theaegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Samvedna 2018: IAF’s first multilateral HADR air exercise in South AsiaMarch 12, 2018

Samvedna 2018, the first multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exerciseof Indian Air Force (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations was held off the coast ofKerala. The multilateral exercise was spearheaded by IAF and conducted by Southern Air Command(SAC) and involved representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.Key Facts

Samvedna, which means ‘Empathy’ focused on practising Air Force-centric HADR solutions in Multi-national cooperative Disaster Management environment. The objective of exercise was to galvaniseall stakeholders in synergising unified HADR efforts. It will also ensure better understanding andsharing of response procedures between number of friendly neighbouring nations.The entire settings of exercise was based on scenario of tsunami in western coast of India originating






from earthquake in Makran subduction zone (along northeastern margin of Gulf of Oman adjacent tosouthwestern coast of Balochistan of Pakistan) and resulting in post-tsunami disaster managementalong western coast and western islands of India.The exercise will provide clear understanding of scope, role and task, including challenges in airoperations and ensuring better understanding and sharing of response procedures among nations.The broad format of exercise will include ground training and flying exercise.This exercise will help in putting in place basic framework for conduct of Joint Air HADR operationsin the region, which will be further refined during subsequent exercises. It is also expected to lead tomore coordinated and efficient HADR Air operations in entire South Asian region when need arises.

India, France co-hosts International Solar Alliance summitMarch 12, 2018

India, France co-hosted first International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit at Rashtrapati BhavanConvention Centre in New Delhi. The aim of the summit was to deliberate on finance mechanism forpromotion of solar energy in member countries, crowd-funding and technology transfer.Key Facts

The summit was co-hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind and his French counterpart PresidentEmmanuel Macron. It was attended by 21 heads of states and heads of government, several topministers and bureaucrats apart from participants from multilateral banks and United Nations. Itsfocus was to mobilise $1 trillion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solarenergy. The summit was of particular significance to India as it strives to achieve ambitious target ofgenerating 175 GW of renewable energy, including 100 GW of solar energy, by 2022.Key Takeaway from Summit

10-point action plan: It was presented by India. It includes making affordable solar technologyavailable to all nations, raising share of electricity generated from photovoltaic cells, framingregulations and standards, providing consultancy support for bankable solar projects and creatingnetwork of centres for excellence.Common risk mitigation mechanism: It was announced by France. It will be put in place before theend of 2018. The mechanism was developed by taskforce comprising Council on Energy,Environment and Water, Terrawatt Initiaitve and The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX).Delhi Solar Agenda: It was launched at founding summit, which states that countries will pursueincreased share of solar energy in final energy consumption in their respective national energy mixto tackle global challenges of climate change.Commitment to increase share of solar power: As many as 62 member-nations committed that theywill increase share of solar power in their energy mix to deal with climate change and provide energyto underprivileged in society.Financial Contribution: India will give $1.4 billion in aid to 15 other developing nations for 27 moresolar projects. It already has contributed $62 million to ISA corpus fund and for establishment of ISAsecretariat. Beside this, France will provide €700 million in loans and support by 2022 to emergingeconomies for solar energy projects.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

ISA is treaty-based inter-governmental organisation (first to be based in India) that was establishedfollowing as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar energy among its member countries. It isone of the key takeaways at the 2015 Paris Climate summit. ISA is aimed at tapping solar energy incountries that lie partially or fully between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It is headquartered inIndia.

March 13, 2018Death penalty should stay: 12 out of 14 states/UTs

March 13, 2018

The 12 out of 14 states/UTs have replied to Home Ministry that capital punishment or death penaltyshould stay, as it serves to act as deterrent in cases of heinous crimes such as murder and rape. TheHome Ministry had forwarded proposal to abolish death penalty to states/UTs based onrecommendation of Law Commission of India (LCI). The states/UTs that vetoed abolition of capitalpunishment were Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu






and Delhi. Only two states, Karnataka and Tripura, want practice to be done away with.Background

In 2013, the Supreme Court had asked Law Commission to examine whether death penalty isdeterrent punishment or is retributive justice or serves an incapacitative goal. In its report in 2015,Law Commission, ten headed by Justice A P Shah, had proposed abolition of capital punishment fornon-terrorism cases (i.e. it should be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism related offencesand waging war). According to Law Commission’s Report, India is among handful of countries suchas China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq that still carry out executions. At end of 2014, 98 countries hadabolished death penalty, 7 had abolished it for ordinary crimes, and 35 were abolitionists in practice,making 140 countries abolitionists in law or practice.

India attracts $209 billion FDI in 2014-2017: GovernmentMarch 13, 2018

India has attracted reaching US $208.99 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) during April 2014 toDecember 2017 period. The main sectors that received maximum FDI include services, computersoftware and hardware, telecommunications, construction, trading and automobile.Key Facts

Foreign investments are considered crucial for India as it needs around 1 trillion dollars foroverhauling its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth. Stronginflow of foreign investments mainly helps to improve the country’s balance of payments (BoP)situation and also strengthen the rupee value against other global currencies, especially dominantUS dollar. To attract inflow of foreign investments, the central government has announced severalmeasures including liberalisation of FDI policy and improvement in business climate.

National Conference on Counterfeiting & Role of Enforcement Agencies held in New DelhiMarch 13, 2018

The National Conference on Counterfeiting and Role of Enforcement Agencies was held in NewDelhi. It was organised by Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) in collaboration withEuropean Union (EU). It was inaugurated by Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu.Key Facts

The conference aimed to provide common platform to national and international experts to havedialogue and exchange best practices for benefit of enforcement agencies, and industryrepresentatives and provide fresh ideas for further strengthening IPR protection ecosystem.It provided platform to officials to share their experiences and better inter-agency coordination withrespect to tackling menace of counterfeiting. It was attended by officials of various enforcementagencies, many IP professionals, lawyers, e-commerce stakeholders and people from industryassociations.Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM)

CIPAM is a professional body under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion(DIPP) Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Its mandate is to effectively implement NationalIntellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted in May 2016 with slogan – “Creative India;Innovative India”. It has undertaken several measures to strengthen IP ecosystem in the country.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India inks MoU with RBIMarch 13, 2018

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for increased cooperation in effective implementation of insolvencylaw. The MoU was singed at time when authorities are working on ways to address huge amount ofnon-performing assets (NPAs) in banking sector.Key Facts

The MoU provides for sharing of information, subject to limitations imposed by applicable laws andsharing of resources available with each other to extent feasible and legally permissible. It calls forperiodic meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest, including regulatory requirements thatimpact IBBI and RBI’s responsibilities, enforcement cases, research and data analysis, informationtechnology and data sharing.It also provides for cross-training of staff in order to enhance each party’s understanding of other’smission for effective utilisation of collective resources. It will help in capacity building of insolvency






professionals and financial creditors. It calls for joint efforts between IBBI and RBI for enhancinglevel of awareness among financial creditors about importance and necessity of swift insolvencyresolution process of various types of borrowers in distress under provisions of Insolvency Code, etc.Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code)

The Code provides for reorganisation and time -bound and market-determine insolvency resolutionof corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals for maximization of value of assets. The IBBIexercises regulatory oversight over Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies andInformation Utilities. It frames and enforces rules for processes such as corporate insolvencyresolution, individual insolvency resolution, corporate liquidation and individual bankruptcy underCode.Background

Both RBI and IBBI are interested in effective implementation of Code and its allied rules andregulations, through quick and efficient resolution process. Therefore, they agreed to sign MoU toassist and co-operate with each other for effective implementation of Code.

Government institutes Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police InvestigationMarch 13, 2018

The Union Government has approved proposal to institute Union Home Minister’s Medal forExcellence in Police Investigation. The award aims to promote high professional standards ofInvestigation of Crime in State/UT Police and Central Investigating Agencies (CIAs) in the country.Key Facts

Officers from rank of Sub-Inspector to Superintendent of Police will be eligible for this honour. Thenames of awardees will be declared every year on 15th August. The awardees will get certificatesigned by Union Home Minister along with medal and their names will be published in Gazette ofIndia.Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) will invite nominations from States/UTs/CIAsbased on recommendations from State-level Committee headed by ADG rank officer. Thesenominations will be processed by screening committee in BPR&D and approved by sanctioningcommittee in Home Ministry.Based on the average crime data for last three years, total 162 medals will be awarded every year, ofthese, 137 will be for States/UTs and 25 for CIAs viz. National Investigation Agency (NIA), CentralBureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB). There will be quota of medals forwomen investigators also.Distribution of medals among States/UTs will be on basis of average of IPC crimes registered bythem and crime data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for years 2013, 2014 &2015. The distribution of medals will be reviewed after every 3 years based on average crime data.

Government forms Tribunal to solve Mahanadi Water dispute between Odisha & ChhattisgarhMarch 13, 2018

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has constitutedMahanadi Water Dispute Tribunal for adjudication of longstanding disputes between Odisha andChhattisgarh over sharing of Mahanadi river water. The tribunal was formed under Section 4 ofInter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 following directives of Supreme Court on January 2018.Key Facts

Composition: The tribunal will have three members. Chief Justice of India (CJI) has nominatedSupreme Court Judge A M Khanwilkar as chairman of Tribunal. The two other members are JusticeRavi Ranjan of Patna High Court and Jusitce Indwermeet Kaur Kochar of Delhi High Court. It will beprovided with services of two assessors who are water resources experts having experience inhandling sensitive water-related issues.Mandate: The tribunal will determine water sharing among basin States on basis of overallavailability of water in complete Mahanadi basin, contribution and present utilisation of waterresources in each state and potential for future development.Term: The tribunal will be headquartered in New Delhi. It is required to submit its report anddecision within three years which can be extended to maximum two years due to unavoidablereasons.






Background

Since mid-80s, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are locked in dispute over sharing of water of MahanadiRiver. Odisha has claimed that Chhattisgarh government has been constructing dams in upperreaches of Mahanadi, depriving its farmers who are heavily dependent on river water. OdishaGovernment had moved to Supreme Court in 2016 seeking direction to Chhattisgarh Government tostop all construction of barrages and dams on upper stream of river. Following the apex court order,Union Cabinet in February 2018 had approved proposal to constitute tribunal.

IIP expands at 7.5% in January 2018March 13, 2018

According to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), India’s factory output, measured byIndex of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded overall 7.5% growth in January 2018, indicating earlysigns of industrial revival.Factory output grew at 7.1% in December 2017, before hitting 25-month high of 8.4% in November2017. The cumulative IIP growth for period of April-January over corresponding period of previousyear was 4.1%.Key Facts

Manufacturing sector: It increased to 8.7% in January 2018 as compared to 8.5% in December 2017. Itwas led by improved production of consumer durables and continued double-digit growth ofconsumer non-durables as well as capital goods.Mining output: It recorded growth of 0.1% in January 2018 compared to 1.2% in December 2017.Electricity generation: It recorded 7.6% growth in January 2018, as compared 4.4% growth inDecember 2017.Capital goods output: It is a barometer of investment and considered as proxy to measure privatesector investment activity. It was 14.6% in January 2018 compared to 16.4% in December 2017.Consumer durables output: It was 8% in January 2018 as compared meagre 0.9% rise in December2017.Consumer non-durables production: It recorded 10.5% growth in January 2018 from 16.5% inDecember 2017.Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

The IIP is composite indicator that measures short-term changes in volume of production of basketof industrial products during given period with respect to chosen base period. It is compiled andpublished monthly by Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and ProgrammeImplementation.Base year: The CSO had revised the base year of the IIP from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in May 2017 tocapture structural changes in the economy and improves the quality and representativeness of theindices. The revised IIP (2011-12) reflects the changes in the industrial sector and also aligns it withbase year of other macroeconomic indicators like the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and GrossDomestic Product (GDP).Sector wise items and weightages: It covers 407 item groups. Sector wise, the items included falls into3 categories viz. Manufacturing (405 items), Mining (1 items) & Electricity (1 item). The weights of thethree sectors are 77.63%, 14.37%, 7.9% respectively. The revised 8 core Industries have combinedweightage of 40.27% in IIP.

Government forms committee to probe illegal cultivation of HT CottonMarch 13, 2018

The Department of Biotechnology in Ministry of Science and Technology has constituted FieldInspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) to investigate matter of illegal cultivation ofHerbicide Tolerant (HT) or BG-III cotton in four states.Background

The committee was constituted after there were several media reports and complaints regardingillegal or unauthorised cultivation of HT cotton in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat andMaharashtra. The cultivation of HT cotton (BG-III) is not approved by country’s biotech regulator,Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of Ministry of Environment.The unofficial estimates put the extent of unauthorised cotton to be about 20% in the country. The






commercial cultivation, sale, cultivation and seed production of unapproved HT cotton is punishableoffence under Seeds Act 1966, Seed Rule 1968, Seeds (Control) Order 1983 with regard toEnvironmental Protection Act, 1986 and Environmental Protection Rules, 1989.HT Cotton

Herbicide-Tolerant (HT) Cotton also known as BG-III cotton is innovation in Bt Cotton as it takescare of weeds problem at much lower cost as compared to physical labour required for weeding. Itcontains Round-up Ready and Round-up Flex (RRF) gene. The RRF herbicide-tolerant trait wasdeveloped and commercialised by US-based multinational seed giant Monsanto.Harmful effects

The herbicide-resistant gene in HT cotton can spread through pollen into biodiversity systemleading to transformation of weeds into super weeds on large-scale. It will threaten growth andyields of all crops in future and also increase cultivation costs and lead to health hazards.

March 14, 2018Bidya Devi Bhandari: Nepal’s 1st woman President re-elected for 2nd term

March 14, 2018

Nepal’s first woman President Bidya Devi Bhandari (56) was relected for second term in office. In thepresidential election, she defeated Nepali Congress (NC) leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with overwhelmingmajority. Ms. Bhandari was elected with more than a two-thirds majority after she secured 39,275votes while the Nepali Congress’s Ms. Rai garnered 11,730 votes.Background

President of Nepal is ceremonial head of state, under the new Republican Federal Constitution ofNepal. The electoral college for presidential election comprised of members of Parliament andProvincial Assemblies. Ms. Bhandari’s nomination for re-election was backed by ruling Left allianceof CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), Sanghiya Samajbai Forum-Nepal and other fringe parties. ith148 lawmakers in Federal Parliament and 243 in Provincial Assemblies, the CPN-UML commandedtotal vote of 23,356. Opposition NC having 76 seats in parliament and 113 in provincial assemblies,had total votes of 11,428.Bidya Devi Bhandari

She was born on June 1961 in Bhojpur, Nepal. She became Nepal’s first woman President in 2015.Prior to getting elected, she was deputy leader of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist)-CPN-UML party led by incumbent Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. She was elected twicein parliamentary elections in 1994 and 1999. Earlier she had served as Defence Minister of thecountry and has been an active campaigner for women’s rights.

Foreign law firms can’t practice in India, but their lawyers can advice: SCMarch 14, 2018

The Supreme Court held that foreign law firms cannot set up offices and their lawyers cannotpractise in India but they can give legal advice on foreign laws. The ruling was given by apex court onappeal by Bar Council of India (BCI), challenging judgements by Bombay and Madras High Courts.The ruling does not permit globalization of the legal sector as of now but it shifts the onus on CentralGovernment to do so.SC Ruling

It allowed casual visits by foreign lawyers on fly in and fly out (FIFO) basis for rendering legal adviceto clients in India. In this case, expression FIFO will only cover casual visit not amounting to‘practice’ or for purpose of giving legal advice to clients in India regarding foreign law or their ownsystem of law and on diverse international legal issues. BCI or Central Government can makeappropriate rules in this regard including extending the code of ethics being applicable to foreignlawyers and entities.It also modified provisions of Advocates Act, 1961 for debarring foreign lawyers completely fromconducting international commercial arbitration in country. Similarly, it held that BPO companiesproviding services like word processing, transcription services, secretarial support and proof-reading services do not come within purview of Advocates Act, so are allowed to function from India.Background

The Madras high court in 2012 had ordered to permit foreign lawyers and law firms to come to Indiaon FIFO basis for rendering legal services here on offshore laws and diverse international legal






issues. It had held that there is no bar on foreign lawyers, under Indian laws and regulations, visitingIndia for rendering legal advice to their clients in India. It was added that foreign lawyers could notbe barred from coming to India for conducting arbitration proceedings in disputes involvinginternational commercial arbitration. On similar lines, Bombay high court in 2009 had said thatforeign law firms/companies or foreign lawyers could not practise law in India either in the litigationor non-litigation side.

C-17 Globemaster: IAF for first time lands its largest transport aircraft at Arunachal Pradesh’sTuting airfield

March 14, 2018

The Indian Air Force (IAF) for first time flawlessly landed its largest transport US-manufacturedaircraft, C-17 Globemaster at strategic Tuting Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in ArunachalPradesh, which is close to Chinese border. After the trial landing, C17 carried out operations missionand airlifted 18 tons of load.Key Facts

The landing of this aircraft is seen as part of IAF’s move to strengthen its overall operations in strategically-keyborder state. It also demonstrated IAF’s capability in terms of operational performance and tactical air mobility inchallenging Tuting airfield which is surrounded high hills in narrow valley.Earlier, in November 2016 too, IAF had successfully carried out landing of C-17 Globemaster at its strategic ALGof Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh which was re-activated in May 2016 and is just 29kilometers from border with China.

C-17 Globemaster

The C-17 is US-manufactured transport aircraft commonly used to perform strategic airlift missions, transportingtroops and cargo throughout the world along with medical evacuation and airdrop duties.It is 174 feet long and has wingspan of about 170 feet (52 m). Its cargo compartment is 88 feet (27 m) long by 18feet (5.5 m) wide by 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) high.Its floor has rollers for palletized cargo but it can be flipped to provide flat floor suitable for vehicles and otherrolling stock. The cargoIt can be operated in diverse terrain from Himalayan air bases in North India at 13,000 ft to Indian Ocean bases inSouth India. It can carry payload of 77.50 tonnes and its maximum takeoff weight is 265 tonnes.Indian Air Force in June 2009 had planned induct C-17 for its very heavy lift transport aircraft requirement toreplace several types of transport aircraft. In 2011, IAF and Boeing had agreed with terms for order of 10 C-17swith an option for six more. In 2013, C-17 was officially put into service by IAF.

IATA partners with Civil Aviation Ministry and National Aviation UniversityMarch 14, 2018

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has signed Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and National Aviation University (NAU) to enhancehuman resource availability in India’s aviation industry.Key Facts

The three parties to the MoU formalised this partnership on sidelines of Wings India 2018 held inHyderabad, Telangana. Under the agreement, signatory institutions will leverage existinginfrastructure for training in India to expand reach of vocational training in aviation disciplines. Italso provides for developing closer academic cooperation between IATA and National AviationUniversity.India is expected to be third largest aviation market in the world behind China and US by 2024. It isforecasted to grow to a market size of 480 million passengers in 2036. This partnership will helpcontribute to human resource capacity building for India.Wings India 2018

It was international exhibition and conference on civil aviation sector hosted from March 8-10, 2018at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. It provided forum for rapidly changing dynamics of aviationsector. It was jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI). Its theme was ‘India – GlobalAviation Hub’. It hosted numerous conferences focusing on aviation policy issues and business






aspects with eminent speakers, policy makers and experts.International Air Transport Association (IATA)

IATA is trade association of the world’s airlines. It was established in April 1945 and is headquartered in Montreal,Quebec, Canada with Executive Offices in Geneva, Switzerland.It supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards. Its mission is to represent, lead andserve the airline industry.It comprises 278 airlines, primarily major carriers, representing 117 countries under its ambit. IATA’s memberairlines account for carrying approximately 83% of total aviation traffic across the world.

President inaugurates World Hindi Secretariat in Port Louis, MauritiusMarch 14, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated World Hindi Secretariat building in Port Louis, Mauritius.He also launched secretariat’s logo, an Early Digital Learning Programme as well unveiled foundationstones of social housing project and large ENT hospital being built with Indian assistance.President Kovind visited Mauritius as part of first leg to his two-nation state visit (Mauritius andMadagascar). Later he will visit Madagascar, making him first Indian President to visit largestAfrican island country.World Hindi Secretariat

The Secretariat is fully financed by Government of India and provided grant of Rs. 33 crore. Land for it was givenby Government of Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of this building duringhis visit in 2015.The aim of secretariat is to present Hindi as common man’s language, Janbhasha, in front of the world. Hindi aslanguage has played an important role in culture and society building in both India and Mauritius. Indian diasporain Mauritius has played a huge role in the spread of Hindi.

ICMR wins 2017 Kochon Prize for TB researchMarch 14, 2018

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was awarded 2017 Kochon Prize for building traditionof excellence in Tuberculosis (TB) research and development. It had emerged winner from among 18nominations.It was awarded for establishing India TB Research Consortium to accelerate R&D efforts in thecountry. The consortium is working with public and private institutes to guide country’s researchefforts towards development of point-of-care diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens and effectivevaccine for TB.Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

The ICMR is India’s apex scientific body for the formulation, coordination and promotion ofbiomedical research. It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) making itone of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. The ICMR functions under theDepartment of Health Research, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is headquartered inNew Delhi.ICMR’s Governing Body is presided over by Union Health Minister. It is assisted in scientific andtechnical matters by Scientific Advisory Board comprising eminent experts in different biomedicaldisciplines. Its research priorities coincide with National health priorities such as control andmanagement of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control ofnutritional disorders, research on major non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovasculardiseases, blindness, diabetes and mental health research and drug research (including traditionalremedies) and developing alternative strategies for health care delivery,Kochon Prize

The Kochon Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals and organizations thathave made significant contribution to combating the disease. The prize is endowed by KochonFoundation, a non-profit foundation registered in South Korea. It consists of prize of US $65,000award.The prize was established in 2006 in honour of late Chairman Chong-Kun Lee (left), founder of ChongKun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation and Kochon Foundation. He was committed throughout hiscareer to improve access to low-cost lifesaving antibiotics and anti-TB drugs.






India-UK Joint Team wins Newton-Bhabha Fund for Groundwater Arsenic Research projectMarch 14, 2018

India-United Kingdom (UK) Joint Team has won Newton-Bhabha Fund for project on GroundwaterArsenic Research in Ganga River Basin. The project was undertaken by Department of Science andTechnology (DST) in collaboration with Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK to findsolutions to water challenges faced in pervasively arsenic-affected Ganga River Basin.Key Facts

The Indian team comprised representatives of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, National Instituteof Hydrology, IIT Roorkee and Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre of Patna.The UK team consisted of representatives of University of Manchester, University of Salford, British GeologicalSurvey and University of Birmingham.The project is aimed to assess problem of arsenic poisoning and to understand aggravation such situation in next25 to 30 years and its influence on groundwater management practices and suggest water remedial technologiesaccordingly. It is conducted from three sites – Bijnor and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Nadia in West Bengal.

Newton Bhabha Fund,

It is provided by the British Council. It aims to bring together UK and Indian scientific research andinnovation sectors to find joint solutions to the challenges facing India in economic development andsocial welfare.Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic is natural component in the earth’s crust. It is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air,water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. Arsenic contaminated water used for drinking, irrigation offood crops and food preparation poses the greatest threat to public health from arsenic.Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking-water and food can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning. It can causecancer, skin lesions, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes.Arsenic Contamination is a high-profile problem in the Ganges Delta, due to the use of deep tubewells for watersupply. The groundwater in these tube wells have high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels.

Delhi End-TB Summit: PM launches campaign to eradicate TB from India by 2025March 14, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Tuberculosis (TB) Free India Campaign after heinaugurated Delhi End-TB Summit in New Delhi.The summit was co-hosted by Union Health Ministry, World Health Organisation (WHO) South EastAsia Regional Office and Stop TB Partnership. It set stage for September 2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB, where for first time, TB will be discussed in UN General Assembly (UNGA) atHeads of State level.TB Free India Campaign

The campaign aims to take activities of National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB elimination forward in Missionmode. It will have funding of over Rs. 12,000 crore over next three years.It sets deadline to eradicate TB from the country by 2025, five years ahead of global target of 2030 mentioned inthe Sustainable Development Goals.The motto of NSP under the campaign is to ensure every TB patient has access to quality diagnosis, treatment, andsupport.It adopts multi-pronged approach which aims to detect all TB patients with emphasis on reaching TB patientsseeking care from private providers and undiagnosed TB in high-risk populations.It will treat all patients irrespective of where they seek care by adopting patient-centric approach and preventemergence of TB in susceptible population groups and build empowered institutions and human resources tostreamline implementation.

March 15, 2018US challenges India’s export subsidy programmes at WTO

March 15, 2018

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has challenged Indian export subsidy schemes at World TradeOrganisation (WTO), saying these programmes harm its manufacturing sector and workers bycreating an uneven playing field.






Key Facts

According to USTR, at least half a dozen Indian programmes provide financial benefits to Indianexporters, which allow them to sell their goods more cheaply to detriment of US workers andmanufacturers. These programs are Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), ExportOriented Units Scheme and sector specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware TechnologyParks Scheme, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCGS) andDuty Free Imports for Exporters Programme.It has alleged that through these programmes, India has given exemption from certain duties, taxes,and fees which benefits numerous exporters, including producers of steel products,pharmaceuticals, chemicals, information technology products, textiles, and apparel.It also has alleged that earlier India was under limited exception rule under WTO specified fordeveloping countries. It allowed specified countries to continue to provide export subsidiestemporarily until they reach defined economic benchmark. But now it has surpassed benchmark in2015. India’s exemption has expired, but India has not withdrawn its export subsidies and in fact ithas increased size and scope of these programs.Background

The US administration under President Donald Trump has taken various protectionist measures inan attempt to bring down its trade deficit from around $800 billion annually. For this, it is holding itstrading partners accountable by vigorously enforcing US rights under various trade agreements andby promoting fair and reciprocal trade through all available tools, including the WTO. Earlier inMarch 2018, the Trump administration had announced tariffs of 25% and 10% on all steel andaluminum imports citing national security issue.

QOL-2C: AYUSH Drug developed by CCRAS for cancer patientsMarch 15, 2018

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken development ofcoded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for improving quality of life in cancer patients. It had conducted clinicalstudies of the drug in breast cancer patients at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru and AIIMS, NewDelhi and in lung cancer patients at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre,Jaipur.Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

CCRAS is autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH. It is apex body in India for formulation,coordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine. It undertakes scientific activities through its 30 Institutes/Centres/Unitslocated all over the country and also through collaborative studies with various Universities,Hospitals and Institutes. It is headquartered in New Delhi.

India-Sri Lanka: Cabinet approves MoU between for promoting cooperation in IT and ElectronicsMarch 15, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between India and SriLanka for promoting cooperation in field of Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E). TheMoU was signed in January 2018 during the visit of Minister of Electronics & InformationTechnology Ravi Shankar Prasad to Sri Lanka.Key Facts

The MoU intends to promote closer co-operation in areas of e-Governance, e-Public ServicesDelivery, m-Governance, cyber security, software technology parks, start-ups ecosystem etc. It willalso enhance bilateral cooperation in ICT domain both B2B and G2G. It will be implemented byestablishing Working Group on IT&E composed of representatives of two countries.Background

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been mandated to promoteinternational cooperation in emerging and frontier areas of ICT under bilateral and regionalframework of cooperation. Under this mandate, MeitY has entered into MoUs/Agreements withcounterpart organizations and agencies of various countries to promote close cooperation andexchange of information in field of ICT.






India-Iran: Cabinet approves Agreement for Avoidance of Double TaxationMarch 15, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention ofFiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income between India and Iran. The Agreement is on similarlines as entered into by India with other countries.Key Facts

The agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran & viceversa and prevent double taxation. It will provide for exchange of information between twocontracting parties as per latest international standards. It will improve transparency in tax mattersand will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance. It also meets treaty related minimum standardsunder G-20 OECD Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India participated on equalfooting.Background

The Central Government is authorized to enter into Agreement with other country or specifiedterritory for avoidance of double taxation of income for exchange of information for prevention ofevasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under Section 90 of Income Tax Act, 1961

CCEA approves continuation of Urea Subsidy SchemeMarch 15, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of Urea SubsidyScheme from 2017 upto 2020 and implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for disbursementof fertilizer subsidy. The proposal in these regards was forwarded by Department of Fertilizers,Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.Key Facts

The continuation of the urea subsidy scheme will ensure timely payment of subsidy to ureamanufacturers resulting in timely availability of urea to farmers at statutory controlled price.Implementation of DBT in Fertilizer Sector will reduce diversion of fertilizers to non-agricultural useand plug leakages.DBT in Fertilizer Sector

Department of Fertilizers is in process to roll out DBT in fertilizer sector nationwide. DBT will entail100% payment to fertilizer companies on sale of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates. The DBT infertilizer sector being implemented is slightly different from normal DBT implemented for otherschemes. Under it, the subsidy will be released to the fertilizer companies instead of the beneficiaries,after the sale is made by the retailers to the beneficiaries. The subsidy will be released on submissionof claims generated in the web-based online Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS) byfertilizer companies.Urea Subsidy Scheme

Urea Subsidy is part of Central Sector Scheme (CSS) of Department and is wholly financed by CentralGovernment of India through budgetary support. It also includes Imported Urea subsidy which isdirected towards import to bridge gap between assessed demand and indigenous production of ureain the country. It also includes freight subsidy for movement of urea across the country.Background

The use of chemical fertilizers have played pivotal role in making India self-reliant in food grainproduction and provide very vital input for growth of Indian agriculture. For sustained agriculturalgrowth and to promote balanced nutrient application, urea is made available to farmers at statutorilycontrolled price.The fertilizer subsidy mainly is difference between delivered cost of fertilizers at farm gate and MRPpayable by farmer. It is given to fertilizer manufacturer/importer by Central Government. At present,there are 31 urea manufacturing units, out of which 28 urea units use Natural Gas as feedstock/fueland remaining 3 urea units use Naphtha as feedstock.

WHO SEARO countries adopt Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action to eradicate TBMarch 15, 2018

The Member Countries of World Health Organization-Regional Office for South-East Asia (WHO-SEARO), participating in Delhi End Tuberculosis (TB) Summit have adopted ‘Delhi End TB SummitStatement of Action’.






The summit was co-hosted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, WHO-SEARO and Stop TBPartnership in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also launchedTB Free India Campaign.Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action

It identifies roles, responsibilities and directions of member countries of WHO SEARO region tomake their countries free from this disease. It commends increased attention, investments andefforts directed at tackling region’s major burden of tuberculosis (TB).It also expresses concern that most low-burden countries are yet to establish last mile programmesfor early ending of TB. It reiterates firm intent to implement response in each of our nations that isdemonstrably adequate for ending TB by 2030 and meeting milestones for 2020 by collectivelyreaching out to missing 2 million BT cases and 150000 multidrug-resistant cases.LEAD-INCREASE-ENABLE-SUPPLEMENT Priorities

LEAD implementation of national TB responses in countries by empowered national initiative that monitors

progress in reaching End TB targets to the highest levels of government in Member States.INCREASE budgetary and human resource allocations by governments as well as by their global, domestic and

other partners so as to ensure that national TB plans are fully funded.ENABLE best possible care to each and every person, including migrants, aged and other high-risk populations,

living with any form of TB including drug-resistant TB/ HIV co-infections.SUPPLEMENT medical care for TB with social and financial protection in holistic manner.

15th March: World Consumer Rights DayMarch 15, 2018

The World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is celebrated every year on March 15 to pay solidarity withthe international consumer movement and give more attention to promote basic rights ofconsumers. This year the theme promoted is “Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer”.Significance of Day

It provides opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumersDemand those rights that must be respected and protected for those protesting against the market abuses andsocial injustices.It gives chance to protest against the market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.

Background

The World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) commemorates the historic address given by the then USPresident John F Kennedy to the US congress on this day in 1962. In his historic address he hadoutlined the definition of consumer rights for the first time. He was the first world leader to formallydefine ‘consumer rights’. The first WCRD was observed on 15 March 1983 and has since become animportant occasion for mobilizing citizen action. In 2017, WCRD was observed with the theme“Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust”.Note: In India, 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day. On this day in 1986, ConsumerProtection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the President. Moreover, Government (Ministry ofConsumer Affairs) runs Jago Grahak Jago” one of the strongest campaigns for addressal andprotection of consumer rights in India. It literally translates into, “wake up consumers”!

World Happiness Index 2018: India ranks 133March 15, 2018

India was ranked 133rd among 156 countries inWorld Happiness Index 2018, recently released by theUN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.The index ranked 156 countries based on factors (parmaters) such as inequality, life expectancy, GDPper capita, social freedom, generosity, public trust (i.e. a lack of corruption in government andbusiness) and social support. Together these parameters are used to generate a happiness score ofcountry on a scale from 1 to 10. This year it is sixth such list released since it was first published in2012. The 2018 report, for the first time ranked happiness of foreign-born immigrants in 117countries.Key Facts

10 Happiest Countries: Finland (1st), Norway (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Iceland (4th), Switzerland (5th),Netherlands (6th), Canada (7th), New Zealand (8th), Sweden (9th) and Australia (10th). United States






was ranked 18th down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and United Arab Emirates at 20th.In 2018 rankings, top-10, as ever dominated by Nordic countries.The entire top ten were wealthier developed nations. But the report mentioned that money is not theonly ingredient in the recipe for happiness. The entire top ten were wealthier developed nations. Butthe report mentioned that money is not the only ingredient in the recipe for happiness.India’s ranking: The world’s largest democracy’s rank fell to 133rd position from 122nd last year.India was behind majority of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nationsapart from war-ravaged Afghanistan, which was ranked 145th. Pakistan (ranked 75th) and China(86th) were well ahead of India in happiness index despite being not the most democratic or freecountry.SAARC nations: Pakistan (75th), Nepal (101st), Bhutan (97th), Bangladesh (115th), Sri Lanka (116th).

Environment Ministry gives nod to Neutrino projectMarch 15, 2018

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF’s) has given environmental clearance to India-basedNeutrino Observatory (INO) project to be set up in Bodi West hills in Tamil Nadu. The approval wasgiven by MoEF’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) after taking up INO project issue as special case.Key Facts

The project proponents during meeting with EAC have clarified that studies showed there will be noimpact of blasting on any habitation in the vicinity due to INO project. It was informed also thatthere was no scope for radioactivity and leaching of water and these have been explained to courts.EAC also stipulated specific conditions after granting clearance of which two are key for project totake off. One is consent to establish and operate to be obtained from Tamil Nadu Pollution ControlBoard (TNPCB).India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) Project

The project aims at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover ofapproximately 1200 meter. Its mandate is to conduct basic research on elementary particle calledneutrino. It is jointly supported by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science &Technology (DST), with DAE acting as the nodal agency.The observatory will be located underground in order to provide adequate shielding to the neutrinodetector from cosmic background radiation. It will comprise complex of caverns which will housedetector which is 130 metres long, 26 metres wide and 30 metre high.Along with main cavern, there will be two smaller caverns that will be used for setting upexperiments for neutrino double detector and dark matters. The non-accelerator based high energyand nuclear physics underground research complex will be approached by a 2-kms long tunnel.The project also envisages construction of 50,000 tonne magnetised iron calorimeter detector(ICAL). It will study the properties of the neutrino, in particular the mass hierarchy among differenttypes of neutrino.






India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition IndexMarch 15, 2018

India was ranked at 78th among 114 countries on World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy TransitionIndex (ETI) released as part of report titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition. The index rankscountries on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmentalsustainability and affordability.Key Facts

Top 10 countries in 2018 ETI: Sweden (1st), Norway (2nd), Switzerland (3rd), Finland (4th), Denmark(5th), Netherlands (6th), the UK (7th), Austria (8th), France (9th) and Iceland (10th).BRICS Countries in ETI: Brazil (38th), Russia (70th) and China (76th).India related factsAccording to report, India has taken bold measures to improve energy access, energy efficiency andto improve deployment of renewable sources of energy. However, energy transition in India willrequire large investments and enabling environment along with robust regulatory frameworks tosupport transition.India is at crossroads in its energy transition journey. Its energy needs are primarily met by fossilfuels with implications for environmental sustainability and increasing energy import costs.Furthermore, considerable share of India’s population still lacks access to electricity and cleancooking fuel.In 2018 ETI, India ranks in third performance quartile and third readiness quartile, making itemerging country that is approaching the leapfrog category. Interestingly, India has improved itsperformance score by 5.6 percentage points between 2013 and 2018 period, mainly with improvedenergy access, reduced subsidies and reduced import costs. India has largest government-mandatedrenewable energy programme, with target of 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022, and itannounced plans to shift completely to electric vehicles by 2030.






March 16, 2018Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passes bill to have two-tier Panchayati Raj

March 16, 2018

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passed Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill 2018 to do away with theAnchal Samiti, the intermediate level of the three-tier panchayati raj system and set up a two-tiersystem in the state.This is being done as per 73rd Amendment of Constitution that enables state having less than 20lakh population not to have intermediate level and Arunachal has population of 13.84 lakh. Three-tierpanchayati raj institutions were set up in state in 2003, 2008 and 2013, and elections for next five-year term were due in April-May 2018.Key Facts

The purpose of setting up two-tier panchayati raj system in state is to standardis use of financialresources due to poor resource base. Moreover, it also seeks to avoid delay in passing plans andpolicies as they delayed at Anchal Samiti level (intermediate level).In two-tier panchayati raj system, planning and execution of schemes will be faster as there will bedirect connection between Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads, the village and district levels ofpanchayati raj system.In two-tier system, even strength of elected members will be reduced, thus helping to save money forconducting polls and functional costs on Anchal Samities. The revenue saved can be utilised fordevelopmental activities and strengthening panchayats.

China develops artificial heart with rocket technologyMarch 16, 2018

Chinese scientists have developed artificial heart using rocket technology and it is currentlyundergoing thorough testing experiments on animals. The heart was developed jointly by ChinaAcademy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and Teda International Cardiovascular Hospital inNorth China’s Tianjin.






Key Facts

The artificial heart uses magnetic and fluid levitation from rocket system. This technology canreduce friction in device to increase working efficiency and extend life span of power generator. Thistechnology used can reduce damage to the blood and enable blood pump to work longer.Earlier Experiments

Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital in China also developed artificial heart using magnetic levitation andlater planted them in three patients from June to October 2017. These artificial hearts were typicallyused on patients while they were waiting for heart transplant or to permanently replace heart in caseheart transplants are not possible. In 2013, scientists planted man-made heart in sheep, whichsurvived for 120 days in good health. Then hearts were then placed in six other sheep and all survived100 days or longer, which proved that heart is qualified for batch production

Haryana passes bill for death penalty for child rapistsMarch 16, 2018

The Haryana Assembly unanimously passed Criminal Law (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018providing for death penalty for convicts found guilty of raping girls aged 12 years or less. With this,Haryana became third state, after Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to have provision of capitalpunishment for such sexual offenders.Key Features of Bill

The Bill amends Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1973 andProtection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.It inserts section 376-AA in IPC. It provides punishment of death or rigorous imprisonment of notless than 14 years in case of rape of girl up to 12 years of age. This punishment may extend toimprisonment for life that is for remainder period of person’s natural life.It also inserts section 376-D in IPC. Under it, if girl upto 12 years of age is raped by one or morepersons constituting group, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed offence of rapeand will be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for term which will not be less than 20years, but which may extend to life along with fine.It also makes existing criminal laws related to other sexual offences more stringent. The punishmentunder Section 354 of IPC (Assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage hermodesty) will not be less than 2 years (earlier not less than 1 year) but may extend up to 7 years(earlier up to 5 years).

Sach-Gaurav: India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo bornMarch 16, 2018

The Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) has claimed that India’s first cloned Assamesebuffalo male calf named Sach-Gaurav was born in Hisar, Haryana. It was born to Murrah buffalo, atHi Tech Sach Dairy Farm, 100 kms from cloning laboratory, making it first buffalo calf to be born infield.Key Facts

Animal cloning is an excellent reproductive tool for conservation and multiplication of selectedsuperior animals of buffalo breeds. This is second cloned male buffalo produced by ICAR-CIRB afterHisar-Gaurav, born in December 2015.The Sach-Gaurav calf was produced unique methods and was delivered through normal delivery. Thebirth weight of calf was 54.2 kgs and it was in good health. It had normal physiological parametersand blood profile. The genotype of calf was confirmed by microsatellite analysis (parentageverification) and chromosome analysis.The small tissue of Assamese buffalo was airlifted from Veterinary College, Khannapara, Guwhati,2000 km away from cloning laboratory in Hisar to culture establish donor cells. Its embryos weretransported for about two hours before being transferred into recipient mothers. The ovaries ofMurrah buffaloes were used as source of recipient oocytes.

Lok Sabha passes Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017March 16, 2018

The Lok Sabha has passed Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to further ease procedures for doingbusiness in the country. The Bill seeks to amend the Specific Relief Act, 1963.






Features of Bill

Specific performance: The Bill seeks to remove conditions of specific performance is limited right,which may be given by court at its discretion and permit specific performance by courts as generalrule. It adds limited liability partnership (LLP), a new entity formed from amalgamation of twoexisting LLPs, one of which may have entered into a contract before the amalgamation.Substituted performance: The Bill gives affected party (i.e. party whose contract has not beenperformed by other party) option to arrange for performance of contract by third party or by his ownagency (substituted performance).Injunctions: It prevent courts from granting injunctions in contracts related to infrastructureprojects, if such injunction hinder or delay completion of project in infrastructure sectors and theirsub-sectors like transport, energy, water and sanitation, communication and social and commercialinfrastructure. The central government may amend list of sectors through notification.Special Courts: It allows state government to designate certain civil courts as Special Courts inconsultation with Chief Justice of High Court. These courts will deal with cases related toinfrastructure projects. Such cases must be disposed off within 1 year from date of receipt ofsummons by defendant. This period can be extended by courts for another 6 months.Recovery of possession: It permits person through whom dispossessed got possession of immovableproperty, to file a suit for recovery.Experts: It inserts new provision for engaging technical experts in suits where expert opinion maybe needed. The court will determine terms of payment of such expert. The payment of experts willbe borne by both parties.Specific Relief Act, 1963

It is law sets out remedies available to parties whose contractual or civil rights have been violated. Italso provides a remedy that aims at the exact fulfilment of an obligation or specific performance ofthe contract rather than a general relief or compensation or damages.It sets out two main remedies to party whose contract has not been performed. First one, the partymay ask court to compel performance of contract (specific performance and second one, the partymay seek monetary compensation instead of performance.

Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017March 16, 2018

The Lok Sabha has passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to empower government tofix period of maternity leave and tax-free gratuity amount with an executive order. The Bill seeks toamend the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

It allows for payment of gratuity to employees in any establishment, factory, mine, oilfield,plantation, port, railways, company, or shop employing 10 or more workers. Under it, employees arepaid gratuity if they have provided at least 5 years of continuous service at time of termination.Key Features of Bill

The Bill empowers central government to notify period of maternity leave eligible for qualifying ascontinuous service and determine amount of gratuity available to employees.The maximum maternity leave, for the purpose of calculating continuous service under the Act, wasbased on the maternity leave provided under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The Bill removes thereference to 12 weeks in Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and empowers central government to notify themaximum maternity leave. Under the Act, maximum maternity leave was 12 weeks and was changedto 26 weeks by Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.The Bill removes the existing ceiling of Rs 10 lakh amount of gratuity payable to an employee andstates that the ceiling may be notified by the central government.

LaQshya program launched to improve quality of maternity careMarch 16, 2018

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched LaQshya program aimed at improving qualityof maternity care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT). It is being implemented to‘fast-track’ interventions for achieving tangible results.Key Facts

The program aims to improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity






Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs). Itis implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU) andCommunity Health Center (CHCs).Under it, multi-pronged strategy has been adopted such as improving infrastructure up-gradation,ensuring availability of essential equipment, providing adequate human resources, capacity buildingof health care workers and improving quality processes in labour room.Significance

It will benefit every pregnant woman and new-born delivering in public health institutions.It will reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.It will improve quality of care during delivery and immediate post-partum period and enhance satisfaction ofbeneficiaries.It will provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending public health facilities.

LaQshya certification

The NQAS (National Quality Assurance Standards) will monitor quality improvement in labour roomand maternity OT. Every facility achieving 70% score on NQAS will be certified as LaQshya certifiedfacility.Facilities scoring more than 90%, 80% and 70% will be given Platinum, Gold and Silver badgeaccordingly. Facilities achieving NQAS certification, defined quality indicators and 80% satisfiedbeneficiaries will be provided financial incentives.

Pune tops in urban governance: ASICS 2017 reportMarch 16, 2018

Pune was ranked first among 23 cities across India in terms of quality of urban governance in thefifth edition of Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2017 report released by Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, Janaagraha.ASICS 2017

The objective of survey was to measure preparedness of cities to deliver high quality infrastructureand services in long term by evaluating city systems. It spans 23 Indian cities and factors in answersto 89 questions. These questions are classified on four categories viz. urban planning & design, urbancapacities & resources, transparency, accountability & participation and empowered & legitimate politicalrepresentation. These cities were scored on a scale of 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest) based on quality oflaws, policies, institutions and institutional processes that together help govern them. The reportaddresses five major issues, and suggests solutions at local body, State and Central governmentlevels. It underlines need for sharp focus on City-Systems or institutional reforms to city governancein our cities.Key Highlights of ASICS 2017

In it, Pune topped the list by scoring 5.1 out of 10 for the first time. It was followed by Kolkata,Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar and Surat with scores in range of 4.6 to 4.5. Delhi moved 3 spotsup to 6th place against 9th in 2016 survey. Mumbai’s ranking fell from 6th in 2016 to 9th in 2017. Theworst performers in ASICS 2017 were Bengaluru (scoring the least at 3 out of 10), Chandigarh,Dehradun, Patna and Chennai. These constituted bottom five cities with scores ranging between 3and 3.3 out of 10.






March 17, 2018Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic

March 17, 2018

Maharashtra Government has banned use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing environmental andpublic health concerns. The decision was taken at cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis. The ban will include plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups and plates, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging.Key Facts

The ban exempts plastic used to cover medicines, forest and horticulture products, solid waste, treesaplings and use of plastic in special economic zones (SEZ) for export purposes. Similarly, plasticcovers and wrappers used for manufactured and processed products would also be exempted.The decision will be enforced across rural and urban Maharashtra. All municipal corporations,councils, district collectors and chief executive officers (CEOs) of zilla parishads have been sensitisedto ensure its implementation in their respective regions.All small and medium-scale industries (SMEs) and big industries involved in plastic businesses willbe provided adequate time frame to switch over to alternative modes of businesses. Government has






recommended various business models along with employment to people engaged in plasticindustries.Government will also provide some incentives to those who strictly adhere to ban decision. There isalso proposal to slap penalty such as non-renewing of licences for shops and industries which violatedecision.

Jaipur to witness 8th Theatre OlympicsMarch 17, 2018

Jaipur will co-host 8th Theatre Olympics, the largest international theatre festival being held for thefirst time in India. The Jaipur chapter of Theatre Olympics 2018 is organised by National School ofDrama (NSD) under the aegis of Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Ravindra Manch Societyand Art & Culture Department, Rajasthan Government.Key Facts

As a co-host, it will provide great opportunity to highlight the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. It willprovide platform to number of folk art forms and theatre performers from state have. Rajasthan hasnumber of indigenous folk and theatrical art forms, most of which are popular among people such aspuppet dance, Kalbelia, Ghoomar among others. Some of folk art forms like Swaang, Gawri amongothers will be showcased during the theatre festival.8th Theatre Olympics

The 8th edition of Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Vice president Venkaih Naidu in New Delhiin February 2018. The event was organised by National School of Drama (NSD). The theme of festivalis – “Flag of Friendship“The 51-day long nationwide theatre extravaganza will cover 17 cities in India with more than 25,000artists performing 450 shows, 600 ambience performances and 250 youth show. 30 countriesparticipated in the festival from across the globe.The Theatre Olympics

The Theatre Olympics is an international festival that brings together finest productions of well-known theatre practitioners from around the world. It was established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece as aninitiative of noted Greek theatre director Theodorus Terzopoulus.Greece was the first country to host the Theatre Olympics in 1995. Since then it was held in Japan(1999), Russia (2001), Turkey (2006), South Korea (2010) and China (2014). The 7th edition of megacarnival of theatre was held in Poland in 2016.

Prime Minister inaugurates 105th Indian Science CongressMarch 17, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 105th session of Indian Science Congress (ISC) atManipur Central University in Imphal. The focal theme of 5-day ISC is “Reaching the UnreachedThrough Science & Technology”.Key Facts

The ISC 2018 was organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), a premier scientificorganisation of India. This is 2nd time the Science Congress is being held in the north east. Earlier itwas held at Shillong (Meghalaya) in 2009. Approximately, 5,000 delegates from all over country and2,000 scientists along with four Nobel Laureates are participating in this year mega event. Under thementioned theme, scientists from across world will look at bridging social gaps through innovations.Its thrust will be on science disciplines which impact society and sustainable development.Background

ISCA was started in the year 1914 at its headquarters in Kolkata. It organises Indian Science Congressannually in the first week of January. The first meeting of the ISCC was held in January 1914 in theAsiatic Society, Kolkata. he 104th edition of ISC was held in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) with thetheme “Science and Technology for National Development”.

India inks $120 Million Loan agreement with to improve Rail InfrastructureMarch 17, 2018

Government has inked $120 million loan agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) forcompletion of projects to improve Rail Infrastructure along high-density corridors and operationalefficiency of Indian railways.The loan has 20-year term, including grace period of 5 years and have annual interest rate






determined according to ADB’s London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) based lending facility, andcommitment charge of 0.15% per year.Rail Infrastructure Improvement Project

The loan amount is 3 tranche of $500 million multi-tranche financing facility for Railway SectorInvestment Program approved by ADB Board in 2011. The loan amount will be used to complete theongoing works commenced under earlier tranches.The project is aimed at enhancing efficiency of rail infrastructure through electrification,introduction of modern signaling system and doubling rail tracks on key routes in country. It willhelp to develop energy-efficient, safe, and reliable railway system that will result in reduced traveltime along project rail routes and improved operational and financial efficiency.Funding will contribute towards achieving overall program outputs of double-tracking about 840kms of rail routes and electrification of 640 kms of tracks along high density corridors. It will alsohelp to implement new accounting systems and provide additional safety measures includingcollision avoidance equipment.The loan proceeds will be used for busy freight and passenger routes in Chhattisgarh, Odisha,Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, including “Golden Quadrilateral” corridor thatconnects Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.Asian Development Bank (ADB)

ADB is regional development bank which aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.It was established in 1966. It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. Now it has 67 members, ofwhich 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.The ADB has been modelled closely on World Bank. It has similar weighted voting system wherevotes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions. As of 2014, Japan waslargest shareholder (capital subscription) having 15.7% shares followed by US (15.6%), China (6.5%),India (6.4%), and Australia (5.8%).

Odisha Government to collaborate with RIMES for disaster managementMarch 17, 2018

The Odisha government will collaborate with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early WarningSystem (RIMES) for strengthening its early warning services and enhancing preparedness formanagement of hazards in state.The partnership will be forged between Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) andRIMES in field of drought monitoring and early warning for different natural disasters. RIMES isalready working with the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority.Key Facts

Both entities will ink Memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration and evolveinstitutional mechanism between them for better coordination. The partnership will help OSDMA tostrengthen its quality, prediction ability and response capacity.RIMES will provide technical support to OSDMA regarding analysis of data to be generated throughautomatic weather stations being installed in all gram panchayats, validation of forecast, earlywarning and preparedness for lightening, heat wave, flood, draught and Tsunami.Significance

It will help OSDMA to engage integrated multi-hazard early warning system to strengthen itsprediction and response capability. The collaboration will also strengthen OSDMA for more effectivemanagement of natural disasters.It will also help in transfer of best practices among different countries of world in handling naturaldisasters. It will also enhance warning response capacities of OSDMA by imparting specializedexpert training. It will also help to develop one-stop risk management system for all OSDMA needs-integration of multiple data database/servers.RIMES

The RIMES is an intergovernmental body registered under United Nations. It is owned and managedby 45 collaborating countries in Asia Pacific and Africa Region. India is chairman of the body. It wasestablished in 2009 and was registered with UN in July 2009.It operates from its regional early warning centre located at campus of Asian Institute of Technologyin Pathumthani, Thailand. It has evolved from efforts of countries in Africa and Asia in aftermath of






2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.Mandate: It seeks to establish regional early warning system within multi-hazard framework forgeneration and communication of early warning information and capacity building for preparednessand response to trans-boundary hazards. It provides information related to Tsunami and extremeweather conditions. It also acts as a test bed for emerging technologies and help to enhanceperformance.

Krishi Unnati Mela held in New DelhiMarch 17, 2018

The three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela was held in New Delhi with focus on doubling farmers’income. The objective of fair was to create awareness among farmers about latest agriculture-relatedtechnological developments. In it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for 25 KrishiVigyan Kendras and unveil a portal on organic farming. PM Modi also conferred Krishi KarmanAward and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Puruskar to progressive farmersand states on the occasion.Key Facts

The Krishi Mela this year will be significant owing to the interests of farmers and those involved inallied sectors. More than 900 stalls have been set up. The theme pavilions were on doubling offarmers income, organic farming, cooperatives, farm inputs to assist farmers with latestdevelopments in farming technique and popularize dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries andhorticulture.Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI),Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Textiles,North Eastern council also had set up their stalls at mela.

March 18-19, 2018Philippines withdraws from International Criminal Court

March 19, 2018

Philippines has announced to withdraw from International Criminal Court (ICC) citing reason ofinternational bias and held that ICC was being utilised as a political tool against it. It will makePhilippines only second country to withdraw from the Rome statute, following Burundi in 2017.South Africa attempted to leave in 2016, but its withdrawal was revoked by UN.Key Facts

Philippines had ratified Rome statute related to Hague-based ICC in 2011. Its ratification was seen as






big step forward for human rights in Asia. Now its withdrawal is seen as blow for internationalaccountability in the region.The ICC in February 2018 had announced that it was launching preliminary examination of PresidentRodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-drug crackdown that has drawn international concern. It is clamedthat nearly 4,000 drug suspects were killed as part of campaign, while human rights groups claimthe toll is around three times the numbers given by authorities.International Criminal Court (ICC)

ICC is the world’s first intergovernmental legal body with permanent international jurisdiction toprosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is based in The Hague,Netherlands. It began its functioning on 1 July 2002, the date that Rome Statute entered into force. Ithas 123 member states (India is not its member). The Rome Statute is multilateral treaty whichserves as ICC’s foundational and governing document. India has not signed Rome Statute. The ICChas jurisdiction to prosecute individuals and is independent of United Nations (UN). But it mayreceive case referrals from UN Security Council and can initiate prosecutions without UN action orreferral.Note: US signed the treaty (Rome Statute) in 2000 but never ratified it, citing concerns over sovereignty,similarly with Russia. Israel signed it for a short period but also never ratified it into law. China has notsigned it.

CISF launches mobile app for lost items at airportsMarch 19, 2018

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched its lost and found mobile applcation forpassengers at 59 airports across India. It can be downloaded from the website of Ministry ofInformation and Technology. The CISF guards 59 civil airports across the country.Key Facts

The app offers three facilities – lost and found items at airports, tracking complaints or requeststatus and technical consultancy in security, and fire services. Its main advantage is to helppassengers to directly register complaints and get status of their complaint immediately fromairports under its security cover. It can also be used to place a request for obtaining technicalconsultancy provided by force. The app will allow passengers to upload information on lost articlesalong with their travel details. It will provide passengers alert when the lost article is found.Background

The CISF had launched ‘Lost and Found’ scheme on its website in 2015 to trace and restore items andvaluables left behind by the commuters at airports. It was able to restore property worth Rs. 50.05crore (2017) and Rs. 5.49 crore (till March 2018) to passengers with the help of the website.Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

The CISF is a central armed police force under the aegis of Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It wasinitially established under the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 to protect majorPSUs.However, it was converted to an armed force with a larger ambit under an amendment to theAct in 1983.Now, CISF provides security to industrial ventures and establishments, VIPs and engages in disastermanagement amongst others. It also has a Fire Wing to response to fire emergencies/accidents. Withforce larger than 1,65,000 it is the largest security force in the world.

Government imposes anti-dumping duty on Ofloxacin import from ChinaMarch 19, 2018

The Revenue Department in the Finance Ministry has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of‘Ofloxacin’, a pharma product used in treatment of certain infections from China. It was imposed forthree years following recommendations of Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties(DGAD) to protect domestic producers from below-cost shipments. In its probe DGAD had found thatOfloxacin exported to India from China was below its normal value, resulting in dumping. It hadcaused material injury to the domestic industry.Ofloxacin

Ofloxacin is in class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It is used to treat certain infectionsincluding bronchitis, pneumonia and infections of skin, bladder, urinary tract, reproductive organs,and prostate (a male reproductive gland). It works by killing bacteria that cause infections.






Anti-dumping duty

It is an import duty imposed by government on imported products which have prices less than theirnormal values or domestic price. It act as a protectionist and counter import measure used by acountry under multilateral World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime to protect its domesticproducers and market from below-cost/cheap imports. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair tradingpractises and creating level-playing field for domestic producers with regard to foreign producersand exporters. It varies from product to product and from country to country. In India, anti-dumpingduty to be levied is recommended by Ministry of Commerce (i.e. by DGAD), while Finance Ministryimposes it.

NITI Aayog releases SATH-E RoadmapsMarch 19, 2018

NITI Aayog has released comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiativeSustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E) project to introducesystem-wide Governance Transformation in school education.SATH-E project

SATH-E project aims at promoting vocational education, skill development, teacher training andintroducing technology in classrooms. It will also promote data-driven analysis to strengthenacademic monitoring across schools in the country.It also aims to transform elementary and secondary school education across these three states. Itsroadmap refers to time-bound, goal-driven exercise that will reach its logical culmination by end ofacademic year 2020.It seeks to create role model states for education across country to facilitate qualitative andquantitative transformation of learning outcomes. It will use innovative, external third party fundingand Public- Private- Philanthropic Partnership (PPPP) experimentation.It will be facilitated by National Steering Group (NSG), chaired by CEO of NITI Aayog and includingChief Secretaries of 3 states, which will continuously monitor progress, introduce course-correctionsand offer a platform for addressing issues in implementation.Key Facts

The roadmaps will operate between 2018 to 2020. They lay out detailed interventions to be taken bythree participating states- Jharkand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha to become ‘Role Model States’ inschool education. These roadmaps will present first-of-its-kind, customized, action-orientedprogrammes, outlining interventions at individual, district and State level. They were jointlyprepared by NITI Aayog, three participating states and knowledge partners of SATH Initiatives,Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Piramal Foundation For Education Leadership (PFEL).NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Union Government, providing both directionaland policy inputs. It is essentially an advisory body that seeks to provide critical directional andstrategic inputs across spectrum of key elements of policy to the centre. Prime Minister is ex-officiochairman of NITI Aayog.

C-437: Indian Coast Guard commissions interceptor boatMarch 19, 2018

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned interceptor boat ICGS C-437 at Porbandar, Gujaratas part of its efforts to strengthen coastal security. ICGS C-437 shall be based at Jakhau underadministrative and operational control of commander Coast Guard Region (North West).ICGS C-437

The interceptor boat is 27.8m long, has displacement capacity of 106 tonnes and has maximum speedof 45 knots. It is capable of undertaking multifarious task such as surveillance, search and rescue,interdiction and rendering assistance to boats and craft in distress at sea.The boat has advanced navigational and communication equipment with capability to respond to anymaritime situation. Its induction will strengthen the security umbrella of the west coast and will helpaugment patrolling, to prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling and illegal fishing.

Ptilomera nagalanda: New species of water strider found in NagalandMarch 19, 2018

Scientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered new species of water strider named






Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra in Nagaland. It was found in river Intanki in Perendistrict of Nagaland.This newly discovered species belongs to Ptilomera agriodes genus. It measures about 11.79 mm andhas long slender legs. It has orange with black stripes on dorsal side and pale yellowish brown ventralpart of body. The presence of black stripes on dorsal side differentiates this species from otherknown species of subgenus Ptilomera. It is only found in rocky, fast flowing streams and rivers thatare not exposed to lot of sunlight. It has hair on middle legs that help insects resist strong current ofstreams.Water striders

Water striders aregroup of insects adapted to life on surface of water, using surface tension to theiradvantage. Their presence serves as indicator water of water quality and also play important role infood chain in river ecosystem as they feed on mosquito larvae.Water striders have three pairs of legs. The front legs are relatively shorter than mid and hind legsand used to catch and hold prey. They possess needle-like mouth parts that are used for sucking thejuice of prey. There are nearly 100 species of water striders found in India across different waterbodies such as open ocean, ponds, pools, lakes, rivers, streams etc.With discovery of Ptilomera nagalanda, the number of species of water striders belonging tosubgenus Ptilomera has increased to six in India. These includes Ptilomera agriodes found inpeninsular India, Ptilomera laticaudata, northern and northeastern India, Ptilomera assamensisfound in northeastern India, Pltilomera occidentalis from Uttarakhand and Ptilomera tigrina foundin the Andaman islands.

President releases commemorative coins on Nabakalebar festivalMarch 19, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has released Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 10 commemorative coins on the occasionof Nabakalebar festival at a function held in Puri, Odisha. These coins were release to mark thefestival which is a symbolic recreation of sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and DeviSubhadra.Nabakalebara Festival

Nabakalebara festival is an ancient ritual that is observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri,Odisha at predefined time according to Hindu Calender. Naba means new and Kalebara is body. Inthis festival, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced bynew idols as it is believed that Lord Shree Jagannath adornes new body during Nabakalebara. It isusually comes in every twelve to nineteen years based on the auspicious two months of Ashadha in ayear called as Purusottam month as per the Hindu calendar.

March 20, 2018March 20: World Sparrow Day

March 20, 2018

The world sparrow day (WSD) is observed every year on March 20 to raise awareness of the housesparrow and other common birds in urban environments and threats to their populations. Therationale for celebrating the Day is to use it as a platform to underscore the need to conservesparrows as well as the urban biodiversity.Declining Population

The sparrow, especially the common house sparrow is one of the oldest companions of humanbeings. But its population is declining for various reasons such as destruction of its habitat, lack ofinsect food for the young and the increasing microwave pollution from mobile phone towers.Background

WSD is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India (NFSI) in collaboration withthe Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and also numerous other national and internationalorganisations across the world. The first WSD was organised in different parts of the world in 2010.In 2012, then Delhi Government had launched campaign called “Rise of Sparrows” aimed atconservation of House Sparrow among other birds. It was also declared as the ‘state bird’ by thenDelhi for its conservation.






Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik given additional charge as Governor of OdishaMarch 20, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind has given Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik (72) additional charge ofOdisha until regular arrangements are made. He was given additional charge after incumbentgovernor S C Jamir completed his five-year tenure. The five-time Chief Minister of Nagaland S CJamir had taken over as Odisha governor in March 2013 after serving as governor of Goa andMaharashtra. He had also been given additional charge of Gujarat in 2009.Satya Pal Malik

He hails from Baghpat district in western Uttar Pradesh. He had begun his political career in 1970s asmember of UP Legislative Assembly between 1974 and 1977. He was elected from Aligarh Lok Sabhaconstituency on Janata Dal ticket in 1989-90. He also served as a member of Rajya Sabha for twoterms of 1980-86 and 1986-1992. He has also served as MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism.He has also served in several Parliamentary Committees. He was also member of Uttar PradeshAssembly from 1974 to 1977.Constitutional provisions of Governor

Article 153: It says that there shall be Governor for each state. But 7th Constitutional AmendmentAct, 1956 facilitated appointment of same person as a governor for two or more states.Article 156: Governor is appointed by President for term of 5 years but usually holds office duringpleasure of President. There is no provision of impeachment, as it happens for the president.

President of India inaugurates Festival of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipMarch 20, 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) in NewDelhi. He also presented Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards.Key Facts

FINE is an initiative to recognise, respect, showcase, reward innovations and foster supportiveecosystem for innovators. The 5-day festival was organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan in associationwith Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Innovation Foundation-India (NIFI).It was aimed to provide platform for innovators for building linkages with potential stakeholderswhose support can improve their prospects in coming years to develop their ideas intoimplementable projects for the larger social good.

Gulf Shield 1 military exercise of 23 countries held in Saudi ArabiaMarch 20, 2018

The Gulf Shield – 1 military exercise of 23 countries including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)member states was held in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. It was organised by Ministry of Defenceof Saudi Arabia. The one month exercise was largest military drill in region as it saw participation ofparticipation of ground, naval and air forces of participating countries.Gulf Shield 1 military exercise

The multilateral exercise was aimed to raise military readiness of participating countries, modernisejoint mechanisms and enhance coordination and cooperation. It also aimed to exchange expertise infields of planning, organizing, and implementing different training activities.It also enhanced skills of participating elements and developed their abilities to carry out symmetricand asymmetric tasks in different fields of operations in order to secure vital goals and protectmaritime borders and corridors.The exercise comes within armed forces joint-training plan with brotherly and friendly countries, toexchange experiences and enhance military cooperation in order to reach the highest levels ofefficiency and combat readiness.

Airbnb inks four MoUs for promotion of tourism in North-EastMarch 20, 2018

Online marketplace and hospitality service provider Airbnb has signed four MoUs to boost tourismNorth East India. The MoUs were singed under aegis of Ministry of Development of North EastRegion (DoNER). They were signed on behalf of North Eastern Council (NEC), North East TourismDevelopment Council (NETDC), North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) and North EasternRegion Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).






Key Facts

The MoUs aim at creating hospitality micro-entrepreneurs across key destinations in North EastIndia. They seek to leverage community resources and appropriate local resources based technologyfor development. Under MoUs, NEC, NETDC and Airbnb had agreed to expand tourism in north eastIndia through Airbnb’s global platform.They will also improve quality of homestay facilities and unique properties in NER and provide andpromote outstanding tourism resources. They will also cooperate to improve regulatoryenvironment for home sharing in North East.They will also aim to generate technology-enabled livelihood opportunities in tourism and hospitalityfor micro-entrepreneurs in North East India and to help low-income families monetize their existingassets through home sharing.Under these agreements, Airbnb will provide training to core teams of NERLP and NERCORMP,which will further train existing and potential hosts on home sharing, responsible hosting,hospitality standards, hygiene and basic amenities.

Varuna 2018: Indian Navy hosts bilateral naval exercise with French NavyMarch 20, 2018

The Indo-French joint naval exercise Varuna-18 was held in Arabian Sea off Goa coast. It was aimedto explore measures to facilitate operational-level interactions between their armed forces andincrease mutual cooperation, considering the common global threats.Key Facts

Varuna-18 was conducted in three sea areas, including the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and SouthWestern Indian Ocean. The exercise was conducted in three phases and included anti-submarine, airdefence and asymmetric engagement exercises.The first phase of the exercise was held in Arabian Sea. The second phase was held off the Chennaicoast in Bay of Bengal in April 2017 and third near France’s La Reunion Island in South WesternIndian Ocean in May 2018.This edition of exercise saw participation of French submarine and frigate Jean de Vienne fromFrench side. The Indian Naval was represented by destroyer INS Mumbai, frigate Trikand with theirintegral helicopters, INS submarine Kalvari, P8-I and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as theMig 29K fighter aircraft.Background

India is major partner of France in Indian Ocean region. Maritime security is priority in India-France’s defence and security policy, along with the fight against terrorism. Indian Navy and theFrench Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983. These exercises were christened asVaruna in 2001.The last edition of this annual bilateral exercise was conducted off French coast in April 2017. TheVaruna series of exercises now has grown in scope and complexity and provides opportunity to navalforces of both countries to increase interoperability and learn from each other’s best practices.

Indian hands over 18 locomotives to MyanmarMarch 20, 2018

Indian Railways has formally handed over eighteen 1350 HP AC/DC diesel electric locomotives toMyanma Railways. It was the first project completed in current Indian Line of Credit (LoC).Key Facts

India and Myanmar have been long enjoying cooperation in Railway sector over the last two decades.Moreover, Indian Railways is playing a pivotal role in developing cordial relations with theneighboring countries.The 18 locomotives were supplied by RITES, a PSU of Ministry of Railways and manufactured byDiesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. They are fitted with micro-processor controlbased system. They are extremely fuel efficient are equipped with latest features. They maximumspeed of 100 kmph and have been customised for Myanma Railways.Most of these supplies were carried out under Indian LoC. As per agreement singed between bothcountries, all locomotives were to be delivered by September 2018. They have been delivered sixmonths ahead of the schedule.






RITES

RITES is PSE under Ministry of Railways. It is export arm of railways undertaking various projectsworldwide. It is engaged in supply of Railway rolling stock vz. locomotives, wagons, coaches,permanent way maintenance vehicles, maintenance of railway infrastructure, technical studies,training of railway officials of other countries.

India, EU ink cooperation agreement to share earth observation data from each other’s satelliteMarch 20, 2018

India’s Department of Space (DoS) and European Union (EU) have signed cooperation agreementrelated to sharing of earth observation satellite data. The agreement aims to strengthen andstimulate cooperation on earth observation and mutual access to data from EU’s Sentinel series ofsatellites and from Indian earth observation satellites. The data sharing will provide mutual benefits,in particular in pursuit of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.Key Facts

Under this arrangement, EU will provide India with free, full and open access to data from CopernicusSentinel family of satellites using high bandwidth connections from data hub to data hub. Reciprocally,India will provide Copernicus programme and its participating states with free, full and open accessto data from ISRO’s earth observation satellites including historical data sets. This comprises datafrom land, ocean and atmospheric series of ISRO’s civilian satellites (Oceansat-2, Scatsat-1, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL, INSAT-3D, INSAT-3DR) with exception of commercial high-resolution satellitesdata. The agreement also envisages technical assistance for establishment of high bandwidthconnections with ISRO sites, in particular through setting up of mirror servers, data storage andarchival facilities.Copernicus programme

It is the world’s largest single earth observation programme directed by European Commission inpartnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). It aims at achieving global, continuous,autonomous, high quality, wide range Earth observation capacity.It provides wide range of applications like climate change, ocean, land and atmosphere monitoring aswell as support in forecasting, management and mitigation of natural disasters. Its full, free and opendata policy has proven its merits and allowed development of thriving user base in Europe andbeyond.

India, Hong Kong sign double tax agreementMarch 20, 2018

India and Hong Kong have signed agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the preventionof fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.Hong Kong is former British colony and is special administrative region of China which enjoys a highdegree of autonomy under which it has an independent taxation system. It is an important financialand trading partner of India and the absence of a treaty was seen hindrance in many ways.Key Facts

This agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to HongKong and vice versa, prevent double taxation and provide for exchange of information between twocontracting parties. It will also improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasionand tax avoidance.It will provide investors advantage of lower withholding tax of 10% on interest or royalties providedthey fulfil main purpose test which broadly checks that transaction is not entered specifically toavoid taxes. It will also provide for capital gains taxation of indirect transfers. It provides that gainsfrom sale of shares of company deriving more than 50% of its value from property situated incountry will be taxed in that country.This agreement will give protection against double taxation to over 1,500 Indian companies andbusinesses that have presence in Hong Kong as well as to Hong Kong-based companies providingservices in India.

March 21, 2018ICFRE and TIFAC ink MoU for supporting Forest Based Communities

March 21, 2018

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and Technology Information,






Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) have signed MoU to provide livelihood opportunities andaugment income of forest based communities. The MoU will be valid for period of 10 years.Features of MoU

Prioritization of technologies developed by ICFRE in consultation with stakeholders.Patent searching and filing in field of forestry and allied subjects.Identify technology gaps and commercialization of technologies.Forest based technologies extension and transfer through stakeholder consultations.Create IPR awareness in field of forestry and environment including wood science and allied subjects for ICFREand its institutes.

Significance

The MoU will help to open up gate of synergy and collaboration between two organisations in areasof forest technology, extension and commercialization to various stakeholder including farmers,industries and others. It will assist industries to optimize utilization of forest based resources withaccess of technology to different users. Through this collaboration, TIFAC will help ICFRE to refineand up-scale the technologies developed, take technologies to end users including farmers, stateforest departments, forest based industries and forest dependent communities in more effectivemanner.TIFAC

It is autonomous council under Department of Science and Technology. It was established as aregistered Society in February 1988. It is mandated to assess state-of-art of technology and setdirections for future technological development in India in important socio-economic sectors. It isheadquartered in New Delhi.ICFRE

ICFRE is autonomous organisation under Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC). It is headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Its mandate is to conduct forestryresearch, transfer technologies developed to states and other user agencies and to impart forestryeducation.

Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Skill Development ink MoU on skill development at KVKsMarch 21, 2018

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Skill Development andEntrepreneurship have signed MoU to conduct skill development training programmes foragriculture and allied sector. These skill development training programmes will be conducted atKrishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs).Key Facts

The MoU will help to increase cooperation between both ministries and help in fulfillingGovernment’s dream of “Kaushal Bharat-Kushal Bharat”. It will help to increase agriculturalproductivity, post-harvest management and fair-prices to the farmers for their produce, lower risk inagriculture and strengthen and develop other aspects of farmers’ income such as horticulture,animal husbandry, beekeeping, dairying, fisheries etc.Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

KVK is a project of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) for testing and transfer ofAgricultural technologies at grassroot level. These centres are located in every state. The first KVK,on a pilot basis was established in 1974 at Puducherry under the administrative control of TamilNadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.At present there are 668 KVKs, out of which 458 are under Central Agricultural University (CAU) andState Agricultural Universities (SAU), 55 under ICAR Institutes, 35 under State Governments, 100under NGOs, and remaining 17 under other educational institutions.Mandate of KVK

Its mandate is of technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacitydevelopment. Each KVK is envisaged with following activities

On-farm testing to assess location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems.Capacity development of farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills on modernagricultural technologies






Frontline demonstrations of technologies to establish production potential on fields.Work as knowledge and resource centre of agricultural technologies to support initiatives of public, private andvoluntary sectors to improve agricultural economy of district.Provide farm advisories using ICT and other media means on varied subjects of interest to farmers.Increase self-employment opportunities among farming communities.

Government to set up Plastic Park in Jharkhand‘s Deoghar DistrictMarch 21, 2018

The Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has approved proposal of setting up of Plastic Park inDeoghar District, Jharkhand. The project will be set up at cost of Rs.120 crores in an area of 150 acres.Moreover, it will also set up Central Institute for Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) andPlastic Recycling unit at Deoghar.Key Facts

The plastic park will manufacture range of polymer products including woven sacks, mouldedfurniture, water tanks, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc. It will have great potential for attractinginvestment for setting up ecosystem for plastic industry and generate employment opportunities forthe local populace.The project is likely to provide direct employment generation to about 6000 people and indirectemployment to over 30000 people. Jharkhand Government will facilitate land and buildinginfrastructure for this project and also to set up Central Institute for Plastic Engineering &Technology (CIPET) alongside the park.Significance

The plastic industry is growing at rapid pace and polymer consumption in India will double fromcurrent 10 million metric tonnes to 20 million metric tonnes by 2022. The Plastic Park, CIPET andPlastic Recycling unit at Deoghar will build an ecosystem that will encourage setting up of PlasticIndustry, thereby making it ‘Plastic Hub’ in the future.

National Cultural Audiovisual Archives becomes world’s first Trusted Digital RepositoryMarch 21, 2018

The National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA) project of Ministry of Culture was certified asworld’s first Trusted Digital Repository as per ISO 16363:2012 standard. The certification wasgranted by Primary Trustworthy Digital Repository Authorisation Body Ltd. (PTAB), UnitedKingdom.National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA)

NCAA is implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Its primary objective isto identify and preserve cultural heritage of India available in audiovisual form through process ofdigitization and make it accessible to the people.The digitization and metadata standards followed for NCAA are in parity with internationalstandards within overall framework of OAIS (Open Archival Information System) model. Theydigitization standards are as per prescribed by International Association of Sound & AudiovisualArchives (IASA) and metadata schema is extended Dublin Core, followed by galleries, archives,libraries, and museums worldwide.At present, NCAA has total of 21 Partnering Institutions from across the country, covering 11governmental and 10 non-governmental cultural organisations It has digitized over 23,000 hours ofunpublished audiovisual recordings.NCAA pilot digital repository was developed in collaboration with Centre of Excellence for DigitalPreservation by C-DAC, Pune. It was established with and powered by DIGITĀLAYA (डिजिटालय),developed by C-DAC Pune in compliance with OAIS Reference Model ISO 14721:2012.Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)

IGNCA has been set up by Government as premier research institute dedicated to holisticunderstanding and expression of Indian arts in their inter and multi-disciplinary nature. Its principalaim is to serve as major national resource centre for the arts.It is nodal agency for data bank on art, humanities and cultural heritage. It also has been identified byUNESCO as nodal agency for development of regional databases for South and South East Asiancountries on art, cultural heritage and life-styles using state-of-the-art technologies for






standardization, dissemination and exchange of data.

NITI Aayog, Piramal Foundation ink agreement to improve health, education in Aspirational DistrictsMarch 21, 2018

NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation have inked Statement of Intent (SoI) to work closely withDistrict Collectors and key officers of ‘Aspirational Districts’ to support their transformation interms of healthcare, education and nutrition. The collaboration is for four years with the option tocontinue, based on mutual agreement.Key Facts

Under the SoI with NITI Aayog, Piramal Foundation will work in close conjunction with districtadministration, Central Prabhari Officers, State Prabhari Officers, state government and concernedCentral ministries to improve identified indicators by strengthening existing public systemsspecifically in health and nutrition and education sectors. Piramal Foundation will also providesupport by focusing on leadership development, change management, technology integration andimplementing various innovative practices.Background

The Union Government had selected 115 backward (aspirational) districts for rapid transformation by2022 in line with Government’s vision to create ‘New India’. NITI Aayog had ranked these districts onsix socio-economic parameters, pertaining to health and nutrition, education, financial inclusion andskill development, agriculture and water resources and basic infrastructure. These 115 backwarddistricts include 35 districts affected by Left Wing Extremists (LWE) violence, 55 districts justaffected by LWE and another 15 including districts in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast affected byterrorism. Government has embarked upon major policy initiative for rapid transformation of these115 districts that are lagging on specific development parameters. For this government will leveragePublic-Private Partnerships (PPPs), aided by technology to bring radical transformation of theseaspirational districts.

BIRAC celebrates its 6th Foundation DayMarch 21, 2018

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) celebrated its sixth FoundationDay. The observance of the day was themed around ‘Sustaining Innovation – A Market Driven Pathway’. The event was attended by large number of dignitaries from scientific and industry sectors bothfrom within country and overseas.Key Facts

Since its inception, BIRAC has supported over 650 projects, more than 500 start-ups andentrepreneurs and 30 incubators across the country. It has resulted in development of over 100products and technologies and 150 Intellectual property (IP) rights being generated.It has launched over 10 flagship schemes that are supported by funding from Department ofBiotechnology (DBT), and manages 7 collaboratively funded programs with international partners. Ittries to galvanize social impact by piloting research and extension services within series of thematiccalls and other global definite initiatives to improve public health and beyond.Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

BIRAC is not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) set up by DBT, Ministry of Science andTechnology to empower emerging biotech industry to undertake strategic research and innovation.It is basically industry academia interface.It implements its mandate through wide range of impact initiatives like providing access to riskcapital through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP management and handholding schemesthat help bring innovation excellence to Indian biotech firms and make them globally competitive.BIRAC has initiated several schemes, networks and platforms to bridge existing gap betweenindustry-academia research and facilitate novel, high quality and cost-effective affordabletechnologies. It has initiated partnerships with several national and global partners to collaborateand deliver its mandate.Mandate

Foster innovation and entrepreneurship.Enable commercialization of discovery.






Promote affordable innovation in key social sectors.Ensure global competitiveness of Indian enterprises.Empowerment of start-ups & small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Contribute through partners for capability enhancement and diffusion of innovation.

Government scraps export duty on sugarMarch 21, 2018

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) under Ministry of Finance has scrapped exportduty of 20% on raw and refined sugar to boost shipments. The removal of export duty will help toexport excess sugar output in India for sugar season 2017-18. This will also prevent further priceerosion of the domestic sugar prices.Background

Sugar output is estimated to rise sharply to 29.5 million tonnes (MT) in 2017-18 marketing year(October-September) from 20.3 MT in the previous year. The domestic demand is 24-25 milliontonnes annually. With domestic prices falling below cost of production, there was demand scrappingof export duty to liquidate surplus domestic stock. In February 2018, Government had doubledimport duty on sugar to 100% and restricted sale by mills to keep a checking on falling prices.

UGC grants full autonomy to 62 higher educational institutesMarch 21, 2018

The University Grants Commission (UGC) approved proposal to grant full autonomy to 62 highereducational institutions which have maintained high standards of excellence under AutonomousColleges Regulation. These 62 higher educational institutions include 5 central universities, 21 stateuniversities, 26 private universities and 10 other colleges.Key Facts

The complete autonomy will allow these higher educational institutions to start new courses, newdepartments, new programmes, skill courses, off campuses, research parks, appoint foreign faculty,take foreign students, offer variable incentive packages and introduce online distance learning.They can also get into academic collaboration with top five hundred universities of the world. Theycan also decide their admission procedure, fee structure and curriculum, among others. They will nothave to come to UGC again and again for seeking permission as they maintained quality andachieved a benchmark of 3.26 and above NAAC (National Accreditation and Assessment Council)ranking.The 10 colleges which have been granted autonomy will have full freedom but not degree awardingpowers. These colleges will be free to conduct admissions, decide curriculum, conduct exams on theirown and evaluate them and declare results. However, degrees awarded will have university namealong with theirs.University Grants Commission (UGC)

The UGC is statutory body set up by Union government in accordance to the UGC Act 1956. Itfunctions under Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is mandated to initiate importantdecisions and dialogues which have important bearing on the entire student population of thecountry.The three primary functions of UGC include overseeing distribution of grants to universities andcolleges in India, providing scholarships and fellowships to beneficiaries and monitoring conformityto its regulations by universities and colleges.

Government launches Sand Mining Framework to check illegal extractionMarch 21, 2018

The Union Ministry of Mines has launched Sand Mining Framework to help states deal with the sandmining issues, including demand supply deficit and illegal extraction. It was launched at the thirdNational Conclave on Mines & Minerals held in New Delhi.Key Facts

The main objective of framework is to assist states in arriving at best possible options before them. Italso seeks to addresses issues of state objectives, demand-supply assessment and measures to sandavailability, allocation model, transportation and monitoring mechanism. Besides, it also includessuggestions for faster clearances and approvals and using its interventions in complete processchain of sand mining. It also lays emphasis on alternatives of sand i.e. manufactured sand, import of






sand etc.Need for framework

Sand is an important component for housing, infrastructure projects and construction activities.There have been various issues across the country in mining activities related to sand like nonavailability of sand, environmental degradation, high sand prices, illegalities in sand mining etc. Thenatural endowment of sand across many states is unable to meet the demand and is coupled withunease of extraction issues, pricing and illegalities in mining. So there was need of uniformframework to help states to frame their policies, taking into consideration their objectives,endowments and state deployment of resources.

March 22, 2018Cabinet approves closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians

March 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for closure of India Development Foundation of OverseasIndians (IDF-OI).The purpose of closure is to enhance synergies in channelizing contributions ofIndian diaspora to Government’s flagship programmes such as National Mission for clean Ganga andSwachh Bharat Mission. It also seeks to enhance synergies, improve efficiencies and avoidduplication of work.Background

IDF-OI was set up by Central Government in 2008 as an autonomous not-for-profit Trust. Itsmandate was to facilitate Overseas Indian philanthropy into social and development projects inIndia. The trust was chaired by External Affairs Minister. Government had added flagshipprogrammes such as National Mission for Clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission and other socialand development projects identified by state governments to the mandate of IDF-OI. The IDF-OI hadreceived only Rs. 36.80 lakhs between December 2008 and March 2015 as donation from overseasIndian community. Later in between April 2015 and March 2018, it had received Rs.10.16 crore, mostof contribution received were for projects related to National Mission for Clean Ganga and SwachhBharat Mission.

Cabinet approves revision of DTAA between India and QatarMarch 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for revision existing Double Taxation AvoidanceAgreement (DTAA) between India and Qatar. The purpose of revision is for avoidance of doubletaxation and for prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. The existing DTAAbetween India and Qatar was signed in April 1999 and came into force in January, 2000. TheFeatures of Revised DTAA

It updates provisions for exchange of information to latest standard. It includes Limitation of Benefits (LOB)

provision to prevent treaty shopping and aligns other provisions with India’s recent treaties.

It meets minimum standards on treaty abuse under Action 6 and Mutual Agreement Procedure under Action 14 ofG-20 OECD Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project to which India is participating.

Treaty Shopping

Under it, a resident of third country invests by taking advantage of fiscal treaty between India andanother contracting state. This has greatly contributed in encouraging FDI in country but has beenmedium of tax evasion. The roots of Treaty shopping are in inconsistencies among international taxregimes. If there is dissimilarity of tax systems, it can lead to distortion of investment flows. It can becontrolled by introduction of limitation of benefit clause (LOB) and other clauses which limit benefitsto residents of two countries only.

Parivara and Talawara: Cabinet approves inclusion of communities ST list in KarnatakaMarch 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has given its in principle approval for inclusion of communities, namely ‘Parivaraand Talawara’ as synonym of Nayaka at in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Karnataka. Thisapproval fulfils long term demand of these communities for granting ST status in Karnataka. Withthis inclusion, persons belonging to these communities will be eligible to get ST certificate fromKarnataka. They will also be eligible for all benefits meant for ST in state.Background






Scheduled Tribes are notified under Article 342 of Constitution. Karnataka Government hadrecommended for inclusion of Parivara and Talawara communities as synonyms of ‘Nayaka’ in listSTs of state. The first specification of STs in relation to particular State/Union territory is by notifiedOrder of President, after consultation with concerned state government/UT. Any subsequentinclusion in or exclusion from and other modifications in list of STs can be made only throughamending Act of Parliament.

Cabinet approves opening of 18 new missions in Africa by 2021March 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa over four year periodfrom 2018-2021. Decision in this regard was taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by thePrime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.Key Facts

The 18 new Indian Missions in Africa will be opened in Cape Verde, Chad, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania,Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Togo. It will increase number ofResident Indian Missions in Africa from 29 to 47.Significance

The decision will enhance India’s diplomatic outreach and increase its footprints in resource-richAfrican continent. It will allow India to engage with Indian diaspora in African countries. It is alsoconsidered as step towards implementing vision of enhanced co-operation and engagement withAfrica. It will further enhance cooperation to implement commitments of India-Africa ForumSummit (IAFS-III).

Cabinet approves amendments in Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016March 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved proposal for moving official amendments in Surrogacy (Regulation)Bill, 2016. Once the Bill is enacted by Parliament, National Surrogacy Board (NSB) will be constitutedat central level. The States/UTs will constitute State Surrogacy Boards (SSBs) and State AppropriateAuthorities within 3 months of notification by Central Government.Background

India has emerged as surrogacy hub for couples from different countries and there have beenreported incidents concerning unethical practices, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy,exploitation of surrogate mothers and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos andgametes. The 228th report of Law Commission of India has recommended for prohibitingcommercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy by enacting suitable legislation.Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016

The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in November 2016 which was referred to the ParliamentaryStanding Committee on Health and Family Welfare in January 2017. The committee had held variousmeetings with various stakeholders for holding discussions and to receive their suggestions.The proposed legislation proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing NSB at central leveland, SSBs and Appropriate Authorities in States/UTs. It also seeks to ensure effective regulation ofsurrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow altruistic surrogacy to needy Indian infertilecouples. The Bill will apply to whole of India, except Jammu and Kashmir.Significane of Bill

The proposed law will regulate surrogacy services in country and rein unethical practices insurrogacy. It will prevent commercialization of surrogacy and prohibit potential exploitation ofsurrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy. It will prohibit commercial surrogacyincluding sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes. It will allow ethical surrogacy to needyinfertile couples on fulfillment of certain conditions and for specific purposes. It will protect rights ofsurrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected.

Cabinet approves North-East Industrial Development Scheme 2017March 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017 topromote employment in North Eastern Region states including Sikkim.NEIDS is combination of theincentives covered under the earlier two government schemes with a much larger outlay. It will have






financial outlay of Rs. 3000 crores upto March, 2020.Purpose of NEIDS 2017

Promote industrialization: It will promote industrialization in North Eastern Region (NER) statesincluding Sikkim and will boost income generation and employment.Promote employment: For this, government is incentivizing primarily MSME Sector through thisscheme. It is also providing specific incentive through scheme to generate employment.Benefits to industrial units: It will provide various incentives and benefits to all eligible industrialunits. The overall cap for benefits under all components of incentives will be of Rs. 200 crores perunit.Incentives to be provided to new industrial units in NER

Central Capital Investment Incentive for Access to Credit (CCIIAC): Under it, 30% of investment inPlant and Machinery with upper limit of Rs.5 Crore will be provided per unit.Central Interest Incentive (Cll): It will be 3% on working capital credit advanced by eligible Banksand Financial institutions for first 5 years from date of commencement of commercial production byunit.Central Comprehensive Insurance Incentive (CCII): It will provide reimbursement of 100%insurance premium on insurance of building and Plant & Machinery for 5 years from date ofcommencement of commercial production by unit.Goods and Service Tax (GST) Reimbursement: It will be up to extent of Central Government share ofCGST and IGST for 5 years from date of commencement of commercial production by unit.Income-Tax (IT) Reimbursement: It will be of Centre’s share of income tax for first 5 years includingyear of commencement of commercial production by unit.Employment Incentive (EI): Government will pay 3.67% of employer’s contribution to EmployeesProvident Fund (EPF) in addition to its bearing 8.33% Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) contributionof employer in Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY).Transport Incentive (TI): Indian Railways will provide 20% of cost of transportation includingsubsidy currently provided for movement of finished goods by rail. Inland Waterways Authority ofIndia (IWAI) will provide 20% of cost of transportation for finished goods for movement throughinland waterways. Airport nearest to place of production will provide 33% of cost of transportation ofair freight on perishable goods (defined by IATA) to any airport within country.

22 March: World Water Day (WWD)March 22, 2018

The World Water Day (WWD) is observed every year on 22 March to spread message of preservationand rationaal consumption of water. The day puts emphasis on the importance of freshwater and toadvocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. It focuses attention onimportance of universal access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in developingcountries. The theme this year is ‘Nature for Water’. It explores how nature can be used to overcomethe water challenges of the 21st century.Background

The WWD was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of United Nations Conference on Environmentand Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Later, UN General Assembly(UNGA) accepted recommendation of UNCED and instituted this day by adopting a resolutionA/RES/47/193 in December 1992. The first World Water Day was celebrated on 22 March 1993. Sincethen, it is observed annually to draw attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating forthe sustainable management of fresh water resources.

Cabinet extends term of commission on sub-categorisation of OBCsMarch 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved second and final extension of term of Commission constituted toexamine issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes in Central List for period of twelveweeks upto June, 2018. The Commission was constituted with approval of President under article340 of Constitution in October, 2017. It is headed by Justice (Retd.) G. Rohini.Key Facts

The commission was tasked to examine extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation






among castes included in broad category of OBCs, especially with reference to OBCs included in theCentral list. It was also tasked to take up exercise of identifying respective castes/sub-castes/communities synonyms in Central List of OBCs and classify them into their respective sub-categories. It mandate was to work out mechanism, norms, criteria and parameters, in scientificapproach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs.Since its inception, the commission has interacted with all States/UTs which have subcategorizedOBCs and State Backward Classes Commissions. It also has requisitioned data from HigherEducation Institutions regarding admission of OBCs to higher education courses as well as dataregarding recruitment of OBC persons in Government jobs to assess magnitude of inequitabledistribution of benefits of reservation among castes and communities included in Centre List ofOBCs.

Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection MissionMarch 22, 2018

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved launch of AyushmanBharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). The scheme will integrate two on-goingcentrally sponsored schemes viz. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen HealthInsurance Scheme (SCHIS).Key Features of AB-NHPM

AB-NHPM aims to target over 10 crore families belonging to poor and vulnerable population basedon Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) database. It will cover of Rs 5 lakh per family peryear, taking care of almost all secondary care and tertiary care procedures. There will be no cap onfamily size and age in the scheme.Benefit cover: It includes pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. It will cover all pre-existingconditions from beginning of the policy. It will also pay defined transport allowance perhospitalization to the beneficiary.Cashless benefits: The scheme allows the beneficiary to take cashless benefits from any public orprivate empanelled hospitals across the country. The payment for treatment will be done on packagerate which will be defined by Government in advance basis. The package rates will include all thecosts associated with treatment.Role of state governments: They will be allowed to expand the scheme both horizontally andvertically. Thye will be free to choose modalities for implementation. They can implement throughinsurance company or directly through Trust/ Society or a mixed model.Implementation: States/UTs will have also flexibility to modify these rates within limited bandwidth.For beneficiaries, it will be cashless and paper less transaction. States will be required to form StateHealth Agency (SHA) to implement scheme and at district level also, a structure for implementationof the scheme will be set upEscrow account: To ensure that funds reach SHA on time, transfer of funds from CentralGovernment through AB-NHPMA to State Health Agencies may be done through an escrow accountdirectly.IT platform: The scheme will work in partnership with NITI Aayog to operationalise a robust,modular and interoperable IT platform which will involve a paperless and cashless transaction.Council: For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States,Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) will be set up at apexlevel. It will be chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.Entitlement: It is entitlement based scheme with entitlement decided on basis of deprivation criteriain SECC database. Different categories of families covered under scheme are Families having onlyone room with kucha walls and kucha roof, families having no adult member between age 16 to 59,female headed households with no adult male member between age 16 to 59, disabled member and noable bodied adult member in family, SC/ST households, landless households deriving major part oftheir income from manual casual labour. It will also automatically include families in rural areashaving any one of the following- households without shelter, destitute, living on alms, manualscavenger families, primitive tribal groups or legally released bonded labour. For urban areas, 11defined occupational categories will be entitled under scheme.






March 23, 2018Global carbon emissions hit record high in 2017: IAE

March 23, 2018

According to International Energy Agency (IEA), the global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions rose to historic high of 32.5 gigatonnes in 2017. It was due to higher energy demand andslowing of energy efficiency improvements. This large amount of global energy-related carbonemissions comes after it was flat for three years.Key Facts

The global energy demand rose by 2.1% in 2017 to 14,050 million tonnes of oil equivalent, more thantwice previous 2016 rate, boosted by strong economic growth. The demand raised by 0.9% in 2016and 0.9% on average over previous 5 years.Over 70% of global energy demands growth was met by oil, natural gas and coal, while renewablesaccounted for rest. Improvements in energy efficiency also slowed in 2017. As a result of these trends,global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 1.4% to 32.5 gigatonnes, a record high.This significant growth in global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2017 as it shows that currentefforts to combat climate change are far from sufficient. It is also in stark contrast to demands of2015 Paris climate agreement, which calls for drastic cuts in global emissions to meet its ambitioustarget to limit increase in global temperatures to no more than 2 degree Celcius above pre-industrialtimes.India and China accounted for 70% of global increase in energy demand, while several majoreconomies actually saw dips in their emissions levels – including US, UK, Mexico and Japan. Thebiggest drop in emissions came from US due to higher renewables deployment.The renewables-based electricity generation rose by 6.3% due to expansion of wind, solar andhydropower. Renewables had highest growth rate of any energy source, meeting a quarter of worldenergy demand growth.International Energy Agency (IEA)

IEA is an inter-governmental organization established in 1974 as per framework of the Organisationfor Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It was established in the wake of the 1973 oilcrisis after the OPEC cartel had shocked the world with a steep increase in oil prices. Presently it has30 member countries including India. It is headquartered in Paris, France.Its prime focus is on the “3Es” of effectual energy policy: energy security, economic development andenvironmental protection. It also seeks to promote alternate energy sources (including renewableenergy), rational energy policies and multinational energy technology co-operation. It acts as energypolicy advisor to 29 member countries and also non-member countries like China and Russia.

Fluorimeter: DAE develops device to measure uranium traces in waterMarch 23, 2018

The Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), an Indore-based unit of Department ofAtomic Energy (DAE) has developed an instrument called Fluorimeter, to measure traces of uraniumin water.The device is capable of examining traces of uranium in sample of water from 0.1 PPB (Parts-per-billion) unit to 100 PPB. It can be easily taken anywhere and water can be taken from any source fortesting to instantly reveal if uranium traces present in water.It costs around Rs 1 lakh. For mass production of this instrument, DAE has transferred its technologyto its other unit, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL). The device will be especially helpful inareas like Punjab where uranium traces in water sources have been found to be at dangerous levels.Uranium Pollution

Uranium is a radioactive element. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has fixedtpermissible radiological limit to 60 PPB of uranium concentration for drinking water. It is advisableto people to avoid using water from sources where uranium traces are more than fixed limit.Drinking water with high levels of uranium traces increases radiological and chemical risks tohuman health. It may cause thyroid cancer, blood cancer, depression and other serious ailments.

Parliament passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017March 23, 2018

The Parliament has passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to empower government to






fix period of maternity leave and tax-free gratuity amount with an executive order. The Bill seeks toamend Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 on two issues related to maternity leave and ceiling of gratuitypayable to an employee.Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

It allows for payment of gratuity to employees in any establishment, factory, mine, oilfield,plantation, port, railways, company, or shop employing 10 or more workers. Under it, employees arepaid gratuity if they have provided at least 5 years of continuous service at time of termination.Gratuity is calculated based on 15 days of wages for each year of continuous and complete service,subject to a ceiling.Key Features of Bill

The Bill empowers central government to notify period of maternity leave eligible for qualifying ascontinuous service and determine amount of gratuity available to employees. The maximummaternity leave, for the purpose of calculating continuous service under Act, was based on maternityleave provided under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The Bill removes the reference to 12 weeks inMaternity Benefit Act, 1961 and empowers central government to notify the maximum maternityleave. Under the Act, maximum maternity leave was 12 weeks and was changed to 26 weeks byMaternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.The Bill removes the existing ceiling of Rs 10 lakh amount of gratuity payable to an employee andstates that the ceiling may be notified by the central government. It will allow revision of the limitfrom time to time with the increase in wage and inflation and future pay commissions. Theimplementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, has increased ceiling gratuity for CentralGovernment employees from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

Raja Ravi Varma’s painting on Tilottama fetches over Rs.5 crore at New York auctionMarch 23, 2018

Renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma’s untitled painting of Tilottama was sold for $795,000(around Rs 5 crore) at Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary South Asian art auction in New York.The winning bid was made by anonymous private collector.Key Facts

The 20 x 13 and quarter inch oil on canvas masterpiece was created by Ravi Varma. Tilottama, asname suggests is painting of celestial nymph (apsara) from Indian mythology depicted partiallyundressed in red saree, flying to heavens. In the painting, her one hand is raised and other holdingtogether her floating saree.Varma’s painting portrays apsara’s descent from the skies to earth is said to be inspired from Venuswho was embodiment of female beauty. The artist strove to impart the extreme desirability that ledto demon brothers’ downfall.According to Hindu mythology, Tilottama was created at Brahma’s request to destroy two demonbrothers Sunda and Upasunda, who could not be killed by anyone except themselves. Legend has itthat two brothers were so captivated by beauty of apsara, that they fought over her and ended upkilling each other.Raja Ravi Varma (April 1848- October 1906)

Raja Ravi Varma is considered one of the greatest painter in history of Indian art of 20th century fornumber of aesthetic and broader social reasons. He hailed from princely state of Tranvancore andwas patronised by royal family for long time.His art works are held to be among best examples of fusion of European techniques with purelyIndian sensibility. His paintings employed latest European academic art techniques of day andcontinuing tradition and aesthetics of Indian art.He was well-known for using mythological characters and bringing them alive through his pairings.He painted beautiful scenes from Nala and Damayanti, Mahabharata, Ramayana etc. He was awardedKaiser i Hind Gold Medal by then British Government. His famous works include Shakuntala, Jatayustruck by Ravana.He and had made his paintings available to masses in form of lithographs. The dissemination of hisartworks helped the common man to appreciate art, a hobby generally reserved for upper classduring his period. His lithographs further helped to spread word about artist’s works, making him a






household name in the country.Despite fame and recognition, only 64 works of Raja Ravi Varma have been auctioned in over threedecades. In March 2017, Sotheby’s reportedly sold Ravi Varma’s (Untitled) Damayanti for $1.2 million.Further, auction house Pundole’s also had sold his masterpiece Radha in Moonlight for Rs. 23 crore.

44 African countries sign agreement to establish African Continental Free Trade AreaMarch 23, 2018

The 44 African countries from total 55 members of African Union (AU) have signed agreement tocreate African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the world’s largest free trade blocs. Theagreement was signed at a summit held in Kigali, Rwanda.The signed AfCFTA agreement contains legal framework for free trade area. It will come into forceafter it is ratified by individual countries through their respective domestic processes. 10 countriesincluding Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous country have refused to sign theagreement.African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

AfCFTA will bring together 1.2 billion people with combined gross domestic product (GDP) of morethan $2 trillion from entire continent of Africa comprising 55 countries. The continental trade blocaims to remove barriers to trade, like tariffs and import quotas, allowing the free flow of goods andservices between its members. It also seeks to liberalise services and aims to tackle so-called non-tariff barriers which hamper trade between African countries, such as long delays at borders. It willhelp in creating single continental market for goods and services and boost trade between Africancountries. It will boost commerce, growth and employment. The free trade area may also will freemovement of people and even have single currency in future. It will also make Africa morecompetitive outwardly. Once AfCFTA becomes reality, it will be largest free-trade area in terms ofparticipating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).Background

African heads of government agreed to establish a continental free trade area in 2012 and startednegotiations in 2015 to boost intra-Africa trade. Intra-African trade is relatively limited and it ismade up only 10.2% of continent’s total trade in 2010. Within Africa, 43% goods traded aremanufactured products. Between 2010 and 2015, fuels represented more than half of Africa’s exportsto non-African countries, while manufactured goods made up only 18% of exports to rest of theworld.

India’s first sign language dictionary of 3000 words launchedMarch 23, 2018

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first Sign Language Dictionaryof 3000. The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre(ISLR&TC) under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). Thisdictionary is available in both print and video formats. It will help to bring uniformity in signlanguages which are used by differently abled people especially people with hearing or speechimpairment.Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary

ISL dictionary consists of various categories of words for example legal terms, medical terms,academic terms, technical terms and daily use words. It also contains videos with subtitles andfocuses on providing more information in ISL. It has English and Hindi terms to help deaf children tolearn English. The ISL dictionary consists words of five categories:

Everyday Terms: It includes terms that are used in everyday communication. The videos contain the sign and

corresponding English term.Legal Terms: It includes videos for 237 legal terms help explain complicated legal terminologies that are used in

various legal situations.Academic Terms: It contains 229 videos for 212 terms to help deaf children understand complex academic

concepts. It has words from various subjects like Physics, Geography, Biology, Maths, etc.Medical Terms: It includes 200 sign videos for 200 medical terms will help deaf community to better understand

medical terminology used in hospitals and in medical situations.Technical Terms: It includes 206 videos of sign and explanations in Indian Sign Language (ISL) for 204 technical






terms that are used in vocational training or in computer courses.Significance

As per 2011 census, there are 50,71,007 deaf people and 19, 98,535 with speech disability in India. TheISL Dictionary aims to remove communications barriers between deaf and provide more informationin ISL. It also aims to give deaf people constitutional right to speech and opportunity of freedom ofexpression and also bringing them into the main stream of society. Soon many new words will beadded in it.

MCX launches world’s first brass futures contractsMarch 23, 2018

India’s largest commodities exchange platform, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX)launched world’s first brass futures contracts. It will facilitate brass stakeholders to hedge their pricerisk.MCX Brass futures will be the first non-ferrous contract with compulsory delivery option. Its pricewill be quoted as per rate at ex-warehouse Jamnagar (delivery centre) inclusive of taxes and duties.Significance of MCX Brass futures

It will provide its stakeholders with more organised and robust price discovery platform. It will alsohelp them to use national level benchmark price as ready reference. It will enable them to mitigatetheir price risk. It will lead to best price discovery for brass, which is of key relevance to itsstakeholders including importers, exporters, manufacturers, refiners, and processors among othersin country, who are looking to hedge their price exposure.Brass Industry

Brass is metallic alloy of copper (55-60%) and zinc (40-45%) with small amounts of lead and iron. It isused in industries like electrical appliance, pump parts, marine engines, switch gears, sanitary ware,automobiles and defence.The estimated annual production of brass in India is approximately between 100,000-150,000 tonne,which includes production through primary metal and recycled brass. India is largest exporter offinished brass products. India imports huge quantities of brass scrap from US, Middle East, Africaand Europe which is then separated and recycled to make brass.Out of the 5,000 small and medium units (SMEs) producing brass in the country, about 3,000 arelocated at Jamnagar, Gujarat which accounts for 80% of brass produced in India. The rest of thecompanies are spread across Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Jagadhari (Haryana).Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)

MCX is country’s first listed commodity futures exchange that facilitates online trading, and clearingand settlement of commodity futures transactions, thereby providing platform for risk management.It was launched in November 2003 and operates within regulatory framework of Forward ContractsRegulation Act, 1952 (FCRA, 1952) under SEBI.MCX offers futures trading in bullion, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, energy, and a number ofagricultural commodities (mentha oil, cardamom, potatoes, palm oil and others). Globally, MCX ranksno. 1 in silver, no. 2 in natural gas, no. 3 in crude oil and gold in futures trading.

BrahMos missile with indigenous seeker successfully test-fired for first timeMarch 23, 2018

Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for first time with indigenouslydeveloped seeker at Pokhran test range, Rajasthan. So far, seeker, a critical technology in missileswas imported from Russia. During the test missile with India-made seeker flew in its designatedtrajectory and target with pin-point accuracy.Seeker

The seeker technology determines the accuracy of missile and is closely guarded secret. Theindigenous seeker was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration withother DRDO labs. It is considered as significant milestone in indigenous missile technology andwould reduce import dependence.BrahMos Missile

It is supersonic cruise missile developed by joint-venture between Russia’s Mashinostroyenia andIndia’s DRDO. It has been named after two rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva (river in western Russia).It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant. It






operates on ‘fire and forget principal’. It is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and airagainst sea and land targets.It is capable of carrying warhead of 300 kilogram (both conventional as well as nuclear) and has topsupersonic speed of Mach 2.8 to 3 (roughly three times speed of sound). It is hailed as the world’sfastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation. Its range was initially capped at 290 km as perobligations of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Since India’s entry into the elite club, itsrange was extended to 450 km and plan is to increase it to 600km.It is self-propelled guided missile that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift. It is claimed that themissile has strike accuracy rate of 99.99% and it follows a variety of trajectories like high, high-low,low, surface-skim etc. It has been already inducted in Army and Navy. The air-launched version ofmissile was test-fired recently for the first time from modified Su-30MKI aircraft.

Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar: MEA launches engagement programme with Regional MediaMarch 23, 2018

The External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched‘Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar’, an engagement programme with regional media in Hyderabad,Telangana. The initiative aims enhance public diplomacy outreach of MEA and its commitment totake objectives of foreign policy to people at grassroot-level.Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar

The initiative involves MEA’s engagement with regional media based in different cities across thecountru to communicate foreign policy priorities in simple terms. It also seeks to highlight benefitsaccruing to common people through its diplomatic efforts and bring domain of foreign policy closerto people. It is also intends to create pool of media professionals interested in foreign policy andguide them on connecting with MEA.

March 24, 2018First National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement held in New Delhi

March 24, 2018

The first-ever National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement was held in New Delhi. It wasinaugurated by Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir. The 2-day conferencewas organized by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs.Key Facts

More than 50 State and Central law enforcement agencies involved in combating drug traffickinghad participated in this Conference. The working sessions of conference focused on various topicssuch as ‘Wider context of drug trafficking in India’, ‘Financial Investigations’ and ‘Foreign & CyberInvestigations’. During these sessions various agencies gave presentations. United Nations (UN) andother foreign law enforcement agencies also shared their experiences.Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

NCB is nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India. It is responsible for fightingdrug trafficking and the abuse of illegal substances. It functions under Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and is headquartered in New Delhi.It was established in March 1986 to enable full implementation of Narcotic Drugs and PsychotropicSubstances Act, 1985 and fight its violation through Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in NarcoticDrugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.Mandate

Fight drug trafficking on all-India level.Provide resources and training to personnel of India’s law enforcement agencies in fighting drug traffickingMonitor India’s frontiers to track down points where smuggling activities take place with foreign traffickers.Work in close cooperation with Customs and Central Excise, State Police Department, Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI), Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) and other Indian intelligence and lawenforcement agencies both at the national and states level.

Indian Navy’s warship INS Ganga decommissionedMarch 24, 2018

Indian Navy’s indigenously built warship INS Ganga (F22) was decommissioned in Mumbai,Maharashtra after over three decades of service. The warship was commissioned in December 1985






and had represented big step forward in India’s indigenous warship building capability. Thedecommissioning ceremony was attended by several officers and men, many now retired, who hadserved on board ship.INS Ganga

INS Ganga (F22) was a Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. It was built byMazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai and was commissioned into Indian Navy on 30 December 1985. TheGodavari class was first indigenous warship design and development initiative of Indian Navy.The warship along with Shakti and INS Godavari were deployed to Somalian capital Mogadishu inDecember 1994 to support withdrawal of Indian Army’s 66 Brigade, including the 2nd Battalion,Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (2 JAKLI).

Canadian mathematician Robert P. Langlands wins Abel Prize 2018March 24, 2018

Canadian mathematician Robert P. Langlands (81) has won prestigious Abel Prize 2018 for hisvisionary programme connecting representation theory to number theory. He will receive the awardfrom Norway’s King Harald V at an award ceremony in Oslo in May 2018.Robert Phelan Langlands

He was born on October 6, 1936 at New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He is best known asfounder of Langlands program, a vast web of conjectures and results connecting representationtheory and automorphic forms to study of Galois groups in number theory. He is emeritus professorand occupies Albert Einstein’s office at Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.Abel Prize

It is awarded annually by Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters to one or more outstandingmathematicians. The award was established by Government of Norway in 2001 and awardedannually since 2003. It is named after 19th century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. It isone of world’s top prizes in mathematics and is considered to be maths equivalent of Nobel Prize,which has no prize for mathematics.It carries monetary award of 6 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) (around 600,000 Euros). IndianAmerican mathematician R. Srinivasa Varadhan was bestowed with this award in 2007 for hisfundamental contributions to probability theory and for creating a unified theory of large deviation.

NAIPUNYA RATHAM: Andhra Pradesh Government launches World on WheelsMarch 24, 2018

Andhra Pradesh Government launched multi-utility vehicle NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World onWheels to bring technology to remote corners. It was launched at State Secretariat in capitalAmaravathi by Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu.Key Facts

The Naipunya Rathaams as part of Smart village Smart Ward Programme will facilitate and look toimprove digital literacy, digital skills and create awareness on various government schemes that areunderway in Andhra Pradesh. It is aimed at taking technology and innovation to the remote cornersof Andhra Pradesh.The first phase of Naipunya Ratham will cover 13 districts and 28 smart villages in collaboration withHewlett Packard (HP), Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) and Guide Foundationfor Development. State Government will soon roll out 12 more Naipunya Rathams by May 2018.As part of it, world on wheels Lab, a 20-seater bus enabled digital facilities and learning lab equippedwith smart technology gadgets as well as with e-learning tools like HP Classroom Manager, HP VideoBook and HP Life will travel across rural areas of the state.

March 24: World Tuberculosis DayMarch 24, 2018

The World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) is observed every year on March 24 to raise public awarenessabout the global epidemic of Tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. WTD is observedto commemorate discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, bacillus (bacteria) causing TB on 24thMarch, 1882 by German microbiologist Robert Koch. This discovery had opened the way towardsdiagnosing and curing TB.The theme of World TB Day 2018 is “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”. It focuses on buildingcommitment to end TB, not only at political level with Heads of State and Ministers of Health, but at






all levels from Governors, Mayors, parliamentarians and community leaders to people affected withTB, civil society advocates, health workers, doctors or nurses, NGOs and other partners.This is critical theme, given political importance of upcoming United Nations General Assemblyhigh-level meeting on TB this year, which will bring together Heads of State in New York. It followson from a very successful Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in Moscow on 16-17 November, 2017which resulted in high-level commitments from Ministers and other leaders from 120 countries toaccelerate progress to end TB.Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is disease caused by bacteria “Mycobacterium tuberculosis” that most often affect the lungs. Thedisease is spread from person to person through the air. It commonly affects the lungs but can alsoaffect other parts of the body. It is the second biggest killer disease worldwide next only to HIV/AIDS.World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) is one of eight official global public health campaigns observed by theWorld Health Organization (WHO). Observance of the day provides opportunity to shine thespotlight on disease and mobilize political and social commitment for accelerate progress to end TB.

GSL delivers second AOPV to Sri Lankan Navy Ahead of ScheduleMarch 24, 2018

The Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) has delivered second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) to SriLanka Navy. This was overall the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) delivered in the currentfinancial year.Key Facts

The vessel is the largest and most advanced ship in Sri Lankan Navy fleet. This is the fourth OffshorePatrol Vessel (OPV) delivered by GSL in current financial year.The keel of the vessel was laid in May 2015 and was launched in May 2017. It was completed anddelivered vessel 25 Days ahead of contractual schedule. With this, GSL has succeeded in reducingbuild period of 2,500 Tonnes OPV to nearly three years from over five years taken till about threeyears ago.SLOPV Project

The SLOPV Project for building two large size ships is one of the most significant defencecooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The project is one of the largest export contracts beingexecuted by India’s state-owned shipbuilder GSL for any friendly country. SLNS Sayurala was thefirst AOPV of the series delivered by GSL in July 2017 ahead of contractual schedule.Sri Lanka Navy’s Maritime Strategy envisages 20 naval ships including OPVs by year 2025.According to plan, Sri Lankan Navy will purchase two more OPVs, two fast missile vessels, twofrigates, and two corvettes. With the acquisition of two AOPV from India, Sri Lankan Navy now hasfive vessels, of similar type, namely SLNS Sayura (Sukanya class P 620), SLNS Samudura (formerly ofUS Coast Guard P 621), SLNS Sagara (Vikram class P622) and SLNS Sayurala (P 623). Four other navalships including two fast missile vessels and two fast patrol boats received from Australia are also inservice with Sri Lankan Navy.Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL)

GSL is one of India’s best shipyards and designated mini-Ratna by the Union Government. It islocated in Vasco da Gama, Goa. It was established in 1957, originally by colonial government ofPortuguese in India, as the “Estaleiros Navais de Goa” to build barges to be used in Goa’s growingmining industry. In the wake of Portugal’s defeat and unconditional surrender to India following 1961Indian annexation of Goa, GSL was requisitioned to manufacture warships for Indian Navy andIndian Coast Guard (ICG).

ISRO–BHEL tie up for Production of Space Grade Lithium-Ion CellsMarch 24, 2018

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has entered into Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA)with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to transfer technology for manufacturing space gradeLithium-Ion (Li-Ion) cells.The technology transfer will enable BHEL to produce space grade Li-Ion cells which can meetcountry’s space programme requirements. It can also be adopted to cater Li-Ion cell requirement forother national needs.






Key Facts

The ISRO uses Li-Ion batteries as power sources for satellite and launch vehicle applications due totheir high energy density, reliability and long cycle life. ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)at Thiruvananthapuram has successfully developed technology to produce space grade Li-ion cell. Italso has demonstrated performance of cell under various testing conditions and established its cyclelife characteristics in accelerated mode. These Li-Ion cells are currently being used for varioussatellite and launch vehicle applications.Li-Ion battery

Lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is type of rechargeable battery that contains several cells. Eachcell consists of cathode, anode and electrolyte, a separator between electrodes and current collectors.In it, lithium ions move from negative electrode to positive electrode during discharge and backwhen charging. Li-ion battery use intercalated lithium compound as one electrode material.Benefits of Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery

The lithium-ion battery is light weighted and is one-third the weight of lead acid batteries. It isnearly 100% efficient in both charging and discharging as compared to lead battery which has 70%efficiency. It completely discharges i.e. 100% as compared to 80% for lead acid.The rechargeable lithium-ion battery has life cycle of 5000 times or more compared to just 400-500cycles in lead acid. It also maintains constant voltage throughout the entire discharge cycle whereasvoltage in lead acid battery drops consistently throughout its discharge cycle. It is much cleanertechnology and is safer for environment as it does not have environmental impact as lead acidbattery.

ISRO postpones launch of Chandrayaan-2 missionMarch 24, 2018

The Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed launch of India’s second lunarmission ‘Chandrayaan-2’ from April 2018 to October-November 2018 as experts have suggested moretests. It will be launched on board of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV-F10).Chandrayaan 2

Chandrayaan 2 is India’s second mission to Moon and is advanced version of previous Chandrayaan-1mission (launched in 2008). It has been developed indigenously by ISRO. It consists of Orbiter,Lander and Rover configuration. In this mission, ISRO will for first time attempt to land a rover onmoon’s south pole.The spacecraft (orbiter) weighs around 3,290 kg and it will orbit around moon and perform objectivesof remote sensing moon. Once GSLV-F10 putspacecraft in 170 km x 20,000 km elliptical orbit, orbiterwill be manoeuvred towards 100-km lunar orbit by firing thrusters and then lander housing therover will separate from orbiter.The six wheeled rover will move on lunar surface and collect soil or rock samples for on-site chemicalanalysis to gather scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance,lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice. The data will be relayed to Earth throughorbiter. The rover will move around landing site in semi-autonomous mode as decided by the groundcommands.Note: The soft-landing on the lunar surface of the moon will be most complex part of Chandrayaan 2mission. Only the US, Russia and China have been able to soft-land spacecraft on lunar surface.






Krem Puri: World’s longest sandstone cave discovered in MeghalayaMarch 24, 2018

The world’s longest sandstone cave named Krem Puri was discovered near Laitsohum village inMawsynram area in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The cave is 24,583 metres (24.5 km) inlength and is known for its complex cave systems hidden under its undulating hills. It wasdiscovered in 2016 but its actual length was found during expedition to measure and map it byMeghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA)Krem Puri

Krem Puri underground cavern is more than 6,000 metres longer than world record-holder CuevaDel Saman in Edo Zulia, Venezuela, a quartzite sandstone cave measuring 18,200 metres (18.2km).This sandstone cave is also India’s second longest cave in general category after limestone Krem LiatPrah-Umim-Labit system measuring little over 31 km in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Krem Puri cavesystem also has fossils of dinosaurs, especially Mosasaurus, a giant reptile that lived 66-76 millionyears ago.Background

There are whereabouts of more than 1,650 caves and cave locations in Meghalaya, of which over1,000 have been explored or partially explored. According to official data, the northeastern state has491km of surveyed caves and many more are waiting to be discovered. Krem in Khasi languagemeans cave. Mawsynram is known as wettest place on earth for its record-breaking rainfall.

Earth Hour 2018 observed across the worldMarch 24, 2018

The twelfth edition of Earth Hour was observed across the world on 24 March 2018 to take a globalcall on climate change. To mark this day, cities worldwide turned their lights off for one hour from8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.Give Up to Give Back Initiative

On the occasion of Earth Hour, World Wide Fund (WWF)-India made strong pitch for “Give Up toGive Back”. This initiative aims to inspire organisations, institutions and individuals to make choiceto curb some habits, practices and lifestyles that burden our lives and environment. It includestaking steps like giving up giving up fossil fuels, single-use plastics, giving up lonely car rides foryour employees, give up e-waste.Earth Hour






Earth Hour is people’s movement inspiring individuals to take stand against climate change. It isorganised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) with an aim to enable harmonious existence ofhuman and wildlife. It aims at encouraging people to turn off their non-essential equipments topromote conservation and sustainable energy. Its goal is to raise awareness for sustainable energyuse and create a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. The first Earth Hour was held on March31, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Now it has become world’s largest grassroots movement for theenvironment, inspiring millions of people to take action for our planet and nature.

March 25-26, 2018JS Rajput nominated as India’s representative to Executive Board of UNESCO

March 26, 2018

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has nominated former NCERT director JS Rajput asIndia’s representative to Executive Board (EXB) of United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO).JS Rajput

Professor JS Rajput is known for his contributions in reforms in school education and teachereducation. He has held several assignments which include Professor in NCERT, 1974, Principal ofRegional Institute of Education Bhopal 1977-88, Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of HumanResource Development, Chairman, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) 1994-99 andDirector of the NCERT (1999-2004).He had proposed valuable changes in school education curriculum as Director, NCERT popularlyknown as five Sai values: Truth, Peace, Nonviolence, Righteous Conduct (Dharma) and Love. He haspublished research papers in several specialized areas in education, guided doctoral level researchesand has authored several books.His association with UNESCO and other international agencies extends over three decades. He wasinvited by UNESCO in April-May 2005 to participate in Evaluation of UNESCO International Centerfor Technical and Vocational Education, UNEVOC, Bonn, Germany. He has completed UNESCOproject for Bremen University, Germany in 2007-08.UNESCO acknowledged his contributions by selecting him for Prestigious Jan Amos ComeniusMedal for outstanding contributions in research and innovations in 2004. He received this Award inJuly 2009. He was awarded Maharishi Ved Vyas national Award by MP Government for lifelongcontributions in Education. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2009.Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO

The EXB is one of the constitutional organs of UNESCO and is elected by the General Conference. Ithas four-year term and 58 seats. The board examines work for UNESCO and the correspondingbudget estimates. In practice, it is main organ responsible for all policies and programmes ofUNESCO.

March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic SlaveTrade

March 26, 2018

The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade isobserved every year on March 25 across the world. Observance of this day honours and remembersthose who suffered and died as consequence of transatlantic slave trade. It also aims at raisingawareness about dangers of racism and prejudice Transatlantic slave trade which had taken placeover span 400 years is considered as worst violation of human rights in history in which more than15 million men, women and children were victims. The 2018 theme was ‘Remember Slavery: Triumphsand Struggles for Freedom and Equality’. It celebrates freedom of African descent people from slavery.It also acknowledges challenges faced by people in movement towards freedom and equality.Background

The International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade wasinstituted by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by adopting a resolution in 2007. It was firstobserved in 2008 and since then it is observed annually. Same year, UNGA had establishedRemember Slavery Programme through its resolution 62/122 to honour memory of victims of slaveryand transatlantic slave trade. The programme aims to raise awareness of dangers of racism and






prejudice organizing educational activities throughout year such as film screenings, exhibition, toursof the Permanent Memorial, roundtable discussions etc. It is managed by Education OutreachSection of Department of Public Information’s Outreach Division of UN.

Print Biennale India 2018: First International Exhibition of Graphic Prints held in New Delhi March 26, 2018

The first-ever International Print Biennale, an International Exhibition of Graphic Prints was held inNew Delhi. It was organised by Lalit Kala Akademi.Key Facts

The event comprised displaying of total 200 original prints are created by Indian and internationalartists of impeccable competence. An exhibition Eminent Printmakers of India showcasing masterIndian printmakers was also held on sidelines of it. The international participants from USA, UK, SriLanka, Italy, Mexico, China, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland, Argentina, Greece, Nepal, Bangladesh,and Mauritius also had participated in the event. Total 988 entries at the national level were receivedof which 127 were chosen for display.Lalit Kala Akademi

It is also called as National Academy of Art. It is India’s national academy of fine arts. It isautonomous organisation It was established in 1954 to promote and propagate understanding ofIndian art, in and outside the country. It provides scholarships and fellow program and sponsors andorganises exhibitions in India and overseas. It publishes bilingual journal. It is funded by Ministry ofCulture. Its headquartered are at Ravindra Bhawan, New Delhi.

Chhattisgarh wins National Water Digest AwardMarch 26, 2018

Chhattisgarh was awarded National Water Digest Award for Water Conservation-Diversion andincreasing the irrigation capacity in the state. The award was presented to Chhattisgarh WaterResources Department (CWRD) on the occasion ‘World Forestry Day’ (observed on March 21) in NewDelhi.Key Facts

This is first time that CWRD was given national Award during the past 17 years. Chhattisgarhbagged this award for increasing irrigation capacity, water management -water diversion, waterconservation, community participation and efforts towards inter-linking of rivers, better techniquesutilized in irrigation facilities.National Water Digest Award

The Award is presented every year by globally renowned magazine ‘Water Digest’ which focusesmainly on water resources. The award is given in association with Central Water Resources RiverDevelopment (CWRRD) and Ganga Cleaning Ministry, United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO), Central Water Board (CWB), Central Water Commission (CWC)and Ganga Purification National Mission. The award is recognised by UNESCO.

Ministry of Culture organises Madhavpur Mela in GujaratMarch 26, 2018

The Union Ministry of Culture for the first time had organised Madhavpur Mela in Madhavpur Ghedin Porbandar District of Gujarat under the banner of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat. Its purpose is tobring various parts of country especially the North-East, close to each other.Key Facts

The four day cultural extravaganza saw vibrant cultural trail of art, dance, music, poetry, story-telling and folk drama from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and other north-eastern states with an aimto integrate the rich cultures of two regions. It also witnessed for first time the magnificentperformances from north-east, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.Troupes from Assam performed Rukmini-Haran, a popular folk theatre of the region. Musical troupefrom Manipur sang songs related to Rukmini in Khullong Ishei and Nat genŕe. Dance-dramas basedon Rukmini-Krishna legends from Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and folk dance of Idu Mishmitribe from Arunachal were also displayed.Background

Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat shares its connect to Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The tribetraces its ancestry to legendary King Bhishmak and through him to his daughter Rukmini and Lord






Krishna. Madhavpur Ghed is small but culturally significant village. According to folklore, it is place where,Lord Krishna married Rukmini, the daughter of King Bhishmaka. Madhavpur lies on the seashore,close to Porbandar. 15th century Madhavrai temple marks the site. Madhavpur Mela iscommemorated b cultural fair held every year, commencing on Ram Navami. As part of thecelebrations, a colorful chariot carrying idol of Krishna circumnavigates village and festivities usuallycontinue for five days.Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

It was announced by Government 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversaryof Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Its objective is to strengthen cultural relations of various parts ofcountry and to embolden mutual connection between people dwelling in different in different statesIt also aims to celebrate unity in diversity culture of nation and to bolster sentimental bonds betweenpeople of different states. It aims to strengthen sentiments for National Unity between citizens ofstates and states governed by union government by conducting various activities throughout yearunder this campaign.All States and UTs will be covered under programme. Under it, there will be pairing of states/UTs atnational level mainly for one year or till the next round of pairings. The pairings are being utilized forstate level activities. There are district level pairings also that are independent of state level pairings.

Brazzaville declaration signed to protect world’s largest tropical peatlandMarch 26, 2018

The Brazzaville declaration was singed to promote better management and conservation world’slargest tropical peatlands-Cuvette Centrale region in Congo Basin from unregulated land use andprevent its drainage and degradation. It was signed jointly by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),Republic of Congo and Indonesia on the sidelines of Third Partners Meeting of Global PeatlandsInitiative held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.Peatlands

Peatlands are wetlands that contain mixture of decomposed organic material, partially submerged inlayer of water, lacking oxygen. The complex biodiversity of peatlands means they are home to varietyof species. Their high carbon content makes them uniquely vulnerable to incineration if they aredrained.They are globally important carbon store. The unregulated exploitation of peatlands can potentiallybe detrimental to environment and to climate, as it could release carbon emissions that have beenlocked in for millennia.The Cuvette Centrale region in Congo Basin is world’s largest natural tropical peatlands, which areabout size of England. It stores three years equivalent of global greenhouse gas emissions.Brazzaville declaration

It aims to implement coordination and cooperation between different government sectors to protectthe benefits provided by peatland ecosystems. It also recognizes the importance of the scientificbreakthrough of mapping the world’s largest tropical peatland area.Global Peatlands Initiative

GPI is multi-partner United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) initiative launched at theGlobal Landscapes Forum in Marrakesh in 2016. It is effort by leading experts and institutions tosave peatlands as the world’s largest terrestrial organic carbon stock and to prevent it being emittedinto the atmosphere.

Government releases Draft policy on Defence ProductionMarch 26, 2018

The Ministry of Defence has released draft policy on defence production that aims to make India oneof the top five manufacturers of defence platforms with active participation of public and privatesectors. The ministry has sought comments and suggestions of experts and stakeholders on policy.At present, India is one of the world’s largest importer of military platforms and weapons.Objectives of Policy

Make India self-reliant in defence production as well as fulfil demand of friendly countries. Achieve turnover ofRs.1,70,000 crore in military goods and services by 2025 by promoting domestic defence industry.Make India one of top five manufacturers of defence platforms with active participation of public and private






sectors.Achieve export of Rs. 35,000 crore in military equipment and services by 2025 by promoting the domestic defenceindustry.Attract additional investment of nearly Rs 70,000 crore and create employment for nearly 2 to 3 million people inthe country.

Features

Identified military platforms: The policy identifies 12 military platforms and weapons systems forproduction in India to achieve aim of self-reliance. They are fighter aircraft, warships, land combatvehicles, missile systems, medium lift and utility helicopters, gun systems, small arms, ammunitionand explosives, electronic warfare (EW) systems, surveillance systems and night fighting enablers,among others.Licensing process for defence industries: It will be liberalised and list of items requiring licences willbe reviewed and pruned. Except small negative list, other items will be taken out of purview oflicensing. All applications for licences for defence industires will be disposed off in 30 days. No-objection certificates (NOCs) and comments from all agencies must necessarily be received withintwo weeks of filing of applications by the companies.Tax regime for defence industries: It will be also rationalised to make domestic manufacturingattractive by ensuring that there is no tax inversion. Rationalise taxes on import of capital goods andservices, inputs and components used in defence production.

Government may relax protected area permit rulesMarch 26, 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is planning to relax the protected area permit (PAP) regime toenable foreign tourists to access border areas. The move is being initiated to promote tourism, createjob opportunities for the locals and generate revenue for the states.Key Facts

The proposal of relaxation of permit regime is being taken into consideration following severalrequests by states falling under protected areas regime and Ministry of Tourism. MHA willcoordinate with other agencies and state governments to identify possible locations for whichprotected area permit (PAP) regime provisions may be relaxed. However, citizens from Pakistan andChina are unlikely to be given these relaxations.Protected areas and Protected area permit

Under Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between Inner line and InternationalBorder of some states have been declared as protected areas. The protected areas currently includewhole of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, besides parts of HimachalPradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. Some parts of Sikkim fall under protectedarea regime while others under restricted area regime. As per MHA’s December 2010 circular,Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland were excluded from protected area regime initially for a period ofone year from January 2011, subject to some conditions.Guidelines: Under it, foreign national is not normally allowed to visit protected or restricted areaunless Government is satisfied that there are extra-ordinary reasons to justify his or her visit. Everyforeigner, except citizen of Bhutan, who desires to enter and stay in protected or restricted area, isrequired to obtain a special permit from a competent authority having the power to issue suchpermits to a foreigner, seeking it. Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationalsof Pakistani origin are not allowed to enter such areas.Authority issuing such Permits: Necessary powers have been delegated to various authorities toissue such special permits without prior approval of MHA to facilitate foreign tourists subject tocertain exceptions. In cases of citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationals ofPakistani origin, no permit can be issued without prior approval of MHA. In cases of foreigndiplomats, including members of United Nations and international organisations holding diplomaticor official passports, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issues special permits to visit such protectedor restricted areas.

March 27, 2018






National Conference on Down Syndrome held in New DelhiMarch 27, 2018

The National Conference on Down Syndrome was held in New Delhi. It was organised by theNational Trust under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Down Syndrome is achromosomal condition associated with intellectual and learning disabilities. It leads to delayeddevelopment and behavioural problems in children suffering with it.Conference

The objective of conference was to provide excellent opportunities to parents to obtain informationabout latest development in education and skilling and inclusive living of persons with DownSyndrome. The conference brought intellectuals from all walks of life on one platform to spur ideasand channelized knowledge on Down Syndrome which was very beneficial to enable a positivechange in people with Down Syndrome.National Trust

It is statutory body under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Its mandate is todischarge two basic duties – legal and welfare for persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, MentalRetardation and Multiple Disabilities.It fundamental purpose is to create enabling environment, i.e. provide opportunities for Persons withDisabilities (PwDs) through comprehensive support systems which will lead towards development ofinclusive society.It has been running various schemes and programmes for welfare of PwDs. Its major activity is tocreate awareness amongst general public by organizing various workshops, seminars andconferences on these disabilities and the capabilities of such persons.Objectives

Enable and empower PwD to live as independently and fully as possible within and close to their community aspossible.Facilitate realisation of equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of persons with disability.Extend support to its registered organisations to provide need based services.Evolve procedures for appointments of guardians and trustees for persons with disabilities.

Surat: First district to have 100% solar powered health centresMarch 27, 2018

Surat district in Gujarat become first in country to have 100% solar powered Primary Health Centers(PHCs). All 52 PHCs in the district are now powered by solar system. With this, Surat sets an examplefor country by developing villages that use sustainable forms of energy at a time when globalwarming is mounting with each passing dayKey Facts

The solarification of all PHCs in Surat district will bring down electricity bill by 40% and also helpfight global warming. Other than PHCs, there are 572 gram panchayats in district, out of which 150are solar powered gram panchayats and soon other 422 panchayats will too be solar powered. 75% ofthe total expense of making gram panchayat solar powered is borne by state government andremaining 25% by district panchayats.

ISA, India sign Host Country AgreementMarch 27, 2018

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) signed Host CountryAgreement in New Delhi. The agreement gives ISA juridical personality an power to contract, acquireand dispose off movable and immovable properties and also to institute and defend legalproceedings.Key Facts

Under this agreement, ISA will enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities thatare necessary for ISA’s Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes. It willderive its status, privileges and immunities as per Article 10 of Framework Agreement.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

ISA is initiative jointly launched by India and France in November 2015 at Paris on side lines ofCOP21 UN Climate Change Conference. Its Framework Agreement came into force in December






2017. It celebrated its founding day on 11th March, 2018. It is headquartered at campus of NatioanlInstitute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram, Harayana, making it first internationalintergovernmental treaty based organization to be headquartered in India.Objectives of ISA

Undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technologyMobilize more than US $1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energyPave way for future technologies adapted to needs of solar rich 121 countries lying fully or partially betweenTropic of Cancer and Capricon.

ISA presently has 4 ongoing programmes

Scaling Solar Mini GridsAffordable Finance at Scale,Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use,Scaling Solar Rooftop catering to the needs of solar energy in specific areas

Government launches E-Tribes India on e-commerce platformsMarch 27, 2018

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, (TRIFED), under Ministry ofTribal Affairs has launched E-Tribes India banners on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Snapdeal,Paytm & GeM.It also launched TRIFED’s websites-www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in and Retail InventorySoftware and M-commerce app as part of Digital India Initiative. TRIFED’s Handbook for RetailTrade and TRIFED’s quarterly magazine ‘Tribes Haat’ was also launched.Key Facts

TRIFED has developed its own e-commerce (electronic commerce) website i.e., tribesindia.com forsale of all its products and app to tap m-commerce (mobile commerce) too. The purpose of goingdigital will help in expansion of tribal commerce and availability of tribal products over large area. Itwill result in reaping greater benefits for tribal artisans.For this purpose, TRIFED has entered into agreements with e-commerce platforms like Amazon andSnapdeal who will offer their customers various tribal products and produce through their portals tofacilitate online sale. Also, Tribes India products are available on Flipkart and Paytm too. On therequest of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Commerce has also made provision for sale of tribalproducts through TRIFED on Government e-Marketplace (GeM).Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)

TRIFED is multi-State Cooperative Society under Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It was established inAugust 1987 by then Ministry of Welfare under Multi State Cooperative Societies Act 1984 (which hasnow been replaced by Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002). It is headquartered in New Delhi.It aims at promoting and marketing tribal products, tribal art and crafts within t country and abroadby providing marketing support to tribal products through its network of retail outlets. It alsoorganizes exhibitions like National Tribal Craft Expo called “Aadi Mahotsav” etc. to promote andmarket tribal products. It also facilitates participation of tribal artisans to enable them to interactdirectly with art lovers to assess market needs.

GPI Tracker system: SWIFT broadens payment tracking capabilitiesMarch 27, 2018

The SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform hasexpanded its GPI (Global Payment Innovation) Tracker system to help banks track their globaltransactions at all times and keep full vigil on payments activity.Key Facts

From November 2018, GPI Tracker system i.e. unique end-to-end transaction reference will beincluded in all payment instructions carried between all 11,000 customers on SWIFT at all times,across more than 200 countries and territories. The expansion of GPI Tracker will cover all paymentinstructions sent across the network and give them full visibility over all their payments activity. Itwill significantly extend transparency and drive more banks to join service to make GPI the newnormal in cross-border payments






SWFIT GPI

SWFIT GPI was launched in May 2017 to help banks to track their global transactions at all times,keeping full vigil on payments activity. It covers all payment instructions sent across network,enabling GPI banks to track all their SWIFT payment instructions at all times, and giving them fullvisibility over all their payments activity. It accounts for 10% of cross border payment traffic onSWIFT network and has enabled more than hundred billion dollars to be transferred across worldrapidly and securely every day.Benefits

It improves customer experience by increasing speed, transparency and automatically provides status updates to allGPI banks involved in any GPI payment chain. It allows banks to confirm when payment has been completed.It facilitates more accurate reconciliation of payments and invoices, optimises liquidity with improved cashforecasts and reduces exposure to Foreign exchange risk, with same-day processing of funds in beneficiaries’ timezones.

SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System) platform

SWIFT is global financial messaging service that enables financial institutions worldwide to send andreceive information about financial transactions in secure, standardized and reliable environment. Itis used to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions.It was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium. It is a cooperative society underBelgian law owned by its member financial institutions with offices around the world. Globally over11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries use services of SWIFT.SWIFT does not facilitate funds transfer, rather, it sends payment orders, that must be settled bycorrespondent accounts that institutions have with each other. On receiving this message throughSWIFT, banks abroad, mostly branches of domestic banks abroad provide funds to the company.

TESS: NASA, SpaceX collaborate to search for exoplanetsMarch 27, 2018

NASA has partnered with private space launching company SpaceX to launch Transiting ExoplanetSurvey Satellite (TESS) to search for exoplanets using the transit method.TESS is designed to carry out first spaceborne all-sky transiting exoplanet survey. It is equipped withfour wide-angle telescopes and associated charge-coupled device (CCD) detectors. It is planned to belaunched in April 2018 on board of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air ForceStation.Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

The primary mission objective of TESS is to survey brightest stars near Earth for transitingexoplanets over two-year period. It will use array of wide-field cameras to perform all-sky survey. Itwill create catalog of thousands of exoplanet candidates using transit photometry method.It will provide prime targets for further characterization by James Webb Space Telescope, as well asother large ground-based and space-based telescopes of the future. With TESS, it will be possible tostudy mass, size, density and orbit of large cohort of small planets, including sample of rocky worldsin habitable zones (goldilocks zone) of their host stars. This will reveal whether planets are rocky (likeEarth), gas or jovian giants (like Jupiter) or something even more unusual.






March 28, 2018AAI signs MoU with Assam Government to develop villages in Kamrup district

March 28, 2018

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assamgovernment for sustainable development of human settlements at villages in Kamrup district.Key Facts

As per terms of MoU, AAI will provide financial assistance of Rs. 4.58 crore for Kamrup district underits Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) initiative. The estimates of the financial assistance havebeen prepared by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to improve resilience ofcommunities around Guwahati Airport. The AAI through its CSR policy supports such initiatives forpromoting infrastructure for convenience of population with view to improve resilience ofcommunities.Airports Authority of India (AAI)

AAI is statutory body under aegis of Ministry of Civil Aviation. It was founded in April 1995 and isheadquartered in New Delhi. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managingcivil aviation infrastructure in India. It also provides Air traffic management (ATM) services overIndian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas. AAI manages around 125 airports in India, which include18 International Airport, 7 Customs Airports, 78 Domestic Airports and 26 Civil Enclaves at Defenceairfields.

India’s first insect museum opened in Tamil NaduMarch 28, 2018

India’s first insect museum with state-of-the-art amenities was unveiled at Tamil Nadu AgriculturalUniversity campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister KPalaniswamy.Key Facts

The museum has been established at an area of 6,691 sqft. It is fully dedicated to insects. It willdisplay insects preserved as specimens as also live ones depicting their different developmentalstages. It will provide information about insects through images, videos and models of their uniquebehaviour, habits and habitats.The lobby of the museum depicts theme “BUGS ARE KINGS”. Its exhibiting area comprises sevenradial walls (bay) on right side and an undivided wall on the left side. It also has section on socialinsect exhibiting termite mounds (whole and sectioned) and bee hives of different kinds and forms. Italso has souvenir shop and mini auditorium to screen insect movies and documentary films areavailable.






Department of Posts launches Cool EMS Service between India and JapanMarch 28, 2018

Department of Posts under Ministry of Communications has launched Cool EMS Service betweenIndia and Japan. It is one-way service from Japan to India which allows customers in India to importJapanese food items for personal use which is allowed under Indian regulations.Cool EMS Service

The Cool EMS Service came into force from March 2018. Initially, it will be available in Delhi only.Food items will be carried by Japan Post in special cool boxes containing refrigerant to preservequality of food items. The recipient addressee will collect them from Foreign Post office, Kotla Road,New Delhi in-person or through a messenger in prescribed time frame. Cool EMS service also has allother features like track and trace, etc of Express Mail Service (EMS).

India and China agree roadmap for addressing Trade ImbalanceMarch 28, 2018

The eleventh session of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science &Technology was held in New Delhi. The session was co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce &Industry Suresh Prabhu and China’s Minister of Commerce Mr. Zhong Shan.Key Outcomes of meeting

Both countries reaffirmed and reiterated their commitments to promote balanced and sustainablebilateral trade. They agreed to continue to take forward initiatives identified in Five YearDevelopment Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation (DPETC) signed between bothcountries in September 2014.China noted India’s concern regarding long existing trade imbalance and requests for market accessfor Indian products and services. It also expressed its commitment to address these concernsthrough broad framework provided by successive JEGs and Five Year DPETC.China reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate provision of market access for Indian agriculturalproducts pertaining to non-basmati rice, soya-meals, rape-seed meals, pomegranate andpomegranate arils, okra, banana and other fruits and vegetables and bovine meat expeditiously.Both countries reaffirmed their aim to promote bilateral trade in field of pharmaceuticals includingresolution of issues of Indian pharma products exports to Chinese markets. They agreed to draw-upmedium and long term roadmap with action points and timelines to increase bilateral trade betweenin balanced and sustainable manner. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation within WTO andother multilateral and regional frameworks and to maintain their common interest. Both sidesreiterated their commitment to rules based multilateral global trade.Background

India and China are the largest emerging economies of world with 35% of the world’s population andaround 20% of the world’s GDP but the relative volume of bilateral trade is less than 1% of globaltrade. India-China bilateral trade has reached $84.44 billion last year, a historic high with 18.63%year-on-year growth rate. India is seventh largest export destination for Chinese products, and 24thlargest exporter to China. India’s trade deficit: It continues to remain high at $51.75 billion,registering a growth of 8.55% year-on-year in 2017.

Atal Innovation Mission ink SOI with SAP Global to foster innovationMarch 28, 2018

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has signed Statement of Intent (SOI) with German techcompany SAP to promote culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across 100 Atal Tinkering Labsacross India.As part of SOI, SAP will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in 2018 for five years to nurturescience, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning among secondary school childrenacross India.Key Facts

SAP will select secondary schools from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, AndhraPradesh and Telangana. The collaboration will allow SAP to further ignite innovation in India’s largestudent population by providing right guidance, knowledge and infrastructure. SAP employeevolunteers will coach and mentor students in advanced technology topics. Design lab of SAP LabsIndia, will provide trainings and allow students to gain hands-on experience with technology






gadgets.Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

AIM is flagship initiative to promote culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in country. Itsmandated is to create umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of country andrevolutionize innovation eco-system.Objectives

Develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of economy.Provide platform and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, create awareness.Create umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country.

Its sub-schemes include establishing Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) and Atal Incubation Centers (AICs),for providing scaling up support to Established Incubation Centres. It also includes finding ultra-lowcost solution to India’s most intractable problems through Atal Grand Challenges and Atal VikasChallenges.Till date, AIM has selected 2441 schools across India to establish ATLs, covering 93% of total districtsin India and 98% of upcoming smart cities representing all states and 5 out of 7 UTs.

Skill India partners with Ministry of Power for implementation of Saubhagya SchemeMarch 28, 2018

The Ministry of Power has partnered with Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship totrain the manpower in six states for speedy implementation of its Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli HarGhar Yojna (Saubhagya Scheme). These six states are Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand,Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.Key Facts

Under this partnership, around 47,000 Distribution Lineman-Multi Skills and 8,500 TechnicalHelpers will be trained to meet the requirement of power sector projects under Saubhagya scheme.The training infrastructures will be available with ITI’s at district level as well as infrastructuresavailable with State Power Distribution Utilities will be utilized for skill training of candidatesensuring successful implementation of scheme.Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna (Saubhagya Scheme)

Objective: To achieve universal household electrification in all parts of the country. The schemeprimarily benefits rural areas, which have vast majority of households without power connections.Funding: Total outlay of scheme is Rs. 16,320 crore of which Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs.12,320 crore. It is being funded to extent of 60% by central grants, 30% by bank loans and 10% bystates. Of total outlay of Rs 16,320 crore, rural areas will get Rs 14,025 crore. For urban householdsoutlay is Rs. 2,295 crore. States will be provided with incentive of 50% of their loan being convertedto grants, if electrification targets under the scheme are met by 31 December 2018.Identification of beneficiaries: The government will use Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC)2011 data to identify beneficiaries for free electricity connections. Un-electrified households notcovered under SECC data will also be provided electricity connections on payment of Rs. 500 whichwill be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 installments through electricity bill.Implementing agencies: The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited under Ministry of Power isnodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country. To ensure on-the-spotregistration, mobile applications will be used. Gram Panchayat and public institutions in rural areaswill be authorised to carry out billing and collection tasks.Benefits: Free connections will be provided to below poverty line (BPL) households and even thosenot covered under this category can avail electricity connection by paying Rs. 500 in 10 instalmentswith their monthly bill. There will be no subsidy component for monthly electricity consumption.Remote areas: For those household where national electricity grid cannot reach, households will beprovided with solar power packs along with battery banks. Remote hamlets will be powered withsolar panels along with 5 LED lamps, DC fan and plug point along with repair and maintenance forfive years.

93% rural households with access to toilets using them: NARSS 2017-18March 28, 2018

According to National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2017-18, over 93% households in






villages who have access to toilets are using them and about 77% homes in rural areas have gottoilets. The survey was conducted by Independent Verification Agency (IVA) under World Banksupport project to Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G).Background

The survey was conducted between mid-November 2017 and mid-March 2018. It covered 92040households in 6136 villages across States/UTs of India. It also covered schools, anganwadis andpublic/community toilets in these villages. It used the PPS (Probability Proportion to Size) samplingmethodology and its data was collected using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)platform.Key findings of NARSS 2017-18

77% of households were found to have access to toilets.4% of people who had access to toilets used them.6% of villages which were previously declared and verified as ODF were confirmed to be ODF. The remaining4.4% villages also had sanitation coverage of over 95%.70% of villages surveyed found to have minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

SBM was launched in October 2014 to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus onsanitation. The mission aims to achieve Swachh Bharat or make India clean by 2019, as a fittingtribute to 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It world’s largest sanitation program thataimed bring behavioural change of people with respect to toilet access and usageThe SBM consists of two sub-missions Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), implemented in rural areas,and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), implemented in urban areas. SBM-G seeks to eliminate opendefecation in rural areas by improving access to sanitation by ensuring use of toilets, besides theirconstruction. It also seeks to generate awareness to motivate communities to adopt sustainablesanitation practices, and encourage the use of appropriate technologies for sanitation.OutcomesOver 6.5 crore toilets were built across rural India under SBM. Over 3.38 lakh villages and 338districts were declared ODF, along with 9 ODF States/3 Union Territories, namely Sikkim, HimachalPradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya,Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Over, 300 million people have stopped defecatingin open since launch of SBM.

Exim Bank extends $500 million loan facility to 15-nation ECOWASMarch 28, 2018

The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has inked line of credit (LoC) agreement with Bank forInvestment and Development (EBID) to provide US $500 million credit facility to fund variousdevelopment projects in 15-member countries of Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) region in western-south Africa.Key Facts

The LoC of US $500 million to EBID is umbrella limit for financing developmental projects in 15-member countries of EBID in ECOWAS region. These projects entitled to get funding may belong anysector which is of priority of governments of any of member states of EBID. With signing of LoCagreement, Exim Bank till date has extended four LoCs to EBID, with support of government, takingtotal value of LOCs to US $1,000 million.Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The ECOWAS is regional group of 15 West African countries. It was founded in May 1975, with thesigning of the Treaty of Lagos. Its mandate is to promote economic integration in all fields of activityof the constituting countries. Its 15 member countries are Benin, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Gambia,Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone andTogo.

Government launches Study in India programme to attract foreign studentsMarch 28, 2018

The Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) has approved ‘Study in India’ programme toattract foreign students to pursue higher education in India. Government has approved expenditure






of Rs. 150 crores for programme for two years 2018-19 and 2019-20 which will be primarily for brandpromotion activities.Study in India programme

ObjectivesEncourage more foreign students to choose India as destination for higher education.Double India’s market share of global education exports from less than 1% to 2%.Improve global ranking of Indian educational institutes.

FeaturesThe programme will provide meritorious foreign students fee waiver and scholarship. The proposedfee waiver and scholarship will be decided by institute concerned based on the predefined structure.The institutes concerned will bear expenditure on fee waiver based on cross-subsidisation orthrough its existing funding.Under it, 100% waiver of tuition fees will be only for the top 25% students, 50% waiver of tuition feesonly for the next 25% students, 25% waiver of tuition fees only for the next 25% students and nowaiver of tuition fee for remaining 25% of students. The programme will not affect number of seatswhich are meant for Indian students in any educational institute.Background

In past couple of years, premier Indian institutes have not featured in top 100 in any of globalrankings. One of the reasons is that global rankings also consider number of foreign faculty andforeign students studying in educational institute. In Times Higher Education Ranking 2018, top spothas gone to University of Oxford where 38% population is of Indian students. On contrary, IndianInstitute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has only 1% population of International students. As per existingGovernment framework, there is provision of 10-15% supernumerary seats for foreign students ineducational institutes.

K2-229b: Hot, metallic Earth-sized planet discoveredMarch 28, 2018

Scientists using Kepler 2 telescope have discovered hot, metallic, Earth-sized planet named K2-229borbiting dwarf star located 260 million light years away. They had employed Doppler spectroscopytechnique also known as ‘wobble method‘ to discover and characterise this faraway planet.K2-229b

K2-229b planet is almost 20% larger than Earth but has mass which is over two-and-a-half timesgreater. It is located very close to its host star (0.012 AU, around a hundredth of the distance betweenEarth and Sun), which itself is medium-sized active K dwarf in Virgo Constellation.K2-229b orbits its star every fourteen hours. Its day side temperature reaches over 2000 degreesCelsius. Scientists calculated size, position and mass of K2-229b by measuring radial velocity of starand finding out starlight ‘wobbles’ during orbit, due to gravitational tug from planet, which changesdepending on planet’s size.K2-229b has same high density that of Mercury-like planets. It is also innermost planet in system ofat least three planets, though all three orbit much closer to their star than Mercury.Significance

The dense, metallic nature of K2-229b has numerous potential origins. The one hypothesis is that itsatmosphere might have been eroded by intense stellar wind and flares, as it is so close to its star.Another possibility is that K2-229b was formed after huge impact between two giant astronomicalbodies in space billions of years ago – much like theory that Moon was formed after Earth collidedwith body size of Mars. K2-229b is similar to Mercury, knowing more about it can potentially givemore clues of formation our planets in our own solar system.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Canada on IPRsMarch 28, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Canadato establish bilateral cooperation activities in field of Intellectual Property (IP). The MoU was signedin February 2018 and is intended to promote innovation, creativity and economic growth in bothcountries.Key Features of MoU

The MoU establishes broad and flexible framework through which both countries can exchange best






practices and work together on training programs and technical exchanges to raise awareness onIPRs and better protect intellectual property rights (IPRs).It will facilitate exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on raising IP awarenessamong public, businesses and educational institutions of both countries. It will allow exchange ofexperts for interacting with human resources engaged in specialized IP fields.It will facilitate cooperation in development of automation arid implementation of modernizationprojects, new and existing documentation and information systems in IP and procedures formanagement of IP. It will assist in protecting traditional knowledge.

March 29, 2018Cabinet approves India, UK and Ireland MoU on organised crime

March 29, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) betweenIndia and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland regarding cooperation in the field of organisedcrime. It is exchange of information for purposes of combating international criminality and tacklingserious organised crime.Key Facts

The MoU will reinforce collaboration in field of security that will be mutually beneficial. India and UKalready have agreement concerning investigation and prosecution of crime and tracing, restraintand confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crime which was signed in 1995. It also includescrimes involving currency transfers and terrorist funds. Both countries desire to further strengthencooperation in fighting international criminality and serious organized crime.

CCEA approves bulk export of all edible oilsMarch 29, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for removal of prohibition onexport of all varieties of edible oils except mustard oil. The proposal was forwarded by Ministry ofCommerce & Industry. The CCEA has also approved empowering Committee, chaired by Secretary,Department of Food & Public Distribution to review the export and import policy on all varieties ofedible oils.Key Facts

The empowering committee will consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, priorregistration, imposition of Minimum Export Price (MEP) and changes in import duties depending ondomestic production and demand, domestic and international prices and international tradevolumes. The CCEA has discontinued Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by Commerce Secretary,mandated to review export of edible oils in consumer packs and calibrate MEP from time to time.Impact

Removing of restrictions on export of all edible oils will provide additional marketing avenues foredible oils and oilseeds. It will benefit the farmers by way of better realisation for oilseeds. It will alsoresult in utilization of idle capacity in India’s edible oils industry. It is considered as a step towardsEase of Doing Business by removing confusion arising out of prohibition on export of edible oils andplethora of exemptions.Background

The production of oilseeds in 2016-17 has seen quantum jump in comparison to past two years. It isexpected that production of oilseeds in 2017-18 is going to sustain at same levels. At present, onlycertain edible oils are allowed be exported in bulk and other oils only in consumer packs with MEP. Inorder to support growing production of oilseeds and to explore additional avenues for marketing ofedible oils, allowing bulk export of all edible oils with the exception of mustard oil which is an item ofmass consumption in India was seen required step.

Cabinet approves re-structuring of NSDF and NSDCMarch 29, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved proposal for restructuring of National Skill Development Fund(NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to strengthen their governance,implementation and monitoring framework.The purpose of restructuring is also to ensure better corporate governance, transparency andaccountability in operations of NSDC. Besides it will also strengthen oversight role of NSDF. It will






also lead to restructuring of composition of Board of NSDF and NSDC to strengthen governance,implementation and monitoring framework.Background

NSDC and NSDF were set up by Ministry of Finance and registered in July 2008 and January, 2009respectively for implementing coordinated action for skill development. NSDF’s main objective is toenhance, stimulate and develop skills of Indian youth force by various sector specific programmes. Itwas incorporated as trust to act as receptacle for financial contributions from Governmental sources,bilateral and multilateral and other agencies. NSDF entered into Investment ManagementAgreement (IMA) with NSDC for utilization of its corpus to meet desired objectives of National SkillDevelopment Mission and encourage skill development in country.

CCEA approves continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans SchemeMarch 29, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of Credit GuaranteeFund for Education Loans Scheme. It also approved continuation and modification of Central SectorInterest Subsidy Scheme for period from 2017 to 20. This will provide education loans to 10 lakhstudents during this period. The restructuring of scheme is in accordance with policy of Governmentto make good quality education affordable to all.Modifications

Ceiling on loan amount has been refixed at Rs. 7.5 lakhs, considering the average loan size only of Rs.4 lakhs in order to allow more students to access the benefit. The moratorium period will be courseperiod + 1 year.The scheme will now cover loans for pursuing professional and technical courses from NAAC andNBA accredited Institutions and programmes or Institutions of National Importance or CentralFunded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) to promote quality education. But this condition will beapplicable with prospective effect, and will not apply to current loans. Dashboard will be put in placefor better monitoring of the scheme.Coverage

Under the revised scheme, the numbers of loans per year are expected to be at least 3.3 lakhs i.e. 20%increase over previous scheme. The scheme which ran since 2009, average educational loans per yearwere only 2.78 lakhs.Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) Scheme

CSIS Scheme was launched in April, 2009. Under it, full interest subsidy is provided for educationloan taken from Scheduled Banks under Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks’ Association.It is covering a period of course duration + 1 year.The educational loan under CSIS is made available for all professional and technical courses in Indiaand students with annual gross parental income up to Rs. 4.5 lakhs. The loans are disbursed withoutany collateral security and third-party guarantee.Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans (CGFEL) Scheme

CGFEL Scheme provides guarantee for education loan under Model Education Loan Scheme of IndianBanks’ Association. It is disbursed by banks without seeking any collateral security and third-partyguarantee for maximum loan amount of Rs.7.5 Lakhs.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and SACEP for cooperation on Oil and Chemical PollutionMarch 29, 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indiaand South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) for cooperation on response to Oiland Chemical Pollution in South Asian Seas Region.Key Facts

The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation between India and other maritime nationscomprising South Asian seas region namely Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka forprotection and preservation of marine environment in the region.Implementation

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) under Defence Ministry will be Competent National Authority and nationaloperational contact point for implementation of Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan under MoU. Itwill respond to oil and chemical spills on behalf of Government of India. Further, ICG Maritime






Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) will be national emergency response centre for marineincidents.Background

Governments of India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka hadestablished SACEP in 1982 in Sri Lanka. Its purpose was to promote and support protection,management and enhancement of environment in the South Asian region.The SACEP jointly with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had developed Regional Oil SpillContingency Plan to facilitate international co-operation and mutual assistance in preparing andresponding to major oil pollution incident in seas around SACEP’s maritime states of Bangladesh,India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)

SASEC program is project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and strengthening regional economiccooperation. It was established in 2001. Its seven members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. ADB is secretariat and lead financier of SASEC program. So far, it hassupported 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in transport, trade facilitation, energy and information andcommunications technology (ICT).

Cabinet approves amendments to National Medical Commission BillMarch 29, 2018

Union Cabinet has approved certain amendments to National Medical Commission (NMC) Billconsidering recommendations of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC)and general feedback from public.Background

The NMC Bill seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with National Medical Commission as topregulator of medical education in India. It aims to move towards outcome-based regulation ofmedical education rather than process oriented. It will ensure proper separation of functions withinregulator by having autonomous boards, create accountable and transparent procedures formaintaining standards in Medical Education.Amendments approved are

Final MBBS Examination and exit test: The final MBBS examination will be held as common examthroughout country. It will serve as exit test to be called National Exit Test (NEXT). It will easeburden on medical students as they will not have to appear in separate exam after MBBS to getlicense to practice. NEXT will also serve as screening test for doctors with foreign medicalqualifications in order to practice in India.Provision of Bridge course: It removes provision dealing with bridge course for AYUSH practitionersto practice modern medicine to limited extent. Now state governments have been empowered totake necessary measures for addressing and promoting primary health care in rural areas.Fee regulation: The maximum limit of 40% seats for which fee will be regulated in private medicalinstitutions and deemed universities has been increased to 50% seats. The fee will also include allother charges taken by colleges.Number of nominees from States/UTs in NMC: The nominees of States and UTs in National MedicalCommission (NMC) have been increased from 3 to 6. TNMC will comprise of 25 members of which atleast 21 will be doctors.Monetary penalty for medical colleges: It adds provision providing different options for warning,reasonable monetary penalty, reducing intake, stoppage of admission leading up to withdrawal ofrecognition on medical college non-compliant with norms. Earlier, wide range of monetary penalty,ranging from one half to ten times annual fee recovered from batch was to be imposed in a gradedmanner.Stringent punishment for quacks: It provides severe punishment for any unauthorized practice ofmedicine or by quacks with imprisonment of up to 1 year along with fine extending up to Rs. 5 lakhs.

CCEA approves new Integrated Scheme for School EducationMarch 29, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved new Integrated Scheme on School






Education for period 2018 to 2020 to be formulated by Department of School Education and Literacy.The new scheme will subsume existing schemes related to education such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).Key Facts

The scheme comes in backdrop of Government’s vision of Sabko Shiksha, Achhi Shiksha and aims tosupport the States in universalizing access to school education from classes pre-nursery to XII acrossthe country. It will have estimated allocation of Rs 75,000 crore over the said period is 20% increaseover current allocationsFeatures of Scheme

The scheme aims is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education from nursery to seniorsecondary stage in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Education. The mainemphasis is to improve quality of school education by focussing on the two T’s – Teacher andTechnology.Objectives of the Scheme

Provide quality education and enhance learning outcomes of students.Bridge social and gender gaps in School Education.Ensure equity and inclusion at all levels of school education.Ensure minimum standards in schooling provisions.Promote vocationalization of education.Support States in implementing Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.Strengthen and up-grade State Councils for Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) and State Institutes ofEducation and District Institutes for Education and Training (DIET) as nodal agencies for teacher training.

Significance of Scheme

The Scheme gives flexibility to States/UTs to plan and prioritize their interventions within schemenorms and overall resource envelope available to them. It will help improve transition rates acrossvarious levels of school education and aid in promoting universal access to children to completeschool education.The Scheme will equip children with varied skills and knowledge essential for their holisticdevelopment and prepare them for world of work or higher education in future. It will also lead tooptimal utilization of budgetary allocations and effective use of human resources and institutionalstructures created for erstwhile Schemes.Benefits of Scheme

It provides holistic approach to education. It focuses on inclusion of senior secondary levels and pre-school levels in support for School education for t first time. It calls for integrated administrationlooking at school as continuum.It will focus on Quality of Education with emphasis on improvement of learning outcomes. It willenhance capacity building of teachers. It will focus on strengthening teacher education Institutionslike SCERTs and DIETs to improve the quality of teacher training.It will enhance use of digital technology in education through smart classrooms, digital boards andDTK channels. It has specific provision for swachhta activities with support of ‘SwachhVidyalaya’. Itwill improve Quality of Infrastructure in Government Schools.It has enhanced commitment to ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’- Upgradation of KGBVs from class VI -VIIIto upto class XII. It gives emphasis on ‘Kaushal Vikas’ in schools and supports ‘Khelo India’ for sportsand physical equipment. It gives preference to educationally backward blocks (EBBs), Special FocusDistricts (SFDs), Left Wing Extremism (LWEs), Border areas and 115 aspirational districts

CCEA approves enhancing coverage of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan YojanaMarch 29, 2018

The CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved proposal of enhancing scope ofPradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY). The Central Government will now contributeEmployer’s full admissible contribution for first 3 years from date of registration of new employee forall sectors including existing beneficiaries for their remaining period of 3 years. It will benefit theinformal sector workers as the will get social safety net and result in more job creation.






Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)

PMRPY has been in operation since August 2016. Under it, Government is paying 8.33% contributionof Employers to Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) in respect of new employees (joined on or after 1stApril 2016) having new Universal Account Number (UAN), with salary up to Rs. 15,000/- per month.The scheme has dual benefit i.e. it incentivize employers for increasing employment base of workersestablishments and enables large number of workers to find jobs in such establishments. Its directbenefit is that these workers get access to social security benefits of organized sector. Till now, thescheme has produced quite encouraging results and has added about 31 Lakhs beneficiaries to formalemployment involving expenditure of more than Rs. 500 crore.

CCEA approves continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy and City Compost SchemeMarch 29, 2018

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for continuation of NutrientBased Subsidy (NBS) Scheme and City Compost Scheme beyond 12th Five Year plan till 2019-20. Theproposal was forwarded by Department of Fertilizers.Key Facts

The total expenditure for continuation of both schemes till 2019-20 will be Rs. 61,972 crore. Theexpenditure will be on actual basis since national roll out of DBT entails 100% payment of subsidy tofertilizer companies on sale of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates.The subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers and Market Development Assistant (MDA)on City Compost will be provided on subsidy rates approved by CCEA on annual basis. Thecontinuation of both schemes will ensure that adequate quantity of P&K is made available to farmersat statutory controlled price.Background

Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 21 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmersat subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers and importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizersis being governed by NBS Scheme which was launched in 2010.Its objectives are to foster balanceduse of fertilizers to improve soil health and reduce government outgo on fertiliser support (subsidy).Similarly, MDA is being governed by City Compost Scheme which was launched in 2016. CityCompost Scheme aims to convert all organic waste generated in cities into compost or biogas andmarket the compost with the help of fertiliser companies to benefit farmers.

March 30, 2018India receives first US LNG shipment at Dabhol under long-term deal

March 30, 2018

India received its first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) cargo from United States (US) under long-termsupply deal. The first US-sourced LNG shipment was imported by state-owned GAIL on board of itschartered LNG ship ‘Meridian Spirit’ from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG export facility inLouisiana. It was discharged at GAIL’s Dabhol terminal, Maharashtra after 25 days voyage. Thedevelopment comes on heels of India’s first import of crude oil from US in October 2017.Background

GAIL has signed two 20-year Sale Purchase Agreement (SPA) potentially worth US $32 billion withUS’ natural gas exporter Dominion Cove Point project in Maryland and tSabine Pass project inLouisiana. Under it, GAIL will purchase around 3.5 Million Tonne of LNG per year from Sabine Pass.This shipment will help GAIL to diversify its portfolio both on price indexation and geographicallocations.Background

India primarily imports LNG from Qatar and Australia under long-term contracts. In recent times, ithas been trying to diversify its natural gas sources. Moreover, after former US President BarackObama lifted US’s 40 year-old oil export ban, Indian oil and gas companies in response boughtshipments of US crude to check for cost competitiveness and its compatibility with Indian refineryconfiguration. India is also trying to increase its use of natural gas in the energy mix from current 6%to 15% within five years inorder reduce dependence on oil and to secure energy supplies and reduceemissions by using more natural gas.






Hindon Elevated Road: India’s longest elevated road inaugurated in Uttar PradeshMarch 30, 2018

Hindon Elevated Road, India’s longest elevated road was inaugurated in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh byChief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It connects UP Gate to Rajnagar Extension and will make it easier tocommute between Delhi and Ghaziabad.Key Facts

The elevated six-lane road is approximately 10 kilometres-long. It is built on 227 single pillars. It wasbuilt at a cost of about Rs 11,000 crores. It reduces 1 hour journey by 18 minutes. It is estimated thataround 4,000 vehicles would ply on this elevated road every hour. It will also make easy to reachNational Highway (NH) 58 from NH 24 (Delhi-Meerut Highway). Its construction was started wasstarted in November 2014 and took three years and four months to complete it. It has been built onTransit-orented development (TOD) basis, a type of urban planning that makes public transportationeasily accessible to residential, business and leisure space.

Rajasthan’s first mega food park inaugurated at AjmerMarch 30, 2018

Rajasthan’s first mega food park-Greentech Mega Food Park Private Ltd was inaugurated atRoopangarh Village in Ajmer district. It was inaugurated by Union Minister for Food ProcessingIndustry Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The park was set up under Central Government’s flagship PradhanMantri Kisan Sampada Yojana and ‘Make in India’ initiative.Key Facts

The mega food park has been set up in area of 85.44 acres at a cost of Rs 113.57 crore. It has centralprocessing centre as well as well as four Primary Processing Centres (PPCs)at Jaipur, Nagaur, Tonkand Churu. It also has facilities for primary processing and storage near farms. It will not only benefitaround 25,000 farmers of Ajmer but also those of nearby districts of Jaipur, Tonk, Nagaur and Churuas well. It will also provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons. The moderninfrastructure for food processing created at Park will benefit farmers, growers, processors andconsumers of Rajasthan and adjoining areas immensely.

China launches twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into spaceMarch 30, 2018

China has successfully sent pair of twin Beidou-3MEO satellites – Beidou-30 and Beidou-31 –intospace as part of its third and final stage of launching its domestic Beidou (Compass) satellitenavigation system.They were launched on board Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center insouthwest China’s Sichuan Province. It was 269th mission for the Long March rocket family.Key Facts

The twin satellites are MEO satellites i.e. Medium Earth Orbit component of the third phase ofBeidou satellite navigation system. They will work together with six previously launched BeiDou-3satellites once they pass series of tests. They were developed by the Innovation Academy forMicrosatellites at Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology,respectively. These satellites are part of fleet of Beidou satellites that will expand the system to globalnavigation coverage. These satellites reside in 21,500 – 21,400 km nominal orbit at 55.5 degrees.These satellites are using new bus that features phased array antenna for navigation signals andlaser retroreflector.BeiDou Navigation System

BeiDou is 2nd generation of Chinese homegrown navigational system seen as rival to US’s GlobalPositioning System (GPS). It was named after Chinese term for plough or Big Dipper constellation. Itcomprises constellation of total 35 satellites including 27 MEO (21,500 km orbits) satellites, 3 IGSOsatellites and 5 GSO satellites.The first BeiDou satellite was sent into space in 2000. The system became operational in December2011, with constellation of 10 satellites providing services in China only. In December 2012, it beganoffering services to customers in Asia-Pacific region. On its completion in 2020, it will provideservices to global customers. Currently it used for civilian services in field of navigation, messaging,transportation and weather forecasting sectors. It also has military applications.






First National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses held in NewDelhi

March 30, 2018

The first National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses held inNew Delhi. It was aimed to provide comprehensive synthesis of research, service provision andclinical practice in addressing psychological trauma and subsequent mental illnesses in Indianchildren and adolescentsKey Facts

The two day conclave was organised by Ministry of Women & Child Development in collaborationwith the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS. It was inaugurated by Minister of State for Women andChild Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar.The conclave provided common platform for all stakeholders such as academicians, clinicians,government and NGOs working in this area. It also provide platform to them to discuss the directionof robust evidence based research, better service provision, and capacity building of professionals.

Madhya Pradesh’s Kadaknath chicken gets Geographical Indication tagMarch 30, 2018

Chennai based Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India has awardedGeographical Indication (GI) Tag to Madhya Pradesh’s Kadaknath chicken. The GI tag will ensurethat no one else can use name Kadaknath Chicken while selling any other black chicken. It will alsotranslate into higher prices for producers, officials in the animal husbandry department said.Kadaknath Chicken

Kadaknath chicken breed is unique for its black colour due to its black-feathers. Its black colourstems from the deposition of melanin pigment. This breed of chicken is popular for its adaptabilityand flavourful good-tasting black meat, which is believed to have medicinal properties. It is nativetribal districts of Jhabua, Alirajpur and parts of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh.Kadaknath chicken contains 25-27% of protein in comparison with other breeds of chickens thatcontain 18% protein. It is also known for its high iron content. It has fat and cholesterol content lowercompared with other chicken breeds. Due to this special characteristics, Kadaknath chicken’s chicksand eggs are sold at much higher rate than other varieties of chicken. This chicken breed is verypopular among local tribal people mainly due to its adaptability to the local environment, diseaseresistance, meat quality, texture and flavour.Background

Recently, Kadaknath chicken had virtually became bone of contention between Madhya Pradesh andChhattisgarh with both the States staking claim over its nativity for GI tag. Both States had filedapplications with the Geographical Indication Registry office in Chennai for the ‘GI tag’ for thisblack-winged chicken variety.Geographical Indication (GI)

The GI tag is name or sign used on certain products which correspond to specific geographicallocation or origin. It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods having special qualityand established reputation.These goods and products having tag are recognised for their origin, quality and reputation andgives it required edge in the global market. It also ensures that none can use their name, giving themexclusivity. The registration of a GI is valid for 10 years after which it needs to be renewed.GI is covered as element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Paris Convention for Protectionof Industrial Property. At international level, GI is governed by WTO’s Agreement on Trade-RelatedAspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In India, GI tag is governed by GeographicalIndications of Goods (Registration and Protection Act), 1999. This Act is administered by ControllerGeneral of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Geographical Indications.

InSight Mission: NASA’s first mission to explore deep interior of MarsMarch 30, 2018

NASA will send first-ever mission named as InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations,Geodesy and Heat Transport) dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars.InSight will be stationary lander that will be launched in May 2018. It will be first NASA mission sincethe Apollo moon landings to place seismometer, a device that measures quakes on the soil of another






planet.InSight Mission

InSight is NASA’s Discovery Program mission that aims to place stationary lander equipped withseismometer and heat transfer probe on surface of Mars to study red planet’s early geologicalevolution. It is terrestrial planet explorer that will address one of most fundamental issues ofplanetary and solar system science. It will help in understanding processes that shaped rocky planetsof inner solar system (including Earth) more than four billion years ago. The robotic lander willperform a radio science experiment to study internal structure of Mars by deploying seismometerand a burrowing heat probe. It will measure Mar’s vital signs such as pulse (seismology), temperature(heat flow probe) and reflexes (precision tracking). It will let scientists understand how different itscrust, mantle and core are from Earth.

ISRO successfully launches GSAT-6A satelliteMarch 30, 2018

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched GSAT 6A communicationsatellite on board of GSLV-F08 rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This was overall 12th GSLVflight (and fifth successful) and sixth flight with indigenously built cryogenic upper stage engine.GSAT-6A

GSAT-6A is high power S-band communication satellite with a mission life of about 10 years. It wasplaced in Geosynchronous orbit of

Earth. It weighs 2066 kg and is most powerful home-made communication satellite till date. It issimilar to GSAT-6 is a high power S-band communication satellite that was launched back in 2015.The S-band’s antenna of GSAT-6A was developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad.It also has smaller 0.8-metre antenna for communication in the C band. It will provide mobilecommunication to India through multi beam coverage facility.It will also provide platform for developing technologies such as demonstration of S-Band UnfurlableAntenna, handheld ground terminals and network management techniques that could be useful insatellite based mobile communication applications. It will be also designated for military useespecially in remotest areas of the country.Special feature of GSAT-6A: It has 6-metre-wide umbrella-like antenna that will be unfurled inspace. The antenna is thrice as broad as antennas generally used in ISRO satellites. It will enablemobile communication from anywhere via hand-held ground terminals. It will require small groundstation as regular communication satellites with smaller antenna require much larger groundstations.S-Band

S-band is electromagnetic spectrum covering frequencies from 2 to 4 gigahertz (GHz). It is veryuseful and is used globally for 4G service and is extremely valuable for mobile broadband services. Itcrosses conventional boundary between Super High Frequency (SHF) and Ultra High Frequency(UHF) bands at 3.0 GHz.

Update: On April 1, 2018, ISRO confirmed that it had lost contact satellite GSAT-6A in the aftermath of second orbit-






raising exercise.

Government launches Swachh Bharat Summer InternshipMarch 30, 2018

Government is going to launch Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI) 2018 aimed at engagingcollege youth with Swachhata work in villages in coming Summer vacation. The initiative will belaunched by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the convening and coordinating Ministry ofSwachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in association with Ministry of Human Resource Development.SBSI 2018

SBSI 2018 aims to engage lakhs of educated youth across country, develop their skills and orientationfor sanitation sector, amplify mass awareness and cement people’s movement (Jan andolan) aspect ofSBM. Under it, candidates will undertake 100 hours of activities including shramdaan, creation ofsanitation infrastructure, system building, behaviour change camiagns and other IEC initiatives inand around nearby villages.The best internships will be recognised at college, University, State and National levels. Every internwho completes the SBSI will also be provided a Certificate of Internship by the Swachh BharatMission. 2 credit points as an ‘elective’ under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) will be awarded tostudents in Higher Educational Institutions undertaking and completing SBSI.

March 31, 2018PFMS portal processes record transactions on single day

March 31, 2018

The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal has processed record Rs 71,633 croretransactions on a single day. This was a historical record breaking volume of digital transactionsachieved by PFMS.Public Financial Management System (PFMS)

It is end-to- end solution for processing payments, tracking, monitoring, accounting, reconciliationand reporting. It is implemented by Controller General of Accounts and administered by theDepartment of Expenditure, both in Ministry of Finance. Various ministries/departments utilise thisplatform to monitor utilisation of funds provided to the implementing agencies and statesgovernments.It provides unified platform to scheme managers for tracking releases and monitoring their last mileutilisation. It also provides single platform for efficient management of funds by tracking them andreal time reporting of expenditure and receipts through treasury and bank interface. It is also usedfor Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments under MGNREGA and other notified schemes of theCentre.

SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act: Government to File Review PetitionMarch 31, 2018

Union law ministry is preparing to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s ruling on theScheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 that puts a stop toimmediate arrests in complaints filed under its provisions.Back ground

Previously, in an attempt to curb the misuse of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989) and protecthonest public servants Supreme Court gave following verdict:

An arrest is not mandatory under the SC/ST Act, and the automatic arrest has been scrapped.The court further directed that public servants can only be arrested with the written permission of theirappointing authority. This was to protect public servants and private employees from arbitrary arrests under theAtrocities ActSupreme Court also ruled that before arresting a public servant under the Act, a preliminary investigation by anofficer not below the rank of deputy superintendent is a must

SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was enacted in the year1989. It is a comprehensive law which not only defines atrocities against SCs and STs but also makeseveral rules, regulations etc. for proper protection of these vulnerable classes. One of the provisionsof the law states that public servant (non SC/ST) neglecting his duties related to SCs/STs will be






punished with imprisonment for a term of 6 months to 1 year. Ministry of Social Justice is the nodalministry to enforce the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Kaziranga National Park: Rhino population rises marginallyMarch 31, 2018

The recent census carried out in Kaziranga National Park, Assam has revealed that there was amarginal increase in the population of the one-horned rhinoceros here.As per census report, currently there are 2,413 rhinos in Kaziranga National Park registering amarginal increase of 12 rhinos compared to last census. Out of the rhinos spotted, 642 are adultmales and 793 are adult females while sex of 206 adult rhinos could not be determined during thecensus operation.About Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga national park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. The park is a hometo two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses, which are listed as vulnerable on the IUCNRed list of Threatened Species. It was designated with National Park status in 1968 and was declaredUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 for its unique natural environment. Kaziranga is alsorecognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species.

Pakistan Test Fires Submarine Launched Cruise Missile BABURMarch 31, 2018

Pakistan Navy successfully test fired indigenously developed Submarine Launched version of CruiseMissile (SLCM) BABUR. The missile was fired from an underwater dynamic platform, whichsuccessfully hit its target with sharp accuracy. The missile also met all its flight parameters.This is only the second time that Pakistan has announced a test of the submarine launched Babur-IIImissile, with the first test being conducted in January 2017.SLCM BABUR has a range of 450 KMs and is capable of delivering various types of payloads andincorporates state of the art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion, advancedguidance and navigation features.

Russia Conducts Another Test for ICBM Sarmat MissileMarch 31, 2018

Russia has successfully test fired its latest nuclear Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) RS-28Sarmat. This missile can carry an array of warheads capable of dodging missile defenses. The test wascarried out at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, as spaceport in the west of Russia, close to the Arctic Circle.The ICBM Sarmat has the capacity to reach any point in the world. The missile will enter into serviceby 2021.Background

The RS-28 Sarmat is a heavy liquid-propellant ICBM capable of carrying nuclear charges. This missileis under development in Russia since 2000ss. The objective of this development is to replace theR-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM, which is Russia’s only Strategic Missile Force since 1988.The name Sarmat is based upon the nomadic Sarmatian tribes which used to live between 6th and 4th

century BC in current territories of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Interstitium: Scientists discover new organ in human bodyMarch 31, 2018

Scientists have discovered new organ in human body and have named it as ‘interstitium’. It will bethe 80th organ in the human body. It might be might be also the biggest organ in human bodyIt was discovered while doctors were investigating patient’s bile duct, searching for signs of cancer.They had noticed cavities of this organ that did not match any previously known human anatomy.The discovery of interstitium will help to explain how cancer spreads in body and pave way for newways to detect and treat the disease.Interstitium

The new organ is network of interconnected, fluid-filled spaces all over the body. It is foundeverywhere in human bodies, acting as shock absorber in all places where tissues are moved orsubjected to force. It is made up of both flexible (elastin) and strong (collagen) connective tissueproteins, with interstitial fluid moving throughout. It lies beneath top layer of skin, but is also intissue layers lining gut, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles. The organ acts like shock absorber in allplaces where tissues are moved or subjected to force to protect them from damage.






Functions: The new organ’s interstitial spaces are organized by collagen mesh which allows it toshrink, expand making it as shock absorbers. It also acts as fluid ‘highway’ i.e. thoroughfares totransport critical fluids within organs and around body. It also plays important role in carryinglymph, a fluid that supports immunity and also travels through lymphatic vessels.

Chandra Bhushan Kumar appointed as Deputy Election CommissionerMarch 31, 2018

Government has appointed senior bureaucrat Chandra Bhushan Kumar as Deputy ElectionCommissioner. He will have tenure of five years. Bhushan is 1995 batch IAS officer of UnionTerritories Cadre.Election Commissioners

Election commission is multi member body and currently has three members including ChiefElection Commissioner (CEC). They all are appointed by the President for a term which is fixed by thePresident.Tenure: The service conditions and tenure of office of CEC and Election Commissioners aredetermined by Act of parliament titled The Chief Election Commissioner and Other ElectionCommissioners (Conditions of Service) Act, 1991. This act has fixed their term for 6 years or till age of65 years, whichever is earlier.Power/salary: The CEC and election commissioners have equal power and receive equal salary,allowances and other perquisites, which are similar to judge of Supreme Court. In case of differenceof opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner, the matter isdecided by the Commission by majority.

Government appoints Vineet Joshi as first DG of National Testing AgencyMarch 31, 2018

Government has appointed former chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) VineetJoshi, as the first Director-General (DG) of the National Testing Agency (NTA). He will have tenure offive years.He is 1992-batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre. Prior to this appointment, he was residentcommissioner of Manipur government. During his stint as CBSE chairman, he had introduced bigchanges such as Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and making Class X boardexamination optional.National Testing Agency (NTA)

NTA was approved by the Union cabinet in November 2017. It is autonomous and self-sustainedpremier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions inIndia. It is registered as society under Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.Composition: NTA will be chaired by eminent educationist appointed by Ministry of HumanResource Development. Its CEO will be Director General (DG) appointed by Government. Besides, ithas Board of Governors comprising members from user institutions.Mandate: Conduct entrance tests entrusted to it by any department or ministry. Bring highreliability and standardised difficulty level for assessing aptitude, intelligence and problem-solvingabilities of the students. It will relieve CBSE, AICTE and other bodies of responsibility of conductingentrance examinations.Operations: It will take over majority of the examinations conducted by CBSE from 2019 in phasedmanner. It will start its operations with Joint Engineering Entrance (JEE) and National Eligibility andEntrance Test (NEET UG) for admissions to medical and dental programmes from 2019.




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