Download - Weekly Current Affairs update - globalias.in · Current Affairs Magic Weekly Current Affairs Update Current Affairs magic March 11 to 17, 2018 3 SC extends Aadhaar linkage deadline

Current Affairs Magic

Weekly Current Affairs Update

Current Affairs magic March 11 to 17, 2018 www.globalias.in

1


For the Week: March 11 to 17, 2018

HEADLINES

Section A: INDIA

Seven union ministers win Rajya Sabha polls unopposed

TDP exits NDA; moves no-trust motion in Parliament

Govt. constitutes Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal

Labour rooms in healthcare facilities to be assessed, rewarded under ‗LaQshya‘

Govt institutes award for best investigators of crime

Govt to release annual reports on state of nutrition in India

Tibetans-in-exile commemorate 1959 uprising

Multilateral HADR Air Force exercise Samvedna organised

SC sets six-month deadline for 2G case probes

National Legislators Conference organised

Krishi Unnati Mela begins in New Delhi

NCRB launches mobile app for citizen-friendly services

World Consumer Rights Day celebrated

Commerce Minister Prabhu gets additional charge of civil aviation ministry

Bhaiyyaji Joshi gets another 3-year term as RSS general secretary

Daler Mehndi convicted in 2003 immigration scandal case

Maran brothers acquitted in illegal telephone exchange scam

Actor Narendra Jha dies at 55

Theatre personality Joy Michael dies at 90

Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD

India, France sign 14 pacts; major boost to defence, nuclear energy cooperation

India, France ink pact to expedite work on Jaitapur nuclear plant

India, France sign strategic pact on use of each other‘s military bases

India, France ink pact for mutual recognition of educational qualifications

French firm announces completion of first all-electric locomotive on schedule

PM Modi, French President inaugurate solar power plant in UP

Indo-French centre for engineers inaugurated in Bengaluru

Delhi Solar Agenda launched at founding summit of International Solar Alliance

NDB, ISA tie up, inks joint declaration to promote solar energy

ISA, IEA ink joint declarations of partnership for renewable energy

ADB, ISA sign pact to promote solar energy

WHO‘s Southeast Asia region nations pledge to end TB by 2030

Ayushman Bharat a bold move to improve health in India: WHO DG

Health ministry, WHO ink pact for enhanced cooperation

President Kovind visits Mauritius, Madagascar

Section C: WORLD

Bhutan among 4 nations recommended for graduation from UN‘s least developed country status

India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition Index; Sweden tops the list

Philippines to quit International Criminal Court

UK to set up new chemical weapons centre after spy poisoning

India ranks 133rd in World Happiness Repor




2

‗Panama Papers‘ law firm Mossack Fonseca shuts down operations

Nepal PM Oli wins vote of confidence

China‘s parliament abolishes presidential term limits

Russia test-fires ideal hypersonic missile ‗Kinzhal‘

Qatar announces $50 million donation to UNRWA

Criticising leaders is now a crime in Indonesia

World Sleep Day 2018 celebrated

Nepal‘s Chief Justice sacked for faking birth dates

Angela Merkel elected for fourth term as German chancellor

Oskar Groening, convicted ‗Bookkeeper of Auschwitz‘, dies aged 96

Trump sacks Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; replaces him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo

Slovenian PM Miro Cerar resigns over court ruling on referendum

Larry Kudlow to be Trump‘s new economic advisor

Bidya Devi Bhandari relected as Nepal President

Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Newton-Bhabha Fund for arsenic research project in Ganga basin

Neutrino project gets environmental nod

Space travel causes changes to genes: NASA

British theoretical scientist Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Nobel winner scientist John Sulston, who decoded human genome, dies at 75

Section E: AWARDS

BusinessLine Changemaker Awards conferred

Mohandas Pai selected for Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal

ICMR wins 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research

RIL wins Financial Times ArcelorMittal business award

Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) awards conferred

Nila Madhab Panda‘s ‗Halkaa‘ wins top honour at FIFEM fest

Indian woman pastor receives global peace award

Amol Palekar receives ‗Godavari Gaurav‘ award

Palace on Wheels‘ gets tourist train award

Section F: BANKING & FINANCE

PSBs to link SWIFT with Core Banking Solution by April 30

RBI discontinues LOUs/LOCs issuance for trade credit for imports

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India signs MoU with RBI

Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill and Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

41 out of 159 foreign branches of PSBs suffered losses in 2016-17

SBI retains minimum balance limit but cuts penalty charges by 75%

Citi India launches home loan linked to T-Bill rate

NSE IFSC launches debt securities; lists IREDA‘s masala bonds

Section G: ECONOMY

Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill

Lok Sabha passes Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018

CCEA approves extension of urea subsidy till 2020




3

SC extends Aadhaar linkage deadline indefinitely

Foreign lawyers, firms cannot practice law in India: SC

Wholesale inflation eases to 7-month low of 2.48% in February

Retail inflation at 4-month low of 4.44% on cheaper food, fuel

Merchandise trade deficit in February 2018 at $12 billion

India‘s services export surges 15.9% to $ 16.01 billion in January 2018

Indian economy to grow at 7.3% in 2018-19: World Bank

India needs 8 percent growth for 30 years to join middle-income group: World Bank

Economy‘s growth to touch 7.3% next fiscal, 7.5% in 2019-20: Fitch

India attracts USD 209 bn FDI during Apr 2014 to Dec 2017

Govt pegs sugar output at 27.2 mn tonnes for 2017-18

REC introduces dollar denominated bonds

Three-day international competition conference from March 21

India processes 24% of solid waste generated: Govt data

Milk production rose 20% in 2014-2017 to 165.4 mn tonnes

Existing system of filing GST returns extended by three months

IREDA, EIB ink 150mn-euro loan agreement for renewable energy

Railways to use mathematical formula to maximise loco usage, increase revenue

IATA partners with civil aviation ministry in India

Umang founder praised in UN as symbol of women‘s empowerment

Section H: CORPORATE

Indian Oil, ONGC, Coal best performers among CPSEs in 2016-17; BSNL, Air India, MTNL worst

Google to ban ads promoting cryptocurrencies

Amazon Prime Music ties up with IPRS for content

DGCA orders grounding of 8 IndiGo, 3 GoAir aircraft over engine issues

NASSCOM, Facebook launch ‗Design4India Studio‘ in Bengaluru

Infosys announces intent to voluntarily delist its ADS

SpiceJet inks $12.5 bn deal with Safran for aircraft engines

Delhi‘s Connaught Place 3rd most expensive office market in APAC: Knight Frank Report

Pune best governed, Bengaluru worst, Delhi improves: JCCD Study

UK firm Zaha Hadid Architects to design Navi Mumbai international airport

World‘s smallest PC ‗LIVA Q‘ now in India

Monster, Indian Navy ink MoU for jobs to retired personnel

Edelweiss scraps deal to buy Religare‘s securities unit

Apple acquires digital magazine service Texture

Tata Sons Chairman elected IISc President

Tata‘s Chief Ethics Officer Mukund Rajan quits

French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy died at 91

Section I: STATES

Delhi HC stays Centre‘s notification on crash guards till April 18

Maharishi Balmiki Sanskrit University to be set up at Kaithal, Haryana

Haryana Assembly passes bill allowing death penalty for raping children

Rajasthan govt. revokes dress code in colleges

Himachal CM launches handbook on women safety

9 CRPF men killed in Naxal triggered blast in Sukma

Sushil Modi inaugurates Bihar‘s first ‗Startup hub‘ in Patna




4

RJD wins Araria Lok Sabha bypoll

SP wins both seats in UP Lok Sabha byelections

‗Mission Aroma‘ now in J&K with huge potential for farmers

J&K CM inaugurates Hari Singh Park in Jammu

Ten dead, 14 injured in TN forest fire

TN to provide high frequency communication sets to fishermen

Govt. to avoid damage to Ram Sethu in implementation of Sethusamudram Project

Maharashtra to ban plastic from March 18

Arunachal passes bill to have 2-tier Panchayati Raj

IAF lands its largest transport aircraft in Arunachal Pradesh‘s Tuting

First commercial flight lands successfully at Pakyong airport in Sikkim

Conrad Sangma govt wins trust vote in Meghalaya

Tripura Deputy CM Jishnu Deb Burman wins Charilam seat

TTV Dhinakaran launches Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar joins BJP

Ex-Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma resigns from traditional seat

V.K. Jain, adviser to Delhi CM Kejriwal, resigns

J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti sacks finance minister Haseeb Drabu

Former UP Minister Begum Hamida Habibullah passes away at 102

Congress leader Patangrao Kadam dies at 72

Section J: SPORTS

India top medals tally in ISSF World Cup held in Mexico

Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya

KL Rahul is Wisden India Almanack‘s Cricketer of the Year

Australia beat England to lift Sultan Azlan Shah cup in Malaysia

Sanjeevani Jadhav wins bronze in Asian cross country race

B. Adhiban wins Reykjavik Open chess title

Former Men‘s Doubles tennis player Ken Flach dies




5

Section A: INDIA

NEWS ROUND UP

Seven union ministers win Rajya Sabha polls unopposed

Seven Union ministers were declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on March 15, 2018.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar were elected from their homes states Bihar and Maharashtra, while Petroleum Minister

Dharmendra Pradhan and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot made it to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. Health Minister

J P Nadda got elected unopposed from Himachal Pradesh. Union ministers Parshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya also got elected from Gujarat

without a contest.

Others who got elected are as follows:

Odisha: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates -- Prashant Nanda, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Achyuta Samanta -- were declared elected from Odisha.

Gujarat: Naran Rathwa and Amee Yajnik (Congress) were declared elected unopposed from Gujarat.

Rajasthan: All three BJP nominees---Kirori Meena, Bhupender Yadav and Madan Lal Saini -- were declared elected unopposed from Rajasthan.

Uttarakhand: The BJP‘s media chief Anil Baluni got elected without a contest from Uttarakhand.

Maharashtra: Former state chief minister Narayan Rane, whom the BJP had backed, former Kerala BJP chief V Muraleedharan (BJP), journalist Kumar Ketkar

(Congress), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena) and Vandana Chavan (NCP).

Uttarakhand: Lt Gen (retired) D P Vats of BJP was elected unopposed from Haryana.

Uttarakhand: Ruling TDP‘s C M Ramesh, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar and YSRC‘s Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy were elected unopposed to the three seats

of Andhra Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh: Ajay Pratap Singh and Kailash Soni of BJP, and Rajmani Patel of Congress won without a contest.

Bihar: Bashishtha Narain Singh and Mahendra Prasad both JD(U), Manoj Jha and Ashfaq Karim of RJD and Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Congress).

TDP exits NDA; moves no-trust motion in Parliament

Ending its four-year-old alliance with the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on March 16, 2018 pulled out of the NDA over the Centre‘s refusal to grant

Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh and simultaneously moved a no-trust motion in Parliament.

TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement to exit the BJP-led alliance in Amaravati. Earlier on March 8, two of TDP‘s

union ministers--P Ashok Gajapati Raju and Y S Chowdary—resigned.

The notices for the no-confidence motion that were moved for the first time since the Modi government assumed office in May 2014 were not taken up as

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there was no order in the House and adjourned the proceedings for the day. The no-confidence notices were moved by MPs

from TDP and YSR Congress.

With the BJP alone having 275 members 275 (272 Elected + 2 Nominated + 1 Speaker) in the 536-member Lok Sabha and enjoying support of allies, the no-

confidence motion, if accepted, is likely to be defeated. BJP‘s coalition partners in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with seats in Lok Sabha are: Shiv Sena:

18, Lok Janshakti Party: 6, Shiromani Akali Dal: 4, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party: 3, Apna Dal: 2, Pattali Makkal Katchi: 1, National People‘s Party: 1, All India N.R.

Congress: 1, Janata Dal (United): 2, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party: 1 and Sikkim Democratic Front: 1.

Govt. constitutes Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal

The Union Water Resources Ministry on March 12, 2018 issued a notification, constituting three-member ‗Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal‘ to adjudicate

the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing the river‘s water.




6

Supreme Court judge A M Khanwilkar has been named as the chairman of the tribunal, being formed as per the January 23 order of the apex court to the

Centre in this connection. Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar, judges of Patna and Delhi High Courts respectively, are the other two

members of the tribunal.

The Odisha government had moved the court in December, 2016, seeking an order asking Chhattisgarh to stop construction work in projects on the

upstream of Mahanadi, saying it had affected the river flow in the state. It had also pitched for setting up of the tribunal.

The tribunal would determine water sharing among basin states on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution

of each state, the present utilisation of water resource in each state and the potential for future development.

As per provisions of the Inter State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of three

years, which can be extended for a period not exceeding two years due to unavoidable reasons.

Labour rooms in healthcare facilities to be assessed, rewarded under ‘LaQshya’

Implementation of labour room protocols for providing quality care to both mother and the newborn at healthcare facilities across the country, will be

assessed through National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) under ‗LaQshya‘ programme and awarded accordingly, the health ministry said on March 15,

2018.

A healthcare facility achieving 70 per cent score on NQAS will be declared ‗LaQshya‘ certified. Facilities scoring over 90, 80 and 70 per cent will get platinum,

gold and silver badges respectively.

Facilities achieving NQAS certification and having 80 per cent satisfied beneficiaries will be given monetary incentive with medical college hospitals getting Rs

6 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for district hospitals.

The ‗LaQshya‘ programme was launched across the country in December last year in order to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates.

Ensuring privacy for mothers-to-be, providing a comfortable position during delivery, no-tolerance policy towards verbal or physical abuse on women and no

demand of gratuitous payment by the staff are some of the guidelines provided in the programme.

―India has come a long way in improving maternal survival as maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has reduced from 301 maternal deaths (per 1,00,000 live births)

in 2001-03 to 167 in 2011-13, an impressive decline of 45 per cent in a decade. India is committed to ensuring safe motherhood to every pregnant woman in

the country,‖ the health ministry said in a statement.

Govt institutes award for best investigators of crime

The government has decided to institute an award for carrying out best investigation of crime, for promoting high professional standards among police

forces.

The award - ‗Union Home Minister‘s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation‘ - will be given to the best investigators of police forces of the states, union

territories and the central investigating agencies.

Officers from the rank of Sub-Inspector to Superintendent of Police are eligible for the ‗Union Home Minister‘s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation‘.

Based on the average crime data for the last three years, a total of 162 medals will be awarded every year; of these, 137 will be for the states and UTs and 25

for the central investigating agencies -- National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Govt to release annual reports on state of nutrition in India

The Centre will for the first time release annual reports on the state of nutrition in the country. The Executive Committee under the ‗POSHAN Abhiyaan‘

headed by Secretary, WCD Ministry, Rakesh Srivastava in a meeting held in New Delhi on March 13, 2018 took the decision to launch a survey on nutrition

and release reports on the same every year. According to a statement from the Women and Child Development ministry, the committee took significant

decisions on implementation of the PM‘s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) scheme, including a series of meetings to be held on

Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14) about gram panchayats across the country.




7

Tibetans-in-exile commemorate 1959 uprising

Tibetans-in-exile held protest in New Delhi on March 10, 2018 to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising. In the 1959 uprising, Tibetans revolted against

Chinese rule in Lhasa. It resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent Tibetans.

Multilateral HADR Air Force exercise Samvedna organised

The first Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise of the Indian Air Force in association with South Asian Region nations was organised off

the coast of Kerala from March 12 to 17, 2018. The multilateral exercise named ‗Samvedna‘ involved representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,

Nepal and the UAE. The exercise, hosted by the Southern Air Command, was organised to provide a clear understanding of the scope, role and task,

including challenges in air operations and ensure better understanding, and sharing of response procedures among the nations.

SC sets six-month deadline for 2G case probes

The Supreme Court said on March 12, 2018 directed the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate to complete investigation into all 2G spectrum scam cases,

including the Aircel-Maxis deal case, in six months. ―This is a very important case and the country must know the results, whatever may be the decision. Why

is this investigation taking too long? Is anybody behind the delay,‖ Justice Arun Mishra, heading a Bench comprising Justice Navin Sinha, asked Attorney-

General K.K. Venugopal. The court said the case had come up before this Bench after four years and asked the agencies for a status report in two weeks.

National Legislators Conference organised

A two-day National Legislators Conference was organised in the Central Hall of Parliament House in New Delhi on March 10-11, 2018. The theme of the

conference was ―We For Development‖. The conference was organised to provide a platform to Members of Parliament, Legislative Assemblies and

Legislative Councils across the country to share their experiences and to develop a perspective on developmental issues in the light of sustainable

development goals.

Krishi Unnati Mela begins in New Delhi

The three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela began at the at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, in New Delhi on March 16, 2018 with a focus on doubling

farmers‘ income. The objective of the event is to create awareness among farmers about the latest agriculture-related technological developments.

NCRB launches mobile app for citizen-friendly services

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 33rd

Inception Day on March 11, 2018 in their newly constructed Complex at Mahipalpur, New Delhi

and released ―Citizen Services‖ Mobile App. This single App is a bouquet of various essential police related services to the citizen. The App can be used by

citizen for various services such as Complaint Registration & Status Check, View FIR Detail, SOS – Stay Safe, Locate Police Stations, Vahan-Samanvay,

Emergency Contact List, Police Stations Telephone Directory etc.

World Consumer Rights Day celebrated

World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated on March 15, 2018 under the theme ―Making Digital Market Places Fairer‖. Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram

Vilas Paswan inaugurated an event in New Delhi to mark the occasion where he said that the new Consumer Protection Bill which is under govt‘s

consideration would replace the 30 year old Consumer Protection Act of 1986 once enacted.

RECENT BOOKS

Story of the Indian Railways by Abraham Jacob

GST and Its Aftermath: Is Consumer Really the King? by Govind Bhattacharjee and Debasis Bhattacharya

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

NEWSMAKERS

Commerce Minister Prabhu gets additional charge of civil aviation ministry




8

Commerce and Industries minister Suresh Prabhu was on March 10, 2018 given additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry, a day after the resignation of

TDP‘s Ashok Gajapathi Raju was accepted by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Bhaiyyaji Joshi gets another 3-year term as RSS general secretary

Bhaiyyaji Joshi was on March 10, 2018 re-elected as RSS general secretary for another term of three years by its office bearers from across the country. Joshi,

who has been holding the post since 2009, will now continue in the position till 2021. He will be the second Sarkaryawah of the Rastriya Swyamsevak Sangh

(RSS) to serve such a long stint after H V Seshadri who had held the post from 1987 to 2000. The Sangh‘s general secretary is its executive head who looks

after the day-to-day affairs of the organisation.

Daler Mehndi convicted in 2003 immigration scandal case

A court Patiala on March 16, 2018 sentenced Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi to two year imprisonment for his role in an immigration scandal in 2003. A fine

of Rs 1,000 was also imposed on him. The singer was, however, released on bail bond. The Patiala police had booked Daler Mehndi and Shamsher Mehndi on

a complaint filed by one Bakshish Singh. Around 35 more complaints levelling charges of fraud against the brothers also came up later. The complainants had

alleged that the Mehndi brothers had taken ‗passage money‘ from them to help them migrate to the US illegally, but failed to do so. Singh alleged that the

Punjabi singer had taken money for taking him to Canada. It has been alleged that the Mehndi brothers took two troupes in 1998 and 1999 during the

course of which 10 persons were taken to the US as group members and ―dropped off‖ illegally.

Maran brothers acquitted in illegal telephone exchange scam

Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran were discharged on March 14, 2018 by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

court in the BSNL illegal telephone exchange case for want of prima facie evidence. The case pertains to alleged illegal setting up of the telephone exchange

at Dayanidhi Maran‘s residence during his tenure as the Union Telecom Minister from 2004 to 2007. The 764 high-speed data lines of Bharat Sanchar Nigam

Limited (BSNL) were then allegedly used for doing business transactions involving Sun Network, a channel run by his brother Kalanithi Maran.

Actor Narendra Jha dies at 55

Noted film and television actor Narendra Jha, best known for his performance in films such as ―Raees‖, ―Kaabil‖ and ―Haider‖, died in Mumbai on March 14,

2018 at the age of 55. Jha began his acting career on TV with hit shows like ―Shanti‖, ―Ithihass‖, ―Captain House‖.

Theatre personality Joy Michael dies at 90

Theatre personality Joy Michael died in New Delhi at the age of 90 on March 9, 2018. A post-graduate in English literature from St. Stephen‘s College, she

studied speech and drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and trained at British Drama League. After returning to India, she co-founded

Yatrik Theatre, a repertory company, in 1964 along with Roshan Seth, Rati Bartholomew, Sushma Seth, Marcus March and others. Ms. Michael was awarded

the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2009 and was conferred the Padma Shri in 2012.

Senior editor Ranjan Roy dies at 57

Senior journalist Ranjan Roy died in New Delhi on March 10, 2018. Roy, chief of the Times News Network (TNN) and a member of the paper‘s national

editorial board, was 57.




9

Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

India, France sign 14 pacts; major boost to defence, nuclear energy cooperation

In a major expansion of strategic ties, India and France on March 10, 2018 inked 14 pacts in key areas of defence, security, nuclear energy and protection of

classified information besides resolving to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and step up joint efforts to contain terrorism. The agreements were

signed after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in New Delhi.

Highlights of the visit include the following:

India, France ink pact to expedite work on Jaitapur nuclear plant

India and France on March 10, 2018 inked an agreement to expedite the Jaitapur nuclear power plant project, with the aim of commencing work at the site

around the year-end.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and EDF France to

accelerate the contractual discussions for the project, which is yet to see a consensus on key aspects such as credit limits. The EDF and the NPCIL is yet to

agree on the cost per unit and the credit aspect, which France will give to India for building the plant in Maharashtra.

The Indo-French nuclear agreement was signed in 2008 and it was decided to build a nuclear power plant in Jaitapur, in coastal Maharashtra, some 600 km

south of Mumbai. The power plant will have six reactors with a capacity of 1,650 MW each. Once installed, the Jaitapur project will be the largest nuclear

power plant in the world, with a total capacity of 9,600 MW.

India, France sign strategic pact on use of each other’s military bases

India and France on March 10, 2018 inked a strategic pact providing for the use of each other‘s military facilities including opening naval bases to warships.

The Indo-French agreement on reciprocal logistics support for armed forces came nearly two years after India signed a similar pact with the US on use of

each other‘s land, air and naval bases. The agreement will facilitate the reciprocal provision of logistic support, supplies and services between the armed

forces of the two countries during authorised port visits, joint exercises and joint training among others. On ties in the maritime security sphere, the French

President said both the countries will have ―unprecedented‖ level of cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and in Pacific.

India, France sign pact on exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected information

The two countries also signed a pact on exchange and reciprocal protection of classified or protected information. The agreement comes in the backdrop of

the Indian government refusing to divulge details of the multi-billion dollar Indo-French Rafale fighter jet deal.

India, France ink pact for mutual recognition of educational qualifications

India and France on March 10, 2018 signed an MoU for Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications. Frederique Vidal, France‘s Minister of Higher

Education and Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the MoU at the ‗Knowledge Summit‘ held in New Delhi. The Summit

coincided with the first state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India. The first high-level India-France Knowledge Summit was jointly organised

by French Institute in India, along with Ministry of Higher Education, Research & Innovation (MESRI), France and India‘s HRD Ministry.

French firm announces completion of first all-electric locomotive on schedule

French company Alstom on March 10, 2018 announced the completion of its first all-electric locomotive at its state-of-the-art facility at Madhepura in Bihar

on schedule. The first locomotive is part of a Rs 350 crore order for 800 electric double-section locomotives, signed in 2015. The 12,000-hp locomotive has a

hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and is capable of running at a speed of 120km per hour, allowing a faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains

across the country, thereby reducing the congestion for passenger train services and freight.

PM Modi, French President inaugurate solar power plant in UP




10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the 100 MW solar power plant in Mirzapur district in Uttar

Pradesh on March 12, 2018. Earlier Modi arrived in Varanasi and received President Macron at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. The two leaders

then went to the famous Assi Ghat in Varanasi, where they started a boat for a ride along the Ghats of the Ganga, culminating at the historic Dashashwamedh

Ghat. President Macron arrived in India on March 8 for a four-day visit.

Indo-French centre for engineers inaugurated in Bengaluru

Coinciding with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India, an Indo-French Centre of Excellence (CoE) was inaugurated in Bengaluru on March

12, 2018 to impart vocational training to engineers in electricity, automation and energy management. The centre has been set up jointly by the French

government, French automation company Schneider Electric and Bengaluru-based New Horizon College of Engineering.

Delhi Solar Agenda launched at founding summit of International Solar Alliance

As many as 62 member nations of the ISA on March 11, 2018 committed that they will increase share of solar power in their energy mix to deal with climate

change. This was revealed in the Delhi Solar Agenda launched in New Delhi at founding summit of International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Under the ISA framework as many as 32 countries have ratified the agreement, while 30 have joined the group of nations, which aim to promote solar energy

as means of development particularly in developing nations.

The agenda said that these countries will pursue an increased share of solar energy in the final energy consumption in their respective national energy mix, as

a means of tackling global challenges of climate change and as a cost effective solution by supporting and implementing policy initiatives and participation

of all relevant stakeholder.

Besides, they will also facilitate affordable finance, access to appropriate, clean and environment friendly technology and undertake capacity building,

including forging mutually beneficial partnerships with reputable international institutions and reputable financial institutions for the benefit of developing

countries.

NDB, ISA tie up, inks joint declaration to promote solar energy

New Development Bank and International Solar Alliance have joined hands to promote solar energy across the globe. ―On March 10 2018, the New

Development Bank (NDB) and International Solar Alliance (ISA) signed in New Delhi, India a Joint Declaration for the Promotion of Solar Energy Globally,‖ an

NDB statement said. The Declaration was signed by K V Kamath, the NDB President and Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director General of ISA.

The NDB and the ISA agreed to consider a roadmap for the mobilisation of financing to promote solar energy in countries of common interest and to explore

mechanisms for supporting solar energy development.

The NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in

BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries.

International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based international inter-governmental organisation which was launched on November 30, 2015, in Paris, France,

and headquarters at Gurgaon, Haryana.

ISA, IEA ink joint declarations of partnership for renewable energy

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has signed a joint partnership agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to deepen cooperation in the field

of renewable energy.

―The objective of the agreements is to deepen their cooperation in support of renewable energy. The previous three partnerships were signed by ISA with the

World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,‖ an official statement said on March 10, 2018.

The ISA is working for deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilising more than USD 1 trillion into solar energy by the year 2030.

ADB, ISA sign pact to promote solar energy

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on March 10, 2018 signed a cooperation arrangement to promote solar energy

deployment in Asia and the Pacific.




11

The cooperation envisages solar power generation, solar based mini-grids, and transmission systems for integrating solar energy into grids, among others.

The ISA and the ADB would also cooperate on knowledge sharing and developing technology roadmaps for the promotion of solar energy, the multilateral

lending agency said in a statement.

They would also develop financing instruments to support solar energy deployment and conduct studies and consultations to explore mobilisation of

concessional financing through trust funds or special funds administered by ADB.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and

regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region.

WHO’s Southeast Asia region nations pledge to end TB by 2030

Countries of WHO‘s South East Asia Region on March 14, 2018 pledged to end tuberculosis by 2030 and India assured its support to them for meeting their

goals in eliminating the disease.

On March 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the global Delhi End TB Summit in New Delhi and expressed the willingness and resolve of his

government to make India free of tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030.

The participating countries signed the ‗Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action‘, which calls for increasing budgetary and human resource allocations by

governments and stakeholders to ensure that their national TB plans are fully funded and medical care for the disease is supplemented with social and

financial protection. The ‗Statement of Action‘ called for ending TB by 2030.

The Delhi End TB Summit Statement of Action identifies the roles, responsibilities and directions of the member countries of WHO SEARO region to make

their countries free of tuberculosis.

Ayushman Bharat a bold move to improve health in India: WHO DG

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has termed the ‗Ayushman Bharat‘, the government‘s mega healthcare initiative, as a bold and ambitious move that

has the potential improve health and move people out of poverty.

Delivering a special address on ‗Universal Health Coverage‘ to a gathering at NITI Aayog in New Delhi on March 14, 2018, WHO Director General Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it is essential to educate people at the primary level about health and well-being.

NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar said the 3Cs - ‗Constant Communication to Communities‘ - will be the Aayog‘s guiding goals as the country has set out

an ambitious journey to improve healthcare in India.

About Ayushman Bharat programme

The Ayushman Bharat programme was announced in the general budget this year. The government had announced, as a part of ‗Ayushman Bharat‘, two

path-breaking initiatives that address health holistically, impacting primary, secondary and tertiary care system as well as prevention and health promotion.

These included opening of 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres to provide people-centric comprehensive primary healthcare including for common non-

communicable diseases closer to the homes of people, including providing free essential drugs and diagnostics.

The second initiative under ‗Ayushman Bharat‘ is the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), under which over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families

(approx. 50 crore beneficiaries) will be provided treatment coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

Health ministry, WHO ink pact for enhanced cooperation

The Union health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 13, 2018 inked an MoU for enhanced cooperation in the health sector. The

agreement was signed and exchanged between Joint Secretary (Health Ministry) Lav Agarwal and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the

WHO, in the presence of Union Health Minister J P Nadda.




12

NEWSMAKERS

President Kovind visits Mauritius, Madagascar

President Ram Nath Kovind on March 13, 2018 inaugurated the World Hindi Secretariat building in Port Louis, Mauritius on the third day of his visit to the

country. He also launched the World Hindi Secretariat‘s logo, an Early Digital Learning Programme as well unveiled foundation stones of a social housing

project and a large ENT hospital being built with Indian assistance. .

Kovind on March 14, 2018 arrived at the Madagascar capital Antananarivo in the last leg of his five-day two-nation visit. He was received by Prime Minister

Oliver Mahafaly Solonandrasana. Kovind called on Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina later. Madagascar is straddled in the Indian Ocean and

alongside the strategic Mozambique Channel. It is also a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The island country is the fourth largest in Africa, in

terms of size. Madagascar belongs to the group of least developed countries and is aid-dependent, according to the United Nations.




13

Section C: WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

Bhutan among 4 nations recommended for graduation from UN’s least developed country status

Bhutan, Kiribati, Sao Tome and Principe and Solomon Islands are set to move up from the ranks of poorest nations due to their increasing national earning

power as well as access to better health care and education, the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) announced on March 16, 2018. The

four countries will be recommended for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

The LDC category is assessed using three criteria: human assets (health and education targets), economic vulnerability and gross national income per capita.

Countries must meet two of the three criteria at two consecutive triennial reviews of the CDP to be considered for graduation. CDP will send its

recommendations to ECOSOC (the UN Economic and Social Council) for endorsement, which will then refer its decision to the UN General Assembly.

The graduating country has a grace period (normally three years) before graduation effectively takes place. This period, during which the country remains an

LDC, is designed to enable the country and its development and trading partners to agree on a smooth-transition strategy, so that the planned loss of LDC

status does not disrupt the socioeconomic progress of the country.

India ranks 78th

on WEF Energy Transition Index; Sweden tops the list

India has been ranked at 78th

among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum‘s Energy Transition Index that was topped by Sweden. The report titled

―Fostering Effective Energy Transition‖, ranks countries on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and

affordability.

According to the report India has taken ―bold measures‖ to improve energy access, energy efficiency, and to improve the deployment of renewable sources

of energy. However, energy transition in the country will require ―large investments, and an enabling environment and robust regulatory frameworks to

support the transition‖.

The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank. Other countries on the top 10 include Finland

(4th), Denmark (5th), the Netherlands (6th), the UK (7th), Austria (8th), France (9th) and Iceland (10th).

Philippines to quit International Criminal Court

The Philippines has given official notice to exit the treaty that created the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is examining President Rodrigo Duterte‘s

deadly drug war. The ICC recently launched its preliminary inquiry into allegations his crackdown on narcotics amounts to crimes against humanity.

Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 suspects who fought back during arrest, but rights groups say the actual number is three times higher

and accuse the authorities of murder.

On March 16, 2018 the Philippines said in a letter to the United Nations, which oversaw negotiations to found the court that it was pulling out of the Rome

Statute.

Opened in 2002, the ICC is the world‘s only permanent war crimes court and aims to prosecute the worst abuses when national courts are unable or

unwilling.

Duterte, who is buoyed by high popularity ratings at home, has fiercely defended the drug war as a battle to bring safety to the nation‘s 100 million people.

UK to set up new chemical weapons centre after spy poisoning

The UK government on March 15, 2018 announced that it will set up a new 48-million-pound Chemical Weapons Defence Centre and vaccinate thousands of

British soldiers against anthrax in the wake of the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the new facility will be located at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in Porton Down, near

Salisbury the city where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found collapsed on March 4 after being poisoned with a deadly

Russian-made nerve agent. The Skripals remain critically ill.




14

In a Parliament statement on March 14, Prime Minister Theresa May had announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats identified as ―undeclared

intelligence officers‖ in the single biggest such expulsion in around 30 years.

A former Russian military colonel, Skripal was convicted of treason in 2006 and jailed for 13 years for selling secrets to MI6, which had recruited him in the

1990s.

The senior intelligence officer with Russian military intelligence GRU was pardoned in a spy swap in 2010 and settled in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The poison used in the attack has been identified as belonging to a group of chemical nerve agents known as Novichok, which means newcomer and was

used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War era in 1970s and 1980s.

Like most nerve agents, it has the effect of blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles in the body, which leads to a collapse of body functions and

ultimately death by asphyxiation.

India ranks 133rd

in World Happiness Report

India was ranked 133rd

among 156 countries in the latest World Happiness Report released by the UN. The report ranked Finland as the happiest country,

closely followed by Norway and Denmark. Burundi was listed as the least happy country. According to the report produced by the United Nations Sustainable

Development Solutions Network (SDSN), India‘s happiness score fell by 0.698 points, bringing it down from its previous year‘s position of 128. The sixth

World Happiness Report was released in London on March 15, 2018. The results are based on six key factors found to support wellbeing - income, healthy life

expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity.

‘Panama Papers’ law firm Mossack Fonseca shuts down operations

The law firm at the heart of the ―Panama Papers‖ global tax evasion scandal that brought down two world leaders announced in Panama City on March 15,

2018 it would shut down operations, citing negative press and what it called unwarranted action by authorities.

―Reputational deterioration, the media campaign, the financial consequences and irregular actions by some Panamanian authorities have caused irreparable

damage, resulting in the total ceasing of public operations at the end of this month,‖ Mossack Fonseca said in a statement. But it added a smaller group

would continue working to address requests from authorities and other public and private groups.

April 3, 2016 marked the beginning of the ―Panama Papers‖ scandal -- a leak of 11.5 million files from Mossack Fonseca‘s digital archive that revealed how

wealthy and influential figures across the world had created offshore businesses to safeguard assets.

The information was obtained by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, who shared it with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It

was released as a searchable database, with revelations continuing to be unearthed to this day.

Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was forced to resign after it was revealed his family had offshore accounts -- while former Pakistani

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life from office after being implicated in the documents.

At least 150 investigations were opened in 79 countries to examine possible tax evasion and money laundering, according to the US-based Center for Public

Integrity.

Nepal PM Oli wins vote of confidence

Nepal‘s newly-elected Prime Minister K P Oli on March 11, 2018 won a historic vote of confidence with two-thirds majority in the country‘s lower House of

Parliament. Oli, who was appointed to the post on February 15, secured 208 votes out of total 268 Parliament members present in the House of

Representatives. The 66-year-old Oli received the backing of all political parties, except the main opposition, the Nepali Congress and some fringe parties

who voted against him.

He received 121 votes from CPN-UML, 52 from CPN (Maoist Center), 16 each from Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal and one

each from Rastriya Janamorcha, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal Workers Peasants Party and an independent lawmaker.

There are 275 members in the House of Representatives including 165 members elected under the first-past-the-post category or direct election and 110

under proportional representation basis.




15

China’s parliament abolishes presidential term limits

China‘s parliament on March 11, 2018 voted with a two-thirds majority to abolish presidential term limits. The constitutional amendment removing the term

limit for the President and the Vice President was approved with a two-thirds majority by about 3,000 deputies of the National People‘s Congress (NPC).

Ahead of the vote by deputies in the NPC - regarded as the rubber stamp parliament for its routine endorsement of CPC proposals - the seven member

Standing Committee - the top most body of the ruling Communist Party of China - unanimously approved the amendment to abolish the presidential term

limits.

The amendment effectively ended the collective leadership system followed by the CPC to avert a dictatorship emerging in otherwise a one-party state akin

to the era of Mao which witnessed the most brutal events like Cultural Revolution resulting in the killings of millions of people.

Russia test-fires ideal hypersonic missile ‘Kinzhal’

Russia said on March 11, 2018 it successfully launched a hypersonic missile which President Vladimir Putin called ―an ideal weapon‖. The high-precision

Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield in the South Military District in Russia‘s

southwest. Putin said the missile flies at 10 times the speed of the sound and can overcome air-defence systems.

Qatar announces $50 million donation to UNRWA

Qatar has announced a 50 million Dollars donation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The donation was made

during the extraordinary ministerial meeting of UNRWA held in Rome, Italy in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Qatar is facing a nine-

month boycott by its Gulf allies, which accused Doha of supporting extremist political movements in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, the Muslim

Brotherhood, and Hamas.

Criticising leaders is now a crime in Indonesia

Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians under a new law which came into force on March 15, 2018. The Bill passed the Parliament in

February 2018 but has just become official, over the objections of President Joko Widodo. It opens to the door to pressing charges against anyone who

―disrespects Parliament or its members‖.

World Sleep Day 2018 celebrated

World Sleep Day 2018 was celebrated on March 16, 2018. The holiday aims to emphasize the importance of sleep and raise awareness about sleep disorders

through fun events around the globe. It is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society.

NEWSMAKERS

Nepal’s Chief Justice sacked for faking birth dates

Nepal‘s controversial Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli was on March 14, 2018 sacked by the country‘s Judicial Council for inconsistencies in his birth dates as

mentioned in his citizenship and academic certificates and remaining in office even after crossing the retirement age. The decision came just minutes before

Parajuli administered the oath of office to Bidya Bhandari, who was reelected for a second presidential term on March 13. The Judicial Council in the removal

letter to Chief Justice cited inconsistencies in the birth dates as mentioned in his citizenship and academic certificates. According to the judicial council

Parajuli crossed the retirement age of 65 on August 5, 20017.

Angela Merkel elected for fourth term as German chancellor

Germany‘s parliament elected Angela Merkel for her fourth term as Chancellor on March 14, 2018, putting an end to nearly six months of political drift in

Europe‘s biggest economy. The parliamentary vote came 171 days after the election. Lawmakers voted 364-315 to re-elect Merkel, Germany‘s leader since

2005. The coalition of Merkel‘s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democrats has 399

of the 709 seats in parliament.

Oskar Groening, convicted ‘Bookkeeper of Auschwitz’, dies aged 96




16

Oskar Groening, a former Nazi SS guard dubbed the ―Bookkeeper of Auschwitz‖, has died aged 96 nearly three years after his conviction for being an

accessory to murder, German media said on March 13, 2018. Groening worked as an accountant at Auschwitz, sorting and counting the money taken from

those killed or used as slave labour, and shipping it back to his Nazi superiors in Berlin. He was found guilty in July 2015 of being an accessory to the murders

of 300,000 people at the camp and sentenced to four years in prison. A court doctor determined in 2017 that he was able to serve his sentence, on condition

he was given appropriate nursing and medical care, but he was never jailed.

Trump sacks Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; replaces him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo

US President Donald Trump on March 13, 2018 sacked his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replaced him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo. Trump also

announced the appointment of Gina Haspel as the first woman Director of Central Intelligence Agency.

Slovenian PM Miro Cerar resigns over court ruling on referendum

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar tendered his resignation in capital Ljubljana on March 15, 2018 after a court annulled the result of a government

referendum. On March 14, the constitutional court invalidated the result of a referendum which approved a flagship government infrastructure project, the

upgrading of transport links to Koper port on the Adriatic coast. The constitutional court found that the government had not acted with due impartiality as it

spent public money to back a yes vote for the scheme.

Larry Kudlow to be Trump’s new economic advisor

Larry Kudlow was announced as his new Chief Economic Advisor by US President Donald Trump in Washington on March 15, 2018. Earlier Gary Cohen had

resigned from the post over imposition of stiff tariffs on steel and aluminium imports by the Trump administration. Kudlow had served as Trump‘s informal

economic adviser during the 2016 campaign.

Bidya Devi Bhandari relected as Nepal President

Nepal‘s first woman president Bidya Devi Bhandari was on March 13, 2018 relected for a second term in office. Incumbent President Bhandari defeated Nepali

Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority in the presidential election. She became Nepal‘s first woman president in 2015. Bhandari,

56, was backed by the ruling Left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and other fringe parties. An

electoral college, including members of parliament and provincial assemblies, voted in the election.




17

Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Newton-Bhabha Fund for arsenic research project in Ganga basin

An India-UK Joint Team has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for a project on Groundwater Arsenic Research in Ganga River Basin.

The Department of Science and Technology has undertaken the project with the Natural Environment Research Council, UK, to find solutions to the water

challenges faced in the pervasively arsenic-affected Ganga River Basin.

The Indian team comprises representatives of the IIT Kharagpur, the National Institute of Hydrology, the IIT Roorkee and the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and

Research Centre of Patna, a statement said March 13, 2018.

The UK team consists of representatives of the University of Manchester, the British Geological Survey, the University of Salford and the University of

Birmingham.

The Newton Bhabha Fund, provided by the British Council, aims to bring together the UK and Indian scientific research and innovation sectors to find joint

solutions to the challenges facing India in economic development and social welfare.

The team members involved with the project will try to assess how the problem of arsenic poisoning can get aggravated in the next 25 to 30 years and

influence groundwater management practices and suggest water remedial technologies accordingly.

Neutrino project gets environmental nod

The Neutrino Observatory (INO) project has got a fresh lease of life with the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)

taking it up as a special case and granting it environmental clearance (EC) to set up the lab in Bodi West hills in Tamil Nadu on March 5, 2018.

The EAC was informed that there was no scope for radioactivity and leaching of water and these have been explained to the courts. The project proponents

clarified that studies showed there would be no impact of blasting on any habitation in the vicinity.

While granting EC, the committee stipulated specific conditions, of which two are key for the project to take off. One is the consent to establish and operate

to be obtained from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

Space travel causes changes to genes: NASA

Space travel caused lasting changes to 7% of genes of astronaut Scott Kelly, according to a NASA study which compared his DNA to that of his identical twin

brother, who remained on the earth.

NASA‘s Twins Study brought ten research teams together to accomplish one goal: find out what happens to the human body after spending one year in

space.

NASA has a grasp on what happens to the body after the standard-duration six-month missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but Scott Kelly‘s

one-year mission is seen as a stepping stone to a three-year mission to Mars.

In 2017, ten teams had presented their preliminary findings at NASA‘s Human Research Programme investigators‘ workshop.

Reports included data on what happened to Scott Kelly, physiologically and psychologically, while he was in space, and compared the data to Mark Kelly, as a

control subject on the earth. At this year‘s workshop, findings from 2017 were corroborated, with some additions.

Researchers also presented what happened to Scott Kelly after he returned to the earth. By measuring large numbers of metabolites, cytokines, and proteins,

researchers learned that spaceflight is associated with oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and dramatic nutrient shifts that affect gene

expression.

After returning to the earth, Scott Kelly started the process of re-adapting to gravity. Most of the biological changes he experienced in space quickly returned

to nearly his preflight status. Some changes returned to baseline within hours or days of landing, while a few persisted after six months.




18

Telomere length

Scott‘s telomeres — end caps of chromosomes that shorten as one ages — actually became significantly longer in space.

While this finding was presented in 2017, the team verified this unexpected change with multiple assays and genomics testing.

A new finding is that the majority of those telomeres shortened within two days of Scott‘s return to the earth. Researchers now know that 93% of Scott‘s

genes returned to normal after landing.

However, the remaining 7% points to possible longer term changes in genes related to his immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia

and hypercapnia.

NEWSMAKERS

British theoretical scientist Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Stephen Hawking, the legendary British theoretical physicist who explored the mysteries of the universe from his wheelchair and went on to become an

inspiring figure globally, died in Cambridge on March 14, 2018 at the age of 76. Hawking is known for his ground-breaking work on black holes and relativity.

Hawking suffered from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurodegenerative disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig‘s disease. He was diagnosed in

1963, when he was 21, and doctors initially only gave him a few years to live. But he went on to study at Cambridge and became one of the most well-known

theoretical physicists since Albert Einstein.

The disease left Hawking wheelchair-bound and paralysed. He was able to move only a few fingers on one hand and was completely dependent on others or

on technology for virtually everything including speech.

Hawking‘s first major breakthrough came in 1970, when he and Roger Penrose applied the mathematics of black holes to the entire universe and showed that

a singularity, a region of infinite curvature in space-time, lay in our distant past: the point from which came the big bang.

His seminal contributions continued through the 1980s. The theory of cosmic inflation holds that the fledgling universe went through a period of terrific

expansion.

In 1982, Hawking was among the first to show how quantum fluctuations tiny variations in the distribution of matter might give rise through inflation to the

spread of galaxies in the universe.

But it was ‗A Brief History of Time‘ that rocketed Hawking to stardom. Published for the first time in 1988, the title made the ‗Guinness Book of Records‘ after

it stayed on ‗The Sunday Times‘ bestsellers list for an unprecedented 237 weeks. It sold 10 million copies and was translated into 40 different languages.

Hawking won the Albert Einstein Award, the Wolf Prize, the Copley Medal, and the Fundamental Physics Prize.

Despite being a British citizen he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the US‘ highest civilian honor, in 2009 by President Barack Obama.

In his 2013 memoir, he described how he felt when first diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

He went on to become the subject of the 2014 film ‗The Theory Of Everything‘, which starred Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. Redmayne won an Oscar for

his portrayal as the physicist in the film.

Nobel winner scientist John Sulston, who decoded human genome, dies at 75

British biologist and academic Sir John Edward Sulston died at the age of 75 on March 6, 2018. He was jointly awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or

Medicine with Sydney Brenner and Robert Horvitz for his contribution to work in unravelling how genes control cell division.




19

Section E: AWARDS

BusinessLine Changemaker Awards conferred

The first edition of BusinessLine Changemaker Awards was presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on March 16, 2018. Changemaker Of The

Year award was won by Unified Payments Interface. Iconic Changemakers of the Year award was won by Dr Abhay Bang and Dr Rani Bang. Young

Changemaker award was won by Srikanth Bolla, the 23-year-old blind CEO of Hyderabad-based Bollant Industries. Changemaker–Digital Transformation

award was won by ZMQ Development co-founded by Hilmi Quraishi and Subhi Quraishi. Changemaker–Financial Transformation award was won by

Bandhan Bank founded by MD & CEO Chandra Shekhar Ghosh. Changemaker–Social Transformation award was won by Sridhar Vembu, the founder of

software product company Zoho.

Mohandas Pai selected for Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal

Former Infosys director T V Mohandas Pai will be conferred the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace at the 62nd

Annual Convocation of

XLRI-Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur on March 24, 2018. Pai is currently chairman of the Manipal Global Education and the Aarin Capital.

Padma Shri winner Pai is also an influential start-up evangelist and a notable philanthropist. Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace,

instituted by XLRI in 1966, is awarded to heroic leaders who have contributed towards the growth of their respective organisations and also impacted the

growth of the nation in a significant way.

ICMR wins 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was on March 13, 2018 awarded the International Kochon Prize 2017 for encouraging research and

development (R&D) efforts towards tuberculosis treatment. ICMR received the $65,000 award from the Kochon Foundation, a non-profit organisation from

Korea, for establishing the India TB Research Consortium to accelerate R&D efforts in the country. ―The TB consortium is working with public and private

institutes to guide the country‘s research efforts towards the development of point-of-care diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens and an effective vaccine

for tuberculosis,‖ it said.

RIL wins Financial Times ArcelorMittal business award

Reliance Industries (RIL) has won the Financial Times ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards in recognition of the company‘s work across various

businesses. The award was received by RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani at a ceremony in London on March 15, 2018. The award provides recognition of RIL‘s

exceptional commitment to innovation-led, exponential growth within the areas of hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and

marketing, petrochemicals, retail and 4G digital services.

Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) awards conferred

The annual Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) awards were presented to the winners in New Delhi on March 15, 2018. BusinessLine was the

association partner for the award. Ajay Singh, promoter of SpiceJet, which won two awards

Jet Airways won the award for the Best Full Service Airline (Domestic).

State-owned Air India was chosen as the Best Full Service International Airline.

IndiGo won the award for the Best Low Fare Airline (Domestic) and Best International Low Cost/Budget Airline operating out of/into India.

Ajay Singh, who is SpiceJet‘s CMD, was given the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur of the civil aviation sector for the decade. SpiceJet also

picked up the award for best airline operating under the government‘s Regional Connectivity Scheme.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai was picked as the best metro airport and as the airport/airline offering best facilities for the

sick/elderly/physically challenged. Jaipur and Srinagar were chosen as the best non-metro airports.

Nila Madhab Panda’s ‘Halkaa’ wins top honour at FIFEM fest




20

―Halkaa‖ by director Nila Madhab Panda has bagged the Grand Prix de Montreal award at the 21st Festival International du Film Pour Enfants de Montreal

Film festival (FIFEM). The film, which deals with the issue of open defecation, was selected among seven international children‘s films from different countries

in the official competition of the festival held from March 8 to 11.

Indian woman pastor receives global peace award

The ―Academy Award for Nobel Peace‖ from the USA has been conferred on Dr Ketzia David Prakasam, a philanthropist, social worker and spiritual worker in

Coimbatore. Ketzia is the first Indian woman to receive this award, presented on March 11, 2018 as part of International Women‘s Day celebrations.

Amol Palekar receives ‘Godavari Gaurav’ award

Noted actor Amol Palekar was honoured with the ‗Godavari Gaurav‘ award in Nashik on March 10, 2018. The 73-year-old actor, known for his performance in

films like ―Gol Maal‖ , ―Choti Si Baat‖, ―Chitchor‖ among others, was presented with the award, which has been instituted by city-based ‗Kusumagraj

Prathishthan‘. Classical singer Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande also received the ‗Godavari Gaurav‘ award.

Palace on Wheels’ gets tourist train award

The luxury train ‗Palace on Wheels‘ of Rajasthan, popular among foreign tourists, has bagged the ‗Tourist Train of the Year‘ award of the Pacific Area Travel

Writers‘ Association.




21

Section F: BANKING & FINANCE

PSBs to link SWIFT with Core Banking Solution by April 30

All public sector banks (PSBs) will have to link their SWIFT systems with their respective Core Banking Solution (CBS) systems by April 30 as a measure to

prevent frauds like the recent one perpetrated on Punjab National Bank (PNB), it was announced on March 15, 2018.

The state-run banks also decided to speed up the process of taking out ―cyber insurance‖, among other decisions that were taken here at a workshop of

senior PSB officials on risk management.

The Rs 13,540 crore fraud on PNB by accused diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, involved using Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) issued in

favour of the accused by bank employees who misused their access to PNB‘s SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications)

electronic messaging system used for overseas funds transfers.

None of these fraudulent transactions were registered on the bank‘s internal transaction messaging system, the CBS, enabling the fraud to go undetected for

long.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi following a three-day workshop, State Bank of India Deputy MD and Risk Officer M.S. Shastri said the banks have decided to

restrict SWIFT transactions to between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

LoUs and Letters of Comfort (LoCs) transactions were scrapped by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently. LoUs are bank guarantees through which a bank

allows customers to raise money from another Indian bank‘s foreign branch as short-term credit.

Improving risk and ethical awareness among staff and strengthening Know Your Employee (KYE) are some of the areas identified to strengthen operational

risk management, Shastri added.

RBI discontinues LOUs/LOCs issuance for trade credit for imports

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on March 13, 2018 announced discontinuation of the issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and Letters of Comfort (LOCs)

for trade credit for imports with immediate effect.

―Letters of Credit and Bank Guarantees for Trade Credits for imports into India may continue to be issued, subject to compliance with the provisions

contained in Department of Banking Regulation Master Circular on ―Guarantees and Co-acceptances‖, as amended from time to time,‖ It added.

The RBI added that the aforesaid Master Direction will be updated to reflect the changes.

However, it mentioned that the changes will be applicable from the date of issuance of the circular.

In the aftermath of Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, a couple of banks had clamped down on the issue of LoUs.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India signs MoU with RBI

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on March 12, 2018.

It was signed on the side-lines of the 4th meeting of the Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) in New Delhi.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) provides for reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and

individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of the value of assets of such persons, to promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance

the interests of all the stakeholders and, for this purpose, has established an institutional infrastructure comprising of Adjudicating Authorities, the IBBI,

insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities.

The IBBI exercises regulatory oversight over the Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies and Information Utilities. It writes and enforces

rules for processes, namely, corporate insolvency resolution, corporate liquidation, individual insolvency resolution and individual bankruptcy under the Code.

As per the MoU, the RBI and the IBBI will cooperate for effective implementation of the Bankruptcy Code. This includes sharing of information, periodic

meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest and capacity building of insolvency professionals and financial creditors.




22

Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill and Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2018 was introduced by Minister of State for Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla in the Lok Sabha on March 12, 2018. The Bill

will help in laying down measures to deter economic offenders from evading the process of law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

The cases where the total value involved in such offences is Rs. 100 crore or more, will come under the purview of the Bill. It has also the provisions of

confiscating all assets including benami properties of absconding economic offenders. Such a person will be barred from pursuing any civil claims in the

country.

A fugitive economic offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued in respect of a ―scheduled offence‖ and who has left India so as to

avoid criminal prosecution or, being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution.

The proposed law will also apply to defaulters who have an outstanding of Rs 100 crore or more and have escaped from the country.

Several big defaulters like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya and Jatin Mehta have fled the country putting the recovery mechanism in quandary.

The government has also made providing passport details mandatory for taking loans of 50 crore rupees and above to ensure a swift action in case of fraud

and prevent fraudsters from fleeing the country.

Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill 2018 was introduced by Minister of State for Finance, Shiv Pratap Shukla in the Lok Sabha on March 12, 2018. The

amendment is aimed at facilitating the orderly growth of the chit funds sector and remove bottlenecks being faced by the industry and enabling greater

financial access of people to other financial products.

41 out of 159 foreign branches of PSBs suffered losses in 2016-17

Nearly 25 per cent of the overseas branches of the public sector banks (PSBs) suffered losses in 2016-17, the government informed Parliament on March 16,

2018. 159 branches of PSBs are operating in foreign countries, of which 41 branches were in loss in the financial year 2016-17. The country‘s largest lender

State Bank of India (SBI) led the pack with nine of its overseas branches in the red. It was followed by Bank of India and Bank of Baroda with eight and seven

branches, respectively.

As per data reported by PSBs, the total number of wilful defaulters has grown from 6,336 as on March 31 2014, to 9,063 as on December 31, 2017. As per

RBI‘s instructions, wilful defaulters are not sanctioned any additional loans by banks or financial institutions.

As per SEBI Regulations, wilful defaulters and companies with wilful defaulters as promoters or directors are debarred from accessing capital markets to raise

funds, he said, adding, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has been amended to debar wilful defaulters from participating in the insolvency resolution

process.

The above information was given by Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

SBI retains minimum balance limit but cuts penalty charges by 75%

State Bank of India on March 13, 2018 reduced the penalty charges on non-maintenance of average monthly balance by up to 75 per cent from April 1.

However, the bank has not lowered the monthly minimum balance requirement which has been retained at Rs 3,000 for metro customers, at Rs 2,000 for

semi-urban accounts and at Rs 1,000 for rural accounts.

In April 2016, the nation‘s largest lender had re-introduced the penal charges on non-maintenance of average monthly balance, after a gap of five years.

Later in October, the bank had revised down the charges to some extent.

Between April and November 2017, the bank netted a windfall of Rs 1,771.67 crore, more than its second quarter profit, from customers for non-maintenance

of minimum balance, according to the finance ministry data.




23

The bank has now reduced the charges for non-maintenance of AMB in the metros and urban centres from a maximum of Rs 50 per month plus taxes at 18

per cent to Rs 15 a month and taxes. For urban and metro customers average monthly balance is of Rs 3,000 per month. For semi-urban and rural centres,

the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 to Rs 12, and Rs 10 per, respectively.

Citi India launches home loan linked to T-Bill rate

Improving transparency on the rates charged on your home loans, Citi India has become the first bank in India to launch a home loan product linked to the

three-month Government of India Treasury Bill benchmark rate (T-Bill).

This is seen to be a better deal for home loan borrowers from the transparency point when compared to the current system of linking home loan rates to the

marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR).

In the current MCLR regime, a home loan borrower will have to take the word of the bank on what the MCLR is and go with the rate offered without being

able to externally validate it. However, in the new system of an external benchmark, a borrower can have transparency by seeing the underlying rate.

The newly introduced T-Bill linked home loan is based on the three-month T-Bill rates published on the 12th of each month by Financial Benchmarks India

Pvt Ltd (FBIL) and is available to all new and existing home loan customers.

FBIL is recognised by the RBI as an independent benchmark administrator.

NSE IFSC launches debt securities; lists IREDA’s masala bonds

Leading bourse National Stock Exchange (NSE) on March 16, 2018 launched the debt securities platform at its international exchange NSE IFSC at Gujarat‘s

Gift City with the listing of IREDA‘s Rs 1,950-crore green masala bond.

The bond issue by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is the first debt security to be listed on the NSE IFSC and will offer high cost

efficiency as well as enable issuers to access international investors.

―The launch of the debt securities market at NSE IFSC will allow the listing and trading of debt securities in foreign currencies as well as the rupee-

denominated masala bonds,‖ NSE managing director and chief executive officer Vikram Limaye said.

IREDA green masala bond were first issued in September 2017 on the London Stock Exchange and later on Singapore Stock Exchange in October. An amount

of USD 300 million (Rs 1,950 crore) was raised through issue of these bonds.

Proceeds from the issues were used to finance renewable energy projects across India.

Funds and insurance companies formed the bulk of investors at 62 per cent, while public and private banks formed 32 per cent and 8 per cent of the

investor-base for these bonds, respectively.

Masala bonds are bonds issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees, rather than the local currency.

NSE IFSC, which was launched on June 5, 2017, offers trading in Indian and global stock, index, currency, and non-agriculture commodity derivatives.




24

Section G: ECONOMY

Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill

The Lok Sabha on March 15, 2018 passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill which seeks to empower the government to fix period of maternity leave

and tax-free gratuity amount with an executive order.

After the passage of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the government would be able to enhance the ceiling of tax-free gratuity

to Rs 20 lakh from existing Rs 10 lakh for employee under the Payment of Gratuity Act.

After implementation of the seventh Central Pay Commission, the ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10

lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The unions are demanding for inclusion of the change into the Act.

The bill notifies the period of maternity leave as part of continuous service and proposes to empower the central government to notify the gratuity ceiling

from time to time without amending the law.

At present, formal sector workers with five or more years of service are eligible for Rs 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job or at time of superannuation.

Now, the bill will go to the Upper House for consideration and passage.

Lok Sabha passes Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018

A bill proposing to grant a party the right to seek damages from the other side in case of a breach of a business contract and to reduce discretion of courts in

such matters was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 15, 2018.

The House passed The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018 aims to tweak a 54-year-old law that deals with specific fulfilment of a contract, as part of the

government‘s ease of doing business policy. The Union Cabinet had in December last approved amendments to the Specific Relief Act, 1963.

The present law provides for a certain kind of specific relief. The Act is a remedy which aims at the exact fulfilment of an obligation or specific performance of

the contract rather than grant of a general relief or damages or compensation.

The Specific Relief Act has not been amended since its inception.

CCEA approves extension of urea subsidy till 2020

The government on March 14, 2018 approved a proposal to extend urea subsidy till 2020 and also implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for

disbursement of fertiliser subsidy.

Urea is made available to farmers at a statutorily controlled price of Rs 5,360 per tonne. The difference between the delivered cost of the fertiliser at farm

gate and MRP is given as subsidy to manufacturers.

Urea subsidy is projected to be Rs 45,000 crore for the 2018-19 fiscal, as against Rs 42,748 crore for 2017-18.

―The continuation of the urea subsidy scheme will ensure adequate quantity of urea is made available to the farmers at statutory controlled price,‖ an official

release said after the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The urea subsidy has been extended for three years till 2020 at a total estimated cost of Rs 1,64,935 crore.

Normally, the Fertiliser Ministry takes approval for the urea subsidy on an yearly basis, but this time has received clearance for three years.

The CCEA has also approved implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for disbursement of fertiliser subsidy in order to reduce diversion and plug the

leakages.

SC extends Aadhaar linkage deadline indefinitely




25

The Supreme Court on March 13, 2018 extended indefinitely its March 31 deadline for linking bank accounts and mobile phone numbers with Aadhaar. The

court said Aadhaar will not be mandatory for obtaining Tatkal passports too.

It, however, said the government may continue to seek the 12-digit national biometric identifier number of beneficiaries for transfer of benefits of schemes

funded from the consolidated fund of India.

During the hearing, Attorney General K. K. Venugopal requested the court that the extension of the deadline should not disturb the benefits, subsidies and

services covered under Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.

The provision says that Centre or state governments may seek Aadhaar for establishing the identity of beneficiaries of their schemes.

It also says people, who have not secured Aadhaar number, can avail benefits of government schemes by establishing the fact that they have applied for the

biometric identifier.

The provision also says those who have neither the Aadhaar card nor its enrolment number, can still avail the benefits, and that they would be offered

alternative and viable means of identification for delivery of the subsidy, benefit or service.

Foreign lawyers, firms cannot practice law in India: SC

Foreign lawyers, law firms and companies cannot practice the legal profession in India, the Supreme Court ruled on March 13, 2018. The court modified a

Madras High Court order permitting foreign lawyers and law firms to come to India on a ―fly in and fly out‖ basis for rendering legal services in India on

offshore laws and diverse international legal issues.

―We hold that the expression ‗fly in and fly out‘ will only cover a casual visit not amounting to ‗practice‘. In case of a dispute whether a foreign lawyer was

limiting himself to ‗fly in and fly out‘ on casual basis for the purpose of giving legal advice to their clients in India regarding foreign law or their own system

of law and on diverse international legal issues or whether in substance he was doing practice which is prohibited can be determined by the Bar Council of

India,‖ a bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and U. U. Lalit said.

The court said that apex bar body, the Bar Council of India or the Central government would be ―at liberty to make appropriate Rules in this regard including

extending Code of Ethics being applicable‖ to foreign lawyers and entities.

Wholesale inflation eases to 7-month low of 2.48% in February

Inflation based on wholesale prices eased to a seven-month low of 2.48% in February 2018 on cheaper food articles, including vegetables, according to data

released by Central Statistics Office (CSO) on March 14, 2018. On the basis of Wholesale Price Index (WPI), inflation was 2.84% in January 2018 and 5.51% in

February 2017. The previous low level was recorded in July 2017 at 1.88%. Retail inflation measured in term of Consumer Price Index (CPI) had dropped to a

four-month low of 4.44% in February 2018 on cheaper food articles and lower cost for fuel.

Retail inflation at 4-month low of 4.44% on cheaper food, fuel

Retail inflation fell to a 4-month low of 4.44% in February 2018 on cheaper food articles and lower cost for fuel. Retail inflation, based on Consumer price

index (CPI), was at 5.07% in January 2018. In February 2017, however, it was 3.65%. It was 4.88% in November 2017. The data was released by the Central

Statistics Office (CSO) on March 12, 2018.

Manufacturing, capital & consumer goods push IIP growth to 7.5%

Industrial production grow at a high rate of 7.5% in January 2018 against 3.5% in January 2017 on the back of good show by manufacturing coupled with

higher offtake of consumer and capital goods. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had grown at 7.1% in December 2017, according to the data released

by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on March 12, 2018. The IIP growth in January 2018 was mainly on account of uptick in manufacturing sector which

constitutes 77.63 per cent of the index

Merchandise trade deficit in February 2018 at $12 billion




26

The country‘s merchandise exports grew by 4.5 per cent in February 2018 to USD 25.8 billion, Commerce Ministry data showed on March 15, 2018. Imports

too rose by 10.4 per cent to USD 37.8 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 12 billion. During April-February period of the current fiscal, merchandise exports

recorded a growth of 11 per cent to USD 273.7 billion, while imports grew by 21 per cent to USD 416.87 billion.

India’s services export surges 15.9% to $ 16.01 billion in January 2018

India‘s services exports increased 15.9% to US$ 16.01 billion in January 2018 over January 2017, as per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India.

Meanwhile, services imports jumped 18.9% to US$ 9.86 billion in January 2018. Services trade surplus improved 11.5% to US$ 6.15 billion in January 2018

from US$ 5.51 billion in January 2017. Services trade surplus improved 5.4% to US$ 50.94 billion in April-December FY2017 over a year ago. Services exports

rose 5.0% to US$ 125.88 billion, while Services imports moved up 4.7% to US$ 74.94 billion in April-January 2018.

Indian economy to grow at 7.3% in 2018-19: World Bank

The Indian economy is ―credible‖ and expected to grow at 7.3 per cent next fiscal driven by private consumption, investment and exports, the World Bank

said in its India Development Update released on March 14, 2018. In 2019-20, it has projected the growth rate to be higher at 7.5 per cent. For the current

fiscal ending March 31, 2018, the Washington-based multi-lateral funding agency has projected the economy to grow at 6.7 per cent. Services will continue

to remain the main driver of economic growth, it said. Industrial activity is also poised to grow, with manufacturing expected to accelerate following the

implementation of GST. Agriculture is likely to grow at its long-term average growth rate.

India needs 8 percent growth for 30 years to join middle-income group: World Bank

Indian economy needs to grow 8 percent and higher a year for the next three decades to join the ranks of middle-income countries, which would require

major reforms in the land, labour and financial sectors, the World Bank said on March 14, 2018. This would raise the income of at least 50 percent of the

population to sustain consumption expenditure of $10 a day based on the purchasing power parity of the global middle class. The government estimates

India‘s per capita income could touch 86,689 rupees ($1,337.4), or $3.7 a day, in the current fiscal year ending March 31. India is expected to grow 6.7 percent

in 2017-18, said Junaid Ahmad, country director of the World Bank while releasing a report.

Economy’s growth to touch 7.3% next fiscal, 7.5% in 2019-20: Fitch

Fitch on March 15, 2018 projected India‘s economic growth to rise to 7.3 per cent in 2018-19 and further to 7.5 per cent in 2019-20. In its Global Economic

Outlook report, the US-based agency forecast Indian economy to clock a growth rate of 6.5 per cent this fiscal. The figure is lower than official estimates by

the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of 6.6 per cent. The economy grew 7.1 per cent in 2016-17.

India attracts USD 209 bn FDI during Apr 2014 to Dec 2017

Foreign direct investment has increased ―steadily‖ in the country with total capital inflows reaching USD 208.99 billion during April 2014 to December 2017

period, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on March 12, 2018. The main sectors that

received maximum foreign inflows include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, construction, trading and automobile.

Govt pegs sugar output at 27.2 mn tonnes for 2017-18

The government on March 13, 2018 pegged the sugar production estimate at 27.2 million tonnes for the ongoing 2017-18 marketing year ending

September. Sugar output of India, the world‘s second largest producer after Brazil, stood at 20.3 million tonnes in 2016-17 marketing year (October-

September). Industry body ISMA has revised upward sugar production estimates for the current marketing year to 29.5 million tonnes. Sugar production in

top three producing states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka is pegged at 10.1 million tonnes, 9.05 million tonnes and 3.15 million tonnes,

respectively, in 2017-18 year, according to the data placed before Parliament.

REC introduces dollar denominated bonds

Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. (REC) has unveiled an issue of $300 million (Rs.1,949 crore) through 10-year dollar-denominated bonds carrying an

interest of 4.625%. ―Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. has launched an issue of USD 300,000,000 at 4.625 per cent. Notes will mature on March 22, 2028,

and all the principal and interest payments will be made in US dollars,‖ the company said in a regulatory filing in March 2018.

Three-day international competition conference from March 21




27

More than 500 delegates will gather in New Delhi for the three-day annual conference of the International Competition Network starting from March 21.

Competition Commission of India (CCI), the host of the conference, will be presenting a special project report on ‗Cartel Enforcement and Competition‘. CCI

Chairman D K Sikri on March 16, 2018 said 519 delegates, including 379 from overseas, would be attending the conference. Delegates will be coming from

over 73 countries. Various agencies, including representatives from the World Bank, OECD and UNCTAD will be participating in the conference. The

International Competition Network (ICN) comprises 138 competition authorities from 125 jurisdictions.

India processes 24% of solid waste generated: Govt data

Nearly 24% of the solid waste generated in the country was being processed as on January 31, according to data presented by the government in Parliament

in March 2018. Out of over 1.43 lakh tonnes per day (tpd) of solid waste generated across the country, only about 33,800 tpd (23.73%) was being processed

as on the last day of January, the housing and urban affairs ministry data showed. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the government aims to attain

100 per cent scientific management of solid waste, and also make the country Open-Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2, 2019.

Milk production rose 20% in 2014-2017 to 165.4 mn tonnes

Milk production in the country increased by 20 per cent from 137.7 million tonnes to 165.4 million tonnes between 2014 and 2017, Minister of Agriculture

and Farmers‘ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said on March 11, 2018. Also, the per capita availability of milk has risen by 15.6 per cent from 307 gms a day to

355 gms per day between 2013-14 and 2016-17. Singh was addressing the 16th convocation ceremony of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in

New Delhi.

Existing system of filing GST returns extended by three months

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on March 10, 2018 said that existing system of filing GST returns has been extended for another three months till the new return

system is finalized. Briefing reporters after the 26th

meeting of GST Council in New Delhi, Jaitley said, GST implementation Committee has been tasked with

the work of redressing the grievances caused to the taxpayers arising out of IT glitches. He said, tax exemptions to exporters have also been extended by six

months to September.

Electronic way or E-way bill for movement of goods between states will be implemented from April 1. However, for intra-state movement, the E-way bill

would be rolled out in a phased manner beginning 15th of April and will cover all the states by 1st of June this year. E-way bill is an electronic way bill for

movement of goods which can be generated on the GSTN (common portal). Movement of goods of more than 50 thousand rupees in value cannot be made

by a registered person without an E-way bill.

IREDA, EIB ink 150mn-euro loan agreement for renewable energy

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and European Investment Bank (EIB) on March 10, 2018 inked a 150 million euros loan agreement, a

move that will benefit over 1.1 million households with clean energy. IREDA is the financing arm of New and Renewable Energy Ministry. The line of credit is

for tenure of 15 years, including a grace period of three years and will be used for financing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in India. EIB is

the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its member states. The agreement was signed by IREDA Chairman and MD K. S. Popli and

W Hoyer, President of EIB.

Railways to use mathematical formula to maximise loco usage, increase revenue

A mathematical formula will be used to optimise the productivity of passenger trains by determining the number of locomotives required for each train, the

railways said on March 16, 2018. The Railways has a fleet of about 3,300 electric and diesel locomotive passenger trains across the country. Locomotives are

deployed to run passenger trains through cyclic schedules called locomotive links. Hitherto, locomotive links were being manually prepared by the respective

16 zones to operate the allocated trains.

IATA partners with civil aviation ministry in India

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on March 13, 2018 said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil

Aviation and the National Aviation University to enhance human resource availability in India‘s aviation industry. The three parties to the MoU ―formalised this

partnership in the presence of Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on the sidelines of Wings India 2018 in Hyderabad‖, IATA said in a statement.

The understanding among other provisions also provides for developing closer academic cooperation between IATA and National Aviation University.

Umang founder praised in UN as symbol of women’s empowerment




28

UN General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak has held up Sunita Kashyap, the founder of Umang, as an example of women empowering themselves and

coming up with solutions to their problems. While women face challenges, ―rural women act as a major source of innovation, and ideas,‖ he told the

inaugural session of the UN Commission on Status of Women (CSW) meeting at the UN on March 12, 2018. Umang supports 3,000 women farmers in India

to grow and sell their own crops. This year‘s meeting of the CSW focuses on achieving gender equality and empowerment of rural women and girls.




29

Section H: CORPORATE

Indian Oil, ONGC, Coal best performers among CPSEs in 2016-17; BSNL, Air India, MTNL worst

Indian Oil, ONGC and Coal India have emerged as the most profitable CPSEs for 2016-17, whereas BSNL, Air India and MTNL incurred the highest losses,

according to a government survey tabled in Parliament on March 13, 2018.

The Public Enterprises Survey 2016-17, which mapped the performance of central public sector units, showed that the top ten loss-making state-owned firms

accounted for a whopping 83.82 per cent of the total losses made by 82 loss-making CPSEs during the year.

BSNL, Air India and MTNL incurred 55.66 per cent of the total losses suffered by the top ten loss-making CPSEs in 2016-17.

The top three performers -- Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Coal India Ltd -- contributed 19.69 per cent, 18.45 per

cent and 14.94 per cent, respectively, to the total profit earned by the top ten profit making CPSEs during 2016-17.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd have entered the coveted list of the top ten profit-making CPSEs, while

Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation and Power Finance Corporation have moved out of this league.

The top ten profit-making companies accounted for 63.57 per cent of the total profit made by 174 profit making CPSEs during the year.

Hindustan Cables, BHEL and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), which had incurred losses in 2015-16, swung into profit in 2016-17, while Western Coalfields Ltd,

STCL, Air India Engineering Services and Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymer Ltd entered into the top ten loss-making CPSEs.

The overall net profit of all 257 operating PSUs during 2016-17 stood at Rs 1,27,602 crore compared to Rs 1,14,239 crore during the previous year, showing a

11.7 per cent growth.

Google to ban ads promoting cryptocurrencies

Google has announced that as per its upcoming financial services policy, it will prohibit advertisements promoting any kind of cryptocurrencies. The company

further stated that advertisers offering the aforementioned features will be required to be certified by Google before they can advertise through AdWords.

Bitcoins and other forms of cryptocurrencies have gained widespread popularity in the recent past. However, they have been shunned as illegal forms of

tender.

Amazon Prime Music ties up with IPRS for content

The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) on March 12, 2018 said it has joined hands with Amazon India for its ad free music streaming service, Amazon

Prime Music. As part of the deal, Amazon Prime Music in India will get access to more than a million works/titles spread across multiple languages, eras and

genres of Indian music, IPRS said in a statement. IPRS is the sole authorised body to issue licences for usage of musical works and literary music within India.

The body collects royalties from users of such content, for and on behalf of its members which include the authors, composers and the publishers of music

and distributes this royalty amongst them.

DGCA orders grounding of 8 IndiGo, 3 GoAir aircraft over engine issues

Citing safety concerns, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 12, 2018 directed public carriers IndiGo and GoAir to ground a total of 11

A320neo aircraft fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines. The directive came immediately after an IndiGo A320neo VT-ITA flight reported engine failure and had

to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad following take off from the same airport.

NASSCOM, Facebook launch ‘Design4India Studio’ in Bengaluru

In a bid to provide mentorship in design, innovation and entrepreneurship for software companies and startups, the National Association of Software and

Services Companies (Nasscom) in association with Facebook launched ―Design4India Studio‖ in Bengaluru on March 12, 2018. The platform would provide

interactions with design industry mentors and give an opportunity to aspiring designers and startups to explore, innovate and build design as a tool for

innovation. ―Design4India‖ is a NASSCOM initiative that was built in partnership with Facebook and aims to augment the software product innovation

ecosystem in the country.




30

Infosys announces intent to voluntarily delist its ADS

Infosys announced its intention to voluntarily delist its American Depositary Shares (ADS) from the Euronext Paris and Euronext London exchanges. The

primary reason for seeking the proposed delisting is the low average daily trading volume of Infosys ADS on these exchanges, which is not commensurate

with the related administrative requirements.

SpiceJet inks $12.5 bn deal with Safran for aircraft engines

No-frills airline SpiceJet on March 10, 2018 inked USD 12.5 billion deal with French major Safran Group for CFM aircraft engines. At current exchange rate, the

deal is worth more than Rs 81,000 crore and is one of the biggest in the aviation sector. CFM engines are manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture

between Safran and General Electric.

Delhi’s Connaught Place 3rd

most expensive office market in APAC: Knight Frank Report

Connaught Place (CP) in the national capital has emerged as the third most expensive office market in the Asia Pacific region with a rental of $88.8 per square

metre (sqm) per month, according to the report titled ‗Asia-Pacific Prime Office Rental Index Q4 2017‘ by property consultant Knight Frank that was released

on March 14, 2018. Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai emerged as the fifth most costly business district among the list of 20 international cities, with a

rental of $80.1 sqm per month. The prime office pocket in Hong Kong topped the list with a rental of $212 per sqm.

Pune best governed, Bengaluru worst, Delhi improves: JCCD Study

Pune is the best city when it comes to local governance and Bengaluru the worst, said the Annual Survey of India‘s City-System (ASICS) undertaken for 2017

by non-profit organisation Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy (JCCD). Pune was followed by Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar and

Surat. The study evaluated the quality of governance by analysing the functioning of urban local bodies in 23 major cities across 20 states. The cities scored

between 3.0 and 5.1 on a scale of 10. The higher the ranking, better are the chances of cities delivering quality infrastructure and services.

UK firm Zaha Hadid Architects to design Navi Mumbai international airport

British architecture firm Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has secured the mandate to design the much-delayed Navi Mumbai international airport, being

developed by the GVK group-led NMIAL. The firm, which bagged the contract from Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) after a 12-week

design competition, will design the new airport‘s Terminal 1 and air traffic control (ATC) tower, according to statement on March 14, 2018. The City Industrial

Development Corporation (CIDCO), which is developing the new airport along with GVK Group, expects the first flight to take off in 2019.

World’s smallest PC ‘LIVA Q’ now in India

Taiwan-based electronics major Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) on March 13, 2018 brought what is touted as the world‘s smallest Windows-based mini-

PC called ―LIVA Q‖ to India. Priced at Rs 15,500 (sans taxes), the pocket-sized device features the latest Intel Apollo Lake SOC processors along with 4GB RAM

and 32GB eMMC storage and HDMI 2.0. It runs Windows 10 operating system (OS). On the storage front, it houses a MicroSD card slot that supports up to

128GB storage.

Monster, Indian Navy ink MoU for jobs to retired personnel

Online recruitment service provider Monster India on March 16, 2018 said it has signed a MoU with the Indian Navy Placement Agency to provide retired and

shortly retiring navy personnel with alternate career opportunities in the corporate sector. The focus would be on identifying opportunities in sectors such as

capital goods industries, information technology (IT), and IT-enabled services, security space, micro, small and medium enterprises and so on, the statement

said.

Edelweiss scraps deal to buy Religare’s securities unit

Edelweiss Financial Services on March 16, 2018 said that its agreed acquisition of the securities business of Religare Enterprises has fallen through because

Religare failed to get the necessary regulatory approvals. The wealth management unit of Mumbai-based Edelweiss Group had announced in December that

it would buy Religare‘s securities business - which includes stock and commodities broking and depository services - for about 2.5 billion rupees ($38.5

million). The Times of India reported in February 2018 that Religare was being investigated by the country‘s serious fraud office over misconduct allegations

against its main backers Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh.




31

Apple acquires digital magazine service Texture

Apple has acquired Texture, a digital magazine subscription service which gives users unlimited access for a monthly fee. Texture brings over 200 of the

world‘s best magazines to life, providing an easy way for users to read high-quality stories and

Since its launch in 2010, Texture has become the leading multi-title subscription service giving users the ability to instantly access some of the most widely

read magazines.

NEWSMAKERS

Tata Sons Chairman elected IISc President

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran was elected President of the court of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru for three years, the institute

announced on March 16, 2018. Chandrasekaran has been elected as the 8th President of the institute for the period 2018-21 and takes over from K.

Kasturirangan. The court is the apex body of the autonomous and deemed university, comprising its senior academics, officials of the central and Karnataka

governments, industry and civil society. Set up in 1909 by renowned industrialist Jamshetji Nasserwanji Tata and then Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja

Wodeyar, IISc is a primary institute for advanced scientific and technological research and education.

Tata’s Chief Ethics Officer Mukund Rajan quits

Tata Sons on March 15, 2018 said its Chief Ethics Officer Mukund Rajan will leave the group on March 31 to evaluate entrepreneurial pursuits in the coming

months. Rajan has been with Tata Group for two-decades after starting his career as a Tata Administrative Service (TAS) Officer.

French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy died at 91

French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy died at the age of 91 in Paris on March 10, 2018. He was born into an aristocratic family in the provincial city of

Beauvais on Feb. 21, 1927, and founded his label in 1952, selling it to luxury conglomerate LVMH in 1988. He retired several years later.




32

Section I: STATES

Delhi HC stays Centre’s notification on crash guards till April 18

The Delhi High Court on March 12, 2018 stayed the Centre‘s notification directing all states to take stern action against unauthorised fitting of crash guards

or bull bars on vehicles. The court asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to examine the matter and directed that there would be no challans till

April 18, the next date of hearing. The Ministry had in December 2017 written to the Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Commissioners, Transport of the

states, saying ―it is brought to your notice that the fitments of crash guards/ bull bar is in contravention of section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and

attracts penalty under section 190 and 191 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988‖. A petitioner claimed that the Centre‘s decision has no legality as there is no rule,

law or bye-law dealing with accessories such as crash guards or bull bars.

Maharishi Balmiki Sanskrit University to be set up at Kaithal, Haryana

The Haryana Assembly on March 15, 2018 passed a Bill to set up Maharishi Balmiki Sanskrit University at Kaithal. Maharishi Balmiki Sanskrit University, Kaithal

Bill, 2018 was unanimously passed by the House to establish and incorporate a teaching-cum-affiliating university at Kaithal to facilitate and promote higher

education with special emphasis in Sanskrit literature, vedas, philosophy, Indian culture and Indic languages and also to achieve excellence in these and

connected fields.

Haryana Assembly passes bill allowing death penalty for raping children

The Haryana Assembly in Chandigarh on March 15, 2018 unanimously passed a Bill which provides for death penalty to those found guilty of raping girls

aged 12 years or less. After Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Haryana has become the third state where the Assembly has approved the provision of capital

punishment for such sexual offenders. The Criminal Law (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed unanimously with INLD and Congress members also

lending their support.

Rajasthan govt. revokes dress code in colleges

Buckling under widespread protests, especially by students, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation in Rajasthan on March 13, 2018 revoked its recent

controversial order on implementing a dress code for government-run colleges in the State.

Himachal CM launches handbook on women safety

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on March 14, 2018 released a handbook on women safety in Shimla. The handbook is titled ‗Mahila

Suraksha‘. Brought out by the Shimla administration, the booklet talks about measures required for personal safety and safeguards regarding crimes,

including sexual harassment at workplace. It also contains important telephone and helpline numbers.

9 CRPF men killed in Naxal triggered blast in Sukma

Nine CRPF personnel were killed on March 13, 2018 after their mine-protected vehicle was blown up by multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs)

concealed under the dirt track in Naxal-infested Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Officials said the incident took place around 12:30 pm along the 5-km under-

construction Kistaram-Palodi road when the troops of the 212th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were out for an operation.

Sushil Modi inaugurates Bihar’s first ‘Startup hub’ in Patna

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on March 16, 2018 inaugurated the state‘s first ―startup hub‖ in Patna. Modi is also an IT minister. Work

station and office space equipped with free of cost ―plug and play‖ facility would be made available for 31 startup companies in the newly inaugurated

startup hub.

RJD wins Araria Lok Sabha bypoll

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won the Araria Lok Sabha bypoll by 61,788 votes on March 14, 2018. RJD‘s Sarfaraz Alam beat his opponent Pradip Kumar Singh of

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the two Assembly bypolls, RJD won Jehanabad seat, whereas the BJP‘ won Bhabua seat. The bypoll for Araria seat was

necessitated following the death of RJD MP Mohammed Taslimuddin.

SP wins both seats in UP Lok Sabha byelections




33

Samajwadi Party candidates Pravin Nishad and Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel win Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats respectively in the Lok Sabha byelection

results announced on March 14, 2018. The two Lok Sabha seats were vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

‘Mission Aroma’ now in J&K with huge potential for farmers

In an effort to boost the cultivation of the aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary and lemon grass and medicinal plants like ashwagandha and satavar, Prime

Minister, Narendra Modi has launched ‗The Aroma Mission‘. The aim of the Aroma Mission is to give the farmers alternative choices in crop production viz-a-

viz traditional crops. Jammu and Kashmir has been chosen for the implementation of the ‗Aroma Mission‘ program, by the Indian Institute of Integrated

Medicine (IIIM) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture of the state, due to its peculiar climate, which is complimented by the presence of a

growing market for the products of these plants, like aromatic oils. IIIM is providing seeds, training and other facilities like distillation units to the farmers to

grow these flowers and plants.

J&K CM inaugurates Hari Singh Park in Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on March 16, 2018 inaugurated the newly developed Maharaja Hari Singh Park on Tawi banks in the

winter capital Jammu. The CM unveiled a statue of Maharaja Hari Singh inside the park. She also inaugurated a coffee house and a refurbished library within

the park premises.

Ten dead, 14 injured in TN forest fire

Ten trekkers have died and 14 seriously injured in a massive forest fire on the Kurangani Hills in Tamil Nadu on March 12, 2018. Chief Minister K. Palaniswami

ordered a probe into the incident. The hill is located in Theni district, around 520 km from Chennai.

TN to provide high frequency communication sets to fishermen

Tamil Nadu Government will provide high frequency communication sets at subsidised rates to fishermen undertaking deep sea fishing, Deputy Chief

Minister O. Panneerselvam said in Chennai on March 15, 2018. He said a seamless communication project has been taken up by the Government at a cost of

Rs 62.14 crore with World Bank support for 13 coastal districts. Panneerselvam said at present the government distributes VHF wireless sets to fishermen

sailing on traditional fishing boats and mechanised vessels to establish communication upto 60 nautical miles.

Govt. to avoid damage to Ram Sethu in implementation of Sethusamudram Project

The Union government told the Supreme Court on March 16, 2018 that it would not touch the ancient Ram Sethu, an underwater coral bridge in the Indian

Ocean, for the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project. Ram Sethu is also known as Adam‘s Bridge and is considered by believers to

have been constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka. This is part of a one-page affidavit filed by the Shipping Ministry almost four years after the Supreme

Court asked the government to ―come clean‖ on the choice of the project‘s route and whether it would damage the Ram Sethu.




34

Maharashtra to ban plastic from March 18

The Maharashtra government has decided to ban the use of plastic from ―Gudi Padva‖, the Maharashtrian New Year which falls on March 18, Environment

Minister Ramdas Kadam said in the state Assembly on March 16, 2018. The ban would cover the production, use, storage, sale, distribution, import and

transportation of plastic. He said that those violating the ban would be fined Rs 25,000 and could also face a three-year jail term.

However, plastic used to cover medicines, forest and horticulture products, solid waste, tree saplings and the use of plastic in special economic zones for

export purposes would be exempt from the ban. Similarly, plastic covers and wrappers used for manufactured and processed products would also be exempt.

Plastic milk pouches would have to be above 50 microns and it should be recyclable. These used pouches should be bought back for recycling at a cost not

less than 50 paise. Kadam said that the dairy industry must have a mechanism for the collection of used milk pouches and it would be mandatory for them to

buy it back.

Arunachal passes bill to have 2-tier Panchayati Raj

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Itanagar on March 15, 2018 passed a bill to do away with the Anchal Samiti, the intermediate level of the three-tier Panchayati

raj system, and set up a two-tier system in the state.

This is being done following the 73rd

Amendment of the Constitution that enables a state having less than 20 lakh population not to have the intermediate

level. Arunachal has a population of 13.84 lakh.

In a two-tier system, the strength of elected members would be reduced, thus helping in saving money for conducting polls and functional costs on Anchal

Samities.

The three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions were set up in the state in 2003, 2008 and 2013, and election for the next five-year term is due in April-May 2018.

IAF lands its largest transport aircraft in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tuting

The Indian Air Force‘s largest transport aircraft -- C-17 Globemaster – on March 13, 2018 landed at Arunachal Pradesh‘s Tuting airfield which is close to the

Chinese border. The landing of the US-manufactured aircraft is seen as part of the IAF‘s move to strengthen its overall operations in the strategically-key

border state.

First commercial flight lands successfully at Pakyong airport in Sikkim

The first commercial flight landed successfully at newly constructed Pakyong airport in Sikkim on March 10, 2018. The 78 seater aircraft of SpiceJet took off

from Kolkata. Pakyong is about 30 kilometers away from capital Gangtok.

NEWSMAKERS

Conrad Sangma govt wins trust vote in Meghalaya

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by National Peoples‘ Party (NPP) leader Conrad K. Sangma government won the trust vote in the

Meghalaya Assembly in Shillong on March 12, 2018.

In all, 35 votes were cast in favour of the confidence motion and 20 against. One vote was declared invalid, while an MLA abstained. The pro-tem speaker did

not vote. Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma had contested from two seats and won both.

Sangma-led MDA government, which includes the BJP and regional parties, was sworn in on March 6. Six non-Congress parties and an independent MLA

constitute the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

The MDA is supported by MLAs from NPP (19), United Democratic Party (6), People Democratic Front (4), Hill State People Democratic Party (2), Bharatiya

Janata Party (2) and Nationalist Congress Party (1) besides 2 Independents. Meghalaya has a 60-member Assembly, but elections were held for 59 seats due

to the killing of a candidate.

Tripura Deputy CM Jishnu Deb Burman wins Charilam seat




35

Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Deb Burman on March 15, 2018 won the election from the Charilam (ST) Assembly constituency with a record margin of

25,550 votes. With his victory, the BJP‘s strength in the 60-member House rose to 36. The elections to the remaining 59 seats were held on February 18.

Polling was countermanded in Charilam due to the death of the CPI(M) candidate, Ramendra Narayan Debbarma. The BJP-IPFT combine overthrew the 25-

year-long CPI(M)-led Left Front government in the north-eastern state, winning 43 of the 59 seats in the February 18 Assembly polls. The BJP had won 35 and

the IPFT eight seats.

TTV Dhinakaran launches Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu

Rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran on March 15, 2018 floated a new party, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam named after the late Tamil Nadu chief

minister J Jayalalithaa. Dhinakaran unveiled the party‘s flag, which features the image of a smiling Jayalalithaa in the middle, in Madurai. The flag is black on

top and red below with white in the middle. The Delhi High Court recently directed the Election Commission to allot the ‗pressure cooker‘ symbol to him.

Dhinakaran won from the symbol in the RK Nagar bypoll in December 2017 with a huge majority.

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar joins BJP

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar on March 12, 2018 joined the BJP, a day after being made the party‘s Rajya Sabha candidate for the

biennial election to the upper house from Karnataka.

Ex-Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma resigns from traditional seat

Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and Congress leader Mukul Sangma, who was elected from both the Ampati and Songsak assembly constituencies in the

elections held in February, on March 16, 2018 resigned from the former.

V.K. Jain, adviser to Delhi CM Kejriwal, resigns

V.K. Jain, adviser to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had said that he had witnessed the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash at

Kejriwal‘s residence in February 2018, has resigned. Jain said he had resigned citing personal reasons and family commitments.

J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti sacks finance minister Haseeb Drabu

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on March 12, 2018 sacked senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and state finance minister

Haseeb Drabu, days after he remarked that the situation in the state shouldn‘t be seen as a political problem.

Former UP Minister Begum Hamida Habibullah passes away at 102

Former Uttar Pradesh minister and Congress leader Begum Hamida Habibullah passed away in Lucknow on March 13, 2018 at the age of 102. Habibullah,

former Rajya Sabha member, was married to General Inayat Habibullah, the founder commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasla,

Pune. After her husband retired from the army in 1965, Begum Habibullah joined politics with the Congress party. She was elected as the MLA from

Haidergarh (Barabanki) and was state minister of social and Harijan welfare, national integration and civil defence from 1971 to 1973 and tourism minister

from 1971 to 1974.

Congress leader Patangrao Kadam dies at 72

Senior Congress leader Patangrao Kadam passed away in Mumbai on March 9, 2018 at the age of 72. Kadam had served as Forest Minister in the

Maharashtra government. He was also an educationist and the founder of Bharati Vidyapeeth.




36

Section J: SPORTS

India top medals tally in ISSF World Cup held in Mexico

India finished at the top of medals tally at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 12, 2018 with four

gold, one silver and three bronze.

Akhil Sheoran won gold in Men‘s 50m Rifle 3 Position. Shahzar Rizvi created a new world record on his way to the gold medal in the Men‘s 10m Air Pistol

event. Manu Bhaker marked her international debut with gold medal in the Women‘s 10m Air Pistol event. Manu Bhaker and Om Prakash Mitharval clinched

the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team title.

Anjum Moudgil clinched a silver medal in the Women‘s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.

Jitu Rai bagged the bronze in Men‘s 10m Air Pistol event. Mehuli Ghosh won bronze in Women‘s 10m Air Rifle event. Also, the duo of Deepak Kumar and

Mehuli Ghosh won a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event.

Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya

Recognising his contribution to the game over the years, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the country‘s 70th independence anniversary, released a

book on former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya titled ‗A Tribute to Jagu. SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala lauded Dalmiya‘s role in bringing Asian

solidarity. He specifically mentioned how Dalmiya stood by Sri Lanka in 1996 and sent a combined team after Australia and the West Indies refused to send

their teams to the Emerald Isle. Dalmiya‘s son, Avishek, joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), received the commemorative book in

Colombo on March 16, 2018.

KL Rahul is Wisden India Almanack’s Cricketer of the Year

KL Rahul is the ‗Cricketer of the Year‘ in the sixth edition of Wisden India Almanack, released recently. The Almanack pays a tribute to India‘s women

cricketers, with a cover picture of celebration at the World Cup. The book has over 900 pages of essays, commentary, statistics, portraits and images.

Australia beat England to lift Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia

Australia won the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey title at Ipoh (Malaysia) on March 10, 2018 by beating England in the final 2-1. Earlier, in the classification match

for the 3rd place, Argentina finished third after beating Malaysia 3-2. The hosts ended at the 4th spot. Meanwhile, India finished a disappointed fifth in the

six-nation tournament. In the classification match for the fifth and sixth places, India defeated Ireland 4-1.

Sanjeevani Jadhav wins bronze in Asian cross country race

Long distance runner Sanjeevani Jadhav clinched a bronze in women‘s 8km cross country race while the country also collected another medal of same colour

in the team event at the 14th

Asian Cross Country Championship in Guiyang (China) on March 15, 2018. The 20-year-old Sanjeevani clocked 28 minute 19

seconds to cover the 8km distance, behind Li Dan (28:03) of China and Abe Yukari (28:06) of Japan. The Indian women‘s team of Sanjeevani, Swati Gadhave,

Jhuma Khatun and Lalita Babar also won a bronze. The performance of three best finishers of a country in the individual race is considered for the team

medal.

B. Adhiban wins Reykjavik Open chess title

India‘s Baskaran Adhiban clinched the title in the 33rd

Reykjavik Open Chess tournament in Iceland in March 2018. Adhiban finished with 7.5 points.

Former Men’s Doubles tennis player Ken Flach dies

Former United States tennis player Ken Flach died in San Francisco on March 12, 2018 at the age of 54. He won the 1987 and 1988 Men‘s Doubles title at

Wimbledon and the 1988 Olympic gold with Robert Seguso. He won U.S. Open Men‘s Doubles titles with Seguso (1985) and Rick Leach (1993). He partnered

Kathy Jordan for the Mixed Doubles crowns at the French Open and Wimbledon in 1986.

Download - Weekly Current Affairs update - globalias.in · Current Affairs Magic Weekly Current Affairs Update Current Affairs magic March 11 to 17, 2018 3 SC extends Aadhaar linkage deadline

Top Related