Events of National & International Importance

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EVENTS OF NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
Content
NOVEMBER 2014
-2
DECEMBER 2014
- 15
JANUARY 2015
- 34
FEBRUARY 2015
- 62
MARCH 2015
- 103
APRIL 2015
- 151
MAY 2015
- 211
JUNE 2015
- 246
JULY 2015
- 273
AUGUST
- 306
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November, 2014
NATIONAL
PM Modi to focus on trade relations, logistics at India-ASEAN summit
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In a bid to step up Indias engagement with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc.

Modi is slated to leave for Myanmar on Tuesday to attend the 12th ASEAN-India summit on
November 12.
The 9th East Asian summit on November 13 on the first leg of his three-nation foreign tour that will
also take him to Australia and Fiji.
PM's address at the Valedictory Function of the 6th World Ayurveda

Congress
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He called upon practitioners of Ayurveda to be dedicated to Ayurveda not just as a profession.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 6th World Ayurveda Congress.
19th century railway section in Assam hills yearns for heritage status
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Even as the railways are currently engaged in replacing the 111-year old meter-gauge LumdingBadarpur Hill Section into a broad-gauge track.
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The 47-km stretch of the historic line, literally forming a garland around Haflong, Assams only hill
station, is waiting to be conferred heritage status.
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The Assam government meanwhile has written to the railways asking them not to dismantle it, so
that it could be promoted as a tourist attraction.
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The 225-km Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section often described as the most spectacular mountain line
of Indian Railways.
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It is currently in its last phase of gauge conversion to be completed by April 2015 .
Kerala has become the first major State to declare banking coverage to all
households under the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojna.
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The Yojna is a comprehensive financial inclusion programme launched by the Prime Minister on
Independence Day.
All banks in the State together have opened over 12.8 lakh accounts to achieve full coverage in rural
and urban areas.
They have issued 5.25 lakh RuPay debit cards till date. A toll free number 1800-425-11222 has been
set up for providing information on the scheme and redressal of grievances.
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The State now has more than 6,000 bank branches. Every village has a banking channel. This apart,
848 Akshaya e-kiosks in the State are serving as banking kiosks.
The State has also achieved the milestone of opening financial literacy centers.
Govt launches Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills

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The Minorities Affairs ministry launched the Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills
(MANAS) to impart training to youths in light of the stress laid by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on skill development.
It was launched on a pilot basis on the 125th birth anniversary of first Education Minister
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
MANAS also saw two MoUs being signed under it for the training of youths in the health
and security sectors.
"To increase coverage of the programme under MANAS, the ministry has recently
increased the income eligibility criterion for trainees from Rs 1.03 lakh to Rs 6 lakh (annual)
to facilitate provision of training and concessional credit.
This change of base is likely to benefit 12 to 13 crore people," said Minorities Affairs
minister Najma Heptullah.
The training programmes will ensure 100 per cent employment for trainees.
Highlights of Prime ministers visit to Myanmar1.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his 11-day foreign tour on Tuesday afternoon
with his first stop at Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar ,where he held bilateral talks
with President U Thein Sein.
The focus was on beefing up engagement in the areas of culture and commerce and
made a strong push for improving regional connectivity as a booster to trade and
increased people-to-people contact.
The best example of this co-operation and this co-operative spirit is the decision taken by
the two governments to implement the Kaladan project.
"The interest level of Indian industry - India Inc. in Myanmar - has really increased.... say
since 2011-2012 after the process of review of sanctions took place.
India and Myanmar share a long land border of over 1600 kilometres and a maritime
boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
Modi arrives in Brisbane for G20 summit

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brisbane for G20 summit.

He is the first Prime Minister to visit Australia since Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.
Mr Modi arrived here from Myanmar, where he attended the ASEAN India and East Asia Summit.
While addressing East Asia Summit in the Myanmars capital Nay Pyi Taw, he said look east policy
now turned into act east policy.
Look east was introduced in the early 1990s when PV Narasimha Rao was prime minister.
It was indorsed by former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
ASEAN comprises of 10 countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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India, UK announce 'Newton-Bhabha Fund' to boost research and innovation
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India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday agreed to scale-up their bilateral research and
innovation relationship to a greater level.
This new initiative was decided upon during a meeting between Union Minister for Science and
Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the UK Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Greg Clark,
who co-chaired the fourth UK-India Science and Innovation Council (SIC) .
Harsh Vardhan and Clark also noted that the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) have
been successful in building new scientific partnerships through joint research projects and
networking.
The President of India inaugurates 34th India International Trade Fair

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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 34th India International Trade Fair
2014 on (November 14, 2014) at New Delhi.
The IITF is a celebration of Indias intrinsic strength, especially when the country is striving to become
a manufacturing hub of the world.
Since inception, this event has been showcasing Indias socio-economic progress.
It has also played a significant role in catalysing commercial convergence of technology with social
and economic issues of the South-Asian region.
It has been a successful launching pad for a large number of consumer products such as cars,
electronics and electrical appliances.
Fair is visited by around 2 million people every year including domestic visitors from across the
country and all over the world.
He also complimented ITPO for selecting Women Entrepreneurs as the theme of this fair and
earmarking an exclusive area at concessional rates for highlighting the achievements of women
entrepreneurs.
Modified DBTL scheme for LPG to be launched in 54 districts spread across 11

states
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In the modified DBTL scheme, LPG consumers in 54 districts of 11 states will be able to get cash
subsidy to buy the cooking fuel at market price.
India successfully test-fires Dhanush ballistic missile

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India has successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile from a naval ship off the
Odisha coast.
The surface-to-surface Dhanush was test fired from a ship in the Bay of Bengal at about 7.40 Friday
night by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence force.
Dhanush is a naval variant of India's indigenously developed 'Prithvi' missile.
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Boxing India granted permanent membership by International Boxing
Association, AIBA
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Completing India's rehabilitation into the international boxing fold.

AIBA Friday unanimously gave permanent membership to the recently elected Boxing India during its
quadrennial congress in Jeju Islands, Korea.
India was provisionally suspended in December 2012 for alleged manipulation in the erstwhile Indian
Amateur Boxing Federation's elections.
Boxing India was earlier granted provisional recognition by AIBA after the elections but is still to get
the approval from the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association.
Universities should assume greater responsibility for mitigation of problems:

President Pranab Mukherjee
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Universities are the integral part of the society and they have to assume greater responsibility for
overall development and mitigation of problems concerning the society at large.
Universities should undertake outreach activities for successful implementation of various
government programmes.
Education is a potent vehicle for social emancipation and economic rejuvenation. He said, economic
growth in the future will depend more on efficient use of resources and deployment of better
technology.
The President also asked the students to contribute to the society whatever the field they choose to
work.
Kisan Vikas Patra scheme relaunched; Aims to encourage small savings

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The Government today re-launched Kisan Vikas Patra scheme in New Delhi to encourage the habit of
small savings among the citizens.
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The scheme will provide facility of unlimited investment by way of purchase of certificate from post
office in various denominations.
It will soon be made available through designated branches of nationalized banks all across the
country.
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The re-launched KVP will be available to the investors in the denomination of 1000, 5,000, 10,000 and
50,000 rupees with no upper ceiling on investment.
The certificates can also be issued in single or joint names and can be transferred from one person to
any other person.
Fishermen on death row freed

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The five Indian fishermen on death row in Sri Lanka on drug-trafficking charges, walked free.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa used his executive powers to commute their death penalty.
The gesture, described by the Indian High Commission here as humanitarian, ended three weeks of
uncertainty over their fate.
Colombo High Court sentenced them to death on October 30.
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Cabinet clears 3 projects to end power outages; Also approves pacts with
SAARC
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The Cabinet has approved three big power projects of worth 81,000 crore rupees to strengthen the
power distribution and transmission in the Urban and rural areas in the country.
These projects are aimed at to provide 24x7 electricity across India by 2019.
These projects are the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Integrated Power Development
Scheme and the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project.
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, which is targeted at the rural areas, entails a total
investment of 43,033 crore rupees.
The Cabinet also approved signing and ratifying SAARC pacts on Railway, Motor Vehicles and Energy
during the forthcoming 18th SAARC summit scheduled to be held at Kathmandu, Nepal on 26-27
November.
3-million-year-old canyon discovered under the Brahmaputra in Tibet

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A huge 3-million-year-old canyon, thousands of feet deep in places, has been discovered buried under
a major river in Tibet.
The canyon buried along the Yarlung Tsangpo (called the Brahmaputra in India) in south Tibet was
discovered by a team of researchers from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the China
Earthquake Administration.
The geologists say that the ancient canyon thousands of feet deep in places effectively rules out
a popular model used to explain how the massive and picturesque gorges of the Himalayas became so
steep, so fast
PM leaves for Nepal tomorrow to attend SAARC summit

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The Prime Minister is left for Kathamandu to attend the 18th South Asian Association of Regional
Countries.
2. SAARC, Summit on 26th and 27th. Mr Narendra Modi's delegation consists of the External Affairs
Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Mr Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Mrs
Sujatha Singh.
3. The Summit will focus on enhancement of connectivity and people to people contacts.
4. During the two-day Summit, all the heads of the States will make their policy statements.
5. Agreements on transport, energy and electricity sector are also expected to be signed.
Upcoming events at SAARC summit

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There will be signing of a slew of agreements between India & Nepal, which include roadways and
railways ties.
It will also include project development agreement and power trading agreement for the 900MW
Upper Karnali hydro electric power project.
On Monday night, the Nepali Cabinet also cleared the agreement for another 900mw hydel project,
called Arun-III, to be signed with Indias Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam.
The $1-billion line of credit announced by India in August will also be actualised, with a full detail of
projects that it will be used for in Nepal.
In addition, the two countries will sign MoUs on traditional medicine and youth exchanges.
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Assembly polls, Phase-I: J&K records over 70% voting; Over 62% voter
turnouts in Jharkhand
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Polling for the first phase of assembly elections for 13 seats in Jharkhand and 15 segments in Jammu
and Kashmir ended peacefully today.
2. Over 70 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir
today.
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Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said, the final figure is likely to go up.
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Separatist groups like all factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF have called for a boycott of the
polls.
In Jharkhand also, the polling was by and large peaceful. Enthusiasm for polling in the naxal affected
areas of Jharkhand was evident since seven in the morning when the poll started
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LS passes amendment bill on appointment of CBI Chief

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The Lok Sabha today passed the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014 by voice
vote.
As per the new provisions, CBI director will be selected by a panel which will comprise of Prime
Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the Single largest party in the House
and Chief Justice of India or any Supreme Court Judge.
Earlier, there was no provision of the leader of the single largest party in the panel.
The Bill also makes a provision that no appointment will be invalid merely because of vacancy or
absence of a member of the panel.
U.S concerns over Indian IPR regime

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At the first round in four years of joint trade talks, India and the United States agreed to explore the
possibility of enhanced market access to identified agricultural products.
At the talks, the U.S. raised concern over the level of protection India affords to its companies and the
intellectual property rights (IPR) regime in India.
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman made a pitch for lower tariffs for import of offpatent drugs to India.
He also pitches for access US companies to Indias public solar energy and health insurance
programmes.
They also raised the issue of whether the Make in India policy would be one of encouraging globally
competitive manufacturing or a less competitive industry behind a wall of protection.
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According to the joint India-US statement issued after the eighth ministerial-level meeting of the
India-United States Trade Policy Forum (TPF).
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The two countries agreed to establish a new technical dialogue for cooperation on plant health,
animal health, and food safety issues in a manner that facilitates movement of agricultural goods
between the two countries.
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SAARC nations sign energy pact, Next summit in Pakistan
1. With the issuing of Kathamandu Declaration, the 18th SAARC Summit concludes at
Kathamandu.
2. Chairperson of the Summit and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala declared the Summit
closed.
3. The 19th SAARC Summit will be held at Islamabad in 2016.
4. SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy (Electricity) Cooperation was signed among the
SAARC member countries.
5. This pact will enable SAARC member nations to trade electricity among themselves.
6. The theme of the Summit was Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity
40 Indian prisoners released from Karachi jail

1. The release of the prisoners from Karachis district jail Malir comes a day after Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif warmly shook hands
and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal.
2. India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters
of the two countries.
Community can help mentally ill

1. The Mental Health Care Bill is expected to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.
2. Though psychiatrists have reservations about the aims of the Bill, they are looking forward
to a framework to provide a starting point.
3. They place the onus on the State governments of coming up with workable models that
would include community participation with the focus on ensuring that the patient does not
suffer for want of treatment.
4. National Mental Health Programme is aimed at integrating mental health into general
health.
5. But that could not be achieved as psychiatric disorders were positioned in low priority over
other national programmes in view of incentives and accountability.
6. Even if the State manages to get funds from the Central pool, they will be a one-time
investment, usually for five years.
7. This could be used to set up smaller centres with trained manpower to offer medical care
and help family manage patients.
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PM flags off first train from Mendhipathar in Meghalaya to Guwahati;
stresses upon development of North Eastern states1. Development of infrastructure is a major issue for overall development of the country.
2. The Prime Minister was speaking at the flagging off ceremony of the first train from
Mendipathar in Meghalaya to Guwahati.
3. Mr Modi also laid foundation stone for new rail line from Bhairabi to Salrang in Mizoram.
4. The Prime Minister said that government has decided to privatize railway stations to earn
revenue.
5. The government has allowed 100 percent FDI in railways for better infrastructure.
6. He also announced that four Railways Universities will be set up in the country for
specialized railway courses.
7. Proper connectivity with neighbouring countries would provide better job opportunities for
the youths of North-East.
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INTERNATIONAL
High-level talks underway on Iran nuclear programme
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Talks are underway in high-level negotiations to limit Irans nuclear program in exchange for easing
crippling sanctions on the Islamic republics economy.
Facing a November 24 deadline before negotiations expire, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met on
Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and European Union adviser Catherine Ashton.
Negotiators from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia are expected to join the final round of
talks starting November 18 in Vienna.
India pushes presidential pardon for fishermen

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India is making a strong diplomatic push for a presidential pardon of the five Indian fishermen .
They were recently sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
Sri Lanka is more inclined to consider a commutation of the sentence to enable the transfer of the five
men to serve out a life sentence in an Indian jail.
India wants Sri Lanka to take a political rather than a legalistic view of the case of the five Indian
fishermen sentenced to death by a court in that country.
Google signs 60-year, $ 1 billion NASA lease

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Google has signed a long-term lease for part of a historic Navy air base
It plans to renovate three massive hangars (A large structure at an airport where aircraft
can be stored and maintained), and use them for projects involving
a)
The Aviation,
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Space exploration
c)
Robotics
Giant Internet Company will pay $ 1.16 billion in rent over 60 years for the property
(which also includes a working air field, golf course and other buildings)
The 1,000-acre (400-hectare) site is part of the former Moffett Field Naval Air Station on
the San Francisco Peninsula.
China Offers $20 Billion in Loans to ASEAN

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Myanmar for the China-ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit, and
the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, and Korea) meetings.
Li pledged $20 billion in loans to Southeast Asia for regional infrastructure development. Thats in
addition to $3 billion for the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund.
This funds infrastructure and energy investments in ASEAN member countries, and $480 million to
help fight poverty in Southeast Asia.
China also promised preferential treatment to ASEAN investors under an expanded China-ASEAN free
trade agreement.
Motive of China
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The financial push is part of a plan to reassure ASEAN member states that Chinas rise is beneficial for
its neighbors and for the region as a whole.
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Several ASEAN members, most notably Vietnam and the Philippines, have long-standing territorial
disputes with China.
When it comes to maritime issues, China is attempting to deflect the focus from territorial disputes to
areas with potential for cooperation.
Beijing and ASEAN have declared 2015 the ASEAN-China Year of Maritime Cooperation.
China is hoping that its offers of loans, investment, and preferential trading treatment will be enough
to demonstrate its softer side to its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Implication of this move

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To the extent that Chinas emphasizing on maritime cooperation, it will mean more communication
between maritime law enforcement agencies as well as setting up a hotline between foreign
ministers for use in case of maritime emergencies.
The Wall Street Journal dubbed this Chinas carrot-and-stick approach, with massive investments
tied to Chinas Silk Road project as the carrot.
The stick, reserved for neighbors, who infringe on Chinas territorial interests, involves economic
snubbing as well as more forceful military and paramilitary patrols of disputed regions.
G-20 Summit begins at Brisbane in Australia

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G-20 Summit has begun at Brisbane in Australia.
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Top leaders of 19 advance and emerging economies including USA, Russia, China, Britain, Japan and
India and the head of European Union are participating in the event.
The leaders will discuss a wide range of global economic issues and to use their collective power to
improve peoples lives.
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6.7 magnitude quake strikes off New Zealand coast

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A strong earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit 178 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of
the North Island city of Gisborne off the New Zealand coast on Monday morning.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quakes epicentre was a relative deep 35
kilometers.
New Zealand is part of a geologically active region thats often called the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc
of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
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35.8 million Slaves across the world
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Almost 36 million people are living as slaves across the globe with an index on Monday listing
Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Haiti, Qatar and India as the nations where modern-day slavery is most
prevalent.
The Walk Free Foundation, an Australian-based human rights group, estimated in its inaugural slavery
index last year that 29.8 million people were born into servitude, trafficked for sex work, trapped in
debt bondage or exploited for forced labour.
For the second year, the index of 167 countries found India had by far the greatest number of slaves.
Up to 14.3 million people in its population of 1.25 billion were victims of slavery.
For the first time, the index rated governments on their response to slavery. It found the Netherlands,
followed by Sweden, the United States and Australia as some of the countries that had the strongest
response.
At the opposite end of the scale, North Korea, Iran, Syria and Eritrea had the worst responses.
India, Australia establish framework for security cooperation

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India and Australia on Tuesday established a framework for bilateral security cooperation
They (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott) stepped up their
defence collaboration for advancing regional peace and combating terrorism among other challenges.
They established the framework to intensify cooperation and consultation between Australia and
India in areas of mutual interest.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Abbott decided that the framework will be implemented in accordance with an
action plan.
The action plan states that there will be an annual summit and foreign policy exchanges and
coordination.
Church of England allows female bishops

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The Church of England has broken with a centuries-old tradition by paving the way for the
appointment of female bishops.
The vote at the general synod meeting at Westminster's Church House in central London yesterday
gave the final seal of approval to a legislation passed through UK Parliament in October.
Women priests were ordained in 1994 but to date they have not been able to take on the Church's
most senior roles.
India extends $75 million credit line to Fiji

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India on Wednesday announced a $75 million line of credit to Fiji for a co-generation power plant and
a $5 million fund to develop its villages.
They even agreed to expand their defence and security cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a visa-on-arrival for Fijians and assistance projects
that included a Parliament library and doubling the scholarships and training slots in India for people
from Fiji.
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Obamas Republic Day visit great chance for bolstering ties: US officials
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U.S. President Barack Obamas proposed visit to India in January 2015 is a great opportunity to
strengthen and expand bilateral strategic partnership.
First time a U.S. President is to attend Republic Day (celebrations), which commemorates the
adoption of Indias constitution.
Japanese Prime Minister was last years honoree. Mr. Obama is the first U.S. President to be honored
in this way, and the first to visit India twice during his time in office.
18th SAARC Summit begins in Kathmandu

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The 18th South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit began in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
On the opening day toady Joint Secretaries level programming committee is now discussing the
calendar of SAARC activities for 2015, and opening of a SAARC Disaster and Environment
Management Centre.
Besides, the committee meeting is also considering a proposal for merging the present 11 regional
SAARC Centres to make five such Centres.
This is the first time Kathmandu is hosting the summit in 12 years. The theme this year is, 'Deeper
Integration for peace and prosperity'.
Established in 1985, SAARC was joined by seven South Asian countries to promote welfare economics
and collective self-reliance, and to accelerate the region's socio-cultural development.
The first summit was held in Dhaka on 8 December 1985, when the organization was established by
the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Iran nuclear talks: Negotiations between Iran, 6 major world powers

deadlocked
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Negotiations in Vienna between Iran and six major world powers to arrive at a comprehensive long
lasting deal over Teherans nuclear program have been deadlocked.
With November 24 deadline approaching fast, efforts are underway to resolve the standoff between
the two sides.
Iranian foreign minister Zarief said the western nations should not make excessive demands.
Negotiators from U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany want Iran to scale down the nature
and scope of its nuclear program to slow down its technical ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes and it wont forego its right to enrich
uranium. It wants complete lifting of economic sanctions
Iran nuclear talks

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Elements are falling into place for an agreement to allow talks on Irans nuclear program to continue
another seven months.
According to the deal, a broad agreement should be completed by March 1, with the final details
worked out by July 1.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed on
Sunday to start discussion on the extension as it became clear that it would be hard to bridge the
differences between them in the time before the deadline.
International negotiators are worried that Iran is using its nuclear development program as a cover
for developing nuclear weapons, and they have imposed economic sanctions on Tehran.
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Sri Lanka presidential polls
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Sri Lanka said it will invite foreign monitors to witness the presidential election in January.
According to Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya ,U.N. monitors play a role only if an election
is being held for the first time or if there were serious concerns over the electoral process.
Mr. Dishapriya said that usually election monitors from Asia, the European Union and the
Commonwealth were invited to see a major election.
The January 8 election will be mainly a contest between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former
Minister Maithripala Sirisena.
Ukraine to hold referendum on joining NATO when it meets criteria

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Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukraine will hold a referendum on joining NATO
once it has met certain criteria for membership.
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused Nato of breaking a historic promise
by gradually approaching Russia's borders.
Alliance was also attempting to break the balance of power.
Three countries from the former Soviet bloc joined Nato in 1999, followed by several more in 2004,
including Lithuania and the other Baltic states.
Fighting has continued in east Ukraine despite both sides signing a cease fire agreement on 5th
September.
Recent development at 18th SAARC summit

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PM pushes for a South Asian University, immediate medical visas for patients from SAARC countries
India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC Countries.
Agricultural growth has helped eradicate abject hunger and poverty.Bangladesh target being middle
income country by 2021.
This is the third time Nepal is organising the summit - first in 1987 and then again in 2002.
Ahead of the summit, three meetings at foreign ministers, foreign secretaries and joint secretaries
levels decided to scrap three SAARC regional centres and merge four others into one.
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December, 2014
NATIONAL
Modi wins TIME readers poll for Person of the Year
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did not make it to the final eight selected byTIME for the annual
Person of the Year title.
Has been hailed as one by its readers in an online poll conducted by the publication.
Mr. Modi has been named winner of this years readers poll for TIME Person of the Year,
Securing more than 16 per cent of the almost five million votes cast.
Select committee clears insurance Bill

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The passage of the contentious insurance amendment Bill in Parliament looks unstoppable now.
With differences being ironed out at the select committee of the Rajya Sabha.
The report was adopted with the Opposition Congress on board and only four of the 15 members of
the committee dissented.
Coal mines nationalisation amendment Bill withdrawn

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The government withdrew from the Rajya Sabhaa Bill which will have to be further amended to
comply with the Supreme Court decision to cancel 204 blocks allocated since 1993.
The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2000, was introduced in Rajya Sabha on April 24,
2000
To amend the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973, but could not be taken up for consideration.
The Bill, which seeks to allow Indian companies in the private sector to mine coal in the country
without the existing restriction of captive mining.
It was withdrawn by Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal as it required more amendments to comply
with the recent Supreme Court orders.
3.5 lakh liters furnace oil spills in fragile Sunderbans as tankers collide in fog
1.
An oil tanker carrying around 350,000 litres of oil capsized on the Shele River in the Sundarbans
2.
Threatening the world's largest mangrove ecosystem which is also a Unesco World Heritage Site
This is the first big oil disaster in the Sunderbans.
3.
The oil tanker had moored in dense fog when an empty tanker collided with it early Tuesday morning,
local forest officer Amir Hossain Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune.
4.
Every day, the tide carries seawater in and then out. This process will further spread the oil slick.
5.
The Shele River is a sanctuary for two sweetwater dolphins, both endangered - the Irawaddy and
Ganga dolphins.
6.
The Sundarbans is also a unique habitat for a number of other rare and endangered species including
the Bengal tiger, Indian otter and spotted Deer.
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Modi, Putin discuss defence, energy
1.
Russia will remain Indias foremost defence partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
2.
While announcing that Russia had accepted Indias offer to jointly manufacture light-utility
helicopters.
3.
India and Russia announced a $10-billion oil deal for Indian company Essar with Russian oil giant
ROSNEFT to import about 10 million tonnes of crude oil over the next decade.
4.
The highlight of the meeting part of an annual summit between the two countries was the
unveiling of a vision statement on atomic energy cooperation.
5.
Where Russian nuclear agency ROSATOM and the Department of Atomic Energy and NPCIL have
agreed to build at least 12 new reactors supplied by Russia over the next 20 years.
6.
According to officials, 10 of the reactors will be built near the existing Kudankulam nuclear power
project, while the Indian government is yet to notify the location for two others.
7.
Mr. Modi said: Russia is the worlds top source for hydrocarbon resources and India one of the
worlds largest importers.
8.
Despite our close friendship, our collaboration in this sector has been disappointing. Both sides
agreed to scout and explore for hydrocarbons in the arctic shelf, which could raise eyebrows from
other countries in the region as well as environmentalists.
India to set up 12 nuclear plants with Russian collaboration

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Energy sector could be the new bridge to the relationship between India and Russia.
2.
Two countries which have decided to complete the construction and commissioning of at least 12
nuclear units in next two decades.
3.
The decision was taken during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President
Vladimir V Putin, in New Delhi.
4.
The very first of day of Russian Federations presidents visit, heads of both the countriessigned a
Memorandum of Understanding and presented a strategic vision for strengthening cooperation in
peaceful uses of atomic energy.
5.
The first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is on stream.
6.
It has added 20 percent to the existing capacity for nuclear power in India.
7.
Highlighting the strategic vision for strengthening the peaceful uses of atomic energy of India and
Russia.
8.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress towards putting into commercial operation Unit-1
of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP).
9.
This achieved full rated power in July 2014.
10. They also agreed to take necessary steps to expedite commissioning of Unit-2 of the KKNPP.
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11. The sides welcomed the entry into force of the General Framework Agreement (GFA) of April 10, 2014
for KKNPP Units 3 and 4.
12. Russia will provide equipment with long manufacturing cycle and first priority equipment for
implementation of projects for KKNPP Units 3 and 4.
13. Both the countries have decided to complete the construction and commissioning of at least 12 units
in next two decades.
14. The sides will develop a framework for collaboration in the field of radioactive waste management as
well.
15. For this, Indian side has agreed to expeditiously identify a second site, in addition to Kudankulam, for
the construction of the Russian-designed nuclear power units in India.
16. The countries are looking forward for localisation of manufacturing of equipment and fuel assemblies
in India as the goal of their future collaboration.
Major recommendations of Shyamala Gopinath Committee

1.
The Shyamala Gopinath Comrnittee constituted on Small Savings Schemes has submitted its report to
the Government.
2.
Major recommendations of the committee were

i.
To reduce/abolish agent's commission except Manila Pradhan Kshetriya Bachat

Yojana (MPKBY) agents to restrict management cost
ii.
Secondary market yields on Central Government Securities of comparable

maturities should be the benchmarks for the interest on various small savings
instruments and should be reset every 1s1 April.
iii.
Committee recommended to reduce minimum share for States from 80% to 50%
against net collection and recommended that amount received on redemption of
Central/State Governments securities should be reinvested between Centre and
States in the ratio of 50:50.
3.
After detailed deliberation and in light of views received from State Governments, various
Departments of Central Government and Agent's Association, most of the recommendations of the
Committee are being implemented.
4.
In view of developments observed by the Committee in 2011 on AML/CFT front the KVP was
recommended to be discontinued by the Committee.
5.
KVP has been re-notified by the Government on 23-9-2014. Under the re-notified KVP the investor
has to undergo the Know Your Customer (KYC) modalities at Post Office or Bank.
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The First Organization to Integrate eBiz Portal of DIPP
1.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge) Shri Bandaru Dattatreya has
launched Web-service for registration of Employers under the ESI Act through eBiz Portal in New
Delhi.
2.
State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Ministry of Labour & Employment has become the first
organization to integrate its services i.e. Registration of the Employers through eBiz portal.
IOC is India's biggest company: Fortune 500 list

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State-run Indian Oil Corporation is the country's largest company in terms of revenue.
Followed by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum in the second and third place respectively.
According to the Fortune 500 list of Indian companies for 2014. Indian Oil Corp (IOC) tops the chart
with an annual revenue of Rs 5, 00,973 crore.
Indias first indigenous nuclear submarine gears up

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India's first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant is now finally all set to make its maiden foray
into the wide-open sea.
The 6,000-tonne vessel, with an 83MW pressurized light-water reactor at its core for propulsion, is
slated to begin its sea trials off Visakhapatnam within the next few days.
INS Arihant, or the "annihilator of enemies'', and its two under-construction follow-on vessels are the
critical missing link in the country's long-standing pursuit to have an operational nuclear weapons
triad.
The capability to fire nuclear warhead from land, air and sea.
While the Agni ballistic missiles and fighter-bombers constitute the first two legs.
The triad's missing underwater leg has for long troubled the country's strategic establishment.
Nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles (SSBNs), after all, are
considered the triad's most difficult-to-detect and effective leg.
There is also growing concern over China stepping up its submarine activity in the Indian Ocean.
India is fourth largest exporter of illicit outflows

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With a total $439.59 billion, India has jumped one rank to become the fourth largest exporter of illicit
outflows over the decade after China, Russia and Mexico, according to a new study.
India with $94.76 billion was also the third largest exporter of illicit capital in 2012.
The most recent year included in the annual update of illicit financial flows released Tuesday by
Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington -based research and advisory organization.
A record $991.2 billion in illicit capital flowed out of developing and emerging economies in 2012
Facilitating crime, corruption, and tax evasion, said the report on "Illicit Financial Flows from
Developing Countries: 2003-2012.
According to the report, the five biggest exporters of illicit financial flows over the decade are: China
$1.25 trillion, Russia $973.86 billion, Mexico $514.26 billion, India $439.59 billion and Malaysia
$394.87 billion.
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SC disallows Italian marines' plea
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The Supreme Court today refused the pleas of murder accused Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre
seeking extension of his stay in Italy on health grounds.
His fellow marine permission to travel there for Christmas, leading them to withdraw their
applications.
The trial has not commenced. Even the charge sheet has not been filed. It does not happen anywhere
in the world. We are sorry," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said.
The case pertains to the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by Italian marines Latorre and
Girone onboard ship 'Enrica Lexie' off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.
The complaint was lodged by Freddy, who is the owner of the fishing boat 'St Antony', in which two
Indian fishermen were murdered when the marines started firing on them allegedly under the
misconception that they were pirates.
11th India Health Summit

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Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said that it is time to make Health
for All a reality, here today.
He stated that people of the country should have access to affordable and quality healthcare.
The health strategy of the government needs to take healthcare to the doorstep of the people.
The Minister stated that skilled and trained manpower formed a critical component of this strategy.
National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill,

2014 passed
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The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill, 2014 has been
passed by the Lok Sabha.
The Bill seeks to extend the validity of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions)
Second Act, 2011 upto 31.12.17.
The bill seeks orderly arrangements pursuant to guidelines and regulations for regularization of
Unauthorized colonies, village abadi areas (including urban villages) and their extensions, as existed
on the 31st day of March 2002, and where construction took place even beyond date and upto 1st
June, 2014.
The objective of the extension of time is not only to protect certain forms of unauthorized
developments from punitive action in the NCT of Delhi.
But also to provide for opportunity to the Government agencies to finalize the norms, policy
guidelines and feasible strategies as well as orderly implementation of the plan in this regard.
National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 is due to expire on 31st
December 2014.
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India tests glide bomb
1.
A 1000-kg glide bomb, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), was successfully tested by dropping it on from a fighter-aircraft over the Bay of
Bengal, off the Odisha coast.
2.
The bomb was dropped by an Indian Air Force fighter-aircraft, which took off from the Kalaikunda air
base, near Kharagpur, West Bengal.
3.
The bomb, guided (repeat guided) by its on-board navigation system, glided for about 100 km before
reaching the targeted area with precision.
4.
The flight of the glide bomb was monitored by radars and electro-optic systems, stationed at the
DRDOs Integrated Test Range at Balasore, Odisha. The glide bomb was tested a few times in 2013.
Land acquisition rules delaying investments: economic review

1.
The stringent land acquisition rules are probably blocking investments and key projects, the Mid-Year
Economic Analysis 2014-15 tabled in Parliament.
2.
According to consultations during the charcha between finance ministry officials and external experts,
the government should be given the power to compulsorily acquire land for economic development.
3.
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Resettlement and
Rehabilitation Act 2013 can be improved to reduce obstacles to investment, while protecting the
most vulnerable, the report said.
4.
The new Act must avoid litigation, facilitate additional compensation above the market value and
speedier environmental clearances, which would allow expeditious transfer of land.
Renewable Energy Programmes Gets a New Impetus

1.
Giving a fillip to the countrys renewable energy programme, the new government led by Shri
Narendra Modi has taken a slew of decisions in a span of six months to boost Clean Energy in the
country.
2.
These include providing support to Rs 1000 crore to Central Public Sector units to set up over 1,000
MW grid connected solar photovoltaic power projects.
3.
setting up of 25 solar parks each with a capacity of 500 MW requiring financial support from the
centre of Rs 4050 crore and setting up of over 300 MW of solar power projects by Defence and Para
military establishments.
4.
With these decisions, India will emerge as a major solar power producing country as nowhere in the
world are solar parks are being developed on such a large scale.
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WHO issues interim guidance on use of new drugs
1.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued interim guidance for use of Bedaquiline and
Delamanid, the new drugs for treatment of adults with Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
2.
These guidelines were issued because these drugs have only been through phase-2b trials and studies
for safety and efficacy.
3.
The interim guidelines recommend that use of these drugs in the treatment regimen of MDR-TB be
made, subject to the conditions that include proper patient inclusion.
4.
Adherence to the principles of designing a WHO-recommended MDR-TB regimen, treatment is closely

monitored with active pharmaco vigilance and proper management of adverse drug reactions and
prevention of drug-drug interaction.
5.
The conditions also include that patient's must be informed consent be obtained.
ISROs unmanned crew module reaches Chennai

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Three days after it was recovered from sea, ISROs unmanned crew module was today brought to
Kamarajar Port at Ennore near here on board a Coast Guard ship.
Coast Guard ship ICGS Samudra Paheredar brought the three-tonne crew module to the port and it
was later shipped to Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, some 100 km from here, Coast Guard
sources said.
ISRO had earlier said that after being brought to Sriharikota, the module would be taken to Vikram
Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala for further study.
Inching towards realising Indias ambition to send humans to space, ISRO had on December 18
successfully tested an unmanned crew module on board an experimental mission of its heaviest
rocket GSLV Mark-III that blasted off from Sriharikota.
A Giant Leap for Indian Naval Aviation

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It is a defining moment when LCA (Navy) Prototype 1 (NP1), the first indigenously designed and
developed 4th plus generation combat aircraft.
This is designed to operate from the decks of air-craft carriers, took-off majestically from Ski-Jump
facility of Shore Based Test Facility at INS Hansa in Goa.
Piloted by Commodore JaideepMaolankar, the Chief Test Pilot of National Flight Test Centre, the
aircraft had a perfect flight with results matching the predicted ones to the letter.
The launch was orchestrated by the Test Director Cdr J D Raturi and Safety Pilot CaptShivnathDahiya
supported by GpCaptAnoopKabadwal, GpCapt RR Tyagi and Lt CdrVivek Pandey.
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National Ayush Mission (NAM)
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The Government of India has approved and notified National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme on 29.09.2014.
Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has launched
National AYUSH Mission (NAM) during 12th Plan for implementing through States/UTs.
The basic objective of NAM is to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost effective AYUSH
services strengthening of educational systems, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H
raw-materials.
It envisages flexibility of implementation of the programmes which will lead to substantial
participation of the State Governments/UT.
The NAM contemplates establishment of a National Mission as well as corresponding Missions in the
State level.
. NAM is likely to improve significantly the Departments outreach in terms of planning, supervision
and monitoring of the schemes.
Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya
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The President's Office on Wednesday announced the Bharat Ratna award to Pandit Madan Mohan
Malaviya (posthumously) and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The announcement was made on the eve of Mr. Vajpayee's 90th birthday and the 153rd birth
anniversary of Pandit Malviya.
The BJP has been demanding Bharat Ratna for Mr. Vajpayee for a long time; and BJP patriarch L.K.
Advani has been at the forefront of seeking the highest civilian honour for the former Prime Minister.
Earlier, Mr. Advani had written a letter to the UPA Government to award the Bharat Ratna to the
former Prime Minister.
A Bharat Ratna for Pandit Malviya, a freedom fighter and the founder of the Benaras Hindu University
was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign.
Justice Giridhar Malviya, the grandson of Pandit Malaviya was one of those who proposed the
nomination of Mr. Modi from Varanasi parliamentary constituency.
Sushaasan Express' flagged off

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Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar today flagged off 'Sushaasan Express' from the birthplace of
former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Sushaasan (good governance) Express would run between Gwalior and Gonda via Hazrat
Nizamuddin and Lucknow.
The train was flagged-off by the Union minister for steel and mines, who is also the local MP, on the
occasion of Vajpayee's birthday.
Govt launches cyclone warning system

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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday launched a SMS-based alert system for
general public for disseminating of weather and disaster-related information.
Under round-the-clock web-based operational system, the IMD would send SMS to individuals who
register themselves at the weather forecaster's official website - www.imd.gov.in.
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3.
The system was launched on Thursday as an observance to the good governance day to mark the
birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Mission Indradhanush launched

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Shri J P Nadda, Health & Family Welfare Minister launched Mission Indradhanush.
The Mission Indradhanush, depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those children by
2020.
These are children who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine
preventable diseases which include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles
and hepatitis B.
The Minister launched the Mission on Good Governance Day to mark the birth anniversary of Bharat
Ratna Shri Madan Mohan Malaviya and birthday of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Govt seeks views on increasing age for induction in IAS

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The Centre has sought views from state governments on increasing the present age limit of 54 for
induction of state service officers into IAS and IPS among others.
At present, maximum age limits for consideration for induction into three all India servicesIndian
Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)is 54 years as
on January 1.
Some of the state service officers had challenged the maximum age limit of 54 years before the
Supreme Court mainly with the contention that the same should be increased as retirement age in
the central government was increased from 58 years to 60 years.
India announces USD 1 million for UN tsunami fund

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India has announced one million US dollar contribution to United Nation (UN) fund and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for strengthening early warning systems for natural
disasters.
The decision comes ten years after a massive Tsunami triggered by an earthquake smashed the
coastline of around 14 nations.
The donation will also ensure that vulnerable communities receive the timely warning information
that is required to save lives and livelihoods in disasters.
India created space history in 2014

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With IRSO succeeding in its first inter-planetary Mars Orbiter Mission making India the only country to
achieve this feat in its maiden attempt, 2014 was not only momentous but a very busy year for the
space sector.
The year saw two successful launches of GSLVs and five foreign satellites in the orbit. The countrys
space agency also tested the atmospheric re-entry of a crew module towards realising its ambition to
send humans into space.
At the start of the year, ISRO launched GSLV-D5 through use of indigenous cryogenic technology and
injected GSAT-14 communication satellite into the intended orbit, announcing Indias entry into the
heavy satellite launch market.
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INTERNATIONAL
Worlds first herbal Koran unveiled in Dubai
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The worlds first handcrafted herbal Holy Koran, made from about 200 medicinal plants, has been
unveiled
The Koran has been made by the Islamic arts and calligraphy company, Heddem Arts and has been
crafted over 23 years from 1957 to 1979 by Turkish Unani Doctor Hamdi Taher.
The Koran is made of high potency herbal mixtures prepared as per Unani medical system.
Herbal sheets of the Holy Koran have many therapeutic properties when the reader moves his
fingers on the letters or in and around the pages.
The herbal mixture seeps through the pores in the fingers, providing health benefits.
The herbal-cream-written Koran includes 606 pages and weighs about 7.5 kg.
Patiently handcrafted over the years, every word and design in the Holy Koran is made without using
any printing technology, tools or machinery.
Philippine storm weakens after leaving 21 dead

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Typhoon Hagupit weakened into a tropical storm on Monday after leaving at least 21 people dead
Forcing more than a million into shelters, while sparing most of a central Philippine region still reeling
from last years monster Typhoon Haiyan.
Forecasters, however, said Hagupit could still generate storm surges that could overwhelm coastal
villages.
6.6-magnitude earthquake recorded off Panama

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The US Geological Survey says an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 has struck in the
Pacific Ocean off the coast of western Panama.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no danger of a tsunami, and there were no
immediate reports of damage.
Norovirus hits 200 people on New Zealand cruise

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Health authorities in New Zealand said that about 200 passengers on a cruise ship have been sickened
by an outbreak of norovirus.
The gastrointestinal illness typically lasts one to three days and can cause stomach pain, nausea,
diarrhoea and vomiting.
Philippine storm weakens after leaving 21 dead

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Typhoon Hagupit weakened into a tropical storm on Monday after leaving at least 21 people dead
Forcing more than a million into shelters, while sparing most of a central Philippine region still reeling
from last years monster Typhoon Haiyan.
Forecasters, however, said Hagupit could still generate storm surges that could overwhelm coastal
villages.
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6.6-magnitude earthquake recorded off Panama
3.
4.
The US Geological Survey says an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 has struck in the
Pacific Ocean off the coast of western Panama.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no danger of a tsunami, and there were no
immediate reports of damage.
Norovirus hits 200 people on New Zealand cruise

3.
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Health authorities in New Zealand said that about 200 passengers on a cruise ship have been sickened
by an outbreak of norovirus.
The gastrointestinal illness typically lasts one to three days and can cause stomach pain, nausea,
diarrhoea and vomiting.
No China-like climate deal with India: Todd Stern

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Head of the U.S. delegation Todd Stern on Wednesday clarified that while there were expectations of
a useful visit when President Barack Obama visits India in January.
No climate deal is expected on the lines of that between the U.S. and China signed recently.
Responding to questions, Mr. Stern said he had met Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
India is an important player and he expected it to be a constructive one in the ongoing climate talks.
The U.S. does a lot of bilateral work with India on clean energy and will continue doing so.
It was also highly engaged with India on clean energy initiatives and will contribute to any goal they
may have.
Worlds longest train journey ends in Madrid

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A goods train from China completed the worlds longest rail journey when it reached Madrid, its final
destination.
The train connecting China to Spain passed through seven nations in Asia and Europe, covering a
mammoth 13,000 km.
The train was flagged off from Chinas international commodity hub of Yiwu on November 18 with 40
wagons, carrying 1,400 tonnes of cargo.
The historic first journey will be evaluated with the aim of opening a regular two-way rail link
between China and Spain, which could commence operations in early 2015.
Two major advantages of the journey were that the goods were transported much faster and less
pollution was emitted.
The train arrived in Spain in half the time a cargo vessel would need to cross from China to Spain and
produced 62 per cent less carbon dioxide than a lorry making the journey.
China tests hypersonic strike vehicle that can breach US missile shield
1. China has tested a hypersonic strike vehicle, signalling that Beijing is working on a new ultrahigh speed weapon system that can breach the existing missile shield of the United States.
2. The Chinese Defence Ministry has confirmed an earlier assertion of U.S. defence officials
that Beijing had tested Wu-14, a hypersonic glide vehicle.
3. Analysts say that the test coincided with the growing militarization of the Western Pacific,
and tensions resulting from maritime disputes in the energy- rich South China Sea.
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4. China is concerned about Washingtons intent to deploy 60 per cent of its naval and air
forces in the Asian-Pacific region, under its Asia Pivot doctrine.
5. Despite its decision to cut down the size of U.S. Army from 520,000 to 440,000.
Japan: Electoral Landslide With an Ambiguous Mandate

1. Parliamentary elections in Japan are widely expected to return Prime Minister Abe and his
ruling coalition to power.
2. Japanese media polling data point to a victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of over
300 of the 475 Lower House seats.
17 killed, 91 missing in Indonesia landslides

1. Rescuers have found 17 bodies and suspended searching for the 91 missing people a day
after Fridays landslides buried dozens of houses in Indonesias Java Island.
2. A heavy downpour was to be blamed for the disaster which occurred Friday evening in
Banjanegara district.
3. The disaster also left 11 people seriously injured and four others suffering from minor
wounds.
4. The rescue operation is halted as the heavy rain might trigger a repeat of the landslide.
5. The landslides also blocked roads, creating difficulties for sending heavy machinery
equipment to the scene.
Lima goes into extra time to avoid weak outcome

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The U.N. climate talks being held here seem to be headed for an inconclusive finish
Parties complained of lack of transparency and consultative process when the latest draft for the
declaration was released.
The talks have been extended by a day.
Objections had been raised to a draft text released late on Thursday and the whole of Friday dragged
on with little progress.
A watered-down deal at Lima

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After two weeks of negotiations which were exceedingly slow and several revisions of the draft text
Countries finally agreed to ground rules on their national contributions by March 2015 if they are
ready or by October 2015.
These Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will form the foundation for climate
action post 2020.
When the new agreement is set to come into effect, the UNFCCC said.
Pledges were made by both developed and developing countries prior to and during the climate talks
that took the new Green Climate Fund (GCF) past $10 billion.
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Japans ruling coalition wins big in elections
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Japans ruling coalition won a resounding victory in lower house elections

The conservative Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled for most of the post-World War II era.
Locked up a solid majority, and appeared headed to winning at least two-thirds of the House of
Representatives together with its coalition partner.
With most of the votes counted, the Liberal Democrats had won more than 280 of the 475 seats in
the lower house.
Abbott convenes National Security Committee after hostage crisis

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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he has convened the National Security Committee for
emergency briefings.
After hostages were reportedly taken in a Sydney cafe earlier on Monday.
Mr. Abbott said on Monday it was unclear if the siege at a Sydney cafe, where hostages are being
held, was politically motivated.
US Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General

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Thirty seven-year-old Indian-American physician Vivek Hallegere Murthy has been confirmed as the
19th Surgeon General of America by U.S. Senate.
He is youngest person and first person of Indian-origin to hold the post.
The upper house of US Congress confirmed Mr. Murthys nomination by 51 votes to 43
More than year after President Barack Obama had nominated him to this top administration post on
public health issues in November 2013.
Mr. Murthy has been the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of TrialNetworks, formerly known as
Epernicus, since 2007.
He co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organisation focused on HIV/AIDS education.
He received a BA from Harvard University, an MBA from Yale School of Management, and an MD from
Yale School of Medicine.
He was born to parents who are originally from South India. He came to the United States when he
was three years old and grew up in Miami.
First batch of Indian railway officers begin training in Beijing

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India and China have amplified their partnership in the railway sector with the start of a 12-day
programme.
That would train Indian personnel on running trains carrying heavy bulk cargo.
The training programme on heavy-haul technology for the first batch of 22-officers began in
Beijings Jiaotong University.
The training is being imparted under the supervision of the National Railway Administration of China.
The programme follows the signing of the Sino-Indian Memorandum of Understanding and
Implementation Plan on Cooperation in Railways during the September visit to India of the Chinese
President Xi Jinping.
India and China are already working together on a feasibility study of a high-speed rail link between
Delhi and Chennai.
The Chinese are working with their Indian counterparts to increase train speeds that includes
modification of existing tracks, between Chennai and Mysore, which will pass through Bengaluru.
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A look at the Pakistani Taliban militant organisation that has claimed
responsibility for deadly attack on school
Who are the Pakistani Taliban
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The extremist group is made up of fighters who largely have been based in North Waziristan, a northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
They have been battling government troops in the northwest since Pakistan aligned itself with the
U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
But the Pakistani Taliban didnt officially form until 2007 as an umbrella organisation that included
various militant factions.
In recent months, the organisation has fractured amid a Pakistani military offensive and U.S. drone
strikes that have raised tension in the ranks.
Known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, it is headed by Mullah Fazlullah
A militant commander who claimed responsibility for trying to kill education activist Malala Yousafzai
in 2012.
WHAT ARE THEIR GOALS?

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The TTP has vowed to overthrow the government and install a harsh form of Islamic law.
The extremists are aligned with the Afghan Taliban a group fighting U.S. and Afghan forces in
Afghanistan as well as al-Qaeda militants.
They have frequently attacked Pakistani troops, government targets and civilians to help carry out
their goals.
Tuesdays school assault was one of the deadliest in more than a decade of fighting.
WHAT HAS PAKISTANS GOVERNMENT DONE TO STOP THEM?

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Pakistans military has carried out numerous operations in the tribal areas over the years, and more
than 4,000 soldiers have been killed.
But many Pakistanis are tired of the operations and question their effectiveness.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, elected in 2013 partly on a platform of promising to negotiate an end to
the violence, has tried for months to talk to the militants.
When militants attacked the Karachi international airport in June, the violence shocked the country.
Pakistan says it has killed more than 1,000 militants in the operation, which displaced hundreds of
thousands of people.
Historic thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations announced

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The United States and Cuba on Wednesday agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations.
To open economic and travel ties, marking a historic shift in U.S. policy towards the island after a halfcentury of enmity dating back to the Cold War.
The announcement came amid a series of sudden confidence-building measures between the longtime foes.
President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro were to separately address their nations.
As part of resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba, the U.S. will soon reopen an embassy in the
capital of Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments.
The U.S. is also easing travel bans to Cuba, including for family visits, official U.S. government business
and educational activities.
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Swiss National Bank imposes negative interest rates
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The Swiss National Bank on Thursday said it would impose negative interest rates on cash held by
other banks at the central bank.
Seeking to discourage safe-haven buying by investors anxious about the crisis in Russia and oils slide.
SNB said it would impose an interest rate of -0.25 per cent on sight deposit account balances of over
10 million Swiss francs.
Expand its three-month Libor target range to -0.75 per cent to 0.25 per cent. The measures will take
effect from January 22.
The franc fell after the announcement to its lowest against the euro since mid-October and to its
weakest against the U.S. dollar since May, 2013.
The franc, the most liquid safe-haven currency after the Japanese yen, has stuck close to the 1.20
limit in recent days.
Fears of a full-blown crisis in Russia and economic weakness globally prompted investors to seek
safety.
Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Japan's Honshu island

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A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan's Honshu island on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
said.
USGS said the quake's epicentre was located 68 km east-northeast of Iwaki on Honshu.
It was measured at a depth of 37 km. The national broadcaster NHK said there was no tsunami
warning, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage.
Britains nuclear power plants could be attacked by drones: report

1. Britains nuclear power plants are highly vulnerable and they could be attacked by drones
2. The report followed a number of unexplained, but apparently co-ordinated, flights of tiny,
unmanned vehicles over French nuclear installations.
3. Existing nuclear power plants, Mr. Large said, were not designed to counter the threat of
near-cyborg technology
4. Flexible access and manoeuvrability of the drones means that they are able to fly over and
twist around physical barriers that belonged to a different age
5. Even small, battery-powered drones can lift 10 or more kilograms of cargo.
North Korea skipping U.N. Security Council meeting

1. An angry North Korea, now on the defensive over a U.S. accusation of hacking, is refusing to
take part in a groundbreaking U.N. Security Council meeting.
2. For the first time countrys bleak human rights situation will be discussed.
3. International pressure has built this year on Pyongyang after a sprawling U.N.-backed inquiry
of alleged crimes against humanity.
4. Obama administration on Friday blamed it for the devastating hacking attack on Sony over
the film The Interview, which portrays Kims assassination.
5. Now the 15-member Security Council is being urged to refer North Koreas human rights
situation to the International Criminal Court, seen as a court of last resort for atrocities.
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6. North Korea says United States and its allies of using the human rights issue as a weapon to
overthrow the leadership of the impoverished but nuclear-armed nation.
7. North Korea already sent a sharp warning last month, threatening further nuclear tests after
the U.N. General Assemblys human rights committee voted to move the issue toward the
Security Council
8. Two-thirds of the Security Council this month formally requested that North Koreas human
rights situation be placed on the agenda for ongoing debate.
9. China and its veto power as a permanent council member could block any action against its
traditional but troublesome ally.
Essebsi wins Tunisian polls

1. Beji Caid Essebsi (88), a veteran of Tunisias political establishment, won the countrys
presidency.
2. Mr. Essebsi campaigned on restoring the prestige of the state and a return to stability
from the years of turmoil.
3. That followed this North African countrys 2011 overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
that kicked off the regional pro-democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring.
U.S. economy grew at fast 5 per cent annual rate in Q3

1. The U.S. economy grew at a sizzling 5 per cent annual rate in the July-September period, the
fastest in more than a decade.
2. It is boosted by strength in consumer spending and business investment.
3. The resurgence in growth last quarter provided the latest evidence that the U.S. economy is
steadily strengthening and outpacing most others around the word.
4. The Commerce Department on Tuesday sharply revised up its estimate of third-quarter
growth from a previous figure of 3.9 per cent.
5. Much of the strength came from consumer spending on health care and business spending
on structures and computer software.
6. It was the fastest quarterly growth since the summer of 2003. It followed a 4.6 per cent
annual growth rate in the April-June quarter.
FIFA World Cup: A Nepal worker died every two days in Qatar
1. Nepalese migrants building the infrastructure to host the 2022 World Cup have died at a
rate of one every two days in 2014.
2. Despite Qatars promises to improve their working conditions, the Guardian has learned.
The figure excludes deaths of Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi workers.
3. Qatar had vowed to reform the industry after the Guardian exposed the desperate plight of
many of its migrant workers last year.
4. Human rights organisations have accused Qatar of dragging its feet on the modest reforms,
saying not enough is being done to investigate the effect of working long hours in
temperatures that regularly top 50 degrees.
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5. The Nepalese foreign employment promotion board said 157 of its workers in Qatar had
died between January and mid-November.
6. Qatar said it would reform the kafala system that keeps workers tied to their employer, and
better enforce laws that require contractors to provide humane living conditions and ban
them from seizing passports.
7. But the system that Qatar proposed to replace kafala would still leave workers tied to their
employer for the length of their contract, which could be as much as five years.
8. Rather than scrapping the exit visa system, which in effect allows employers to stop their
charges leaving the country without permission, Qatar proposed a complex procedure that
still allowed employers to raise objections.
9. An Amnesty International report last month warned that Qatar was dragging its feet when
it came to making meaningful changes.
10. Despite making repeated promises to clean up its act ahead of the World Cup, the
government of Qatar still appears to be dragging its feet over some of the most fundamental
changes needed, such as abolishing the exit permit and overhauling its abusive sponsorship
system, it said.
Sharif wishes Vajpayee on birthday

1. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday sent a bouquet of flowers to former
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
2. It may be recalled that Sharif and Vajpayee shared rare camaraderie when they were Prime
Ministers of their respective countries in the late 1990s.
3. In February 1999, Vajpayee travelled by bus across the WagahAttari border to Lahore to
meet with Sharif.
4. He also then visited the MinarePakistan, and there was hope for a restoration of
normalcy in bilateral ties.
5. However, a couple of months after that visit, the Kargil War were launched with the backing
of the Pakistan Army, and relations between the two countries turned sour.
Kalashnikov to register world trademark of AK-47

1. The Russian manufacturer of Kalashnikov assault rifles has applied to register a word
trademark of the worlds best-known weapon, the AK-47.
2. Kalashnikov Concern has filed an application for registration of a word trademark of AK-47
3. It also include for goods of 28 classes under the International Classification of Goods and
Services.
4. The company earlier this month launched a major re-branding drive of the rifles, popular
with terrorists and national armies in Asia and Africa.
5. The Siberian weapons maker paid more than USD 380,000 for the re-branding campaign that
included a new logo CK written in black and red and melded into a single block. The logo
stands for Kalashnikov Concern.
6. The gun is relatively cheap as well as easy to manufacture and maintain, contributing to its
popularity with terrorists and national armies in Asia and Africa.
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7. Soviet Lt-Gen Mikhail Kalashnikov, the arms designer credited by the Soviet Union with
creating the AK-47, the first in a series of rifles that would indelibly associate his name with
modern war, dies last year aged 94.
8. He had little formal education and claimed to be a self-taught tinkerer who combined innate
mechanical skills with the study of weapons to conceive of a rifle that achieved battlefield
ubiquity.
Asia marks 10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami

1. Beachside memorials and religious services were planned across Asia to mark 10 years since
the Indian Ocean tsunami slammed into a dozen nations and killed nearly a quarter million
people.
2. About 230,000 people were killed by the disaster. Many victims were never found or never
identified.
3. On December 26, 2004, the regions most powerful earthquake in 40 years tore open the
sea bed off Indonesias Sumatra.
4. It displaces billions of tonnes of water and sending waves roaring across the Indian Ocean at
jetliner speeds as far away as East Africa.
Ancient Buddhist sculptures discovered in Pakistan

1. Ancient Buddhist sculptures have been found in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
during an excavation work.
2. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa archaeology and museum director Abdul Samad said the sculptures
and heads, dating back to second to fifth century BC.
3. He said during excavation, precious coins of Kushana period were also found around the
stupa.
4. The official said the Bhamala archaeological site had been declared national and world
heritage site located near Khanpur dam, located on the Haro River.
Jet carrying 162 lost over stormy Indonesian waters

1. Several hours of searching Indonesian waters turned up no sign of an AirAsia plane that
disappeared on Sunday with 162 people on board in airspace.
2. Aircraft searching for AirAsia Flight 8501 called off the effort for the night and will resume on
Monday morning.
3. The plane took off Sunday morning from Surabaya, Indonesias second-largest city, and was
about halfway to its destination, Singapore, when it vanished from radar.
4. AirAsia, a regional low-cost carrier founded in 2001 by Malaysian businessman Tony
Fernandes.
5. Another Malaysia Airlines flight, also a Boeing 777, was shot down over rebelcontrolled
eastern Ukraine while on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17.
6. In 2007, an Indonesia-owned Adam Air flight carrying 102 people vanished during a domestic
flight. Debris was found a few days later, but much of the fuselage remains on the ocean
floor.
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NATO ends Afghan mission amid rising insurgency
1. The United States and NATO would mark the formal end of the war in Afghanistan on
Sunday with a ceremony at their military headquarters in Kabul.
2. The insurgency they fought for 13 years remains as ferocious and deadly as at any time since
the 2001 invasion that unseated the Taliban regime following the September 11 attacks.
3. The symbolic ceremony will mark the end of the U.S.-led International Security Assistance
Force.
4. ISAF was set up after the U.S.-led invasion as an umbrella for the coalition of around 50
nations that provided troops and took responsibility for security across the country.
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January, 2015
NATIONAL
Rishi has given guidelines to make planes
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A paper presented on ancient Indian aviation technology at the Indian Science Congress claimed that
an ancient Indian rishi had given detailed guidelines for making aircraft.
2.
Maharshi Bharadwaj has narrated guidelines to making aeroplanes. There are 97 reference books for
aviation.
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4.
In Brihatvimanshastra, he has given 500 guidelines, Captain Anand Bodas, a retired pilot and trainer,
and one of the two authors of the paper, said.
The Maharishi, he said, defined an aeroplane as a vehicle which travels through air from one country
to other, from one continent to other, from one planet to other.
Cyber crimes likely to double by 2015: study

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The number of cyber crimes in the country may double to 3 lakh in 2015 and could pose serious
economic and national security challenges, an Assocham-Mahindra SSG study has warned.
The increasing use of smartphones and tablets for online banking and other financial transactions
have increased risks.
What is causing even more concern is that the origin of these crimes is widely based abroad in
countries like China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria, among others.
Phishing attacks of online banking accounts or cloning of ATM/debit cards are common occurrences.
Maximum number of offenders belongs to the 1830 age group.
With increasing use of Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) such as egovernance, online
business and electronic transactions, protection of personal and sensitive data have assumed
paramount importance.
Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana

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The Government has introduced Deendayal Upadhyaya GramJyoti Yojana for feeder separation.
Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution system including metering of distribution
transformers/feeders/consumers and rural electrification.
With a scheme outlay of Rs.43033 crore during the entire implementation period in 12th and the 13th
Plan.
Schedule of completion of the projects under the scheme is within a period of 24 months from the
date of issue of letter of Award by the utility.
The scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana has been subsumed in the new scheme.
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National Seminar on Tribal Health Issues
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Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with ICMR has organized a national level seminar to discuss all
tribal health issues covering thematic areas i.e, malaria, nutrition, sickle cell anaemia and maternal
and child health.
The daylong seminar will be held here tomorrow. Statistics says that the tribal health issues are
different from the mainstream health issues as a result of which they are in the bottom line of
indication.
The main objective of this seminar is to share good case studies and researches done by ICMR and
RMRC to eradicate burning health problems of the tribals and to find out how the findings from these
case studies can be replicated by other states.
More than a decade of research has shown that small and affordable measures can significantly
reduce the health risks that women face when they become pregnant.
Most maternal deaths could be prevented if women had access to quality Antenatal care (ANC) during
pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately afterwards.
Web Enabled Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) is being implemented by Department of
Health as a mission mode project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) to register and track
every pregnant woman.
Indian economy is showing new dynamism, says Sushma Swaraj

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External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who inaugurated this year's 'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas' in
Gandhinagar.
She said the Indian economy is showing new dynamism under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led
government at the Centre.
Swacch Bharat movement, Make in India programme, Digital India Initiative; young pravasis can
contribute to the country.
Swaraj said the government's 'Make in India' initiative indicates the commitment to turn India into a
manufacturing hub.
'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas' is the world's largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at
enhancing networking and reinforcing the economic and cultural bonding.
Gujarat is the partner state for the event. Other states participating in the event are Uttar Pradesh,
Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala and Nagaland.
19th National Youth Festival in Guwahati

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Over 2,500 youths from across the country have converged in Guwahati, to take part in the five-day
19th National Youth Festival that begins in the Assam capital.
While Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi will inaugurate the festival in the Nehru Stadium, union home
minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to be present at the closing function on January 12.
President promulgates Ordinance for e-rickshaws

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An ordinance to amend the Motor Vehicles Act on Wednesday got the Presidents assent, paving the
way for plying of e-rickshaws on roads of national capital region.
President Pranab Mukherjee has promulgated the Ordinance, the source in Transport Ministry said.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had called on the President on Tuesday and had explained to him the
hardships faced by owners of battery-driven rickshaws.
A Bill to regularise e-rickshaws was passed by the Lok Sabha in the just concluded winter session of
Parliament but it is stuck in the Rajya Sabha.
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Toll-free helpline launched for alcohol and drug addicts
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The central government Wednesday launched a national toll-free helpline to provide assistance to
people dependent on alcohol and drugs.
The move to launch the helpline number 1800-11-0031 comes close on the heels of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's appeal to the youth of the country to give up drugs in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat'
radio programme in December.
The helpline was launched by the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot at
a special function here, an official release said.
44 Indians, PIOs in Forbes annual list of global prodigies

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Over 40 Indians and people of Indian-origin, including technology wizards, inventors and
policymakers, have been named by Forbes in its annual list of young game changers, movers and
makers under the age of 30 from around the globe.
The fourth annual compilation by Forbes includes 600 millennials in 20 fields, including consumer
technology, retail, entertainment, science, finance, media, social entrepreneurs, law and policy and
enterprise technology.
The list includes big names such as Harry Potter actress and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Emma
Watson, actor Zac Efron, basketball player James Harden and NBA star Chris Paul.
There are 44 Indians and people of Indian-origin in the list, who are doing exemplary work like
inventing an inexpensive method of purifying water, working on international food security initiatives
and developing crutches that dont hurt armpits.
Power Ministry to finalise draft note on tariff policy by January 15

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Aiming to bring another set of reforms in the sector, Power Ministry is drafting a Cabinet note
proposing amendments to the Tariff Policy for enabling greater competition in the sector.
According to sources, the Cabinet note proposing certain amendments to the Tariff Policy, which was
incorporated in 2006, is under preparation and the Ministry of Power will be ready with a draft by
January 15.
The amendments are being proposed mainly with the purpose of giving emphasis to competition and
creating feasible conditions for the same in the sector.
After receiving responses from other concerned ministries on the draft note, the Power Ministry will
send the final note to Cabinet for approval.
Under the cost plus tariff structure PSUs like NTPC and NHPC charge cost plus tariff a lump-sum fee
as well as a per-unit charge from the distribution companies or discoms.
Another suggestion is to have a formula which would ensure that variation in fuel and power
purchase cost is recovered by the power generating firms. The earlier amendment to the Tariff Policy
was approved in 2011.
Railways to use stations for skill development of youth

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After crying foul for years over its social service obligations, including running uneconomical lines, the
Indian Railways is trying to develop a new social face under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
government.
Minister Suresh Prabhu is working on a plan to utilise unused infrastructure at the Railways' 8,000
stations across the country, to impart skill development training to unemployed youth.
Particularly in rural and far-flung areas. Also, the ministry plans to use the vast railway network as a
tool to market products made by self-help groups and tribal people across the country.
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4.
5.
The announcements come soon after a few customer-centric initiatives like introduction of mobile
ticketing and Wi-Fi internet services, apart from a focus on cleanliness.
Indian Railways has around 8,000 stations. The premises of some of the stations with very few trains
and scanty footfall could be used for skill development activities.
Govt allows 100% production of neem-coated urea

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Government Wednesday allowed fertiliser firms to produce 100 percent neem-coated urea -- a move
aimed at helping farmers boost income and reducing subsidy bill by up to Rs 6,500 crore.
Announcing this decision, Fertilizer Minister Ananth Kumar also said the country would become selfsufficient in urea production in the next five years as the Centre has taken steps for revival of 5 closed
urea plants and set up new ones.
Government of India has done away with the cap on neem- coated urea and now it can be produced
100 percent. It is a win-win situation for both industry and farmers," Kumar told reporters here.
Earlier, production of neem-coated urea was allowed only up to 35 percent of the total capacity of
the plant.
India produces about 22 million tonnes of urea and imports about 8-9 million tonnes to meet the
shortfall. About 20-25 percent of indigenous urea is neem-coated.
The minister noted that farmers income would increase with the help of neem-coated urea as
productivity would increase with less usage of urea.
Unemployment rate rises to 4.9% in 2013-14; increase in rural joblessness

1.
Unemployment rate in India rose to 4.9% in 2013-14, mainly on account of increase in joblessness
in areas despite the government's flagship employment scheme MGNREGA.
2. According to the latest survey report by Labour Bureau, a wing of Labour Ministry, the unemployment
rate inched up to 4.9% at all India level last fiscal, from 4.7% in 2012-13.
3. On the positive side, the unemployment rate dropped in urban areas to 5.5% in 2013-14, from 5.7% in
the previous fiscal.
4. Meanwhile, although 93% of the households in rural areas benefited from MGNREGA, the
unemployment rate increased to 4.7% last fiscal, compared to 4.4% a year ago.
5. Unemployment rate among men increased to 4.1% in 2013-14, from 4% in 2012-13. Among women, it
increased to 7.7% last fiscal, from 7.2% in 2012-13.
6. However, the unemployment rate among women came down to 12.4% in urban areas, from 12.8% in
2012-13.
7. The study revealed that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is estimated to be 52.5% last fiscal,
whereas the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) is estimated to be 49.9%.
8. As many as 49.5% people are estimated to be self employed, followed by 30.9% as casual labour,
16.5% wage/salary earners and the rest 3% as contract workers.
9. About 60.5 % of people aged 15 years and above, who were available for work for all the 12 months
during the period were able to get work throughout the year.
10. A total of 1, 36,395 households were covered by the survey -- 83,385 in rural areas and 53,010 in
urban areas.
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India home to 200,000 refugees in first half of 2014: UNHCR
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India was home to over 200,000 refugees in the first six months of 2014, a period that saw over 5.5
million people displaced worldwide mainly due to war and violence across large swathes of the
Middle East and Africa.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in its new Mid-Year Trends 2014 report said of the 5.5 million who
were newly displaced.
1.4 million fled across international borders becoming refugees, while the rest were displaced within
their own countries.
The new data brings the number of people being helped by the UNHCR to 46.3 million as of mid-2014
- about 3.4 million more than at the end of 2013 and a new record high.
India was home to 198,665 refugees as of June 2014 and had 4,718 pending cases of asylum seekers,
bringing the total population of concern to 203,383.
In 2014, we have seen the number of people under our care grow to unprecedented levels.
As long as the international community continues to fail to find political solutions to existing conflicts
and to prevent new ones from starting.
As of June 2014, the three million Syrian refugees now account for 23 per cent of all refugees being
helped by UNHCR worldwide.
Another major finding in the report is the shift in the regional distribution of refugee populations
from Asia and the Pacific and now as a result of the crisis in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concludes, 15 NRIs awarded

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The three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas concluded on Friday at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar in the
presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari,
Who gave away 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman' awards to 15 members of the Indian diaspora.
The recipients were

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
Guyana President Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar

Mala Mehta,
Dr Rajaram Sanjaya
Kanwaljit Singh Bakhshi
Rajmal Parakh
Duraikannu Karunakaran
Essop Goolam Pahad
Shah Bharatkumar Jayantilal
Ashraf Palarkunnummal
Mahendra Nanji Mehta
Professor Nathu Ram Puri
Satyanarayn Nadella
Dr Lulla Kamlesh
Dr Nandini Tandon.
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Government Social Welfare Programmes and CSR: A Better Future
1.
While addressing delegates at a Seminar, CSR: Touching Lives and Making An Impact , held on the
sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat, in Gandhinagar.
2.
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, briefly recalled the history of social
service in the present century.
3.
He said that India has a tradition of philanthropy which is part of Indian culture, wherein tribute is
always paid to the Daridranarayan. In the past decades, social programmes have been community
based.
4.
Globally, the concept gained ground in 1953 with wide ranging definitions. Statutorily in India, it has
acquired recognition since 2013.
5.
The Minister went on to say that welfare and economy programmes should identify the weakest
segments of society and only they go about making schemes.
6.
He said that before the Jana Dhana Yojana, only 58 % people had bank accounts.
7.
The transfer of funds into these accounts has started from 1st January 2015. The scheme also
provides for a credit card, accident insurance as well as life insurance.
NGO terms Coal ordinance as anti-people

1.
Seeking to enlist the support of Parliamentarians against the Coal ordinance, an NGO from
Chhattisgarh has termed it as anti-people and claimed that it only serves the interests of the
corporates.
2.
The Supreme Court had clearly elucidated how mining and utilisation of valuable natural resources
should strictly be driven by national interests.
3.
This was a historic opportunity for the government to devise visionary, long-term strategies to utilise
valuable natural resources in the interests of the nationhowever, with undue haste.
4.
It has come up with The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill to completely nullify the effect of the
Supreme Court judgement, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan has written to all the MPs.
5.
It alleged that the measure not only fritters away this historic opportunity to sincerely reflect and
come up with a visionary legislation but moves decisively against the national and peoples interests
in favour of the industry and the corporate.
First smart city project to get boost

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As the government draws out the blueprint of 100 smart cities across the country, Indias first smart
city project at Dholera is expected to get a boost at the seventh edition of the Vibrant Gujarat
Summit.
2.
The Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) is expected to be one of the main investment draws at
Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015 that is also seeking investments for another smart city in the state.
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3.
The Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City as well as other infrastructure and manufacturing
projects in the state along with the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
4.
The Dholera smart city, being developed along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor has already
initiated the tendering process.
5.
By March, RFQs and RFPs for the initial 22.5 square kilometre area will be issued and we are expecting
response from investors across the world.
6.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced plans to build 100 smart cities across the country to
take care of growing needs of urbanisation that would also help bridge the rural-urban divide.
Accept ECs suggestion on NRIs voting rights

1.
The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the ECs recommendation to extend voting rights to
NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
2.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and A K Sikri asked the
Centre to inform it about further steps taken to implement the suggestions.
3.
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
4.
Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up.
They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest.
5.
The Centres stand was clarified by Additional Solicitor General P L Narasimha, who said certain
amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them.
6.
On November 14 last year, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the
ECs proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
7.
The apex court had then granted four weeks time to the government to respond to the proposal
prepared by a 12-member committee led by Vinod Zutshi, Deputy Election Commissioner, for
Exploring Feasibility of Alternative Options for Voting by Overseas Electors.
New Generation Electronic Warfare Equipment Integrated on Tejas Aircraft

1.
An advance Electronic Warfare suite (EW suite) developed by Defence Avionics Research
Establishment (DARE), a DRDO laboratory.
2.
It gives to the pilot an additional capability of nullifying the effect of detected Radar threat by
appropriate mode of jamming.
3.
Existing EW systems fitted on various combat aircraft are basic EW equipment known as Radar
Warner Receiver to provide warning to the aircraft pilot in case of detection of a Radar threat.
4.
After obtaining due flight clearances and certification, the first flight sortie of LCA PV1 with the EW
equipment operational, took place today.
5.
The equipment was noted to be detecting Radar signals operating in and around the flight path.
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Govt told to disclose Cabinet note on NJAC Act
1.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered the Union government to disclose the Cabinet
note and other documents relating to the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act to
an information seeker under the Right to Information Act.
2.
The transparency panel held that once the bill was presented in Parliament, it could not be exempted
from disclosure.
3.
Acting on Lucknow-based S N Shukla's plea, Information Commissioner M Shridhar Acharyulu said

such documents could not be held as secret.
4.
The NJAC Act, as passed by Parliament and ratified by over 15 states, got the President's assent
recently. It replaced the two-decade-old collegium system of appointment of judges in high courts
and the Supreme Court.
Swami Vivekananda and Nationalism

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At Cape Camorin sitting in Mother Kumari's temple, sitting on the last bit of Indian rockI hit upon a
plan: We are so many sanyasis wandering about, and teaching the people metaphysicsit is all
madness.
Did not our Gurudeva use to say, 'An empty stomach is no good for religion?' We as a nation have lost
our individuality and that is the cause of all mischief in India. We have to raise the masses
This is what Swami Vivekananda has said about the vision of one India" he had while meditating on
the "last bit of Indian rock" (later known as the Narendra Roc Memorial) at Kanyakumari.
Moved by the miserable conditions of Indian masses he infused in them the sense of service and self
sacrifice towards Motherland India.
I am an Indian and every Indian is my brother. The ignorant Indian, the poor and destitute Indian,
the Brahmin Indian, the pariah Indian is my brother.
The Indian is my brother, the Indian is my life, Indias gods and goddesses are my God, Indias society
is the cradle of my infancy, the pleasure garden of my youth, the sacred heaven, the Varanasi of my
old age.
The soil of India is my highest heaven; the good of India is my good.
These were some of the utterances of the patriotic saint Swami Vivekananda that fostered among
Indians a consciousness of their identity as a Nation.
Though growth of Nationalism is attributed to the Western influence but Swami Vivekanandas
nationalism is deeply rooted in Indian spirituality and morality.
He contributed immensely to the concept of nationalism in colonial India and played a special role in
steering India into the 20th Century. His influence on the youth of 20th century is iconic.
Swami Vivekananda, born Narendra Nath Datta, on 12th January, 1863 to Bhuvaneswari Devi and
Vishwanath Datta was a monk and chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
. He introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with
raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the world stage during the late 19th century.
Dr. Radhakrishnan has observed Nationalism is a political religion which stirs the hearts and wills of
men and rouses them to service and self sacrifice in a way that no purely religious movements have
done in recent times.
Much before this observation Swami Vivekananda stirred the hearts and minds of Indians with
enthusiasm for strength and fearlessness; ready for service and self sacrifice for nation.
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15. Swami Vivekanandas nationalism is associated with spiritualism. He linked Indias regeneration to her
age-old tradition of spiritual goal.
16. . He said, Each nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each nation has a
mission to accomplish.
17. Therefore we must have to understand the mission of our own race, the destiny it has to fulfil, the
place it has to occupy in the march of nations, and the role which it has to contribute to the harmony
of races.
18. His nationalism is based on Humanism and Universalism, the two cardinal features of Indian spiritual
culture. He taught people to get rid first of self inflicted bondages and resultant miseries.
19. Since the onset of 21st Century, the world is in turmoil and passing through transition period of a
kind.
20. At this hour of human history the message of Swami Vivekananda promoting spiritual integration of
the nation and world on the basis of universal brotherhood and goodwill becomes all the more
relevant.
21. It has the potential to avert wars ensuring peaceful co-existence of individuals and nations.
India's first Net Zero Energy consumption building

1.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday visited India's first 'Net Zero Energy'
consuming building - Indira Paryavaran Bhawan .
2. It is constructed in such a way that it can meet most of its annual energy requirement through solar
power.
3. Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar showcased the secretary general the salient features
of the green building which comprises of India's largest roof-top solar panel.
4. Javadekar is learnt to have also used this opportunity to reiterate India's commitment to move on
clean energy path using more and more solar and wind power in the next five years
5. And assured Ban Ki-moon about his country's willingness to work with other nations to have an
equitable global climate deal in Paris later this year.
6. In fact, Ban Ki-moon had expressed his desire to see the green building when Javadekar had last met
him during the UN climate conference in Lima, Peru in December, 2014.
7. Also explained him the features of the 'Paryavaran Bhawan' from where his ministry works. The
building is located at Jor Bagh in South Delhi.
8. The building, which was dedicated to the nation by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early
last year, is focused on increasing the efficiency of resources like energy, water and materials while
minimizing the impact of the building on human habitat and environment.
9. The 'Net Zero Energy' building - also called Net Zero Building - is a structure with zero net energy
consumption
10. Where the total amount of energy used in the premises on an annual basis is more or less equal to
the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
11. Architectural design of the building is primarily based on following concepts:
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First District of India with Complete Rural Broadband Coverage
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The Minister for Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the launch of the high
speed broadband for the entire Idukki district of Kerala.
With the commissioning of the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), the Idukki district of Kerala
has become the first in India to be connected with the high speed broadband for all the areas of the
district.
Currently the District has a total of eight (8) Block Offices & 53 Gram Panchayats of which 8 Block
Offices & 52 Gram Panchayats have been connected on Optical Fibre and one Gram Panchayat
namely Edamalakudy, is connected through VSAT.
Edamalakudy, is a Tribal Gram Panchayat consisting of 26 Tribal villages with around 2200 people.
It is remotely located around 18 Kms from Pettimudi which is last point one can go in a vehicle. BSNL
has made exceptional efforts in connecting this Gram Panchayat and now Broadband Internet as well
as Mobile services is also available here.
For the first time all villages under this Panchayat would be connected through Mobile phones and
internet.
The establishment of NOFN would open up new avenues for Access service providers such as Telecom
Service Providers.
Gateway to implement Act East Policy

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Tripura located in an advantageous position in respect of strategic, diplomatic and economic relations
with Bangladesh is likely to become the gateway in tandem with implementation of the Act East
policy adopted by the Government of India.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said
this today during the inauguration of the first Border Haat set up along Indo-Bangladesh international
border at Srinagar, a bordering village in South Tripura.
She said the Centre intended to move for development of Bangladesh through Tripura. Smt.
Sitharaman assured to look into the matter to expedite building the bridge over Feni River. She said
the Centre is looking forward to the North-East as the threshold to reach the South-East Asian
countries.
Later in the afternoon, Smt. Sitharaman visited the Integrated Check Post at Akhaura border at
Agartala and enquired about the position of the ICP.
'25 pc in Class VIII can't read Class II books'

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A national survey has found that close to 25 per cent students in Class VIII cannot read Class II
textbooks, despite several efforts by the government to improve the quality of elementary education
in India.
The NGO, Pratham, published its first survey 10 years ago sampling thousands of students across rural
India. The dismal trend has been continuing since then.
Prathams Annual Status of Education Report (Rural), released here on Tuesday, also indicated that
the ability of Class VIII students to solve questions in basic arithmetic has declined since 2010.
The students ability to read English, too, remained relatively unchanged in lower primary grades,
while a decline was visible in upper primary grades.
In 2014, about 25 per cent of children enrolled in Class V could read only simple sentences in English.
According to the survey, 60.2 per cent of children in Class VIII could read simple sentences in English
in 2009, but in 2014, the percentage came down to 46.8.
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7.
8.
In 2014, of those who could read words (regardless of grade), roughly 60 per cent could explain the
meaning. Of those who could read sentences, 62.2 per cent in Class V could explain the meaning.
Overall, the situation with basic reading continues to be extremely disheartening in India.
Mathematics continues to be a serious and major source of concern (so far as learning outcomes are
concerned). Teacher and child attendance show no major changes from last year (2013), stated the
report.
Govt. hands over new maritime security gadget to Navy

1.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave away the first set of smart identity-checking scanners to the Chiefs
of Navy
2. Also the Coast Guard which will be used by these maritime security agencies to check identity cards of
the residents of coastal areas.
3. Singh handed over separate Resident Identity Card (RIC) readers to Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan
and Coast Guard Director General Vice-Admiral A G Thapliyal at an event held in his North block office
in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
4. The scheme of preparing RICs for residents of coastal areas is being implemented by the Registrar
General and Census Commissioner.
5. An office under the Union Home Ministry, and it is aimed to strengthen coastal security measures in
nine states and 4 Union Territories which have a sealine running along their borders.
6. Over 65 lakh people living in the coastal areas have been issued such RICs till now by the government.
7. The Union government is also preparing the National Population Registrar (NPR) in 3,331 coastal
villages under the said scheme.
8. The card readers will be used by coastal security agencies to authenticate an individuals demographic
and biometric authentication without using Internet services
9. And also have been manufactured by Indian technology firms Ms ITI Limited and Ms Electronics
Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).
10. The card readers work on the principle of Key Management System and the cards can be read only
when the key present in the RIC is authenticated by the Verification Authentication card.
11. The Home Ministry said in a statement detailing the features of the new gadget released today to the
two maritime security agencies.
Space pavilion opens at C-SiS

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The space pavilion, set up by the department of space, was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Centre
for Science in Society (C-SiS), Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
It's a dream come true for C-SiS which has been pursuing the pavilion with the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO).
The pavilion displays research and development activities related to space technology, space sciences
and applications, various static models of satellites and launch vehicles.
There are huge display panels about the Indian space programme, ISRO's activities, remote sensing
satellites, communication satellites and the interplanetary mission.
Dedicating the pavilion to students and society, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director M
Chandra Dathan said that the public can learn about what the organisation has done for the society.
Cusat vice-chancellor J Latha, VSSC deputy director Ratnakara Rao, Cusat pro vice-chancellor K
Paulose Jacob and registrar also spoke at the function.
The facility will be used for the mid-summer science talent programme and the total capacity
development programme for schoolchildren.
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21st Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council
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The 21st Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council comprising of the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha
and West Bengal will be held at Patna under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath
Singh.
The 8th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eastern Zonal Council was held at Patna on
November 7, 2014 to finalize the agenda for the Eastern Zonal Council Meeting.
Besides this, some fresh additional items are likely to be presented in the meeting by the concerned
State Governments.
The agenda for the meeting finalized by the Standing Committee comprising the Chief Secretaries
ranges from a number of issues of Inter-State and Centre-State cooperation, allocation of additional
assistance to the States to provide relief to the tribals, issues relating to security and other substantial
issues that the Chief Ministers would like to raise in the meeting.
There are five Zonal Councils, namely Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central Zonal Council
which are advisory bodies and discuss any matter in which some or all of the States represented in a
Council have a common interest.
These Councils advise the Central and State Governments on any matter of common interest in the
field of economic and social planning, linguistic minorities, inter-state transport, matters connected
with or arising out of the reorganization of states and matters concerning border disputes.
Government had constituted a Commission on Centre-State relations under the chairmanship of
Justice MM Punchchi, former Chief Justice of India, to look into the changing dynamics of Centre-State
relations in the context of emerging social, political, economic, environmental and governance issues
in the country.
Agreement signed to revive Ramagundam Fertilizer Plant

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National fertilizers Limited NFL), Engineers India Limited (EIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL)
have signed an agreement to form a joint venture company (JVC)
Its for setting up new Ammonia and Urea plants at the existing site of Ramagundam Fertilizer plant in
District Karimnagar in Telengana.
National fertilizers Limited NFL), Engineers India Limited (EIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL)
have signed an agreement to form a joint venture company (JVC)
For setting up new Ammonia and Urea plants at the existing site of Ramagundam Fertilizer plant in
District Karimnagar in Telengana.
The revival of the Ramagundam unit will trigger a great economic boom in the new born State of
Telangana in the southern part of the country.
As it will generate opportunities in the form of direct and indirect employment for the people in the
region. Execution of construction activities is expected to start in early 2016.
Third indigenous Landing Craft Utility vessel launched

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The third indigenous Landing Craft Utility vessel, useful for transporting tanks, armoured vehicles and
soldiers during amphibious operations, was today launched in Kolkata.
The vessel is the third in the series of eight LCUs being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers Ltd (GRSE).
Launching of the vessel which is designed in-house and built by GRSE for the Indian Navy is yet
another milestone in Indias quest for self-reliance in sophisticated shipbuilding, an official statement
said.
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4.
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It was launched in the presence of Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and his wife
Reena Lanba.
Invocations from Atharva Veda were recited in Sanskrit and English at the start of the launch. Lanba
named the ship as LCU L53 and wished good luck before launch, it said.
The ship will be fitted with an advanced Integrated Platform Management System for remote control
of propulsion, auxiliary and power generating equipment.
The ship can be deployed for maritime security, beaching or un-beaching, humanitarian relief
operations and evacuation from distant islands, search and rescue operations and peace-keeping
missions.
India gets indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

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In a quiet ceremony on Saturday that kept the shutterbugs and journalists out, Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) handed over
The Tejas Series Production-1 (LCA-SP1) to defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Air chief marshal
Anup Raha here.
The aircraft will now be finally used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) which has had a long frustrating wait
to get the plane that was first conceived 32 years ago.
The LCA-SP1 flew for the first time on October 1, 2014 commanded by Air Commodore (retd) K A
Muthanna and is in its initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration and not the FOC (final
operational clearance), which is expected only early next year.
This version of the aircraft will lack the latest electronic warfare suite, which was integrated into one
of the LCAs two weeks ago, mid-air refuelling and long-range missiles capabilities, among other things
that the FOC-configuration aircraft will boast of.
. Parrikar had, in December, told Lok Sabha that LCA would come by March. However, by March HAL
will be ready with the second one, also in the IOC configuration.
India builds solar plants atop canals to save land, water

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As India moves to ramp up investment in solar power, it is exploring innovative places to install solar
plants, including across the top of canals.
Last weekend, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon inaugurated a new "canal-top" solar energy plant in
Vadodara district in India's western state of Gujarat.
Experts identify two major advantages in building solar plants atop canals: efficient and cheap land
use, and reduced water evaporation from the channels underneath.
Earlier this month, India showed it is serious about expanding energy production from renewable
sources.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi upped the country's investment target for solar alone to $100 billion,
saying India would scale up solar power to over 10 percent of its total energy mix by 2022.
As part of that effort, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans to create 100 megawatts
(MW) of capacity from grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants built on top of canals and
on their banks by the end of the government's latest Five Year Plan in 2017.
The ministry will subsidise 30 percent of estimated expenditure of $154 million to construct facilities
to meet the canal-top goal.
The 10 MW plant on the outskirts of Vadodara city, which began generating power in November, is
built across 3.6km of irrigation canal, and has 33,800 solar panels mounted on steel scaffolding.
Connected to the state grid, its output is intended mainly to meet demand from irrigation pumping
stations.
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10. On a sunny day, the plant generates 50,000 units of electricity (1 unit equals 1 hour of 1,000-watt
usage), and is scheduled to produce 16.2 million units in its first year, declining 1 percent annually as
the panels degrade.
First state to have migrant workers register

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. Odisha has become the first state in the country to launch special drives to register migrant
labourers working in different states.
The effort is aimed at covering the migrant labourers under different social security schemes of the
state government.
Since a huge number of people, especially from the southern districts of the state, are migrating to
other states in search of jobs, they are deprived of the government's social security benefits.
Besides, there was no mechanism to identify them. Now we have decided to organize camps in
different states to register the Odia labourers working in other states.
Jal Kranti Varsh 2015-2016

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The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ms Uma
Bharati today said that the Year 2015-16 will be celebrated as Jal Kranti Varsh (Year) across the
country.
Delivering the valedictory address at the 3rd India Water Week here, she said the programme will be
celebrated in each district of the country and all efforts will be made to conserve and save water.
She also informed that all the State Governments are on board in this noble mission. Referring to
Prime Ministers call for making Water Conservation a true Public Movement.
Centre and States should make joint efforts in this endeavour.
Making a strong pitch for the revival of Yamuna, Ms Bharati said, inter-linking of rivers has achieved
considerable progress and through Yamuna-Sharada link and Pancheswar project of Nepal, more
water will flow in the Yamuna in the coming years.
Govt forms panel to expedite coal linkage rationalisation

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The government is trying to rationalise coal linkages for various companies across the country on a
priority basis, coal secretary Anil Swarup has said.
Swarup said KPMG has submitted a report on linkage rationalisation and the government has formed
a committee to look into the linkage policy.
The panel will submit its report in two months. The government would also ask companies, whose
plants are not operational, to surrender linkages so that it can be transferred to those companies who
are fighting coal shortage.
Coal linkage rationalisation would save R600 crore for the exchequer annually.
He said while rationalising linkage was a priority, evacuation was another major problem for which
the government has taken major initiatives to sort out.
The government has identified 50 railway projects for evacuating coal and would like to implement
those in joint ventures, he said in an interactive session organised by the MCC Chamber of Commerce.
Improving rail infrastructure in the coal mining areas is an urgent need and we want to expedite
projects on this account, Swarup said, adding that Coal India (CIL) was unable to increase production
for lack of evacuation facilities.
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India tops malnutrition chart in south Asia
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Severe acute malnutrition should be recognized as a medical emergency with one million children
under five dying in India due to malnutrition related causes, say activists.
A new study in Baran, Rajasthan and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh has found that preventable
deaths continue to hit children in the poorest areas of the country.
According to UNICEF, every year 1 million children fewer than five die due to malnutrition related
causes in India.
The statistics are alarming, and far above the emergency threshold for acute malnutrition (as per
WHO classification of the severity of malnutrition).
ACF India and Fight Hunger Foundation on Tuesday announced the launch of the Generational
Nutrition Program.
Speaking about the program ACF India deputy country director Rajiv Tandon said that there was an
urgent need to recognize severe acute malnutrition as a medical emergency.
He also stressed on the need for policies to tackle malnutrition and adequate budgets for
implementation.
The ACF report says that the number of children affected in India is higher than all the south Asian
countries with high burden of wasting or acute malnutrition.
Within India, scheduled tribes (28%), scheduled castes (21%) and other backward castes (20%) and
rural communities (21%) have a high burden of acute malnutrition," the report said.
These reports throw light on the malnutrition situation in the two districts analyzing the infant
mortality rates and child deaths due to conditions which are preventable.
In Madhya Pradesh, according to NFHS 3, 40% children were stunted down from [NFHS 2 - 49%], 60%
underweight up from [NFHS 2 - 54%] and 33% wasted [NFHS 2 - 20%]. "The rise in these nutritional
indicators in the state is worrisome and it is essential that strategies for addressing this are adopted
on a war footing,'' the report says.
Regarding Rajasthan the report said that according to NFHS-3, 20% of children under five are wasted,
an increase from 11.7% in NFHS-2, 24% are stunted as opposed to (52% in NFHS-2) and 44% are
underweight (50.6% in NFHS-2).
The NFHS-3 data also shows that children under five belonging to scheduled tribes in Rajasthan have
the highest prevalence of severe acute malnutrition.
IT employees paid best in India

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The information technology (IT) sector, with an average gross salary of Rs.341.80 per hour, has
emerged as the most lucrative industry in India, a study conducted by a career and recruitment
solutions provider in the country.
According to Monster Salary Index, which is aimed at successfully providing job seekers with a
benchmark to compare their salaries with other anonymous profiles across a broad spectrum of
industry domains in India and other global markets, the IT sector earns 45 percent more than other
sectors.
Analysing the trends of the Indian market, the report shows that with a median gross salary of Rs.291,
finance is the second most lucrative sector.
The salary index shows that the median gross salary in the construction sector stood at Rs.259 per
hour, education at Rs.186.5, healthcare at Rs.215, legal aid at Rs.215.6 and manufacturing and
transport at Rs.230.9.
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5.
In a developing economy like India, the manufacturing sector forms its backbone. The analysis of the
sector shows that the median salary is Rs.230.9 per hour, a figure that is slightly lower than the
average in the whole economy.
6. Nonetheless, disparities in salary exist in the sector on the basis of educational qualification/skills of
an individual, the report said.
7. It also highlighted that education sector gets the lowest hourly salary of Rs 186.50 per hour. This can
be attributed to the fact that there are relatively more women working here than in other sectors.
Women are paid 18 percent lesser than men in the same sector, the report said.
8. We are pleased to bring forth the findings of the first of its kind index in the country. This intellectual
property has been created with a foresight to equip the industry at large.
9. The country is on the edge of a new wave of development, which is expected to deliver jobs and
prosperity to millions, said Sanjay Modi, the managing director (India/Middle East/ Southeast
Asia/Hong Kong).
10. Globally, the same survey indicates that females in the workplace are not being compensated in the
same way as their male counterparts.
11. While there has been a great increase in the number of women in supervisory positions, this does not
reflect in the salary that those women are receiving.
'Make in Northeast' initiative

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The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern
Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr.
Jitendra Singh has announced Make in Northeast
Initiative beginning with a comprehensive tourism plan for the region, here today. He also announced
the decision to appoint a Brand Ambassador who, he said, could personify the heritage and identity of
Northeast and at the same time, inspire the rest of the countrymen to look east and act east.
Chairing a joint meeting of the senior officers of Ministry of DoNER and the Union Ministry of
Tourism, Dr. Jitendra Singh said.
Make in Northeast initiative, inspired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modis Make in India
concept, will in the long run seek to promote exclusive Northeast expertise in areas like tea
processing, organic farming, food processing, and exploitation of wind power through wind mills,
AYUSH, wellness therapies like spas, etc.
A detailed Brochure for investors will also be prepared and released across the country to encourage
investment in Northeast, he added.
Heritage City Development Scheme (HRIDAY) launched

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The National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) that seeks to preserve and
rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country was launched by the Minister of Urban
Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu.
Minister of Tourism and Culture Dr.Mahesh Sharma and Members of Lok Sabha representing different
cities selected under HRIDAY also attended the launch.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu said No nation can move forward ignoring its
cultural heritage and legacy.
India is a diverse land of languages and religions and we need to preserve the legacy of all kinds.
HRIDAY is a step towards reviving the soul of cities hosting such rich heritage.
Elaborating on the new initiative, Shri Naidu said, HRIDAY seeks to promote an integrated, inclusive
and sustainable development of heritage sites.
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6.
Focusing not just on maintenance of monuments but on advancement of the entire ecosystem
including its citizens, tourists and local businesses.
7. He said, with 32 UNESCO recognized natural and cultural heritage sites, ranking second in Asia and
fifth in the world, the tourism potential of the country is still to be fully harnessed and the new
scheme will help in this regard.
8. Informing that Rs.500 cr would be provided to the 12 cities selected in the first phase under the
Central Schme of HRIDY, Shri Naidu said, central government will meet the entire expenditure under
the scheme.
9. He however, urged the states and local urban bodies to supplement their resources for rapid
development of heritage cities.
10. He also called for involvement of NGOs, spiritual organisations and private sector for effective
implementation of the scheme. He stressed that urban development efforts should aim at blending
nature and culture for a better future.
Internet Social Forum to counter WEF's Net Mundial initiative

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A group of 24 international civil society groups, five of them Indians, have come together to form an
"Internet Social Forum" on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) currently underway in
Davos.
The Internet Social Forum, they say, is intended to be an antithesis to the "Net Mundial Initiative"
launched by the WEF in August last year.
The group proposes to come up with a "People's Internet Manifesto" after consulting various groups
across the world, including social justice activists, techies, and "democracy movements", to explain
their idea of the internet in international discussions.
The groups include NGOs and networks working in the fields of digital freedoms, internet governance,
and human rights.
The five Indian civil society groups here include SFLC.in, IT for Change, Knowledge Commons, Free
Software Movement of India, and All India Peoples Science Network.
The WEF's "Net Mundial initiative on internet governance cooperation" was put together after the
Net Mundial meeting in Brazil in April last year.
The WEF initiative is meant to take those discussions forward. However, civil society representatives
say they fear the whole affair turning exclusive and elitist.
A joint statement signed by the 24 groups says that the ISF is "a direct parallel to the launch of the
World Social Forum in 2001 as a counter initiative to the WEF."
Indias biggest incubation hub

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The Telangana government Friday began the work on T-Hub, which promises to be Indias biggest
incubation facility.
Telangana Information Technology Minister K. Tarakarama Rao laid the foundation stone for the
facility at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Gachibowli in Hyderabad.
Expected to be operational by June 2015, it would be the largest centre for start-up and
entrepreneurship activities in the country.
The T-Hub is being set up in collaboration with IIIT, Hyderabad, Indian School of Business (ISB) and
NALSAR University of Law.
The phase I coming up at IIIT at a cost of Rs.35 crore will be spread over 60,000 square feet and can
accommodate 400 start-ups by 2017.
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6.
In the second phase, to commence 2017 onwards, the centre will have its own campus over 300,000
square feet. To be built at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore, it will house various stakeholders like
start-ups, investors and service providers.
7. The minister said the fund corpus of T-Hub would be Rs.300 crore by 2017 and would double in three
years.
8. The minister said ISB would provide business mentoring, IIIT technology mentoring while NALSAR
would help in intellectual property and related areas.
9. The minister said this was one of the key initiatives of the government to make Telangana the most
preferred technology investment destination in the country.
10. T-Hub will be a platform to accelerate the growth of technology start-ups in Hyderabad by providing
them an ecosystem of quality infrastructure, mentors and fund managers.
11. It would be incubator of incubators which would enable all the technology incubators in the
ecosystem.
NCW to study actual status of 'devadasi' system

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Concerned over Devadasi system, the illegal practice of dedicating girls to temples prevalent in
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has proposed in-depth studies to bring out measures to
rescue and rehabilitate the victims.
The panel has also decided to conduct expert consultation and discuss the issue with the rights bodies
like National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR).
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, the law officer of the NCW submitted that it expected that such
studies and consultation would enable it to prepare an updated report and suggest a viable option for
these women.
The commission will also engage and consult with its state counterparts, it said.
The response came on a PIL filed by S L Foundation, a Kerala-based NGO seeking the courts
intervention on urgent basis into a programme.
This was scheduled to be held on early hours of February 14, 2014 in Uttangi Mala Durga Temple at
Harapanahalli taluk of Davanagere district, Karnataka, wherein dalit girls were to be made
devadasis.
The apex court had then directed the Karnataka government to ensure that no such function took
place while describing the age-old practice as a national shame.
A devadasi, dedicated to temple services for rest of her life, is often put to sexual exploitation.
In an affidavit, the NCW said it is imperative that an action plan is devised to bring out facts on record
and discuss the option with key stakeholders to prepare a viable plan.
The Commission is conscious of the issues involving devadasis and has been concerned about the
manner in which young persons are exploited in the name of tradition. The commission was one of
the agencies to support studies on the subject.
To the best of my knowledge, there are neither any accurate accounts/studies on the actual status of
the devadasis, nor any status report on the implementation of the Karnataka Devadasis (Prohibition
of Dedication) Act, 1982.
Exists even though the act itself is more than 30 years old, an officer of the NCW said. There are no
studies conducted officially in the last four years about status of devadasis, he added.
In its reply to the apex courts notice, the Karnataka government had submitted that following court
direction last year, it had deployed over 200 officers and installed CCTV cameras at strategic places to
curb the ractice.
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15. The petitioner had claimed that even though Karnataka and Maharashtra had passed separate
legislations abolishing Devadasi system
16. The practice still continued at several places as per the NCW report which claimed that 2.5 lakh dalit
girls were dedicated to temples in Karnataka-Maharashtra border.
Govt draws roadmap for skill development

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The government has drawn up an ambitious roadmap to enhance skill levels of millions of people who
join the queue of job hopefuls every year.
2. The plans involves integrating skill enhancement and entrepreneurship in the syllabi at the school
level, set up 2,500 multi-skilling institutions in the public private partnership mode,
3. And also set up institutes of entrepreneurship development in various centres including upcoming
smart cities among others.
4. The plan also includes setting up skill universities (one for each region including one in north-east) to
develop large numbers of qualified instructors,
5. Reform and reorient existing industrial training institutes (ITIs) with industry-driven relevant curricula
and leverage 25% of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds and defence offset in skill
development projects.
6. A National policy on skill development and entrepreneurship will be finalised by March 31, 2015,
sources told HT.
7. Sources said that the government is likely to launch a Prime Ministers fellowship scheme for skilling
and innovation.
8. Sources said that the government is likely to launch a Prime Ministers fellowship scheme for skilling
and innovation.
9. For entrepreneurship, the plan involves integrating entrepreneurship training in schools alongside
vocational training programmes.
10. In addition, the government will likely support setting up incubation and research parks and enable
credit linkages through banks.
India's patent laws under threat

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Setting up of a bilateral mechanism on intellectual property (IP) rights through the US-India trade
policy forum and the new draft national IP policy championing
IP as the only way to promote innovation have raised apprehensions among health activists that India
might concede ground on IP during President Obama's visit.
HIV patient groups, activists working on access to medicine and IP academics have expressed the
apprehension that Obama's visit will pressure India to dilute the provisions in its patent laws meant to
safeguard pub lic health priorities.
They accused the government of trying to bypass Parliament on the issue of IP and undermining the
patent law through administrative measures.
As the people of India, we welcome President Oba ma, if he represents the American people. But we
don't want him as a representative of US business.
Especially the pharmaceutical industry, which is responsible for millions of deaths across the world by
making drugs too expensive through monopoly pricing," said Dr Amit Sengupta of Jan Swasthya
Abhiyan (JSA) , a network of organizations working on public health issues.
The US government recently reviewed India's intellectual property system and declared it inadequate
placing it on the US `Special 301 Watch List', which could invite trade sanctions.
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After the India-US joint summit where India bent over backwards to agree to set up an IP working
group, what it gets in return is the US announcing an out-of-turn review of India's patent laws and
stance on IP.
PM Modi came as India's strong man, but where is his strength if he cannot tackle a declining power
like the US?" asked senior advocate Anand Grover of Lawyers Collective.
India celebrates 66th Republic Day

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India today celebrates its 66th Republic Day and showcased before the chief guest US President
Barack Obama and the world its military might and cultural diversity with a splendid display of land
and naval weaponry, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft.
Obama was the first ever US President to attend the parade as Chief Guest on the second day of his
three-day visit, as light rains and overcast skies failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of
spectators who gathered along the Rajpath to watch the pomp-filled spectacle.
Dressed in a dark suit, Obama was seated next to Modi, donning a multicoloured bandhej
safa'(Rajasthani turban), as the two leaders chatted and soaked up the splendour that unfolded on
the rain-soaked parade route. Obama was also seen holding his umbrella for a while.
A smiling US President was seen nodding in appreciation on several occasions and gave a thumbs up
to the BSF daredevilsfamed for their formation of a human pyramid on moving bikesduring their
display of daring motorcycle stunts that was a showstopper.
Smartly attired all-female units from the Army, Navy and Air Force marched for the first time in this
years parade, as the countrys military hardware with carnival-style floats featuring achievements in
diverse fields as well as tribal dancers and traditional music rolled past in a show of unity in diversity.
India is the lowest cost pension providers

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The passage of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Act, 2013, in
September, 2013 and its subsequent notification in February, 2014 was a major milestone in the
history of pension reforms in the country.
Armed with statutory powers, PFRDA has the mandate to develop, promote and regulate the pension
industry with its flagship programme, National Pension System (NPS), to serve the retirement needs
of the people.
Hemant G. Contractor, who took over as the Chairman of PFRDA about three months ago, is busy
drawing up comprehensive plans to make NPS a robust scheme.
The Act has given us statutory powers. We are now in a position to implement different variants of
NPS and enforce their implementation.
We are now finalising many regulations, which will give teeth to the Act. There are about 15
regulations currently under drafting.
We will see those notified in the gazette over the next month or so. These regulations address various
issues such as consumer protection and responsibility of the intermediaries, among others.
Ever since the NPS was announced, investment of funds has been taking place. But there is no real
supervising authority.
But the Act has given us more teeth and through the upcoming regulations we are trying to make
everybodys roles and responsibilities a lot clearer.
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India ready to join Apec
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India is ready to join Apec ( Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and the US has committed to
facilitating an Indian membership.
2. This, say Indian and US sources, is key to India's economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region and
build Indian dominance of the Indian Ocean region.
3. . India's Apec membership should be seen with the US-India decision on Sunday to cooperate in
building aircraft carriers for India.
4. This is the more important strategic vision outlined on Sunday, where it says seemingly innocuously,
"US welcomes India's interest in joining the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as the Indian
economy is a dynamic part of the Asian economy.
5. India was invited to the Apec summit in Beijing in 2014 by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, but no
invitation to join the grouping was made by the Chinese president.
6. India had said then a membership would have to be supported by the US. On Sunday, the US agreed
to help India's case.
7. India missed the Apec bus initially and thereafter membership was closed until 2011. It was believed
that India would have to undertake tough domestic reforms to bring its systems up to speed to join a
high-power economic grouping of this nature.
8. Meanwhile, the US unveiled Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which took economic integration among
countries (other than China) to the next level.
9. More important, India has signed up to the US vision first outlined by former secretary of state Hillary
Clinton that India would be the linchpin of US' "rebalancing" in Asia.
10. In the Asia-Pacific, India and US will focus on the East Asia Summit.
11. In the Indian Ocean, India will work more closely with US and Japan to build its maritime footprint.
12. The decision to cooperate on building aircraft carriers comes months after the US agreed to provide
cuttingedge technology and avionics for India's naval vessels.
GTU launches centre to fight cybercrime

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With an aim to curb rising menace of cybercrimes, Gujarat Technological University (GTU) here has
launched e-Raksha Research Centre that will encourage research and enhance capability to provide
solution for issues related to cyber security.
GTU has launched e-Raksha Research Centre where various activities from research on latest
techniques of cybercrime to capacity building of the faculties, students and government officers will
be undertaken," a statement from GTU said.
The centre will also support 'Make in India' concept by manufacturing routers, switches, firewalls,
UTMs (Unified Threat Management) and other network appliances.
GTU is collaborating with Cyber Peace Foundation (CPF) with the goal of establishing a peaceful and
harmonious cyber space through research in this area.
The research centre will train students in areas of cyber security and enhance their capability to
provide solution for issues related with cyber security.
It will also support the government in protecting critical infrastructure and mission critical services, it
said adding, the centre will research on malwares such as 'botnet' and will be setting up malware
analysis test bed.
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GTU launches centre to fight cybercrime
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With an aim to curb rising menace of cybercrimes, Gujarat Technological University (GTU) here has
launched e-Raksha Research Centre that will encourage research and enhance capability to provide
solution for issues related to cyber security.
GTU has launched e-Raksha Research Centre where various activities from research on latest
techniques of cybercrime to capacity building of the faculties, students and government officers will
be undertaken," a statement from GTU said.
The centre will also support 'Make in India' concept by manufacturing routers, switches, firewalls,
UTMs (Unified Threat Management) and other network appliances.
GTU is collaborating with Cyber Peace Foundation (CPF) with the goal of establishing a peaceful and
harmonious cyber space through research in this area.
The research centre will train students in areas of cyber security and enhance their capability to
provide solution for issues related with cyber security.
It will also support the government in protecting critical infrastructure and mission critical services, it
said adding, the centre will research on malwares such as 'botnet' and will be setting up malware
analysis test bed.
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INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh tense ahead of poll anniversary
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Political tensions are running high in Dhaka with both the ruling Awami League and the Opposition
Bangladesh Nationalist Party set to mark the first anniversary of the general election.
It was boycotted by BNP led coalition
The police had locked the BNPs headquarters and barred its leader, Khaleda Zia, from leaving her
Gulshan office.
Ms. Khaleda Zia has reportedly told her supporters to go ahead with planned agitations on Monday.
The Awami League returned to power through the January 5, 2014 election which was boycotted by
the BNP-led alliance and marked by widespread violence.
The Opposition alliance has been demanding fresh polls under a neutral caretaker government ever
since, calling the Sheikh Hasina government illegal.
Malala attacker Ehsanullah Ehsan lists jihad as skill on LinkedIn

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A senior Taliban commander, wanted in connection with an assassination bid on Malala Yousufzais
life, has been found using LinkedIn, listing his skills as jihad and journalism.
Ehsanullah Ehsan has 69 connections on LinkedIn, indicating a sizable network.Ehsan does not hide
his associations and openly promotes himself on LinkedIn as spokesman for the Jammat-ul-Ahrar, a
splinter group of the Taliban
Palestine to join Interpol in 2015: Official

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The Palestinian national unity government has decided to join the International Criminal Police
Organisation, commonly known as Interpol.
The Palestinian government will submit a request to join the organisation in 2015 ahead of Interpols
annual meeting in November.
Mr. Rabie added that Palestine had submitted a request to join Interpol in 2011, but was only
accepted as an observer.
The development came a day after Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour officially
submitted documents for Palestines membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Palestinian envoy stressed that the ICC membership will pave the way for Palestinian authorities
to seek justice for the victims of Israeli regimes aggression and crimes.
Fukushima rice passes radiation tests for first time since disaster: official
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Fukushima rice passed Japan's radiation checks for the first time since the 2011 nuclear disaster that
prompted international alarm over the region's produce.
2. Fukushima official Tsuneaki Oonami said about 360,000 tonnes of rice, nearly all of last year's harvest,
had been checked and none had tested above the 100 becquerels per kilogram limit set by the
government.
3.
Miniscule amounts of rice produced in 2012 and 2013 failed to pass radiation checks and had to be
destroyed.
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Bangladesh hosts 2nd largest Muslim congregation
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Tens of thousands of Muslims prayed for global peace as the first phase of worlds second largest
annual Muslim congregation after Haj concluded.
Defying a nationwide opposition strike that entered the fifth day amid continuing political violence
that has left 11 people dead.
The three-day Biswa Ijtema drew the highest number of people, including 5,000 foreigners from 50
countries, on the last day of the first phase of congregation today.
The event was concluded with a closing prayer or akheri munajat by Indian cleric Maulana Saad,
who prayed for the return of peace in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world.
Chile ends dictatorship-era electoral system

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Chiles Senate has voted to end a dictatorship-era electoral system that has squeezed out
independent candidates and guaranteed an out sized presence in Congress for the center-right and
center-left blocs.
2. The binominal system has been in place since the end of the 17-year dictatorship of Gen. Augusto
Pinochet in 1990, but this is the first time there are enough votes in Congress to end it.
3. Senators approved the measure early yesterday 24-3 with the key support of three center-right
lawmakers after a debate that lasted more than 21 hours.
4. It had already been approved by the lower house and will now be reviewed by a joint commission
before taking effect for the 2017 midterm elections.
5. The current system distorts the vote by giving one of the two seats in each district to the trailing
coalition as long as it gets at least a third of the votes.
6. In practice, that has meant many elections are decided behind closed doors, with the center-left and
center-right blocs hand-picking candidates to ensure neither side will get its way in Congress.
7. President Michelle Bachelet had promised to finally end it calling the system a thorn pounded into
the center of Chilean democracy.
8. The new system essentially allots seats to parties by the proportion of votes they receive in each
district.
9. The reform also increases the size of the lower house to 155 from 120, and the Senate to 50 seats
from the current 38.
10. As of the next legislative election, women must represent at least 40 per cent of the candidates
running for a party.
UNCS reform: Negotiations to begin anew

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United Nations: General Assembly President Sam K. Kutesa said Thursday a diplomat appointed by
him is working with UN members to produce a document that will be the basis of negotiations on
Reforming the Security Council and make a qualitative difference to the long-delayed process.
Reforming the Council to raise the number of permanent members is a diplomatic priority for India,
which striving to win a permanent seat on an expanded Council.
The current initiative to reform the Council has been deadlocked over the text that would form the
basis for the negotiations.
Some countries have been against introducing such a document as they feel it may give some nations
an edge in finding a permanent spot in an expanded Council,
Even though negotiations cannot take place without a framework text for it.
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7.
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Jamaicas Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, whom he appointed as Chair of the Intergovernmental

Negotiations (IGN) on the reforms
He is taking a step forward and is now working with member states and will be coming out with a
negotiation text, this text has a position of the various UN members.\
Rattrays informal consultations are critical to finding a way toward text-based negotiations, with the
next round of negotiations scheduled to begin in February.
Iran, world powers resume nuclear talks

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The six major world powers resumed talks with Iran Sunday over its controversial nuclear programme
after the failure to meet a deadline last year for a comprehensive nuclear deal.
The meeting between Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising the permanent members of the UN
Security Council (UNSC)- China, France, Russia, Britain and the US - and Germany, began Sunday
morning, a diplomatic source said without giving further details, according to a Xinhua report.
The negotiations were focused on bilateral engagements between the US and Iran during the past
four days, which started with talks between the US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian
counterpart Mohammad-Javad Zarif.
According to a report in the Iranian state-run IRIB TV, which Xinhua cited, Zarif Saturday expressed
optimism about a solution to his countrys nuclear issue, despite wide gaps between Tehran and the
world powers on the issue.
Iran has been a target of UN sanctions owing to its alleged attempts to build nuclear weapons.
Ukraine 'rejects' Putin's weaponry withdrawal proposal

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Ukraine "rejected" Russian President Vladimir Putin's weaponry withdrawal proposal after he tried to
ask parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to peacefully settle the matter.
"I propose both sides ... to take urgent measures to stop shelling at each other, as well as to
immediately withdraw heavy weaponry," Xinhua quoted Putin's message sent to his Ukrainian
counterpart Petro Poroshenko.
Recent developments in south-eastern Ukraine, the resumed shelling of settlements in the Donetsk
and Lugansk regions cause grave concern and actually jeopardize the peace settlement process based
on the September Minsk agreement of last year," Putin added.
Putin promised Russia is ready to work with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the weapon withdrawal by the
conflicting sides in Ukraine.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov disclosed Sunday that Putin's weaponry withdrawal
proposal was "rejected" by the Ukrainian side.
"The Ukrainian president received the letter on Friday ... Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side rejected
the proposed plan without providing an alternative offer, meanwhile resuming military operations,"
Peskov said.
The spokesman stressed that "Russia has consistently made efforts to mediate in the conflict in recent
days".
The Russian foreign ministry had also said that Russia is ready to "use its influence" and persuade the
local insurgents to accept the weaponry withdrawal as "a good will gesture" to avoid more civilian
deaths.
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UN agenda should ensure developed nations accountability: India
1.
With the UN working on an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, India has said it must be built
around universality of issues and should ensure that developed countries are made accountable for
their specific actions and commitments.
2. In our view, there is no contradiction between the principle of differentiation and the notion of
universality. Both complement each other and a balance of both is well captured in the principle of
common but
3. Differentiated responsibilities, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asoke
Kumar Mukerji said during the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Post-2015
Development Agenda here yesterday.
4. He said the universality demands an agenda that is equally relevant as well as applicable to both the
developing and developed countries.
5. Unlike in the past, this time the developed countries will also be called into account for their specific
actions and commitments, Mukerji said, adding that the ambitious global agenda must also be built
around universality of issues and differentiation in action.
6. He said that for India the primary touchstone for the Post-2015 Development Agenda is that it is an
agenda for growth and development.
7. We want an agenda that can propel sustained and inclusive economic growth in all countries,
particularly developing countries.
8. Outlining Indias key suggestions, Mukerji said the post-2015 development agenda must adhere to the
test of multilateralism.
9. There must be shift from the Millennium Development Goals model of addressing the symptoms of
lack ofdevelopment, to a new model that addresses drivers of development and growth.
10. We need to bear in mind that this is an agenda for international cooperation. It should go beyond
merely identifying global problems and providing policy prescriptions.
11. Aim at genuine collaboration by pooling efforts of different countries and stakeholders in accordance
with their common but differentiated responsibilities, to solve those problems.
12. . The international community must keep its sights on the centrality of the political, economic, moral
and ethical imperative of ending poverty, Mukerji said.We must not lose sight of this overarching
objective of this agenda.
PM chairs meeting of the Council on Climate Change

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called for a paradigm shift in global attitudes towards
climate change, from "carbon credit", towards "green credit.
Chairing a meeting of the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, Shri Narendra Modi said that
instead of focusing on emissions and cuts alone, focus should shift on what we have done for clean
energy generation, energy conservation and energy efficiency, and what more can be done in these
areas.
Shri Narendra Modi called for a careful evaluation of all the initiatives that have been taken by India in
this regard. These include, mentioning some: initiatives in solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy,
and transportation projects that have reduced distances or travel times.
The Prime Minister said India looks at the global concern and awareness on Climate Change, as a
great opportunity for working towards improving the quality of life of its citizens, and making a
positive contribution for mankind.
The Prime Minister emphasized India's "sanskar" (traditions) and "soch" (thinking), where "prakriti
prem" (love of nature) was imbibed among people from childhood.
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6.
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The Prime Minister recalled his meeting with leaders of Pacific island nations in Fiji in November 2014,
and the apprehension they had over the issue of climate change.
The Prime Minister called for a consortium of all nations who have the greatest solar energy potential.
He called upon them to join hands with India for innovation and cutting-edge research that would
reduce the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible to people.
The Prime Minister called for a review of curricula in architecture and civil engineering colleges, to
include energy efficient design in a big way.
First round of `historic` US-Cuba talks ends

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The two-day-long historic high-level talks between the United States and Cuba have concluded with
both sides agreeing to meet again.
The dialogue focused primarily on re-establishing diplomatic relations however, no date was set for
the reopening of embassies, reported the BBC.
Roberta Jacobson, the head of the US delegation, Assistant Secretary of State for the Western
Hemisphere, said during the meeting that the two nations had to overcome more than 50 years of a
relationship that was not based on confidence or trust.
Her Cuban counterpart, Josefina Vidal, welcomed the first high-level meeting and added that it was
a process.
Vidal said that no date had been set for the next round of discussions but added that she expected
another meeting to be organised in the coming weeks, ahead of Aprils Summit of the Americas,
which both President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro are expected to attend.
The Cuban delegation chief lauded the lifting of the economic blockade against Cuba by saying it was
essential.
This was the highest-level dialogue that took place between the U.S. and Cuba in decades.
The talks followed Decembers agreement by Obama and Castro to improve ties.
UN halts Gaza house repairs

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The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday that it cannot afford to repair Gaza homes
damaged in last year's war with Israel because donors have failed to pay.
2. The agency has exhausted all funding to support repairs and rental subsidies," the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said in a statement.
3. $5.4 billion was pledged at the Cairo (aid) conference last October and virtually none of it has reached
Gaza. This is distressing and unacceptable.
4. It is unclear why this funding has not been forthcoming," it added. UNRWA said that the homes of
more than 96,000 Palestine refugees were destroyed or damaged during the conflict.
5. They made up the vast majority of the more than 100,000 homes that were hit during the 50-day
conflict between Israel and Gaza's Islamist de facto rulers Hamas.
6. But it added that cutting subsidies to displaced residents currently renting alternative accommodation
could force large numbers back to UN schools and centres which are already sheltering 12,000
people.
7. UNRWA in Gaza has so far provided over $77 million to 66,000 Palestine refugee families to repair
their home or find a temporary alternative," it said.
8. This is a tremendous achievement; it is also wholly insufficient... We are talking about thousands of
families who continue to suffer through this cold winter with inadequate shelter.
9. People are literally sleeping amongst the rubble. Children have died of hypothermia."
10. Two babies died in Gaza earlier this month as dozens of homes were flooded in brutal storms that
brought freezing rain and gale-force winds.
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11. Gaza's sole power station, which was damaged during the war, is struggling with a severe lack of fuel
and is only able to supply the enclave with six hours of power per day.
World Media Summit highlights rising clout of Global South

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An award ceremony marshalled by Chinas Xinhua news agency has showcased the rise of cuttingedge journalism in South Asia and the Global South.
Recognising compelling stories that highlight some of the most urgent developing country problems
water scarcity, communal violence, and the fall-out on ordinary people of major political
transitions.
P. Sainath who received the award at the World Media Summit for his contributions in The Hindu
under the category of Exemplary News Professionals in Developing Countries.
Zeroed on the stark contrasts in the consumption and access to water between the rich and poor to
illustrate the alarming trend of inequalities in India and abroad. He also pointed to the medias
diffused focus on the predicament of rural communities.
Global action programme on education in sustainable development

released
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As the world struggles to meet ambitious goals to slow down climate change, it has become
imperative that planning and execution is not restricted to only policy but is practiced by every
individual at community level.
To that end, UNESCO recently released its global action programme on 'education in sustainable
development' at Nagoya in Japan where world leaders collected to mark the end of the first decade of
ESD.
Irinia Bokova, director general of UNESCO said: "This is a relatively new concept and this is for the first
time that ESD has been included in global education.
Already, some good examples have been set at the global level. Green societies are not only with
respect to governments but are also the responsibility of the private sector, academia, universities
and civil society."
ESD is a concept through which education looks systematically at dispersing information regarding
sustainable living to students and communities, involving change in curricula.
. The project in India is being handled largely by non-government organisations and there is a growing
demand that the government take it up more seriously.
In fact, at the event in Nagoya, this was attended by participants from 148 countries and close to 70
ministerial level officials including those from Nepal and Bangladesh
India chose to send a junior level official. Nobody from the HRD ministry was present, inviting
criticism from the Indian contingent.
There are already very few players in civil society and the government has been inactive. To make this
a success, a more concerted push is needed from the government," said a participant.
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February, 2015
NATIONAL
Government celebrate MGNREGA Divas
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The Ministry of Rural Development has decided to focus intensely on convergence of MGNREGA with
other Schemes to create durable and useful assets.
It has introduced a new module to capture planning and implementation of convergence initiatives.
21 States have prepared their Convergence Plans already. Convergence has been closely linked to
measuring outcomes of works and their impact on the rural economy.
This was stated by Minister of Rural Development, Shri Birender Singh, while addressing the tenth
MGNREGA Divas celebration.
The objective is to use MGNREGA for livelihood based sustainable development.
India working to address impediments to military modernisation

1.
Aimed at addressing the problems of ageing equipment and to better posture itself in defence against
Pakistan and China.
2. The new Indian government is making efforts to overcome impediments to its major military
modernisation drive, the Pentagon has said.
3. India is in the midst of a major military modernisation effort undertaken by all three military
services to address problems with its ageing equipment and to better posture itself to defend
against both Pakistan and China.
4. Lt Gen Vincent R Stewart, Director of Defense Intelligence Agency, told members of the House Armed
Services Committee during a hearing on global threat assessment yesterday.
5. India, he said, is working to address impediments to modernisation, such as its cumbersome
procurement process, budget constraints, and a domestic defense industry.
6. That has struggled to provide military equipment that meets service requirements.
7. Noting that relations with Pakistan remain strained, he said India and Pakistan engaged in periodic
skirmishes on or near the Line of Control that separates Kashmir, resulting in the highest number of
civilian casualties since 2003.
8. Track-II dialogue between the two sides continued throughout the year, but resulted in little progress
in resolving bilateral disputes, he observed.
9. India is concerned over Chinese logistical improvements along the border and is raising additional
ground forces, improving logistical capacity, and is basing advanced fighter aircraft opposite the China
border.
10. India continues to conduct periodic tests of its nuclear-capable missiles to enhance and verify missile
reliability and capabilities.
11. In early December 2014, India successfully tested the Agni-IV intermediate-range ballistic missile,
which New Delhi claims has a range of 4,000 kilometers," he said.
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Northeast India gets its first solar power plant
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North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has commissioned a five-MW solar power plant
at Monarchak in Tripura,
It will be the biggest and the first of its kind in northeast India.
The full (5-MW) commercial generation would start within a month after completing some
technicalities.
The solar power plant was commissioned at a cost of Rs.40 crore. The entire power from the plant
would be transmitted to the Tripura power grid.
Biswas said NEEPCO will set up a 50-MW solar power plant in Madhya Pradesh and a two-MW plant in
Lanka in Nagaon district of Assam.
As per the government policy, NEEPCO has initiated the process to set up more and more solar, nonconventional and renewable power plants in various parts of the country.
People live in extreme poverty in India: UN report

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About 30 crore people still live in extreme poverty in India even as the Millennium Development Goal
(MGD) programme will expire in December.
Still nearly 300 million people live in extreme poverty in India and face deprivation in terms of access
to basic services, including education, health, water, sanitation and electricity, the report India
and the MGDs: Completing the Task said.
India, which has a population of over 125 crore, adopted the United Nations MGD in 2000 with an
aim to free millions from extreme poverty and hunger, illiteracy, poor health.
The eight-point MGD among others targets promotion of gender equality and women empowerment,
reducing child mortality; improve maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and environmental
sustainability.
India has made a great progress on MGDs, but there is no room for complacency, because there are
gaps relative to the goals and targets.
There are enough opportunities and there is a lot of scope to catch up, and it is critical that by the end
of the year when the MGD expires.
India has an opportunity to become a leader in sustainable development. It has achieved the poverty
reduction target, but the progress is uneven, said the report.
Post-2015 agenda of India

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India has told the UN that poverty eradication and special attention to childrens needs should be the
central goal for the post-2015 development agenda to ensure that youngsters get a protective and
nurturing environment.
Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Bhagwant Bishnoi said during a meeting of
the executive board of UNICEF that 568 million children globally are still living in extreme poverty.
And also Persisting challenge of inadequate investment for their well-being is often exacerbated by
economic crises, natural disasters and armed conflict.
Eradication of poverty and special attention to children needs to be central to the post-2015
Development Agenda.
This has to be accompanied by focused cross-cutting strategies, including capacity development,
partnerships, social inclusion and knowledge management aligned with national policies and
priorities,
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Bishnoi said the focus should be to ensure protective and nurturing environments for all the worlds
children.
He added that India is home to 472 million children, nearly 20 per cent of the worlds child population
and voiced the countrys commitment to the development of every child, ensuring his or her rights
and protection from exploitation.
He highlighted the recently launched Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme in India, which is aimed at
ensuring protection of girls, increasing their participation in secondary education and their overall
development.
Another programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sukanya Samriddhi Account seeks
to provide economic assistance to the girl child.
Election to be quashed if crime is not disclosed: SC

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The Supreme Court Thursday said the suppression or non-disclosure of information about serious
crimes by a candidate at the time of filing nomination interferes with the voters' right to make an
informed choice and the election of such a candidate is liable to be set aside.
As a candidate has the special knowledge of the pending cases against him where cognizance has
been taken or charges have been framed and there is non-disclosure on his part, it would amount to
undue influence.
Therefore, election is to be declared null and void by the election tribunal, said the apex court bench
of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice P.C. Pant in their judgment.
First meeting of NITI Aayog

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday brainstorm with experts in the maiden meeting of NITI
Aayog to find ways to boost economy as government prepares to present its first full-fledged Budget
later this month.
The meeting will be attended by Finance minister Arun Jaitley and experts such as Mukesh Butani,
Nitin Desai, Parthasarathi Shome, Rajiv Lall, Swaminathan Aiyer, Vijay Kelkar, V Reddy, among others
The government set up the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) by replacing Soviet-era
Planning Commission on January 1.
Government has said that the meeting has been called for "interaction on the subject of the state of
economy and for inviting suggestions on the forthcoming budget."
The meeting is seen as crucial as members of the newly formed body would have first-hand
experience of Modi's expectations from the body which would help them in finalising the plan of
action of the NITI.
Only one out of seven electoral trusts submit donor list to EC

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In yet another indication of opacity in political funding, only one of the seven electoral trusts formed
after January 2013 has submitted details of its donors to the Election Commission despite
government guidelines requiring them to do so.
Electoral Trusts are set up for the sole purpose of funding registered political parties and according to
June 2014 guidelines they are expected to submit an annual report to the EC.
Only the Bharti Airtel group backed Satya Electoral Trust has submitted its annual report for the year
2013-2014.
Among those who have not submitted any information include Pratinidhi Electoral Trust, People's
Electoral Trust, Progressive Electoral Trust, Janhit Electoral Trust, Bajaj Electoral Trust and Janpragati
Electoral Trust.
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5.
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According to data analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) the Satya Trust received
Rs 85.40 crore and distributed Rs 85.37 crore to various political parties.
. The largest corporate contributors to the Trust are Bharti Enterprises who gave Rs 36 crore, DLF (Rs
20 crore), Hero Motocorp (Rs 11 crore), Jubliant Bharti Group (Rs 6 crore), Interglobe Aviation Limited
and K K Birla Group who donated Rs 4 crore and Rs 2 crore respectively.
Ratan Tata among business leaders for zero GHG emissions by 2050
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Global business leaders from some of the worlds largest companies under the group B Team called
on governments and businesses to commit to bold action at this years UN climate negotiations in
Paris.
The leaders include Indias Ratan Tata, Ariana Huffington, Sir Richard Branson, Unilever CEO Paul
Polman, also the B Team leader, all of whom have set their sights on a global goal of net-zero
greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment said that achieving net-zero
GHG emissions by 2100 will provide only a 66 per cent chance of limiting global warming to 2 degrees
Celsius.
The B Team said a 1-in-3 chance of failure is unacceptable, given the potential for catastrophic climate
impacts.
Acting decisively and immediately, with a clear target of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, is the only
way we can lower this risk and avoid ballooning costs, the B Team pointed out.
It urged businesses to match this ambition by committing to long-term targets and driving low-carbon
solutions to scale thereby enabling the world to achieve the net-zero 2050 target.
Law panel suggests more changes in arbitration law

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The Law Commission has suggested key changes in the Arbitration and Reconciliation Act, redefining
the 'public policy' clause once again, taking into account a recent Supreme Court judgment and its
implication on international and domestic arbitration.
The commission has recommended that the proposed Section 34(2)(b)(ii) be replaced with a fresh
clause saying the award will be treated as in conflict with 'public policy'
Only if "the making of the award was induced or affected by fraud or corruption or was in violation of
Section 75 of Section 81; or if it is in contravention with the fundamental policy of Indian law; or it is
in conflict with the most basic notions of morality or justice".
In all other cases, it will be difficult to set aside arbitration by a court on the grounds of 'public policy.
The commission observed that an arbitration award, other than international arbitration, may also be
set aside by the court if it finds that the award was vitiated by patent illegality appearing on the face
of the award, provided that an award shall not be set aside merely on the ground of an erroneous
application of the law or re-appreciation of evidence.
The commission had earlier submitted a report to the government on the Arbitration and
Reconciliation Act in August 2014. However, after the recent apex court judgment, the commission
reworked its earlier report and submitted a fresh report on Friday.
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Water' Conference-2015 Inaugurated
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The three day, 3rd Assam "Water" Conference - 2015 was formally inaugurated today at Guwahati
by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.
Spread over different academic and technical sessions, the Conference will deliberate upon various
issues with a focal theme Management of Water Related Disorders
Urban and Rural. An exhibition sporting the theme and showcasing the latest technologies in the
field of water management is also being held simultaneously.
An exclusive gallery called Brahmaputra gallery depicting different facets of River Brahmaputra and
its picturesque richness was also formally dedicated to the nation here today with the cutting of
ribbon and unveiling of plaque by the three dignitaries.
Child labour bill will be test of Modi government: Kailash Satyarthi

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A bill currently in the Indian Parliament on child labour totally will be a test of the new government
on how they take the issues of
The most exploited children in their political priority, says child rights campaigner and Nobel Laureate
Kailash Satyarthi.
Mr. Satyarthi, 61, was referring to an amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act
that will lead to
A total ban on all forms of child labour up to the age of 14 and ban on worst forms of child labour
involving hazardous work up to the age of 18.
Also, rehabilitation must be ensured in law and only then, the law will be synchronised with the
existing international ILO (International Labour Organisation) conventions.
We are waiting... it would be a test of the present government on how they take the issues of the
most exploited children in their political priority.
The present government is taking several bold initiatives on the social agenda, be it Swachh Bharat
or Clean India or be it Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.
These are very, very fundamental social initiatives which are being taken by the government and the
Prime Minister himself, and are quite significant.
Health Minister Shri J P Nadda launches National Deworming Initiative

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The Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda launched the National Deworming initiative.
Aimed to protect more than 24 crore children in the ages of 1-19 years from intestinal worms, on the
eve of the National Deworming Day,
Union Health Minister stated that after getting the Polio-free status, India now wants to target
intestinal parasitic worms among the children to achieve status of being Worm-free.
Pointing out that this was a historical occasion in public health, the Union Minister stated that the
deworming initiative was one of the largest programmes in the world undertaken to deworm
children.
According to WHO estimates, nearly 24 crore children in the age group of 1-14 years are at risk of
intestinal parasitic worm infestation.
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15th International Seminar on Counter IED Strategy
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The National Security Guard (NSG) will conduct 15th International Seminar on Counter IED Strategy
on 10th & 11th Feb 2015, at NSG Training Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon.
The theme for the seminar is Addressing Vulnerabilities in CI-IED Strategy.
The seminar provides a platform to the national and international experts of armed forces/law
enforcement/security/ intelligence/forensic agencies and other allied organizations for exchange of
expertise, ideas and experiences.
This year, besides delegates from leading security agencies of India, experts from Canada, Egypt, US,
Japan, Russia, Bhutan and Spain will also be attending the seminar.
.Launching
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of National Voter Service Portal (NVSP) Reg. 15th International
The National Voter Service Portal (NVSP) has been launched on 25th January 2015 on the occasion of
National Voters Day.
It was launched by Honble Former President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam. With the aim to provide single
window services to electors.
NVSP has been made available from ECI website www.eci.nic.in. Users can visit the website and click
on to NVSP link to avail the services.
Year 2015 has been marked for easy registration and easy correction During this year, ECI will
endeavour to put in efforts in providing all possible support services to electors with the help of IT
tools. NVSP is one of them.
46th Conference of Governors

Main agenda of conference
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Security- internal and external with special focus on border security in States sharing international
frontiers
Financial inclusion employment generation and employability- making skill development programmes
effective.
Sanitation achieving the goal of Swachh Bharat by 2019 on Mahatma Gandhis 150th birth
anniversary.
Issues relating to Fifth and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and development related issues
of North Eastern Areas.
Introduction
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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee opened the 46th Conference of Governors at
Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The Conference is being attended by Twenty-one Governors and two Lt. Governors.
The President said the Constitution of India is the guiding document that provides the framework for
governance.
Every Indian looks forward to the Constitution as the guarantor of her liberties, freedom and equality.
Any deviation from the principles and provisions embodied in the Constitution would weaken the
democratic fabric of the country and jeopardise the social, economic and political well-being of our
citizens.
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Security
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The Governors and Lt. Governors have the primary responsibility to ensure that the affairs of the
States and Union Territories are conducted strictly in accordance with the letter and spirit of this
hallowed document.
The President said the development of North-East is a priority area. Much needs to be done for
infrastructure development and to harness its tourism potential.
India, as a nation, follows the policy of maintaining peaceful relations with all countries.
India is projected to have the largest workforce in the world by 2025, with a surplus of 47 million
workers against a shortage of 56.5 million skilled workers in the world.
This demographic dividend is a double-edged sword. If their huge potential is tapped, they could
become a powerful engine for growth. On the other hand, if we fail to do so, it could create social
tension.
The youth could become creators, innovators, builders and leaders of the future.
Skill Development
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The President said skill development is also important for the success of the Make-in-India campaign
aimed at facilitating investment, fostering innovation and making India a world-class manufacturing
hub.
He expressed hope that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will evolve an
appropriate skill development framework.
Remove the demand-supply disconnect for skilled manpower, promote Public-Private Partnerships
and expand youth entrepreneurship education.
Sanitation
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Pointing out that over sixty percent of rural population do not have access to or use sanitation
facilities.
The President said we must reverse this position by addressing problem areas like affordability and
mindset through innovative solutions.
To deliver benefits effectively, the States and Union Territories should establish suitable
administrative mechanisms to take Swachh Bharat Mission down to every village or ward.
The Governors and Lt. Governors must use their persuasive skills and contribute to the achievement
of this laudable objective.
Issue of 6th schedule of Constitution

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The President called upon Governors/Lt. Governors to closely monitor development programmes in
these Areas for effective targeting, with special focus on quality of education and health.
Autonomous Councils / Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), set up under the Sixth Schedule to the
Constitution in Assam Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, enjoy legislative, executive, financial and
judicial powers.
Governors of these States have a pivotal role to play in the administration of these Areas.
Village and municipal councils must be set up and elections conducted for decentralization of power.
He was happy to learn that the Government is proposing to amend the Sixth Schedule to strengthen
the democratic process in these Areas.
There is also need to devolve more developmental funds to these Areas. Laws prevailing in them also
need to be codified.
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BRAMHAPUTRA BOARD WILL BE REVIVED INTO A NEW BOARD ALTOGETHER
WITH NEW MANDATE AND SCHEMES
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Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharati
announced that the Bramhaputra Board will be revived into a new board altogether with new
mandate and schemes.
The announcement came from the Union Minister while attending the 7 meeting of the High Powered
Review Board of Bramhaputra Board held today in Shillong.
Sushri Uma Bharati asserted that suggestions and idea for reviving the Board will be taken up from
the seven North Eastern states and added that there is a need for new approach to make the board
more efficient for the region.
Deadline for completion of cast census

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The government today warned that central assistance to states for building rural houses and welfare
pensions would be blocked if they fail to complete the exercise before March 15th.
Rural Development Ministry officials said all states and Union Territories are once again instructed to
give top priority to complete all tasks related to Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) by next
month.
The Centre's move came in the wake of a PIL petition filed by human rights' body People's Union for
Civil Liberties (PUCL).
In which they alleged that non-completion of SECC by states and UTs is the main reason for delay in
implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The SECC was started in June 2011 through a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration across the
country to generate information on a large number of social and economic indicators relating to
households across the country
2.5 Lakh Gram Panchayats are to be connected by National Optic Fiber

Network in next Three (3) Years
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As a part of Digital India programme 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats are to be connected by National Optic
Fibre Network in next three (3) years.
It will be done through seven (7) lakh kilometers of Optic Fiber Cable. There is digital divide at present
skewed towards Metro cities.
Digital India programme will try to bridge this gap.
Digital India programme is expected to generate five (5) crore direct and indirect employment.
He also said that, Digital equality will come only when a most backward Schedule Caste becomes
digitally literate and operates a Common Service Center.
He added that, the digital empowerment will make a rural artisan to sell their products like
madhubani paintings through e commerce sites.
India is at present 2nd largest smartphone consumer in the world 2nd only to US.
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National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) to Organize Lok Adalats throughout
the Country Once in every Month Relating to Various Issues
1.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is organizing a National Lok Adalat on 14.02.2015, for
cheque bounce cases and other bank recovery matters.
2. This is the first in a series of National Lok Adalats to be organized every month on specific subject
matters.
3. The NALSA has drawn up a Calendar for this under the directions of the Honble Mr. Justice
T.S.Thakur, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA.
4. The aim is to reduce pendency as well as prevent additional litigation swathing the courts, where
settlements are possible.
5. As done earlier, these National Lok Adalats will be held across the country in the Supreme Court, the
High Courts, District Courts and the Taluk level Courts.
6. Their aim is to reduce the pendency in the Courts while at the same time to draw the attention of the
public to the efficacious alternative dispute resolution method of Lok Adalat.
7. Due to the efforts being put across the country and with the cooperation of the Banks and other
financial institutions, it is expected that a good number of cases will be settled.
8. Once so disposed of by settlement, there will be no further appeal in these cases.
9. Thus it will have a significant impact on the judicial system. In order to encourage people to opt for
Lok Adalat settlements even before coming to the courts.
10. Pre-litigation cases will also be taken up in the National Lok Adalat .The settlement at pre-litigation
stage would mean that many possible cases will not reach the courts.
BIS to Develop Standards for Solid Waste Management and Potable Drinking
Water
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Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan BIS is developing standards for solid waste management and
promoting the use of available Indian Standards on street food and public supply of potable drinking
water.
These standards will be made mandatory in phased manner. The Ministry Of Consumer Affairs, Food
& Public Distribution Ministry has also drawn up nine points action to further strengthen Public
distribution System.
BIS is actively engaged in the Make in India campaign by formulating/updating standards in the
identified sectors.
In consultation with the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), 46 products have already
been identified for this purpose.
BIS is also preparing for an aggressive media plan for promotion of its brand. It will facilitate the
consumers for not only getting quality products but also save them from cheating and fraud.
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Government constitutes SIT to probe 1984 riots
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The Government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigating/re-investigating
the cases of 1984 riots under the Chairmanship of Shri Pramod Asthana, IPS (MT: 86).
It will re-investigate the appropriately serious criminal cases which were filed in the National Capital
Territory of Delhi in connection with the 1984 riots and have since been closed..
For this purpose, the SIT shall examine the records afresh from the Police Stations concerned and also
the files of Justice J.D. Jain and Shri D.K. Agarwal Committee and take all such measures under law for
a thorough investigation of the criminal cases.
PM To Inaugurate First Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet

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The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will inaugurate the first Renewable Energy Global Investors
Meet & Expo, Re-invest 2015 on the 15th February.
Aim of the event is to evolve innovative financial models for funding and to ensure the partnership of
states and the Centre in harnessing renewable energy.
It will also showcase the Government of India`s commitment to the development and scaling up of
renewable energy to meet the national energy requirement in a socially, economically and
ecologically sustainable manner.
successfully tests BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

The launch was flawless and the missile met all its designed parameters, BrahMos Aerospace
spokesperson Praveen Pathak told IANS.
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Kolkata Aug 16, 2014. This is the first ship of this class, with two
more in the pipeline.
All the three ships will be equipped with the vertical-launched BrahMos system as the prime strike
weapon.
The Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM) being used in these has a unique design, developed
and patented by BrahMos Aerospace.
The UVLM has the benefits of stealth and permits launching of the missile vertically in any direction.
BrahMos chief Sudhir Mishra congratulated the BrahMos Team and Indian Navy on the successful
mission.
The BrahMos has a range of 290 km and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg. It has a
top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise
missile. This makes BrahMos one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.
Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise (Tropex-2015)

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The Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar today said the Indian Navy must remain a superior Force
in the Indian Ocean Region and the Government will give all support to the Navy so that it becomes a
truly Blue Water Navy.
Addressing the sailors and officers of the INS Vikramaditya after witnessing two days of Theatre
Readiness Operational Level Exercise (TROPEX-2015), off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea.
Shri Parrikar said his stay on board INS Vikramaditya has helped him understand many a difficult
situations that the Defence Forces especially sailors and officers of the Indian Navy face while
ensuring
The safety and security of the nation. TROPEX provides the Navy a valuable opportunity to validate its
concept of operations and integration of new acquisitions with the Fleet.
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Shri Parrikar was accompanied by the Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh, the Chief
Minister of Goa, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar,.
The Chief Naval Staff, Admiral RK Dhowan and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval
Command Vice Admiral AK Chopra.
to Launch Mission of Electoral Roll Authentication from 1st March
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Chief Election Commissioner Mr. H.S. Brahma has announced that ECI will be launching Mission of
Electoral Roll authentication and Purification drive from March 1st, 2015.
He was Inaugurating a workshop on Linking of Aadhaar with Electoral Roll Database and Launching
of Electoral Roll Authentication and Purification Drive, at Dr. MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad.
He advised all officers to come up with suitable action plan to expedite so that the mission could be
completed by August 15th, 2015.
The Chief Election Commissioner appreciated the efforts put in by District Election officers in taking a
step forward and carrying out the proof of concept so effectively to generate advantages and
challenges clearly.
Over 56000 Cases Involving more than Rs.265 Crores were Settled through
National Lok Adalat for Bank Recovery
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Over 56000 cases were settled involving more than Rs.265 crores on Saturday (14.02.2015) through
National Lok Adalat for bank recovery.
Cheque bounce cases, particularly under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act were addressed in
all courts at all levels from the Taluk Courts to the Districts Courts, High Courts in all states (excluding
Assam & Uttar Pradesh) and the Supreme Court of India.
Re Roadmap 2030 NITI Aayogs First Initiative

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The Report Indias Renewable Electricity Roadmap 2030Toward Accelerated Renewable Electricity
Deployment was released at the Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo (RE-INVEST 2015)
The report was brought out by NITI Aayog with support of CII, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation
and RAP (Regulatory Assistance Project), a global non-profit group.
Talks about the current scenario of renewable energy in India and what needs to be done for its
accelerated deployment to address energy security concerns.
International Seminar Aerospace Vision: 2050 Gets Underway

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As a prelude to the start of the biennial, internationally acclaimed air show Aero India 2015
beginning February 18, a three-day International Seminar Aerospace: Vision 2050 got underway at
Bengaluru,.
Organised by Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) of the Ministry of Defence in association with
Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), the intense technical seminar sets the tone to dwell and
exchange ideas on matters that converge on needs of the times in the ever-emerging realm of
aerospace, both military and civil.
Minister of State (Defence) Shri Rao Inderjit Singh who presided over the inaugural event recounted
the outcomes and achievements of Indias Aerospace Technology Plans and its implementation,
describing it as very rewarding.
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From ISROs successful Mars Exploration Spacecraft programme including the Mars Orbiter Mission
to DRDOs successful test-firing of Agni series of surface-to-surface Intermediate Range Ballistic
Missile (IRBM) found a notable mention in his address.
Lauding the recent successful launch of Agni-V on February 1, with a range of over 5,000 km and
capable of carrying a warhead of over one tonne, he said: The Agni-V is a major addition to the
countrys strategic strike capability.
Among the other notable DRDO achievements that found a mention included Nirbhay, the
indigenously developed sub-sonic long-range cruise missile, Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW &
C) system and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas among others.
PM to inaugurate 10th Aero India show

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 10th Aero India show on Aerospace and defence
engineering on Wednesday morning in Bengaluru.
This time Aero Show is placing special emphasis on Make in India and encouraging small and medium
industries to invest in defence manufacturing base.
Delegates from 109 countries are participating in the event and over 700 companies from India and
abroad are taking part in the exhibition.
Indian made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, radars, missiles, satellites,
UAVs and AWACS will be the main attraction of the show.
India, Sri Lanka agree to enhance cooperation in oil & gas

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India and Sri Lanka have agreed to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in oil and gas sector.
This was agreed during when visiting Sri Lankan Minister for Power Patali Champika Ranawaka met Oil
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to discuss bilateral cooperation in oil and gas sector.
An official statement said that the two Ministers reviewed the existing cooperation between both the
countries on hydrocarbon sector.
It was agreed that all avenues must be explored to enhance the relationship in this sector.
India-Myanmar 5th Joint Trade Committee Meeting

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The 5th India- Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw on 17th
February, 2015.
The meeting was co-Chaired by Minister of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and
Myanmar Union Minister of Commerce U Win Myint.
The 5th JTC was preceded by a meeting of senior officials of India and Myanmar on 16th February,
2015.
During the meeting, the two sides had intensive interaction and exchange of views to find ways and
means to enhance the bilateral trade and investment ties.
Both sides agreed to work together to remove the bottlenecks hampering the bilateral trade and
investment such as lack of good connectivity lack of banking arrangement both for regular and border
trade.
In this context, India offered to support Myanmar to develop infrastructure at the border trade
points, upgrade trade training institutes in Yangon.
It will also provide training to Myanmar officials on WTO and international trade related issues
besides supporting subsidized direct shipping links between India and Myanmar to promote bilateral
trade.
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8.
The two Ministers reiterated their commitment towards strengthening mutually beneficial
relationship especially in the field of promoting two-ways investment. Infrastructure development
particularly to promote border trade, connectivity, agriculture, energy, skill and entrepreneurial
development, pharmaceutical and people-to-people contacts.
9. Both sides agreed to hold the next Joint Trade and Investment Forum in Chennai during which
Myanmar would organize a roadshow showcasing investment opportunities in Myanmar especially in
the special economic zones.
10. The two Ministers also agreed to jointly inaugurate the land custom station in Zawkhatar, Mizoram
shortly at a mutually convenient date.
Vanaj- National Tribal Festival- 2015 Signed off with a Promise to Meet
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The first National Tribal Festival VANAJ-2015 today signed off with a promise to meet again next
year.
The festival ended after a series of weeklong colorful presentations especially depicting the spring
time tribal festivals of Phagu,Phagua and Phagun Parab.
It exhibited the unseen aspects of tribal life and also gave an opportunity to the people of Delhi to
appreciate the rich and diverse tribal culture.
The festival also show cased Indias unique Tribal culture, art, painting, music, dance, tribal medicine,
tribal food, and a special attraction- tribal cuisine.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal Develops Mridaparikshak, a

Minilab for Soil Testing
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ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, a research institute under the Natural Resource
Management (NRM) Division of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has developed
Mridaparikshak, a MINILAB that can determine soil health.
The MINILAB was presented by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture in Annual
General Meeting (AGM) of ICAR on 18th February, 2015.
The development of the MINILAB is an outcome of the initiative of ICAR and the concerted efforts by
a team of scientists of ICAR-IISS, Bhopal in collaboration with M/s Nagarjuna Agrochemicals Pvt. Ltd.,
Hyderabad.
It is made to meet the need for having a quick, portable, scientific, and economical system of
determining soil health.
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PM Modi opens Centre for Nano Science Engineering at IISc
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated to the nation, the Centre for Nano Science Engineering
at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.
The sophisticated cluster of micro and nano tech laboratories is designed to provide research and
technology leadership in the areas of nano-electronics and nano-technology.
The Centre is slated to play a crucial role in realising Make in India initiative of Government of India by
supporting the start-ups.
The Prime Minister also unveiled the foundation stone for the Centre for Brain Research at Indian
Institute of Science campus.
During the day, the Prime Minister also visited the Institute for stem cell Research at the National
Centre for Biological Sciences in the city.
He interacted with scientists in the centre about research facilities on stem cells in the Centre and
efforts going on to find cure to sickle cell anemia using gene therapy.
Cabinet Secretary reviews H1N1 situation in the country

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The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary
Shri Ajit Seth, reviewed the latest situation arising due to H1N1 in some states and the reported
shortage of drugs or any other logistics.
The Cabinet Secretary also offered them necessary Central Assistance.
The Chief Secretaries and Medical Heads of the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi informed the Cabinet Secretary through
video conferencing.
The Cabinet Secretary stressed that the states should ensure that the outbreak monitoring cells and
necessary helplines function round-the-clock.
The Drug Controllers should ensure availability of necessary medicines such as tablets, capsules and
vaccines along with guidelines for vaccination and treatment protocol.
Minimum Export Price on Potato export removed

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With a view to check the rising prices of potato and augment domestic supplies, the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry had decided to impose Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 450 PMT FOB with
effect from 26th June, 2014.
However, keeping in view of the prevailing lower prices and higher domestic availability of potato
The Government has decided to remove the MEP on export of potato.
The removal of existing MEP on potato will help farmers in realising better and remunerative prices
and would also help the exporters in earning valuable foreign exchange for the country through
exports.
Small watershed schemes key to rural prosperity-Birender Singh

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The Minister for Rural Development Shri Birender Singh has called for small watershed schemes
across the country to promote a variety of economic activities including agriculture.
At a function titled Abhinav, the Minister said, effective implementation of the watershed schemes
has the big potential to fight poverty and reduce the imbalances between the poor and the rich.
He said, Centre and States should join hands to promote water conservation programmes in an
honest fashion and address the credibility crisis.
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IAF's Sarang gets women officers
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A member of IAF Sarang Helicopter Display Team ahead of the Aero India 2015 at Yelahanka Air Base
in Bengaluru.
Breaking yet another glass ceiling, two women officers have made their way into the IAFs muchheralded helicopter display team Sarang.
Squadron Leader Deepika Misra and engineering officer Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh made their
debut in the 'Aero India' air show here.
It was during her passing out parade at Air Force Academy in December 2006 that Deepika Misra,
then a Flight Cadet, first fell in love with the aerobatic displays by the Surya Kirans and Sarang, IAFs
fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerobatic display teams respectively.
She imagined herself flying some day in either of the formation flying teams. Back then however, it
seemed an impossible dream but she never gave up hope and prayed hard.
She was commissioned in the helicopter stream and posted to a Chetak/Cheetah helicopter unit.
Women short services commissioned pilots were only permitted to fly these single engine helicopters
then.
Deepika felt extremely lucky when in 2010, the IAF made a a major policy shift to allow conversion of
women pilots to twin-engine category of medium to heavy-lift helicopters.
SC allows Prasar Bharati to telecast World Cup matches

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Public broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) can continue to share live feed of cricket World Cup matches
with private cable operators as the Supreme Court today granted a stay on the Delhi High Court order
in this regard.
The High Court had allowed the plea of Star India Ltd, which holds the exclusive telecast rights of the
Cricket world cup, and had asked Prasar Bharati not to share the live feed of the matches with private
cable operators.
A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that its order staying the operation of the high court
verdict will continue till it finally decides the petition of public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.
On Thursday, Prasar Bharati had told the apex court that it was not feasible to start a separate
channel for showing the cricket world cup matches.
Prior to that, the apex court had sought the response of the public broadcaster on various suggestions
mooted by Star India Ltd in this regard. The suggestions included opening of a new DD channel for
showing the cricket matches.
Indian firm delivers aero-structures to Bell Helicopter

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Leading high-tech engineering firm Dynamatic Technologies Ltd has delivered major aero-structures,
including the fuselage subsystem, to US-based Bell Helicopter at the air show here.
The city-based Dynamatic has a seven-year global pact with Bell and Textron Systems to make in India
major airframe assemblies for the latter's new choppers - Bell 407GX and 407GT - four-blade, single
engined civil utility machines.
Bulkhead assembly is the other aerospace component the company delivered to Bell at the Aero India
2015 trade expo at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the city's outskirts.
"We have developed a robust process of converting Bell's legacy engineering data from Bell's 2D
paper drawings into digital files for digital manufacturing technologies to modify its 407 products,"
Dynamatic chief executive Udayant Malhoutra said on the occasion.
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Dynamatic has been working with the US-based partners (Bell and Textron) since 2012 to build
aeronautic capacity as part of their global sourcing strategy and develop about 200 aero parts to
export them.
The development involves manufacturing subsystems and components from raw material and
indigenising their assemblies in collaboration with Bell.
As a sole source supplier of airframe assemblies for Bell's new models, the company invested an
unspecified amount to set up advanced engineering and manufacturing plant in the city.
"We have also contributed to develop an ecosystem of certified suppliers in the country in
consonance with the 'Make in India' programme of the central government," Malhoutra asserted.
Bell's light commercial aircraft director Van Wilson said his aerospace major was committed to the
'Make in India' campaign by setting up its own production facility in the country.
Govt notifies rules for new accounting standards

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Moving closer to the implementation of new accounting norms, the government has notified the rules
for Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) which will be mandatory for companies from April 1, 2016.
Ind AS norms, which are converged with global standards IFRS, can be followed by corporates on a
voluntary basis from April 1 this year.
For companies having networth of Rs 500 crore or more, the new norms would be mandatory from
April 1, 2016. In a notification, the Corporate Affairs Ministry said the Companies (Ind AS) Rules 2015
would come into force from April 1, 2015.
Last month, the ministry had announced the Ind AS roadmap. Banking, insurance and non-banking
finance companies are exempted from the roadmap.
Ind AS would be mandatory for companies whose equity and/or debt securities are listed or are in
the process of listing on any stock exchange in India or outside India and having net worth of Rs 500
crore or more, from April 1, 2016.
Matribhasha Diwas Celebrated

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UNESCO has been observing February 21st every year as International Mother Language Day to
promote mother tongues and increase awareness of the linguistic and cultural traditions throughout
the world.
India possesses a very high linguistic diversity index. The Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India is celebrating 2lst February as Matribhasha Divas all over India
With the objective of sensitising people on the need to impart communication skills and proficiency in
mother tongue.
The focus will be on India's vast and diverse language heritage and on ways and means to preserve
and support about 3000 mother tongues.
All the schools, colleges, universities and Language related institutions under both Central and State
Governments are celebrating the occasion by holding seminars, workshops, special lectures and
various competitions for students on the importance of mother tongue.
Some of the unique features of this celebration would be GK competitions on Indian Language
Heritage and exhibition on Indian mother tongues.
Schools and colleges are encouraged to take up year-long activities to facilitate using one's own
mother tongue better and learning other's mother tongue faster and also to create a congenial
atmosphere for appreciating and encouraging all Indian languages.
The Minister for HRD, Smt. Smriti Irani will be interacting with the students while attending an event
on the occasion of Matribhasha Divas at Ethiraj College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
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INS Vikramadityas operation crippled
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Barely a week after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar witnessed the ongoing theatre-level naval
exercise TROPEX-15 on board the newly acquired INS Vikramaditya.
Reliable information suggests that the aircraft carriers operation is crippled, owing to issues with its
integral fleet of MiG-29K fighter jets.
Nearly 30 of the RD-33MK engines powering the twin-engine MiG-29K aircraft attached to the Black
Panther squadron have packed up ever since aviation activities got under way from the deck of the
refurbished Soviet-era carrier that was inducted into the Indian Navy in Russia in November, 2013.
The Naval fighter carries out high-speed landing by hooking on to any of the arrester wires stretched
across the flight deck.
In other words, Vikramaditya remains tethered to the region forced to operate within a 200
nautical mile radius of Karwar with an airfield in the vicinity, said a naval veteran familiar with the
development.
To allay the fears of pilots, we have asked Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG to prove single-engine
landing of MiG-29 K on board the Russian carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
As many as 21 of the 45 MiG 29K fighters ordered by the Navy have been delivered so far. Of these,
some 13 have been accepted after trials.
The public sector aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has proposed to put in place requisite
infrastructure at its Koraput unit for carrying out maintenance and overhaul of the RD33 MK engines
powering the MiG 29K aircraft.
Digital India Initiative: Web-Portal Launched for Delivering E-Certificates to

Ncvt Courses, Iti Pass-Outs
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The Directorate General of Employment & Training, Ministry of Labour & Employment, has launched a
web-portal www.ncvtmis.gov.in
It will deliver e-certificates to the pass-outs from various NCVT courses including ITI pass-outs.
What is digital India Initiative?

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A programme to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.
The vision of Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and
knowledge economy.
The programme will be implemented in phases from the current year till 2018.
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Benefits of digital India initiative
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It would bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of governments services

electronically.
It will be done through a Unique ID and e-Pramaan based on authentic and standard based
interoperable and integrated government applications and data basis.
The vision area of Digital India

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Infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen

Governance and Services on Demand
Digital Empowerment of Citizens
Scope of Digital India

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To prepare India for a knowledge future.

On being transformative that is to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India
Tomorrow).
Making technology central to enabling change.
On being an Umbrella Programme covering many departments.
Aims of Digital India

Digital India aims to provide the much needed thrust to the nine pillars of growth areas, namely
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Broadband Highways,
Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity,
Public Internet Access Programme,
e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology,
e-Kranti - Electronic Delivery of Services,
Information for All,
Electronics Manufacturing,
IT for Jobs
Early Harvest Programmes.
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Two day National meet on Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
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The two-day National meet on adoption organised by Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of
the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development concluded in New Delhi.
The meet concluded with the message that all stakeholders should make every possible effort to
ensure that the interests of the children are given utmost importance in the process of adoption.
What is CARA?
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Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women &
Child Development.
It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and
regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with
the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of
India in 2003.
CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its
associated /recognised adoption agencies.
The aims of National meet

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To make the entire system centralised, transparent and efficient.

To give identity to children, Aadhar cards will be issued to all the children in the adoption homes
across India.
This has already been started as a pilot project in Delhi.
For children who are below 5 years of age, biometrics are not collected, they are tagged to the
parent/guardians ID.
To make inter country adoption, the representatives from MEA revealed that E-seva kendras have
been opened to speed up and simplify the passport making process.
Address by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee to the Joint Session
of both houses of Parliament
He discussed following achievements of government
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The fundamental tenet of Government - Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas All Together, Development of All
2.
Development is actualized only when the last person gets a sense of fulfilment - Ekatm Manavata
darshan (Integral Humanism)
3.
Financial inclusion - Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to provide universal access to banking facilities
4.
Benefits of developmental programmes reach the last intended beneficiary - Direct Benefit Transfer
Programme.
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The biggest Direct Cash Transfer programme in the world PAHAL implemented from 1 of January,
2015.
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To achieve a Clean and Open Defecation Free India by October, 2019 - Swachh Bharat Mission has
been launched.
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To construct a toilet in every school before 15th August, 2015 - Swachh Vidyalaya programme
8.
Housing is a fundamental requirement for dignified living - Mission Housing for All by 2022.
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Integrated and holistic development of our villages with - Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
10. Programmes have been devised targeting resource-poor, small and marginal farmers, particularly
focusing on organic farming and green house technology - Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana,
11. Conserving and developing indigenous cattle breeds - Rashtriya Gokul Mission
12. To upgrade skill and training in traditional arts/crafts of minorities, a new scheme - Upgrading the Skill
and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD)
13. Outcome based integrated approach has been adopted for tribal development under the - Van
Bandhu Kalyan Yojana.
14. Construction of Hostels for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - Nanaji Deshmukh Scheme
15. To improve foundational learning outcomes - Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
16. To empower and increase the capacity of teachers - Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission
on Teachers and Teacher Training
17. To imbibe scientific temper among students - Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan
18. To focus on students of North-Eastern regions - Ishan Vikas and Ishan Uday
19. Encouraging sporting talent amongst children in the age group of 8 to 12 through National Sports
Development Fund and Target Olympic Podium - National Sports Talent Search Scheme
20. To tap this demographic dividend and to bridge the demand-supply gap in skilled workforce - Hunar
hai to Kalyan hai
21. To align skilling initiatives with global standards - National Policy for Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship
22. To reduce preventable deaths - India New Born Action Plan
23. To achieve universal immunization - Mission Indradhanush
24. To promote cost effective AYUSH services, strengthen the education system and facilitate availability
of quality AYUSH drugs - National AYUSH Mission
25. To change mindsets to celebrate the girl child - Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyaan
26. A new small saving scheme for enabling the education of the girl child - Sukanya Samriddhi Account
27. to promote apprentices in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in manufacturing sector - Apprentice
Protsahan Yojana
28. To ensure ease of doing business by allowing industry to register online and file a single online return
instead of 16 separate returns - Shram Suvidha Portal
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Other major reforms he discussed were
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National Judicial Appointments Commission - reform in the process of appointment of Judges to the
High Courts and Supreme Court
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Maximum Governance Minimum Government - to take Governance to the doorstep of the poorest
of the poor in remotest areas, focus is on simplification of official procedures and reducing the
decision-making levels in Government by leveraging technology.
3.
My Gov Online Platform - public participation in decision-making and ideation of various national
flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
and NITI Aayog.
4.
Digital India - to prepare India for technology based transformation and citizen centric transparent
governance with service orientation.
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Jeevan Praman - Aadhar based Digital Life Certificate Portal
6.
The National Institution for Transforming India - NITI Aayog - Aayog is to foster the spirit of
cooperative federalism so that Union and State Governments come on a platform to forge a common
national agenda for development.
7.
Goods and Services Tax - A Constitutional (Amendment) Bill
8.
Make in India - programme which aims to create a wholesome eco-system to transform India into a
manufacturing hub
9.
The National Urban Development Mission - focusing on water and solid waste management
infrastructure.
10. Smart City programme - These two programmes are interlinked and will prepare our nation for an
increasingly urban future.
11. National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited - for creation of infrastructure in
the North Eastern States and border regions of the country.
12. Sagar Mala Project - to promote Port-led development of the coastal regions and communities.
13. Jal Marg Vikas - Waterways for transportation
14. Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana - to provide 24x7 quality power in rural and urban areas.
15. Integrated Power Development Scheme - Special attention is being paid to the un-electrified villages
in remote areas.
16. National Smart Grid Mission and Energy Saving Schemes - To deepen the reforms in the Electricity
sector
17. Namami Gange - an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission
18. Tourist Visa on Arrival - To harness the enormous potential in the tourism sector
19. Jyotirling Circuits, Sukhmangal Circuit and Dakshin Dham Circuit - Dedicated tourist trains
20. Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) - to restore and rejuvenate the soul of
cities that are home to rich cultural heritage of our country, covering 12 cities in the first phase.
21. PRASAD - Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive - for rejuvenation of
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22. 12 pilgrim centres in convergence with HRIDAY.
23. SMART Police (Smart but Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and
Responsive, Tech-savvy and well Trained) - to provide efficient, courteous and effective citizen
services and meet the operational needs of the police personnel including women police personnel.
MoU Signed Between Indian Army and State Bank of India

1.
2.
3.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and State Bank of India
(SBI) on the Defence Salary Package on 23 Feb 2015.
The basic features of the MoU include a number of free / concessional services like free drafts, free
cheque books, free funds transfers to any bank in India through RTGS / NEFT, free ATM cards etc.
The provision also includes the Nepal Express Remittance Scheme which enables instant fund transfers to
Nepal for the benefit of the Nepali Domicile Gorkha Soldiers serving in the Indian Army.
National Sports Awards Schemes Revamped

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has revised the Schemes of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award,
Arjuna Award, Dhyan Chand Award and Dronacharya Awards.
Selection Committee for Arjuna Award will be headed by Retired Judge of Supreme Court/High Court.
A sportsperson of eminence/sports administrator/sports expert belonging to para sports will be
member in Selection Committee for Arjuna Awards.
Not more than one sportsperson of eminence/coach from a particular sports discipline shall be a
member of the Selection Committee to avoid any bias in favour of a particular discipline.
Nomination agencies are expected to send nominations of most deserving sportsperson(s)/coach (es)
irrespective of whether sportspersons/coaches have applied to them for awards.
Proceedings of Selection Committee will be videographed.
Detailed internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prepared to deal with nominations received
from NSFs etc.
Views of discipline experts to be obtained for shortlisted nominations in team games.
Land Acquisition Bill tabled in LS, Opposition walks out; RS also witnessed
noisy scenes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The government introduced the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill was introduced by Rural Development Minister Birender Singh.
Entire opposition members in the Lok Sabha today staged a walk-out protesting against the
introduction of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Altogether 636 Ordinances were promulgated in the country since its Independence and of them, 80
per cent of the Ordinances were promulgated by Congress governments.
The Ordinance on Land Acquisition Amendment was promulgated by the government in December
last year.
This had brought changes in the earlier bill passed in 2013 by the UPA government.
The government had promulgated the ordinance making significant changes in the Land Act including
removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas that is industrial corridors, PPP projects,
rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.
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8.
The opposition has demanded the government to amend clauses related to consent and Social Impact
Assessment in the bill.
Govt rules out making any changes to Preamble of Constitution

1.
2.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu clarified in the Lok Sabha that the advertisement
was inadvertently carried in the newspapers and care will be taken to correct the mistake in future.
The issue was raised by Jyotiraditya Scindia of the Congress, who demanded a clarification by the
government.
Green Revolution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna
(RKVY) is being implemented in seven eastern states
Namely Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and eastern Uttar Pradesh from
2010-2011 to address the constraints limiting the productivity of rice based cropping systems.
Under this scheme, various activities like cluster demonstrations of improved package of practices,
assets building, site specific activities and marketing support are being undertaken.
With implementation of this programme, the share of rice production of eastern states increased up
to 53.75 percent of total all India rice production during 2013-14 (4th advance estimates) which was
48.95 percent during 2010-11.
Recently, Soil Health Card Scheme has been launched for providing soil health cards to farmers in
the country. This scheme will help in judicious use of fertilizers.
India way ahead of many countries in weather forecasting: Dr. Jitendra Singh
1.
2.
3.
4.
India is way ahead of many countries in weather forecasting and satellite launching payload facilities.
Minister of State for Personnel in the Prime Ministers Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh said this in Lok Sabha.
He said that India is launching a series of seven Satellites to cater to the needs of communications,
weather forecasts and receiving of television signals.
He said at present, 27 Satellites are operational in the country, of which 11 are communication
satellites, 12 Earth Observational Satellites, three Navigational Satellites and one Mars Orbiter
Mission.
All Gram Panchayats to be provided with high-speed broadband connectivity

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Under the Digital India programme, all the two lakh fifty thousand Gram Panchayats will be provided
with high-speed broadband connectivity.
As per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to provide highspeed Internet connectivity in each and every corner of the country.
The Minister said that this will be a non-discrimination programme, which will provide equal platform
for E-Health, E-Commerce, E-Entertainment and E-Education.
Services will be made available on unilateral basis. He said that government has launched a sevenphase programme to revive 3-G and 4-G connectivity in the country.
In addition, connectivity will be provided in remote hilly and difficult areas with the help of National
Optical Fibre Network Internet.
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Central Excise Day Celebrated
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2.
3.
Central Excise Day is commemorated every year all across the India on 24th of February to encourage
the employees of excise department.
It is also celebrated to commemorate the Central Excise and Salt Act which was enacted on 24th
February 1944.
It is done to carry out the central excise duty all over the India in better way in order to prevent the
corruption in goods manufacturing business as well as implement other rules to carry out best
possible excise services.
Importance of central excise

1.
2.
3.
4.
Central excise has become the vital source of the financial development of the country for the better
socio-economic development in India.
In the back years, the financial revenue of the country has become double through the better service
delivery standards of the central excise departments.
The revenue collection through the central excise department is used in the following schemes such
as education, health including other schemes of the social sector.
Central excise supports a lot to improve the Indian economy for eliminating the poverty and illiteracy,
offering better education and health services and etc to make the country a healthy and developed
country.
Outcome and current situation

1.
2.
3.
The Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha emphasized that there was urgent need to
enhance the tax to GDP ratio in India.
It is lower than those in some of the developing economies such as Kenya, Uganda, and Nepal.
This event is also important as the 14th Finance Commission had recommended unprecedented hike
in the States' share of Central taxes by 10 percentage points from 32% to 42%, which is a move in the
direction of cooperative federalism.
Key Suggestion
1.
2.
3.
Expanding the tax base and improving the tax compliance were therefore of utmost importance.
The Department had to constantly strike a balance between trade facilitation and enforcement
measure.
Officers should focus on three Fs i.e. firmness, fairness and friendliness.
Nuclear Power Generation in India Doubles, Capacity Utilisation Up 33 Pc

1.
2.
3.
4.
Nuclear power generation In India has more than doubled in the last six years while the capacity
utilisation of nuclear reactors in country has increased from about 50 percent to 83 percent.
Following the fruition of international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy in 2008, nuclear
power generation has grown from 14,927 million units (MU) of electricity in 2008-09 to 35,333.
The target of nuclear power generation for the five years (2012-13 to 2016-17) in the year 2011 was
241748 MU. The generation of electricity from April 2012 to January 2015 has been 98686 MU.
The KKNPP 1 with 1,000 MW capacities has already been commissioned recently while Unit-2 (KKNPP2) with 1,000 MW capacities is under commissioning.
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Agenda of current government
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prime Minster Narendra Modi led NDA Government in July 2014 had set a target of tripling the then
existing nuclear power capacity of 4780 MW in the next ten years by 2024.
Various sites have been given In-principle approval for additional reactors to be set up in future.
Currently these sites are under pre-project activities which include land acquisition, obtaining
environmental clearances, evaluation of techno commercial offers in respect of Light Water Reactors
(LWRs) to be set up with foreign technical cooperation.
Some of these projects include Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP 1&2), Kaiga (5&6) and Mahi
Banswara (1&2) among others.
Village Resource Centres

Introduction
1.
2.
3.
4.
Village Resource Centres have provided various space technology enabled services such as telehealthcare, tele-education, natural resources information etc.
The VRC is a totally interactive VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) based network.
The major benefits of the VRC programme include advisories related to agriculture like crop pest and
diseases, fertilizer/pesticides, organic farming, crop insurance etc.
Live stock/poultry, career guidance to rural students, skill development and vocational training etc.,
to the rural population.
Importance of VCR
1.
2.
3.
The setting up of the VRC with a view to integrate its capabilities in satellite communications and
satellite based earth observations to disseminate a variety of services.
Services emanating from the space systems and other IT tools to address the changing and critical
needs of the rural community.
VRCs will provide a variety of services like telemedicine, tele-education, data base on the natural
resources, interactive farmers advisories on agriculture, fisheries, weather etc.
Current situation
1.
2.
3.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has so far set up 456 Village Resource Centres (VRCs).
VRCs have been set up on a pilot scale, in association with selected NGOs, Trusts and State
Government Departments.
In Assam, a partnership between ISRO and Assam Branch of Indian Tea Association (ABITA) has been
formed to commission VRC network in the rural areas of Assam to uplift the life and livelihood of the
people.
3685 Monuments/Sites in the Country Declared as of National Importance till

date
1.
2.
3.
As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958,
Ancient monuments or archaeological sites and remains, as the case may be, which are of historical,
archaeological or artistic interest.
Have been in existence for not less than 100 years, may be declared by the Central Government as of
national importance.
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4.
5.
The protection and maintenance of monuments, declared as of national importance is taken up by

Archaeological Survey of India
By way of structural repairs, chemical preservation and environmental development around the
monument,
No proposal to delete Article 370: Govt

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2.
3.
4.
There is no proposal under consideration of the government "to delete" Article 370 of the
Constitution; it gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Article 370 was made in the Indian Constitution for continuance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir
with the Union of India on the basis of Instrument of Accession.
Article 370 is a device to continue the existing relationship of state of Jammu and Kashmir with the
Union of India.
Through this Article, the Union Parliament gets jurisdiction to enact laws on matters specified either
in the Instrument of Accession or by later addition with concurrence of the government of state of
Jammu and Kashmir.
Renaming of schemes under MSME as "Coir Udyami Yojana" (CUY) and "Coir
Vikas Yojana"
1.
2.
3.
During the review of the progress of the Central Sector Schemes (CSS) being implemented by the Coir
Board namely Rejuvenation, Modernization and Technology Upgradation(REMOT) and Coir Plan
(General) Scheme
it is felt that the names of the schemes do not convey the proper objectives of the schemes to the
general public.
Accordingly, the said schemes have been re-named with the approval of the competent authority as
Coir Udyami Yojana (CUY) and Coir Vikas Yojana (CVY) respectively to make it better understood by
the Stakeholders.
Objectives of formation of NITI Aayog

The objectives of formation of NITI Aayog are as follows
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active
involvement of States in the light of national objectives.
The vision of the NITI Aayog will then provide a framework national agenda for the Prime Minister
and the Chief Ministers to provide impetus to.
To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the
States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these
progressively at higher levels of government.
To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting
adequately from economic progress.
To design strategic and long term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor
their progress and their efficacy.
The lessons learnt through monitoring and feedback will be used for making innovative
improvements, including necessary mid-course corrections.
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8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and
international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative
community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.
To offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to
accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and
best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stakeholders.
To actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the
identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen the probability of success and scope of
delivery.
To focus on technology up-gradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and
initiatives.
To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national
development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above.
Ways to implement NH Projects in Naxal Affected Areas

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
To remove hurdles in execution of RRP projects, this Ministry has requested State Governments to
constitute District Level Coordination Committee headed by District Magistrate comprising of District
Superintendent of Police.
Central Armed Police Forces, State PWD and Contractor to plan and proceed with the area
Domination by Armed Forces, in the areas affected by law and order problems.
The Central Government had notified relaxation requiring general approval under Section-2 of Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980
For diversion of forest land for construction/development of roads involving not more than 5.00
hectares of forest land in each case in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
The qualification criteria of the contractors have been relaxed by the Ministry in December 2012 to
encourage larger participation of local contractors for LWE works where there is no response despite
repeated calls.
Recommendations for Restructuring of FCI are under Consideration of the

Government
1.
2.
The high-level committee headed by Shri Shanta Kumar for restructuring of the Food Corporation of
India (FCI) has submitted its report.
Government is examining these recommendations and a decision to implement the acceptable
recommendations of the Committee will be taken shortly.
Major recommendations of committee are

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
FCI to outsource all procurement operations to States that have gained sufficient experience.
FCI to move to the Eastern U.P., Bihar, W.B., Assam etc. where small and marginal farmers
suffer most from distress sale.
Quality check through transparent and mechanical process.
Outsourcing of stocking operations to CWC, SWCs, private sector under PEG scheme on
competitive basis.
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v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
xii.
xiii.
Convert old conventional storages to Silos.

Gradually phase out cover and plinth (CAP) with no grain stocks remaining in CAP for more
than three months.
Mechanization of operations in Food Storage Depots.
Introduce a pro-active liquidation policy to off-load stocks in the market whenever they are
in excess of buffer norms. Greater flexibility to FCI needed to operate in OMSS and export
markets.
De-notification of depots, fixing ceiling on incentives per worker and VRS to Departmental
Labour.
Condition of contract labour should be improved by giving them better facility.
FCI to reorient into an agency for innovation in foodgrain management system.
Use of HDPE rather than jute bags for packaging.
End to End Computerization of food management system Automation of FCI Operations.
India had highest level of social hostilities in 2013: Study

1.
India had the highest level of social hostilities involving a religion and China had the most
government restrictions in 2013, according to a new study by an American think-tank.
2.
Among the world's 25 most populous countries, the highest overall levels of restrictions were
found in Myanmar, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Russia, where both the government and
society at large impose numerous limits on religious beliefs and practices, said Pew Research
Centres latest annual study on global restrictions on religion.
3.
Among these populous countries, China had the highest level of government restrictions in 2013,
and India had the highest level of social hostilities involving religion," the report said.
4.
According to Pew, the number of countries and territories with a "very high" level of social
hostilities involving religion fell from 20 in 2012 to 17 in 2013.
5.
Most of the countries and territories in this category - including Israel, India, Pakistan, the
Palestinian territories and Nigeria - already had very high social hostilities.
6.
Two countries - the Central African Republic and Tanzania - had very high social hostilities in 2013
but not in 2012," it said.
7.
Five countries that had very high social hostilities in 2012 did not in 2013: Burma (Myanmar),
Lebanon, Sudan, Thailand and Yemen," the report said.
8.
The new study finds that the share of countries with high or very high level of social hostilities
involving religion dropped from 33 per cent in 2012 to 27 per cent in 2013, the most recent year
for which data are available.
9.
These types of hostilities run the gamut from vandalism of religious property and desecration of
sacred texts to violent assaults resulting in deaths and injuries.
10. By contrast, the share of countries with high or very high government restrictions on religion
stayed roughly the same from 2012 to 2013.
11. The share of countries in this category was 27 per cent in 2013, compared to 29 per cent in 2012.
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12. Government restrictions on religion include efforts to control religious groups and individuals in a
variety of ways, ranging from registration requirements to discriminatory policies and outright
bans on certain faiths
13. As in previous years, Christians and Muslims - who together make up more than half of the global
population - faced harassment in the largest number of countries.
14. Christians were harassed, either by government or social groups, in 102 of the 198 countries
included in the study (52 per cent), while Muslims were harassed in 99 countries (50 per cent).
15. In 2013, harassment of Jews, either by government or social groups, was found in 77 countries
(39 per cent)-a seven-year high.
Development of Water Resources Information System

1.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is implementing a scheme
viz. Development of Water Resources Information System (DWRIS)
2.
With the main objective of collecting the necessary data from various sources, analysis of important
data and developing a robust information system on water resources.
3.
A Web based Water Resources Information System on Geographical Information System platform,
named as INDIA-WRIS (www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in), has been launched by the Central Water
Commission jointly with National Remote Sensing Centre.
4.
Several steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management to ensure sustainability of
water resources are undertaken by the respective State Governments.
5.
In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of India provides technical
and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient
management of water resources through various schemes and programmes such as Accelerated
Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
6.
The Government of India has also launched National Water Mission with main objective as
conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across
and within States through integrated water resources development and management.
National Deworming Drive Launched in 11 States

1.
As per the study of the World Health Organization (WHO), 241m children in the 1-14 years age group
in India are at risk of parasitic worms.
2.
As per World Health organization database (2012), it is estimated that 241 million children (68%)
between the ages of 1 14 years in India are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms.
3.
Worms can cause anemia, under nutrition and impairment of mental and physical development.
Scientific evidences available clearly indicate that intestinal worms cause chronic intestinal blood loss
that result in anemia.
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4.
Government of India has already launched National Deworming Day in 11 States/UT of India namely
Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
The salient features of this initiative are as follows:i.
All pre-school and school-age children (enrolled and non-enrolled) between the ages of 1
19 years were administered deworming drug i.e. Albendazole tablets through the platform of
schools and anganwadi centres in order to improve their overall health, nutritional status,
access to education and quality of life.
ii.
Anganwadi workers provided deworming drug to all pre-school children (1-5 years) and all
out of school children (6-19 years) at the Anganwadi centres and School teachers provided
deworming drug to all school enrolled children of 6-19 years age as per the National
guidelines.
iii.
In addition, Government has provided detailed guidelines for implementation of deworming

intervention alongwith training, awareness generation and ensuring sufficient stock supply of
deworming drug. There are specific guidelines / protocols for adverse event management as
well.
1.
National Deworming Day was launched in 280 districts across 11 States/UT. With an aim to avoid
duplication of intervention.
2.
Lymphatic filariasis endemic districts in these 11 states were excluded as administration of Albendazole is
part of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) regime under lymphatic filariasis program.
India bans Islamic State terror group

1.
Dreaded terror group IS and all its affiliate organisations responsible for a series of savage attacks and
killings in Iraq and Syria have been banned in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
2.
Recruitment of youths to the outfit from India and their radicalisation is a matter of serious concern
for the country, especially with regard to its likely impact on national security when such youth return
to India, the Home Ministry said while banning the terrorist group.
3.
The Islamic State/Islamic State of Iraq and Levant/ Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/Daish and all its
manifestations have been declared as outlawed in India under UAPA, a notification issued by the
Ministry said.
4.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Parliament on December 16, 2014 that the MiddleEast
group had already been declared banned in India under a United Nations Schedule.
5.
According to the latest notification, the outfit is operating in Iraq and neighbouring countries and has
been resorting to terrorist actions to consolidate its position in that area by recruiting youth for
Global Jehad to achieve the objective of establishing its own caliphate by overthrowing
democratically elected governments.
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6.
The group is also resorting to terrorism in the form of killing of innocent civilians and security forces
and the central government believes that the Islamic State/Islamic State of Iraq and Levant/Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria/Daish is involved in radicalisation and recruitment of vulnerable youth from
various countries including India.
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INTERNATIONAL
Nepal committee passes guidelines for Constitution
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Proposal Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA) passed its working guidelines,.
Declaring that principles like democracy, federalism, republicanism, secularism, and inclusiveness
would be an integral part of the new Constitution.
The new committee has been tasked to prepare a questionnaire with Yes and No voting option to
decide the disputes.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)-Nepal boycotted the PDC meeting for not entertaining questions on
republicanism, secularism and federalism.
The 73-member PDC was passed by a majority of the Constituent Assembly last Sunday despite
protests from the Opposition.
Japan launches new spy satellite

1.
2.
3.
Japan on Sunday successfully launched a back-up spy satellite, its aerospace agency said
Tokyo put spy satellites into operation in the early 2000s after its erratic neighbour North Korea fired
a mid-range ballistic missile.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries delayed Thursday's
planned launch of the H-2A rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.
Indian trawlers back in huge numbers

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
More Indian trawlers have been allegedly fishing near the northern coastline of Sri Lanka over the
past two weeks.
The fishermen from both sides got into a tussle at sea recently, after the nets of those from the
northern region of the island nation were damaged.
Earlier, the [Sri Lankan] Navy took action promptly, but now they seem reluctant to arrest Indian
fishermen who are poaching.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to visit India from February 15 to 17, while
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sri Lanka in mid-March.
No official complaint about Indian trawlers fishing in Sri Lankan waters has so far been made to the
Indian High Commission in Colombo.
While Indo-Lanka relations are rapidly improving with high level state visits, the Palk Bay fishing
conflict is taking a nasty turn, according to Jaffna-based researcher Ahilan Kadirgamar.
The Palk Bay conflict has proved a major strain on Indo-Lanka relations over the last few years. Nearly
700 Indian fishermen were arrested in 2014 on charges of poaching.
China president plans to make first state visit to US

1.
2.
3.
Chinese state media are reporting that a top diplomat said President Xi Jinping plans to make his first
state visit to the U.S. later this year.
U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said on Friday that the U.S. has invited both Mr. Xi and
Japanese President Shinzo Abe for state visits.
Mr. Xi last met with U.S. President Barack Obama in November after an Asian-Pacific Economic
Cooperation meeting in Beijing.
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4.
Mr. Xi also met with Mr. Obama in Rancho Mirage, California, during a more informal visit to the U.S.
in June 2013.
US nuclear suppliers sceptical of MEA assurances

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
U.S. nuclear suppliers remain deeply sceptical of the assurances on interpretations of civil nuclear
liability provided over the weekend by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs,
Both on Section 17 (b) and on Section 46 of the countrys liability law, according to persons close to
the discussions in Washington.
One source, who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity, said that although the nuclear
suppliers have not been able to evaluate in their entirety.
the FAQ-style notes supplied by the MEA on Sunday, it was clear that in the case of Indias Civil
Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 (CLND) a statutory requirement cannot be waived by
contract.
In its notes the MEA suggested it was a right but not a mandatory requirement that the strict, no-fault
liability implied by Section 17 (b) for negligence on the part of the supplier be channelled from the
operator.
In this case Indias PSU Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), to the supplier, the U.S. nuclear
corporations.
Even if the contract between the two parties relied on Rule 24 or other instruments to limit the right
to recourse of NPCIL.
To channel liability back to the supplier in the event of a nuclear incident, to channel liability back to
the supplier in the event of a nuclear incident,
A memorandum from the Indian government doesnt bind the Indian courts or supersede the
statute, the source said.
While the MEA noted that an insurance pool would be set up to finance compensation payouts by
NPCIL to the tune of Rs. 1,500 crore and the Government of India would foot an additional bill of Rs.
1,110 crore.
Such arrangements appeared not to have quelled the discomfiture of U.S. suppliers regarding their
own financial costs for insurance premiums.
One concern uppermost in the minds of nuclear suppliers here surrounds the suggestion that they
may continue to be liable for at least 80 years,
This includes 60 years for the life of the nuclear plants and a further 20 years under the statute limit.
U.S. nuclear corporations also appeared not to have derived much reassurance from the MEAs
comments on Section 46.
This may allow victims of a nuclear incident to sue the operator or the supplier for damages using tort
law.
The MEA said, That this section applies exclusively to the operator and does not extend to the
supplier is confirmed by the Parliamentary debates at the time of the adoption of this Act.
G20 pledges to improve business environment, check tax evasion

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Committing to resist protectionism, the G20 nations have pledged to improve business environment
to promote growth and strengthen transparency to prevent cross border tax evasion.
The G20 Ministers also expressed concern over terrorist activities and called upon the member
nations to expeditiously comply with international norms concerning exchange of information and
freezing of terrorist assets.
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The communique issued at the end of the two-day meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and central bank
governors late last night also underlined the need for IMF quota reforms to give greater
representation to emerging economies.
India was represented by Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha and RBI Governor Raghuram
Rajan at the meeting.
Taking note of the sharp decline in oil prices, the communique said it will provide some boost to
global growth with varying implications across economy.
The member nations committed to boost investment in their countries via concrete and ambitious
investment strategies that will also support our collective growth objective.
Expressing disappointment over delay in IMF quota reforms, the communique said, We reaffirm that
their earliest implementation remains our highest priority for the Fund.
Emerging counties, like India, China, Brazil and Russia have been asking for increased voting rights in
IMF, which would reflect their growing share in the world economy.
Quota reform, if implemented, will increase Indias voting share from current 2.44 per cent to 2.75
per cent, following which the country will become the eighth largest quota holder at the IMF, up from
11th position.
Ukraine gets new bailout deal from IMF

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The International Monetary Fund has agreed with Ukraine on a new bailout deal worth 15.5 billion
euro ($17.5 billion) that could climb to around $40 billion over the next four years with help from
other lenders like Europe and the U.S.
Ukraine has so far received $4.6 billion as part of a $17 billion aid package from the IMF agreed on
last year.
That programme has run into trouble as the war ravaging the countrys eastern region has weighed
on its economic prospects.
Facing bankruptcy, Ukraine last month asked the IMF to replace its programme with a new one to
restore confidence in its finances.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Thursday that this new programme offers an
important opportunity for Ukraine to move its economy forward at a critical moment in the countrys
history.
The four-year package would support immediate economic stabilization in Ukraine as well as a set of
bold policy reforms aimed at restoring robust growth of the medium term and improving living
standards for the Ukrainian people.
She praised Kievs reform efforts so far, saying that the government has not only reached their
targeted deficit for this year but they have exceeded the objective and produced a better result than
was expected.
100-carat classic emerald-cut diamond coming to auction

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A perfect 100-carat diamond in a classic emerald cut is going on the auction block, where it could
fetch between $19 million to $25 million.
Sothebys will offer the white diamond on April 21 in New York. Its an internally flawless D colour
stone, which the auctioneer said is considered perfect.
Sothebys New York jewellery department head Gary Schuler likened the 100.20-carat stones
transparency to a pool of icy water.
The stone is the only classic emerald-cut white diamond of the highest colour and clarity and over 100
carats to come to auction, according to Sothebys.
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The diamond was mined in southern Africa within the last 10 years and weighed over 200 carats
before it was cut and polished, the auction house said.
Only five perfect diamonds over 100 carats have sold at auction in the last 25 years. A 118-carat
oval-cut stone fetched $30.6 million at Sothebys in 2013, setting a record for a white diamond.
A record for any diamond is $46 million for a 24.78-carat emerald-cut pink stone, set at Sothebys in
2010. It also set a record for any jewel at auction.
China opens largest embassy in Pakistan

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China has opened a new embassy in Pakistan, its largest overseas diplomatic mission, which Foreign
Minister Wang Yi described as a symbol of friendship between the all weather allies.
As Chinas largest overseas embassy, it is a symbol of friendship between China and Pakistan, staterun China Daily quoted Mr. Wang as saying.
China maintains large diplomatic missions abroad including Washington, New York and New Delhi. Its
mission in New Delhi has over 300 personnel, according to officials.
The opening of the new Islamabad embassy came as China and Pakistan deepen their all weather
relations with the construction of the multi-billion Economic Corridor through the Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir (POK).
Automatic info exchange with India latest by 2018: Swiss Govt

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In its fight against black money menace, India will have to wait till 2018 for Switzerland to provide
bank account details of Indians under the automatic information exchange framework.
Under a global framework, more than 40 jurisdictions including India had agreed to become early
adopters of an automatic exchange of information mechanism prepared by global body OECD to
help each other in fighting the tax evasion and frauds.
This so-called early adopters group plans to collect data from 2016 and exchange information for the
first time in September 2017, according to a new report by the Swiss government.
However, Switzerland would see its first exchange under this framework taking place in the year
2018.
As per the report, as many as 58 countries would see their first exchange taking place in 2017,
followed by another 35 in the year 2018.
While India is part of the First Exchange 2017 group, it will have to wait till 2018 for automatic
exchange of information with Switzerland because of the Alpine nation being in the second grouping.
After meeting his Swiss counterpart Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf in Davos last month, Mr. Jaitley said
the bilateral agreements with regard to automatic exchange of tax information with various
countries, including Switzerland, would be the long term solution to check this menace.
India, Lanka ink civil nuclear pact, agree to expand defence ties
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Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands
as they pose for photos before their meeting in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.
Sri Lanka's new leader is underlining India's importance as a regional ally by making it his first official
foreign destination as president, following years of uneasy relations with New Delhi and international
pressure to speed up post-civil war reconciliation efforts at home.
Taking the ties to a new level, India and Sri Lanka today inked a civil nuclear pact besides deciding to
expand defence and security cooperation.
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This was announced after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President
Maithripala Sirisena during which both the leaders expressed commitment to find a solution to the
emotive fishermen issue by adopting a constructive and humanitarian approach.
India hands over historic Dakota aircraft to Bangladesh

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India has ceremonially handed over to Bangladesh a vintage Dakota aircraft, which played a crucial
role in the country's 1971 liberation war.
The Dakota aircraft played a crucial role in the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan and formation
of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).
It was used for air dropping troops in Bangladesh's Tangail during the 1971 war.
"Air Marshal S B Deo, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force, formally handed over the
Dakota (DC-3) aircraft to Bangladesh Air Force," a statement by the Indian high commission said.
The aircraft was flown in from New Delhi in a dismantled state in an IAF's C-17 Globemaster aircraft
and then was re-assembled by IAF's technical team led by Wing Commander R Deshpande with the
assistance of BAF.
The Dakota aircraft has special significance for BAF as BAF started its journey from Nagaland, Dimapur
on September 28 in 1971 with the establishment of 'K' flight which possessed one Dakota DC-3, one
Otter aircraft and one Alluette helicopter.
UN official uses wrong India map; parts of J&K missing

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An incorrect map of Jammu and Kashmir was presented by a top UN official today at a water summit
here to discuss the sanitation situation in India.
The territory of India bordering Pakistan and China in Jammu and Kashmir was not part of the map
shown by Sue Coates, chief of WASH UNICEF India, to tell the proportion of population defecating in
open in the country.
Later, Caroline den Dulk Chief Communication, UNICEF India, told PTI in an e-mail, "The map used for
the purpose if from an article used by another organisation and is certainly not to-scale.
. Therefore it may have appeared to you that the state of J&K is incorrectly displayed which was not at
all our focus or purpose."
Coates made the presentation at the opening session of the 'India Wash Summit' organised by the
WaterAid, a global NGO working to transform lives by improving access to safe water, improved
hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities.
They discussed some of the opportunities and challenges in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector
in India, focusing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Swacch Bharat Mission.
UK inflation falls to its lowest level on record

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British officials say the rate of inflation fell in January to an annual 0.3 per cent the lowest level on
record amid falling energy prices and supermarket price wars.
British officials say the rate of inflation fell in January to an annual 0.3 per cent the lowest level on
record amid falling energy prices and supermarket price wars.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has predicted that inflation may turn negative in the coming
months, but said he believed low inflation to be a short-term phenomenon that would boost
spending among consumers.
Inflation is well below the central banks 2 per cent target rate, but Carney told reporters last week
the bank will look through what it sees as temporary drops.
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Policymakers fear long periods of sustained falling prices, because it could encourage consumers to
delay purchases in hopes of bargains later.
Security Council backs Ukraine peace agreements

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The UN Security Council on Wednesday backed the Ukraine peace agreements signed in Minsk,
Belarus and demanded the immediate cessation of violence.
Fifteen members of the UN Security Council came together to unanimously adopt a resolution driven
by Russia, which has expressed support for a negotiated solution to the conflict.
The text supports the measures agreed to in Minsk on February 12 and welcomes the commitments to
implement the pact made by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.
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Minutes before adopting the resolution, the council members issued a statement expressing regret
that, despite the truce in force, violence continued in some parts of eastern Ukraine.
In particular, they expressed concern over the fighting around the strategic town of Debaltseve, and
urged all the parties to immediately stop hostilities.
The Ukrainian government on Tuesday accused Russia and the pro-Russian separatists of violating the
peace agreements, including the ceasefire, to launch an offensive against the town in the eastern
Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
Despite the consensus, the division between Russia and the Western powers was discussed once
again at the meeting in which U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said.
It was ironic that Russia raised a resolution in favour of a peaceful solution for Ukraine when it was
responsible for violence in the country.
IS might be harvesting organs: Iraq envoy to UN

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Iraqs ambassador to the United Nations asked the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to look at
allegations that the Islamic State group is using organ harvesting as a way to finance its operations.
Ambassador Mohamed Alhakim told reporters that in the past few weeks, bodies with surgical
incisions and missing kidneys or other body parts have been found in shallow mass graves.
Alhakim briefed the council on the overall situation in Iraq and accused the Islamic State group of
crimes of genocide in targeting certain ethnic groups.
The outgoing U.N. envoy to Iraq, Nikolay Mladenov, told the council that 790 people were killed in
January alone by terrorism and armed conflict.
Especially worrying is the increasing number of reports of revenge attacks committed particularly
against members of the Sunni community in areas liberated from ISIL control
RBI lifts ban on import of gold coins, medallions by banks

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RBI has lifted the ban on imports of gold coins and medallions by banks and trading houses.
RBI said that banks have also been permitted to import gold on consignment basis.
The apex bank, however, added that domestic sales will be permitted against upfront payment only.
RBI has said that banks are free to grant gold metal loans, adding that Star and Premier Trading
Houses can import the metal as per entitlement without any end use restrictions.
Gold imports surged by 8.13 per cent year-on-year to 1.55 billion US Dollars in January on easing of
restrictions by the RBI.
India is the largest importer of gold, which is mainly utilized to meet the demand of jewellery
industry.
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Aiming to tame the then widening current account deficit, RBI had prohibited imports of gold coins
and medallions in August 2013.
Besides restricting inbound shipments of the metal. RBI had withdrew certain restrictions on import
of the metal on November 28 last year.
Eleven government services launched on eBiz Portal

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The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry today
announced the launch of 11 Central Government Services on eBiz portal.
These services are required for starting a business in the country - four services from Ministry of
Corporate Affairs, two services of Central Board of Direct Taxes, two services of Reserve Bank of India
One services each from Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Employees Provident Fund
Organisation and Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation.
A business-user may avail these services either from the portal of respective Ministry/Department or
by physical submission of forms.
Thailand bans surrogacy for foreigners in bid to end 'rent-a-womb' tourism

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Thailand's interim parliament has passed a law that bans foreigners from seeking surrogacy services
to end a "rent-a-womb" industry that made the Southeast Asian country a top destination for fertility
tourism.
Thailand was rocked by several surrogacy scandals last year, including allegations that an Australian
couple had abandoned their Down Syndrome baby with his Thai birth mother taking only his healthy
twin sister back to Australia with them.
Another case involved a Japanese man who fathered at least at least 16 babies using Thai surrogates
in what local Thai media called the "baby factory".
Thailand gave preliminary approval in August for a draft law to make commercial surrogacy a crime.
The draft passed its first reading in November and became law on Thursday.
This law aims to stop Thai women's wombs from becoming the world's womb. This law bans foreign
couples from coming to Thailand to seek commercial surrogacy services," Wanlop Tankananurak, a
member of Thailand's National Legislative Assembly, told Reuters.
The law bans foreign couples from seeking surrogacy services and stipulates that surrogate mothers
must be Thai and over 25.
The important part is if the couple seeking surrogacy services is Thai or the couple is mixed-race, they
can find a Thai woman to be their surrogate providing she is over 25," he said, adding that violation of
the law carries a "severe prison sentence".
Critics say making commercial surrogacy illegal could push the industry underground, making it harder
for patients to access quality physicians and medical care.
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PMs visit to Arunachal is breach of consensus China
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For the second successive day, China has protested Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to
Arunachal Pradesh.
China is calling the journey a breach of consensus that had been reached between the two countries
on the boundary issue.
Whats the issue?

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According to China Arunachal was "a state that Indian authorities illegally and unilaterally declared in
1987"
"The so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' was established largely on the three areas of China's Tibet Monyul, Loyul and Lower Tsayul currently under Indian illegal occupation," China said.
In 1914, the colonialists secretly contrived the illegal 'McMahon Line' in an attempt to incorporate
into India the above-mentioned three areas of Chinese territory.
None of the successive Chinese governments have ever recognized this line.
In February 1987, Indian authorities declared the founding of the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh.'"
Illegal McMahon Line is at the heart of the boundary dispute.
Location of area
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"The so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' was established largely on the three areas of China's Tibet Monyul, Loyul and Lower Tsayul currently under Indian illegal occupation,"
China claims as much as 90,000 square km in the eastern sector.
India views China's illegal occupation of at least 38,000 square km in the western sector in the Aksai
Chin region.
Current situation
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Both sides are currently negotiating a framework to settle the dispute in all sectors
India and China are likely to have the next round of talks in Beijing in the first half of the year.
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Bangladesh: Abdul Jabbar sentenced to life term

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The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced fugitive Jatiya Party leader and former MP Abdul Jabbar
to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
79-year old Abdul Jabbar was the Chairman of the infamous Peace Committee in Mathbaria, an
auxiliary body of the Pakistan army, which collaborated in perpetrating the war crimes.
He stood charged on five counts of war crimes including murder, arson, looting and genocide.
He has been on the run since 2009, and the tribunal investigations have taken place in absentia with a
state-appointed lawyer defending him.
UNSC permanent members selective on terrorism: India

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India has accused UNSC permanent members of picking and choosing the principles to suit their own
national interest and of being selective in dealing with terrorism.
2. Indias permanent representative to UNSC (Ashok Kumar Mukherjee) accused the council to take any
concerted action to implement its unanimous resolution passed in the wake of 9/11 attacks.
3. This resolution obliges all nations to act against terrorism; but Council was ambivalently and
opaquely imposing the counter-terrorism measures mandated by its own resolution as far back as
1999.
4. Even the listing of the perpetrators of the most heinous of terrorist crimes is subject to whims of
powerful member states.
5. He was speaking at a Council debate on Maintenance of International Peace and Security that
focussed on the principles of the United Nations Charter.
6. The logic of democracy and the anguished faces of human suffering across the world call for urgent
action to reform the Council.
7. The membership of the UN has risen from 51 members at its founding in 1945 to 193 now. But
council has since added only four non permanent members to the six elected seats.
8. Indias other criticism of the Council related to its failures to follow the Charter provisions on handling
of peacekeeping operations and on resolving international disputes peacefully.
9. Historically, India has been the single-largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations
and currently 8,145 Indian troops, police and experts are serving it.
10. These Charter provisions require the Council to seek solutions to disputes through mediation,
arbitration, judicial settlement, inquiry and other such efforts.
87th Academy Awards ratings lowest in six years

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The 87th Academy Awards were the least watched Oscars since 2009 and garnered a 10.8 rating
among adults 18-49 with 36.6 million viewers compared to last years 43 million viewers.
The 220-minute long telecast, hosted by first-timer Neil Patrick Harris, saw a drop of 17 per cent from
the final ratings for the 2014 Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
Despite ratings dip, it was still the most watched ceremony on television and did better than both
Grammys (24.8 million) and Golden Globes (19.3 million).
The best actress award went to Still Alice star Julianne Moore while Eddie Redmayne won the best
actor trophy for his role in The Theory of Everything.
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US to provide work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders from May 26
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United States has announced that it will provide work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders
beginning May 26.
A move that is expected to benefit thousands of talented and professional Indian spouses who come
to America but are unable to work.
Under existing laws, spouses of H-1B visa holders, many of whom are Indians, are not eligible to work.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting applications for work visas
from H-1B spouses on May 26.
USCIS estimates the number of individuals eligible to apply for employment authorisation under this
rule could be as high as 1.79 lakh in the first year and 55,000 annually in subsequent years. The move
has been welcomed by Indian-Americans.
Iran test fires new weapon in naval drill

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Irans Revolutionary Guard on Friday announced it has test fired a new strategic weapon in the final
day of a large-scale naval and air defence drill, saying the system would play a key role in any future
battle against the United States.
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Iran announced the test on the final day of military drills it is calling Great Prophet 9. The exercises
are being held near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about a fifth of the
worlds oil passes.
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Adm. Ali Fadavi, the Republican Guards naval chief, said the new weapon would be critical in any
future naval war against the U.S.
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The new weapon will have a very decisive role in adding our naval power in confronting threats,
particular by the Great Satan, the United States, he told the guards website.
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India to join top global league
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India will join the league of countries like Singapore, UK and the US with its proposed law to check
black money.
Under which those hiding income and evading tax in relation to foreign assets can be slapped with a
prison term of up to ten years.
In fact, the proposed imprisonment penalty, as also the monetary penalty, here could be higher than
many other countries in most of the cases.
The new law would also provide for a penalty for such concealment of income and assets at the rate
of 300 per cent of tax, while offenders will not be permitted to approach the Settlement Commission.
Non-filing of return or filing with inadequate disclosure of foreign assets will itself be liable for
prosecution with punishment of rigorous imprisonment up to seven years.
Under the US laws, the federal penalties for each count of conviction of tax crimes include prison
term of maximum one year and a fine of USD 100,000 for failure to file a tax return, false withholding
exemptions, and delivering or disclosing false tax documents.
The penalties include prison term of up to ten years and a fine of USD 100,000 for "conspiracy to
defraud with respect to false refund claims.
Other penalties include a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of USD 250,000 for obstructing
or impeding an investigation and filing or preparing a false tax return, and a maximum of five years in
prison and a USD 250,000 fine for tax evasion, failure to pay taxes, conspiracy to commit a tax offense
or conspiracy to defraud.
In the UK also, the 'top tax criminals' of the year 2012 -- a list of 32 individuals -- were given a total of
over 150 years imprisonment.
The UK's tax authorities have recently put in place tougher penalties for those who hide assets and
income abroad, by doubling the maximum penalty for offshore tax evasion to 200 per cent of the tax
dues.
Under the Singapore's Income Tax Act, any person convicted of intentionally evading tax or assisting
any other person to evade tax may be penalized four times the amount of tax undercharged.
And may also be fined an amount not more than 50,000 Singapore dollars or jailed for up to 5 years,
or both.
Besides, Singapore's Goods and Services Act provides that any person convicted of intentionally
evading tax or assisting any other person to evade tax.
May be penalized three times the amount of tax undercharged and may also be fined an amount of
10,000 Singapore dollars or jailed for up to 7 years, or both.
While the proposed law in India has been largely welcomed, industry body Assocham today said the
government should avoid "over-kill and rush job" in its efforts to check foreign assets' concealment.
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India offers help to avalanche-hit Afghanistan
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani offering help in
relief and rescue operations following a series of avalanches in the mountainous country, officials
said.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted that Modi wrote to Ghani saying
India is deeply saddened by the loss of lives in avalanches in different parts of Afghanistan.
India (is) ready to help in any way with rescue and relief and help people to rebuild lives PM
@narendramodi to Afghanistans Prez @ashrafghani, Akbaruddin tweeted.
Hundreds of people have been killed and an indeterminate number have been reported missing after
the series of avalanches in Afghanistan.
No Proposal to Privatize Airports

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Its not just jobs and compensations over which the Airports Authority of India Employee Union
(AAEU) and Ministry of Civil Aviation are sparring.
They also differ on what to term the pact between the state-run airport firm and the private airport
operators.
While the ministry wants to call it public private partnership (PPP), the AAEU is very sure it is
privatisation of the airports.
That is being handed over to private parties for operation, management and development for 30
years, with the option of extending it to another 30 years on same terms and conditions.
Civil aviation minister Mahesh Sharma told Parliament there was no proposal to privatise airports in
the country.
However, based on the recommendations of Task Force on Financing Plan for Airports during 12th
Five Year Plan period, set up by erstwhile Planning Commission.
The government has initiated the process for undertaking operation, management and development
of Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The fact that the ministry was giving 76% stake to the private companies for 60 years makes the
whole exercise as good as privatisation.
It gives the private entity majority stake, and therefore a bigger say in all matters relating to that
airport.
A section of the (AAI) Act was amended to pave the way for leasing of the airports for development,
operation and management.
This made it easy for any private company to enter into a joint venture with the AAI through a
subsidiary company created along with it.
Many of the AAI employees, who were affected by the privatisation of the Indira Gandhi International
Airport in Delhi.
They are yet to be paid their retirement compensations by the GMR and AAI joint venture Delhi
International Airport Ltd (DIAL).
According to the Comptroller and Audit General of India (CAG)s report on implementation of the PPP
of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in 2012-13.
AAI raised a claim of Rs 250.88 crore towards retirement compensation on March 9, 2010, of which
DIAL made payment of only Rs 80 crore and the balance Rs 70.88 crore was to be paid.
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Steps Towards Reducing Dropout Rate of Students
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According to the Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) 2013-14 (Provisional)
The average annual dropout rate for primary level was 4.67% and for upper primary level 3.13%
during 2012-13, in the country.
3. The drop-out rate has been decreasing continuously over the years with better access to schooling
facilities, improved school infrastructure and deployment of additional teachers under Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan.
4. The Central Government is implementing several schemes in collaboration with State Governments to
ensure development in the education sector.
5. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is being implemented in accordance with the norms and standards of the
RTE Act to enhance enrolment and retention of children.
6. With context- specific interventions for SC/ ST students and a multi-pronged approach for reducing
dropout rates.
7. This includes inter-alia strengthening of school infrastructure and facilities, residential hostel buildings
for children in habitations not covered by regular schools.
8. Provisioning for additional teachers, regular training of teachers, provision for free text books and
uniforms to children.
9. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme provides for setting up of residential upper primary
schools for girls from SCs, STs, OBCs and Minority communities.
10. The Mid Day Meal Scheme is also being implemented with a view to enhance enrolment and
retention of children in schools.
Encouragement of Solar Power Projects

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The Government encourages setting up of solar power projects through various measures like:
Grant of subsidy on off-grid applications.
Provision for renewable purchase obligation for solar has been made in the National Tariff Policy.
Concessional Import duty/Excise duty exemption for setting up of solar power plants, accelerated
depreciation and tax holiday.
Generation based incentive and facility for bundled power for Grid connected Solar Power Projects
through various interventions announced from time to time.
Several R&D efforts have been initiated for new technologies and improvement in efficiency.
Government of India has accorded in-principle approval for setting up Solar Parks in the State of
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Punjab and Telangana.
Projects under Central/State Schemes shall come up in these Solar Parks.
Government may declare additional 101 routes as national waterways

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Government is considering a proposal to declare an additional 101 routes as national waterways,

Parliament was informed today.
A proposal for declaration of 101 additional routes as national waterways is under consideration by
the government.
The proposal covers waterways across the country, which have potential for year-round commercial
navigation," Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan told the Rajya Sabha.
Inland Waterways Authority of India is conducting feasibility studies on the proposed new routes, he
added.
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Thereafter, based on the outcome of the study, further steps would be taken for the development of
the proposed national waterways.
Infrastructure development is poised to take a giant leap as the Budget promises rapid construction of
highways, ports, ultra mega power plants, airports and renewable energy projects with the help of
massive public funding made possible by delaying fiscal belt-tightening.
President to inaugurate weeklong Festival of Innovations

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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate a week long Festival of Innovationson
March 7, 2015 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Festival is being organized by the Presidents Secretariat in collaboration with the National
Innovation Foundation.
On the first day of the Festival (March 7, 2015), the President will give away National Biennial Awards
for Grassroots Innovations.
The President will also interact with a new batch of Innovation Scholars In-Residence and Writers InResidence.
Election Commission launches NERPAP to bring authenticated and error free

database
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The Election Commission of India on March 3, 2015 launched National Electoral Roll Purification and
Authentication Programme (NERPAP) all over the country.
The objective of the launch is to bring authenticated and error free electoral roll.
Under the scheme the EPIC data of the voters will be connected with Aadhar data or UIDAI for
authentication.
It will also enhance the image quality of electors and sort out issues like corrections.
Centre to promote NE study centre at JNU

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The Government of India has decided to promote a Northeast Study Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru
University (JNU) as a part of its initiative.
To obtain a better understanding of the peculiar characteristics of the region through institutionalised
research based on evidence and data.
Union Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra
Singh said this at a seminar held at JNU with focus on the region and concerns of students from
Northeast.
Defence Organisation under the Purview of RTI

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Right to Information Act, 2005 is applicable to any authority or body or institution of self-government
established or constituted by or under the Constitution of India.
by any other law made by Parliament; by any other law made by State Legislature; by notification
issued or order made by the appropriate Government and includes (i) anybody owned, controlled or
substantially financed; (ii) non-Government Organization substantially financed, directly or indirectly
by funds provided by the appropriate Government.
Further, no provisions of the RTI Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organizations specified
in the second schedule of the Act.
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Being organizations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such
organizations to that Government
Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruptions and human rights violations
shall not be excluded.
Two organizations of the Ministry of Defence namely, Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) and Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) are placed in the second schedule
of the RTI Act, 2005.
As per available information, no notice of Supreme Court regarding applicability of RTI Act on Defence
organizations has been received.
AISATS to set up Bengaluru's first Coolport

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Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), the national carriers airport services company, held a ground
breaking ceremony for Bengalurus first dedicated perishable cargo handling centre.
The event was inaugurated by Kaushik Mukherjee, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, in line
with the vision of enhancing the Karnataka as the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Perishable hub
of India.
A noteworthy distinction of this facility is the provision of 135 KVA power supply for its operations
through solar energy, a first for an air freight terminal in India, a release said.
PDS kerosene, LPG subsidy scheme extended till March 2015

1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved extension of the PDS Kerosene
and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme
2. And Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme for a further period of one year.
3. Under the scheme, Government provides a subsidy of Rs 22.58 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder and
Rs 0.82 per litre on PDS kerosene.
4. Besides, freight subsidy was also being provided to PDS kerosene and domestic LPG
consumers in far-flung areas under the Freight Subsidy (for far-flung areas) Scheme, 2002.
5. These two schemes ended on March 31, 2014 and have now been extended till March 31,
2015, an official statement said.
ISRO to Carry out RLV-TD Test Flight

1. In what could bring down the cost of access to space, the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) will carry out a test flight of
2. Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) by second quarter of 2015
which will bring down the cost of satellite launches in India.
3. The cost of access to space is the major deterrent in space exploration and space utilisation
and a reusable launch vehicle is the unanimous solution to achieve low-cost, reliable and ondemand space access.
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4. Technology Demonstrator winged body vehicle weighing 1.5 tonnes will be lifted to a height
of 70 km using solid booster, thus attaining five times the speed of sound.
5. Development of Reusable Launch Vehicles is a technical challenge and it involves
development of many cutting edge technologies.
6. The magnitude of cost reduction depends on development and realisation of fully reusable
launch vehicle and its degree of reusability.
Aadhar Linked Digital Locker

1. Digital Locker is one of the key initiatives under the Digital India Programme.
2. A beta version of the same has been released on 10.02.2015 by the Department of
Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India.
3. Digital Locker is aimed at minimising the usage of physical documents and enable sharing of
e-documents across agencies.
4. The sharing of the e-documents will be done through registered repositories thereby
ensuring the authenticity of the documents online.
5. Residents can also upload their own electronic documents and digitally sign them using the
e-sign facility.
6. These digitally signed documents can be shared with Government organisations or other
entities.
India Submits 46 Entries for UNESCO World Heritage Sites List

1. India has submitted a revised tentative list of 46 famous monuments/sites for inclusion in
the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site, the Rajya Sabha was told today.
2. The list was submitted to the World Heritage Centre in April 2014 as per the UNESCO
guidelines, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply.
3. Ancient Buddhist Site (Sarnath, Varanasi), Chilika Lake, Dholavira: A Harappan City,
Mountain Railways of India (Extension),
4. Baha'i House of Worship at New Delhi, Silk Road Sites in India, Sri Harimandir Sahib and
Mughal Gardens in Kashmir are some of the sites out of the total 46 sites which have been
included in the list.
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Smart City Task Forces set up
1. Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu has set up city-wise Task Forces for
drawing up concrete Action Plans for development of Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam
as Smart Cities.
2. These Committees have representatives of the Ministries of Urban Development and
External Affairs, respective state governments and cities and the United States Trade
Development Agency (USTDA).
3. Setting up of these Task Forces is in pursuance of the decision taken at a recent meeting
between Shri Venkaiah Naidu and the US Secretary of Commerce Ms.Penny Pritzker in New
Delhi.
4. USTDA and the three respective state governments signed Memoranda of Understanding for
cooperation in developing Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities on January
25, 2015.
5. During the last visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the USA and the strategic and
commercial dialogue with President Barack Obama.
6. The US offered to assist in the development of these three cities as smart cities.
Amending land act vital for rural infrastructure: PM Modi

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Modi made a strong appeal to all members of the Rajya Sabha to support initiatives of the union
government that will enable fulfilment of the mandate given to the government for development.
Amendment of the existing land acquisition act is essential to enable creation of rural infrastructure,
including roads, houses for poor, schools, hospitals and irrigation projects.
He said while addressing a gathering of farmers on the occasion of laying foundation stone of stage
two of Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project.
The prime minister made a passionate appeal to farmers not to be misled by those who were trying to
project the government's initiatives for development as "anti-farmer".
The government is likely to table the amended version of the land act for discussion and passage in
the Lok Sabha on March 9.
While the bill might get a smooth passage in the lower house, the numbers are stacked against it in
the Rajya Sabha.
Launch of PSLV-C27 with IRNSS-1D postponed

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the March 9 launch of IRNSS-1D, its
fourth navigation satellite.
During the integrated electrical checks of the launch vehicle along with the satellite after the closure
of the heat shield on March 3, 2015, an anomaly was observed in one of the telemetry transmitters of
the satellite.
The launch of PSLV-C27 with IRNSS-1D has been postponed in order to resolve the technical anomaly
through further test, simulation and analysis."
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IRNSS-1D is the fourth of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System which will cover the country
and regions around it.
Three are already in orbit and three more are due to be launched to complete the constellation
sometime next year.
ISRO has planned to place it in orbit on board the PSLV-C27 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota.
NE content for varsity course

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has advised all universities in the country to include some
chapters on the Northeast in their curriculum.
School textbooks published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
have already incorporated various aspects of the region.
Students from other parts of the country should spend some time in the Northeast in order "to
understand and appreciate the culture of the area.
Regular cultural exchanges between institutions in the Northeast and other areas should be built in
the higher education system.
The M.P. Bezbaruah Committee was formed to suggest remedial measures in relation to the concerns
of the people from the Northeast living across the country.
The recommendations of the committee have been accepted and most of them are on various stages
of implementation.
The recommendations include legal measures, special police initiatives for safety and security of
Northeast people living in Delhi,
The National Capital Region and other parts of the country, addressing their grievances of
accommodation and "educating people" about the Northeast.
Abandoned Kids on Rail Premises to be Protected

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Concerned over the plight of thousands of children who end up on railway premises either runaway
or abandoned or trafficked.
The government on Thursday launched standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the restoration and
rehabilitation of helpless children in association with the Railways at 20 big railway stations in the
country.
The procedures have been prepared in consultation with the Union Ministries of Railway and Women
and Child Development (WCD).
The Railways will be the implementing agency for the project,designed to ensure care and protection
for such children.
There are at least 5-6 lakh children who either use railways or arrive on railway stations who are
either runaway or abandoned or trafficked and are in need of assistance.
20 railway stations were already in the process of implementing these SOPs and these stations would
have NGOs/ child help groups working
With them who would work towards reuniting children with their parents/ guardians or their
rehabilitation in absence of the former.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) would launch a large awareness
campaign comprising of signages in coaches, announcements and other audio-video material in trains
and stations.
The minister also asked the NCPCR to work out a programme to train those children who are not
reunited with their parents to enable them to acquire skills to be able to gradually earn their
livelihood.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi among 30 most influential people on internet:
Time Magazine
Prime Minister Narendra Modihas been named among the 30 most influential people on the internet
by Time magazine in a list which also features US President Barack Obama.
Stree Shakti Puraskars and Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2014
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President of India was at the presentation ceremony of Stree Shakti Puraskars and Nari Shakti
Puruskars for the year 2014.
As we know, "shakti, in Sanskrit, denotes a concept and a personification of feminine creative power.
Stree shakti denotes the ability of women to be in command of their lives and regulate themselves in
social, political and economic terms.
It means that they have the power to move from the periphery of society to its mainstream and wield
influence from its core.
President Pranab Mukherjee said women's empowerment; their dignity and equality should not be
made a "distant goal or fond aspiration" but should be bestowed on them as one of their "sacred"
rights.
While awarding some select women achievers of the country on the occasion of International
Women's Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
It was time for a "collective introspection" for changing those "societal perceptions" and attitudes
that pose a hurdle in the development of women in the society and also vis-a-vis their status in
country's economy.
Mukherjee said the country must make required efforts "to remove the structural and institutional
barriers that inhibit the economic and social transformation of women in India."
PM launches first indigenously developed Rotavirus vaccine

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Rotavirus vaccine Rotavac, developed by Hyderabadbased Bharat Biotech.
Billed as one of the first novel vaccines to be developed completely in the developing world.
It is expected to help in significant reduction in infant deaths due to Rotavirus diarrhoea in India
and other parts of the world.
Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech, said they realised a dream by
bringing out the first made in India molecule.
We have also maintained our pledge to offer Rotavac for $1 to governments in low income
countries.
Our vaccine is affordable, safe and effective, besides being cross-protective against a variety of
Rotavirus strains.
The biotech company invested over Rs 400 crore towards product development, and another
Rs.100 crore towards manufacturing facilities.
The facility in Genome Valley in Hyderabad has an installed manufacturing capacity of 300 million
doses per year.
It has taken 300 scientists and 15 years for successful for completion of the project, a partnership
among the department of biotechnology, Bharat Biotech and several Indian and international
organisations.
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10. Foreign companies currently sell Rotavirus vaccines in India at Rs.1, 100 per dose while Bharat
Biotech proposed to sell Rotavac for Rs.63 per dose to the government of India and other low
income countries.
11. Bharat Biotech has filed four global patents around the technology of Rotavac in more than 20
countries.
12. Rotavirus diarrhoea causes annually over 450,000 deaths worldwide, including 110,000 deaths in
India.
Saiha district in Mizoram selected for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme
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The Government of Indias Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl-child, Educate Girl-child) programme,
which was announced by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi
2. It has been formally launched in Northeast and the Saiha District inMizoram has been selected among
100 districts from acrossIndia for this unique initiative.
3. There could have been no better Womens Day gift than this for the underdeveloped region of
Northeast.
4. This is also an indication of the high priority and concern that the Shri Narendra Modi Government
has for peripheral States of Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.
5. The decision is also motivated by a progressive decline in the number of girls in the region.
6. Unlike in other parts of the country, the decreasing number of girls in Northeast is not only the result
of female foeticide but also due to high incidence of infant mortality rate.
7. Northeast is endowed with rich cultural and vocational heritage, and women folk in the region have
always worked shoulder to shoulder with their men peers in every sphere of life.
8. Therefore, grooming the girl child and empowering women can, in fact, prove a great asset for overall
development of the region.
9. Unlike in some of the more developed states of the country, North-eastern States suffer from a
dearth of appropriate avenues for higher education.
10. While the boys travel to other parts of the country for higher education, the number of girls travelling
out is lesser which adds to lower rate of higher education among women.
11. To that extent, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme will help to create awareness regarding
literacy among women in the region.
Conservation and promotion of Culture through National Culture Fund

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A large number of projects, both in the form of tangible projects like restoration, conservation of old
ASI monuments, provision of Tourist Amenities at the historical sites.
Also intangible projects like capacity building of artisans, training programmes, books publications ,
cultural events , etc. have been undertaken through the National Culture Fund (NCF) of Ministry of
Culture.
The contributions to NCF are made by the corporate houses to undertake development of Tangible &
Intangible heritage on a project mode basis.
NCF already has such partnerships with some Corporates like NTPC, ONGC, SAIL, HUDCO, REC,
Apeejay Group etc. who have provided funds for such heritage projects.
The National Culture Fund was established by the Government of India (Ministry of Culture) as trust
under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 vide notification published in the Gazette of India dated
28th November 1996.
NCF's primary mandate is to establish & nurture Public Private Partnerships in the field of heritage
and mobilize resources.
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For the restoration, conservation, protection and development of India's rich, natural, tangible and
intangible heritage.
The proposals received under NCF from the state of Kerala include Restoration and conservation of
Synagogue Clock Tower, Cochin, Conservation of Sivanarayana Temple , Angamalli and conservation
of Koothattukulam Mahadev Temple among others.
Cashless Insurance Coverage under RSBY

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The Government has decided to transfer Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna(RSBY) from Ministry of
Labour and Employment to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with effect from 01 April 2015
Pursuant to Government decision make it a part of the National Health Assurance Mission to be
implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Lok Sabha clears Land Acquisition Bill

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The Lok Sabha on Tuesday cleared the contentious land acquisition Bill, along with nine amendments
proposed by the government.
Though these amendments convinced some National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to come on
board, they failed to appease the Congress and most other Opposition parties, which walked out at
the time of voting on the Bill.
In a reversal for the government, the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha forced the government to agree
to refer the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, to a select
committee for scrutiny.
For the government, in a minority in the Upper House, this is an indication of the fate that awaits the
land Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition complained the governments amendments didnt accommodate key
concerns such as doing away with the provisions of the 2013 Act relating to the consent clause and
social impact assessment.
India stands seventh in number of reactors in operation

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At present India stands seventh in number of reactors in operation and fourteenth in terms of net
installed capacity among countries with nuclear power.
It is third in number of reactors under construction and sixth in terms of net capacity under
construction.
India has developed comprehensive capabilities in all aspects of nuclear power including siting,
design, construction, commissioning, operation & maintenance, renovation &modernisation and life
extension of nuclear power plants.
Its safety record over 45 years of operation has been impeccable with no accident or instance of
release of radioactivity in the public domain beyond stipulated limits.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)'s reactors have been operated consistently at
high Availability Factors and demonstrated operation at high Plant Load Factors.
In terms of continuous operation, NPCIL reactors have operated for more than a year seventeen times
with one reactor.
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit 5 (RAPS-5) setting a record of 765 days of continuous operation,
second largest in the world.
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India Govt. approves North East BPO promotion scheme
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The India Government said it approved the North East BPO promotion scheme (NEBPS) to promote of
BPO operations in North East region to create employment opportunities and growth of IT-ITES
Industry.
The government has given Administrative Approval for implementing North East BPO promotion
scheme, under the Digital India Program.
To incentivize establishment of 5000 seats, with capital support in the form of Viability Gap Funding
(VGF), with an outlay of Rs 50 crore for remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan i.e. 31.03.2017.
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an autonomous society under the Department of
Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).
Government of India, will be the Nodal Agency for implementation of the North East BPO promotion
scheme
National Mission for Manuscripts

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The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was established in the year 2003 to document, preserve
and digitize the vast manuscript wealth of India.
Through its Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs), the NMM has documented 31, 23,000 manuscripts
and a total of 185, 88,390 pages have been digitized up to the end of 2014.
31 Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) are identified across the country which conserves
manuscripts with the help of grants from NMM.
Besides this, the National Archives of India operates two schemes for providing financial assistance
for preservation of documentary heritage including manuscripts.
Scheme of Financial Assistance for Preservation and Conservation of Manuscripts, Rare Books,
Old and Rare Documents, Record of History to Registered Voluntary Organizations/Individuals
etc.
Scheme of Financial Assistance to State/Union Territory Archival Repositories, Government
Libraries and Museums.
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CCTNS project to make landmark change to Internal Security scenario in the
country: Kiren Rijiju
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The ongoing Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project when completed will
mark a revolutionary change to manage and monitor the Internal Security situation in the country.
Addressing the 30th Raising Day function of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Shri Rijiju said it will see the dawn of new age projects including the e-courts, e-prisons and ehospitals.
He said the CCTNS project was conceived by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as part of Police
Modernization programme under the National e-Governance project.
The CCTNS software application is being developed in consultation with various stakeholders
particularly the States and UTs which can also make need-based alterations according to local
requirements.
Lauding the NCRB, Shri Rijiju said that despite acute staff crunch, the NCRB has contributed effectively
and the information they provide acts as backbone of all law and order related departments.
The world is becoming increasingly complicated by the day and the role of NCRB is going to be crucial
in the scenario of security challenges to come.
While giving welcome address, the Director General of NCRB, Shri R.R. Verma said under the CCTNS
project police stations have already started generating online FIRs and a database of crime records
and criminals is being prepared that will enable tracking of criminals anywhere at the press of a
button.
About 58 percent of Police Stations across the country are presently generating FIR through the
CCTNS system.
Government proposes to set up 150 teams to probe crime against women

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The Centre has proposed to set up 150 special investigative units on a pilot basis, in some of the most
crime-prone districts in the country to probe grievous offences against women, particularly
rape, dowryharassments, acid attacks and human trafficking.
As part of the new initiative, the Home Ministry has proposed to set up investigative units on crimes
against women (IUCAW) in 20% districts of each state on a 50:50 cost sharing basis with the states.
The objective of these units will be to investigate cases referred to them, augment the investigative
machinery of the states in relation to the heinous crimes against women, especially rape, dowry
death, acid attack and human trafficking.
The units will also instil confidence and encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint
and improve the gender ratio in the state police forces which is adversely impacting effective
implementation of the legislations relating to women.
The ministry has proposed to set up 150 such IUCAWs units initially on a pilot basis in most crimeprone districts of each state.
Each IUCAW will be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police assisted
by two DSPs.
HCs restrained from entertaining pleas against NJAC Act

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The Supreme Court restrained all high courts from entertaining any petition challenging validity of
Constitutional Amendment Act and National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act meant to
replace the two-decade-old collegium system of judges appointing judges.
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The bench also said that it will decide later as to whether these petitions are maintainable or not and
if they should be referred to a larger bench.
Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, vehemently opposed the submissions
seeking a stay on these legislations saying these are "premature" as the Acts are yet to be notified.
The challenge is premature as the Acts are not even notified and hence the question of interim order
(of stay) does not arise," the AG said, adding, "The passing of an Act is irrelevant.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, sought intervention on behalf of the Supreme Court Bar Association
(SCBA), supported the Central government saying the present legislation is a "brilliant mixture of
executives, judiciary and the civil society".
The NJAC Act, which ends the two-decade-old collegium system of judges themselves selecting and
appointing judges for higher judiciary, has also been challenged by others including senior advocate
Bhim Singh.
Who contended that the new process is likely to jeopardise the appointment of judges in higher
courts resulting in further delay in rendering justice to common people
Swachh Bharat, Make in India Missions will Help Realise Gandhi Vision:
Pranab Mukherjee
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Pitching for the success of the Swachh Bharat and Make in India initiatives of the NDA government,
President Pranab Mukherjee said.
2. The two missions would help realise Mahatma Gandhi's vision of a 'Swachh and Samarth Bharat'.
3. Gandhiji's dream is our dream; his vision must lead us through the challenges of the present towards
a clean, green and self-sufficient Bharat.
4. Mr Mukherjee said while inaugurating an international seminar in Delhi on 'Clean and Capable India
of Gandhi's Dream.
5. Noting in this regard the crucial role of society at large and the need for the support of key
stakeholders.
6. A concerted effort to refurbish India will help realise Gandhiji's dream of a Swachh and Samarth
Bharat.
7. Highlighting the two pet projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "We have recently
embarked upon two important initiatives -- Swachh Bharat Mission -- to achieve a Clean India by
October 2, 2019.
8. To coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, and Make-in-India campaign - aimed at
enhancing the manufacturing capability of our nation."
9. The Make in India campaign seeks to realise Gandhiji's dream of a self-sufficient and productive India.
10. It aims to make India "'Samarth' on all fronts of economic development by facilitating investment,
promoting innovation, fostering skill development and establishing best-in-class infrastructure".
11. As for the Swachh Bharat campaign, the President said that Gandhiji visualised cleanliness as having
three dimensions -- "a clean mind, a clean body and clean surroundings.
12. A winning strategy to achieve a state of cleanliness would comprise engaging the citizenry, addressing
the reduction of waste and improving the processing of waste".
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Modi commissions India-built Mauritian naval patrol ship
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An India-built naval patrol vessel for Mauritius that will help in better policing its vast exclusive
economic zone was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The induction of the 1,300-tonne vessel Barracuda for the Mauritian National Coast Guard amid
attempts by China to establish its presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
It marks the first of such sales to this strategic island nation which include fast attack craft under
construction in Indian shipyards.
Barracuda is a beautiful ship. She is also very capable and built to specifications of Mauritius...She will
protect your islands and your waters,
Modi said after commissioning the ship at Quay A of Port Louis harbour in the presence of his
Mauritian counterpart Aneerod Jugnauth.
She will be there to help in times of disasters and emergencies. But she will do more than that. She
will also help make our Indian Ocean safer and more secure.
Mauritius has a vast 2.3 million sq km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The warship marks its entry into the global market and it is optimistic on a follow up order.
Government has approved India-based Neutrino Observatory Project with

estimated cost of Rs. 1583.05 crore
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The Government of India has approved the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) Project, to be
located in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
The project at an estimated cost of Rs.1583.05 crore includes construction of an underground lab and
associated surface facilities at Pottipuram in Bodi West hills of Theni District, in Tamil Nadu.
Construction of a 50 kilo ton magnetised iron calorimeter detector to study a fundamental particle
called neutrino, and setting up Inter-Institutional Centre for High Energy Physics at Madurai.
The environmental impact of the project has been taken into account before sanction of the project.
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Detailed studies on the environmental impact of the project were carried out by Salim Ali Centre for
Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore
An autonomous institute under the Ministry of Environment & Forests, and geotechnical studies were
carried out by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
The Project is located in Tamilnadu and the application for environmental clearance was submitted to
the Department of Environment & Forests, Government of Tamil- Nadu.
The Government of Tamil Nadu recommended and forwarded the application to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India for concurrence.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has cleared the project.
Isro to Build Third Launch Pad at Space Centre in Sriharikota

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Indian space agency has proposed to set up its third rocket launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh.
The third launch pad is intended to support increased launch frequency, launching requirements of
future advanced launch vehicles and also serve as a redundant launch pad for the GSLV MIII class of
rockets.
Detailed studies on possible concepts/options and preliminary configuration have been carried out.
The possible site for the third launch pad has been identified in Sriharikota taking into accounts the
safety distances and maximal utilisation of existing launch pad facilities.
Further work on design of the launch pad will be taken up at an appropriate time after finalising the
configuration of the advanced launch vehicle,
Operationalisation of geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV MIII) rocket, programmatic
requirements and resource availability.
Currently Isro has two rocket launch pads at Sriharikota to launch GSLV and polar satellite launch
vehicle (PSLV).
Parliament approves long-pending Insurance Bill

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In a major relief to the NDA government, the Congress extended its support to pass the long- pending
Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill, which replaced an ordinance promulgated in December 2013, was passed by a voice vote
after a walkout by the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Janata Dal (United),
the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys ally, Shiva Sena, did not oppose the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill,
2015, but did register reservations that
It had over certain provisions that allow an increase in the foreign direct investment cap from 26 per
cent to 49 per cent.
The Left parties, which had earlier moved a statutory resolution disapproving the Ordinance
promulgated in December 2013, also came together to register their opposition to the Bill. P. Rajeeve
and Tapan Sen of the CPI (M) and D. Raja of the CPI insisted on a division.
The Bill, which has been pending since 2008, got support from the BJD and the NCP, and the AIADMK
that suggested that insurance companies should be asked to emulate LIC, which has helped
infrastructure development.
The passage of the Bill is being considered a key reform likely to help the governments efforts to
strengthen the investment sentiment and business confidence in the country.
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Parliament applauds Solar Impulse
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Hours after the Solar Impulse, world's most advanced solar powered aircraft, landed at Ahmedabad
airport, the Parliament on Wednesday applauded the mission which is aimed to showcase the power
of solar energy to the world.
The aircraft, which has been on its first around-the-world trip without using a drop of fossil fuel, had
taken off from Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday morning and landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai International
Airport, Ahmedabad on late Tuesday night after an eleven hour pit-stop en route in Muscat, Oman.
Underlining importance of such an innovative mission which is expected to take round of the world by
July or August, Union science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan praised efforts of Swiss
innovators for developing such an aircraft and highlighted the significance of Ahmedabad as choice of
its first landing site in India.
Fertiliser Ministry allows R-LNG supply to RCF units swapping KG-D6 gas
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The Fertiliser Ministry allowed swapping of natural gas from the KG-D6 reserve being supplied to
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) units located in Maharashtra with R-LNG.
Thereby facilitating an additional supply of 2.2 mmscmd to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, according
to an official release.
With the approval, around 450 MW of power can be generated by independent power producers
(IPPs) with Telangana getting a share of 242 MW and Andhra Pradesh 208 MW.
Even though East-West pipeline of RGTIL provides physical connectivity to eastern part but as
communicated by RGTIL, it is not possible for R-LNG to flow from western parts of India to AP.
GAIL (India) Ltd will enter into contractual arrangements with RCF, RGTIL and IPPs located in Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana for the supply of R-LNG.
It will help in mitigating the power shortage in Telangana benefiting the farmers who have 18.62 lakh
pump sets saving rabi crops and unscheduled power cuts in both States could also be minimised.
Green India Mission coverged with MGNREGA

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The government has merged National Mission for a Green India, which aims afforestation at 10
million hectares of land over the next decade, with MGNREGA to increase and improve the country's
forest cover.
Modern technology like remote sensing will be used to monitor the progress of this initiative
regularly.
Currently, green works such as water harvesting, afforestation and farm foresty are undertaken under
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme implemented by Rural
Development Ministry.
The government is also eyeing at increasing 10 million hectares of forest cover under the 'National
Mission for a Green India' being implemented by the Environment Ministry.
To further synergise these efforts and to collectively address the climate change concerns, the
government has come out with convergence guidelines after consulting both Environment and Rural
Development Ministries.
The convergence guidelines sets out the approach to be adopted to strengthen co-ordination at fieldlevel for developing forest cover and improving forest-based livelihoods for about three million
households.
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According to the guidelines issued by the Environment Ministry, all lands including village common
lands, community lands, revenue wastelands, shifting cultivation areas, wetlands and private
agricultural lands will be eligible for afforestation under this convergence.
8. Under MGNREGA, forest works such as pre-plantation, pit digging, planting and watering, fencing,
plant support and protection activities, weeding, mulching and manuring the plants among others can
be undertaken for afforestation.
9. State Forest Development Agencies (SFDA) will provide technical advice on plant species suitable for
area, raise nurseries and deliver required plant material to each gram panchayat before July each year
meeting the cost from MGNREGA funds.
10. "However, where there is a shortage of funds under MGNREGA, it may be topped up from Green
India Mission funds," the guidelines said.
SC sets aside reservation to Jats under OBC quota

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The Supreme Court today set aside the notification issued by the erstwhile UPA government to
include Jats in the Central list of Other Backward Classes (OBC) for according benefits of reservation
to them.
2. A Bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R F Nariman found fault with the Centre's decision to
overlook the findings of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
3. Stating that Jats do not deserve to be included in the Central list of OBC as they don't form a socioeconomic backward class.
4. The Bench said, Caste, though a prominent factor, cannot be the sole factor of determining the
backwardness of a class.
5. The Bench also said, the possible wrong inclusion of a class in the past, cannot be a basis for further
wrong inclusion.
6. It also said that the inclusion of a politically organised class like Jat would adversely impact the
welfare of the other backward classes.
7. The Bench further said, though the Union of India is empowered under the Constitutional scheme to
provide reservation to a particular class but it cannot be permitted to do so on the basis of a decadeold-finding about the backwardness of a caste.
8. The decision came on a PIL which alleged that the March 4 notification was issued by the then Central
government, a day before the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force to
help the ruling party garner votes.
9. Jat organizations will appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court, which quashed the inclusion
of the community in the OBC category.
10. Talking to reporters outside Parliament today, Rural Development Minister Choudhary Birendra Singh
said that he is in favour of OBC category for Jats.
11. He asked if the reservation benefits can be extended to Yadavs and Gujjars, why cannot to Jats.
Govt. to reduce holding in PSBs to 52% in a phased manner

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The government has decided to bring down its holding in public sector banks (PSBs) to 52 per cent in
a phased manner to ensure that capital needs of banks are taken care of, Parliament was informed on
Tuesday.
The government will continue to support those banks with alternative strategies which will still not
be able to raise capital, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said.
The government has been using different criteria in different years for infusion of capital in PSBs, he
said.
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In 2014-15, the criteria of Return on Assets (RoA) and Return on Equity (RoE) was used to encourage
banks to be more efficient in their operations so that internal accruals increase.
In a separate response, Mr. Sinha said that based on the recommendations of RBI central board,
government has approved enlargement of six of the identification mark by 50 per cent and
introduction of angular bleed lines in banknotes of Rs. 100, 500 and 1,000 denominations.
Replying to another question, Mr. Sinha said, the World Bank estimates that remittances to
Bangladesh from its migrant workers in India in 2013 was $6.62 billion. This is 0.36 per cent of Indias
GDP.
Remittance from one country to another is a normal economic activity, he said, adding that India is
the worlds largest recipient of remittances and was estimated to have received $71 billion in 2014, as
per the World Bank database.
Astra test-fired successfully against simulated target

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The missile was tested to prove the manoeuvring capability against a simulated target and also to
validate various subsystems.
The indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, was successfully
launched from Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft to hit a simulated target at the Integrated Test Range,
Chandipur in Odisha on Wednesday.
The missile was tested to prove the manoeuvring capability against a simulated target and also to
validate various subsystems. All the subsystems like propulsion, navigation, guidance as also the
smooth separation of the missile from the aircraft were proved, according to Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) sources.
The all-weather, state-of-the-art missile developed by DRDO can engage and destroy enemy aircraft
at supersonic speed (1.2 Mach to 1.4 Mach) in head-on (up to 80 km) and tail-chase (up to 20 km)
modes.
The 3.8 metre tall Astra is the smallest of the DRDO-developed missiles and can be launched from
different altitudes. It can reach up to 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when
launched from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when fired from sea level.
Select panels suggest no changes in coal, mines bills

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Amid uproars from opposition Congress, the Select Committees of the Rajya Sabha looking into the
coal and mines bills Wednesday tabled their reports that have recommended no amendments in the
bills.
The protests led to a brief adjournment of the house.As the reports were tabled in the upper house,
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "We want to register our protest against the manner in
which mines and coal bills are being rushed for passing."
"The bill was not referred to the Standing Committee, after being referred to the Select Committee.
My party said we wanted report in first week of next session. Concerns of members of our party have
not been taken on board. Other stakeholders have also not been taken on board," he said.
The leader of opposition said it made the whole exercise of sending the bill to a select committee
"meaningless".
This was followed by noisy protests from Congress members who trooped near the chairman's
podium, raising slogans.
Amid the ruckus, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for ten minutes.During the break, Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley and Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were seen engaged in discussions with Azad,
Digvijaya Singh and others apparently explaining the provisions.
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Lok Sabha passes bill to repeal 35 archaic laws
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Seeking to weed out archaic and dead laws, the Lok Sabha today approved a bill to repeal as many as
35 legislations.
"This is an initial step taken by the new government. We will see in a span of one or two years...the
statute book will be cleared. And there will be no confusion as far as disposal of cases are concerned",
Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said.
He was replying to a debate on 'The Repealing and Amending Bill 2014', which was later passed by
voice vote.
The government initially proposed to repeal 36 laws but Employment of Manual Scavenging and
Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 was withdrawn from the list following
observations by the Standing Committee.
These laws at present are of no use and such dead laws create confusion if they continue in the
statute books," he said.
Out of the 36 acts proposed to be repealed, four were principal acts and others were amendments to
the various acts.
However, the Standing Committee observed that the 1993 Act should be retained as several states
were yet to pass resolutions to implement the 2013 Act on the subject, the Minister said.
The Acts which are sought to be repealed include amendments to the Representation of the People
Act, Marriage Act, Election Laws, Divorce Laws and
Anand Marriage Act and the Evidence Act.
The remaining three principal acts which have been repealed are Foreign Jurisdiction Act, Sugar
Undertaking (Taking Over of Management) Act and Indian Fisheries Act.
"The Bill is one of those periodical measures by which enactments which have ceased to be in force or
have become obsolete or the retention whereof as separate
Act is unnecessary are repealed or by which the formal defects detected in enactments are
corrected," said the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill.
The decision is in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda to do away with archaic laws
which are hindering efficient governance.
Between 1950 and 2001 over a hundred Acts have been repealed. At one time, 100 such Acts were
repealed in one go.
Ratan Tata to Head Railways Kayakulp Council

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Taking immediate follow up action in implementing the Budget announcement, the Minister of
Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has now constituted the Kayakulp Council and has appointed
Shri Ratan Tata to head this Council.
The purpose of the Council is to recommend innovative methods and processes for the improvement,
betterment and transformation of the Indian Railways.
This Council would be a standing body ad would interact with all stakeholders and other interested
parties. This Council would initially also have Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, All Indian
Railwaymens Federation (AIRF) and Dr. M. Raghavaiah,
General Secretary, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), the two recognized federations
representing the railway employees as members.
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Rail ministry launches pre-paid RuPay debit card for ticket bookings
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The rail ministry today launched a new debit card service for ticket bookings by passengers.
The RuPay pre-paid card service has been developed by Indian Railways Tourism and Catering (IRCTC)
along with Union Bank of India (UBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
The card will be available on IRCTC website or UBI branches and will be initially used to buy tickets.
The scope of the card service will be later expanded to include facilities for shopping and bill
payments.
"This card is the first of its kind in the market where both virtual as well as physical cards are being
issued to the customer in two variants with loading limits of Rs 10,000 and Rs 50, 000,"
RuPay is India's domestic card payment gateway network develop on the lines of Visa and Master
Card and provides an alternative system for banks to provide debit card service.
Rail minister Suresh Prabhu hailed the move as a major step in railways' partnership with banks and
financial institutions for improved passenger services.
"It is a union with your bank for customers' interest," he said while launching the card in a ceremony
in Rail Bhawan.
NITI Aayog to be leaner

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The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog would be leaner than its predecessor, the
Planning Commission, and might retain less than half the latter's staff.
The rules on allocation of business for the Aayog are being finalised. Of the 1,200-odd staffers in the
old Commission, less than half are direct recruits.
"Officials on deputation from other ministries are most likely to be sent back to their parent
departments or cadres," said a senior officer, involved in the process.
"This is very good move (to curtail the number of staff). When the major powers of erstwhile
Commission which was financial allocation to ministries and states has been taken away from NITI
Aayog and its role is that of a think-tank.
Supreme Court strikes down Section 66A, IT Act

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The Supreme Court, on March 23, struck down section 66A of the Information and Technology Act,
2000, calling it unconstitutional and an infringement on citizens fundamental right to know.
The legal provision empowered the government to arrest a person for posting offensive content
online.
While the law was enacted to stop the misuse of social media, it has mostly been misused by the
authorities against the citizens who used social media to criticise the acts of those in power.
The law was challenged by Shreya Singhal, a law student, in 2012 after Thane Police in Maharashtra
used the provision to arrest two young women for posting critical comments on the shutdown of
Mumbai during the funeral of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray in the social media.
In her petition she alleged that the law infringes upon the fundamental right of freedom of speech
and expression, and asked that it be declared unconstitutional.
Article 66A of the IT Act read thus: "Any person who sends by any means of a computer resource any
information that is grossly offensive or has a menacing character.
Any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance,
inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years and with fine.
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The petition was joined by several other Internet freedom activists who alleged that the word
offensive was very vague and was open to arbitrary interpretation by the authorities as per their
will.
SPV for last-mile port connectivity gets Cabinet nod

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The Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to
provide efficient railway evacuation systems to major ports.
The SPV, with in an initial paid-up capital of Rs 100 crore, will be funded by the 12 major ports and the
Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL).
Major ports would contribute 90 per cent of the equity and RVNL the rest.
The authorised capital of the SPV will be Rs 500 crore. It would be manned by professionals with
expertise on rail transport and port logistics.
The company will undertake last-mile connectivity to major ports, modernise evacuation
infrastructure in ports and operate and manage the internal port railway system among other things.
The Sagarmala project, which seeks to develop a string of ports around Indias coast, received an inprinciple approval from the Cabinet.
Fund requirement for starting the implementation of various projects within Sagarmala Project is
pegged at Rs 692 crore for 2015-16.
Further requirement of funds will be finalised after completion of Detailed Master Plan for Coastal
Economic Zones for future years.
The previous National Democratic Alliance government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004) had
initiated the ambitious project. The current NDA government under Narendra Modi has revived it.
Govt to launch Rs 4,500-cr National Supercomputing Mission

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The government today approved launch of National Supercomputing Mission to connect national
academic and R&D institutions with a grid of over 70 high-performance computing facilities at an
estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore.
2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved
the launch of the mission that will enable India to leapfrog to the league of world-class computing
power nations.
3. We are going to install 73 supercomputers in different parts of the country and all will be linked by a
computer grid.
4. This is about Rs 4,500 crore scheme in which Rs 2,800 crore will come from the Ministry of Science
and Technology and the rest, about Rs 1,700 crore.
5. As far as supercomputing is concern India is ranked at number 74 and China is number 1. We have got
500 supercomputers in world and India has only 9.
6. The mission would be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology and Department of
Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) through Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (C-DAC) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
7. This will be done at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore over a period of seven years, the release said.
8. The mission has been conceptualised and evolved keeping in view the ever increasing computing
demand of the scientific and academic community in the country.
9. International technology trends and roadmaps, strategic importance and emergence of
supercomputing as a benchmark for scientific and technological advancements
10. It envisages empowering academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast
supercomputing grid comprising of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.
11. The Mission supports the government's vision of 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.
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12. These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the National
Knowledge Network (NKN).
13. The NKN is another programme of the government which connects academic institutions and R&D
labs over a high speed network.
14. Academic and R&D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries would participate by using
these facilities and develop applications of national relevance.
15. The Mission also includes development of highly professional High Performance Computing (HPC)
aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.
Cabinet nod for 101 inland waterways to be declared national waterways

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The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday gave its approval to enact a
legislation to declare 101 inland waterways as national waterways for navigation.
2. This is to create a logistic supply chain with intermodal (rail, road and waterways) connectivity,
according to a release.
3. The move is expected to contribute to the gross domestic product by opening up business
opportunities in the areas of dredging, barge construction, barge operation, terminal construction,
terminal operation, storage facilities and tourist cruise.
4. Investment in all these business areas will create numerous opportunities for employment and
economic development and reduce pressure from the already-overloaded, congested and costlier
other surface modes of transport, the statement noted.
5. In a related development, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said the government was
looking at infusing $140 billion into the rail sector to turn around the operational and financial
position of the Indian Railways.
6. Speaking at The Growth Net , an annual business event, here on Wednesday, he said infrastructure
re-conditioning with investments starting from the public sector was on the governments agenda.
7. On the need to beef up private-sector investments, Prabhu said India needs a proper policy
framework for public private partnership (PPP).
8. He added since the private sector has been hesitant towards investment, the public sector needs to
kick off investments.
9. The rail ministry also announced setting up of a committee under Ajay Shankar, former secretary of
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, to revive the ministrys PPP cell to review the
governments efforts on implementing PPP projects in railways.
10. The announcement comes days after a similar committee was set up under Ratan Tata, chairman
emeritus of the Tata Group, to recommend ways to boost innovation in railways systems and
practices.
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Right to Education struggles to make an impact
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Only 29 per cent of the seats reserved for disadvantaged students under the Right to Education (RTE)
Act were filled in 2013-14, finds a new study.
In Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, the percentage of seats filled was as low as three per cent and
0.2 per cent, respectively.
The top performing states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together accounted for half of the
national fill rate.
The study, a collaborative effort of the Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad, Central Square
Foundation, Accountability Initiative (Centre for Policy Research) and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
draws on the District Information System for Education (DISE) 2013-14 data to provide a comparison
of fill rate of RTE quota seats across private schools in 28 states.
The report points out that of the 2,06,000 private unaided schools with Class I, only about 45,000
schools reported enrolling students under the provision in 2013-14.
The states of Rajasthan (65 per cent), Delhi (48 per cent) and Uttarakhand (43 per cent) had the
highest school participation rate, while Andhra Pradesh (0.1 per cent), Odisha (1 per cent) and Uttar
Pradesh (2 per cent) reported having the lowest school participation rate.
According to Ashish Dhawan, founder and chief executive officer, Central square foundation, "even
after five years of RTE, state rules and notifications of this provision are not clearly defined, this is
leading to ineffective implementation across states."
Trilateral cooperation with India discussed

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The Chinese and Sri Lankan presidents today discussed prospects of trilateral cooperation with India
to address New Delhi's security concerns in the Indian Ocean besides ways to boost defence
cooperation including personnel training and providing military hardware to Colombo.
Making his first visit to China to re-balance pro-Beijing policies pursued by the previous Mahinda
Rajapaksa regime, new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena held talks for over an hour with his
Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
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Xi and Sirisena discussed trilateral cooperation between India, China and Sri Lanka mooted by Beijing
recently in an apparent bid to address New Delhi's reservations over MSR and its implications for
India's security, especially after two Chinese submarines docked in Colombo harbour last year.
"The two leaders also agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation between China, Sri Lanka and
India," Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao told the media after the talks.
"The three are all important countries in the region. It will be really beneficial for the three counties
to have cooperation in the areas like economic and social development. It is part of the China and
South Asia cooperation," he said.
Asked whether it was discussed during State Councillor Yang Jiechi's just-concluded visit to India to
take part in the border talks, he said "they touched upon the China-South Asia cooperation".
"They had general discussions on China, South Asia relationship," he said referring to Yang's talks in
New Delhi.
China proposed the trilateral cooperation after the fall of the Rajapaksa government. Sirisena also
said he hoped to continue with the controversial USD 1.5 billion Colombo Port City project after
investigations into environmental and corruption issues.
Supreme Court allows govt. to conclude spectrum auction

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The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the government to finalise the results of the telecom
spectrum auction which ended on Wednesday and fetched the government a huge revenue of Rs 1.09
lakh crore.
The court's order means that the government can now collect intitial payments from successful
bidders of over Rs 28,000 crore which will help it plug its fiscal deficit.
The final allocation of spectrum however, will be subject to the court's verdict as the auction criteria
and guidelines have been challenged by some telecom companies.
The apex court on February 26 had allowed the government to go ahead with the auction of spectrum
of bands 800, 900, 1800 and 2100 for all states starting from March 4.
However it had said the result of the auction should not be finalised without the leave of the court.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and P.K. Pant on Thursday said it was willing to modify its earlier
order.
"We are inclined to modify our order and give Union of India the liberty to finalise the auction and
proceed further.
All the successful bidders have to be instructed that the action on finalisation will be subject to the
outcome of cases," the bench said.
PM to inaugurate international energy summit "Urja Sangam"

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday inaugurate Urja Sanga, an international energy-focused
summit to be held in Vigyan Bhawan.
The event will mark the celebration of 50 years of operations of ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of
explorer ONGC, Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and the Barauni Refinery of largest refiner Indian Oil Corp
(IOC).
The event, 'Urja Sangam 2015: Shaping India's Energy Security' will witness participation from Cabinet
ministers, policy makers, global chief executives (CEOs) of energy firms and academia.
The participants will "deliberate the contemporary challenges and opportunities of shaping the
energy security of India in a rapidly changing energy landscape," the government said in an official
invitation.
The event will begin with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and release of OVL's history book,
Coffee Table Book and a postage stamp of EIL in the morning.
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This will be followed by an address from Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Chief Patron of
the event followed by the PM's address to the audience.
Global energy specialist Daniel Yergin will deliver a speech on "Global Interpendence and Energy
Security" before the lunch break.
In the afternoon, power minister Piyush Goyal, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman and
petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan will hold a ministerial session on "Framing Energy SecuritySustainability and Responsible Energy Investments".
The session will involve a broad discussion on energy security including diversification, role of
information and collaboration, markets, efficiency, investment flows and technology advances.
This will be followed by a session on energy policy, fiscal regime trends and the role of regulators held
by oil companies, their business partner firms and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).
Later, the event's knowledge partner HIS will give a presentation on future of oil and gas scenario in
the next five years.
This session on global energy scenario will involve discussion on management of the energy economy.
The summit will come to an end with a valedictory address by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the
evening.
Food security Act: Centre to share half the burden of states in food
transportation and handling
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The Centre has decided to share up to 50 per cent of the intra-state transportation and handling costs
of foodgrains with states under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
NFSA guarantees cheap foodgrains to two-thirds of the Indian population.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on
Wednesday approved the expenditure and sharing pattern between the Centre and states.
Earlier, the transportation and handling cost was transferred to the consumers. But now because of
NFSA, the cost would be borne by the government, a government official told Down To Earth.
It has also been decided to pay incentives to fair price shop (FPS) dealers to encourage the use of
point of sale (PoS) devices.
These are machines that enable cashless transfers by swiping cards.
Under the Act, the fixed price of rice, wheat and coarse grains stands at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Re 1
respectively.
Before NFSA came into existence, Below Poverty Line (BPL) families used to get rice, wheat and
coarse grains at Rs 5.65, Rs 4.15 and Rs 3 respectively.
For Above Poverty Line (APL) households, the rates were Rs 8.30, Rs 6.10, and Rs 4.50 respectively.
NITI Aayog holds first meeting on rationalization of centrally sponsored

schemes
1. The first meeting of the Sub-Group on rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes was
held under the convenership of the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at
NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
2. The meeting discussed various aspects of rationalisation of the centrally sponsored schemes
with a view to improve their impact.
3. Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Rajasthan,
and Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands attended the meeting.
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4. The Sub-group on rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes has been constituted as
per decision taken in the first meeting of the Governing Council chaired by the Prime
Minister last month.
President confers Bharat Ratna on Vajpayee

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Veteran Parliamentarian and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, founder member of the
Bharatiya Janata Party who is held in high esteem across the political spectrum, was on Friday
conferred with Bharat Ratna, the countrys highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.
In a departure from protocol, Mr. Mukherjee drove to Mr. Vajpayees residence at Krishna Memon
marg in Lutyens Delhi and presented to the ailing BJP leader the prestigious award, the countrys
highest civilian honour.
The event, which was attended by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with some close family members, was kept away from the media
glare.
Mr. Vajpayee, who was Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004, and has faded from public life due to agerelated illness, is lauded as a statesman and has been often described as the moderate face of BJP.
Govt to repromulgate Land Ordinance; RS to be prorogued

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Battling strident opposition to the Land bill in Rajya Sabhawhere it lacks numbers, Government today
decided to prorogue the Rajya Sabha and repromulgate the Land Ordinance, which lapses on April 5.
"The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs today met and has decided to recommend
prorogation of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah
Naidu told reporters after the CCPA meet.
Asked when will the government bring the ordinance on land again as the existing ordinance will
lapse on April 5, the minister said,"you will come to know when the decision is taken."
Those who attended the meeting that took place at the residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh,
who chairs the CCPA, included External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for
Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbsas Naqvi besides Naidu.
Sources said that party strategist and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who could not attend the
meeting, was also earlier taken on board on the decision by his ministerial colleagues.
Parliament, in its Budget session, is currently on a month-long recess. For issuing an ordinance when
the Parliament is in session, at least one of the Houses has to be prorogued.
India turns to satellites for crop mapping

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Sher Singh, a farmer from desert state of Rajasthan, prays to Varuna, the Hindu god of water, for a
bountiful harvest.
Now, he is also looking to the heavens for satellite imaging to boost his crop.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to promote a "per drop, more crop" approach to farming to
make better use of scarce water, and aims to have a new satellite crop monitoring system working in
time for the peak of this year's monsoon in July.
Using remote analysis to assess soil moisture and crop development has the potential to cut input
costs and raise yields, say experts, in a country of 1.25 billion where half of workers make a living
from agriculture.
Under the scheme, farmers would be able to access advisories on their mobile phones to help them
to choose seed varieties, apply the right fertilisers or time irrigation 'shots', though some are sceptical
about how effective the plan will be given natural or other obstacles.
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"I hope to cut at least a tenth of input cost with the help of the 'satellite god'," said Singh, 55, who
farms less than a hectare of rapeseed and hopes to use savings to educate his two grandchildren.
7. By his own admission, Singh doesn't know how much to water his crops, the right fertiliser mix - or
even the right crop to plant given the land's soil type.
8. After last year's landslide poll victory, Modi's government rolled out a national Soil Health Card
scheme modelled on an initiative he launched as chief minister of Gujarat to help farmers plant crops
suited to their farmland.
9. In addition, satellite analysis can assess vegetation cover down to field level, helping to determine
how a crop is developing and whether it has been harmed by pests or needs more water.
10. "The idea is to integrate information under the Soil Health Card with satellite images to raise
productivity," said N. Chattopadhyay, a weather department official who is involved in the project.
Flood alert sounded in Kashmir valley; NDRF teams rush as contingency

measures
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Jammu and Kashmir government has sounded flood alert in Kashmir valley after water level in the
Jhelum river continued to rise due to incessant rain.
A government spokesman said that people living on the banks of Jhelum have been asked to remain
alert and vigilant.
According to official sources, water level in Jhelum has touched 18.4 feet at Ram Munshibagh in
Srinagar.
Elderly people, women and children have also been advised to move to safer places or camps that
have been established in the Valley.
AIR correspondent reports that rescue camps have been established at EDI Pampore and Marriage
Hall Sanat Nagar.
The continuous rain since Saturday has led to water-logging in majority of the city areas.
The water-logging of roads, rising water level of Jhelum and Flood channel has created panic among
the people in various localities of Srinagar city which were worst hit by September 2014 floods.
People in these areas shifted house hold items and other valuables to the homes of friends and
relatives in the old city part of Srinagar and other safer places yesterday.
The shopkeepers in these areas including city Centre Lal Chowk have shifted their goods to the safer
places.
AIR correspondent reports that many diversions were washed away which were constructed after last
years floods washed away several bridges in South Kashmir especially in Pulwama and Kulgam
districts.
Meanwhile, J&K government has asked people not to panic and assured them of all possible help.
A dedicated desk has been set up in the Police Control Room for the assistance of the people in
waterlogged areas of the Valley.
Two National Disaster Response Force, NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel are being rushed to
Jammu and Kashmir today as part of contingency measures in the wake of the flood alert in the state.
Govt targets 1 cr consumers to give up LPG subsidy

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Government expects that about one crore well off consumers will surrender the subsidy on cooking
gas after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to people not to take subsidy if they can afford to
buy LPG at market price.
The target is one crore. Let us see how many more people decide to surrender LPG subsidy," a top
government functionary said.
There are about 15.3 crore LPG consumers in the country.
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Modi in his address to a global energy conference last week said that as many as 2.8 lakh people have
surrendered LPG subsidy which has led to savings of Rs 100 crore.
As many as 2.8 lakh people have responded positively... and this will lead to a saving of at least Rs 100
crore.
Since the government started the new scheme of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for cooking gas, several
persons opted out of the subsidy scheme.
Under the DBT, the subsidy amount is directly credited into the bank accounts of consumers even as
they pay full amount for LPG cylinder at the time of purchase.
Consumers are currently entitled to 12 14.2-kg cylinders or 34 five-kg bottles in a year at subsidised
rates.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has already urged ministers, MPs, MLAs, senior government
officials and executives of public sector companies to give up their subsidies.
Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have given an option to existing LPG consumers to
convert their existing domestic LPG connection into a non-subsidised domestic connection.
This can be done by submitting a written request to the distributor or electronically via
www.MyLPG.In.
Giving up subsidised LPG will help cut the government's subsidy bill.
In 2015-16 Budget estimates, petroleum subsidy has been halved to Rs 30,000 crore, from estimated
Rs 60,270 crore in the current fiscal. Of Rs 30,000 crore for next fiscal, Rs 22,000 crore has been
earmarked for LPG subsidy and the rest is for kerosene.
Bharat Ratna conferred on Malviya

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Noted educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya was on Monday posthumously
conferred Bharat Ratna, countrys highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.
A host of other other personalities, including veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani and Punjab Chief Minister
and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal, were honoured with Padma awards by Mr.
Mukherjee at a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Members of Malviyas family received the award from Mr. Mukherjee at the historic Durbar Hall with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other
senior Cabinet members in attendance.
IAEA reviews the nuclear regulatory infrastructure of India

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A twelve day long International Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission of International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) to review the Indians regulatory framework for nuclear safety was concluded.
The IRRS Team has concluded that the Indian nuclear regulatory body, the Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board (AERB) is an experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated regulatory body for the protection of
the public and environment.
The IRRS peer review mission for India took place from March 16-27, 2015 at the request of the
Government of India.
The Mission looked at the regulatory framework of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for
Nuclear Power Plants and Projects.
The IRRS mission, coordinated by the IAEA, was led by Mr Ramzi Jammal, Executive Vice-President
and Chief Regulatory Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
The team comprised 16 experts from the nuclear regulatory bodies of Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Finland, Hungry, Israel, Netherland, United Kingdom, United Sates of America, and the IAEA
itself.
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The peer review was carried out by comparison against IAEA safety standards as the international
benchmark for safety.
8. The Mission was preceded by an extensive self-assessment exercise by AERB extending over a year.
The Mission provided AERB with an opportunity for a quality exchange of information with
international regulatory experts and further enhances the regulatory framework and processes in
India.
9. The mission commenced with an entry meeting of IRRS team with the officials of AERB, Bhabha
Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on March 16, 2015.
10. Over the next two weeks, the Mission went about information gathering, review and verification
through interactions with the officials and senior management of AERB as well as examination of
documents.
11. The Mission also interacted with the Chiefs of Atomic Energy Commission, BARC and the Nuclear
Power Corporation of India Limited.
12. A few team Members witnessed AERBs regulatory inspection activities to Kakrapar Atomic Power
Station to evaluate the inspection practices of AERB.
Decoding the National Pension System

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Budget 2015 brought the National Pension System (NPS) back into the limelight by announcing an
additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 for the same.
For starters, the NPS is a defined contribution pension scheme. Originally, only Central Government
Employees joining service on or after 1.1.04 were eligible to avail of this scheme.
Later, it was extended to employees of any other employer and also to any citizen of India (including
an NRI but not a PIO having bank account in India) between the age of 18 and 55.
They have to contribute annually 10% of their salary to NPS. A matching contribution would be made
by the employer.
In order to give a fillip to this scheme, the FM has proposed a separate deduction of Rs. 50,000 over
and above the current deduction of Rs. 1, 50,000 available u/s 80CCE for contributions to NPS.
Consequently, now it is possible for a taxpayer in the 30% tax bracket to save up to Rs. 15,450 in tax
every year over and above what he could do so far.
There are two types of accounts Tier-I and Tier-II. Tier-I is geared towards retirement and has
restricted liquidity. Withdrawal is possible only between the age of 60 and 70 years except for critical
illnesses and for buying or constructing a house.
There are two types of accounts Tier-I and Tier-II. Tier-I is geared towards retirement and has
restricted liquidity. Withdrawal is possible only between the age of 60 and 70 years except for critical
illnesses and for buying or constructing a house.
On attaining 60 years of age and up to 70 years, the investor has an option of withdrawing a minimum
of 40% of the pension wealth in order to purchase a life annuity.
If withdrawal is sought earlier than age 60, say, when the person opts for early VRS or retires at the
designated age, 80% of the accumulated capital is to be used to buy a life annuity.
Tier-II accounts are add-ons having all the parameters identical with the Tier-I, but there is no
restriction on any amount of withdrawals any number of times, provided a minimum balance of Rs.
2,000 is maintained at the end of the FY.
Any individual can opt for such add-on only after he has contributed at least the minimum
contribution to Tier-I. This Tier-II is comparable with say a tax saving mutual fund or even a savings
bank account.
Low Cost the investment management fee is as low as 0.0009% p.a., irrespective of the type of
portfolio the account holder desires.
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14. Yes, there are some small fees charged for various purposes, but it is claimed that all these put
together makes NPS having a very low cost for its management.
15. The corpus will be invested in three asset classes Equity (E), Government Securities (G) and
Corporate Bonds and Fixed Deposits (C).
16. The account holder can opt for an active choice (change any time) of the asset mix he desires to have
or a default option called Life Stage Fund where the asset mix gets changed automatically depending
upon the age of the subscriber.
17. At the age of 18 years, the asset allocation would be 50% in E, 30% in C and 20% in G till the investor
turns 35 when the ratio of investment in E and C will then decrease annually, while the proportion of
G will rise. At 55 years, G will account for 80% while the share of E and C will fall to 10% each.
18. Because of the link of NPS with equities, you may stagger your investments in some installments like
the SIP of a mutual fund. However, take account of the fact that there is a transaction charge of 0.25%
or Rs. 20 (whichever is higher) on every contribution.
19. Minimum annual contribution is Rs. 6,000 per FY payable in one or more installments of minimum Rs.
500 to Tier-I. For Tier-II the minimum amount is Rs. 250 per contribution and also per FY.
20. Transparency could be improved. Whereas Mutual Funds have to announce their NAVs on a daily
basis NPS would announce NAV on yearly basis.
Tax Treatment
1.
The Finance Act 2011 has clarified that the contribution of the employer to the extent it does not
exceed 10% of the employees salary is not a part of the limit on contribution of Rs. 1, 50,000.
2. Contributions made by an individual to his NPS account are deductible u/s 80CCD. The ceiling on
contribution in the case of an employee is 10% of his salary and in any other case, 10% of his gross
total income.
3. Salary includes dearness allowance if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other
allowances and perquisites.
4. Unfortunately, NPS withdrawals (including employers contributions) are governed by Sec. 80CCD (3)
which taxes any amount received by the assessee, including the annuity.
5. It is also taxable in the hands of the nominee who has the option to own the scheme and continue the
contributions, if he is eligible to do so.
6. Consequently, the entire income stream from NPS (the lump sum and the pension) is fully taxable.
This essentially makes NPS the first among the EET (Exempt-Exempt-Taxed) kind of instruments.
7. This is the greatest drawback. The other drawback is the compulsion of buying an annuity with 40% of
the corpus if withdrawals are affected when the assessees age is between 60 and 70 years.
8. On the plus side, NPS is slated to provide higher returns because a part of its corpus can be parked in
equities and moreover, the cost of managing the NPS is very low.
9. For clarity, assume that you have invested Rs. 50,000 in NPS for 20 years and the returns are 12% p.a.,
resulting in the corpus rising to Rs. 36.03 lakh. If it is taxed @30.9%, the value will be fall to Rs. 24.89
lakh.
10. The same amount invested in EPF @8.5% will grow to Rs. 25.58 lakh and it is tax-free. Realise that NPS
invests maximum 50% of your contributions in equities and that too in Nifty Index whereas the MFs
have no such restrictions.
11. Fortunately, this extra contribution up to Rs. 50,000 under Tier-II is not taxable at its withdrawal. But
you need to possess a Tier-I account and contribute minimum of Rs. 6,000 before you go for Tier-II.
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To Sum
1.
At the end of the day, NPS has both positives as well as some negatives. On the one hand is the
taxability factor at withdrawals (even in the hands of a nominee) and also of annuity receipts but on
the other hand is the extremely low cost as compared to any other saving product. Only time will tell
which factor would prove to be more decisive.
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INTERNATIONAL
Lanka Wont Allow China Subs To Dock In Its Ports
1.
In a move apparently aimed at allaying Indias concerns, the new Sri Lankan government on Saturday
said it will not allow Chinese submarines
2. To dock in its ports while acknowledging that such a docking did take place coinciding with the
Japanese Prime Ministers visit last year.
3. I really do not know what circumstances led to some submarines coming to the port of Colombo on
the very day the Japanese Prime Minister (Shinzo Abe) was visiting Sri Lanka.
4. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told reporters here, disclosing for the first time
that the docking coincided with Abes Colombo visit.
5. But we will ensure that such incidents from whatever quarters does not happen during our tenure,
said Samaraweera, who held extensive talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister
Wang Yi.
6. During his talks with Li and Wang, Samaraweera discussed a host of issues including concerns over
high interest rate on the about $ five billion Chinese loans as well as his governments aim to pursue a
balanced foreign policy.
7. Analysts say that the timing of the Chinese submarines could be significant considering volatile
relations between China and Japan especially over the disputed islands in the South China Sea.
8. Abe visited Colombo on September 7 last year when then president Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power.
9. China had defended their docking, stating that there was nothing unusual as it is common
international practice for warships to stop for refuelling at ports abroad.
10. It had said the submarines were part of the fleet of warships deployed in anti-piracy operations in the
Gulf of Aden.
IMF okays $187 mn to support Ebola-hit Sierra Leone

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The International Monetary Fund approved on Monday funding and debt relief worth about $187
million for Ebola-hit Sierra Leone.
The IMF said it was immediately disbursing just over $85 million to the country under an existing
credit facility and further enlarged the facility by about $73 million.
In addition it approved $29 million in debt relief for the country under its Catastrophe Containment
and Relief Trust.
The funds will support the government in the battle against the deadly disease by helping to cover
immediate budget and balance of payments shortfalls, and reinforcing the government's foreign
reserves.
The Sierra Leonean economy is battling two severe exogenous shocks with dramatic social and
economic repercussions.
The Ebola epidemic and the sharp decline in iron ore prices are weighing heavily on the economy and
have the potential for significant output contraction, continued price pressures, and increased fiscal
and balance of payments deficits in 2015.
Sierra Leone is one of the three West African countries most severely hit by Ebola, which has killed
more than 9,500 people since the epidemic emerged in Guinea in December 2013.
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Iran, US envoys wrap up n-talks
1. Negotatiors from Iran and the US have wrapped up the first round of fresh talks over
Tehrans nuclear programme in the Swiss city of Montreux.
2. The negotiations were held on Monday in an attempt to narrow differences on the
outstanding issues over Irans nuclear programme, Press TV reported.
3. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Director of the Atomic Energy Organisation
of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi, Irans Deputy Foreign Ministers Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e
Ravanchi.
4. The US delegation comprised US Secretary of State John Kerry, Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs Wendy Sherman,
5. European Unions (EU) Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Helga Schmid and US Energy Secretary
Ernest Moniz.
Mukesh Ambani Richest Indian For 8th Yr Globally

1. Among The 90 Indians on The Forbes Rich List 2015, Ambani (39th Globally) Is Closely
Followed By Pharma Tycoon Dilip Shanghvi (44th Rank With $20 Bn Networth) And Azim
Premji.
2. Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as the richest Indian for the eighth year in a row
with a networth of USD 21 billion
3. while moving up one place on the global rich list that has been topped once again by
software czar Bill Gates.
US, Iran resume nuclear talks

1. Undeterred by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scathing speech against an Iran
nuclear deal.
2. US and Iranian negotiators resumed work Wednesday on an agreement meant to crimp
Iran's atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief.
3. With an end-of-month deadline looming to complete a framework accord, U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif s.
4. Netanyahu told Congress that the agreement taking shape is dangerous and would allow
Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons.
5. His speech drew standing ovations, mostly from Republican legislators. But U.S. officials led
by President Barack Obama criticized Netanyahu for not presenting any viable alternative to
preventing Iran from getting the bomb.
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6. The US Iran and other world powers are racing to meet the end-of-March target to reach the
outline of deal, with a July deadline for a final agreement.
First security talks between Japan and China

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Japanese and Chinese officials will hold their first security talks in four years in Tokyo later this month,
Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, the latest sign of a possible improvement in ties strained
by a territorial dispute.
Relations between the world's second- and third-largest economies have been damaged by conflicting
claims to a group of
Tiny East China Sea islands and the legacy of Japan's wartime occupation of its larger Asian neighbour.
Patrol ships and fighter jets from both countries have shadowed each other regularly near the
uninhabited islands that are controlled by Japan, prompting fears that an accidental collision could
escalate into conflict.
The security meeting, to be held on March 19, will involve top officials from the two countries' foreign
and defence ministries, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time in
November, on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
The same month, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi,
agreed to resume the security talks that began in 1993.
First security talks between Japan and China

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Japanese and Chinese officials will hold their first security talks in four years in Tokyo later this month,
Japan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, the latest sign of a possible improvement in ties strained
by a territorial dispute.
Relations between the world's second- and third-largest economies have been damaged by conflicting
claims to a group of
Tiny East China Sea islands and the legacy of Japan's wartime occupation of its larger Asian neighbour.
Patrol ships and fighter jets from both countries have shadowed each other regularly near the
uninhabited islands that are controlled by Japan, prompting fears that an accidental collision could
escalate into conflict.
The security meeting, to be held on March 19, will involve top officials from the two countries' foreign
and defence ministries, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time in
November, on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
The same month, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi,
agreed to resume the security talks that began in 1993.
No Country has Reached Gender Equality: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

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Twenty years after 189 countries adopted a blueprint to achieve equality for women.
The executive director of UN Women spoke ahead of International Women's Day today and next
week's meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The commission will review the 150-page platform for action to achieve equality that was adopted at
the groundbreaking UN women's conference in Beijing in 1995.
Then-US first lady Hillary Clinton inspired delegates and women worldwide when she declared in a
keynote speech: "Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights."
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Although there has been progress since Beijing, especially in women's health and girls' education,
Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
There are fewer than 20 female heads of state and government, and the number of women
lawmakers has increased from 11 per cent to just 22 per cent in the last two decades.
She said the under-representation of women in decision-making and violence against women are
"global phenomena.
China defends South China Sea projects as lawful

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China on Sunday defended as lawful and justified the construction of major infrastructure projects
in the disputed islands and reefs of the South China Sea (SCS) and said it was merely building facilities
in its own yard.
During his annual media briefing in Beijing on the sidelines of the legislative session, the National
Peoples Congress (NPC)
Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said its multi-billion Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road projects are
different from the post-war United States Marshall Plan aimed at assisting its allies.
China is carrying out necessary construction on its own islands and reefs. The construction does not
target or affect anyone. We have every right to do things that are lawful and justified, Mr. Wang
said.
China claims sovereignty over almost all of the SCS, which is hotly contested by the Philippines,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
On the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road (MSR) for which China set up a $40 billion fund, Mr. Wang
said the initiatives were different from the U.S. Marshall Plan launched after the World War II.
The 1948 Act was the post-war plan of the U.S. to provide economic and military assistance to its
allies as part of the efforts to contain the expansion of the Soviet Union.
Chinas Belt and Road initiatives are both much older and much younger than the Marshall Plan.
Comparing one to the other is like comparing apples to oranges, Mr. Wang said.
The initiatives are older because they embody the spirit of the ancient Silk Road, which has a history
of over 2,000 years.
The Silk Road Economic Belt is to be established along the ancient Silk Road trade route, stretching
northwest from Chinas coastal area through Central Asia, the Middle East and on to Europe.
While the 21st Century MSR will run through the countrys south to Southeast Asia, state-run Xinhua
news agency said in a report.
It is seen as a new initiative by China to counter U.S. Asia Pivot strategy under which Washington
plans to deploy 60 per cent of its military assets in the region, which Beijing says is aimed at
containing its rise.
About relations with U.S., Mr. Wang said this years visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to
Washington will infuse new momentum into the new model of major-country relations between the
two countries.
TCS ranked as top employer in Europe

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IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been
for the third consecutive year named the top employer in Europe by the Top Employers Institute.
"TCS is the IT services market leader in customer satisfaction in Europe. We believe that the main
driver of satisfaction is our extremely talented workforce of 318,000 global professionals, and our
relentless focus on hiring and retaining the best talent across Europe will continue.
TCS was ranked the overall number one in a process that assessed 688 organisations across Europe.
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TCS has been able to prove that they focus on the employee work experience and have a highly
consistent application of HR policy practice and alignment across all countries.
TCS is also a recognised as a top employer in Latin America and North America," said David Plink, chief
executive officer, Top Employers Institute.
Sendai conference aims to muster political weight to reduce disaster risks

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An upcoming United Nations conference in Sendai aims to raise awareness and galvanize political will
to reduce risks posed by natural disasters.
There is a big aspiration that more political weight and attention will be given to the importance of
prevention for sustainable development and for safety at the Third U.N. World Conference on
Disaster Risk Reduction
Economic losses from disasters in the world keep rising as the world becomes richer, international
community needs to stop the increase through enhanced efforts for disaster risk reduction.
The total economic impact from disasters in the world stood at $1.4 trillion between 2005 and 2014.
If all risks were shared equally among the world population, it will be equivalent to an annual loss of
almost $70 for each individual of working age, which is about two months of income for people living
below the poverty line.
The latest U.N. figures released also showed that 700,000 people were killed and 1.7 billion people
were affected by disasters worldwide over the 10-year period ending in 2014.
The conference will be held in Sendai from March 14 to 18. During that time, a number of related
events will take place in Tohoku, which was hit hard by the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.
The conference aims to create a new global framework for disaster risk reduction, which will replace
the Hyogo Framework for Action adopted at the previous meeting in Kobe in 2005.
Endophytic algae found in Indian Ocean

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A species of algae previously reported to inhabit the seas around the British Isles and the East China
Sea has now been found thriving in the Indian Ocean.
The algae belong to a type known as endophytic meaning they are microscopic in size and found
living inside macroscopic seaweeds.
Belonging to the species, Ulvella leptochaete, they are believed to confer ecological advantage to the
host such as disease resistance.
The discovery in the Indian Ocean gains significance because these algae may very well be an
important source of anticancer compounds such as Taxol and this discovery may contribute in
anticancer drug development.
Taxol, or Paclitaxel, is a well known anti cancer drug currently in use for many cancers including
ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Most of the marine endophytes produce taxol, although no confirmation exists for the Ulvella
leptochaete.
Astronauts return to Earth on Russian Soyuz spaceship

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Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut on Thursday returned to Earth aboard a Soyuz
space capsule after six months at the International Space Station.
elena Serova -- the first female Russian cosmonaut to have spent time on the ISS -- landed along with
Alexander Samokutyaev and Barry Wilmore in snowy Kazakhstan just after sunrise.
The International Space Station is one of the few areas of cooperation between Russia and the United
States that has not been hit by the crisis in Ukraine.
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In the six months that the crew has been orbiting the Earth relations on the surface between their
two countries have gone from bad to worse as Washington and Moscow tangle over the conflict in
east Ukraine.
The Expedition 42 crew is back on Earth," said NASA commentator Rob Navias on the US space
agency's live broadcast of the event.
They have landed in a vertical position, upright," he added, citing Russian search and recovery units
which pick up returning space-farers after they touch down on the remote steppe southeast of
Dzhezkazgan.
The trio left Earth on September 26. They spent 167 days in space and travelled more than 70 million
miles (112 million kilometers) during that time, NASA said.
Iceland withdraws its bid to join the EU

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The North Atlantic island of Iceland has withdrawn its bid to join the European Union, with the
government saying that its interests are best served outside the 28-nation EU.
EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said on Friday that the bloc would fully respect such a decision
and underlined that Iceland remained an important partner.
Iceland started its membership negotiations in 2010 looking to better anchor itself to Europe two
years after its economy imploded amid a banking collapse.
The biggest challenges to those talks were fishing rights and agriculture. The new government froze
the EU accession application when it came to power in 2013.
China is now the world's third biggest arms exporter, says study
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China has overtaken Germany to become the world's third-biggest arms exporter, although its 5% of
the market remains small compared to the combined 58% of exports from the US and Russia, a new
study says.
China's share of the global arms market rose 143% during the years from 2010-2014, a period during
which the total volume of global arms transfers rose by 16% over the previous five years, the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, said in a report released Monday.
Its share of the world market was up from 3% in the 2009-2014 period, when China was ranked ninth
among exporters of warplanes, ships, side arms and other weaponry, said the institute.
The data show the growing strength of China's domestic arms industry, now producing fourthgeneration fighter jets, navy frigates and a wide-range of relatively cheap, simple and reliable smaller
weapons used in conflicts around the globe.
China had long been a major importer of weapons, mainly from Russia and Ukraine, but its soaring
economy and the copying of foreign technology has largely reversed the trend, except for the most
cutting-edge designs and sophisticated parts such as aircraft engines.
Chinese sales included armored vehicles and transport and trainer aircraft to Venezuela, three
frigates to Algeria, anti-ship missiles to Indonesia and unmanned combat aerial vehicles, or drones, to
Nigeria, which is battling the Boko Haram insurgency in its north.
Its comparative advantages include its low prices, easy financing and friendliness toward authoritarian
governments, said Philip Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at
the US National Defense University.
"Generally speaking, China offers medium quality weapons systems at affordable prices, a
combination attractive to cash-strapped militaries in South Asia, Africa and Latin America," Saunders
said.
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Notable successes include a co-production deal with Pakistan to produce the JF-17 fighter,
widespread sales of the basic but effective C-802 anti-ship cruise missile, and an agreement to sell the
HQ-9 air defense missile system to Turkey that has run into controversy over its incompatibility with
NATO weapons systems.
China also has exploited niche markets such as North Korea and Iran that the West won't sell to,
emphasizing its attractiveness to impoverished countries and pariah states, said Ian Easton, research
fellow at The Project 2049 Institute, an Arlington, Virginia-based Asian security think tank.
Both those U.S. foes appear to have received satellite jamming and cyber warfare capabilities from
China, along with technologies to break into private communications and spy on government
opponents, Easton said.
"All of these sales should be very disconcerting to American policymakers and military leaders," he
said, calling China's rise to the third-place spot among exporters a "disturbing development" that
could threaten the security of the US and its allies.
China also offers leading-edge drone technology at competitive prices. One model, known variously as
the Yilong, Wing Loong or Pterodactyl, has become especially popular with foreign buyers, although
Chinese secrecy surrounding such sales makes it difficult to know how many are in service and where
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted retired People's Liberation Army Gen. Xu Guangyu saying at
an air show two years ago that the unmanned aircraft, which can be armed with two guided missiles,
would cost only about $1 million each.
15. That is about 10 to 20% of the price of a comparable U.S. model such as the MQ-1 Predator. Rumored
buyers include the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia.
16. However, China's incremental growth and the yawning gap with industry leaders America and Russia
show the limitations of its aspirations.
17. The U.S. retained a 31% share of the global arms market, exporting to at least 94 recipients, SIPRI
said. Countries in Asia and Oceania took 48% of U.S. exports, followed by the Middle East with 32%
and Europe at 11%, it said.
18. Russia was second with a 27% global share, 39% of which went to India - the world's largest arms
importer overall. China took 11% of Russia's exports, followed by Algeria.
19. SIPRI uses a five-year moving average to account for fluctuations in the volume of arms deliveries
from year-to-year and doesn't provide monetary values, which are often distorted by governments
providing weapons as gifts or at below-market prices.
Hundreds of thousands march to ask Brazil president's ouster

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Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians marched peacefully Sunday in more than 150 cities around the
country to demand President Dilma Rousseffs impeachment and to criticize government corruption
amid a sprawling graft inquiry at state-run oil firm Petrobras.
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The biggest of the protests, held on the 30th anniversary of Brazils return to democracy after a long
military regime, took place in Sao Paulo, an opposition stronghold where some 210,000 gathered on a
main avenue, according to the polling institute Datafolha.
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In Rio, police estimated 15,000 people marched along the golden sands of Copacabana beach, where
they waved Brazilian flags and many openly called for a military coup to dissolve the government.
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Ms. Rousseff didnt appear in public on Sunday, but her Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo went
on national TV to hold an extensive live press conference defending the government.
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Ms. Rousseff has said she fully supports peaceful demonstrations, even those demanding her
impeachment, and Cardozo added Sunday night that the rallies confirm that Brazil is a democratic
state that allows for divergences, the existence of opposing opinions and that were far from any coup
option.
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Much protester ire was focused on a kickback the scheme at Petrobras, which prosecutors call the
biggest corruption scandal ever uncovered in Brazil.
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At least $800 million was paid in bribes and other funds by the nations biggest construction and
engineering firms in exchange for inflated Petrobras contracts.
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Top executives are already in jail and the attorney general is investigating dozens of congressmen,
along with current and former members of the executive branch, for alleged connections to the
scheme that apparently began in 1997 before Ms. Rousseffs party took power in 2003.
China displaces Germany as world's third largest arms exporter

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China has raced ahead of Germany to become the world's third largest arms exporter, a Stockholmbased think tank said in a report on Monday.
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Exports of major arms from the world's second largest economy grew 143 percent between 2010 and
2014.
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In the preceding five year period China had ranked ninth globally, the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report.
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Asian countries continue to expand their military capabilities, with an emphasis on maritime assets,"
Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme, said in
a news release.
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More than 68 percent of Chinese exports went to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Beijing also
sold major arms to 18 African states.
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Analysts say Chinese-made equipment has found eager buyers among countries at odds with the
United States and its allies.
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China was "extremely cautious and responsible" with its weapons exports, the country's Foreign
Ministry.
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China's arms imports fell 42 percent between the years 2010 and 2014 compared with the prior fiveyear period, the report said.
9.
China does not release figures for its arms sales. China's military spending has seen double-digit
growth for decades, and Beijing has poured funds into modernizing its armed forces as it takes a more
assertive stance on territorial disputes in the region.
10. Experts say some Chinese-made equipment is comparable to U.S. or Russian-made counterparts,
although precise information about its performance is scarce.
11. China's neighbours have reacted with ambivalence over the country's development of modern
equipment, including a second aircraft carrier, drones and stealth fighter jets.
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Israelis vote for parliament; campaign focused on economy
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Israelis were voting in parliament elections on Tuesday, after a heated campaign focused on
economic issues such as the high cost of living rather than fears of a nuclear Iran or the Israeli-Arab
conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a fourth term in office, but it will likely take weeks of
coalition talks after the vote to determine whether he stays in power or is being unseated by Isaac
Herzog of the centrist Zionist Union.
In a last-minute appeal to his hard-line base, Netanyahu said on Monday that a Palestinian state
would not be established on his watch, going back on long-standing promises to the United States.
In Tuesdays balloting, voters are electing a 120-member parliament, casting ballots for a party list,
rather than individual candidates.
Singapore founding father Lee's condition worsens

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The condition of Singapores 91-year-old founding father Lee Kuan Yew has worsened as he remains
at the hospital where he has been treated for nearly six weeks.
Singapores first Prime Minister, Mr. Lee ruled for 31 years until 1990, and has been credited with
transforming the city-state from a sleepy tropical port to a wealthy, bustling financial hub with one of
the highest average incomes in the world.
Under Mr. Lee and his successors, including his son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,
Singapore known for its ban on chewing gum sales and canings for crimes some countries would rule
as minor has strictly controlled public speech and assembly, though it has become socially more
liberal and allowed greater artistic freedom in recent years.
Mr. Lee commands immense respect among Singaporeans, who this year will celebrate the countrys
50th independence anniversary.
India's assistance for Tropical Cyclone Pam

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The Government of India is deeply saddened by the tragedy caused by the category 5 Tropical Cyclone
Pam, which struck Vanuatu from 13 March, 2015, leading to loss of lives and widespread destruction
of property.
The Government of India has released an immediate cash assistance of US$ 250,000 to the
Government of Vanuatu to help them in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Keeping in view the friendly bilateral relations and also the humanitarian situation, in the wake of the
cyclone, the Government of India stands ready to extend any further assistance required by the
people of Vanuatu in this hour of need..
Millions of dollars wasted in Fukushima cleanup: Japan audit

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Japanese government auditors said the operator of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant has wasted
more than a third of the 190 billion ($1.6 billion) in taxpayer money allocated for cleaning up the
plant after it was destroyed by a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
A Board of Audit report describes various expensive machines and untested measures that ended in
failure.
It also says the cleanup work has been dominated by one group of Japanese utility, construction and
electronics giants despite repeated calls for more transparency and greater access for international
bidders.
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Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Teruaki Kobayashi said all of the equipment contributed to
stabilizing the plant, even though some operated only briefly.
Among the costliest failures was a 32 billion ($270 million) machine made by French nuclear giant
Areva SA to remove radioactive cesium from water leaking from the three wrecked reactors.
The trouble-plagued machine lasted just three months and treated only 77,000 tons of water, a tiny
fraction of the volume leaking every day.
Sea water was used early in the crisis to cool the reactors after the normal cooling systems failed.
Machines costing 18.4 billion ($150 million) from several companies including Hitachi GE Nuclear
Energy.
Toshiba Corp. and Areva were supposed to remove the salt from the contaminated water at the plant.
One of the machines functioned only five days, and the longest lasted just six weeks.
TEPCO hurriedly built dozens of storage tanks for the contaminated water at a cost of 16 billion
($134 million).
The shoddy tanks, using rubber seals and assembled by unskilled workers, began leaking and some
water seeped into the ground and then into the ocean. The tanks are now being replaced with more
durable welded ones.
A total of 2.1 billion ($18 million) was spent on seven huge underground pools built by Maeda Corp.
to store the contaminated water. They leaked within weeks, and the water had to be transferred to
steel tanks.
A 100 million ($840,000) project to contain highly contaminated water in a maintenance tunnel by
freezing it failed because the water never completely froze.
TEPCO subsidiary Tokyo Power Technology even threw in chunks of ice, but eventually had to pour in
cement to seal the trench.
Japanese Navy gets biggest warship since WWII

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Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force on Wednesday took delivery of the biggest Japanese warship
since World War Two, the Izumo, a helicopter carrier as big as the Imperial Navy aircraft carriers that
battled the United States in the Pacific.
The 248-metre-long Izumo resembles U.S. Marine Corp amphibious assault carriers in size and design
but it is designated as a helicopter destroyer, a label that allows Japan to keep within the bounds of a
constitutional ban on owning the means to wage war.
The vessel can serve in a wide range of roles, including peace keeping operations, international
disaster relief and aid," said General Nakatani, Japan's Minister of Defence standing beside the vessel
after a handover ceremony at the Japan United Marine shipyard in Yokohama.
The vessel can serve in a wide range of roles, including peace keeping operations, international
disaster relief and aid," said General Nakatani, Japan's Minister of Defence standing beside the vessel
after a handover ceremony at the Japan United Marine shipyard in Yokohama.
The Izumo does not have a catapult necessary to launch fixed-wing fighters, but a planned verticaltake-off-and-landing (VTOL) variant of the F-35 could fly from the Izumo's flight deck.
India votes in favour at UN on gay issue

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India was among the 43 countries that voted in support of a Russian-drafted resolution that proposed
removing benefits for same-sex partners of UN staff, but the resolution failed to pass in the General
Assembly committee after 80 nations opposed it.
The Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which deals with administrative and budgetary issues,
voted against the Russian proposal here on 24 March 2015 that aimed at stopping the UN from
offering marital benefits to its employees with same-sex spouses.
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The resolution would have had UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon withdraw his policy laying out the
United Nations current rules for the personal status of staff members for determining their benefits
and entitlements.
The policy made by Ban last summer had recognised same-sex marriages of all UN staffers, allowing
them to receive UN benefits.
India, along with China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE
voted in favour of the draft resolution, which had 37 abstentions.
FBI to track hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindus, Arabs

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Six US lawmakers along with leading advocacy groups have welcomed the inclusion of Sikh, Hindu,
and Arab American communities in the Department of Justices hate crimes tracking effort.
2. This is the final step in the long-fought effort to encourage the US federal government to finally begin
tracking and quantifying hate crimes against these at-risk communities.
3. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently updated its hate crimes database and FBI training
manual in order to start tracking hate crimes committed against these groups that system is now
fully operational.
4. Ami Bera, the lone Indian-American member of the US House of Representatives, along with fellow
House members Joe Crowley, Bill Pascrell, Mike Honda, Grace Meng and John Garamendi attended
the event.
5. These lawmakers led a Congressional effort to encourage the Department of Justice and FBI to
document hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu, and Arab Americans.
6. They spearheaded numerous letters to the DOJ and FBI and introduced a Congressional resolution in
the wake of the tragic August 2012 massacre in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and submitting testimony
urging action on hate crimes.
7. In 2011, two elderly Sikh Americans, Gurmej Atwal and Surinder Singh, were shot and killed while out
for a walk in Elk Grove, California, a part of Beras constituency, in a suspected hate crime that is still
unsolved.
8. Religious tolerance is a fundamental value of our nation and we must do everything we can to
prevent these crimes motivated by bias against a victims religious beliefs.
9. Year after year, Sikh Americans were being targeted for harassment and violence because of their
distinct identity.
10. For the first time, the FBI now officially acknowledges that Sikhs are targeted for being Sikhs. While
refinements are needed to the agencys tracking system and training standards, we are making
progress.
Sirisena meets Xi amid new look at ties

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Sri Lankas new president Maithripala Sirisena held talks on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping
amid a push to recalibrate his predecessors strongly pro-China policies and a review of major Chinese
projects in the island nation.
Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Xi reaffirmed longstanding ties between their countries at the start of their
meeting at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
The talks kicked off Sirisenas first visit to the Asian giant since taking office in January and follow his
recent trip to neighbor and Chinese rival India.
In opening remarks, Mr. Xi said China considers Sri Lanka a strategic partner and wants to again
promote and elevate the China-Sri Lanka relationship to fulfill an important purpose.
China has always placed Sri Lanka in an important diplomatic position in region, Mr. Xi said before
reporters were ushered from the room.
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The two sides were likely to discuss a $1.5 billion China-funded port city project in Colombo which Mr.
Sirisenas government suspended pending scrutiny of environment impacts and alleged corruption.
Mr. Sirisenas administration has also ordered reviews of all China-funded projects.
7. Mr. Sirisenas surprise election presented a diplomatic challenge to Beijing as it seeks to expand its
political and economic influence in the Indian Ocean region.
8. China enjoyed close ties with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, under whom a raft of Chinesebacked projects sailed through the approval process with few questions.
9. China was a trusted supplier of weapons in Mr. Rajapaksas crushing of ethnic Tamil separatists and
backed Sri Lanka against allegations at the United Nations of human rights abuses in the civil war.
10. In his visit last year, Mr. Xi won support from Sri Lanka and neighboring Maldives for a new maritime
Silk Road, seen as a way of encircling India and controlling port access along sea lanes linking the
energy-rich Persian Gulf and economic centers in eastern China.
11. In contrast, MR. Sirisena wants to balance Sri Lankas China ties against those with India and chose
New Delhi for his first official visit.
12. This month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Sri Lanka in 28
years.
Yemen on the brink: What you need to know about the crisis
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Airstrikes by Saudi Arabia against Shia rebels in Yemen have added a regional dimension to the
conflict in the Arab worlds poorest country.
.The advance of the Houthis raised Saudi fears that the Shia minority rebels would seize control of the
whole of its Sunni-majority neighbour and take it into the orbit of Shia Iran.
The airstrikes that followed have transformed Yemen into another arena for the regional struggle
between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Here is a detailed look at the crisis in Yemen and the key players.
Who are the Houthis?

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The Houthis are followers of the Shia Zaidi sect, the faith of around a third of Yemens population.
Officially known as Ansarallah (the partisans of God), the group began as a movement preaching
tolerance and peace in the Zaidi stronghold of North Yemen in the early 1990s.
After some protests pitted it against the government, the group launched an insurgency in 2004
against the then ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh that lasted till 2010.
Their opponents view them as a proxy of Shia Iran.
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The group is hostile to the United States but has also vowed to eradicate al-Qaeda. They participated
in the 2011 Arab Spring inspired revolution in Yemen that replaced Saleh with Hadi.
Key dates to the Yemen conflict

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September 21, 2014: Houthi rebels seize government and military sites in Sanaa after several days
of fighting that killed more than 270 people. Rival groups sign a U.N.-brokered peace deal stipulating
a Houthi withdrawal from the capital and formation of a new government.
October 9, 2014: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has declared war on the Houthis, claims
an attack in Sanaa in which 47 are killed.
October 14, 2014: The Houthis seize the Red Sea port of Hodeida, 230 km west of Sanaa, then move
toward the centre without opposition from government forces but face fierce resistance from AQAP
and its tribal allies.
January 20, 2015: Houthis attack President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis residence and seize the
presidential palace, and the President and Prime Minister resign two days later.
February 6, 2015: The rebels announce they have dissolved Parliament and installed a presidential
council to run the country. The United States and Gulf monarchies accuse Iran of backing the Houthis.
In the south and southeast, authorities reject what they brand a coup attempt.
February 21, 2015: Hadi flees south to Aden after escaping from weeks under house arrest and
urges the international community to reject the coup, rescinding his resignation and subsequently
declaring Aden the temporary capital.
March 19, 2015: Clashes in which at least 11 are killed force the closure of the international airport
in Aden and Hadi is moved to a more secure location after an air raid on the presidential palace there.
March 22, 2015: The Houthis advance southwards, seizing the airport and a nearby military base in
Taez, north of Aden and a strategic entry point to Hadis stronghold. Houthi leader Abdelmalek alHouthi says the rebels have moved south to combat Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
March 25, 2015: Hadi is again moved as rebel forces bear down on Aden, capturing a major airbase
nearby just days after U.S. military personnel were evacuated from it.
Assad 'opens' to dialogue with United States

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Syrian President Bashar Assad says he would be open to a dialogue with the United States, but that
it must be based on mutual respect.
Mr. Assad made the remarks in an interview with Charlie Rose for CBS News 60 Minutes. A short
excerpt of the interview was posted online.
In the clip, Mr. Assad said that, in principle, every dialogue is a positive thing, and we are going to be
open to any dialogue with anyone, including the United States.
Mr. Assads comments come after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this month that the
U.S. must eventually talk with the Syrian government to help broker an end to the countrys civil war.
The Obama administration later reiterated its position that Mr. Assad has no future role in Syria.
I would say what we have in Syria so far is only a statement, nothing concrete yet, no facts, no new
reality regarding the political approach of the United States toward our situation, our problem, our
conflict in Syria
Washington has long pushed for a negotiated political settlement to Syrias conflict, which has killed
more than 220,000 people and wounded 1 million more.
The U.S. helped coax Mr. Assads government and its opponents to the negotiating table early last
year, although those talks then collapsed after two rounds without making progress.
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Since Syrias uprising began in March 2011, Mr. Assads government has publicly supported
international diplomatic efforts to ease or resolve the conflict, while simultaneously ignoring
commitments it has made under brokered agreements.
Lees demise: Centre declares national mourning on March 29

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The Centre has declared national mourning on Sunday as mark of respect to the former Prime
Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
The Indian National Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country and there will be no official
entertainment on Sunday, Lees funeral day, an official statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the funeral.
91-year-old Lee, Singapores founding father, who dominated the countrys politics for more than half
a century, died of severe pneumonia on March 23.
Sri Lanka likely to have access to Asian infrastructure bank

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Hosting visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the imposing Great Hall of the People,
Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his opening remarks on Thursday.
That Sri Lanka is a strategic partner and Beijing wants to again promote and elevate the China-Sri
Lanka relationship to fulfil an important purpose.
China had entrenched itself in Sri Lanka following the end of the 2009 civil war, but citing lack of
transparency.
The Sirisena administration has called for review of the multi-million infrastructure projects that had
been granted by the rival government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Defining a new conceptual framework for the future, Mr. Liu stressed that the Sri Lankan President
had agreed to put all the projects in Sri Lanka in the general framework of the 21st century Maritime
Silk Road.
The decision implies that additional sources of funding would be available to Sri Lanka, including the
$40 billion China-backed Silk Road Fund.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) an initiative that has been steered by Beijing.
Over 80,000 Pakistanis killed in U.S.-led anti-terror op

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More than 80,000 Pakistanis, including over 48,000 civilians, have been killed in the decade-long U.S.led war against terror in the country, according to a new report.
The report, titled Body Count: Casualty Figures after 10 Years of the War on Terror, was released by
the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War along with Physicians for Social
Responsibility and Physicians for Global Survival.
The report, dealing with the conflict from 2004 until the end of 2013, shows that a total of 81,325 to
81,860 persons including 48,504 civilians, 45 journalists, 5,498 security personnel and 26,862
militants lost their lives in the terror operation.
It also said that around 1.3 million people were directly and indirectly killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and
Pakistan as a result of U.S.-led wars in the regions during the same period.
One million people were killed in Iraq and 220,000 in Afghanistan as a result of the war, it said.
The figure is approximately 10 times greater than that of which the public, experts and decision
makers are aware, the authors of the study said.
And this is only a conservative estimate. The total number of deaths in the three countries could also
be in excess of 2 million, they said.
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8.
The report scoured the results of individual studies and data published by United Nations
organisations, government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
India's forex reserves up by $4.26 bn

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Indias foreign exchange reserves increased by $4.26 billion to $339.99 billion for the week ended
March 20, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed.
According to analysts, the Indian reserves are being build-up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to
absorb any future global financial shock that was witnessed in June 2013.
The RBI is building up the reserves to counter any future financial shocks like the one which was
witnessed at the time of the tapering announcements were made.
Apart from that the reserves will also act as a support to the Indian rupee, Anindya Banerjee, senior
manager, currency derivatives, Kotak Securities told IANS.
The RBI is cautious about the US Feds stand that the rate hike might take place in the later part of the
year.
With higher interest rates in the US, the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are expected to be led away
from the emerging markets such as India.
The US Fed dropped an assurance to be patient in raising interest rates and signalled the hike could
come by mid to late this year.
Just because we removed the word patient from our statement doesnt mean we will be impatient,
Janet Yellen, US Federal Reserve Board chairman said at a press conference after a globallyawaited
meeting of the policy committee on March 18.
For the previous week ended March 13, the reserves had decreased by $2.06 billion to $335.72
billion. For the week ended March 6, the reserves had fallen by $286.3 million to $337.79 billion.
The fell in reserves for the previous week (March 13) was attributed to rally in the US dollar and that
major nondollar currencies were trading at their weekly lows. The Indian reserves hold nearly 20
25 percent of the nondollar currencies.
According to the RBIs weekly statistical supplement, foreign currency assets, the biggest component
of the forex reserves grew by $4.53 billion at $314.88 billion in the week under review.
The foreign currency assets had declined by $1.97 billion at $310.34 billion in the week ended March
13. under review. However, for the week ended March 6, the foreign currency assets had risen by
$122.4 million at $312.32 billion.
The RBI said the foreign currency assets, expressed in US dollar terms, include the effect of
appreciation or depreciation of nonUS currencies such as the pound sterling, euro and yen held in
reserve.
Indias reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the week ended March 20
decreased by $295.8 million and stood at $1.28 billion.
The value of special drawing rights (SDRs) was higher by $18.2 million in the week under review at
$3.97 billion.
Gold reserves were static at $19.83 billion. The gold reserves had plunged by $346.2 million in the
week ended March 6.
Stephen Hawking, all rights reserved

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British physicist Stephen Hawking is getting his name trademarked, joining the ranks of celebrities like
J.K. Rowling and David Beckham, who have turned their names into brands.
Professor Hawking, 73, has applied to the Intellectual Property Office to have his name formally
registered, while another English physicist, Brian Cox, has already made the move.
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3.
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For Professor Hawking, subject of the Oscar-winning film The Theory of Everything, the primary aim is
to prevent others from exploiting his name with inappropriate products.
Its a personal matter for Stephen Hawking; it is not a university issue, but he has taken measures to
protect his name and the success it has brought, said a spokesman for Cambridge University, where
he is Director of Research at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
He has also applied to get his name trademarked for charitable purposes, giving him the option of
setting up a foundation, such as one to promote physics or for research into motor neurone disease,
which has left him paralysed, The Sunday Times reported.
His trademark would cover computer games, powered wheelchairs, greetings cards and health care.
Chris McLeod, president of the Institute of Trademark Attorneys, said the move could be worth
millions of pounds.
It depends on how successfully his advisers can license and market products and services. If he were
to die, then the trademarks could be transferred to his foundation or offspring.
Ambitious Silk Road plans unveiled

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China has unveiled details about its proposed Silk Road initiatives, which would impact 4.4 billion
people and, within a decade, could generate trade above 2.5 trillion dollars.
2. A vision document jointly prepared by a composite team from the ministries of commerce, foreign
affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)a top organisation that steers
the Chinese economyhas with precision revealed the geographic parameters of Chinas One belt
One Road initiative.
3. The belt and road have two componentsthe Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) that would be
established along the Eurasian land corridor from the Pacific coast to the Baltic Sea, and the 21st
century Maritime Silk Road (MSR).
4. Analysts say that the belt and road initiative, backed by an extensive China-led funding
infrastructure, could shift the center of geo-economic power towards Eurasia, and undermine the
Asia Pivot of the United States and its allies, widely perceived in Beijing as the central plank of a
China-containment policy.
5. Chinese President Xi Jinping is hopeful that the mega-trade volumes among the Silk Road economies
would touch $ 2.5 trillion over the next 10 years.
6. The belt and road run through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant
East Asia economic circle at one end and developed European economic circle at the other, says the
government report.
7. Specifically, the SREB focuses on bringing together China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe (the Baltic);
linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia;
and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
8. The 21st-Century MSR, in turn is designed to go from China's coast to Europe through the South China
Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route, and from China's coast through the South China Sea to the
South Pacific in the other.
9. On land, the initiative will focus on jointly building a new Eurasian Land Bridge and developing ChinaMongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia and China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridors.
10. The document identifies specific gateways that will connect China with other Silk Road economies.
Xinjiang province in the west will be the connecting hub for Central, South and West Asian countries.
It would be one of the terminals of the Pakistan China economic corridor.
11. Similarly, Chinas province of Heilongjiang will become the gateway for Mongolia and Russias Far
East. The area would be central for the development of the Eurasian high-speed transport corridor
linking Beijing with Moscow.
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NATIONAL
Govt against consent of tribals for displacement
1. India has told the World Bank that it is not 'comfortable' with mandatory need for free,
informed and prior consent of tribals who are displaced for projects funded by the Bank.
2. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's submission to the Bank comes at a
time when it is working to do away with the need for consent from tribals, while handing
over their traditional forests to industry.
3. India's position was stated to the World Bank during consultations held on the latter's
Safeguard Policies & Proposed Environmental and Social Framework.
4. This document, once finalised, would become the policy the Bank follows while lending to
countries for specific projects.
5. The NDA government told the World Bank that India has domestic laws and rules that
protect tribal rights, including the powers of consent "in some cases" and the Bank should
rely on such domestic regulations instead of imposing its own conditions.
6. But, domestically, the NDA government is on the verge of passing executive orders that
would do away with the veto powers of tribals that protect their forestlands in most cases.
7. At present, the Forest Rights Act requires governments to seek the prior informed consent
of gram sabhas (village councils) of tribals when their traditional forestlands are to be given
over to industry or other development projects.
8. Since June 2014, the government has been working to dilute these provisions though it's
been opposed by the tribal affairs ministry tooth and nail.
9. The need for consent while using tribal people's non-forest lands is available only in the
limited Schedule V and VI areas under the land ordinance and does not extend to all tribal
lands in the country.
10. The Indian submission to the World Bank says the proposed Bank policy "prohibits forced
evictions of indigenous peoples.
11. This standard mandates that in three specific circumstances free, informed and prior
consent is needed before proceeding with a project affecting indigenous people. We are not
comfortable with this provision."
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12. The NDA government justified this saying, "Domestic laws of acquisition and protection of
such communities already provide for adequate safeguards, including consent before
acquisition can take place in certain cases.
13. The Bank thus needs to rely on such domestic laws/guidelines where the domestic laws rules
etc. take care of such issues."
14. It added, "The proposed clauses like free, prior and informed consent (replacing consultation
process) can lead to legal complications, delays, increase in costs and delay in project
execution."
15. Consultations are non-binding in nature but prior informed consent gives tribals veto powers
over the use of their lands.
Cabinet clears repromulgation of land ordinance

1. The Union Cabinet tonight decided to recommend re-promulgation of the land acquistion
ordinance incorporating nine amendments that were part of the bill that was passed in Lok
Sabha earlier this month.
2. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi as the bill passed by the Lower House and is pending before the Rajya Sabha
has no chance of being cleared before April 5.
Govt likely to push NSRA Bill in Budget session

1. The central government is expected to table the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA)
Bill in Parliament when it meets again after the recess.
2. The earlier Bill, tabled by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, has
lapsed. The NSRA, which will replace the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), will work
as a statutory authority empowered to issue nuclear safety policies and regulations.
3. The Bill also aims at achieving the highest standards of nuclear safety based on scientific
approach, operating experience and best practices followed by the nuclear industry.
4. An official associated with the drafting of the Bill told Business Standard: At present, the
department of atomic energy is seeking the opinion of various ministries and departments
on the NSRA Bill.
5. AERB was established in 1983 under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 through
an executive order and it has developed an elaborate and robust regulatory framework for
nuclear and radiation safety using the enabling legal powers of the Act and the safety
related rules.
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6. The proposed regulatory authority will be formed through an Act of Parliament providing
legal and regulatory powers, said the official.
7. The governments move is crucial. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last week
suggested the Centre should embed the AERBs regulatory independence in law, separated
from other entities having responsibilities or interests that could unduly influence its
decision making.
8. After its 12-day-long Integrated Regulatory Review Services Mission to review Indias
regulatory framework for nuclear safety.
9. IAEA also emphasised the AERB should review the implementation of its policy and existing
arrangements to ensure it maintains independence in the performance of its regulatory
functions.
10. AERB Chairman S S Bajaj said at present, it enjoys the functional autonomy and its
independence has never been compromised.
11. There are 21 nuclear power plants with the generation capacity of 5,780MW and seven
reactors under construction.
12. G Srinivasan, former vice-chairman, AERB, said, Independence of the regulatory body
depends on legal and regulatory independence and competence and knowledge of the
regulatory body which enables rational and independent decision making. This currently
exists in the AERB. The Bill will help create a legal and regulatory framework.
13. He also said the issues referred to by the IAEA were known to the government and
Department of Atomic Energy. They will be taken care of in the proposed Bill.
PM asks RBI to prepare a 20-year road map for financial inclusion.

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked RBI to prepare a 20-year road map for financial
inclusion.
2. He was addressing RBI's Financial Inclusion Conference as the Bank turns 80.
3. He said as much as 14,000 crore rupees have been deposited following the implementation
of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna.
4. Describing the 80 years is a very important mile stone; he said a Banking reform is on in the
country.
5. This help in usher in transparency in providing social security to the poor. He said the most
important goal is financial inclusion.
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SC pulls up Assam for laxity over illegal migrants
1. The Supreme Court today slammed the Assam Government for dragging its feet and
rejected its vague and highly unsatisfactory affidavit on the steps taken regarding the
influx of illegal Bangladesh nationals through the porous Indo-Bangla border in the state.
2. The apex court expressed displeasure over the conduct of the state government and
questioned its seriousness in taking steps to comply with its December 17 directions.
3. The affidavit of Assam Government is highly unsatisfactory. It is not only vague but the
officer has no exposure to ground reality.
4. We refuse to accept the affidavit. We are expressing displeasure over the conduct of the
state government, a bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said.
5. The bench directed the Chief Secretary to file a meaningful affidavit within a week on the
steps taken in pursuant to its December 17, 2014 order.
6. The bench said the failure to file a proper affidavit would lead to calling of the states chief
secretary for explanation.
7. It also directed the Assam Government to apprise it about the steps taken to comply with its
direction to meet the deadline of January 2016 for updating of the National Register of
Citizens (NRC).
8. At the outset, the bench expressed its anguish over the affidavit filed by a junior official and
asked does he know anything what is going on?
9. See the seriousness with which this matter is treated, it said adding that shall we call this
man and ask what is there in the affidavit? Does he know what is there?
10. The bench was also at pain to say that despite assurances 500 police units and task force to
detect illegal migrants have not been activated within a month.
11. Affidavit says that steps taken for constitution of 500 units of task force, but they are not
yet in place, the bench observed, noting that three months have passed since the
judgement was delivered with a slew of directions both for the state and the Centre.
12. The fact has been that you have dragged your feet. We will say your affidavit is highly
unsatisfactory worth not accepting. We will call your chief secretary. This is not the way. You
have dragged your feet for years and years and still dragging, the bench observed during
the hearing.
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India's largest trapdoor spider found
1. India's largest trapdoor spider has been found in Dang district of Gujarat. The three
centimetres (cm) long spider was documented by researchers from MS University's (MSU)
Department of Zoology.
2. The spider which belongs to the genus (class) 'Idiops' was also reported for the first time in
Gujarat. Trapdoor spider is known to grow to the size of 1.5 cm.
3. The presence of this species in Gujarat has been identified by professor Dolly Kumar and her
team as part of an Arachnid biodiversity study of Gujarat sanctioned by Gujarat Biodiversity
Board (GBB).
4. "The burrows of the spiders that we found in Dang were two to three times deeper as
compared to the known species from the rest of India.
5. These spiders can live up to 12 years and are also good ecological models and important in
the study of conservation," said professor Kumar who carried out the study along with her
students Nimisha Garwasis and Archana Yadav.
6. "Trapdoor spider has been reported from Africa, south and central America and the Indian
subcontinent. In India, the species has been found in Orissa, Eastern Ghats, Maharashtra,
and Southern India.
7. Nocturnal by nature, the spider's existence has been threatened by deforestation and soil
erosion," said Dr Manju Siliwal, an arachnologist who was part of the project.
8. "The females of this species spend their entire lives in the same burrow unless the burrow is
either disturbed or damaged. We found the spider in a tubular burrow on a mud
embankment while carrying out our spider survey in Dang.
9. The males comparatively make smaller burrows and their life span is lesser than the
females," added Siliwal.
10. "The spiders get their name from the tube like burrows they build in the ground that is
capped with a trap door. The burrow is used by the spider as a shelter from elements and
predators.
11. The top portion of the door of the burrow is camouflaged with soil, twigs, dry leaves and
other debris that make its identification very difficult," said Garwasis. The study is being
carried out as a part of the faunal biodiversity project by the GBB.
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President Pranab Mukherjee gives his assent to re-promulgate Land
Acquisition Ordinance
1. President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to re-promulgate the Land Acquisition
Ordinance Friday.
2. The Union Cabinet had made a recommendation to the President in this regard on Tuesday.
3. The present Land Acquisition Ordinance is to lapse tomorrow.
4. The new ordinance, includes nine amendments, that were part of the Bill which was passed
by the Lok Sabha last month.
5. The Bill is pending before the Rajya Sabha, where government is in minority.
PM says, government believes in co-operative federalism and wants states to

become stronger
1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his government believes in co-operative
federalism and wants states to become stronger.
2. Addressing a rally in Bengaluru Friday, he said his government has followed co-operative
federalism in letter and spirit.
3. Mr Modi said, he wants the states to be strong so that the nation progresses.
4. He accused the previous Congress governments of weakening federalism by having a policy
that states should keep asking for funds from the Centre.
5. The Prime Minister said, his government has changed this thinking and considers all states as
partners irrespective of the parties they are ruled by.
6. He said, his government wants to trust states so that they could use the funds for their
development.
7. In his address to the BJP National Executive, Mr Modi exhorted the better off sections of
society to forego their cooking gas subsidy which would be utilised in providing subsidised
LPG connections to the poor.
8. He urged all MPs, MLAs, Ministers, IAS and IPS officers, Professors and professionals to
forego their LPG subsidy and derive happiness by doing so.
9. Prime Minister said his "Give it up" campaign in this regard should be taken up on the lines
of "Swacch Bharat" and "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" initiatives.
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Trial to end within 5 years to tackle pending cases: CJI H L Dattu
1. Chief Justice of India H L Dattu has said that a deadline has been set to ensure that the trial
of a case does not go beyond five years.
2. Justice Dattu said that they have decided that five years will be the maximum for the old
case.
3. He was asked whether steps have been taken to tackle the pendency of cases as several of
them have been lingering for as long as 20 years.
4. Nearly three crore cases are pending in Indian courts. Justice Dattu clarified that five year
deadline means that trial should end within that time.
5. Referring to the Supreme Court, he said that apex court judges are doing the best to see that
the maximum life for a case in the court is not more than two years.
6. Justice Dattu said the state Chief Justices have authorised him to take a call on having a
uniform judicial service commission to appoint district judges and members to the higher
judiciary.
7. He will now set up a committee of Supreme Court Judges to recommend him best method
and procedure to appoint judges to higher judiciary and district courts.
India to host fifth meeting of SAARC

1. Indian will host the fifth meeting of SAARC health ministers next week to deliberate on key
issues including HIV/AIDS, prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases and
to strengthen collaborations amongst the nations.
2. "The meeting will deliberate on a road map for strengthening collaboration among SAARC
countries on a number of issues and challenges faced by them.
3. "Some of the prominent health issues to be discussed include prevention and control of
communicable and non-communicable diseases, disease surveillance network, health
infrastructure, human resources for health, immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases,
HIV/AIDS, mental health and others," an official statement said.
4. The health ministers will also discuss adoption of the the "Delhi Declaration" affirming their
commitment to work together in identified areas and further strengthen health
collaboration with agreed road map and timelines, in the meeting scheduled to take place
on April 8.
5. Prior to the Health Ministers' meeting, the 7th Meeting of SAARC Expert Group on HIV/AIDS,
5th Meeting of the SAARC Technical Committee on Health and Population and the 5th
Meeting of the SAARC Senior Officials (Health Secretaries) will be held on April 6-7.
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6. The 4th meeting of the SAARC Health Ministers was held at Maldives in April 2012.
7. SAARC countries comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka, account for nearly a quarter of the world population.
Operation Raahat: over 600 evacuated

1. In the largest evacuation as part of Operation Raahat so far, three Air India flights airlifted
488 people from Sanaa to Djibouti while naval patrol vessel INS Sumitra rescued 203
people, including 19 foreign nationals from eight countries, from Ash Shihr via Al Muqalla
port.
2. India secured a four hour window for evacuation from Sanaa on Sunday. Meanwhile, late on
Sunday two Air Force C-17s with 452 passengers landed in Mumbai while an Air India AI-777
with 352 passengers landed in Kochi.
3. In addition, the civilian liners Kavaratti and Corals, with a total capacity of 1100 passengers,
have reached Djibouti on Sunday afternoon and will join in the evacuation, officials said.
Mission Indradhanush to be launched in 201 top priority districts

1. The government will implement the first phase of the Universal Immunisation Programme
Mission Indradhanush in 201 high priority districts of the country.
2. The Immunisation Programme aims at covering all children below two years of age who have
either not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven diseases which can be
prevented through vaccines.
3. The diseases are Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Whooping Cough, Hepatitis B and
Tuberculosis.
4. According to the health Ministry, these districts have been selected under the programme,
keeping in view that nearly 50 per cent of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children
are in these 201 districts.
5. 82 districts are concentrated in the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan.
6. Between 2009 and 2013 immunization coverage has increased only by 4 percent, which has
prompted the government to launch Mission Indradhanush with a target of 90 percent
coverage by 2020.
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First indigenously-built Scorpene submarine undocked
1. Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar on Monday launched the first indigenously-built
Scorpene submarine at the Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd.
2. The Scorpene is part of the ambitious Project 75 of Indian Navy's submarine programme,
undertaken with French collaboration, which will include six such vessels joining the fleet
over the next few years.
3. Parikkar, along with Chief Of Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Chief Minister Devendra
Fadnavis and others officials attended a puja ceremony to mark the auspicious undocking of
the vessel.
4. The submarine is expected to be commissioned by September 2016.Presently; Indian Navy
has 14 conventional diesel-electric powered submarines which include 10 Russian Kilo Class
and four German HDW class vessels.
Cabinet clears Real Estate Regulation Bill to curb malpractices & harassment
1. The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development)
Bill to protect the interests of millions of consumers and curbed malpractices in the real
estate sector.
2. The bill provides for creating a uniform regulatory mechanism across the country and
enhance the growth of construction sector.
3. It also seeks to ensure accountability and transparency in the real estate sector to access
capital and financial markets essential for its long term growth.
4. The Bill is currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. Through the amendments to the Bill, the
Cabinet has extended the applicability of the Bill to commercial real estate also.
5. Ongoing projects that have not received Completion Certificates have also been brought
under the purview of the Bill and such projects will need to be registered with the Regulator
within three months.
Law Commission of India Submits its Report on Leprosy Laws

1. The Law Commission of India has submitted its Report No. 256 on Eliminating
Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy to the Union Minister of Law and
Justice.
2. The report also provides a model draft law to eliminate discrimination faced by Persons
affected by Leprosy.
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3. n 2014, India had the largest number of new Leprosy cases globally (58%). From 2005 till
2014, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) recorded a rate of 1.25 to 1.35
lakh new cases every year.
4. A majority of these are children, who are threatened with isolation and discrimination at a
young age.
5. Although Leprosy may cause irreversible disabilities, with medical advances, it is now a
completely curable disease.
6. However, a major obstacle is the social stigma associated with Leprosy, and many persons
affected by Leprosy continue to be outcast from society.
7. Another problem is that of Indian laws, which continue to directly and indirectly discriminate
against Persons affected by Leprosy.
8. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a Resolution on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Persons affected by Leprosy, accompanied by
Principles and Guidelines listing out measures to improve the living conditions of such
persons.
9. Additionally, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2007
(UNCRPD) promotes, protects and ensures the full and equal enjoyment of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities.
10. India has signed and ratified the UNCRPD, and is also a member of the UN General Assembly
that unanimously passed the Resolution on the Elimination of Leprosy.
11. However, the Indian government has taken no action to modify or repeal any leprosy laws,
or to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by Leprosy. This is now an urgent
need, and is the focus of this report of the Law Commission.
PM Modi to leave on 9-day visit to France, Germany & Canada

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave on a 9-day visit to France, Germany and Canada.
2. Briefing media persons, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said, investments, civil nuclear
energy, infrastructure, Defence, space programme and smart city projects will dominate the
Prime Minister's agenda during his 3-day visit to France.
3. The Prime Minister will also have round-table meeting with CEOs on infrastructure and
defence separately.
4. AIR correspondent reports that France has emerged as major source of FDI for India with
about 750 big French Companies already present in the country.
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5. France has also emerged as 9th largest foreign investor in India with total investment of over
two billion Euros.
6. In the second leg of his visit, the Prime Minister will reach the German city of Hannover.
7. Mr Modi will inaugurate world's largest Hannover Trade Fair along with the German
Chancellor. More than 100 Indian CEOs are attending the week-long fair, where India is the
partner country.
8. German Ambassador to India told reporters in New Delhi that five Union Ministers and three
Chief Ministers will accompany the Prime Minister during his 3-day visit to Germany.
9. The two countries will focus on cooperation in clean energy, manufacturing, skill
development and cleaning of Rivers and Railways.
10. On the third and final leg of his visit, the Prime Minister will reach Canadian capital Ottawa.
11. About 12 lakh people of Indian origin, the second largest Indian Diaspora, live in Canada.
12. The Foreign Secretary said, this is the first stand alone visit by an Indian Prime Minister to
Canada in more than four decades.
13. The Foreign Secretary said that India would be interested in investments from the huge
Pension Fund of Canada and in energy sectors.
14. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to New Delhi on 18th of this month.
Centre issues revised norms for disaster relief

1. Home Ministry has revised norms with regard to the centrally notified disasters including
floods, cyclones, drought, hailstorm, tsunami and earthquake.
2. The revised order includes various aspects of response and preparedness like ex-gratia in
case of loss of lives, disability and livelihoods.
3. An official release said, the Centre has permitted upto 10 percent of allocation under the
State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to be spent on equipment.
4. A maximum of five percent of SDRF allocation can be spent on capacity building.
5. The state governments can also use upto 10 percent of their SDRF allocation on local
disasters.
6. The government has also simplified the procedure for adjustment of available balances
under SDRF, while releasing assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund in case of
severe disasters.
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Cyber centre gets govt nod
1.
Aiming to screen online threats and for better coordination among the intelligence agencies
while handling national security issues, the government on 9 April 2015 gave its nod for
setting up of the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC).
2. The NCCC is expected to start operation by end of this year. The project was pending since
2013 and Ministry of Finance has sanctioned Rs 800 crore towards it.
3. The body is a critical component of Indias plans to beef up cyber security against hackers
and espionage as well as to track terrorist activity online.
4. The governments cyber security arm Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
will be the main agency handling the establishment of NCCC.
5. This centre will have top experts from the field and it will be run like similar organisation in
other countries such as the US, UK, France and Germany,
6. The NCCC is expected to coordinate the functioning of intelligence agencies, specifically
during network intrusions and cyber attacks.
7. Its mandate may also include cyber intelligence sharing among agencies, another
government official said.
Human Resource and Skill Requirement Reports launched

1. Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri
Rajiv Pratap Rudy here today launched the Human Resource and Skill Requirement reports
across 24 sectors in India which will serve as the baseline for all skill development initiatives
being planned across the country.
2. According to the findings of the reports, the incremental human resource requirement
across these 24 sectors is nearly 109.73* million whereby the top 10 sectors account for
about 80 percent of requirements.
3. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rudy said that in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modis vision of making India the skill capital of the world; this is yet another endeavour
from his ministry.
4. He said, as the old adage goes, what cannot be measured, cannot be corrected. The idea
behind the Skill Gap Studies is to understand which sectors are likely to face the biggest
gaps.
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5. He said, it is imperative for us to plan the skilling of future workforce of India on the basis of
these reports.
6. The Minister said, these reports will be used for the implementation of the recently
announced Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY); for State Skill Missions, and for
various other skill initiatives being planned across the country.
7. Shri Rudy said, according to the implementation schedule for the National Skills
Qualifications Framework (NSQF) (a competency based framework that organises all
qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude).
8. After 27th December, 2016 government funding would not be available for any training,
educational programme, course which is not NSQF-compliant.
9. He said, all government funded training and educational institutions shall define eligibility
criteria for admission to various course in terms of NSQF levels.
10. Shri Rudy said, the recruitment rules of the government of India and PSUs of the Central
Government shall be amended to define eligibility criteria for all positions in terms of NSQF
levels.
11. The State Governments and their PSUs shall also be encouraged to amend their recruitment
rules on above lines.
12. He said, after 27th December, 2018 it shall be mandatory for all training/educational
programmes/courses to be NSQF compliant.
13. All training and educational institutions shall define eligibility criteria for admission to
various courses in terms of NSQF levels.
14. Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Sunil Arora said, there is
a changing paradigm in skill training towards demand-driven training to ensure
employability and placement of the youth.
15. While the reports give an insight on the quantitative side of human resource requirement in
each of the sectors, the research has also led to useful qualitative findings in terms of
highlighting key job roles in the sector, existing skill gaps in the sectors, key interventions
required to map supply and demand, etc.
16. He said, these will help the Ministry to create a strategy to bind together the islands of
excellence that we already have in the country.
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17. In his comments, MD and CEO of NSDC Shri Dilip Chenoy said, more than 1000 industry
experts, 19 Sector Skill Councils, 110 training institutions and 1500+ trainees have been
engaged for the studies.
18. The reports were commissioned by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and
authored by consulting firm KPMG.
19. The objective of these skill gap reports was to understand the sectorial and geographical
spread of skill requirements that exist.
20. The figures have been estimated on the basis of extensive stakeholder engagement
including small, medium and large enterprises in every sector as well as Sector Skill Councils
(SSCs), training providers in the skills space and academia.
21. The skill gap studies provide a granular data on the skill gaps for two time periods- 2013-17
and 2017-22.
Gods in chains: SC to decide on plea to ban elephants in temples

1. Almost a year ago, 55-year-old Sunder felt the cool grass under his feet for the first time
after years of living chained in a dungeon-like enclosure at a temple in Kolhapur district of
Maharashtra.
2. On April 7, 2014, the Bombay High Court finally stepped in to rescue the elephant from
captivity.
3. Sunder is lucky compared to Bijlee and Poornima. Bijlee was 58, when she collapsed and
died on the road, en route to a temple festival. Poornima, was in her mid-sixties, when she
died of starvation and poor care on March 21, 2014.
4. But on April 17, 2015, captive elephants across the country will look up to the Supreme
Courts Social Justice Bench for some relief at last.
5. On that day, the apex court would likely decide on a public interest petition filed by
Bangalore-based Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and other animal welfare
organisations to ban the use of elephants in religious functions, processions and other
events.
6. The life stories of these three captive elephants, narrated in the petition, moved Justice
Madan B. Lokur, the lead judge on the Bench, to voice significant concern at the way private
entities, religious trusts, owners ill-treat the countrys National Heritage animal for profit.
7. This is a very important issue. The famous Guruvayoor temple has 90 elephants, Justice
U.U. Lalit observed.
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SC asks private hospitals to provide free treatment to Acid attack victims
1. The Supreme Court, SC, has asked all private hospitals across the country to provide free
treatment to acid victims, including medicines and expensive reconstruction surgeries.
2. A social justice bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokurand, Uday U Lalit asked all state
governments and Union Territories to take up the matter with the private hospitals to
ensure that acid attack victims are attended to immediately and adequately.
3. The court also asked the Medical Council of India to take up the issue of free treatment with
private hospitals.
4. On banning off-the-counter sale of acid across the country, the bench asked all states and
Union Territories to notify acid as a scheduled substance to stop its unregulated sale.
First state to start full e-treasury

1. Ahead of civic polls, the West Bengal government got a pat in the back on the economic
front from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
2. The deputy governor of the apex bank, Harun R Khan, has lauded the state government for
becoming the first state to integrate its treasuries with the core business solution (CBS) of
RBI, called e-Kuber for making e-payments.
3. RBI has set a deadline to integrate treasury operations of all the states by August 2015, he
said.
4. Khan who was in Kolkata told TOI that RBI is gradually rolling out a procedure of both epayments and e-receipts for states and the Centre.
5. Khan who was in Kolkata told TOI that RBI is gradually rolling out a procedure of both epayments and e-receipts for states and the Centre.
6. "We are the bankers of both Central and state governments. E-Kuber is like our own CBS
through which we shall have a flawless and fast- integrated payment and receipt
mechanism," he added.
Anti-Naxal ops: Forces in 10 states put on alert

1. Security forces operating in ten Naxal-affected states have been asked to maintain a high
degree of "alert" in view of violent counter-offensive launched by the left wing extremists,
which led to the killing of seven Chhattisgarh policemen.
2. Official sources said the Naxals had lauched their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign
(TCOC) in late March in these areas.
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3. The offensive has now been heralded with the first big attack on security forces as they
killed seven STF policemen and injured about a dozen others in Sukma district of
Chhattisgarh.
4. The TCOC is the about 3-4 months time period beginning March-April when armed Naxal
cadres undertake special violent action against security forces and others to gain ground, regroup and strategise their plan of action before the onset of summer.
5. "The forces were put on alert in March when the annual TCOC begins. But, with this major
attack on forces in Chhattisgarh yesterday, the alert has been re-issued and reinforced to
the forces.
6. CRPF Special Director General (Operations) K Durga Prasad today rushed to Chhattisgarh's
capital Raipur to review security arrangements.
7. They said under the new instructions, the Central Reserve Police Force, other paramilitary
forces and state police units have been asked to deploy better and clever strategies to
ensure that the Naxals are not able to spring any surprise.
8. "It includes fortifying security forces' camps, undertaking special intelligence-based
operations and ensuring covert tactics while operations are undertaken in the ten Naxal
affected states of the country.
9. The forces have also been asked not to deploy large contingents in the forests as during
summers the jungles get de-foliated and hence they are visible from a long distance, inviting
attacks.
10. Under the latest instructions, the CRPF and other state police forces have been asked to take
the help of the newly operationalised Unmaned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) base from Bhilai in
Chhattisgarh to conduct reconnaissance of target areas.
11. The two-hour gunbattle took place in the worst-affected Pidmel-Polampalli area of the
district when a squad of state police Special Task Force (STF) was out for operations.
1st National Symposium on Excellence

1. Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and Prime
Ministers Office Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 1st National Symposium on Excellence in
Training (NSET).
2. In his inaugural address Dr Jitendra Singh, complimented DOPT for organizing 1st
Symposium on Excellence in Training while emphasizing that learning is a lifelong process.
3. The Symposium will provide a national level platform to stakeholders to interact with
national and international experts and know about global best practices in training.
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4. Dr Singh reiterated the vision of the Honble Prime Minister by highlighting the importance
of Good Governance, Citizen Centricity and focus on effective Public Service Delivery.
5. Speaking on the occasion Shri Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training
mentioned the importance of training for Public Service Delivery because at the cutting edge
it is the Group B & C employees who are functioning at a large scale and primarily
responsible for image of the Government.
6. The two-day Symposium has been organized by the Department of Personnel and Training in
collaboration with UNDP India.
7. The overarching objective of NSET is to provide an annual National Platform for experience
sharing and interaction of various stakeholders associated with training of government
sector employees.
8. It was attended by more than 450 Delegates from all over India including faculty, trainers
and administrators of National/State Training Institutes, Master/Recognized Trainers, and
Training Managers of various Ministries/Departments/Cadre Controlling Authorities.
9. After the inaugural session, Shri Anand Singh and Ms Shaheen Mistree energized the
delegates attending the Symposium with their inspiring talk.
10. This was followed by plenary session on Designing a comprehensive Training Strategy which
was moderated by Shri Sanjay Kothari followed by "Building Institutions of Excellence"
moderated by Prof. Madhav Menon.
11. The proceedings of the first day of the Symposium ended with an Open House session which
was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Shri Ajit Seth.
12. It included questions by the delegates and answers by the distinguished dignitaries. The
symposium was well attended and generated a lot of interest among delegates who
participated in the discussion in various sessions and also the open house.
13. The Symposium showcased 12 best initiatives undertaken by individual trainers and Training
Institutions under four thematic areas.
14. These 12 initiatives will be felicitated with an Award of Excellence during the closing session
tomorrow.
15. The symposium was also watched by over 100 online viewers with 40 concurrent viewers
through live webcast and many tweets were made and retweeted. eg.
16. This symposium is an opportunity to ask what makes great training great Shaheen Mistri
from Teach for India, and Imperative to make best use of youth power by Dr. Jitender
Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension.
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Nation pays homage to BR Ambedkar on his 124th birth anniversary
1.
Nation pays homage to the Father of Indian Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his 124th
birth anniversary.
2.
Various events across the country are being organized to mark the day.
3.
Revered as a great social reformer, Dr. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 at Mhow in Madhya
Pradesh.
4.
He dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of the deprived section of the society.
5.
As a member of the constitution drafting committee Baba Saheb provided constitutional guarantees
and protections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens.
6.
This includes the freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and the outlawing of all forms of
discrimination.
7.
In the National Capital, the main function is being held at the Parliament House premises.
8.
Congress has announced a year-long celebrations to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr
Ambedkar.
9.
Followers from all over the country gather in Mhow to remember the great personality.
10. This day is marked as a Samajik Samrasta Diwas in and around his birth place.
National Judicial Appointments Commission Act Notified

1.
The Government today notified the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014 and the
Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 for bringing in a change in the existing system for
appointment of Judges in Supreme Court and High Courts.
2.
Two Bills titled 'The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty First Amendment) Bill, 2014' and 'The
National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014' were passed unanimously by the Lok Sabha on
13.08.2014 and Rajya Sabha on 14.08.2014 respectively.
3.
Subsequently these Bills were ratified by the required number of State legislatures before getting the
Presidents assent.
4.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty First Amendment) Bill, 2014 enacted as the Constitution
(Ninety Ninth Amendment) Act and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014 were
published in Gazette of India on 31st December 2014.
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5.
Both the Acts were to come into force on such date as the Central Government would notify them in
the Official Gazette.
Lets discuss about act

1.
The Acts provide for a transparent and broad-based process of selection of Judges of the Supreme
Court and High Courts by the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
2.
The NJAC would be chaired by the Chief Justice of India as in the earlier collegium system.
3.
The NJAC membership would include two senior most Judges of the Supreme Court, the Union
Minister of Law and Justice.
4.
two eminent persons to be nominated by a committee of the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Justice
of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People.
5.
If there is no Leader of the Opposition, then the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in the
House of the People.
6.
With a view to ensuring that the composition of the National Judicial Appointments Commission is
inclusive, the Act provides that one of the eminent persons shall be nominated from amongst persons
belonging to the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities or
Women.
7.
The NJAC will frame its own regulations.
China falls short of backing India for a permanent U.N. seat

1.
China, on Monday, fell short of backing India for permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council
(UNSC), despite supporting New Delhis aspiration of playing a big role in international institutions.
2.
Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modis assertion that India deserved a rightful place
in the UN Security Council, the Chinese Foreign.
3.
Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei acknowledged that India is an important developing country in
international affairs.
4.
We understand and support Indias desire of playing a big role in international institutions including
the United Nations,.
5.
However, the Chinese side made it clear that it was disinclined to unilaterally support India for a
permanent slot, preferring instead a collective consensus-based approach, which would be part of a
larger package of UNSC reforms.
6.
The Chinese side will make efforts with all parties to strive for a package that accommodates the
concerns of all parties through extensive democratic consultations.
7.
Asked to clarify on the contents of the package, Mr. Hong stated that the reforms of the UN
Security Council concerns a wide range of elements.
8.
We maintain that we should strive for a consensus through democratic consultation. The package is
mainly about Security Council reforms.
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9.
The spokesmans remarks were in tune with the joint statement issued in February by the RussiaIndia-China (RIC) grouping, which supported New Delhis aspiration for a bigger U.N. role.
10. Analysts say that Chinas hesitation in backing India for a permanent seatunlike other permanent
members of the Council is driven by two concerns: Japan and Pakistan.
11. As part of G-4 countries, India has been slotted for possible UNSC membership with with Brazil,
Germany and Japan, Chinas regional rival.
12. Besides, China has a special relationship with Pakistan, which is staunchly opposed to Indias
candidature.
13. Mr. Hong said that China was committed to give greater voice to developing countries in the UNSC.
MHA renames Tourist Visa on Arrival scheme as e-Tourist Visa

1.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to change the name of the scheme Tourist Visa on ArrivalElectronic Travel Authorization to e-Tourist Visa (eTV).
2.
The extension of the scheme to more countries and airports will be in a phased manner, in order to
avoid any confusion.
3.
Government of India had launched Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization
(TVoA-ETA) on 27th November, 2014 to 44 countries at nine airports to facilitate short duration
international travellers.
4.
Since the launch of the scheme, one lakh ten thousand (1, 10,000) Visas have been issued by
Government under this scheme.
Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers Constituted

1.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation has constituted a Task Force
on Interlinking of Rivers comprising experts and senior officials to look into the issues relating to
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) in the country.
2.
The Task Force would be chaired by Shri. BN Navalawala.
Functions of task force

1.
The Task Force will take up all issues for expediting the work on interlinking of rivers in the Country.
2.
Apart from examining the existing links that are laid out as per the National Perspective Plan under
both Himalayan and Peninsular components, the task force would also consider alternative plans in
place of infeasible links in the present plan.
3.
The Task Force would facilitate interlinking of intra-state and intra-basin Rivers also along with that of
inter-state and inter-basin links.
4.
The Task Force would recommend the time schedules for completion of feasibility studies and DPRs
of all the links, implementation schedule of all the links and also suggest on various means of funding
mechanisms for the Interlinking of Rivers.
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5.
The Task Force would also provide guidance on norms of appraisal of individual projects in respect of
economic viability, socio-economic, environmental impacts and preparation of resettlement plans.
6.
It would also device suitable mechanisms for bringing about speedy consensus amongst the states
and also proposes suitable organizational structure for implementing the Interlinking of Rivers.
7.
The Task Force would also try to forge a consensus amongst the states in order to take forward the
speedy implementation of the Interlinking of Rivers Program.
PM Modi reaches Ottawa; Nuclear Energy, trade & investment high on

agenda
1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Canadian capital Ottawa on the final leg of his 3-nation tour.
2.
He was received at the airport by Minister of National Defence and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney
and Minister for International Trade Ed Fast, among others.
3.
This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Canada in over 42 years.
4.
Mr Modi will hold talks with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper on a wide range of issues,
including nuclear energy, trade and investment.
5.
He will also reach out to the Indian diaspora in Toronto and Vancouver.
6.
The visit is being portrayed by Stephen Harper's office as a chance to broaden trade involving
education, energy and science and technology.
7.
The main focus of the bilateral talks will be energy, education, agriculture and terrorism apart from
investment from pension fund.
8.
In Toronto, the Prime Minister will visit the memorial set up for the 1985 Kanishka air crash victims.
India test fires Agni-III ballistic missile

1.
India on Thursday test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile, with a range of over 3,000 km,
from a base in Odisha, an official said.
2.
The surface-to-surface missile was fired from a launch complex at the Inner Wheeler Island off the
coast of Dhamra in Bhadrak district, about 200 km from here.
3.
Agni-III is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. It is 16 metres in length and weighs
48 tonnes. The missile has a two-stage solid propellant system. It can re-enter the atmosphere at a
very high velocity.
4.
Agni-III is a rail mobile system capable missile and can be launched from anywhere in India.
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India backs deployment of women peacekeepers in UN missions
1.
Asserting that having women at top positions in UN peace operations is essential, India has voiced
support for deploying more women peacekeepers and offered to increase its contribution to peace
missions.
2.
"The impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and their role in peace operations, remains a
central issue in conflict situations," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukerji said at
the UN Security Council debate on 'Sexual violence in armed conflict'.
3.
He said India concurs with the UN Secretary General's report, which calls on member nations to
reinforce the need for deployment of more women peacekeepers, women protection advisors and
gender advisers in peace operations.
4.
"We continue to lay emphasis on gender sensitive pre-deployment training and are willing to increase
our contribution to peace operations.
5.
We support the development of a gender resource package and training materials. More women at
high decision making positions in multi-dimensional peace operations is undoubtedly essential.
6.
India has contributed nearly 180,000 troops to UN peacekeeping missions, including the 103-strong
Indian female police unit in the UN mission in Liberia.
7.
Mukerji said Indian women peacekeepers have helped to reduce conflict and confrontation by
imbibing a greater sense of security to local populations and inspiring women and girls to push for
their own rights and participation in the peace process.
8.
He said mainstreaming of gender perspective in peace operations is a prerequisite to achieve the

ultimate goal of gender equality, women empowerment, sustainable development and sustainable
peace and security.
9.
We are in strong agreement with the view that sexual violence in armed conflict is not incidental, but
integrally linked with the strategic objectives, ideology and funding of extremist groups.
10. The situation is "worrisome" as perpetrators of armed conflict include those who commit egregious
and heinous crimes, including sexual violence against women, girls, men and boys, and use sexual
violence as a "tactic of terror".
11. He noted that the list of perpetrators of sexual violence in armed conflict includes mainly non-state
actors who act beyond the pale of law.
12. This strengthens our view that we should extend more support to national governments in their
efforts to deal with this challenge.
13. Reintegration of survivors of sexual violence needs to be facilitated by providing a safe, secure and
enabling environment, free from fear from stigmatisation and reprisals.
14. Recourse by the Council to international punitive mechanisms should only be considered as a matter
of last resort.
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Country's first sporting venue to switch to solar power
1.
Next time you soak in the fun of Twenty20 cricket under a starry sky at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, be
rest assured your favourite summer pastime will leave little carbon footprint.
2.
Chinnaswamy Stadium took a giant green leap when it formally launched a 400kv rooftop solar power
system, becoming the first sporting venue in India to embrace solar power in a big way.
3.
Installed on the roofs of the eastern stands, the solar panels will take care of a significant portion of
power consumed by the facility. However, the floodlights won't be fuelled by the system that's
estimated to generate 1,700 units of power every day.
4.
In the second phase, we plan to install another 850 kV solar photo-voltaic panels atop the western
stands. Put together, the systems are expected to generate 5.9 lakh units of solar power annually and
reduce 600 tonnes of carbon emission.
5.
About four lakh units will be supplied to the grid and the same will reach citizens." According to Patel,
the stadium consumes about 16 lakh units of power annually and spends Rs 1 to 1.2 crore on bills.
6.
The KSCA is also looking at installing sewage treatment plants on its campus to use treated water for
the ground and facilities inside the stadium.
Govt tables Land Ordinance copy in Lok Sabha

1.
The government has tabled a copy of the Ordinance promulgated on the Land Acquisition in the
Lok Sabha.
2.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy tabled the document amidst strong
protests from the opposition.
3.
Micro, Small and Medium Industries Kalraj Mishra introduced the Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development (amendment) Bill, 2015.
4.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy has said the NDA
government is trying to take a number of measures for the interest of the poor farmers.
First ship of Project 15B Launched

1.
The First ship of Project - 15B, Guided Missile Destroyer, christened Visakhapatnam was launched on
20Apr 15 at a magnificent ceremony at Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
2.
The ship was launched from Slip Way No. 2 in MDL, Mumbai. The Chief of theNaval Staff, Admiral RK
Dhowan, was the Chief Guest for the occasion.
3.
In keeping with the nautical traditions, the ship was launched by Smt Minu Dhowan,wife of The Chief
of the Naval Staff.
4.
After an invocation to the Gods was recited, she broke a coconut on ships bow, named the ship and
wished the ship and crew to be, good luck.
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5.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Admiral RK Dhowan lauded the contributions made by
MDL in meeting the growing requirements of the Navy.
6.
He also commended the efforts put in by DGND (SSG) and his team in the design of the state of the
art warships.
7.
He was also very appreciative of the role played by DRDO and the industry for relentlessly
contributing towards achieving Indian Navys dream of transforming itself from a Buyers Navy to a
Builders Navy.
8.
Background Information: The four ships of Project 15B ships being built at MDL,Mumbai have been
designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design,Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed
legacy of Naval designers.
9.
With a displacement of 7300 tons, each ship will be spanning 163 meters in length and17.4 meters at
the beam and will be propelled by four gas turbines to achieve speed in excess of 30 knots.
10. The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth
and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use
of radar transparent deck fittings which make these ships difficult to detect.
11. These ships are also packed with an array of state of the art weapons and sensors, including vertically
launched missile system for long distance engagement of shore and sea-based targets.
Net neutrality in India still a myth

1.
Amid the raging debate globally over net neutrality, which has evoked a strong reaction from
stakeholders in India, domain experts feel that an unshackled access to the Internet world isnt
feasible in India yet but attempts must continue for egalitarianism.
2.
Building a net neutral network is technologically not possible to implement. It is a utopian idea no
basis in technology, said Ravi V S Prasad, a telecom consultant who has designed several data-com
and telecom networks in the past 30 years.
3.
No telecom engineer will say that network neutrality is feasible. The concept that each data is treated
equally does not hold good.
4.
You cant design data. The Internet inherently prioritises data on a scale of 0-7 points basis.
5.
Explaining further, he said a network architecture gives highest priority to network management,
followed by online gaming, speech, videos and then still images, music files, movie downloads and file
transfers.
6.
Network neutrality, or open inter-working, means in accessing the World Wide Web, one is in full
control over how to go online, where to go and what to do, as long as these are lawful.
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7.
It also required such companies not to charge users, content, platform, site, application or mode of
communication differentially.
8.
These are also the founding principles of the Internet and what has made it the largest and most
diverse platform for expression in recent history.
9.
It is practically impossible to build a net-neutral network, but it has to be attained or at least

attempted. This is what will support innovation. Otherwise, the Net will not remain open and free.
10. Also, every telecom service provider is an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, in any
case. If an operator tries to give an advantage to some players by taking a fee and improving their
services, it is not allowed under Section 79 of IT Act.
11. In India, there were some 95 million broadband connections as of end-February. There was also a
growing appetite among netizens in India to log on to social networking sites Facebook, for
example, claims 118 million active users in the country.
Census Data on Marital Status of Population

1.
If you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s and have a wife, consider yourself to be very lucky. That's because
you are not among the 4.12 crore out of 6.50 crore men of marriageable age who have no choice as
there are no brides in the country.
2.
The finding may shock many on Akshay Tritiya, considered as the best mahurat to get married. It
comes from the recently released Census Data on Marital Status of Indian Population.
3.
Consider this. Against 5.63 crore men in the 20s, there are 2.07 crore females present -- indicating
towards a gap of 3.55 crore brides.
4.
Similarly, for men in the 30s, 70.1 lakh men in the 30s, only 22.1 lakh girls present. In this way, there
are no brides for a whooping 47.91 lakh men.
5.
The gap exists in case of men in the 40s as well. While the population of men is 16.92 lakh men, the
number of women in the 40s is barely 8.67 lakh which means a gap of 8.25 lakh women.
6.
Put together, there are only 2.38 crore brides for 6.50 crore grooms. In other words, three out of five
men of marriageable age will eventually not be find to find a bride. Therefore, a forced brahmacharya
is the only option most men have.
7.
The gap exists because millions of girls were killed in the womb during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. This
skewed countrys sex ratio resulting in the unnatural disparity.
8.
The conclusion has been derived from census data on marital status of Indian population released
recently.
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9.
For 79.56 lakh men in their 20s, there are just 29.26 lakh women living. Similarly, there are 9.13 lakh
men in the 30s but only 1.95 lakh girls while 3.03 lakh men in their 40s have 59,399 women to choose
from.
Food per person declined over 25 years

1.
The land available for farming in India, already under decline, is feared to drop further with the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government trying to push through a controversial bill that is being
criticised in the present format by a host of opposition parties, led by the Congress.
2.
The most controversial change proposed is the exemption of five categories of projects - industrial
corridors, public-private partnership projects, and rural infrastructure, public housing and defence
projects - from getting the consent of 70 percent farmers of the area.
3.
This is worrisome since cultivated land on India's farms declined 15 percent over the past 25 years,
according to government data analysed by India Spend, reducing food grain production and
portending new pressures as more land is set to be acquired for industries.
4.
While the net sown area includes orchards and crops, the cultivated area covers only crops. Land
sown with crops declined from nearly 87 percent in 1987-88 to 72 percent in 2011-12.
5.
India Spend's recent reports have been focusing on the farm crisis in India with case studies of
Bundelkhand farmers. It has also reported on the decline in farmers across India.
6.
Reasons for the decline in cultivated land include a drop in households owning land in rural India and
a decline in the proportion of households dependent on manual labour and farming, says a study by
the Foundation for Agrarian Studies, using data from the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO)
of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
7.
To analyse how the drop in cultivated area has affected India's food sufficiency, availability of
foodgrains (cereals and pulses) was matched with the decrease in cultivated land. The decline is clear.
8.
Key problems with agriculture in India are related to low yields and production. Accordingly,
Foodgrain availability also declined from 471.8 grams per capita to 453.6 grams per capita over the
last four decades.
9.
But there is a saving grace: Yield. This has been improving over the decades - from 1,023 in kg per
hectare in 1980-81 to 2,101 in kg/ha in 2013-14 for food grains, as per data published in the official
Economic Survey.
10. For oil seeds it was from 532 kh/ha to 1,153 kg/ha and for cotton from 152 kg/ha to 532 kg/ha.
11. So, foodgrain yield has almost doubled between 1980-81 and 2013-14, while oilseeds and cotton have
also witnessed an increase of 116 percent and 250 percent in yields respectively.
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12. Despite its fluctuating farm fortunes, India is among the world's top producers of food crops,
according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
13. But it its yields across the spectrum of agricultural products are low. In cereals, for example, it is the
third largest producer in the world, and in terms of the yields of top five producers, though, the
country ranks fifth. For coarse grains, the ranking is fourth and ifth, respectively.
FPV ICGS Arinjay launched

1.
The Cochin Shipyard launched fast patrol vessel (FPV) ICGS Arinjay, the 15th in a series of 20 such
ships it is building for the Coast Guard.
2.
Keel was laid for the next vessel in the series on the same day.
3.
Meant primarily for coastal patrol besides anti-poaching and anti-smuggling campaigns, the FPVs are
high-speed ships with greater manoeuvrability and agility.
4.
The contract for the construction of the FPVs was signed in 2010 and the yard has so far handed over
12 vessels. The Coast Guard took delivery of the latest, ICGS Ankit, on April 7.
5.
While the last vessel in the series is scheduled for delivery in 2017, the yard has been able to keep
abreast of the stipulated timelines.
Features
1.
The FPVs are built under the dual classification requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping and
the Indian Register of Shipping and are designed to attain speeds in excess of 33 knots required to
carry out high-speed chase and interception.
2.
The water jet-propelled ships are also capable of providing communication link and escorting convoys
during hostilities and war.
3.
With a view to keeping the vessels light primarily to enhance their agility, special grade aluminium
was used on the vessels super structure, which required the yard to develop special techniques to
carry out high-quality welding of aluminium. SEDS, a Kochi-based company, designed the vessels in
the series.
4.
Besides building the FPVs, CSL is currently constructing the maiden indigenous aircraft carrier, named
INS Vikrant, for the Navy.
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Exercise Varuna - 15 begins
1.
Fourteenth (14th) edition of Indo-French naval exercise (VARUNA) started with the arrival of four
French naval ships at Goa.
2.
Aviation assets of the Indian Navy participating in VARUNA-15 include carrier-borne fighter aircraft
Sea Harriers, maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8 I and Dorniers along with integral helicopters
Seaking 42B and Chetak.
3.
The scope of Exercise VARUNA includes the entire gamut of maritime operations from Aircraft Carrier
Operations, Anti Submarines Warfare Exercises, and Maritime Interdiction Operations to multi-ship
replenishment exercise.
4.
Regular IN-FN interaction over the years has allowed both navies to gradually and systematically
increase the complexity and professional content of the joint exercises.
5.
VARUNA aims at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies. The confidence
gained through such exercises helps develop Standard Operating Procedures, particularly in the fields
of Joint Maritime Air Operations Planning with exchange of Carrier Operational Capabilities.
5.
The other joint exercises include Coordinated Anti-Submarine Exercises, Surface Exercises, Cross Deck
Flying, Damage Control and Fire Fighting, Air Defence, Firing Drills, Air to Sea Firing, Tactical Exercises
and Visit Board Search and Seize Operations, which further hone the fighting efficiency of the two
combat forces.
Background
1.
Relations between India and France have traditionally been close and friendly. With the
establishment of strategic partnership in 1998, there has been significant progress in all areas of
bilateral cooperation and exchanges including naval exercises.
2.
The Indian Navy and the French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983 and following
the establishment of a strategic partnership, these exercises were christened as VARUNA in 2001.
3.
Till date, thirteen such exercises have been conducted and the last exercise VARUNA 12 was
conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from 19-22 Jul 12 off Toulon.
Committee on National Transport Development Policy submits its report

1.
It was constituted under the chairmanship of Shri Rakesh Mohan. He has submitted its report
suggesting reforms for development of various modes of transport.
2.
These reforms are categorized as immediate reforms and long run goals. Immediate reforms have
been suggested at national, state and metropolitan levels.
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Suggestion
1.
At the national level, Committee has suggested for the formation of a high-level and independent
Office of Transport Strategy (OTS) and to move towards investment and strategy for transport as an
integrated system.
2.
It has also suggested National Transport Infrastructure Finance to be neutral with respect to means of
delivering mobility, sustainability and inclusion goals.
3.
At the state level, the Committee has suggested to establish urban transport as a subject to state level
and to develop formal mechanisms for state participation in decisions about initiation, siting, size and
other aspects of airports and rail-based transport.
4.
At metropolitan level, the Committee has suggested for creation of Unified Metropolitan Transport
Authority (UMTAs) as statutory authority.
5.
It further suggested independent budgets expert personnel in all urban agglomerations with
population greater than three million and formation of metropolitan planning committees as per
Constitutional mandate.
6.
The Committees recommendations include creation of public-private centres of excellence in urban

transport in all cities larger than one million and investment in unified metropolitan databases.
India on global happiness index

1.
India has not fared well in a global ranking of the happiest nations, coming in at the 117th spot out of
158 countries on the index that took into account GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support and
freedom to make life choices as indicators of happiness.
2.
Switzerland has been named the happiest country in the world, coming in at the number one spot on
the 2015 World Happiness Report published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network
(SDSN), which is a global initiative for the United Nations.
3.
The other countries in the top five are Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada.
4.
India's rank is 117, below nations like Pakistan (81), Palestine (108), Bangladesh (109), Ukraine (111)
and Iraq (112). Its rank dropped six notched from the 2013 report, when it was on the 111 spot.
5.
"Increasingly happiness is considered a proper measure of social progress and goal of public policy,"
the report said, adding the happiness index describes how measurements of well- being can be used
effectively to assess the progress of nations.
6.
It takes into account factors like GDP per capita, social support of having someone to count on in
times of trouble, freedom to make life choices, healthy life expectancy, generosity and perceptions of
corruption.
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7.
Afghanistan and war-torn Syria joined eight sub-Saharan countries in Africa -- Togo, Burundi, Benin,
Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Chad -- as the 10 least happy of 158 countries.
8.
The report said that the year 2015 is a "watershed" for humanity, with the pending adoption by UN
member states of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September to help guide the world
community towards a more inclusive and sustainable pattern of global development.
New Education Policy Campaign Finalised

1.
The Union HRD Minister, Smt Smriti Irani introduced Shri Nawaj Shaikh, the winner of the logo
competition for the New Education Policy at the Press Briefing held in New Delhi.
2.
The Minister while introducing the winner of the logo competition, Shri Nawaj Shaikh from National
AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune said that for the first time ever the logo designed by a common
man of the country and not by any advertising agency or a corporate house has been considered for
the New Education Policy campaign.
3.
This way the Ministry of HRD has taken a step towards making a common man directly engage and
participate with the Government through MyGov Platform.
4.
Shri Nawaj Shaikh winner of the logo competition was of the view that one must have education
which makes a man into a better citizen of the country.
5.
The competition was held through the MyGov Platform for suggesting the Logo, Slogan and Tagline
for the New Education Policy of the Government of India.
6.
More than 3000 entries were received. Shri Nawaj Shaikh belongs to Pune, Maharashtra. The logo has
been selected and he has been awarded Rs. 10,000/- and a certificate of appreciation.
Operation Maitri launched

1.
As part of the Nations overall relief effort for Nepal, IA has launched Operation Maitri. Soon after the
devastating earthquake, Gen Dalbir Singh, COAS, who besides himself being an officer of the Gurkha
Rifles Regiment is also the Honorary Chief of the Nepalese Army, spoke to his counterpart, General
SJB Rana, Chief of the Nepalese Army.
2.
Gen Dalbir Singh immediately detailed two senior officers to proceed to Kathmandu and coordinate
IAs relief efforts in synergy and hand in hand with Nepalese Army.
3.
A Multi National Coordination Centre has been set up. In addition, in PPO Pokhra, Head quarters are
being established for relief operations.
4.
The following resources have been allocated so far as part of Operation Maitri, in support of the
Nepalese Armys relief effort:-
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18 Medical Teams earmarked. Six Medical Teams
have reached and have been deployed
while the rest are on standby.
10 Engineer Task Forces(ETFs) consisting of manpower, skid steers and JCBs (One partial ETF
has landed with stores. Balance are on standby in India).
5.
10,000 blankets and 1,000 tents are on standby.
10 INMARSATs for satellite communications have reached Nepal
Aviation assets of five ALH helicopters and two Cheetah helicopters have been staged forward to
Gorakhpur.
6.
Further, taking cognizance of the request of the Nepalese Government for Oxygen on account of
problems in the Kathmandu Oxygen plant, additional cylinders are being dispatched (300 located at
Bengdubi for dispatch to Nepal).
CSE points out lapses in building regulations in India

1.
Earthquakes dont kill, buildings do. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
has pointed out the systemic issues that result in construction of unsafe buildings.
2.
Anumita Roychowdhury, CSEs executive director for research and advocacy and head of its green
buildings programme, says the lack of regulations for construction and monitoring of buildings
makes a huge proportion of them unsafe.
3.
The large number of deaths in Nepal and India should immediately lead to a reflection on the nature
of our buildings, and whether these will be able to withstand an earthquake of moderate to high
intensity.
4.
A survey by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has found that in the last 25 years,
more than 25,000 human fatalities were caused primarily by collapse of buildings during earthquakes.
5.
The condition and quality of Indian building stock is poor when it comes to seismic performancein
fact, the observed performances of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings are highly unsatisfactory.
6.
During the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, RC buildings collapsed due to an earthquake of just 6 on the Richter
scale, when a well-designed RC building should be able to withstand an earthquake of up to 7.5 on
the Richter scale.
7.
The damage caused to these buildings is unreasonably high compared to any other country for similar
level of ground-shaking.
Seismic codes
1.
Today, India has a fairly good range of seismic codes covering a variety of structures, ranging from
mud or low strength masonry houses to modern buildings.
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2.
The key to ensuring earthquake safety lies in having a robust mechanism that enforces and
implements these design code provisions in actual constructions.
3.
These codes are mandated for new construction, but we have regular instances of buildings collapsing
even in absence of earthquakes, which reflects how effectively they are enforced.
Cabinet approves Smart Cities Mission & old housing projects

1.
The Union Cabinet today approved Smart Cities Mission in 100 Cities and also cleared the old housing
projects initiated by the previous government.
2.
The decision was taken in this regard at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this
morning.
3.
The Smart City project was announced in July 2014 in the current government's first Union Budget
last year.
4.
The Union Cabinet also gave a seal of approval to a minimum pension of 1000 rupees per month in
perpetuity to pensioners under Employees' Pension Scheme, EPS, 1995.
5.
Nearly 20 lakh people will be benefitted under the scheme after this decision.
6.
The Cabinet also approved Amendment to Prevention of Corruption Bill, 2013 to lay down more
stringent measures to tackle corruption.
Part of India slid underneath Nepal

1.
A part of India slid one foot to 10 feet northwards and underneath Nepal in a matter of seconds
during the magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit the Himalayan country on Saturday, a U.S. scientist has
said.
2.
Saturdays slip took place over an area about 1,000 to 2,000 square miles over a zone spanning the
cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara in one direction, and almost the entire Himalaya mountain width in
the other, said Colin Stark, Lamont Associate Research Professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth
Observatory, Columbia University. A part of India slid about one [foot] to 10 feet northwards and
underneath Nepal in a matter of seconds.
3.
The part below Bihar slid under Nepal along a zone from Bharatpur, through Hetauda, to Janakpur,
he said.
RS passes Regional Rural Banks Amendment Bill

1.
The Rajya Sabha yesterday passed the Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
2.
The bill seeks to raise the authorised capital of Regional Rural Banks from five crore to 2,000 crore
rupees and enable them to mop up funds from the capital market.
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3.
Replying to a debate on the bill in the House, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said, the
Government is making efforts to strengthen these banks and they will help the government in
providing financial inclusion to every village in the country.
4.
Dismissing apprehensions that the amendments are a way to privatise these banks, the Minister said
that there are enough safeguard in the bill.
5.
He said under the present system, the Centre has a 50 percent share, the sponsor Bank 35 per cent
and the state government 15 per cent shareholding in the RRBs.
6.
He said, in no case, the share holdings of the Centre and Sponsor Bank will be allowed to go less than
51 percent.
Stronger anti-corruption Act cleared

1.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,
that provide for classifying corruption as a heinous crime and longer prison terms for both the bribe
giver and the bribe taker.
2.
The proposed amendment act will also ensure speedy trial, limited to two years, for corruption cases.
3.
The proposed amendments would fill in perceived gaps in the domestic anti-corruption law and also
help in meeting the country's obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption
(UNCAC) more effectively, an official privy to the details of the decision said.
4.
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, was introduced by the then UPA government
in Rajya Sabha. The latest cabinet decision further amends the bill based on the reports of the
Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee and the Law Commission of India on the
earlier bill.
5.
The measures approved by the Cabinet include Penal provisions being enhanced from minimum 6
months to 3 years and from maximum five years to seven years.
6.
The seven year imprisonment brings corruption to the heinous crime category, the official said. The
ambit of the existing act will be enhanced to make commercial entities liable for inducement of public
servants.
7.
Under the present law, only individuals are liable. The proposed amendment bill also provides for
issue of guidelines to commercial organisations to prevent persons associated with them from bribing
a public servant.
8.
Non-monetary gratification will also be covered within the definition of the word gratification in the
PCA 1988.
9.
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August
19, 2013, and subsequently referred to the Standing Committee.
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10. The committee submitted its report on the Bill to the Rajya Sabha on February 6, 2014 but the bill
could not be passed.
11. The views of the Law Commission of India were also sought on the proposed amendments. The new
amendments proposed by the cabinet are based on the recommendations made the Law Commission
of India in its 254th Report.
A shot in the arm for Indian space programme

1.
Hyderabad-based Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) has formally handed over
indigenously built Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), which will be used in a critical final stage
during rocket launches, to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), the satellite launching station of ISRO
at Sriharikota.
2.
The controllers will play a vital role in filling aviation fuel in the satellite launch vehicles of ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite launch Vehicle (GSLV).
3.
We will use these indigenous control systems for a critical function, which is to load fuel at the final
countdown stages of PSLV and GLSV rockets before they are launched.
4.
Our researchers and ECIL collaborated for nearly two years to build custom-made control systems for
us, said Director SDSC, Dr. M.Y.S. Prasad.
5.
In another three to four years, all the critical mission systems, which are part of the ground control
and used to launch rockets, will undergo complete indigenisation.
6.
The value of the indigenous PLC is nearly Rs. 3 crore and we are going to get similar control systems
from ECIL worth Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 crore in the coming years.
7.
The customised PLC has already undergone a series of validation exercises to meet the stringent
requirements for the space centre.
8.
This process is fully automated because nobody is allowed in the vicinity of the launch vehicles. Its an
achievement that Indian researchers have managed to develop systems that will ensure this
complicated process without any hiccups.
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INTERNATIONAL
PNAS report on human sex ratio
1. Boys and girls are equal in number at conception, but more female fetuses die during
pregnancy, leading to a slightly higher number of males being born, researchers said
Monday.
2. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is based on the
largest dataset ever analyzed in the search to explain what is known as the human sex ratio,
which has been poorly understood until now.
3. Documentation came from the United States, and included "the sex ratios of fetuses at
different gestational ages, including three-to-six-day-old embryos produced by assisted
reproductive technologies, induced abortions, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and
United States census records of fetal deaths and live births," said the PNAS report, authored
by researchers at Harvard University and Oxford University.
4. Scientists found that the human sex ratio is equal at conception, but that during gestation,
there were certain times when male embryos were more likely to die than females,
particularly in the first week after conception when there tended to be more abnormal male
embryos than female embryos.
5. During the next 10 to 15 weeks, females faced a higher risk of mortality in the womb.
6. Later in pregnancy, male miscarriages were higher in number than female miscarriages,
particularly in weeks 28 to 35, the study found.
7. But overall, more female died in the womb than males, the study showed. "These are
fundamental insights into early human development," the authors wrote.
8. Their findings contradict previous research that suggested more males are conceived than
females, and that more males die during pregnancy than females.
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Amnesty International's Death Penalty Report 2015 released
Palestinians become 123rd member of ICC

1. The Palestinian Authority has become a member of the International Criminal Court and is
marking the momentous occasion with a low-key ceremony at the court's headquarters.
2. Palestinians signed the court's founding treaty in January and it came into force Wednesday,
an event welcomed by activists who see it as an opportunity to bring accountability to years
of conflict between Palestinians and Israel.
3. Israel is not a member of the ICC, but the country's military and civilian leaders could now
face charges if they are believed to have committed crimes on Palestinian territory.
4. The court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, opened a preliminary investigation in midJanuary after the Palestinians formally accepted the court's jurisdiction dating back to just
before last year's Gaza conflict.
Indian-American's sentencing sparks abortion law debate

1. The stiff 30-year prison sentence doled out to an Indian-American woman for female
foeticide and child maltreatment has sparked a debate in the United States.
2. On how prosecutors are using laws that were designed to protect expecting mothers to
instead prosecute women for terminating a pregnancy.
3. Purvi Patel, 33, was on Monday sentenced to 30 years in prison with 20 years executed, 10
suspended, charged with neglect of a dependent. She will also serve five years probation.
4. For the foeticide charge, she was sentenced to 6 years in prison, to run concurrently with
her neglect of a dependent sentence, ABC News reported.
5. Reproductive rights activists believe the sentencing of Patel, who lives in Indiana, highlights
how U.S. prosecutors are misusing of the laws protecting expecting mothers.
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6. While no woman should face criminal charges for having an abortion or experiencing a
pregnancy loss, the cruel length of this sentence confirms that foeticide and other measures
promoted by anti-abortion organisations are intended to punish not protect women, said
Lynn Paltrow Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) in a
statement.
7. Ms. Patel is not the first woman in the U.S. to have been arrested and charged with a crime
for terminating her own pregnancy or based on allegations that she had attempted to do so,
it said.
8. This case, however, is the first time any woman has been charged, convicted, and sentenced
for the crime of foeticide for having attempted to end her own pregnancy, it said.
9. Ms. Patel comes from a family of Indian immigrants who settled in Granger, Indiana, a
suburb of South Bend.
10. Ms. Patel in July 2013 went to a hospital emergency room suffering from heavy vaginal
bleeding. She denied that she had been pregnant, but eventually told doctors that she had
miscarried and placed the stillborn foetus in a bag and placed the bag in a dumpster.
11. Ms. Patels defence attorney argued that the prosecution could not simultaneously accuse
her of killing her unborn child and of abandoning a living one.
12. But Indiana prosecutor Ken Cotter said that a person can be found guilty of foeticide even if
the foetus survives, and Judge Elizabeth Hurley ultimately rejected the defences argument.
13. A jury found Ms. Patel guilty on both counts in early February, though her attorney plans to
appeal the verdict.
14. At the sentencing, Ms. Hurley said that Ms. Patel was in a position to legally end her
pregnancy, but opted for an illegal method, and later ensured that babys death by placing
him in the trash can with the other bathroom trash".
15. Activists like Sara Ainsworth, director of legal advocacy at National Advocates for Pregnant
Women, expressed concerns that women will be less likely to seek out doctors in cases of
abortions or miscarriages.
16. David Orentlicher, a medical ethics specialist and former Indiana state representative,
echoed that fear.
17. Any time a pregnant woman does something that can harm a foetus, now she has to worry,
Am I going to be charged with attempted foeticide?
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In 2050, Indias Muslim population will be largest globally
1. The world population of Hindus will grow rapidly between now and 2050, based on a
relatively high expansion rate and the youth profile of this community.
2. The largest global growth, however, will be among Muslims, outpacing the growth of every
other religions population.
3. This was a key result of an in-depth study on The Future of World Religions: Population
Growth Projections, 2010-2050, by the Pew Research Centre
4. This sought to explain Why Muslims Are Rising Fastest in terms of the communitys higher
fertility 3.1 children per woman and the fact that 34 per cent of Muslims are below the
age of 15 years.
5. The Pew growth projections report says that India would retain a Hindu majority but would
also have the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, surpassing Indonesia.
6. Worldwide, the Hindu population is projected to rise by 34 per cent over the period, from a
little over 1 billion to nearly 1.4 billion, roughly keeping pace with overall population growth,
the report noted.
7. The Hindu populations fertility rate, at 2.4 children per woman, is second to the Muslim
figure, but ranks above Jewish and Buddhist fertility, respectively at 2.3 and 1.6 children per
woman.
8. Further, 30 per cent of Hindus are below the age of 15, which is lower than the
corresponding number for Muslims, while at the other end of the age spectrum seven per
cent of Muslims were above 60 years old in 2010 and the figure for Hindus was eight per
cent.
9. The Pew study found that Muslims would nearly double their numbers in Europe to more
than ten per cent by 2050 and would outnumber Christians worldwide by 2070, according to
the forecast of the growth of religions around the world.
10. In North America, the Hindu share of the population was expected to nearly double in the
decades ahead, the reports authors said, up from 0.7 per cent in 2010 to 1.3 per cent in
2050, when migration is included in the projection models.
11. However, without including migration effects the Hindu share of the regions population
would remain about the same.
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India hails Iran nuclear agreement
1.
India hailed the agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group U.S., U.K., France,
Russia, China and Germany on Tehrans nuclear programme, calling it a significant step
towards a comprehensive settlement.
2. A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, after the agreement was announced
in the Swiss town of Lausanne on Thursday night, said:
3. The announcement underlines the success of diplomacy and dialogue, which India has
always supported.
4. After several delays and an extended deadline, the Foreign Ministers of all the countries
involved in what are called the E3+3 (Europe 3+3 or P5+1 of the Security Council and
Germany) group
5. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif announced that they had a framework agreement to
take forward their twin objectives of reducing Irans nuclear capabilities for civilian use only,
while lifting financial sanctions imposed by the U.N., the European Union and the United.
6. According to the draft agreement released by U.S. officials, Iran will reduce the number of
installed centrifuges by two-thirds, bring uranium stocks down from 10,000 kg to 300 kg LEU
(low-enriched uranium) and turn its nuclear facility in Fordow into an R&D facility for 15
years.
7. All the excess stockpile and nuclear parts will be kept at an IAEA-monitored location, while
the U.N., the U.S. and the EU will withdraw all sanctions that have crippled the Iranian
economy for years.
8. Indian officials were cautious about the completion of the final agreement, but say once the
deal is finalised, India could stand to benefit greatly.
9. If there is a significant withdrawal of sanctions, that would benefit our economic
engagement greatly as even the most normal transactions had become very tedious for
Indian businesses.
10. India and Iran have an annual bilateral trade of about $14 billion, with an extremely high
balance of trade problem, as India has been unable to pay Iran about $8.8 billion for oil due
to sanctions, according to Commerce Ministry figures.
11. The government has also had to bow to U.S. and international pressure on cutting its oil
imports from Iran, and in March 2015 halted oil imports altogether for the first time in more
than a decade in order to keep its international commitments.
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12. If the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement is finalised as hoped, opinion is divided
over how much India will benefit.
13. While economists are predicting India-Iran trade could double, given old business ties
between the two countries, officials concede that once sanctions are lifted on Iran, India
would also have to compete with the U.S. and European suppliers for the prosperous
middle-class market that Iran represents.
14. In the short run, the big advantage for India could be a further reduction in the price of oil
that India used to source at a much higher quantity pre-2012, when Iran was Indias second
biggest supplier.
Wold health Day focuses on food safety

1. World Health Day is being observed today. The objective of the day is to disseminate
knowledge and awareness about human health.
2. The day focuses on increasing life expectancy by adding good health to the lives of people
and promoting healthier living habits across the globe.
3. This year the theme of the World Health Day is food safety, which highlights the need of safe
food that is free from microbes, viruses and chemicals.
Gertrude Weaver, world's oldest person, dies at 116 in U.S.

1. Just days after becoming the worlds oldest documented person, 116-year-old Gertrude
Weaver died on Monday in Arkansas.
2. Weaver became the oldest person in the world after the death of a 117-year-old Japanese
woman last week, according to records kept by the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research
Group. Weaver was born in 1898.
3. The Williams Funeral Home confirmed Weaver died just after 10 am (local time) on Monday
at the Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center in Camden, about 160 kilometres
southwest of Little Rock.
4. Camden Mayor Marie Trisollini chatted with Weaver last week when the supercentenarians
roommate celebrated her 100th birthday.
Obama reiterates support to Indias bid for UNSC

1. President Barack Obama has reiterated United States support for Indias membership of a
reformed United Nation Security Council as he considers it a foreign policy priority to
continue to strengthen India-US relationship.
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2. What the President said was that he said in the context of a reformed Security Council that
the President would support the inclusion of India in that process, White House press
secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
3. So that continues to be our policy and one that we are certainly aware of, he said when
asked about Mr. Obamas declaration of US support for Indias membership of the Security
Council during his November 2010 visit to India.
UNESCO report lauds Indias progress

1. India has made remarkable strides towards ensuring education for all, a new global
monitoring report shows. While access is now close to universal, the quality of education
remains a major challenge, it says.
2. In April 2000, the governments of 164 countries adopted the Dakar Framework to deliver
Education for All commitments by 2015.
3. India is likely to reach the EFAs first goal of 80 per cent enrolment in pre-primary education
by 2015, has already reached the second goal of universal primary enrolment, and will fall
just short of universal youth literacy by 2015, the report said.
4. The one measurable goal India will not reach is to reduce its adult illiteracy rate by half (it
has reduced it by 26 per cent).
5. The countrys major success has been in reaching gender parity for primary and lower
secondary enrolment, the only country in south and west Asia to do so.
6. It has also made progress towards improving the quality of education, but major gaps
remain.
7. According to the report, nearly half of all countries have achieved universal pre-primary,
primary and lower secondary enrolment.
8. Only 25 per cent of the countries have reduced by half their levels of adult illiteracy, and
women continue to make up two-thirds of the illiterate.
9. Two-thirds of the countries have also achieved gender parity at the primary level, but less
than half at the secondary level.
10. Overall, not even the target of universal primary education was reached, let alone the more
ambitious EFA goals and the most disadvantaged continue to be the last to benefit.
11. But there have been achievements that should not be underestimated. The world has
advanced by 2015 beyond where it would have been if the trends of the 1990s had
persisted, the report says.
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12. A lesson re-emerging over the past 15 years is that while technical solutions are important,
gaining political influence and traction is of even greater significance, it notes.
13. However, major challenges remain. The efficiency of public spending in India comes in for
criticism, as does the expansion of contract teaching jobs in public schools.
14. Most crucially, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) said that while Indias
education system succeeded in enrolling many more children.
15. There were wide disparities in students achievement of basic skills across the States, a
finding validated in the official National Achievement Survey of grade 3 students, the report
says.
China denies full roll back of one-child policy

1. China denied that it will completely roll back its three decades old one-child policy and
permit all couples to have two children from next month.
2. National Health and Family Planning Commission spokesperson Song Shuli said at a press
conference that the family planning strategy should be maintained as the size of the
population puts pressure on resources, environment as well as economic and social
development.
3. The one-child policy in the country has been relaxed since late 2013, allowing couples to
have a second child if at least one parent has no sibling.
4. The three-decade old policy was partially relaxed to address the issues of the strength of the
labour force and the aging population.
India elected to four key U.N. bodies

1. India has been elected to four key subsidiary bodies of the United Nations agency on
economic and social issues, continuing its impressive record of winning elections at the
world body.
2. India was elected by acclamation, a form of election that does not use a ballot, to the
subsidiary bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during its coordination
and management meeting on Wednesday.
3. With the election wins, India maintained its 100 per cent record of winning elections held in
the United Nations Headquarters here.
4. It was elected, along with 13 other nations, to the Executive Board of the United Nations
Childrens Fund (UNICEF) for a three-year term beginning January 2016.
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5. UNICEF addresses the needs of children with emphasis on giving long-term benefits to
children everywhere, particularly those in developing countries.
6. India was also re-elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for the 20162018 term along with five other nations.
7. WFP is the food assistance arm of the UN which provides food assistance to around 90
million people in 80 countries in a year.
8. It was among the 20 nations to be elected to the Commission on Crime Prevention and
Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) for a three-year term, beginning January 2016.
9. Apart from India, other nations elected to CCPCJ include Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Austria,
France, Sweden and the United States.
10. The CCPCJ provides policy guidance to UN Member States on crime prevention and criminal
justice and develop, monitor and review implementation of the UN crime prevention
programme.
11. India also got re-elected to the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme (UN-Habitat) for the term 2016-2019.
12. UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and
environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for
all.
13. The Council elected a total of 14 members for a four-year term, beginning January 2016 for
UN-Habitat.
Controversial pastor to run for U.S. President

1. With pressure building on potential nominees for the 2016 U.S. presidential election to
declare their candidacy, a surprise entrant who added colour to the race this week was
controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones.
2. Jones who is avowedly anti-Obama, and described as a fringe front-runner in the race,
made headlines in 2010 when he declared his intention to burn the Koran on the ninth
anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, causing deep consternation in the U.S.
administration, which feared a violent backlash.
3. When Jones announced his plans to hold an International Burn a Koran Day, he faced
major pressure from world leaders and U.S. President Barack Obama to call off the event.
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4. As a very practical matter, as Commander in Chief this stunt that he is talking about
pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform, Mr. Obama
said at the time.
5. Although he told reporters that he was pretty devastated by the condition of America, the
moral condition, the spiritual condition, the economical condition, he admitted that
winning would require some type of major miracle.
Ninth Meeting of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Council

1.
India has been designated as Chair to the Ninth Meeting of International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) Council which is scheduled to be held for 10th & 11th June, 2015 in Abu
Dhabi.
2. India is a founder Member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an

intergovernmental organization that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable
energy future.
3. And serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence,
and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable
energy.
4. IRENA has two main governing structures; one is IRENA Assembly which takes decisions at
Macro level and gives policy guidance to IRENA.
5. Second is IRENA Council which is the main Governing Body of the Agency responsible for
implementing various decisions of the Assembly.
Asteroid named after Malala

1. The youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and girls education campaigner Malala Yousafzai
now has an asteroid named after her, media reported.
2. Amy Mainzer, astronomer at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, named Asteroid
316201 after Malala, Dawn online reported Friday.
3. He said, It is a great honour to be able to name an asteroid after Malala. My postdoctoral
fellow Dr. Carrie Nugent brought to my attention the fact that although many asteroids have
been named, very few have been named to honor the contributions of women (and
particularly women of color).
4. Mr. Mainzer discovered the asteroid in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter which gives
her the right to name it. It orbits the Sun every 5.5 years.
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Russia busts satellite spy ring'
1.
Russia has uncovered a group of spy satellites, the head of its space command said in a film
broadcast, which warned of enemy satellites that could masquerade as space junk.
2.
Very recently, specialists of the department of space intelligence centre uncovered a newly created
group of space satellitesmade for radio-technical reconnaissance of equipment on Russian
territory, said the commander of Russian Space Command, Oleg Maidanovich.
3.
Space Command is a division of the military responsible for warning of missile and air strikes and
controlling Russias defence satellites.
4.
Maidanovich declined to say which country or countries the satellites belonged to. The film called
Space Special Forces was shown on defence ministry channel Zvezda as Russia marked Space
Day, commemorating the space flight of Yury Gagarin on April 12, 1961.
5.
The 40-minute movie is dedicated to the war for space, the battles of spy satellites, the channels
website says, echoing the language of 1980s space race between the United States and the Soviet
Union.
6.
One talks of peaceful satellites, but there are known cases when groups of potential enemy satellites
formed against our satellites, above our territory, the films voiceover said.
7.
There are cases when a space satellite pretends to be space junk for years and then wakes up and
starts working at the right moment.
8.
Russias relations with the West are at their lowest point in post-Cold War history, although
cooperation has so far continued in space, notably at the International Space Station.
UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on Yemen's Houthi rebels

1.
The UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on Yemen's Houthi rebels and its allies
including former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his son, Ahmed Saleh.
2.
It passed a resolution yesterday calling on the rebels to withdraw from areas they have seized,
including capital Sanaa.
3.
14 countries voted in favour of the resolution while Russia abstained. Russia, one of the five
permanent members of the Council, said the embargo should have been imposed on the whole
country.
4.
India had launched a massive rescue operation to evacuate its nationals from the war-ravaged
country.
5.
Over 4,700 have been brought back home safely. Nearly 1,000 citizens from 41 countries were also
evacuated by India.
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Modi, Kejriwal among 100 most influential people
1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have been voted among the
100 most influential people in the world in an online poll by readers of Time magazine.
2.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged the winner of this years Time 100 readers poll.
3.
He edged out rapper-singer CL to claim the number one spot with 6.95 per cent of the votes in the
final tally.
4.
Pop stars Lady Gaga (2.6 per cent), Rihanna (1.9 per cent) and Taylor Swift (1.8 per cent) rounded out
the top five.
5.
Mr. Modi, however garnered just 0.6 per cent of the votes cast, with only 34 per cent of the people
voting in his favour and 66 per cent against.
6.
Mr. Kejriwal got 0.5 per cent, with 71 per cent voters saying he should not be in the list.
7.
BJP president Amit Shah was also on the initial list but failed to garner enough votes to make it to the
top 100.
2014 saw militants use of rape, sexual slavery

1.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said 2014 was marked by harrowing accounts of rape, sexual slavery
and forced marriage being used by militants, including the Islamic State and Boko Haram.
2.
In a report released on Monday, the U.N. chief expressed grave concern over sexual violence
perpetrated by armed groups, including those promoting extremist ideologies in Iraq, Syria, Somalia,
Nigeria, Mali, Libya and Yemen.
3.
The confluence of crises wrought by violent extremism has revealed a shocking trend of sexual
violence employed as a tactic of terror by radical groups, Mr. Ban said.
4.
The Secretary-General said efforts to degrade or destroy the Islamic State group, Boko Haram, alShabab, Ansar Dine and al-Qaeda affiliates are an essential part of the fight against conflict-related
sexual violence.
5.
The report focuses on 19 countries engulfed in conflict or trying to recover from fighting where sexual
violence including rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution and forced pregnancy occurs, mainly
against women and girls but also against boys and men.
6.
It lists 45 groups in Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Congo, Iraq, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and
Syria as well as Boko Haram in Nigeria that are credibly suspected of committing or being responsible
for patterns of rape in conflict 13 of them for the first time.
7.
Forced marriage, enslavement and the sale of kidnapped women and girls are central to Boko
Harams modus operandi and ideology, it said.
8.
Abducted girls who refuse marriage or sexual contact within marriage have faced violence and death
threats.
9.
Since mid-2014, the report said, There has been a significant increase in the number of reported
cases of sexual violence perpetrated by terrorist groups, especially the Islamic State group which
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uses sexual violence to spread terror, persecute ethnic and religious minorities and suppress
communities that oppose its ideology.
10. It singled out that groups abduction of hundreds of Yazidi women and girls in Iraq, some of whom
were taken into Syria and sold in markets to be used as sex slaves.
11. It said three cases of forced abortion perpetrated because of the ethnicity of the victim were
documented by the government of Iraq.
12. In Colombia, the report said, Women working with displaced communities and calling for land
restitution have been targeted by armed groups and subjected to repeated sexual assault.
13. In the Central African Republic, the report said 2,527 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were
documented in 2014, adding that all parties have used sexual violence to subjugate and humiliate
opponents.
14. In Sudans western Darfur region, it said the number of displaced civilians has increased over the past
year and so have reports of sexual violence.
15. And in South Sudan, it said sexual violence remains prevalent including gang rape, castration, forced
nudity and forced abortion, which is exacerbated by impunity and a militarised society in which
gender inequality is pronounced.
16. On a positive note, the report said Congos government took unprecedented steps, including
prosecuting high-ranking officers for sexual violence and paying reparations to survivors.
17. But at the same time it said 2014 saw a resurgence of violence by armed groups, including an increase
in rape.
Indian-origin Satya Nadella tops global CEO pay chart

1.
With a pay package of $84.3 million (Rs 525 crore) a year, technology giant Microsofts Indian-origin
chief Satya Nadella has emerged as the top-paid CEO in the US, as per a new list,
2.
The Equilar 100 CEO Pay Study, an analysis of CEO salaries at the 100 largest public US companies as
measured by revenue, was last year topped by Oracles Larry Ellison, who has been now pushed by
Nadella to the second position.
3.
Another Indian-origin CEO, Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo, is ranked 19th with USD 19.08 million. Legendary
investor Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is ranked last at 100th position with a total
compensation of USD 464,011 million.
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Universal connectivity, net neutrality can coexist in India: Zuckerberg
1.
Days after few of its partners decided to exit Internet.org in support of net neutrality, Facebook
Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Friday said he strongly disagrees with the critics of the zerorating concept.
2.
Some people have criticized the concept of zero-rating that allows Internet.org to deliver free basic
internet services, saying that offering some services for free goes against the spirit of net neutrality. I
strongly disagree with this, he wrote in a Facebook post.
3.
We fully support net neutrality. We want to keep the internet open. Net neutrality ensures network
operators dont discriminate by limiting access to services you want to use. Its an essential part of the
open internet, and we are fully committed to it.
4.
Internet.org is social networking sites initiative to bring internet services to areas that are still not
connected in partnership with tech giants like Samsung and Qualcomm.
5.
In India, Facebook partnered with Reliance Communications to provide free Internet access to over 30
websites.
6.
The initiative has drawn flak from users and net neutrality activists as they believe it violates the
principle of Net Neutrality. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg defended it saying universal
connectivity and net neutrality can co-exist.
7.
But net neutrality is not in conflict with working to get more people connected. These two principles
universal connectivity and net neutrality can and must coexist.
8.
To give more people access to the internet, it is useful to offer some service for free. If someone cant
afford to pay for connectivity, it is always better to have some access than none at all, he said.
9.
Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers should treat all data on the internet
equally, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, site, platform, or application.
There are no norms for it in the country as of now.
10. Arguments about net neutrality should not be used to prevent the most disadvantaged people in
society from gaining access or to deprive people of opportunity, he said, adding that eliminating
programs that bring more people online wont increase social inclusion or close the digital divide.
11. Following an uproar in the social media over the subject, Cleartrip, Times Group and NDTV had earlier
this week opted out of Internet.org.
12. While the debate has been going on at the global level for a long time, in India it was triggered when
countrys largest operator Airtel in December 2014 announced plans to start charging customers for
VoIP services, such as Skype and Viber.
13. The debate gained national momentum when telecom regulator TRAI, in a first step towards making
regulating the issue, came out with consultation paper inviting user comments on the subject.
14. Recently, Airtel announced another initiative Airtel Zero, for which it received a lot of flak as this too
is seen as violating net neutrality.
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India to get Canadian uranium from 2nd half of 2015
1.
Canadian company Cameco, which has signed an agreement for the supply of uranium to India, will
start delivery in the second half of this year with the end-use being strictly monitored.
2.
The company is excited over the pact, which it says marks the "start of a new relationship" between
the two countries.
3.
Cameco's President and CEO Tim S Gitzel told PTI here that the company will start delivery of uranium
by the second half of this year as per a schedule.
4.
Cameco and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) signed an agreement here two days back during
the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
5.
Under the pact, the Canadian company will supply uranium over five years at a cost of 350 million
Canadian dollars.
6.
"We signed a binding contract under which Cameco will supply 700 million pounds of uranium to
India over the next five years to generate electricity from its nuclear plants in India. This is the first
time for us and it is exciting," Gitzel said.
7.
Canada is only the third country which will be supplying uranium to India. The other two countries are
Russia and Kazakhstan.
8.
Canada banned exports of uranium and nuclear hardware to India in the 1970s after it was alleged
that New Delhi used Canadian technology to develop a nuclear bomb.
9.
The two countries put this behind them with the Canada- India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that
took effect in 2013.
India 5th biggest generator of e-waste: UN report

1.
India is the fifth biggest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding 1.7 million tonnes (Mt) of
electronic and electrical equipment in 2014, a UN report has said warning that the volume of global ewaste is likely to rise sharply by 21 per cent in next three years.
2.
The 'Global E-Waste Monitor 2014', compiled by UN's think tank United Nations University (UNU),
said at 32 per cent, the US and China produced the most e-waste overall in 2014.
3.
Most e-waste in the world in 2014 was generated in Asia at 16 Mt or 3.7 kg per inhabitant. The top
three Asian nations with the highest e-waste generation in absolute quantities are China (6.0 Mt),
Japan (2.2 Mt) and India (1.7 Mt).
4.
The top per capita producers by far are the wealthy nations of northern and western Europe, the top
five being Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, and the UK.
5.
The lowest amount of e-waste per inhabitant was generated in Africa (1.7 kg/inhabitant). The
continent generated 1.9 Mt of e-waste in total.
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6.
In 2014, people worldwide discarded all but a small fraction of an estimated 41.8 Mt of electrical and
electronic equipment -- mostly end-of-life kitchen, laundry and bathroom equipment like microwave
ovens, washing machines and dishwashers.
7.
The volume of e-waste is expected to rise by 21 per cent to 50 Mt in 2018, said the report, which
details the location and composition of the world's fast-growing e-waste problem.
8.
While only 7 per cent of e-waste last year was made up of mobile phones, calculators, personal
computers, printers, and small information technology equipment, almost 60 per cent was a mix of
large and small equipment used in homes and businesses, such as vacuum cleaners, toasters, electric
shavers, video cameras, washing machines, electric stoves, mobile phones, calculators, personal
computers, and lamps.
9.
The report said less than one-sixth of last year's e-waste is thought to have been diverted from
landfills to recycling and reuse.
10. The e-waste generated in 2014 contained an estimated 16,500 kilotons of iron, 1,900 kilotons of
copper, 300 tonnes of gold (equal to 11 per cent of the world's total 2013 gold production), as well as
silver, aluminium, palladium plastic and other resources with a combined estimated value of USD 52
billion.
11. Toxins in that e-waste include 2.2 Mt of lead glass, 0.3 Mt of batteries, as well as mercury, cadmium,
chromium and 4,400 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances (CFCs).
12. Health problems associated with such toxins include impaired mental development, cancer, and
damage to livers and kidneys, the report added.
13. The escalating global e-waste problem is driven by the rising sales and shortening life cycles of
electrical and electronic equipment.
14. "Worldwide, e-waste constitutes a valuable 'urban mine'-- a large potential reservoir of recyclable
materials. At the same time, the hazardous content of e-waste constitutes a 'toxic mine' that must be
managed with extreme care," said UN under-Secretary-General David Malone, Rector of UNU.
15. "The monitor provides a baseline for national policymakers, producers and the recycling industry, to
plan take-back systems. It can also facilitate cooperation around controlling illegal trade, supporting
necessary technology development and transfer, and assisting international organisations,
governments and research institutes in their efforts as they develop appropriate countermeasures,"
he said.
16. "This will eventually lead to improved resource efficiency while reducing the environmental and
health impacts of e-waste."
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France provides first weapons to Lebanon for ISIS fight
1.
The first French weapons from a USD 3 billion Saudi-funded programme will arrive in Lebanon
tomorrow as allies seek to bolster the countrys defences against the Islamic State group and other
jihadists pressing along its Syrian border. Anti-tank guided missiles are set to arrive at an air force
base in Beirut, overseen by French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Lebanese counterpart,
Samir Mokbel.
2.
France is expected to deliver 250 combat and transport vehicles, seven Cougar helicopters, three
small corvette warships and a range of surveillance and communications equipment over four years
as part of the USD 3 billion (2.8 billion-euro) modernisation programme.
3.
It is being entirely funded by Saudi Arabia, which is keen to see Lebanons army defend its borders
against jihadist groups, particularly the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda- linked Al-Nusra, instead of
leaving the job to Hezbollah militants, who are backed by its regional rival, Iran.
4.
The contract also promises seven years of training for the 70,000-strong Lebanese army and 10 years
of equipment maintenance.
5.
This project is to help us re-establish a Lebanese army capable of responding to new security
realities, said a French defence official.
6.
Since the conflict in neighbouring Syria broke out in 2011, Lebanon has faced mounting spill-over
threats, first from the millions of refugees pouring across the border and increasingly from jihadists.
7.
There are an estimated 3,000 armed militants based on our border, waiting for the moment to
penetrate into the Bekaa valley, said Hisham Jaber, a former general now at the Middle East Centre
for the Study of Public Relations in Beirut. They havent come for tourism or to go skiing.
8.
Former colonial power France is actually a late-comer to the conflict, with almost all Lebanons
international support coming from the United States and Britain in recent years.
9.
France only won the contract to supply the Lebanese army, argued analyst Aram Nerguizian, because
Saudi Arabia had been frustrated by US and British refusal to attack the Syrian regime in 2013.
Yemen Still In the Throes of War

1.
Clashes between Shiite rebels and pro-president forces in southern Yemen overnight left 21 dead, on
the fourth week of a Saudi-led air campaign against insurgents, medics and local sources said.
2.
Ten Huthi rebels and four members of the popular committees militia fighting on the side of
President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi were killed in pre-dawn clashes in the southwestern city of Taez,
the sources said.
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3.
The popular committees are fighting alongside the militarys 35th armoured brigade which remains
loyal to the exiled Hadi.
4.
They received air support from warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition, which bombed Huthi positions,
according to witnesses.
5.
The city has become the scene of fierce clashes over the past week, after having been largely spared
in fighting that has spread across several Yemeni provinces.
6.
The rebels who seized Sanaa unopposed in September, have since expanded their control over
several provinces.
7.
Saudi Arabia mounted an air campaign at Hadis request as the Huthis closed in on his refuge in the
southern city of Aden in March.
8.
Hadi had escaped Huthi house-arrest in Sanaa late February and resurfaced in the port city, which he
declared a temporary capital. He has since taken refuge in Riyadh.
9.
In Aden, southern fighters clashed last night with rebels and allied troops who have seized parts of
the city, residents said, but no casualty toll was available.
10. Also in the south, Sunni tribesmen killed seven Huthi fighters in an attack on their position in Ataq,
the provincial capital of Shabwa, tribal sources said.
11. And three Al-Qaeda suspects were killed in a US drone attack in Saeed, elsewhere in Shabwa, a local
tribal chief said, adding that the militants were in a vehicle transporting weapons.
ISIS appeal much less in India

1.
India's religious diversity and tolerance are acting as a buffer against the ISIS, whose appeal is "much
less among the Indian population" compared to other countries,
2.
Being a visitor to this country, its religious diversity and expression is really fascinating. So many
religious groups living in harmony is actually a buffer, as ISIS is trying to create a wedge between Islam
and other religions.
3.
In countries which have predominately one religion, there it is easy for ISIS to unite Muslims. But in
India because of its diversity it is not possible, where so many religions, churches, mosques, exist side
by side.
4.
India has very few foreign fighters, compared to the size of the country even compared to Europe.
The appeal of ISIS is much less in India. In US and Europe we are very concerned about ISIS.
5.
Terming ISIS as a formidable group, Lafree said ISIS has a "deep bench" of leadership and it will not be
a easy task to wipe off ISIS.
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6.
In India terrorism based on religious radicalism is on the rise. India ranks fourth in the list of global
terror attacks in 2014. The first three are Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.
7.
India tends to have all kind of terrorism whether religious, left wing, right wing and many more. Sixty
per cent of the attacks have been from Maoists and Left wing terrorism.
A new World Bank PMEH Programme

1.
A new World Bank administered programme, with an initial total allocation of around $45 million, will
focus on air quality management in five major urban areas in India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and South
Africa.
2.
As such, the Pollution Management and Environmental Health (PMEH) programme, it could
contribute to improved environmental health conditions for an estimated 150 million people in those
cities over the next five years.
3.
PMEH, a new multi-donor Trust Fund will also support other countries and cities of Sub-Saharan
Africa, and aim to reduce land and water pollution, according to a World Bank media release.
4.
Pollution contributes to the preventable deaths of an estimated 9 million people each year - most of
them in developing countries.
5.
An estimated 7 million people were killed by diseases related to indoor and outdoor air pollution
alone in 2012 according to the World Health Organization.
6.
Government officials from several countries joined top musicians from around the world to commit to
improving people's health by ending pollution at the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day event on the US
National Mall, in Washington DC.
7.
Musicians from China and the US performed an original score to a multimedia presentation dedicated
to ending pollution for healthy lives.
8.
Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day was organized by the Earth Day Network and Global Poverty Project
and marked the 45th year anniversary of the founding of Earth Day.
9.
The event aimed to educate and energize people to support development and environmental issues
and served as a platform for the launch of the PMEH programme.
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Saudi Arabia ends 'Operation Decisive Storm'
1.
The Saudi Arabia-led coalition command announced on Wednesday the end of its military campaign
against Houthi rebels in Yemen after receiving a message from President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi,
evoking welcome reactions from several countries.
2.
The coalition stated that the airstrikes conducted as part of the "Operation Decisive Storm" military
campaign managed "to successfully remove threats to Saudi Arabia's security and that of
neighbouring countries", SPA reported citing a Saudi defence ministry official.
3.
The coalition will continue to prevent the movement of Houthi militias from moving or undertaking
any operations inside Yemen," the official said.
4.
Pakistan has welcomed the Saudi announcement and said it will pave the way for a political solution
of the crisis in Yemen.
5.
This will pave the way for a political solution of the crisis in Yemen," Pakistan Foreign Office
spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said in a statement, adding that the country shared Saudi Arabia's
desire for a "peaceful settlement of the crisis.
6.
The allied army also claimed that it had achieved its military goals in Yemen, and would now begin a
new operation called "Restoring Hope", with a focus shifted towards security, counter-terrorism, aid
and a political solution in Yemen.
7.
A new campaign, named "Operation Restoring Hope", was also announced after the military
campaign launched on March 26 fulfilled its objectives.
8.
The new push would usher in diplomatic and political efforts along with the military operations, the
coalition said, adding that the campaign ended following a request received by King Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, from the "legitimate" Yemeni government led by President Abd Rabbu Mansour
Hadi.
9.
Yemen's history and the Arab nation will record with golden ink the firm historical stance which
restored hope to the Yemeni people of their future whereas the Determination Storm has achieved its
goals.
10. We are confident that our joint endeavours with the coalition countries and the world community
would pave the way in Yemen for a new phase, in which its people will fold the latest hurtful events
that wreaked it.
11. Yemen people's free will, in drawing their future, away from any subjugation or coercion or
imposition of a status quo by force by the Houthi militias and their supporters will prevail.
12. Operation Restoring Hope", which would begin on Wednesday, aims to protect civilians and continue
fighting terrorism in Yemen, according to the statement.
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13. Meanwhile, Iran which opposed the military operation from its start has also welcomed the Saudi's
halt to its aerial campaign against Yemen, and expressed hope that national dialog among Yemeni
parties would resume.
14. Undoubtedly a halt to the killing of innocent and defenceless people is a step forward," Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said on Tuesday night.
15. The Saudi-led airstrikes and ground battles have killed about 700 people and wounded 3,000 over the
course of nearly a month, according to the Yemeni health and interior ministries.
UNSCs failure to resolve Palestinian issue

1.
India has said that the UN Security Council has been merely a standby witness to the long-standing
Israeli-Palestine issue and the world bodys failure to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict raises
questions about its effectiveness.
2.
Reiterating Indias support to the amicable resolution of the Palestinian issue, Indian envoy to the UN
Asoke Mukerji expressed concern that the UNSC has not been able to achieve the objective of a
peaceful solution to one of the long standing issues before it.
3.
The Council has at best been a standby witness to phases of escalation and relative calm which has
become characteristic of this unsettled issue.
4.
The effectiveness of the Council has consequently been brought into question, he said at the UNSC
open debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
5.
He said India joins other nations in urging the UNSC to step up its efforts and take the lead in
resolving the issue.
6.
India has supported the cause of Palestine and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people for
their struggle for a sovereign, independent, viable and a united State of Palestine within secure and
recognised borders side-by-side at peace with Israel and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
7.
Mr. Mukerji said India remains firmly convinced that dialogue remains the only viable option that can
effectively address the issue.
8.
We are particularly worried that last year saw a downward trend in the Peace Process. Efforts for
serious negotiations between the parties were inconclusive.
9.
Addressing the debate, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the prospects of a two-State
solution in the Middle East are getting dimmer with potentially explosive consequences for the entire
region.
10. He urged the international community to boost efforts at bringing both Israeli and Palestinian
delegations back to the negotiating table.
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India must intervene in Maldives: Amnesty
1.
Citing instances of human rights violations in Maldives and the clamp down on peaceful protests,
Amnesty International wants India as a large, thriving democracy with a prominent role to play in the
region to intervene.
2.
Armed with the report of a fact finding mission that was carried out in the island nation between April
17 and 22 April, Amnesty claims human rights situation in the Maldives is deteriorating alarmingly and
has accused the authorities of muzzling peaceful protesters, silencing critical media and civil society,
while abusing the judicial system to imprison opposition politicians.
3.
Amnesty said the civil society in Maldives too is looking at the world community, especially India to
engage with the Maldivian authorities to improve and protect human rights.
Facts about Malaria and Children

1.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that malaria kills more than 1,200 children a day
across the world, despite a 40 percent drop in child deaths from the disease since 2000.
2.
The UN agency released its "Facts about Malaria and Children" ahead of World Malaria Day to show
the extensive impact of the disease on children and on pregnant women around the world.
3.
With a 40 percent reduction in child deaths from malaria since 2000, this year's World Malaria Day is
an important marker in how far we have come," said Mickey Chopra, UNICEF's associate director for
programmes, and chief of health.
4.
However, the deaths of close to half a million children a year are a sobering reminder that without
increased efforts and investments this disease will remain a challenge to us all for a long time to
come," Xinhua quoted Chopra as saying.
5.
According to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria mortality rates have
decreased by 47 percent worldwide and 54 percent in Africa alone since 2000.
6.
Since 2001, it is estimated that more than four million malaria-related deaths have been averted,
approximately 97 percent of which have been children under five.
7.
Some 584,000 people died worldwide in 2013 from malaria, with 90 percent of these deaths
occurring in Africa. In all there were approximately 198 million cases of malaria worldwide.
8.
Although child deaths from malaria dropped significantly since 2000, children under five still
represent 78 percent of global malaria deaths, or 456,000 per year. This means more than 1,200
children die every day from malaria, about 50 children every hour.
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9.
Between 2001 and 2013, 4.3 million lives were saved by improved access to malaria prevention,
diagnosis and treatment. Of these, 92 percent (3.9 million) were children under five in sub-Saharan
Africa.
10. World Malaria Day is commemorated every year on April 25 and recognises global efforts to control
malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.
11. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. Asia, Latin
America, and to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected.
Iran, P5+1 begin draf for removing sanctions

1.
Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers have started drafting the text of the mechanism for
removing the sanctions imposed on Tehran over its peaceful nuclear programme, a senior Iranian
nuclear negotiator said.
2.
The US negotiation delegation gave the Iranian nuclear team very useful explanations regarding the
removal of anti-Iran sanctions, Press TV cited Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and
International Affairs Abbas Araqchi as saying after meetings with representatives of the P5+1 group in
this Austrian capital.
3.
This time we only worked on the question of sanctions but the fact is that we had worked on other
issues some months ago; I think in July last year.
4.
We had already done some drafting in the past, but then it was stopped because we had no solution
on major issues. Now we have solutions in almost all issues.
5.
What we have to do is to write down these solutions in the form of a draft of an agreement. We have
also started now from the sanctions and we will go to other issues next time.
6.
He said there were also positive talks about a resolution passed by the US Senate foreign relations
committee, which would be discussed on the Senate floor next week and was intended to give US
Congress a final say over a possible nuclear accord with Iran.
7.
Some remarks by officials in the US created lots of question marks, and also the act by the Congress
to introduce a new bill which actually added to this complicated situation.
8.
Araqchi further noted that the negotiating sides have made steady, but slow progress, adding, We
are working on a dispute settlement mechanism for possibility of violations.
9.
Representatives of Iran and the P5+1 group the US, Britian, Russia, France, China plus Germany
held intense talks here for the third day in their latest round of negotiations over Tehrans nuclear
programme.
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10. The talks in Vienna are aimed at drafting the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
according to the parameters set through a mutual understanding reached in the Swiss city of
Lausanne on April 2.
7 great achievements in child health research

1.
Pediatric research discoveries over the past 40 years have led to prevention and treatment strategies
that have saved millions of lives worldwide.
2.
Seven of the greatest research achievements will be presented on Sunday, April 26 at the Pediatric
Academic Societies annual meeting at the San Diego Convention Center.
3.
The research achievements include:
4.
Preventing diseases, such as rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), with life-saving
immunizations.
5.
Saving premature babies by helping them breathe.
6.
Reducing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with the Back to Sleep campaign, which urged parents
and caregivers to put babies to sleep on their backs.
7.
Curing acute lymphocytic leukemia, a common childhood cancer.
8.
Preventing HIV transmission from mother to baby.
9.
Increasing life expectancy for children with chronic diseases such as sickle cell disease and cystic
fibrosis.
10. Saving lives with car seats and seat belts.

11. There are many vaccines that have saved millions of lives, said Dr. Cheng, professor of pediatrics and
public health, and chair of pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
12. An example is the Hib vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae, a dangerous bacteria," she said. "When I
was an intern not thatmany years ago, the hospital ward had plenty of kids with serious infections like
meningitis from Haemophilus influenzae.
13. Another example of a life-saving intervention is putting babies to sleep on their backs instead of their
stomachs.
14. This discovery has decreasedthe SIDS rate by one half,said Dr. Cheng,who also is vice chair,
15. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and division chief, General Pediatrics
and Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public
Health.
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Five billion people have no access to basic surgery
1.
Millions of people are dying from easily treatable conditions like appendicitis, fractures or obstructed
labour because they either have no access or cannot afford proper surgical care, a significant research
published in the prestigious journal Lancet has revealed.
2.
Two-thirds of the world's people do not have access to safe and affordable surgery and anaesthesia
when they need it.
3.
Too many people are dying from common, treatable surgical conditions. The problem is especially
acute in the low and middle-income countries of eastern, western and central sub-Saharan Africa, and
South and Southeast Asia.
4.
The project is written by a group of 25 leading experts from across the fields of surgery and
anaesthesia with contributions from more than 110 countries.
5.
Access is worst in low-income and lower-middle income countries where as many as nine out of 10
people cannot access basic surgical care.
6.
Just under a third of all deaths in 2010 (16.9 million deaths) were from conditions treatable with
surgery - well surpassing the number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria combined - the report
said.
7.
Yet, despite this enormous burden of death and illness, which is largely borne by the worlds poorest
people, surgery has, until now, been overlooked as a critical need for the health of the worlds
population.
8.
The global community cannot continue to ignore this problem. Millions of people are already dying
unnecessarily and the need for equitable and affordable access to surgical services is projected to
increase in the coming decades, as many of the worst affected countries face rising rates of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and road accidents.
9.
Of the 313 million operations done worldwide each year, just one in 20 occur in the poorest
countries, where over a third of the worlds population lives.
10. New estimates produced for the project found that there is a global shortfall of at least 143 million
surgical procedures every year, with some regions needing nearly twice as many additional
operations as others.
South Asia has worlds most skewed gender wage gap: UN report
1.
South Asia has the worlds most skewed gender wage gap and is among the few regions where the
gender labour force participation gap is both large and growing, a new report from UN Women has
found.
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2.
The Progress of the Worlds Women 2015-2016 report comes 20 years after the landmark Fourth
World Conference on Women in Beijing.
3.
Since the Beijing Conference, significant advances have been made by many societies, particularly in
advancing womens legal rights.
4.
However, as [the report]shows, in an era of unprecedented global wealth, millions of women are still
consigned to work in low paid, poor quality jobs, denied even basic levels of health care, without
access to clean water and decent sanitation, the report finds.
5.
Globally, only half of women participate in the labour force, compared to three quarters of men; in
India only a third of women are in the labour force.
6.
In developing regions, up to 95 per cent of womens employment is informal, in jobs that are
unprotected by labour laws and lack social protection, the report says.
7.
On average globally, women are paid 24 percent less than men, the gaps for women with children are
even wider.
8.
In South Asia, the gender pay gap is 35 per cent for women with children compared to 14 per cent for
those without.
9.
With the right mix of economic and social policies, governments can generate decent jobs for women
(and men) and ensure that the unpaid care work that goes into sustaining all economies is recognised
and supported.
10. Well-designed social services and social protection measures can enhance womens income security,
from birth to old age, and enhance their capacity to seize economic opportunities and expand their
life options, the report says.
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NATIONAL
India ranks 13th in generating power from nuclear source
1.
India stands at the 13th place world-wide in generating electricity from nuclear source and expects to
increase the installed nuclear power capacity from 5,780 MW to 10,080 MW by 2019.
2.
India ranked 13th position in terms of generation. However, it stood at 7th position in terms of
number of reactors in operation country-wise globally.
3.
Noting that the government has accorded sanctions for two more projects with a total capacity of
3,400 MWMore nuclear power projects based on indigenous technologies and with international
cooperation are planned in future.
No need to have legal background for eminent persons in NJAC

1.
The Centre today told the Supreme Court that two eminent persons in the six-member National
Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) for appointing judges for higher judiciary need not have
legal background.
2.
The qualification for an eminent person under the law is not that he should have a legal background
and the same position is prevailing in the United Kingdom.
3.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice J S Khehar,
which is examining the constitutional validity of NJAC Act, 2014.
4.
The clarification from the Attorney General came as senior advocate Ram Jethmalani and others, who
have argued against replacing the two-decade old collegium system of appointment of judges by
judges, contended that the new law was "vague" on the issue of eminent persons.
World Bank arm to partner IREDA for energy projects

1.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private financing arm of the World Bank, has said it
would partner the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to provide infrastructure
financing for energy projects in India.
2.
This collaboration will help standardise steps that lenders take when co-financing projects with the
IFC. The ultimate aim is to make local currency financing available in shorter time-frames and reduce
financing costs for lenders and borrowers.
3.
IREDA, the financing arm of the renewable energy ministry, has become the second institution in
India after PTC India Financial Services to sign IFC's master cooperation agreement.
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4.
The partnership will help the IREDA increase its portfolio in financing renewable energy projects to
support the government's plans to establish up to 175 gigawatts of renewable energy projects over
the next seven years.
5.
The IFC's master cooperation agreement was created in 2009 for financial institutions to collaborate
more closely to help meet the shortfall in private sector financing during the global financial crisis.
6.
Since then, signatories have co-invested more than $3 billion with the IFC to support private sector
development across the world.
7.
Partnering with the IREDA will enable developers to speedily commission renewable energy projects
while having a positive environmental footprint and creating jobs.
Govt amends Foreign Exchange Management Act

1.
Tightening the noose on Indians holding black money abroad, the government on 1 May 2015
provided for the confiscation of domestic property of offenders and punishment of up to five years
under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
2.
The changes to this effect have been made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Finance Bill, 2015
passed by the Lok Sabha.
3.
As per a new clause inserted in FEMA, a person having assets abroad in contravention of the law
shall be liable to a penalty up to three times the sum involved and confiscation of the value
equivalent, situated in India, of the foreign exchange, foreign security or immovable property.
4.
It is also stipulated that in addition to the penalty, the offence will be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which can extend to five years and with a fine.
5.
The new provision also says the Enforcement Directorate can authorise the prosecution of the
offenders after recording reasons in writing.
6.
The government has also introduced a stringent Bill in the Lok Sabha to deal with the menace of black
money stashed abroad. Besides other things, the law provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years for
hiding foreign assets.
No Indian name on top 100 young university list

1.
No Indian university has made it to the list of the world's top 100 which are under 50 years old.
2.
Institutes from 28 countries are present in the list of rising global higher education universities poised
to challenge the traditional Anglo-American dominance of the sector.
3.
Over 800 universities worldwide had submitted data for analysis of which 20 were from India.
4.
Phil Baty, rankings editor, Times Higher Education, told TOI, "A number of these Indian institutions did
not meet our data providers' strict criteria for inclusion in the rankings which includes a minimum
number of research papers to be published each year and were therefore excluded.
5.
Many of the remaining institutions were also founded before 1964 which meant that they could not
be considered for the 100 under 50."
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India lags behind China in border infrastructure: panel
1.
India continues to lag far behind China in its plans to construct border military infrastructure for
swifter mobility of troops and weapons, which Manohar Parrikar will realize during his first visit to the
northeast as defence minister.
2.
Accompanied by Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag and others, Parrikar on Saturday is also slated
to visit Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, which much like eastern Ladakh continues to be a major
flashpoint between India and China.
3.
Also on the cards is a visit to the Bum La pass located on the border.
4.
Parrikar's experience there may be akin to what his predecessor AK Antony described as "an eye
opener" in 2007.
5.
When Antony for the first time looked across the Nathu La border post in east Sikkim, the realisation
finally hit home that China had constructed high-quality roads right till their military outposts along
most stretches of the unresolved 4,057km line of actual control (LAC).
6.
Indian troops, in turn, had to struggle through treacherous terrain on foot to reach their forward
positions in many sectors, with no proper roads and lateral links as well as the complete lack of rail
connectivity.
7.
Eight years later, the story remains somewhat same. "In case of war, the (Indian) Army cannot reach
Tawang area in a day.
8.
While our neighbouring country can reach the border within two or three hours, our Army takes more
than a day to reach there.
9.
This is a matter of great concern with regard to our defence preparedness," the parliamentary
standing committee on defence said this week, expressing great "dismay".
10. Leave along the stark asymmetry in military capabilities, India's much-touted plans to build the
infrastructure all along the LAC continue to flounder.
11. Only 19 of the 73 "strategic" all-weather roads (which add up to 3,812km) identified for construction
along the LAC for better troop mobility almost a decade ago, for instance, have been fully completed
till now.
12. This when all the 73 roads, with more east-west lateral links as well as better access routes to
strategic peaks and valleys, were to be completed by 2012.
13. The Border Roads Organization (BRO), which has completed only 19 roads (625km) of the 61 roads
(3,410km) entrusted to it, continues to regularly miss deadlines.
14. With the BRO directly under the MoD now, instead of the being part of the road transport ministry
earlier, the progress will be much faster now, contend officials.
15. The government is also working to ensure faster land acquisition as well as environmental clearances,
which have been among the main reasons for the long delays.
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IGIA adjudged worlds best airport
1.
The capitals Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has been adjudged the worlds best airport for
the year 2014, under the category of handling 25 to 40 million passengers per annum.
2.
Airports Council International (ACI) presented the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award to IGIA at a
ceremony of the ACI Asia-Pacific/World Annual General Assembly on April 28 in Jordan.
3.
We are honoured to represent an Indian airport at a highly acclaimed international forum as ACI. Our
IGI Airport partners and employees have consistently delivered a memorable and distinct experience
to our customers, enabling us to achieve the coveted world number one position.
4.
The Delhi airport scored 4.90 on a scale of 5 points measured by 300 members of the ACI ASQ
benchmarking programme.
5.
IGIA bettered its ranking from second position for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 to emerge on top in
2014. Their score was 3.02 in 2007.
WHO support Mission Indradhanush

1.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is utilising India's existing polio network to support the
government's ambitious 'Mission Indradhanush' as well as other routine immunisation strengthening
programmes.
2.
For the purpose, more than 300 medical officers of WHO India, spread across the country, have been
involved in the training of officers and frontline workers in various states and districts, WHO
Representative to India Nata Menabde said.
3.
In addition, over 2,000 field monitors have been deployed by WHO India to monitor the quality of
immunisation activities and provide real-time feedback to the government on the implementation
process and quality of immunisation coverage in the targeted high risk populations.
4.
Launched last December, Mission Indradhanush aims to cover by 2020 all such children, who are
either unvaccinated or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine-preventable diseases -diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.
No scope for reform of convicted official: SC

1.
There is no scope for a public official convicted of corruption to reform, and his punishment under the
country's anti-corruption law is meant to reflect the publics abhorrence for his crime.
2.
In a short judgment analysing the penological philosophy behind punishment for offences under the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
3.
The apex court observed that there is no room for sympathy or leniency towards a public servant
convicted of corruption.
4.
In fact, the 1988 statute does not even give scope for a corrupt public servant to reform, the
judgment said.
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5.
The 11-page verdict delivered by a three-judge bench recently reasons that once a public official is
convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, he automatically loses his job.
6.
. This situation affords him no second chance to redeem his conduct in public life.
India tops list of drone-importing nations

1.
The decision by India's National Disaster Response Force to use drones to help Nepal map the scale of
devastation caused by last month's earthquake indicates how India has enthusiastically taken to these
pilot-less aircraft -- the so-called eyes in the sky.
2.
With 22.5 percent the world's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imports, between 1985 and 2014, India
ranks first among drone-importing nations, followed by United Kingdom and France.
3.
UAVs, or drones as they are commonly known, are pilotless aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance,
surveillance, intelligence gathering and aerial combat missions.
4.
The advantage of UAVs is that they come at a fraction of the cost of manned aircraft with no risk to
human lives.
5.
The data here relate to drone/UAV transfers (imports/exports) between countries.
6.
There are also drones that have been indigenously developed, so the actual number of UAVs
possessed by each nation may be different.
7.
India's UAV imports, have almost all been from Israel, according to SIPRI data. Of 176 UAVs, 108 are
Searcher UAVs and 68 are Heron UAVs. Israel is the leading exporter of drones, accounting for 60.7
percent 1985 and 2014.
8.
The US, with a 23.9 percent of UAV exports, ranks second, followed by Canada with 6.4 percent. Israel
shipped has shipped 783 drones since 1980.
Some of India's eyes in the sky

Netra:
An autonomous UAV developed jointly by ideaForge Technologies and Defence Research and
Development Organisation.
Can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. It can also fly and return to base on its own.
Currently used by Indian armed and paramilitary forces.
The National Disaster Response Force used the Netra drone during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods to
identify survivors and assess damage.
It was also deployed during the Bhuj floods in 2013 by the Gujarat government.
Nishant:
Used for day/night reconnaissance, target tracking and extraction of target coordinates, artillery fire
correction and damage assessment.
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Nishant is being inducted into the Indian army, with 4 UAV units. Panchi: Wheeled-version of Nishant.
Capable of taking-off and landing from small airstrips. First flight in December 2014.
Rustom I:
All-weather, medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV. It will operate at medium-to-long ranges and

gather near real-time high-quality imagery and radio signals. It will perform a range of military
missions.
Rustom II:
Being designed to operate at up to 30,000 feet for 24 hours at a stretch.Aura: A combat drone
capable of flying at 30,000 feet and launching missiles, bombs and guided missiles.
Lakshya:
Remotely operated and used as a target to train gun and missile crew and air-defence pilots for the
three services.
Its uses in India

1.
The use of drones/UAVs in India is mainly confined to surveillance and reconnaissance, unlike the US,
which uses armed drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, according to Sameer Patil, associate
fellow on national security, ethnic and terrorism studies at Gateway House and former assistant
director at the National Security Council Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office.
2.
Drones used along the India-Pakistan border are simpler than the ones used on the Chinese border in
Ladakh, where they require long endurance and high-altitude capability, Patil said. UAV squadrons in
India mainly operate with Herons and Searcher MK IIs from Israel.
3.
However, there are also some UAVs/drones that have been indigenously developed or are under
development. As use grows, more drones are coming, also the armed ones.
Generation of Black Money in the Country

1.
The Government had commissioned a study, inter alia, on estimation of unaccounted income and
wealth inside and outside the country, which was conducted by National Institute of Public Finance
and Policy (NIPFP), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and National Institute of
Financial Management (NIFM).
2.
One of the terms of reference of the study was To identify important sectors of economy in which
unaccounted money is generated and examine causes and conditions that result in generation of
unaccounted money. Reports received from these Institutes are under examination of the
Government.
3.
There is no official estimation regarding the amount of black money generated in the country. Varying
estimations of the amount of black money have been reported by different persons/institutions.
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4.
Such estimations are based upon different sets of facts, data, methods, assumptions etc, leading to
varying inferences.
5.
However, sectoral analysis of seizure of valuables and admission of undisclosed income in the
searches conducted by the Income Tax Department in the last three financial years indicates that the
main sectors in this regard are real estate, trading and manufacturing, contractors, gems and
jewellery, services etc.
The Government has taken effective measures to curb the menace of black money
1.
Introduction of a comprehensive new law in the ongoing Budget Session 2015, specifically to deal
with black money stashed abroad.
2.
The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015 inter alia, providing for
stringent penalties (equal to three times the amount of tax payable) and prosecutions (rigorous
imprisonment upto ten years with fine) in this regard.
3.
Constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in May 2014, Chaired and Vice-Chaired by two
former judges of the Honble Supreme Court, inter alia, to deal with issues relating to black money
stashed abroad.
4.
While focusing upon non-intrusive measures, due emphasis on enforcement measures in high impact
cases with a view to prosecute the offenders at the earliest possible for credible deterrence against
tax evasion.
5.
Strengthening and streamlining the information collection and enforcement mechanism, inter alia,
through extensive use of information technology, capacity building etc.
6.
Joining the global efforts to combat cross-border tax evasion and tax fraud and to promote
international tax compliance, including supporting the implementation of a uniform global standard
on Automatic Exchange of Information on a fully reciprocal basis facilitating exchange of information
regarding persons hiding their money in offshore financial centres and tax havens.
7.
Renegotiation of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with other countries to bring the Article on
Exchange of Information to International Standards and expanding Indias treaty network by signing
new DTAAs and Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) with many tax jurisdictions to facilitate
the exchange of information and to bring transparency
8.
Proactively engaging with foreign governments for exchange of information under the provisions of
DTAAs/TIEAs/Multilateral Convention.
9.
Exploring non-government sources to obtain information regarding undisclosed foreign assets.
10. Effectively utilizing the information received from treaty partners to combat tax evasion and
avoidance.
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GSAT-18 communication satellite and launch services approved
1.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for
building of the GSAT-18. This is a communication satellite, weighing about 3425 Kg, for providing
replacement capacity.
2.
The GSAT-18 spacecraft project will require a total budget of Rs. 1022 crore including launch services.
All heritage proven bus system will be used to build the satellite in 30 months period. The satellite
structure will be similar to the GSAT-10 satellite.
3.
The GSAT-18 spacecraft will provide replacement capacity supporting the existing television,
telecommunication, and Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and VSAT services in the country.
4.
The GSAT-18 spacecraft will also augment and support the existing telecommunication, television,
DSNG and VSAT services in the country, hence benefiting all sections of society.
India not the best place to be mother

1.
India has slipped further in an annual survey that has zeroed in on the worlds best places to be a
mother. It now ranks 140th, behind countries like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Iraq.
2.
Save the Childrens State of the Worlds Mothers report for 2015 ranked India at 140, down from last
years 137th, on an index of four indicators that measure risk of maternal death, under-five mortality
rate, expected number of years of formal schooling, the gross national income per capita and
participation of women in government.
3.
Researchers compiled the index of 179 countries by using data from UN agencies to show where
mothers and children fare best and where they face the greatest hardships.
4.
According to Save the Children, Indian children on average spend 11.7 years in formal schooling and
52.7 out of 1,000 children in India die before their fifth birthday.
5.
The report found that children living in Delhi were among the most unequal with large gaps between
health provision for the poorest and the richest.
6.
While private high-quality sector health facilities are more plentiful in urban areas, the urban poor
often lack the ability to pay for this care, the authors said.
7.
Public sector health systems are typically under-funded, and often fail to reach those most in need
with basic health services.
8.
In many instances, the poor resort to seeking care from unqualified health practitioners, often
paying for care that is of poor quality, or in some cases, harmful, they said.
9.
This year, as last, the top of the table was dominated by European countries and Norway replaced
Finland at pole position. The US ranked 33rd and the UK 23rd.
10. In a ranking of child survival in 25 capital cities in the worlds wealthiest countries, Washington DC
came last. The next worst were Vienna in Austria and Bern in Switzerland.
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India home to 56 of the worlds powerful companies: Forbes
1.
India is home to 56 of the worlds 2000 largest and most powerful public companies, according to the
Forbess annual list which is topped by the US with its share of 579 companies.
2.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries leads the pack of 56 Indian companies in the 2015 Forbes
Global 2000 list.
3.
The list gives a snapshot of the worlds largest companies, and shows the dominance of the US and
China in the current global business landscape.
4.
The two countries split the top 10 spots for a second year in a row.
5.
Forbes said that for the first time, Chinas four biggest banks own the top four spots and the South
Asian giant is home to 232 of the worlds largest companies, adding more spots than any other
country in the world and surpassing Japan for the first time.
6.
Reliance Industries is ranked 142 on the list, down from last years 135th spot, with a market value of
42.9 billion dollars and 71.7 billion dollars in sales.
7.
The other Indian companies on the list are Oil and Natural Gas ranked 183, Tata Motors (263), ICICI
Bank (283), Indian Oil (349), HDFC Bank (376), NTPC (431), Tata Consultancy Services (485), Bharti
Airtel (506), Axis Bank (558), Infosys (672), Bharat Petroleum (757), Wipro (811), Tata Steel (903) and
Adani Enterprises (944).
8.
This years Global 2000 companies hail from 61 countries and account for combined revenues of USD
39 trillion, profits of USD 3 trillion, with assets worth USD 162 trillion, and a market value of USD 48
trillion.
Govt approves National Smart Grid Mission

1.
Government has approved National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) for planning, monitoring and
implementing policies related to smart (power) grid activities.
2.
Government has approved National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) -- an institutional mechanism for
planning, monitoring and implementation of policies and programs related to Smart Grid activities.
3.
The total outlay for NSGM activities for 12th Plan is Rs 980 crore with a budgetary support of Rs 338
crore.
4.
NSGM entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the
fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from
points of generation to points of consumption.
5.
NSGM has three tier structure. At the apex level, NSGM has a Governing Council headed by the Power
Minister. The members of the Council are secretary level officers of concerned ministries and
departments.
6.
At the second level, the NSGM has an Empowered Committee headed by the Secretary (Power). The
members of the committee are Joint Secretary level officers of concerned ministries and
departments.
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7.
The role of the Committee is to provide policy input to the Governing Council and approve, monitor,
review specific smart grid projects, guidelines/procedures etc.
8.
In a supportive role, NSGM has a Technical Committee headed by Chairperson (Central Electricity
Authority). The members of this committee are Director level officers of concerned ministries and
departments, representatives from industries and academia.
9.
The role of Technical Committee is to support the Empowered Committee on technical aspect,
standards development, technology selection guidelines etc.
10. NPMU is the implementing agency for operationalising the Smart Grid activities in the country under
the guidance of Governing Council and Empowered Committee.
Juvenile justice amendment bill passed

1.
Loksabha today passed a bill that provides for trying juveniles aged between 16 and 18 years for
heinous crimes under laws for adults, with the government insisting that it had tried to strike a "fine
balance" to ensure that no injustice was done to innocent children.
2.
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill was passed after the government agreed to
delete Clause7 which said that "any person, who is apprehended after completing the age of 21 years,
for committing any serious or heinous offence when such person was between the age of 16 to 18
years, then he shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be tried as an adult."
3.
At least 42 official amendments were moved by the government to the bills which were adopted,
while all the amendments moved by opposition members like Shashi Tharoor (Congress) and N K
Premchandran (RSP) were negated.
4.
Opposition members opposed the proposal to raise the age bar, expressing apprehensions about
misuse and violation of rights of children by the new law which is being enacted against the backdrop
of the involvement of a 16-year-old in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case.
5.
However, Minister for Women and Child Develoment Maneka Gandhi said she has tried to be "prochild" and made efforts to strike a "fine balance" between justice to victims and rights of children.
MoU Between Indian Army and Bank of India

1.
An MoU was signed between the Indian Army and Bank of India (BOI) on the Defence Salary Package.
2.
The signing ceremony was chaired by the Adjutant General, Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, and was attended
by senior dignitaries of BOI headed by Mr Arun Shrivastava, Executive Director.
3.
The first MoU between BOI and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was valid for a period of
three years.
4.
The revised MoU is tailor made to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families.
Numbers of additional facilities have been incorporated in the revised MoU after concerted efforts.
5.
Army is hoping that this MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who
are having their accounts with BOI; and also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking
facilities.
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6.
The basic features of the MoU are the same as before. It includes the standard bundle of free /
concessional services including free drafts, free cheque books, free funds transfers to any bank in
India through RTGS / NEFT, free ATM cards etc.
Government sets up panel on minimum alternate tax

1.
The government on Friday set up a high-level committee on minimum alternate tax (MAT) on foreign
institutional investors (FIIs), following the passing of the Finance Bill, 2015-16, in the Rajya Sabha.
2.
Replying to the debate on the bill, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a high-level committee for
looking into the controversial issue of levy of MAT on FIIs.
3.
Recently, the affected parties moved the Supreme Court for an early hearing. On behalf of the
government, it was conveyed to the court that the government had no objection to an early hearing.
4.
And we are also keen on a final settlement of the issue. It is expected that the Supreme Court will fix
an early hearing, the finance minister added.
5.
Jaitley had announced exempting FIIs from paying MAT on the capital gains earned by them, but soon
after the Income tax department sent notices to at least 90 foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).
Google's first Asia start-up campus opens in Seoul

1.
Googles first campus for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Asia has opened in Seoul.
2.
Google on Friday cited South Koreas flourishing start-up scene and pervasive smartphone use as the
reasons for picking Seoul after opening similar sites in London and Tel Aviv.
3.
Located in Gangnam, Campus Seoul rents out its 21,528 square foot space to start-ups.
4.
It also plans to host events for tech start-ups and for female entrepreneurs with children.
Three ambitious social security schemes launched

1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched three ambitious social security schemes, relating
to the insurance and pension sector and intended at widening the process of financial inclusion.
2.
On his first visit to West Bengal after taking over as prime minister, he kickstarted the "Pradhan
Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana" (accident insurance), "Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana" (life
insurance) and "Atal Pension Yojana" at a programme in Nazrul Manch.
3.
West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and union ministers Jayant
Sinha and Babul Supriyo attended the function where Modi inaugurated a plaque by pressing a
remote button to launch the schemes.
4.
An audio visual film was then shown highlighting salient features of the three schemes. The prime
minister then handed out certificates to the first three subscribers - including two women.
5.
The Jan Suraksha Yojana, under which the schemes were launched countrywide, is expected to
reduce the number of zero balance bank accounts created under the Jan Dhan Yojana.
6.
The schemes target the poor and unorganised sector who are neither covered by any form of
insurance nor get pension.
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7.
Under the accident insurance scheme, a person will be provided cover of Rs.200,000 for an annual
premium of Rs.12. The cover is for accidental death or permanent total disability.
8.
The scheme will be available to people in the age group of 18 to 70 years with a savings bank account,
who give their consent to join and enable auto-debit on or before May 31 for the coverage period June 1 to May 31 - on an annual renewal basis.
9.
The life insurance scheme will offer a renewable one year life cover of Rs.200,000 to all savings bank
account holders in the age group of 18 to 50 years, covering death due to any reason, for a premium
of Rs.330 per annum per subscriber.
10. On the other hand, the pension scheme focuses on the unorganised sector and provides subscribers a
fixed minimum pension of Rs.1,000, Rs.2,000, Rs.3,000, Rs.4,000 or Rs.5,000 per month starting at the
age of 60 years, depending on the contribution option exercised on entering at an age between 18
and 40 years.
11. Thus, the period of contribution by any subscriber under APY would be 20 years or more. The benefit
of fixed minimum pension enjoys sovereign guarantee.
12. While the scheme is open to bank account holders in the prescribed age group, the central
government would also co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution or Rs. 1,000 per annum,
whichever is lower, for five years.
13. The government contribution will be for those joining the scheme before Dec 31, 2015, are not
members of any statutory social security scheme and are not income tax payers.
14. It is estimated that the unorganised sector workers, which constitute 88 percent of the total labour
force of 47.29 crore, as per the 66th Round of NSSO Survey of 2011-12, do not have any formal
pension provision.
15. The three schemes were simultaneously launched at 112 centres in different states and union
territories attended by respective chief ministers/governors and the union ministers.
INS Sardar Patel commissioned

1.
A strategically important new Naval base--INS Sardar Patel--was today commissioned here, which
Navy chief R K Dhowan said will help boost security of Gujarat's 1600-km coastline.
2.
The base was commissioned by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who used the occasion to
mount an attack on the earlier UPA government, accusing it of ignoring the security concerns on the
state coastline.
3.
Patel unveiled the plaque and read the commissioning warrant of the new base which is second in the
state for the Indian Navy after INS Dwarka near Okha.
4.
Speaking at the event, Dhowan said the new base will help Gujarat strengthen security on its
coastline.
5.
"Gujarat is a thriving maritime state, which has 1600 km long coastline. The state has 43 private and
public ports which has contribution of 50 pet cent in country's maritime industries.
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6.
Around 120 million tonnes crude reaches various refineries in Gujarat from the Gulf of Kutch,"
Dhowan told reporters on board Naval ship INS Kolkata.
7.
Besides, Gujarat has also a blooming ship building industry that comprises both the public and private
ship yards. There are big fishing companies and also there are off-shore oil development areas in sea
blocks in Gujarat coast.
First phase of 'Clean Ganga' campaign

1.
The first phase of 'Clean Ganga' campaign will be completed by October 2016 for the conservation of
the river, water resources minister Uma Bharti said.
2.
The work for the completion of the first phase of 'Ganga Samagra Abhiyan' is in full swing and is
expected to be completed by October next year, Bharti said at a meeting here.
3.
A report on the conservation of the river's ecological system till Rishikesh has also been submitted by
an IIT Kanpur professor and another report on the 'Ganga Sagar' is expected to be submitted by him
in 1-2 months.
4.
We have identified 23 sewers adjacent to the Ganga and have initiated the treatment of the sewage.
There will be no delay of any scheme due to lack of funds falling under 'Namami Ganga.
5.
She also claimed that Narendra Modi will continue to serve as the Prime Minster for three more
terms and what he has done for the economic development and foreign policies for India in one year
was not even achieved by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
WHO declares Liberia Ebolafree

1.
Liberia is now free of Ebola after going 42 days - twice the maximum incubation period for the deadly
disease - without any new cases, the World Health Organization announced.
2.
While celebrating the milestone, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Saturday told The Associated
Press the damage wrought by the worst Ebola outbreak in history was "a scar on the conscience of
the world."
3.
For some survivors, she said, "The pain and grief will take a generation to heal."
4.
Meanwhile, new cases were reported this week in neighboring Sierra Leone and in Guinea, the other
two countries hit hardest by Ebola.
5.
For this reason, officials said they are cautious about openly celebrating the end of Ebola in Liberia, as
the continued presence of the disease in the region means just one sick patient slipping over the
border into Liberia could spark a resurgence of cases.
6.
Sirleaf said she was confident her country was now prepared "to deal quickly with any new cases
should they emerge."
7.
On Saturday Sirleaf, accompanied by US Ambassador Deborah Mala, toured health centers in

Monrovia, embracing and taking group photos with doctors and nurses. Nearly 200 health workers
died fighting Ebola in Liberia.
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8.
In a statement given to AP earlier Saturday morning at her Monrovia home, Sirleaf lamented the
damage done to her country, which was only about a decade removed from a devastating civil conflict
when the outbreak struck.
9.
"Young Liberians who only months before strode confidently to school with dreams of a future as an
engineer, a teacher or a doctor - all of which Liberia desperately needs - had their lives mercilessly cut
short," she said.
10. The international response to the Ebola outbreak has been roundly criticized as too slow and
ineffective. While praising the role international partners played in getting Liberia to zero cases,
Sirleaf said the fight "got off to slow start."
11. "Therefore, let today's announcement be a call to arms that we will build a better world for those
Ebola could not reach," she said. "It is the least the memories of our dearly departed deserve."
India's largest blast furnace plant dedicated to nation

1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated to the nation the upgraded IISCO Steel Plant
(ISP), that houses the country's largest blast furnace and has been modernised by the central
government at a cost of Rs.16,000 crore.
2.
After modernisation, the plant's production capacity has increased from 0.85 million tonnes per
annum (mtpa) to 2.9 mtpa.
3.
"With immense joy I dedicate to the nation the modernised and expanded IISCO steel plant in
Burnpur," Modi said at the function, attended by West Bengal Governor K.N.
4.
Tripathi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, union Minister of State for Steel Narendra Singh Tomar,
union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo, senior bureaucrats and eminent
persons.
5.
Describing the prime minister together with all the chief ministers as "Team India", Modi said the
plant showcased that centre and states together can solve all issues.
6.
"This modern plant is an example of how Team India will take the country forward. This plant which
was sick, is now standing powerfully on its feet. If the chief minister (Banerjee), the state (West
Bengal) government had created hurdles, this wouldn't have been possible.
7.
"This is the effort of team India that we are dedicating this plant to the country," said Modi at the
function held at Asansol Polo Ground in Burdwan district.
WHO releases code for naming new diseases

1.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a code for naming new human infectious
diseases.
2.
The best practices code applies to new infections, syndromes and diseases that have never been
recognized or reported before in humans, that have potential public health impact and for which
there is no disease name in common usage.
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3.
The code has been created as names of new diseases have had unintended consequences. The recent
outbreak of swine flu saw unnecessary culling of pigs worldwide.
4.
Bird flu outbreaks caused healthy chickens and wild birds being slaughtered. The outbreak of MERS or
the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome stigmatised the region and people travelling from it.
5.
The WHO said MERS and Spanish Flu are examples of what to avoid because they mention specific
locations which can lead to stigma against cultures, regions and economies.
6.
Keiji Fukuda, assistant director general for health security at the WHO, said, "This may seem like a
trivial issue but disease names really do matter to the people who are directly affected."
7.
According to Fukuda, certain disease names had created a backlash against members of particular
religious or ethnic communities and put up barriers to travel, commerce and trade and in some cases
triggered the needless slaughtering of animals.
eGov: Smart maps and smarter cities

1.
India is expected to see the greatest migration to cities of any country in the world in the next three
decades, with over 400 million new inhabitants moving into urban areas.
2.
The expansion of Indias urban population will also have to be met with an expansion of infrastructure
that is 20 times the capacity that has been added to Indias city over the last decade.
3.
While infrastructure, especially the creation of smart cities, has been a major focus area for the
government, smart maps and dynamic mapping technologies will be critical tools for the development
of Indias smart cities project, says a new report.
4.
The report, titled Smart Maps for Smart Cities: Indias $8 billion+ Opportunity, has been prepared by
consulting firm Dalberg Global Development Advisors, in association with the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII).
5.
The report, quantifies the value of smart maps to Indian citizens, businesses, and government within
the context of Indias urban development.
6.
It details how smart maps can facilitate the development of smart cities in little ways that add up to
huge economic benefits for citizens, businesses, and government.
7.
Smart maps in India have a unique opportunity for high-impact growth. Fewer than half of the
countrys five million kilometers of roads are mapped today, while only 10-20% of the countrys
businesses are listed on online maps.
8.
And, in a dynamically changing landscape like India, maps need to be updated faster and need better
coverage of local businesses to make maps a highly useful tool for citizens. The benefits to society and
economy as a whole are likely much greater.
9.
Smart maps use mapping technology that capture a broad range of data and are built to update
quickly and correctly in order to give people the most accurate information possible.
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10. Smart maps are also designed to be easy and intuitive to use in order to reach the widest possible
audience, and they encourage innovation by making it easy for users or businesses to incorporate
their own data.
Key benefits of smart maps

1.
India loses $11 billion annually due to traffic congestion on highways alone.
2.
Smart maps will make commuting more efficient, helping consumers and businesses alike to save
time and money.
3.
Emergency service responses will significantly improve by the use of smart maps.
4.
Smart maps that allow for crowd sourcing of information will allow small business owners list their
businesses online.
5.
Smart maps also allow consumers to find more information about local offerings, while also helping
them locate the businesses they are interested in.
Govt unveils roadmap for M2M communications

1.
As violence continues in Baltimore in the US following the custodial death of a black man, India has
pointed out areas of "concern" regarding the US' human rights record, including "deficiencies in law
enforcement procedures and disproportionate use of force"
2.
In a statement, India's Permanent Representative to the UN at Geneva Ajit Kumar acknowledged the
"openness of the US delegation in accepting areas of continuing concern such as racial bias in the
criminal justice system, incidents of bias-motivated crimes, including those committed against Hindus
and Sikhs, and need for safety and living conditions at confinement facilities".
3.
India made a few recommendations, including that the US "may consider establishing a national
human rights institution.
4.
India also welcomed the developments towards better protection of the rights of indigenous peoples
by the US.
Not possible to provide minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3K: Govt

1.
It is not possible to provide minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 under the Employees Pension
Scheme 1995 (EPS-95), run by retirement fund body EPFO, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
2.
The EPS, 1995 being a contributory scheme, obligations of all payments are met from the assets of the
fund.
3.
The higher level of minimum pension of at Rs. 3,000 is not possible without compromising the
financial viability of the scheme.
4.
In a separate reply, the Minister said providing a minimum pension of Rs. 3,000 to lakhs of existing
pensioners and crores of prospective pensioners has very huge financial implications and could
jeopardize the existence of the pension fund itself.
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5.
The Minister added: If the governments share is increased from 1.16 per cent to 8.33 per cent, as
recommended by the Committee, it would involve a substantial increase in the financial burden.
6.
It was estimated to involve Rs. 16,417 crore for the year 2013-2014 to implement this
recommendation.
7.
According to the reply, the 147th Report of the Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha had
recommended increasing the governments share of contribution to EPS-95 from 1.16 per cent of the
basic wages to 8.33 per cent to support the minimum pension level of Rs. 3,000 per month.
8.
The Minister informed the House that EPFO is providing Rs. 1,000 minimum monthly pension under
the scheme since September 1, 2014. It is benefiting around 20 lakh pensioners.
9.
There are around 47 lakh pensioners under the scheme run by the Employees Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO).
Centre okays Rs. 20,000-crore budget for Namami Gange scheme

1.
The Cabinet approved the flagship Namami Gange programme, which integrates the efforts to clean
and protect the River Ganga in a comprehensive manner.
2.
The programme has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years.
3.
The amount was a significant four-fold increase over the expenditure allocated to the task of cleaning
the Ganga over the past 30 years, a government release said.
4.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Mr. Modi, approved the flagship programme which integrates the
efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner, a government statement
here said.
5.
The programme has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next five years, the statement said,
adding that it marks a significant increase over the expenditure in the past 30 years.
6.
The Centre has incurred an overall expenditure of approximately Rs. 4,000 crore vis-a-vis Ganga
rejuvenation since 1985, it added.
7.
The statement said that, drawing from past lessons, the programme also focuses on involving the
states and grassroots-level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions for
its implementation.
8.
The programme would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its
state counterpart organisations, that is, the State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs).
Cabinet clears bill to curb benami deals

1.
To check the generation of black money in the country, the cabinet approved the new Benami
Transaction (Prohibition) Bill which provides for stringent measures against violators.
2.
The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 provides for attachment and
confiscation of benami properties and also fine with imprisonment.
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3.
This is one more initiative to fight the menace of black money inside the country, said an official
statement issued after the Cabinet meeting.
4.
For decades, benami transactions by nature have been entered into by people who buy immovable
and other properties in others names to avoid tax and disclosure of ownership.
5.
It has been one of the major sources of generation of domestic black money. There are no exact
estimates of how much black money is involved in benami transactions.
6.
As a sequel to the announcement in the budget, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, has given its approval to amend the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 by
moving of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Parliament.
7.
The Bill also provides for prosecution and aims to act as a major avenue for blocking generation and
holding of black money in the form of benami property, especially.
NTPC among successful bidders for LNG subsidy

1.
The second day of imported re-gassified liquified natural gas (RLNG) auction saw gas-based power
plants, with a combined capacity of 3,401 MW, share 1.1 mmscmd of available gas to run these
capacities at the 35% plant load factor (PLF).
2.
Out of the five successful bids, two came from NTPC, one from Gujarat-owned GSC and the other two
from the private sector. A total of 9,845 MW capacity has been running at sub-optimal PLF due to
scarcity of domestic gas.
3.
With the subsidised imported gas, these five units can now run at 35% PLF. The monetary support
required for the capacity from the Centre is between R1.75-1.96 per unit.
4.
The government had made 10 mmscmd of gas available for bidding 8.9 mmscmd for stranded
plants and 1.1 mmscmd for those receiving some domestic gas for June-September. As per the
scheme, the Centre will again invite bids for 15 mmscmd of imported RLNG post -September.
5.
Experts believe that while the scheme will enhance production from plants already running on
domestic gas, the auction will bring relief to successfull stranded plants with a combined capacity of 6,
867 MW.
6.
These units will now be able to service their debt which would help them from being classified as nonperforming assets (NPAs) by their lenders.
7.
As per official estimates, total gas based capacityboth stranded and those running at sub-par PLF
account for investment worth nearly R1,00,000 crore.
Kayakalp' launched
1.
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J. P. Nadda launched Kayakalp-an initiative
for awards to public health facilities, here today.
2.
The Health Minister also released the Swachchta Guidelines for Public Health Facilities.
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3.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister stated that the Kayakalp initiative will encourage
every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities
stay clean and hygienic.
4.
This does not apply only to physical cleanliness, but to develop and put in place systems and
procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols etc.
5.
The initiative towards total Swacchta in public health facilities is aimed towards building confidence
of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage team work
6.
The Health Minister invited various stakeholders, people, NGOs, voluntary organisations etc., to
participate in this endeavor and share the responsibility for cleanliness of the health facility.
7.
. The Health Minister urged the Health Secretaries to involve the public representatives, MLAs and
MPs of their areas in this initiative.
8.
This initiative will provide an opportunity and incentive to strengthen inter-sectoral coordination in
improving health systems at the state level.
9.
the objectives of the award scheme are to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control
practices in public health care facilities.
10. To incentivize and recognize such public healthcare facilities that show exemplary performance in
adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control.
11. To inculcate a culture of ongoing assessment and peer review of performance related to hygiene,
cleanliness and sanitation.
12. To create and share sustainable practices related to improved cleanliness in public health facilities
linked to positive health outcomes.
13. Five awards will be given under this scheme: Best two district hospitals in each state (Best district
hospital in small states), best two community health centres/sub district hospitals (limited to one in
small states) and one primary health centre in every district.
Affordable and Accessible Justice to Poor People

1.
Article 39 A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of
the society and ensures justice for all. In the year 1987.
2.
The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came into force on 9th
November, 1995 to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing free and competent legal
services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
3.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services
Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes.
4.
Legal services Institutions have been set up at all level from Taluk Courts to the Supreme Court. Apart
from these legal services institutions.
5.
High Court Legal Services Committees have been constituted at all High Courts and the Supreme
Courts Legal Services Committee at the Supreme Court level to provide free legal services to the
persons eligible under section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
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The free Legal Aid Services include;
Payment of court fee, process fees and all other charges payable or incurred in connection
with any legal proceedings;
Providing service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and another documents in legal
Proceedings; and
Preparation of appeal paper book including printing and translation of document ts in legal
proceedings
1.
Receipts of requests in this regard is a continuous process. These are received very often and the
same are forwarded to NALSA for taking up the matter with the concerned State Legal Services
Institutions for appropriate action.
2.
NALSA closely monitors the action on such requests. Social organizations are also involved in various
awareness and out reach programmes conducted by the State Authorities.
Kayakalp' launched
14. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J. P. Nadda launched Kayakalp-an initiative
for awards to public health facilities, here today.
15. The Health Minister also released the Swachchta Guidelines for Public Health Facilities.
16. Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister stated that the Kayakalp initiative will encourage
every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities
stay clean and hygienic.
17. This does not apply only to physical cleanliness, but to develop and put in place systems and
procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols etc.
18. The initiative towards total Swacchta in public health facilities is aimed towards building confidence
of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage team work
19. The Health Minister invited various stakeholders, people, NGOs, voluntary organisations etc., to
participate in this endeavor and share the responsibility for cleanliness of the health facility.
20. . The Health Minister urged the Health Secretaries to involve the public representatives, MLAs and
MPs of their areas in this initiative.
21. This initiative will provide an opportunity and incentive to strengthen inter-sectoral coordination in
improving health systems at the state level.
22. the objectives of the award scheme are to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control
practices in public health care facilities.
23. To incentivize and recognize such public healthcare facilities that show exemplary performance in
adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control.
24. To inculcate a culture of ongoing assessment and peer review of performance related to hygiene,
cleanliness and sanitation.
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25. To create and share sustainable practices related to improved cleanliness in public health facilities
linked to positive health outcomes.
26. Five awards will be given under this scheme: Best two district hospitals in each state (Best district
hospital in small states), best two community health centres/sub district hospitals (limited to one in
small states) and one primary health centre in every district.
Affordable and Accessible Justice to Poor People

6.
Article 39 A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of
the society and ensures justice for all. In the year 1987.
7.
The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came into force on 9th
November, 1995 to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing free and competent legal
services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
8.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services
Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes.
9.
Legal services Institutions have been set up at all level from Taluk Courts to the Supreme Court. Apart
from these legal services institutions.
10. High Court Legal Services Committees have been constituted at all High Courts and the Supreme
Courts Legal Services Committee at the Supreme Court level to provide free legal services to the
persons eligible under section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
The free Legal Aid Services include;
Payment of court fee, process fees and all other charges payable or incurred in connection
with any legal proceedings;
Providing service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and another documents in legal
Proceedings; and
Preparation of appeal paper book including printing and translation of document ts in legal
proceedings
3.
Receipts of requests in this regard is a continuous process. These are received very often and the
same are forwarded to NALSA for taking up the matter with the concerned State Legal Services
Institutions for appropriate action.
4.
NALSA closely monitors the action on such requests. Social organizations are also involved in various
awareness and outreach programmes conducted by the State Authorities.
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500% increase in cancer incidence in India by 2025
1.
Cancer is becoming increasingly common in developing countries. In fact, it is predicted that in India
by 2025 there will be a 500% increase in cancer incidence, 280% will occur due to aging and 220% due
to tobacco.
2.
That tobacco use either in the form of chewing (a habit peculiar to our country) or by smoking is
injurious to health is commonly known.
3.
Yet the addiction of both tobacco and its products is so powerful that it is an extremely difficult habit
to give up.
4.
The key therefore lies in educating children in schools and colleges as this addiction starts at young
age. The two most common cancers in India which are caused by tobacco are cancers of the headneck region and lung cancer.
5.
Over 200,000 cases of head neck cancer are diagnosed in India every year compared to only 30,000 in
the United States. Head-Neck cancers make up almost 25% of all cancers detected in India and pose a
significant health problem.
6.
Furthermore the disease is diagnosed in advanced stages when it cannot be cured and 2/3rd of
patients eventually succumb to it.
7.
Men are affected three times as commonly as women. Head-Neck cancers include cancers of the
cheek, tongue, and other parts of the oral cavity, the throat and upper part of the foodpipe.
8.
It occurs more commonly in the lower socio-economic class and is related to the indiscriminate use of
tobacco - use of lime with betel leaf and betel nuts, smoking, gutka and even alcohol.
9.
The sign that there may be a problem is when one finds an ulcer in the mouth or tongue which does
not heal or there are red or white patches on the sides of the mouth.
10. These could be pre-cancerous and require immediate attention. A doctor should be consulted if a
change in voice or difficulty in swallowing is noticed.
First time in 20 Years, Indian mobile phone sales drop

1.
Indian mobile-phone sales have dropped for the first time in 20 years, raising the question: Is a
slowdown at hand for the world's fastest-growing smartphone market?
2.
Mobile sales dropped 14.5 percent the first quarter (Q1, January-March) 2015, on a quarter-toquarter basis, compared to Q4 (October-December) 2014 -- from 62 million handsets in Q4 2014 to 53
million handsets in Q1 2015, according to a report of CyberMedia Research, a consultancy.
3.
The decline in smartphone sales from quarter-to-quarter was 7.14 percent. Cheaper "feature" phones
performed worse, with an 18.3 percent sales decline over the same period.
4.
India became the fastest-growing market for smartphones in Asia-Pacific in 2014, and is supposed to
overtake US as the second-largest smartphone market globally, with 204 million smartphone users by
2016, according to a study by eMarketer, a research firm.
5.
Experts believe cyclical glitches account for the downturn in mobile-phone sales.
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6.
"With major announcements of new handsets and entry of some new brands happening in a big way
in Q4 2014, there wasn't really something very exciting in the market for customers that could push
up sales in Q1 2015," said Faisal Kawoosa, lead analyst, Telecom Research at CyberMedia.
Norms eased for investments by NRIs, PIOs, OCIs

1.
In a bid to increase capital flows into the country, the Union Cabinet, announced a major shift in
foreign direct investment policy by categorising non-repatriable investments by non-resident Indians
(NRIs), overseas citizens of India (OCIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) as domestic investment.
2.
The Cabinet approved amendments to FDI policy on investments by NRIs, PIOs & OCIs. This will give
PIOs & OCIs parity with NRIs in economy and education, an official spokesperson said.
3.
An official release from the government added that the measure is expected to result in increased
investments across sectors and greater inflow of foreign exchange remittance leading to economic
growth of the country.
4.
The proposal was floated by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and the government
had formed a committee to deliberate on this matter last year.
5.
The Narendra Modi-led government, which has liberalised the FDI policy for sectors such as defence,
railways, construction development, medical devices and insurance, is keen to tap NRIs, OCIs and
PIOs.
National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) vs. collegiums system

1.
With the completion of first year, a veneer of strained civility masked the confrontation between the
executive and the judiciary.
2.
The first sign of tension concerned the aborted attempt to appoint senior lawyer Gopal Subramanium
as a Supreme Court judge.
3.
The collegium had recommended his elevation on May 13, 2014, when the UPA was in power.
4.
However, as the NDA took over at a crucial stage in the appointment process, Mr. Subramaniums
name was segregated and the remaining names were processed for appointment.
5.
The governments silence on why it did not want him appointed a judge cast a cloud on its intentions.
6.
Court watchers say it was the governments attitude on Mr. Subramaniums elevation that rankled
the most.
7.
It was after all only the fourth time in the countrys legal history that the collegium had recommended
a name from the Bar for direct elevation as Supreme Court judge.
8.
The stand-off between the executive and the judiciary finally led to Mr. Subramanium withdrawing his
candidature for the sake of his self-respect and dignity.
9.
This episode brought the knives out, with the then Chief Justice, R.M. Lodha, warning that he would
resign if the judiciarys independence was compromised.
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10. Justice Lodha blamed the government for taking the unilateral decision to segregate Mr.
Subramaniums name without consulting the collegium.
Debate on collegium
1.
The government invited eminent jurists to debate on a new law to replace the collegium itself.
2.
There was no representation from any of the sitting judges of the Supreme Court, especially when the
matter concerned judicial appointments and the survival of the 21-year-old collegium system.
3.
The debate resulted in absolute consensus that the collegium system should go.
4.
A flurry of activity ended with Parliament passing the NJAC Bill and the 121st Constitution
Amendment Bill in August 2014 and the Constitution Amendment sent for ratification to State
Assemblies.
5.
When the passage of the Bills was challenged before it, a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court
said it was too premature to consider the legality of the NJAC before it became a law.
6.
The period also saw the government compelled to rethink the Judicial Standards and Accountability
Bill in view of objections from judges.
7.
This Bill seeks to lay down enforceable standards of conduct for judges and a mechanism to allow any
person to lodge a complaint against a judge on grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity.
8.
By December 2014, the political class had closed ranks to ratify the 99th Constitution Amendment,
incorporating the NJAC into the Constitution, and the amendment received Presidential assent.
Five-judge Bench
1.
Subsequently, a second batch of petitions was filed in January 2015, again challenging the NJAC law
and the Constitution Amendment as unconstitutional and a threat to judicial independence
2.
These petitions travelled from initial hearings before a three-judge Bench to a five-judge Bench
headed by Justice J.S. Khehar.
3.
The NJAC Act was notified in April even as the challenge against it was pending before the Supreme
Court.
4.
In day-to-day hearings in the Supreme Court, the government attacked the collegium, calling it a
system of judges appointing judges unique to the Indian judiciary. Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi
termed the apprehensions about the NJAC alarmist.
5.
The government even sought a referral of the petitions to a larger Bench of nine to 11 judges to first
debate the legality of the 1993 and 1998 Supreme Court judgments in the Second Judges Case and
Third Judges Case, which ushered in the collegium system, before going into the merits of the NJAC
law.
6.
On May 11, the five-judge Bench refused, for the time being, the governments proposal to have a relook at the 1993 and 1998 judgments before going into the constitutionality of the NJAC law.
7.
A new chapter of a to-and-fro between the government and the judiciary waits to be opened on June
8 when Justice Khehars Bench will start hearing on the merits of the NJAC law.
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8.
Other developments too pointed to the executives troubled ties with the judiciary. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi remarked at a public forum that judicial views should not be driven by five-star
activists. Mr. Rohatgi made some candid submissions in open court against the illegality of the
collegium.
India successfully conclude Presidency of World Health Assembly

1.
The Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda successfully steered the
proceedings of the 68th Session of the World Health Assembly in his capacity as its President.
2.
It was after a gap of 19 years that India assumed the Presidency of the World Health Assembly, the
highest decision making body of the World Health Organisation. The 68th WHA took place in Geneva
from 18-26 May 2015.
Outcome
1.
The significant outcome of the 68th World Health Assembly is the adoption of a Global Action Plan on
Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) which prepares a blueprint with specific actions and timelines for
WHO as well as Member States to address the growing threat of AMR.
2.
The UN General Assembly is expected to hold a high-level segment on AMR in 2016 to further
highlight the need for comprehensive implementation of the Plan.
3.
Other major outcomes of the 68th World Health Assembly include bringing adverse health impacts of
air pollution to the main agenda of the World Health Organization and extension of the
implementation timeframe of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health Innovation and
Intellectual Property (GSPOA).
4.
The Assembly also endorsed the Director Generals Action Plan to strengthen the emergency
response capacities of WHO and approved a 8% increase in WHOs programme budget for 2016-17.
Indias Contribution
1.
India played a constructive role in the adoption of consensus resolutions on AMR and air pollution
and also co-sponsored the resolution on GSPOA.
2.
India used the opportunity of its Presidency to reiterate its commitment to WHO and announced
voluntary contributions to the tune of US $ 2.1 million towards the new WHO contingency fund, the
pooled fund for implementation of R&D demonstration projects and the Member State Mechanism
on SSFFC Medical Products.
3.
In his capacity as the President of the 68th World Health Assembly, Shri J P Nadda and Dr. Margaret
Chan, Director-General of WHO jointly inaugurated a photo-exhibition on Yoga for All, Yoga for
Health on 19 May, 2015.
4.
This is the first major event on Yoga at the United Nations since adoption by the UN General Assembly
last year of a resolution that declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, and a precursor to the
first observance of the International Day of Yoga on 21st June this year in Geneva.
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Govt. removes 125 obsolete laws
1.
Over 120 obsolete laws have been repealed by the Narendra Modi government, while another 945
which have lost relevance are awaiting Parliamentary approval to lose their place in statute books.
2.
According to data compiled by the Legislative Department of the Law Ministry, with the passage of
two Bills in Parliament, 125 archaic laws have been repealed.
3.
Another two Bills are pending Parliamentary approval. Once these Bills are cleared, another 945 laws
will be repealed.
4.
We have identified 1,871 more laws which have lost relevance today. We plan to bring bills to get
them repealed, Secretary, Legislative Department in the Law Ministry, Sanjay Singh said.
5.
This is the first time since 2001 that such an exercise is being undertaken by the Law Ministry in line
with Prime Minister Narendra Modis agenda to do away with archaic laws which were hindering
efficient governance.
6.
Between 1950 and 2001, over 100 Acts were repealed. A Bill to repeal 758 Appropriation Acts,
including Railways (Appropriation) Acts, which have lost relevance and are clogging the statute books
was introduced in Lok Sabha recently.
Death convict can't be hanged hurriedly, secretly: SC

1.
Holding that death convicts can't be denied fundamental right to life, the Supreme Court today said
that govt cant hang condemned prisoners without giving him prior notice and allowing him to meet
family members.
2.
A bench of justices AK Sikri and UU Lalit said that proper procedure must be followed by govt
authorities and execution cannt be done till the the convict exhausts all remedy available to him to
save his life.
3.
The court quashed the death warrants issued by a UP sessions court for hanging of Shabanam and her
lover Saleem for killing her seven family members who were opposing the relationship.
4.
The apex court on May 15 awarded death sentence to the couple. Eithin a week after the judgement,
the sessions court issued death warrants.
5.
It said the convict should be give a sufficient time to seek review of apex court verdict and also to file
mercy petition before the Governor and the President.
Cancer cases on the rise but death rate is falling

1.
The incidence of cancer has grown over the last decade in India although the rate of mortality has
fallen, new data shows.
2.
Breast cancer is the fastest growing in terms of incidence for women and kills the most, and prostate
cancer is the fastest-growing in incidence for men, while lung cancer killed the most men.
3.
An international consortium of researchers led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at
the University of Washington analysed 28 cancer groups in 188 countries.
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4.
The study, The Global Burden of Cancer 2013, was published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
5.
Globally, the incidence of cancer is rising, but even as it has become the second leading cause of
death, mortality is falling with better detection and treatment across countries.
6.
In 2013, there were 14.9 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths worldwide. Among men, prostate
cancer caused 1.4 million new cases and 293,000 deaths.
7.
For women, breast cancer caused 1.8 million new cases and 464,000 deaths.
8.
India has a lower incidence of cancer than the global average, with just half the number of new cases
recorded every year per capita than the global average.
9.
However, the incidence has grown from over 700 new cases per million populations to nearly 1,000
new cases per million people, the numbers show.
India tops world hunger list with 194 million people

1.
India is home to 194.6 million undernourished people, the highest in the world, according to the
annual report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released.
2.
This translates into over 15 per cent of Indias population, exceeding China in both absolute numbers
and proportion of malnourished people in the country's population.
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3.
Higher economic growth has not been fully translated into higher food consumption, let alone better
diets overall, suggesting that the poor and hungry may have failed to benefit much from overall
growth.
Report suggest
1.
The report suggests that this is a result of growth not being inclusive. Rural people make up a high
percentage of the hungry and malnourished in developing countries.
2.
Efforts to promote growth in agriculture and the rural sector can be an important component of a
strategy for promoting inclusive growth.
3.
There has however been a significant reduction in the proportion of undernourished people in India
by 36 per cent from 1990-92.
4.
In India, the extended food distribution programme has contributed to a positive outcome, the FAO
says.
795 million globally

1.
Around the world, 795 million people or around one in nine are undernourished.
2.
Asia and the Pacific account for almost 62 per cent of this section. Yet, the trends are positive, with a
decrease in the prevalence of people with undernourishment from 18.6 pc in 1990-92 to 10.9
percent in 2014-16 worldwide.
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Children faring better
1.
Southern Asia, which has historically had the highest number of underweight children below five
years of age, also happens to be a region that has made big strides in reducing malnutrition among
children.
2.
According to the statistics, the prevalence of underweight children declined from 49.2 per cent in
1990 to 30 per cent in 2013.
3.
A host of factors can contribute to children being underweight, not just deficiency in calories or
protein, the report says. Poor hygiene, disease or limited access to clean water can also contribute to
the bodys inability to absorb nutrients from food, manifested finally in nutrient deficits such as
stunting and wasting.
4.
The report cautioned that the reasons for undernourishment should be viewed against the backdrop
of a challenging global environment.
5.
Factors include volatile commodity prices, higher food and energy prices, and rising unemployment
and underemployment.
6.
The global recession in 2008, natural disasters, political instability in various regions of the world, and
civil strife were also cited as hindering food security.
Technology Mission to function for research and use on Indian Railways

1.
The Railways Ministry has decided to set up the Technology Mission forIndian Railways(TMIR) as a
consortium along with the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Science and
Technology
2.
Ministry of Industries on an investment-sharing model for taking up identified projects for applied
research and use in railways.
3.
TMIR will function through the mission implementation and coordination committee (MICC),
comprising Prof. N.S. Vyas (former head of mechanical engineering, IIT-Kanpur) as the mission
chairman and Railway Board executive director Alok Kumar as the co-chairman.
4.
The MICC will formulate the mission management manual (MMM) for functioning of TMIR and the
domain specific sub-committees for various fields of railway working and also for monitoring the
progress of research and technology projects.
5.
TMIR will also monitor progress of research projects of the existing Railway Research Centre (RRC) at
IIT-Kharagpur and other four upcoming centres sanctioned in the 2015-16 budget.
6.
Thus, railways investment in applied research activities will be fruitfully converted to technology
development for actual use in railway working.
7.
The execution of various projects under TMIR will be dealt in terms of procedures, to be defined in
its MMM.
8.
The nodal directorate for functioning of the TMIR and its MICC will be the Railway Board Efficiency
and Research Directorate.
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INTERNATIONAL
Worm index linked to nations human development index
1.
A team of researchers has developed the worm index, which they found to have a strong association
with a nations human development index.
2.
With the Millennium Development Goals established by the UN coming to an end in 2015, experts
have developed a new tool to show why neglected tropical diseases should be an essential
component of these goals.
3.
Such tropical diseases are considered the most common infections of the worlds poor.Now, work is
on to evolve new Sustainable Development Goals that will entail a set of targets for the future of
international development.
4.
The team has used World Health Organization data for the number people at risk of parasitic worm
infections in each of the largest nations and comparing this number to each nations population.
5.
Through this paper, we have shown how the major neglected tropical diseases, which include
intestinal worm infections, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis, are intimately tied to human
development.
6.
We found a very tight association between the worm index of a country and the human development
index.
7.
The higher the worm index, the lower the human development index, said Peter Hotez, dean of the
National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas.
8.
Because decreased human development is related to increased burden of parasitic worm infections,
we recommend that serious consideration should be given to parasitic worm infections and other
neglected tropical diseases when trying to attain goals that will ultimately improve human
development.
9.
For example, when implementing the sustainable development goals, said Jennifer R. Herricks,
postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine.
Worlds oldest Buddhist shrine damaged in Nepal quake

1.
Swayambhunath Stupa, believed to be the worlds oldest Buddhist shrine, has been partially damaged
by Nepals devastating April 25 earthquake that has killed over 7,000 people.
2.
Several monuments situated in the vicinity of the 2,000 year-old Lichchhavi-era Buddhist shrine
situated on top of a hill in western Kathmandu have been damaged, though the main stupa has
remained intact during the 7.9-magnitude earthquake.
3.
Three Buddhist monasteries, including Karmapa Bihar, Jyoti Kirti Bihar, Maha Bihar, Shantipur,
Pratapur, Anantapur, and Manjushree temple were also damaged by the powerful temblor.
4.
The earthquake damaged more than two dozen houses situated in the vicinity of the stupa which is
providing shelter to 27 local priest families, according to locals.
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Mission Mangroves in Sri Lanka
1.
More than half the worlds mangroves have been lost over the last century, but all of those surviving
in Sri Lanka, one of their most important havens, are now to be protected in an unprecedented
operation.
2.
The organiser of the project, the biggest of its kind, sees the role of women as the key to its success.
3.
Mangroves are an important protection against climate change as they sequester up to five times
more carbon than other forests, area for area.
4.
They protect coastlines against flooding and tsunamis, and provide a vital habitat for marine animals,
especially crabs, shrimp and juvenile fish.
5.
In an initiative designed to prevent any more being cut down in Sri Lanka and to boost some of the
poorest communities in the world, women will be offered small loans and training to start businesses.
6.
In return for the microloans, the 15,000 women, including thousands of widows from the civil war,
will be expected to stop using the trees for firewood and to guard the forests near their homes.
7.
Conservationists behind the scheme, which is backed by the Sri Lankan government, believe the focus
on women will bring huge benefits to living standards in coastal communities.
8.
We have discovered that if you want a project to succeed, have the women of the community run
it, said Anuradha Wickramasinghe, chairman of the Sri Lankan NGO Sudeesa.
9.
Other conservation organisations have found the same thing. Its in our culture. The mother is the
central.
10. The 2.2-m initiative announced on Tuesday is designed to save mangroves covering 21,782 acres
(8,815 ha) in 48 lagoon systems and involves women from 1,500 communities.
11. Women involved in the scheme will protect mangroves by ensuring no one in their communities, or
from outside, cuts down the trees.
Liberia holds Goodbye Ebola celebrations

1.
Liberians gathered in the streets of the capital on Monday to celebrate the end of the Ebola epidemic
in this West African country.
2.
The festivities come after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared over the weekend that
Liberia was finally Ebola-free.
3.
More than 4,700 people died during the Ebola crisis in Liberia, the country hardest hit by the
outbreak.
4.
Ebola continues to claim victims in Sierra Leone and Guinea, where health officials have had difficulty
tracing new cases.
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US clears up myths on defence pacts for India
1.
Ahead of defence secretary Ash carters coming visit to India the US is keen to address myths and
inaccuracies about a set of defence agreements it has proposed to New Delhi.
2.
Drafts for three of these agreements, which are together referred to as foundational sometimes,
were turned over to India over past some weeks, following President Barack Obamas visit.
3.
Despite being labelled foundational, a senior defense official said, they are not prerequisites to
bilateral defence cooperation... there is nothing foundational about them. The official insisted there
was no pressure on India to sign them, any or all of them, nor was there a timeline on it.
4.
They may come up during Carters visit next month his first since becoming secretary of defence
to formally renew the 10-year Defense Framework Agreement.
5.
The agreements are General Security of Military Information Agreement, Communications and
Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), Logistics Support Agreement, and Basic
Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence.
6.
The first was signed in 2002. Progress on the rest has been slow. The US call these agreements
routine, which it has signed some or all of them with over 100 other countries.
7.
Though the absence of these agreements has had no bearing on ties, India has had to settle for
stripped down versions of high-tech defence equipment it has bought.
8.
For example, India could have added an advanced terrain mapping software to the C-130Js it has
bought if it had signed the CISMOA, the defence official said.
9.
But there are misconceptions about the agreements in India, the official said, which are distracting.
India honoured for contribution to UN Peacekeeping

1.
India was honoured for its significant contribution to UN Peacekeeping over the last six decades at an
event to celebrate International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Capitol Hill, the seat of US Congress.
2.
India's Ambassador to the US, Arun K Singh, received the award in recognition for India's commitment
to peacekeeping at the event organized by Better World Campaign, The UN Association of the USA
and the US-India Business Council.
3.
India has contributed nearly 180,000 troops, the largest number from any country, participated in
more than 44 missions out of the 69 UN peacekeeping operations mandated so far and 158 Indian
peacekeepers have been killed on UN missions.
4.
In 2015 India is among the largest troop contributors with around 8000 personnel deployed with ten
UN Peacekeeping Missions, including the first Female Formed Police Unit under the UN.
5.
Speaking of the role and importance of peacekeeping, Singh said "India stands committed to assist
the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security with a proud history of UN
peacekeeping dating back to its inception in the 1950s.
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UN adopt resolution to strengthen relief efforts in Nepal
1.
The UN has adopted a resolution, led and co-sponsored by India, calling the international community
to urgently assist Nepal and help rebuild the country following the devastating earthquake that killed
more than 8,200 people.
2.
The resolution was adopted by consensus here yesterday during a special 193-member General
Assembly session.
3.
The UN appealed once again to the world body to help raise USD 423 million over the next three
months to meet essential needs of Nepal earthquake survivors.
4.
India had taken the lead in negotiating the resolution on Nepal that was co-sponsored by 65 other
nations including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Germany, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, UK and the US.
5.
India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji said that as a "close friend and neighbour" of Nepal,
India launched 'Operation Maitri' to aid in the rescue and relief efforts.
6.
"The relief and rescue work provided by India was done in consultation and coordination with the
Nepalese Government,"
7.
Mukerji said, adding that the first flight from India was dispatched with relief material within four
hours of earthquake and there were non-stop sorties of aircrafts carrying 550 tonnes of relief
material.
8.
The Indian Army was operating 13 helicopters from Kathmandu and Pokhara and India had deployed
16 teams of the National Disaster Reaction Force, comprising over 700 trained personnel.
9.
Ban called on the international community to rally in support of the country and invest for the long
haul so that it can sustain itself as it recovers and rebuilds from a devastating earthquake.
India's vast rich forests could feed the world

1.
With the global population expected to touch 9 billion by 2050, food from forests in India and
elsewhere have potential to address needs of nutrition and food security at a time when the limits of
boosting agricultural production are becoming increasingly clear.
2.
A new report produced by an international panel led by Bhaskar Vira, an expert based at the
University of Cambridge, says that despite impressive productivity increases, there is growing
evidence that conventional agricultural strategies fall short of eliminating global hunger.
3.
These result in unbalanced diets that lack nutritional diversity, enhance exposure of the most
vulnerable groups to volatile food prices, and fail to recognise the long-term ecological consequences
of intensified agricultural systems.
4.
Indias vast forst forests resources could help enhance its food security, since many fruits and other
crops from Indian forests are yet to be recognised as food.
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Highest ever recorded number of globally displaced: UN
1.
Almost 60 million people worldwide were forcibly uprooted by conflict and persecution at the end of
last year, the highest ever recorded number, the UN refugee agency said.
2.
More than half the displaced from crises including Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia were children, The
UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its annual Global Trends Report.
3.
Guterres said the responsibility to protect Syrian refugees should not be lie solely with Turkey, Jordan
and Lebanon, and called on the European Union and other parts of the world to open their borders to
refugees.
Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra

1.
Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria have entered the Unesco World Heritage site of Palmyra after
seizing the town next to the ancient ruins.
2.
Unesco says its destruction would be "an enormous loss to humanity", but no damage has been
reported there yet.
3.
IS now controls the nearby airport, prison and intelligence HQ, the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights says.
4.
The militants have previously demolished ancient sites in Iraq that pre-date Islam.
5.
The ancient ruins are situated in a strategically important area on the road between the Syrian
capital, Damascus, and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour. Palmyra is also close to oil and gas
fields.
Quick facts about Palmyra

1.
The rose-gold ancient ruins of Palmyra (known in Arabic as Tadmor) are one of the premier ancient
sites in the Middle East, and for many travellers, the standout highlight of any visit to Syria.
2.
Rising out of the desert of central Syria, flanked by an expansive oasis, and just three hours from
Damascus, Palmyra must rank high on your list of must-sees.
3.
Tadmor is mentioned in texts discovered at Mari dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.
4.
Early rulers included the Assyrians and Persians, before the settlement was incorporated into the
realm of the Seleucids, the empire founded by a former general of Alexander the Great.
5.
From an early time Tadmor was an indispensable staging post for caravans travelling between the
Mediterranean, Mesopotamia and Arabia.
6.
It was also an important link on the old Silk Route from China and India to Europe, with the city
prospering greatly by levying heavy tolls on the caravans.
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China sets up "largest" gold fund for nations along Silk Road
1.
China, the world's biggest gold producer, has set up a gold sector fund involving countries along the
ancient Silk Road which is expected to raise $16.1 billion.
2.
The fund, led by Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE), is expected to raise an estimated 100 billion yuan
($16.1 billion) in three phases.
3.
The fund has been set up in northwest Xi'an city during an ongoing forum on investment and trade.
4.
China is the world's largest gold producer, and also a major importer and consumer of gold.
5.
Among the 65 countries along the routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century
Maritime Silk Road, there are numerous Asian countries identified as important reserve bases and
consumers of gold.
6.
About 60 countries have invested in the fund, which will in turn facilitate gold purchase for the central
banks of member states to increase their holdings of the precious metal.
7.
China does not have a big say in gold pricing because it accounts for a small share of international
gold trade.
8.
Therefore, the Chinese government seeks to increase the influence of RMB in gold pricing by opening
the domestic gold market to international investors.
9.
The fund will invest in gold mining in countries along the Silk Road, which will increase exploration in
countries such as Afghanistan and Kazakhstan.
U.N. calls for comprehensive response to migrant crisis

1.
The U.N. called for a comprehensive response to the large scale humanitarian crisis of migrants
from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
2.
Of which nearly 2,000 are still believed to be stranded in the perilous sea across the Bay of Bengal.
3.
At the moment the priority should be saving those people who are at sea but in the long term,
obviously, have to address the root cause of the problem.
4.
This has to include efforts for reconciliation in Rakhine State where there have been ethnic clashes
and also the issue of citizenship has to be addressed by the authorities in Myanmar.
5.
17 countries, including India, the U.S., Australia, Japan and the regional countries of Myanmar,
Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh are participating in a meeting in the Thai
capital to thrash out a solution to the crisis even as 2000 people are still believed to be stranded on
the sea.
6.
Rohingya Muslims are a minority group who have suffered persecution in Myanmar while the
countrys government has refused to acknowledge them as full-fledged citizens.
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June, 2015
Modi to be first Indian PM in Israel
1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Israel, making him the first Indian Premier to visit the
country, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.
2.
Addressing a press conference to recount the achievements of the External Affairs Ministry in the past
year, Ms. Swaraj said the PMs dates were not confirmed
3.
Sources told The Hindu the visit could happen this year itself, with a high-level Indian team travelling
to Tel Aviv in July for discussions on several bilateral issues.
4.
Ms. Swaraj also said she would visit Israel, Palestine and Jordan later this year, and will travel to
Tehran in June for the Non-Aligned Ministerial meet.
Solar Impulse begins its toughest stretch

1.
A Swiss pilot of a solar plane on Sunday embarked on the longest leg of the first attempt to fly around
the world without a drop of fuel.
2.
Andr Borschberg took off from Nanjing, China, at 2.39 a.m. on Sunday (18: 39 GMT Saturday) in the
Solar Impulse 2 for a flight across the Pacific Ocean expected to last six days and five nights, or at least
130 hours.
3.
The journey started in March in Abu Dhabi, and the solar plane has stopped in Oman, India, Myanmar
and China.
4.
The 8,175-kilometre flight from Nanjing to Hawaii is the seventh of 12 flights and the longest and
most dangerous.
5.
Mr. Borschberg and another Swiss pilot, Bertrand Piccard, have been taking turns flying the singleseater Swiss plane during a five-month journey to promote renewable energy use.
Soni Sori continues as face of tribal protest

1.
Until a year ago, Soni Sori symbolised the plight of Bastar tribals tortured, humiliated and caught in
the conflict between Maoists and the state.
2.
But now, she is fast emerging as the face of a protest the tribals have launched against the violence
and repression from the state as well as from the rebels.
3.
Many expected her to vanish from the political scene after she lost the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from
Bastar, where she was the Aam Aadmi Party candidate.
4.
Instead, she started fighting for the tribals, at the forefront of every protest organised in Bastar in the
last one year.
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NSA can no longer spy on Americans
1.
Key provisions of the far-reaching U.S.A. Patriot Act, initially introduced after the 9/11 terror attacks
in 2001, lapsed without renewal by Congress.
2.
The U.S. National Security Agency effectively lost the authority to conduct bulk telephone data
collection on millions of Americans.
3.
Under Section 215 of the Act, the NSA is permitted to collect and store for five years telephone
metadata on millions of Americans and that authority has temporarily evaporated.
4.
Similarly, intelligence authorities right to receive a roving wiretap to track terror suspects who
frequently change telephones has been rescinded.
Inland waterways Bill to be tabled in winter session of Parliament

1.
A Bill to develop an additional 101 inland waterways will be tabled in the winter session of
Parliament, Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, said.
2.
We are confident that the Bill will be passed in the winter session and we are open to suggestions,
he said speaking at FICCIs National Conference on Inland Waterways.
3.
India currently has five inland waterways while only three are operational.
Rule of law index: India scores a mixed bag
1.
India figures in the top 50 countries in the world for an effective criminal justice system, according to
a new study that ranks countries on how the rule of law is experienced by citizens.
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2.
However, the study finds that it is among the worst performing countries when it comes to civil
justice.
3.
The Rule of Law Index 2015, released by the U.S.-based World Justice project.
4.
Analyses 102 countries worldwide using a survey of over a 1,000 respondents from three big cities,
along with local legal experts, in each country.
5.
The data, collected in 2013, measures how the rule of law is experienced in practical, everyday
situations using 47 indicators across eight categories constraints on government powers, absence
of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil
justice, and criminal justice.
6.
According to the Index, Indias overall rule of law performance places it in the third position out of six
countries in the South Asian region, 10th out of 25 among lower middle income countries, and 59th
out of 102 countries worldwide.
7.
The top overall performer in the WJP Rile of Law Index 2015 was Denmark while in the South Asia
region, the top performer was Nepal.
8.
Indias performance for criminal justice places it at 44 rank globally, Number 1 in South Asia and
number 4 among lower middle income countries.
9.
The surveys analysed whether the criminal investigation and adjudication system is effective, whether
it was impartial and free of corruption and whether the rights of the accused were protected.
Global Sanitation Fund Report

1.
The Global Sanitation Fund's latest Progress Report details how support for nationally-led programs
has helped 7 million people in over 20,500 communities become open-defecation free, improved
toilets for 4.2 million people and seen eight million people gain access to hand-washing facilities.
2.
The governments of Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom contributed.
3.
Established by WSSCC, the GSF funds large-scale behavior change activities to help poor people in the
world's hardest-to-reach areas attain safe sanitation and adopt good hygiene practices.
4.
The community-led, government-backed activities support existing national efforts, uniting a diverse
group of stakeholders to address deficiencies in access to sanitation and hygiene.
5.
2.5 billion people - 40% of the global population - lack access to decent sanitation, with a billion of
these practicing open defecation.
6.
Diarrheal disease, largely caused by poor sanitation and hygiene, is a leading cause of malnutrition,
stunting and child mortality, claiming the lives of nearly 600,000 under-5 every year. Inadequate
facilities also affect education and economic productivity and impact the dignity and personal safety
of women and girls.
7.
These results prove that we are moving closer to our vision of a world where everybody has sustained
sanitation and hygiene, supported by safe water.
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8.
This is a crucial step towards achieving better health, reducing poverty and ensuring environmental
sustainability for the most marginalized people in the world.
IAP HealthPhone programme launched

1.
Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi launched the Indian Academy of
Pediatrics (IAP) HealthPhone programme.
2.
The programme is the worlds largest digital mass education programme for addressing malnutrition
in women and children.
3.
This programme has been launched by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in partnership with the
Ministry of Women and Child Development, UNICEF and supported by Vodafone India.
4.
This programme aims to tackle the challenge of malnutrition in mothers and children across India.
5.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development through its ICDS programme has been providing
supplementary nutrition to the pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children up to the age of six
years.
Law unclear if celebrities endorsing food products can be prosecuted

1.
The Maggi controversy has opened a Pandoras box on the legal liability of celebrities who endorse
food products even as it exposes ambiguities in the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.
2.
Making the current debate an opportunity to interpret judicially the role and liability of brand
ambassadors.
3.
There is no specific word in the Act about the extent, or lack, of liability or duty of care of the brand
ambassador, who signs on to promote the brand as its face and takes on the role of a marketing
representative.
4.
Sections 24 and 53 in the 2006 Act deal specifically with advertisements.
5.
Section 24(1) says in general terms that no advertisement shall be made of any food which is
misleading or deceiving or contravenes the provisions of this Act, the rules and regulations made
there under.
6.
Here, it does not explain whether the term made is only confined to commissioning the
advertisement or its actual making. In the latter case, a brand ambassador does play a part.
7.
One of the primary statutory objectives of the FSSA is to ensure availability of safe and wholesome
food for human consumption and it makes the promoter, manufacturer, packer, wholesaler,
distributor, seller and even the manager of a food business outlet liable for violations, including
unfair trade practice in several instances.
8.
But there is no specific word in the Act about the extent or lack of liability or duty of care of the brand
ambassador, who signs on to promote the brand as its face and takes on the role of a marketing
representative.
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Mission Indradhanush to get 4 new vaccines
1.
Four new vaccines would be added to the recently launched Mission Indradhanush a flagship
programme to immunise children against preventable diseases and improve the infant mortality rate
by 2020.
2.
The new vaccines, inactivated polio vaccine, adult Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine
and Measles Rubella vaccine, have been made part of the India newborn action plan.
3.
Since December when the programme was launched the Centre has covered 40 lakh children of
the 90 lakh it had mapped for this year.
4.
The ministry has set a target to bring the infant mortality rate to single digits from the existing 28 per
1000 infants.
5.
As part of this initiative, the government has inducted a new vaccine, Pentavalent (to combat diseases
like Diphtheria, whooping cough and Tetanus) Hepatitis B and Hib vaccines.
80% Indians Suffer from Protein Deficiency, Reveals Survey

1.
A recent survey titled Protein Consumption in Diet of Adult Indians: A General Consumer Survey
(PRODIGY) has brought to light striking observations regarding the protein intake in India.
2.
It indicates that 9 out of 10 people of the sample consumed inadequate amount of protein.
3.
The survey was conducted with the help of samples of 1260 respondents of a consumer group of an
males and females belonging to age group of 30-55 years and of socio economic class A and B of
seven major cities of India (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Vijaywada).
4.
The survey revealed that the amount of protein consumed in India is low.
5.
Through a household survey, the consumers were contacted for their 24 hour dietary recall and the
total protein content in their diets was calculated using an internally developed calculator.
Exchange of enclaves from midnight of July 31

1.
The much-awaited implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement will start next month, beginning
with the exchange of enclaves on July 31 midnight.
2.
Launching the exchange of 111 Indian and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves, the two countries will start
implementing the historic LBA, which the Indian Parliament ratified in early May.
3.
Before the start of the historic process, the officials of the two countries will jointly visit the enclaves
to finalise the process, according to the documents the two sides exchanged on June 6.
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Bamiyan Buddha returns
1.
A projected image of a Buddha statue in Bamiyan that had been destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
2.
The initiative to visually restore the destroyed statue was dreamt by Chinese couple Zhang Xinyu and
Liang Hong, who are travelling through countries on the historic Silk Road route.
India will need 100 years to end child labour: Report

1.
With child labour decreasing at a dismal rate of only 2.2 per cent per year, it would take more than a
century to end the menace, a report said.
2.
An analysis of census data by CRY (Child Rights and You) has revealed that child labour has been
decreasing at a mere 2.2 per cent per year over the last decade, contrary to popular perception of its
substantial reduction.
3.
Stating that over a crore children continue to be a part of the country's workforce, the report said at
this pace it would take more than a century to end the menace.
4.
The analysis also points out to a dangerous trend. Child labour in urban areas has increased by 53 per
cent during 2001-2011.
5.
"This is of utmost concern especially since enforcement machinery is primarily based in urban regions
and the implementation of child protection structures is stronger in urban India.
6.
Overall, 80 per cent of the working children are based in rural areas and 3 out 4 of them work in
agriculture as cultivators or in household industries, most of which are home-based employments,
the report said.
7.
Interestingly, more than half of working children in India are concentrated in five states namely Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Smart cities scheme to take off on June 25

1.
India has asked all the countries keen on partnering it in the smart cities initiative to ready the
blueprints for the projects they want to undertake, to avoid delay in execution.
2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the scheme along with the Atal Mission for
Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation on June 25.
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3.
So far, 14 countries have shown interest in sharing their expertise in building components that are
prerequisites for a smart city.
One in every State

1.
Sources said each State would be given a month to draw up a list of cities eligible for works under the
scheme.
2.
Each State would have at least one smart city, with the bigger States being eligible for as many as 10.
3.
The total number across the country would be 100. Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
have signed agreements with the U.S. for non-financial assistance; some agreements have been inked
with Sweden and China, but work will pick up by the end of July.
4.
Denmark is the latest to join the list of countries that have offered know-how, with emphasis on river
cleaning, water, waste and transport management, and setting up IT services.
'India's Health & Biopharma sector deserve more attention'

1.
India's health and innovative and biopharma sector deserves better attention from the government
to help realise its full potential and provide much cheaper health care and medicine to millions of
patients, leading Biopharma industry experts and academicians have said.
2.
During the day-long US-India BioPharma and Healthcare Summit, top industry leaders, experts and
academicians hoped that the new Indian government will bring in "predictable, transparent and
pragmatic regulatory policies" which would positively change the Indian BioPharma and Healthcare
Innovation landscape.
3.
Noting a regulatory environment which is more "enabling than restrictive" is required for innovation,
a position paper prepared by Pricewaterhouse coopers released at the summit organised by the USAIndia Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) said.
4.
"The Indian government should explore programs and incentives for encouraging non-traditional
organisations to partner with it, academia and pharmaceutical companies to enable and accelerate
drug development," it added.
5.
India is well positioned to establish a significant oncology presence with respect to life cycle
management, the report said.
6.
In his message to the conference the Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said the
success rates are low for new drug discovery and development, especially from the perspective of
modern science.
7.
"The exorbitant cost of drug development and also the highly competitive nature of the domain leave
little room for aggressive innovation.
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8.
Participating in one of the panel discussions, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director
of Biocon Limited, said oncology is a huge challenge for India.But this is one area where India can play
a big role and help in reducing the cost of treatment and medicine.
9.
Oncology is one area where patients (in India) are very keen to be part of the drug trial. Enrolment
rate for cancer drug is much higher in India than in other parts of the world. This is one area where
patients want to try a new drug.
10. The major theme for discussing this year's summit was oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic
disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
Make train services viable: panel

1.
Improving accountability, decentralising power and setting up an independent regulator are the key
elements for the restructuring of Indian Railways, NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy says.
2.
The panel on restructuring of the Indian Railways, headed by Mr. Debroy, submitted its final report.
3.
The committee has set a five-year timeframe for implementing its recommendations and has
suggested doing away with the Railway Budget.
Key proposals for the future:

1.
Committee's recommendations based on three pillars: commercial accounting, changes in HR and an

independent regulator.
2.
A five-year timeline for implementation.
3.
Responsibility for implementation of the recommendations should lie with the Minister alone.
4.
Beyond five years, the Railway Budget should phased, with general budget support to Railways
mentioned as a paragraph in the Budget.
Government sets up Rs 1,500 crore nuclear insurance pool

1.
The government has launched an insurance pool to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore which is mandatory
under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLND) in a bid to offset financial burden of foreign
nuclear suppliers.
2.
Clauses in the CLND Act, which give the operator the Right to Recourse and allow it to sue the
suppliers in case of any accident, were seen as being a major hindrance to the growth of the nuclear
industry.
3.
These concerns led to to the formation of the Indian nuclear insurance pool.
4.
Under the Rs 1,500 crore pool, set up by General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) and 11 other
non-life insurers including New India, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance and United India
Insurance from the public sector apart from private insurance companies, policies offered will be a
nuclear operators liability insurance policy and a nuclear suppliers' special contingency (against right
to recourse) insurance policy.
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5.
This will address the concern of the suppliers like that of the Gorakhpur Haryana project and also of
foreign players.
6.
The GHAVP was supposed to be a pressurised heavy water reactor which was sanctioned by the
previous govt.
7.
It had met with some problems there were problems of tenders not getting matured due to absence
of an insurance pool.
8.
The launch of the pool would now enable the concerned parties to come forward for the project.
Poor Chhattisgarh district is now a textbook success story

1.
Between 2010 and 2012, the Surguja district hospital saw deaths of more than 400 children due to
malnutrition and anaemia.
2.
Last month, after a four-year-old child died of suspected malnutrition, the local administration
identified over 400 children in the district in need of assistance.
3.
But Surguja, one of the poorest districts of Chhattisgarh, is set to turn the page. Riding on the success
of a 15-month drive by its Collector, Surguja recently made it to the Chhattisgarh Education Boards
Class IX book as a story of womens empowerment.
4.
Women belonging to the Oraon tribe one of the poorest in Chhattisgarh here now run pig farms
and brick kilns, work as masons, contractors and suppliers in various departments, run the
Collectorate canteen and supervise its parking area, and, in a first for the state, drive auto-rickshaws.
5.
Rimi is among the 10 women who make up the self-help group (SHG) that now owns 24 piglets, and is
set to get at least a dozen more.
6.
The women of Andhla village, who till recently lived on subsistence farming, got a loan allowing them
to purchase piglets at a concessional rate of Rs 500 each from the Veterinary Department. With even
a mid-size pig selling for over Rs 15,000, the members are looking at a neat profit.
7.
A little distance away, Meena Singh Rathiya is laying bricks. The women of her SHG will sell these
bricks for the construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
8.
Besides, as many as 700 women have been trained to work as masons under the Abhiyan and other
government schemes.
NACO observe World Blood Donors Day

1.
The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare observed the
World Blood Donor Day under the aegis of National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC), at Connaught
Place, New Delhi.
2.
The World Blood Donors Day celebrates their altruistic gift and thanks the unsung heroes for their
priceless contribution.
3.
The theme for this years campaign is Thank you for saving my life focuses on thanking blood
donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and encourages more people across
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the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly with the slogan Give freely, give often. Blood
donation matters.
4.
On this occasion, Shri K. B. Agarwal, Joint Secretary, NACO launched the blood donation drive for
willing donors to donate blood on this occasion.
5.
He also launched the Database of Blood banks on the National Health Portal. The National Blood
Transfusion Council has made available directory of all 2760 licensed blood banks at National Health
Portal.
First-ever atomic energy plant

1.
Minister of State for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr. Jitendra Singh on Saturday
said that decks have been cleared for the first-ever atomic energy plant to be set up in Haryana.
2.
Highlight the achievements of the Department of Atomic Energy during one year in office of the
present government, Dr. Singh said that the Department of Atomic Energy succeeded in launching an
insurance pool of Rs. 1500 crore.
3.
With this the decks have been cleared for further progress in installing a Pressurized Heavy Water
Reactor with a capacity of two units of 700 MW each in Gorakhpur and Haryana.
4.
He said that this reactor is expected to get commissioned by 2022 or 2023.
5.
Jitendra Singh said that the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal
Pradesh were so far somehow not actively involved in the atomic energy programme of India which
was hitherto confined mostly to other parts of the country and added that Indias atomic energy
programme has assumed a pan-India visibility with this new initiative.
Navy submarine begins search for missing Dornier

1.
Naval submarine INS Sindhudhvaj has begun underwater search along the Tamil Nadu coastline to
trace the missing Coast Guard Dornier aircraft even as an expert team started scouring the area to
locate the planes cockpit voice data recorder.
2.
Submarine INS Sindhudhvaj arrived in the area (coastline in Karikkal-Cuddalore region) late yesterday
and commenced underwater search, a Coast Guard statement in Chennai said
3.
The search is to confirm the transmission of 37.5 Khz from sonar locator beacon of the missing
aircraft, reported by INS Sandhayak on June 12, 2015.
4.
In order to provide further fillip to the search, ICGS Vigraha has embarked with a National Institute of
Oceanography (NIOT) team and a black box detector.
5.
The search probe will be lowered at sea for reception of the signal from the beacon of the aircraft,
the statement said.
6.
Inspector-General S.P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard (East), Chennai, told PTI that the missing
aircraft is equipped with a cockpit voice data recorder.
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China confirms test of supersonic nuclear delivery vehicle
1.
Chinese defence ministry has confirmed the test of a supersonic nuclear delivery vehicle, a move
described by the US as an "extreme manoeuvre" amid tension in the South China Sea.
2.
The fourth successful test of hypersonic glide vehicle - which the US has dubbed the "Wu-14" - was
carried out on Sunday. It was the People Liberation Army's fourth test of the weapon in 18 months.
3.
The scheduled scientific research and experiments in our territory is normal, and those tests are not
targeted at any country and specific goals," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the
defence ministry as saying.
4.
But military observers said the frequency of the tests showed Beijing was reinforcing its nuclear
deterrent in response to Washington's continued interference in China's territorial disputes in the
region.
5.
US website the Washington Free Beacon, which first reported about the test, said the new strike
vehicle is considered a high-technology strategic weapon capable of delivering nuclear or
conventional warheads while travelling on the edge of space.
Global M&E Industry: India leads digital drive

1.
For a change, India is found leading the world in virtualisation of content in the Media and
Entertainment (M&E) business thereby creating an edge in this domain.
2.
Indias top M&E companies namely Star India, Zee Entertainment, Sony and Colors have already
adopted the digital mode in key workflow processes across the supply chain, two years ahead their
western counterparts thus sharply increasing the output of their executives engaged in content
creation and saving 30 to 40 per cent on cost.
3.
In this digital drive by moving their content to the cloud, these firms are now able to have real time
collaboration in the areas of production and distribution, reach out to their overseas customers in a
few hours of the local telecast, supply video on demand to customers and prevent piracy.
4.
India went from paper to paperless in the 90s, the manufacturing sector embraced Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) during the same time to transform its processes and the banking sector
underwent drastic changes by adopting information technology in a big way but the M&E sector
functioned the way it was.
5.
Considering that M&E business never had a big craze for technology adoption, Indian M&E
companies, which had skipped technology generations are now actually leading the revolution across
the world, according experts.
6.
While Star India adopted the digital process in all its workflow, the equivalent of ERP in
manufacturing, in April 2011, others gradually followed and are now 18 to 24 months ahead of their
global peers.
7.
To put things in prospective M&E companies from the U.K. and the U.S. are adopting media ERP only
now.
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An annual disarmament report
1.
India and Pakistan are reportedly expanding their nuclear arsenal, despite a global trend towards
disarmament, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has said.
2.
An annual disarmament report prepared by the Swedish institute, which is dedicated to research into
conflict, armaments and arms control, said that though the number of warheads fell from 22,600 to
15,850 between 2010 and 2015 but India (90 to 100 warheads) and Pakistan (100 to 120 warheads)
undertook extensive and expensive long-term modernisation programmes, reported the Dawn.
3.
SIPRI researcher Shannon Kile has said that the trend demonstrated that the nuclear weaponpossessing states were still reluctant to relinquish their arsenals in the foreseeable future.
4.
The report pointed out that the other three nuclear armed states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear
Non- Proliferation Treaty, China (260 warheads), France (300 warheads) and Britain (215 warheads),
were neither developing or deploying new weapon systems or have declared their intentions to do so.
5.
The institute noted that North Korea was believed to be developing its arsenal of six to eight
warheads but added that it was difficult to assess technical progress.
6.
The report came as the five nuclear powers and UN Security Council members, including the U.S.,
Russia, China, Britain and France, along with Germany, are holding talks with Iran to persuade the
country to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
Indias food safety panel chief wants sweeping reforms

1.
Indias food safety apparatus needs sweeping reforms to ensure that its norms are on par with
international standards.
2.
Including an accreditation system that not only screens labs but also its personnel on a regular basis,
according to the head of a key panel of Indias national food safety authority.
3.
If we have periodical evaluation in aviation for pilots, why not for analysts who test our food? asked
the former director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
4.
If the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sets guidelines, all airports and flights have to
follow them it should be the same for food analysis laboratories.
5.
Dr Prakashs call for an overhaul comes after the FSSAI sought the recall of Nestles Maggi Noodles in
the country following lab tests that showed unsafe levels of lead in some samples.
6.
On June 10, The Indian Express reported that some products from top brands such as Tata Starbucks,
Kelloggs and Venkys figured on a list of around 500 rejected items that the FSSAI had handed over to
state-level officials.
7.
Tata Starbucks on Monday said it was pulling out the ingredients on that list from its outlets.
8.
Dr Prakash has also called for more scientists to be involved in the regulatory system, as is the case in
other countries such as the US.
9.
With no set standards in India for testing many types of food, including instant noodles and processed
cheese items.
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Indias food safety panel chief wants sweeping reforms
1.
Indias food safety apparatus needs sweeping reforms to ensure that its norms are on par with
international standards.
2.
Including an accreditation system that not only screens labs but also its personnel on a regular basis,
according to the head of a key panel of Indias national food safety authority.
3.
If we have periodical evaluation in aviation for pilots, why not for analysts who test our food? asked
the former director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
4.
If the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sets guidelines, all airports and flights have to
follow them it should be the same for food analysis laboratories.
5.
Dr Prakashs call for an overhaul comes after the FSSAI sought the recall of Nestles Maggi Noodles in
the country following lab tests that showed unsafe levels of lead in some samples.
6.
On June 10, The Indian Express reported that some products from top brands such as Tata Starbucks,
Kelloggs and Venkys figured on a list of around 500 rejected items that the FSSAI had handed over to
state-level officials.
7.
Tata Starbucks on Monday said it was pulling out the ingredients on that list from its outlets.
8.
Dr Prakash has also called for more scientists to be involved in the regulatory system, as is the case in
other countries such as the US.
9.
With no set standards in India for testing many types of food, including instant noodles and processed
cheese items.
India third in global doping report

1.
India may be considered a sporting minnow but in terms of doping by its athletes, it has been ranked
third behind Russia and Turkey in a World Anti-Doping Agency Report for 2013 with as many as 91
from the country testing positive for banned substances in that year.
2.
According to the 2013 Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report released by the WADA on June 15, Russia
has maximum number of dope offenders with 212 testing positive while the figures for Turkey and
India were 155 and 91 respectively. Of the 91 Indians, 20 were women athletes.
3.
France came a close fourth with 90 dope cheats in the report compiled by the WADA based mainly on
the information received from National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs).
4.
The comprehensive report, which dealt with testing of 207513 samples, covered 115 nationalities and
89 sports.
5.
If the four non-analytical Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) are taken into account, India has 95
ADRVs, fourth in the WADA list behind Russia (225),
6.
Turkey (188) and France (108). Russia had 13 non-analytical ADRVs, while the corresponding figures
for Turkey and France were 33 and 18 respectively.
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Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 approved
1.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval to introduction
of a new Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015.
2.
The Bill will be introduced in the Parliament. The new Bill will provide legislative framework for
following new provisions other than the provisions in the existing Bureau of Indian Standards Act,
1986 which is proposed to be repealed.
3.
The main objectives of the proposed legislation are to establish the Bureau of Indian standards (BIS)
as the National Standards Body of India.
4.
The Bureau will perform its functions through a Governing Council, which will consist of its President
and other members.
5.
The Bill seeks to include goods, services and systems, besides articles and processes under the
standardization regime , to enable the government to bring under the mandatory certification regime
such articles, process or service which it considers necessary from the point of view of health, safety,
environment, prevention of deceptive practices, security etc.
6.
This will help consumers receive ISI certified products and will also help in prevention of import of
sub-standard products and allow multiple types of simplified conformity assessment schemes
including Self Declaration Of Conformity (SDOC) against any standard which will give multiple
simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to standards and get a certificate of conformity, thus
improving the ease of doing business.
Bhagavad Gita makes debut in China

1.
Bhagavad Gita, the sacred ancient Indian scripture, has made its debut in China after its Chinese
version was released during an international yoga conference being held in the Communist nation.
2.
Translated by Prof. Wang Zhu Cheng and Ling Hai of the Zhejiang University in Shanghai and published
by the Sichuan Peoples Publications, the book was launched at a function attended by eminent yoga
teachers from India who had converged at Dujiangyan in the south-western Sichuan province to
attend a yoga festival.
3.
The foreword to the book was written by K. Nagaraj Naidu, who was till recently the Consul-General
at the Indian Consulate in Guangzhou.
4.
About 21 eminent yoga teachers are providing training to about 700 yoga enthusiasts from all over
China under the first India-China (Chengdu) International Yoga Festival.
5.
The five-day Yoga festival will end on June 21, the first U.N. Yoga Day during which a number of
events are planned all over China and Hong Kong.
6.
Ancient Buddhist scriptures are well-known in this country as they made their way here after Chinese
traveller Heun Tsangs journey to India in the 7th century.
7.
This is perhaps the first time that a well-known Hindu ancient religious text has been published in
China.
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8.
Last year, scholars from India and China published an Encyclopaedia on the age-old cultural contacts
between the two countries, tracing back their history to over 2,000 years.
CPN-UML to lead next Nepal government: Deputy PM

1.
Nepals Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam said the next government to be formed after the
promulgation of the new Constitution in July will be headed by his CPN-UML party which will lead the
massive post-earthquake relief work.
2.
The new constitution will be ready within the Nepali month of Ashad, that is mid-July and the new
government will be in place towards July-end, as soon as the constitution is promulgated.
3.
Nepals four major political parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi
Peoples Rights Forum (Democratic) have recently reached a 16-point deal to divide the country
into eight federal units ending a months-long deadlock and paving the way for drafting the
Constitution.
4.
Mr. Gautam claimed that his party is most capable of leading the post-quake reconstruction and
rehabilitation works as it has already demonstrated its capability in the past month taking part in the
reconstruction works in different parts of the country.
Maggi Effect: Rs 1,700-cr teeth for food regulator

1.
Days after the recall of Maggi Noodles from India highlighted glaring gaps in the food regulatory
structure, the Health Ministry has sent a Rs 1,700-crore proposal to the Union Cabinet for a sweeping
revamp.
2.
According to sources, the proposal focuses on four main areas: strengthening the state inspection
apparatus, bolstering the Food Safety and Standards Authority of Indias manpower.
3.
Giving the FSSAI more powers and ensuring that the authority has access to state-of-the-art
technology.
4.
Currently, it (FSSAI) is a rudimentary set-up. In fact, 16 states do not even have a food testing
laboratory.
5.
The actual increase in staff strength will have to be worked out once the proposal is passed because
revamping the state food safety set-up is a very important part of the plan.
Prez promulgates ordinance on cheque bounce cases

1.
An ordinance that will allow filing of cheque bounce case at the place where the cheque was
presented for clearance has been promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee.
2.
The President has promulgated the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, on
Monday that will help lakhs of persons battling cheque bounce cases far away from their places.
3.
The ordinance will enable filing of cheque bounce cases in the place where the cheque was presented
for clearance or payment and not the place of issue.
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India slips to 61st place on Swiss money list
1.
India has moved down to 61st place in terms of foreigners' money in Swiss banks and it now accounts
for a meagre 0.123 per cent of the total global wealth worth USD 1.6 trillion in Switzerland's banking
system.
2.
While the UK and the US have retained their top two positions with the largest shares of the foreign
clients' money with Swiss banks, Pakistan has inched up to 73rd place.
3.
Interestingly, just two big banks -- UBS and Credit Suisse -- account for nearly two-third of the total
money kept by foreigners in Swiss banks, while their share in case of Indians is even higher at about
82 per cent.
4.
As per the latest data released by Switzerland's central banking authority SNB (Swiss National Bank),
Indians' money in Swiss banks declined by over 10 per cent to about 1.8 billion Swiss francs (USD 1.98
billion or Rs 12,615 crore) in 2014.
China opens Nathu La as 2nd route for Kailash pilgrims

1.
China on Monday opened the second land crossing in Tibet via Nathu La to allow the first batch of
Indian pilgrims undertaking the arduous Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra, in the latest confidence-building
measure between the two neighbours.
2.
The opening of the second route through the Himalayan pass of Nathu La in Sikkim, 4,000 metres
above sea level, was officially announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to China last
month and will allow more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage.
3.
The new route is in addition to the existing Lipulekh Pass, the only route that was badly damaged in
the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013.
EU extends sanctions against Russia

1.
The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russia until January to keep pressure
on Moscow over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
2.
An EU statement confirmed on Monday that the decision had been taken by Foreign Ministers
meeting in Luxembourg without debate, in response to Russias destabilizing role in eastern
Ukraine.
3.
The sanctions include limits to access on some financial markets, a ban on certain technologies and
exchanges between the bloc and Russia in energy and defence sectors. Enacted last July and
reinforced in September, the sanctions had been due to expire in July.
4.
Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels has killed more than 6,400 people and
persists despite a cease-fire agreed in February.
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India emerges as third largest FDI source for U.K.
1.
India has emerged as the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for United Kingdom
(UK) after United States (US) and France in terms of number of projects.
2.
According to a recent report released by UK Trade and Industry (UKTI), the U.S. remained the largest
source of inward investment, with a total of 564 projects in 2014-15, followed by France (124
projects) and India (122 projects).
3.
During the year, investment from India increased by 65 per cent. This resulted in creation of 7,730
jobs as well as protection of 1,620 jobs.
4.
The key sectors where Indian companies invested include healthcare, agri-tech, food and drink.
5.
As per the Inward Investment Report 2014-15 of UKTI, 70 countries invested a record 1 trillion in UK
in 2014-15, making it Europes top FDI destination.
Maharashtra gets State butterfly
1.
Maharashtra has become the first State in the country to have a State butterfly.
2.
The BJP-led government has declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as the State butterfly.
3.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board in Mumbai on Monday.
4.
The Blue Mormon is a large, swallowtail butterfly found primarily in Sri Lanka and India, mainly
restricted to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts.
5.
It may occasionally be spotted in the Maharashtrian mainland between Vidarbha and Western
Maharashtra.
6.
It is reportedly the second largest butterfly found in India, just smaller than the southern birdwing.
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Centre may make solar systems mandatory on roof-tops
1.
The Central government is likely to make it mandatory for buildings to install solar roof-top systems.
2.
The proposal is among the initiatives planned by the Government of India to support the massive
solar capacity addition target (100 GW by 2022).
3.
An official statement has indicated that there would be a proposal for amendment in building norms
for mandatory provision of roof-top solar for new construction and 10 per cent renewable energy
provision for end-customers under the new scheme of Ministry of Urban Development.
4.
Generally, about 10 sq.m area is required to set up 1 kWp grid-connected roof-top solar system. The
average cost of such system is around Rs.80 per watt.
5.
This is still an idea that may or may not become a policy. But it is an interesting proposal, says a
report of Bridge to India, solar energy consulting firm.
PM to launch three Mega schemes

1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch three ambitious schemes aimed at developing cities and
towns as "new engines for growth", projects which will entail an investment of over Rs 3 lakh crore in
the next five years.
2.
Urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the launch of three projects- 100 smart cities,
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and housing for all- will herald a
new urban era.
3.
Effective management of growing urbanisation is a major challenge in making of resurgent India.
4.
500 cities having 1 lakh and more population will be chosen for AMRUT project.
5.
Neither the Centre not states will have any discretion in choosing 100 cities through a competition for
smart cities scheme.
6.
These 500 cities will become engines of growth and they in turn should develop into smart cities.
Smart cities project will be based on PPP model.
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Bangladesh to receive 1,100 MW of power from India from January

1.
Electricity-starved Bangladesh will begin receiving 100 MW of power from Tripura from early January.
2.
This will be in addition to the 500 MW it already receives from West Bengal and a like amount that is
on the cards from the state for a total of 1,100 MW as the two countries enter a new phase of
bilateral cooperation for regional benefit.
3.
The power from Tripura will flow with the completion of 65 transmission towers in the north-eastern
state by December-end.
4.
The union government-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has already completed 20 of
the 65 transmission towers in southern and western Tripura.
5.
The remaining 45 transmission towers and related works would be completed by December, Tripura
Power Minister Manik Dey told IANS after holding meetings with PGCIL engineers and officials.
6.
India had begun supply of power to Bangladesh in 2013 after the government-run Bangladesh Power
Development Board and Indias NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN)
7.
A subsidiary of NTPC, signed a deal Feb 28, 2012, to supply electricity, following an agreement signed
during Ms. Hasinas visit to New Delhi in January 2010.
Australia to join China-led infrastructure bank

1.
Australia announced that it will join the new China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a
founding member, contributing about 930 million dollars to the financial institution of which India will
be the second-largest shareholder.
2.
"We look forward to working with other members to lay the foundations for an effective new
multilateral institution which is expected to be operational by the end of the year," Australian Foreign
minister Julie Bishop said.
3.
Australia will contribute around Australian dollars 930 million as paid-in capital to the AIIB over five
years and will be the sixth largest shareholder.
4.
AIIB will have paid-in capital of USD 20 billion (Australian dollars 25.2 billion) with total authorised
capital of USD 100 billion.
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Pharma Price Data Bank launched
1.
The Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Ananth Kumar launched Pharma Price Data Bank.
2.
It is an integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System, managed and operated by National

Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
3.
Speaking at the release ceremony, the Minister said that this is the first data bank of Pharma industry
that will help the manufacturers, regulator as well as the common masses.
4.
He said that now Manufacturers can fill their mandatory forms online, the Government and NPPA can
have comprehensive data, and consumers can benefit by having full information about the medicines.
World Bank sets up commission on poverty
1.
In order to measure and monitor poverty in the best way possible, the World Bank in Washington
announced the setting up of a commission on global poverty on June 22.
2.
The commission will come up with a report by April 2016.
3.
According to a press release of the World Bank, the new commission, made up of 24 leading
international economists, will be chaired by Anthony Atkinson
4.
A leading authority on the measurement of poverty and inequality and the centennial professor at the
London School of Economics.
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5.
The commission has been formed against the backdrop of the upcoming post-2015 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the foremost target of which is to eradicate extreme poverty everywhere.
6.
In 2013, the World Bank group announced two goals that would guide its development work
worldwide.
7.
The first goal was to reduce the number of extremely poor people of the world to below 3 per cent
by 2030. Extremely poor people are characterised as those who survive on less than $1.25 a day.
8.
The second goal was to boost shared prosperity. Shared prosperity is defined as promoting the
growth of per capita real income of the poorest 40 per cent population in each country.
International donors pledge $3.5 billion to rebuild quake-hit Nepal

1.
Led by India and China, global donors on Thursday pledged over $3.5 billion as aid to Nepal, meeting
half of the $6.7 billion needed to rebuild the quake-devastated nation, even as Nepalese Prime
Minister Sushil Koirala vowed full transparency and zero-tolerance to corruption in disbursing the
relief money to the victims.
2.
At the day-long international donors conference, India announced the largest aid of $one billion to
the quake- ravaged country for its massive reconstruction programme.
3.
Pledging the aid, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted that India would strongly stand
behind the Nepalese government which is seeking to wipe the tears of every Nepali.
4.
She said one fourth of the assistance would be grant and it would be over and above Indias existing
bilateral developmental assistance of $one billion over the next five years which takes the total
assistance to $2 billion.
Sri Lankan Parliament dissolved
1.
The Seventh Parliament of Sri Lanka, which lasted a little more than five years, has been dissolved
with immediate effect.
2.
The country would face the general election on August 17.
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3.
It also happened at a time when attempts are on to bring together two factions of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party (SLFP), headed by Mr Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, to face the
election.
4.
When the present Parliament, under the 1978 Constitution, was formed in April 2010, Mr. Rajapaksa
was President and D.M. Jayaratne became Prime Minister.
5.
In the Presidential election in January 2015, Mr Rajapaksa was thrown out of power and he was
succeeded by Mr Sirisena, the common Opposition candidate who had the support of a number of
parties including the United National Party (UNP).
6.
Mr Sirisena made Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister even though the UNPs strength was around
40 in the Parliament of 225.
7.
A faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and some other parties such as the Jathika Hela
Urumaya (JHU), or the National Heritage Party, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the National Union of
Workers (NUW) has been part of the government in the last six months.
Same-sex marriages legalised across the U.S.
1.
The U.S. Supreme Court declared that same sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United
States.
2.
Gay and lesbian couples already can marry in 36 States and the District of Columbia.
3.
The courts 5-4 ruling means the remaining 14 States, in the South and Midwest, will have to stop
enforcing their bans on same sex marriage.
4.
The outcome is the culmination of two decades of Supreme Court litigation over marriage and gay
rights generally.
5.
Just two years ago, the Supreme Court struck down part of the federal anti-gay marriage law that
denied a range of government benefits to legally married same sex couples.
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6.
There are an estimated 390,000 married same sex couples in the United States, according to Williams
Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, which tracks the demographics of gay and lesbian
Americans.
More than 75 % polling recorded in Meghalaya by-elections
1.
In Meghalaya, more than 75 per cent voting turn out in Saturdays polling for the bye election for the
Chokpot assembly constituency in South Garo Hills District.
2.
Chief Electoral Officer, Prashant Naik informed that the overall voters turnout of more than 75
percent is lower than the 2013 Meghalaya Assembly election voters turnout.
3.
In view of the by-election in a sensitive militancy-affected region, as many as eight companies of

Central Paramilitary Force Personnel along with two companies of Meghalaya police were deployed.
4.
The voting for the Chokpot assembly constituency by-election in South Garo Hills will now decide the
fate of the candidates belonging to three different political parties and one Independent candidate.
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Greek crisis: Parliament approves referendum
1.
Greek lawmakers authorised prime minister Alexis Tsipras proposed 5 July bailout referendum,
setting Greece on course for a plebiscite that has enraged international creditors and increased
Greeces chances of exiting the eurozone.
2.
The government easily passed the 151-vote threshold needed to authorise the referendum, with
deputies from the far-right Golden Dawn voting with the government and pro-European opposition
parties New Democracy, Pasok and To Potami and the KKE Communist party voting against.
3.
Greeks are due to vote on whether to accept or reject the latest terms offered by creditors to Athens
in order to unlock billions of euros in bailout funds.
Puri Nabakalebar Festival to be Promoted Under 'Incredible India'
1.
Nabakalebar Festival in Odisha will be promoted under the 'Incredible India' campaign for its
international branding and Rs 50 crore would be released for providing infrastructure facilities for the
celebration.
2.
The Culture Ministry will also release a postal stamp and coin to mark the festival. The festival will be
celebrated on July 10 after a gap of 19 years.
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PM Narendra Modi to Launch Digital India Week on July 1
1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Digital India Week on July 1 aiming to encourage
involvement and creating awareness about the field, Communications and IT.
2.
Many dignitaries will join the event and investment plans for billions of dollars are expected from
them.
3.
These investments will also result in employment to several lakhs of people.
4.
Industry leaders likely to join PM Modi on July 1 are Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Ltd., Anil
Ambani of Reliance Group, Cyrus P Mistry of Tata Sons, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises and
Kumarmangalam Birla of Aditya Birla Group.
Unions reject key proposals of Debroy panel
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1.
Five Railway Federation/Associations, representing 13 lakh employees, have rejected key

recommendations of Bibek Debroy committee panel including setting up of an independent regulator,
separation of ministry and railway board and allowing entry of private players to run trains, among
others.
2.
Debroy panel which was appointed to suggest ways to mobilise funds and restructure railways had
submitted its final report on June 12 and it has been a subject of debate every since among the
unions.
3.
Representatives of All Indian Railwaymens Federation, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

(NFIR), The Federation of Railway Officers Associations, Indian Railway Promotee Officers Federation
and All Indian Railway Protection Force Association held meetings on the panel report on June 24 and
June 26.
4.
The Associations/Federations have sent a joint letter to Railway Minister on Friday expressing their
concerns. Each of these Associations /Federations are also planning to file a detailed response on the
report.
60-article agreement signed on AIIB
1.
Representatives from 50 founding countries, including India, signed an agreement that provided the
legal framework for the China-led USD 100 billion multilateral Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB).
2.
The 60-article agreement specified each member's share as well as governance structure and policymaking mechanism of the bank, which is designed to finance infrastructure in Asia.
3.
The delegates from 50 founding countries gathered at the Great Hall of the People for the signing
ceremony.
4.
Australia was the first country to sign the agreement, followed by 49 other members. Seven more
countries are due to sign by the end of the year.
5.
The AIIB will have authorised capital of USD 100 billion, and Asian countries will contribute to up to 75
per cent of the total capital.
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6.
"China, India and Russia are the three largest shareholders, taking a 30.34 per cent, 8.52 per cent,
6.66 per cent stake, respectively.
7.
The AIIB is designed to finance infrastructure construction in the continent. The AIIB, which will have
billions of dollars to lend, is expected to go into operation later this year.
India ranks 143rd on global peace index
1.
India ranks a lowly 143rd on a global peace index, lagging way behind the likes of Bhutan, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh with Iceland emerging as the most peaceful nation in the world.
2.
According to the nonprofit Institute for Economics and Peace, Iceland, the thinly populated island in
the midst of the North Atlantic has retained its place as the most peaceful country in the world.
3.
The institute released its Global Peace Index for 2015 recently, which ranks 162 nations around the
globe based on factors like the level of violent crime, involvement in conflicts and the degree of
militarisation.
4.
The nations are given a score on that basis. The more the score, the less peaceful the country is.
5.
India is ranked at 143 on the index with a score of 2.504. The number of casualties from internal
conflict also rose in India where a Maoist insurgency stills runs rife.
6.
The downgrade in Indias score is tempered, however, by an improvement in political stability.
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July, 2015
First developed nation to default on IMF debt
1.
The last-minute overtures made by Greece to its international creditors for financial aid on Tuesday
could not save the country from becoming the first developed economy to default on a loan with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).
2.
The left-wing Greek government had asked European partners for a two-year aid package to cover its
financing needs
3.
Greece, as expected, was not able to repay 1.6 billion euros it owed to the International Monetary
Fund, in what was the largest missed payment in the Fund's history.
4.
The latest Greek proposals came too late to prevent Greece's existing aid package - with locked-up
funds it needs to pay wages, salaries and debt - from expiring.
5.
Greece has received nearly 240 billion euros in two bailouts from the European Union and
International Monetary Fund since 2010.
6.
The money has allowed the country to stay afloat but at a high cost to its population, which has
swallowed many austerity measures such as cuts to pensions, wages and public services.
7.
With its missed payment to the IMF, Greece is on a path out of the euro with unforeseeable
consequences for both the EU's grand currency project and the global economy.
8.
It is the first time in the history of the IMF that an advanced economy has defaulted on a loan from
the world's financial backstop, putting Athens, which has seen its economy contract by more than 25
percent since 2009, in the same bracket as Zimbabwe, Sudan and Cuba.
Islamic State looting on industrial scale: UNESCO
1.
Islamic state militants are looting and destroying ancient sites across Iraq and Syria on an industrial
scale, selling them to middle man to raise cash.
2.
One fifth of world-renowned sites under Islamic State control are heavily looted, and it was unclear
what is happening in "thousands more" areas.
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3.
Islamic State's self-declared caliphate contains some of the richest archaeological treasures on earth,
in a region where ancient Assyrian empires built their capitals, Greco-Roman civilisation flourished,
and Muslim and Christian sects co-existed for centuries.
4.
The militants, whose strict Salafi interpretation of Islam deems the veneration of tombs and nonIslamic vestiges to be idolatrous, had also posted videos of themselves destroying artefacts.
5.
Satellite images helped UNESCO understand what was going on, but in some areas there were just
hundreds of holes in the ground from which artefacts were being extracted and it was difficult to
understand what was being looted.
Cuba first country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV and syphilis
1.
Cuba has become the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and
syphilis.
2.
Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible.
3.
WHO validates elimination when new HIV and syphilis infections due to mother-to-child transmission
are less than 50 cases per 100,000 live births.
4.
In 2013, only two babies were born with HIV in Cuba, and only five were born with congenital syphilis.
5.
Cubas success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and
indeed are the key to success.
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For the first time, India uses 'right to reply' to cut short Pak's Kashmir blame
game
1.
The two countries were locked in a bitter tussle at the ongoing United Nation Human Rights Council
meeting in Geneva.
2.
New Delhi, for the first time, used its 'right to reply' to send a strong message to its neighbour. The
right to reply is a special rule allowing a delegate to interrupt a speaker.
3.
Under the Modi government, there has been a constant endeavour to name and shame Pakistan at
international forums and the opportunity was used by India's delegation in Geneva as well.
4.
India also criticised Pakistan's move to raise matters related to J&K at the UN forum and asked
Islamabad to look deep within over killings of innocent children at Peshawar in December 2014.
5.
A part of the territories of our state remains under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan.
6.
It is unfortunate that in recent times the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have become victims of
sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship because of Pakistan's occupation and
discriminatory policies.
7.
The provocation came from Pakistan. It said: "The people of J&K have been denied their right to selfdetermination, subjected to consistent and forceful foreign occupation and their democratic rights
have been usurped and suppressed by conduction of sham elections at gun-point."
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UNESCO classifies Sana'a as endangered heritage site
1.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), has inducted the Old City of Sana'a
to the list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the serious damage done amidst clashes
between Shiite Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in Yemen.
2.
The decision was made on Thursday during the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in
Bonn, Germany, while the Old Walled City of Shibam in Yemen and the ancient Iraqi city of Hatra
were also added to the list.
3.
Sana'a, located in a mountainous valley 2,200 meters, dates back more than 2,500 years and was an
important center of Islam thought in the 7th and 8th centuries.]
4.
The Old City of Sana'a, with a legacy of 103 mosques, 14 public bathhouses, 6,000 homes built before
the 11th century and its flagship tower-houses built of rammed earth, was inscribed on the World
Heritage List in 1986.
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Over 70,000 transgender in rural India: Socio Economic and Caste Census
2011
1.
Rural India has over 70,000 transgender, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list with nearly 13,000,
and West Bengal home to around 10,000, reveals the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011.
2.
The census's gender analysis reports rural India has 74,286 transgender.
3.
Uttar Pradesh tops the list among 35 Indian states and Union Territories with 12,916 members, Bihar
comes in second with 9,987 transgender and rural Bengal ranks third with 9,868 members of the third
gender.
4.
According to Ranjita Sinha, transgender activist and a member of Bengal's Transgender Development
Board, the survey released on Friday reflects the growing recognition of the third gender in the state.
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UGC grants heritage status to 19 colleges
1.
With an aim of conserving college campuses which are more than 100 years old, the University Grants
Commission (UGC) has granted "heritage" status to 19 institutions across the country and has
approved financial assistance for their improvement and upgradation.
2.
The Commission had invited proposals from colleges for the heritage tag under the Heritage College
Scheme and had received 60 proposals, none of them from Delhi.
3.
Out of the 60 proposals that were received, a Selection Committee approved granting of the status to
19 colleges.
4.
Varied financial assistance has been approved to these colleges and they can use the grants for
conservation work of the campus and for specialised courses related to heritage.
5.
The colleges which have been granted the status include St.Xavier's College, Mumbai; CMS College
Kottayam; St Joseph College, Trichy; Khalsa College, Amritsar; St Bede's College, Shimla, Christ Church
College in Kanpur, Old Agra College, Agra; Meerut College, Meerut and Langat Singh College in Bihar's
Muzaffarpur.
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Greeks defy Europe with an overwhelming 'No'
1.
Greeks voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to reject terms of a bailout, risking financial ruin in a show of
defiance that could splinter Europe.
2.
With nearly half of the votes counted, official figures showed 61 per cent of Greeks rejecting the
bailout offer.
3.
The astonishingly strong victory by the 'No' camp overturned opinion polls that had predicted an
outcome too close to call.
4.
It leaves Greece in uncharted waters: risking financial and political isolation within the euro zone and
a banking collapse if creditors refuse further aid.
5.
But for millions of Greeks the outcome was an angry message to creditors that Greece can longer
accept repeated rounds of austerity that, in five years, had left one in four without a job.
6.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has denounced the price paid for aid as "blackmail" and a national
"humiliation".
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Ravi Shankar Prasad Launches Four World-Class Broadband Products
Developed by C-DOT
1.
India launched four world class Broadband products (Long distance Wi Fi & Solar powered Wi - Fi,
Suteevra and lastly C-DOT NGN) by C-DOT. With this India has become at par with all other developed
countries in the world in respect of quality telecommunication services and effective penetration of
advanced broadband based services.
2.
New products have been launched with an aim to provide an advanced digital infrastructure for
digital India Initiative launched by the PM Shri Narendra Modi earlier this week.
3.
Digital India initiative is bound to bring governance available in the palm of every Indian. It is more for
the poor, underprivileged and the marginal people like masons and carpenters etc.
4.
The Products Developed by CDOT is
5.
Long Distance WI Fi & Solar powered Wi - Fi it will address the connectivity problem of rural areas,
hilly terrain, highways, dense vegetation, tunnels etc.
6.
These are also suited for greenfield projects like smart cities, areas where there is little/no grid
supply, emergency situations, Disaster Management Networks etc. C-DOT has also developed a light
weight Green Power Source to make the solution self-sustainable.
7.
Using this solution, reach of BharatNet can be increased beyond Panchayats to the remotest part of
country.
8.
100 Gbps OFC link systems called Suteevra addresses the telcos requirement of optimizing
communication transport backbone in smart cities, IT parks, Industrial Complexes, Inter City Traffic,
Data Centres etc.
9.
It offers ease of deployment, lesser shell space & lower power consumption, and saves on the high
cost of laying fiber for each individual user.
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10. Further, SUTEEVRA is capable of serving multiple applications and protocols ranging from the Data,
Storage, TDM and Video networks.
11. C-DOT NGN in MTNL network is advanced IP based network which is designed to replace existing TDM
network due to ease in introduction of newer services.
12. NGN provides a centralized remote control to the operators to manage the exchanges thereby
providing better services to the end subscribers. Besides, there are considerable savings in the power
consumptions with the introduction of the much smaller and low power consuming equipment.
13. All interfaces and various types of gateways have been indigenously developed by C-DOT. The
solution has been deployed in the MTNL network at Delhi and Mumbai for supporting migration to IP
for 1000 subscribers at each location.
President Pranab Mukherjee Inaugurates 'Nakshatra Vatika'
1.
President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a 'Nakshatra Vatika' in the gardens of Rashtrapati Nilayam
in Hyderabad, one of the Presidential Retreats.
2.
He took a round of the garden and watered a plant representing 'Surya' or the Sun God.
3.
The layout of 'Nakshatra Vatika' has been developed in various geometrical combinations
corresponding to the Sree Chakra of Vedic astrology on a 0.91 acre plot.
4.
In the core, the formation is square shaped and accommodates nine squares to represent the
'Navagrah' (planets)
5.
Each square is planted with a particular tree or plant variety that represents the respective planet and
is placed as per the astronomical direction.
6.
The first inner circular band is divided in 12 small circles at parts of 30A each corresponding to the 12
Rashi (zodiac sign). Each has a plant that represents the particular zodiac sign.
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7.
The outer circular band consists of 27 parts of 13A- 20A each with small circles which represents each
a Nakshatra (Stars), planted with a representative tree or plant of that particular star.
8.
In all, 48 trees or plants representing nine navgrahs, 12 rashi and 27 nakshatra are present in the
garden.
9.
Besides these, the Peepal tree, Banana tree and Bilva have been also placed in appropriate locations
in the Vatika bringing the total to 51 trees or plants.
10. An herbal garden already exists at the Nilayam Gardens and this will be the second specialised garden
within the complex.
China puts up awareness ads showing environmental issues in India
1.
China, the worlds largest carbon emitter, has put up advertisements at public places depicting the
environmental issues in Indian cities like Mumbai to warn its people about the impact of climate
change and encourage them to plan future around low carbon development.
2.
Advertisements depicting pictures of Mumbai and Allahabad among others have been put up along
the streets and places such as Wangfujing city centre area in downtown prominently to draw peoples
attention towards consequences of pollution.
3.
China, which pledges to cut carbon emissions and plans to minimise the adverse impact on its
economy, highlighted issues of plastic garbage, and sandstorms in Indian cities in its ads and also
suggested ways to address the environmental challenges.
4.
One of the ads says the grim situation teenagers faced in Mumbai on not finding appropriate place to
play is due to heap of plastic garbage.
5.
The beaches in Mumbai were covered in plastic garbage, teenagers, eager to release energy of
youth, had no choice but to play cricket in the garbage heap, said one of the ads, which prominently
highlights a picture showing a boy playing cricket on heap of garbage at a beach.
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6.
A recent study had pointed out that India and China suffer over $ 1.89 trillion annually in terms of the
value of lives lost and ill health caused from air pollution.
WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2015
1.
The continued success in global tobacco control is detailed in this years WHO Report on the Global
Tobacco Epidemic, 2015.
2.
Substantial progress has been made since the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) ten years ago.
3.
The fifth in the series of WHO reports provides a snapshot of the MPOWER measures, with all
country-specific data updated and aggregated through 2014.
4.
In addition, the report provides a special focus on tobacco taxation and in-depth analyses of tobacco
taxes in all WHO Member States, allowing for a more detailed understanding of progress and future
challenges in this area.
5.
The report was launched in Manila, Philippines on 7 July 2015.
Download Full Report
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National floor level minimum wage enhanced From Rs.137 to Rs.160 per day
1.
National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMU) has been revised upwards from existing Rs. 137/- to Rs.
160/-per day w.e.f. 01.07.2015.
2.
In a letter written to all the chief ministers Bandaru Dattatraya, the minister of state(IC) for Labour
and Employment has urged to take necessary steps for fixation/revision of the minimum rates of
wages in respect of all scheduled employments in state not below the NFLMW of Rs. 160/- per day
w.e.f. 01.07.2015.
3.
The minister has also emphasized to ensure implementation of various provisions of the Minimum
Wages Act, 1948 so that the objective of ensuring Minimum Wages to workers is fulfilled.
4.
The NFLMW has been revised upwards from existing Rs. 137/- to Rs. 160/-per day w.e.f. 01.07.2015.
5.
In order to have a uniform wage structure and to reduce the disparity in minimum wages across the
country, National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMU) is fixed which also requires to be revised from
time to time on the basis of rise in Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW).
6.
The NFLMU was last revised from Rs. 115/- to Rs. 137/- per day with effect from 01.07.2013.
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90% of Indians prefer allopathy over AYUSH
1.
Despite the government's attempt over the years to popularize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga or
Naturopathy Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy), the people at large are still inclined towards allopathy
treatment both in rural and urban India.
2.
The NSSO survey has found higher inclination towards allopathy treatment-- around 90%--in both
rural and urban areas.
3.
Only 5 to 7% usage of 'other' type of treatment including AYUSH has been reported both in rural and
urban areas.
4.
Interestingly, a higher usage (1.5 percentage point) of AYUSH treatment by urban males than their
rural counterparts was noted, while less usage of the same (0.8 percentage point) by urban females
as compared to rural females was observed.
1.
The use of allopathy was also most prevalent in treating the hospitalized cases of ailments both in
rural and urban settings of the country irrespective of gender.
2.
Surprisingly, use of AYUSH for hospitalized treatment in urban areas (0.8% for male and 1.2% for
female) was more than rural areas (0.4% for male and 0.3% for female).
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3.
Moreover, un-treated spell was higher in rural (both for male and female) than urban.
4.
The relationship between the percentages of un-treated spells of ailments and level of living was also
revealed.
5.
Untreated spell was less in those with usually higher monthly per capital expenditure for both rural
and urban sector.
6.
The survey found that private doctors were the most important single source of treatment in both
rural and urban areas.
7.
More than 70% (72% in rural areas and 79% in urban areas) spells of ailment were treated in the
private sector, consisting of private doctors, nursing homes, private hospitals and charitable
institutions.
8.
The number of people reporting sick is more in urban India compared to rural areas, founds the
survey.
9.
During a 15-day reference period, 89 of every 1,000 personsProportion of Ailing Persons (PAP)
reported an illness in rural India, against 118 persons in urban areas.
10. Though the number of people in need of treatment is lesser in rural India, the untreated spell was
higher in rural areas.
11. The survey conducted from January to June 2014 was aimed at generating basic quantitative
information on the health sector.
12. Considering medical treatment of an ailing person as someone who was an in-patient in any medical
institution, the survey found that in the urban population 4.4% were hospitalized at some time during
a reference period of one year while this ratio was 3.5% in rural India.
13. In rural India, 42% of hospitalized treatment was carried out in public hospitals. In urban India, the
corresponding figure was 32%.
14. Since both rural and urban India depended on private hospitals for treatment, their spending for
hospitalization was also higher.
15. The average cost of treatment in a private hospital was Rs 25,850 as compared to Rs 6,120 charged in
a public hospital.
16. The highest expenditure was recorded for treatment of cancer (Rs 56,712), followed by that for
cardiovascular diseases (Rs 31,647).
17. Average medical expenditure per non-hospitalization case was Rs 509 in rural India and Rs 639 in
urban India.
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India set to launch five British satellites
1.
The Indian space agency on Wednesday morning began the countdown for the July 10 rocket launch
that would carry five British satellites.
2.
According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 62 hours and 30 minutes countdown for
the July 10th night launch of rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL variant began at 7.28 a.m.
on Wednesday.
3.
The rocket is scheduled to blast off at 9.58 p.m. on July 10 from the first launch pad with five satellites
together weighing around 1,440 kg, for an undisclosed fee.
4.
Since 1999, India to date has launched 40 satellites of other countries and the successful launch of the
five British satellites would take the tally to 45.
5.
The 44.4 metre tall and 320 tonne PSLV is a four stage/engine rocket with six strap-on motors for
addition thrust during the initial phase of the flight.
6.
The first and third stages are powered by solid fuel and are cast ready while the second and fourth
stages are powered by liquid fuel which will be filled during the countdown.
7.
Apart from fuelling up the engines, all the systems would be checked and rechecked during the
countdown.
8.
Of the five British satellites, three are identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellites weighing 447
kg. These will be put into a 647km sun-synchronous orbit.
9.
Of the other two satellites, CBNT-1 weighs 91 kg and also is an optical earth observation technology
demonstration microsatellite, while the remaining De-OrbitSail weighs 7 kg. This is an experimental
nano-satellite for demonstration of large thin membrane sail-and-drag deorbiting.
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10. The three DMC3 and the CBNT-1 satellites were built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. The DeOrbitSail was built by Surrey Space Centre.
11. According to ISRO, accommodating the three DMC3 satellites (each with a height of about three
metres within the existing payload fairing or the heat shield of the PSLV) was a challenge.
12. Frances SPOT 7 satellite weighing 714 kg was the heaviest single foreign satellite carried by a PSLV
rocket untill now. It was launched on June 30, 2014.
80 pc of Indians have no health insurance
1.
Almost 86 per cent of rural population and 82 per cent of urban population are not covered by any
scheme of health expenditure support, according to the National Sample Survey Office in its latest
survey after interviewing more than 3,33,000 people.
2.
The government was able to bring only about 12 per cent urban and 13 per cent rural population
under health protection coverage through Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and similar plans.
3.
Only 12 per cent households in urban area had some arrangement of medical insurance from private
providers.
4.
For all others, this share is negligible. In the absence of health insurance, 75 per cent people tap into
their hard-earned savings while more than 18 per cent borrow.
5.
Borrowing is more in rural areas compared to the cities, where the tendency is more to draw from the
savings and household incomes.
6.
The private sector provides nearly 80 per cent of outpatient and 60 per cent of inpatient care.
7.
When NSSO compared the cost of care at public and private sectors, it found while the private health
care is four times more expensive than government-run hospitals and clinics in general, treatment of
specific diseases cost four, five or even ten times more in private hospitals.
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8.
For instance, the obstetric and gynaecological problems, and child care is ten time costlier to treat in
the private sector.
9.
Similarly, treatment of injury, gastro enteritis diseases, eye and skin problems and metabolic
disorders like diabetes are 5-6 times more costly in private care.
10. Private institutions dominate the field in treating the in-patients for all these years, both in the rural
and urban settings.
11. A steady decline in the use of government sources and corresponding increase in the use of private
sources are clearly seen over the last three surveys between 1995 and 2014. The changes were
nominal in rural areas between 2014 and 2004.
12 Districts 'Very Highly Prone' to Cyclones
1.
12 districts, all on the east coast, are "very highly prone" and 41 "highly prone" to cyclones in the
country, a paper by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist has revealed.
2.
13 coastal states and Union Territories in the country are affected by Tropical Cyclones (TCs).
3.
Four states - West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu-and one UT Puducherry on the east
coast, and Gujarat on the west coast are more vulnerable to the TCs, the study said.
4.
The 12 most cyclone hazard-prone districts are Nellore and East Godavari, Krishna in Andhra Pradesh,
Yanam in Puducherry, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagjitsinghpur in Odisha, South and 24
North Pargana, Medinipur, and Kolkata in West Bengal. Incidentally, all are on the east coast.
5.
The study also focused on 96 districts, of which 72 touch the Indian coast and 24 are close to the
coast.
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6.
Of the 96 districts, 30 districts are "moderately prone", and 13 are "less prone" to cyclones.
7.
According to the study, which analysed the cyclone patterns in the country from 1891 to 2010 said
the "very high prone" districts were hit by the maximum number of cyclones.
8.
For example, the Medinipur district in West Bengal witnessed 22 cyclones, of which 10 were severe in
nature. Similarly, Balasore recorded 28 cyclones of which five were severe .
9.
The study also pointed out that storm surge was one of the biggest killers during cyclones. Storm
surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical
tides.
Over 65% elderly face neglect in old age: Study
1.
Over two-thirds of elderly people in India say they are neglected by their family members while one
third of the elderly claimed to have suffered physical or verbal abuse, with those in urban areas
bearing the brunt more than in the rural areas, according to a new study.
2.
A study titled "Human Rights of Elderly in India: A critical Reflection on Social Development" released
recently by Agewell Foundation conducted interviews of 5,000 elderly people across India.
3.
The in-depth study aimed at culling out nuances of social changes as it impacts the life conditions and
life standards of the elderly in families. Main respondents of the study were old persons above the
age of 60 living with their families.
4.
65.2 per cent of elderly respondents claimed that older persons face neglect in old age. Over half i.e.
54.1 per cent respondents said that older persons suffer elder abuse in their families or society. Every
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fourth elderly, i.e. 25.3 per cent elderly admit that older persons are being exploited by their family
members," the study said.
5.
In all, 89.7 per cent respondents out of 2705 respondents facing elder abuse reportedly said elderly
face mistreatment in old age mostly due to financial reasons.
6.
A total of 96.4 per cent of elderly abused respondents claimed that they face mistreatment due to
emotional factors.
7.
"Qualitative research methods were used by a group of experienced social scientists of very senior
level in the discipline of sociology, social work, psychology and anthropology to understand unique
experiences of some of the respondents. The whole focus was interdisciplinary and very holistic," says
the study.
8.
Due to rapid modernization, spared of materialistic values and breakdown of joint family system,
migration of working population and young to urban areas has further adversely affected elderly care,
says the study.
Iran Nuclear Deal: 13-Year Timeline from Covert Program to Agreement

Nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran culminates more than a decade of diplomatic efforts to
ensure that Tehran cannot develop nuclear weapons.
Lets look at the timeline
August 2002 Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal a covert nuclear site at
the eastern city of Natanz. An inspection by the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency reveals it was used
to enrich uranium, a process for producing fuel or nuclear warheads.
June 2003 Britain, France and Germany engage Iran in nuclear negotiations. Washington refuses to join.
October 2003 Iran suspends uranium enrichment.
February 2006 Iran announces it will restart uranium enrichment following the election of hardline
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a critical Iran report by the IAEA to the U.N. Security Council, and after
Britain, France and Germany walk out of stalled negotiations.
June 2006 The United States, Russia and China join Britain, France and Germany to form the P5+1 group of
nations trying to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear program. Washington initially stays away from the
negotiating table.
December 2006 The U.N. Security Council imposes the first set of sanctions on Iran, banning the sale of
sensitive nuclear technology. Five more Security Council resolutions are passed by 2010, tightening the
sanctions vise on the Islamic Republic.
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November 2007 The number of uranium-enriching centrifuges assembled by Iran reaches about 3,000
from just a few hundred in 2002. Its stockpile of low-enriched uranium also grows, giving Tehran a theoretical
ability to make enough-weapons grade uranium for a bomb within a year.
July 2008 Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. joins nuclear talks for the first time.
September 2009 Western leaders announce that Iran has dug a covert enrichment site into a mountain,
escalating concerns because the facility may be impervious to air attack.
October 2009 Under President Barack Obama, a senior U.S. diplomat meets one-on-one with Iran's top
nuclear negotiator.
February 2010 Iran announces it has started to enrich uranium to near 20 percent, a technical step away
from weapons-grade material.
January 2011 Negotiations between Iran and the six world powers break off for what proves a 15-month
hiatus. Iran refuses to make deep cuts in its nuclear program.
November 2011 The IAEA outlines the possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear activities. Iran denies
the allegations, saying they're based on falsified Israeli and U.S. evidence.
January 2012 The IAEA says Iran is enriching to 20 percent at its mountain facility near Fordo. The
European Union freezes the assets of Iran's central bank and halts Iranian oil imports.
April 2012 Negotiations restart between Iran and the six world powers but go nowhere.
July 2012 U.S. and Iranian officials meet secretly in Oman to see if diplomatic progress is possible. Talks
gain speed the following year, particularly when Ahmadinejad's presidency ends.
August 2013 Hassan Rouhani defeats several hardline candidates to become Iran's president, declaring his
country ready for serious nuclear talks. By now, Iran has about 20,000 centrifuges and the U.S. estimates the
country is only a few months away from nuclear weapons capability.
September 2013 Rouhani and Obama speak by telephone, the highest-level exchange between the two
countries since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister
Mohammad Javad Zarif begin their diplomatic exchanges.
November 2013 Iran and the six powers announce an interim agreement that temporarily curbs Tehran's
nuclear program and unfreezes some Iranian assets. The deal sets the stage for extended negotiations on a
comprehensive nuclear accord.
July 2014 Talks miss the deadline for a final pact. A four-month extension is agreed.
November 2014 The final pact remains elusive. Talks are extended a further seven months.
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April 2015 A framework deal is announced, outlining long-term restrictions on Iran's nuclear program and
the removal of many international sanctions. Much remains unresolved, however.
July 14, 2015 World powers and Iran announce long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement.
India biggest recipient of US economic assistance over 66-year period: USAID
1.
The United States, over the period 1946-2012, has given India the largest amount of economic
assistance, while providing Israel the greatest quantity of military assistance over the same interval,
according to data compiled by USAID.
2.
The US also gave Israel the greatest total foreign assistance over the 66-year period, at $199 billion.
3.
The data, which is inflation adjusted, shows India received approximately $65.1bn in economic
assistance from 1946 until 2012, followed closely by Israel, which was given $65bn.
4.
With $44.4bn received as economic assistance from the US, Pakistan is also among the top five
countries to receive economic assistance out of a total of 200 countries and regions.
5.
Indian economic aid was spread over various sectors and programmes, including child survival and
health, development assistance, HIV/AIDS initiatives, migration and refugee assistance, food aid and
narcotics control. Some $26 billion of the total aid was provided for various USAID programmes.
6.
In comparison, of the total economic assistance provided to Pakistan, $13.8 billion was given for
USAID programmes, while $13.7 billion was attributed to the Economic Support Fund and Security
Support Assistance.
7.
USAID is the lead US government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable
resilient, democratic societies to realise their potential.
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Prashant Pathrabe Appointed New FTII Director
Prashant Pathrabe FTII Director
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1.
A Maharashtra-based senior IIS officer has been given additional charge as Director of Film and
Television Institute of India (FTII),which has been rocked by a students agitation over appointment
ofGajendra Chauhan as chairman.
2.
Prashant Pathrabe, a 1992 batch officer of Indian Information Service (IIS), has been given temporary
charge as Director of the FTII by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India as the term of the
incumbent, D J Narain, is ending this week, a senior official said.
3.
Pathrabe is also a former director of the National Film Archive of India (NFAI). He had been in the
media field for nearly two decades, having worked in Doordarshan News and AIR News in Mumbai.
MOS Home Affairs launches Centralized Delhi Police Railway Helpline

Number
Centralized Delhi Police Railway Helpline Number
1.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudharylaunched theCentralized Delhi
Police Railway Helpline Number-1512 in Delhi.
2.
This help line will serve as a useful mechanism for rail passengers. The passengers can now file
complaints and make suggestions from moving trains without deboarding.
3.
Copy of the FIR will sent to the complainant through fax, email or post and police officers will remain
in touch with complainants till their problems are resolved.
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NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman projects the prospects of Indian economy growing
to 8-trillion US Dollar within next 15
years
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya
1.
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya has exuded confidence that India could be an 8-trillion
US Dollar economy with in next 15 years or even less if it continues with growth-enabling policies.
2.
He said the World Bank and the IMF as well as many analysts have predicted that the country would
become the third largest economy after China and the US with a GDP of 10 trillion US Dolaar by 2030.
EU approves emergency loan to Greece

1.
The EU approved a short-term loan of USD 7.8 billion to Greece allowing it to meet a huge payment to
the ECB and repay the IMF while a new bailout is still being ratified, the EUs top official for the euro
said .
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10-year-old Shubham Jaglan scripts a scintillating one-stroke win at the
Junior World Golf Championships in San
Diego
Junior World Golf Championship winner Shubham Jaglan
1.
Shubham Jaglan, 10-year-old son of a milkman from rural Haryana, scripted a scintillating one-stroke
win at the Junior World Golf Championshipsbeing played at Welk Resort Fountain Course in San
Diego. His three-day total of seven-under par 179 was better than rest of the field to become
the Junior World Champion in his age category.
2.
Shubham blitzed the Golf course over the past three days with not less than as many as thirteen
birdies during his three rounds.
Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stones of two road projects in Haryana
Road project in Haryana

1.
Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkariaccompanied by Haryana
Chief MinisterManohar Lal Khattartoday laid the foundation stones of two road projects Ambala Kaithal highway and Yamunanagr Barwala highway involving construction cost of over Rs 1821 crores
at Saha in Ambala district.
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2.
The 95.360 kilometers Ambala-Kaithal highway will be constructed at a coast of over Rs 916 crores.
Greek banks reopen after three-week closure
Greek bank re-opens

1.
Greek banks are reopening after three weeks of closures sparked by the deadlock over the countrys
debt.
2.
While banks throwing open their doors marks the return of some normality to the Greek economy,
long-term problems remain.
3.
Unemployment is stubbornly high and Greeces recession is comparable to one of historys most
famous economic crashes.
4.
Athens reached a cash-for-reforms deal aimed at avoiding a debt default and an exit from the
eurozone.
5.
But several restrictions remain in place, including a block on capital transfers abroad, and Greeks also
face price rises with an increase in VAT.
6.
Meanwhile, Germany has said it is prepared to consider further debt concessions to Greece.
US, Cuba usher in new era with reopening of embassies

1.
United States and Cuba re-opened embassies in their respective capitals today, formally renewing
diplomatic ties. The becoming of diplomatic missions to full embassies follows an agreement between
both the sides which was struck last year to put aside decades of hostility.
2.
US trade embargo banning most American companies from doing business in Cuba continues to
remain in place.
3.
President Raul Castro has urged Mr Obama to lift the embargo, calling it the main stumbling block
towards normalisations. But, the US Congress would have to vote on the issue.
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BCCI decides to revamp Deodhar, Hazare format
BCCI revamps Deodhar

1.
BCCI has decided to change the format of the Deodhar TrophyInter-zonal one day tournament making
it into a three-team affair from current five zones vying for top spot.
2.
The BCCI decided to implement the suggestions given by the Anil Kumble-led technical committee
where in the Deodhar Trophy will feature four 50-overs matches across five days between January 24
to January 28.
3.
Just like Challenger series, the Vijay Hazare Trophy champions will be one of the teams. It will
compete with two other teams which will be selected by the national selectors from the performance
of Vijay Hazare Trophy.
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Railways to grant RAC e-tickets on cancellation of trains
Indian_Railway
1.
Ministry of Railways have decided to grant automatic refund of confirmed or RAC e-tickets on
cancellation of trains similar to waitlisted e-tickets.
2.
An official release said, there shall not be any requirement for cancellation or filing of TDR for refund
of e-tickets in case of cancellation of trains. This has become effective from 13th of this month.
However, in case of cancellation of trains, PRS counter ticket shall continue to be refunded across the
reservation counter as per the existing provisions.
Japan calls on China to halt oil exploration in part of East China Sea
1.
Japan calls on China to halt oil exploration in part of East China Sea
2.
Japan called on China today to halt construction of oil-and-gas exploration platforms in the East China
Seaclose to waters claimed by both nations.
3.
Japan has been concerned that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese territory.
Japans Defence Ministry added the demand to its annual defence review after members of the ruling
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party complained that its original draft was too soft on China. China resumed exploration in the East
China Sea two years ago.
Greece begins repaying its debt to IMF, ECB
Greece begins repaying its debt to IMF, ECB

1.
Greece has begun to repay its debt it owed to the International Monetary Fund, IMFand the European
Central Bank, ECB.
2.
IMF spokesman Gerry Rice announced last night that Greece was no longer in default on its loans
after remitting about two billion Euros to make up for its missed debt payments. He further said that
IMF stands ready to continue assisting Athens in its efforts to return to financial stability.
3.
Greeces ongoing IMF support program was frozen on 30th of last month when it failed to make a key
payment on outstanding loans.It missed a second payment on 13th of this month as the negotiations
for bridge funding for the cash-short nation were being finalised.
4.
Athens also paid back 4.2 billion Euros in principal and interest to the ECB and is also repaying a 500
million Euro loan to the Greek central bank. The country is paying its bills using a 7.16 billion Euro
bridging loan secured by the European Union last week after it agreed to a series of harsh reforms.
5.
Meanwhile, Greeks woke up to widespread tax rises as part of the tough reform package agreed last
week in exchange for a three-year bailout of up to 86 billion Euros aimed at keeping them from
crashing out of Eurozone.
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French film showcases Anand Kumars Super 30 success
French film showcases Anand Kumars Super 30 success
1.
Mathematician Anand Kumars Super 30, acclaimed for helping students of deprived section to crack
the prestigious IIT entrance examination, now features in a film made by
famous French directorPascal Plisson.
2.
The 90-minute film, The Big Day, is ready and its clips are already being shown to TV and YouTube. A
statement from Super 30 said in Patna today, the movie is set to be released next month.
BRICS bank opens for business in China

1.
TheNew Development Bank (NDB) floated by the BRICS nations, including India, to step up
infrastructure funding in the emerging economies formally started its operations at its headquarters.
2.
K.V.Kamath, will be the banks President for the first five years.
3.
BRICS economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa launched the multibillion dollar
development bank at the 7th BRICS summit held in the Russian city of Ufa on July 8 amid efforts to
finance infrastructure projects, mainly in member countries.
4.
The NDB will have initial capital of USD 50 billion, which will be expanded to USD 100 billion within
the next couple of years.
5.
Each BRICS member will contribute an equal share in establishing a startup capital.
6.
NDBs $100 billion pool, called the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), is designed to assist
member countries at times of currency liquidity crises.
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7 Indian firms among worlds 500 largest companies: Fortune Magazine
1.
Seven Indian companies are among the worlds 500 largest companies, according to a list compiled
by Fortune Magazinethat has been topped by retail giant Walmart.
2.
The Indian companies on the 2015 Fortune Global 500 list areIndian Oil ranked 119 on the list with
revenues of about 74 billion US dollars, followed by Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, State Bank of
India, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and ONGC.
3.
Companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years ended on or before March
31, 2015. Revenue figures include consolidated subsidiaries and reported revenues from discontinued
operations, but exclude excise taxes.
4.
The worlds 500 largest companies generated $31.2 trillion in revenues and $1.7 trillion in profits in
2014. Together, this years Fortune Global 500 employ 65 million people worldwide and are
represented by 36 countries.
Top Ten Companies- 2015 Fortune Global 500 list

1.
Walmart WMT- USA
2.
Sinopec Group CHINA
3.
Royal Dutch Shell NETHERLANDS
4.
China National Petroleum CHINA
5.
Exxon Mobil XOM USA
6.
BP BP UK
7.
State Grid CHINA
8.
Volkswagen GERMANY
9.
Toyota Motor TM JAPAN
10. Glencore SWITZERLAND
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India ranks at 12th position in terms of power generation from nuclear source as per data
published by PRIS of IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

1.
According to the data published, by Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) of International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), India ranked at12th position in terms of power generation. However, it stood
at 6th position in terms of number of reactors in operation country- wise, globally. There are thirty
one countries including India in the world which generate electricity from nuclear source.
2.
The current installed nuclear power capacity is 5780 MW, which is expected to increase to 10080
MW on progressive completion of projects under commissioning/ construction by 2019.
3.
The Government has accorded financial sanction and administrative approval for Gorakhpur Haryana
Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) Units and Kudankulam Units with a total capacity of 3400 MW.
These projects are being prepared for launch in the current year.
4.
India has signed Nuclear agreements with USA, France, Russia, Namibia, Mongolia, Republic of Korea,
Argentine Republic, United Kingdom, Republic of Kazakhstan, Canada, Sri Lanka and Australia to fulfill
countrys power need.
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Puducherry is the first Smart City nomination received by UD
Ministry
1.
In less than a month of launch of Smart City Mission by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
Puducherry has emerged as the first nomination to be received by the Ministry of Urban
Development.
2.
The Government of Union Territory of Puducherry has nominated its capital city for inclusion in
the 100 Smart Cities Mission launched on the 25th of last month.
3.
Puducherry which has a population of 6,57,209 has done well in respect of several Stage-1 evaluation
criteria and scored 75 of the possible 100 marks.
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August, 2015
CERN formally confers its associate membership to Pakistan
CERN
1.
The European Organisation forNuclear Research, known as CERN, has formally conferred its associate
membership to Pakistan, following completion of required internal ratification process by it.
2.
Pakistan has thus become the first member of CERNamong Asian countries, said a press statement
issued by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
3.
The associate membership will open a new era of cooperation that will strengthen the long-term
partnership between CERN and the Pakistani scientific community. Pakistan can now participate in
the governance of CERN, by attending meetings of its council.
4.
About CERN
5.
At CERN (European Council for Nuclear Research), the European Organization for Nuclear Research,
physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. They use the worlds
largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter the
fundamental particles.
Income tax department notifies tax return forms for non-salaried class
including companies and individuals
1. The income tax department has notified tax return forms for non-salaried class, including
companies, partners in firms and individuals deriving their income from proprietary business
or profession.
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2. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified ITR3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for Assessment Year
2015-16. These forms are used by non-salaried entities to file income tax returns.
3. As per the notification, companies and firms filing returns under ITR-5 and 6 would be
required to specify whether they are Foreign Institutional Investors (FII)/Foreign Portfolio
Investors (FPIs) and will have to furnish SEBI registration numbers.
4. The government has earlier notified ITR forms 1 (Sahaj), 2, 2A and 4S (Sugam) for
Assessment Year 2015-16. These are used for filing income tax returns by salaried
individuals.
Another extension to Rajan S Katoch as Chief of ED
1.
Rajan-S-Katoch
2.
Senior IAS officer Rajan S Katoch was given yet another extension as the Chief of the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) by the government for three more months beyond July 31, which is till October 31.
3.
This is the third extension being given to the 1979-batch IAS officer in the post.
4.
An IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, Katoch has been heading ED, under the Finance Ministry, for
about three-and-a-half years now after he was first appointed in March 2012.
India to host meeting of 14 Pacific island nations

1.
On August 21, India will host the heads of 14 island nations at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands
Cooperation (FIPIC), in what is seen as a first step towards greater engagement with the region, which
is important from an economic and geostrategic standpoint.
2.
The upcoming summit in Jaipur is expected to pave the way for agreements in agriculture, food
processing, fisheries, solar energy, e-networks for coordination in telemedicine and tele-education,
space cooperation and climate change all of which were mentioned as areas of potential cooperation
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Fiji in 2014.
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3.
The Pacific Islands, a group of 14 island nations in the South Pacific Ocean with a total population of
just over 8 million people, have been of limited strategic significance to the major global powers since
the pitched battles of World War II were fought on their shores over half a century ago.
Nagaland accord historic

1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as historic the signing of an accord between the government
and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
2.
He praised NSCN (IM) leaders T. Muivah and Isak Swu for showing wisdom and courage and for
making this effort which resulted in the historical agreement.
3.
My relationship with the North East has been deep. I have travelled to Nagaland on many occasions.
I have been deeply impressed by the rich and diverse culture and the unique way of life of the Naga
people.
NCRB data on Railway accident

1.
A total of 27,581 Indians died in 2014 in railway related accidents, the latest data by the National
Crime Records Bureau shows.
2.
The NCRB has recorded railway-related accidents in two categories - railway and railways crossing
accidents.
3.
The leading cause of deaths in railway accidents was fall from trains/collision of trains with people on
tracks, which together accounted for 13,542 deaths. Other causes include - collisions (99 deaths),
derailments (59), explosion/fire (32). Cause for rest of the cases are not known.
Railway accidents
1.
According to the NCRB, 25,006 people died and 3,882 were injured in a total of 28,360 railway
accidents across the country in 2014. The railway accident cases have decreased by 9.2% as compared
to those in 2013.
2.
Maharashtra reported the maximum or 7,969 such cases in which 5,024 people were killed and 3,208
were injured. In cities, the maximum number of deaths was reported in Delhi (856), followed by
Bhopal (132), Allahabad (92) and Jabalpur (76).
3.
The maximum number of railway accidents happened in June or 9.4% of the total. And most of these
accidents or 17.5% of total were reported between 6am and 9am.
Railway crossing accidents

1.
NCRB says a total of 2,547 railway crossing accidents led to 2,575 deaths and 126 injuries across the
country in 2014. The railways crossing accidents have increased by 83.5% when compared to 2013.
2.
Telangana had an unusually large number of railway crossing accidents with 1,061 or 41.65%
incidents being reported from the state.
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2022 Winter Olympics programme
1.
The programme of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will be the same as Sochi 2014, the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) at its 128th session here announced.
2.
The sports are skiing, biathlon, curling, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton, skating, and ice hockey. All seven
Olympic sports contributed significantly to the success of the Winter Olympics Sochi 2014, bringing
real added value to the programme, announced IOC, reports Xinhua.
3.
The IOC declared that a proposal from its executive board on the possible inclusion of new events on
the programme for Beijing 2022 could be presented to the IOC session before PyeongChang 2018.
4.
The IOC Olympics executive director Christophe Dubi and sports director Kit McConnell provided a
detailed report on the implementation of the first three recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020,
shaping the bidding process as an invitation recommendation, evaluating bid cities by assessing key
opportunities and risks, and reducing the cost of bidding.
5.
Olympic Agenda 2020 brings not only effectiveness and transparency but also opportunities for
smaller countries which were a little discouraged by the higher costs and investments recently made
by certain organising committees, said IOC Member in Slovakia Danka Bartekova.
6.
I welcome these initiatives because it means there is a possibility even for smaller countries to bid
for the Olympics. A wider range of countries that can apply means a more diverse experience not only
for the athletes but also for Olympic fans and supporters around the world.
7.
The IOC granted full recognition to the South Sudan National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the
World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) was also granted a full IOC membership.
National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) established

1.
Government has established the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) with a budget
provision of Rs.350 crores for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17, with an estimated requirement of
Rs.181.5 crores for financial year 2017-18.
2.
The objective of the fund is to assist State and Union Territories that are particularly vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change in meeting the cost of adaptation.
3.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has been appointed as National
Implementing Entity (NIE) responsible for implementation of adaptation projects under the (NAFCC).
4.
The templates for project preparation and guidelines for implementation of the project have been
prepared. The guidelines have outlined the objective, priorities, eligible activities, approval process,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
5.
The focus of the fund is to assist adaptation projects and programmes to support concrete adaptation
activities that reduce the effects of climate change facing communities and sectors.
6.
As of now, there is no provision for any external assistance to be credited to NAFCC. The scheme has
been recommended and approved by the competent authority in the month of July, 2015.
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7.
As such no financial support from NAFCC has been provided so far for adaptation activities under
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).
8.
The Adaptation Fund is to assist States that are particularly vulnerable, based on the needs and
priorities identified under the SAPCC and the relevant Missions under NAPCC.
MP 3rd in ragging cases in country: UGC report

1.
Madhya Pradesh government's efforts to make colleges a ragging-free campus has failed to get
desired results as state continues to be among top three states in the country that registered
maximum number of ragging cases. MP is placed third with 317 cases after Uttar Pradesh (573
cases) and West Bengal (381 cases) according to a latest report of University Grants Commission
(UGC) considering data during last seven years
2.
Commission said medical and engineering colleges continued to be epicentre of ranging

incidents. After suicide by a B Pharma student in RKDF college in 2014, state government claimed
a review is being done on ragging complaints by students. But reality is, it is yet to be done.
Though universities and institutions in the state claim steps were taken to control ragging,
statistics speak otherwise.
3.
UGC report states, as many as 21 complaints of ragging were reported on its website from MP in
2015 so far. From UP, 25 students and from West Bengal 22 complaints have been lodged
respectively, so far.
4.
After 2012, state has reported a sudden rise in the ragging complaints. There were only 32
complaints in 2012. In the 2013, state reported 80 complaints, while in 2014 MP reported 74
complaints. In 2011, 37 students had filed complaints on the UGC helpline.
5.
In the last five year, Madhya Pradesh has reported 244 complaints by students.
6.
Uttar Pradesh leads the table with 404 complaints filed in the last five years while West Bengal
placed second with 268 complaints while Odisha is placed third with 284 complaints.
7.
Among complainants, boys registered more complaints as compared to girls. It could be gauged
from the fact that of the 22 complaints registered in Madhya Pradesh so far this year, only two
are from girls. From 2009 to 2014, 296 ragging cases were registered of which 276 were
registered by boys and only 20 from girls.
Indian consumer sentiment lowest

1.
The MNI India Consumer Sentiment Indicator fell for the third straight month to 118.6 in July
the weakest level since March amid weakening personal finances, said a Deutsche-Boerse
survey. Consumer sentiment which was on a downtrend since early 2014, had levelled off in
recent months but the July out-turn showed renewed weakness, the report said.
2.
In June, the MNI India Consumer Sentiment Indicator stood at 119.5. This was a very
disappointing result with consumer sentiment the weakest since March and not that far from the
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record low set in 2013. So far the rate cuts have had little impact, with consumers the most
concerned about their finances since the survey began, MNI Indicators Chief Economist Philip
Uglow said. The Reserve Bank today kept its policy rates unchanged, with Governor Raghuram
Rajan saying that the headline inflation is at elevated levels and banks are yet to pass on the full
benefits of previous rate cuts.
3.
Accordingly, the repo rate at which the RBI lends to the system, will continue to be at 7.25 per
cent and the cash reserve ratio, which is the proportion of deposits banks have to park with the
central bank, will remain 4 per cent. Weaker overall sentiment was probably down in part to
higher inflation, the report said adding that the CPI inflation is likely to turn upwards over the
coming months. The July survey shows that sentiment among Indian households remains fragile
with consumers increasingly wary about their finances. Consumers views on jobs market also
deteriorated in July as the Employment Outlook Indicator fell for the first time in four months to
119.3 in July from 122.7 in June.
4.
Most economic data emanating from India over past few months have been underwhelming
Uglow said adding industrial production, manufacturing output remain sluggish and capacity
utilisation has been falling.
GRAMSAT Scheme
1.
Under Gramsat Scheme, ISROs contribution is to provide the necessary satellite bandwidth to
respective State Governments.
2.
The expenditure for providing satellite bandwidth for the last 3 years amounts to approximately Rs
9.00 crore (at a rate of Rs 3.00 Crore per year). The expenditure towards content generation and
transmission is borne by the State Government of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka for
the operation in their respective states.
3.
The details of the programme transmitted under the scheme have been under the purview of the
concerned State Government. Generally, these programmes cover areas such as mass education,
tribal culture, anganwadi workers training, fisheries, forest and environment.
4.
The State Governments concerned formulate the programmes to be transmitted on the Gramsat
network and include programmes such as Kuch Soche Kuch Samjhe, Bhor Honewali Hai, Kahani
Baba, Ek Tha Raja, Baat Hamari, to promote tribal development and culture.
Membership of CERN
1.
India has initiated the process of acquiring the Associate Membership of the Centre for European
Nuclear Research (CERN), the largest particle physics laboratory.
2.
A proposal for India becoming Associate Member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research
(CERN) has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security on 25.03.2015.
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3.
Upon approval of the Government, the CERN, Geneva has been intimated that India has completed its
internal processes regarding its application for Associate Membership of CERN so as to facilitate
completion of further procedural aspects.
4.
The annual contribution of India as Associate Member of CERN is estimated at Rs. 50 crore.
Advantages/Benefits of becoming Associate Member of CERN
India will be able to attend the CERN Council open and restricted meetings. Indias status as an
Associate Member brings with it advantages like representation in Regular Council Sessions,
except closed sessions and ask for the floor and make statements without having to be formally
invited to do so. As an Observer, India could only attend open sessions and had no voting rights.
Indian scientists can become members of CERNs advisory committees and thus help to shape
research programmes at CERN.
India could also look forward to consultations from experts in CERN in hi-tech areas such as
cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum systems, complex and efficient computing solutions for domestic
projects as well as for international projects where India is a party.
India would be able to participate in LHC consolidation and high-luminosity upgrade, including
continued collaboration on the LINAC4 project including design aspects which is not possible as
an Observer.
India would be able to collaborate on R&D for future accelerators, such as superconducting
technologies, high-power linear proton accelerators (SPL), or Compact Linear Collider (CLIC)
which is not possible as an Observer.
India would be able to participate in other non-LHC research programs, such as Super Proton
Synchrotron (SPS) experiments, or the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) facility which is not possible
as an Observer.
Medical applications of accelerators and detectors (for diagnosis and therapy) which was not
possible as an Observer.
Indian staff will be eligible for scientific, technical and administrative positions in CERN which will
be useful for our future accelerator and related science and technology programmes. This is not
possible when India is an Observer.
Indian industry would be able to participate directly in all CERN related activities. This will lead to
enhancement of high technology development expertise in the country, which will in turn be
beneficial to DAE and other scientific departments in the country for their future programmes in
the related areas. As Observer, Indian industry could only participate through contracts by DAE
institutions who were participating in LHC activities.
A number of doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows could be trained in CERN in advanced
technologies of relevance to DAE.
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In addition, the following possibilities are envisaged in future:-
Student support for CERN Summer Student Associate-ship
Participation in CERN mediated schools in Asia and elsewhere
Participation in CERN Physics Teacher Training Programs
CERN Fellowships for young researchers and engineers
CERN staff employment for experienced researchers, engineers and administrators.
Thus the knowledge acquired by this set of people will be crucial for future accelerators based
projects of our country.
Bill to repeal 295 obsolete Acts passed

1.
A bill seeking to scrap a set of 295 obsolete Acts dealing with several issues including changes in
marriage laws and cement hoarding was today passed by Lok Sabha which continued to witness
boycott by Congress and several other opposition parties.
2.
The Repealing and Amending (Fourth) Bill, 2015, pertains to annulling 295 Acts, several of them over
30 years old, which have been declared as redundant by respective central ministries.
3.
Replying to a brief debate on the bill, Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said the repealing and
amending of Acts cleans the statute book and makes it easy for common man to understand.
4.
"We are trying to see that all the Acts which have been identified are repealed as early as possible,"
Gowda said, while noting that the Centre proposes to repeal 1,863 redundant Acts as and when it
receives concurrence from the state governments.
5.
He said the government is working to ensure that all future Appropriation Acts have automatic repeal
clause.
6.
Like 'Sunset clause', automatic repeal would be brought in at the time of bringing such Acts, the Law
Minister said.
7.
"We have written letters to state chief ministers to repeal the obsolete acts and 289 such acts have
been identified," Gowda said.
8.
The measures seek to repeal enactments which have ceased to be in force or have become obsolete
or their retention as separate Acts has become unnecessary. Such bills are also used to correct
defects or flaws detected in laws.
9.
The opposition benches remained empty as Congress and several other opposition parties are
boycotting the House as a mark of solidarity with 25 Congress MPs suspended for five days for
causing disruptions.
10. In the Repealing and Amending (Fourth) Bill, 2015, one of the Acts deals with amendments in
marriage laws, the other was aimed at checking hoarding and black marketing of cement.
11. 125 archaic laws have already been repealed and another two bills are pending parliamentary
approval. Once these bills are cleared, another 945 laws -- including 758 Appropriation Acts -- will be
repealed.
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12. Over and above the 945 laws, the Law Ministry has identified over 1,870 more laws which have lost
relevance today.
13. This is the first time since 2001 that such an exercise is being undertaken by the Law Ministry in line
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda to do away with "archaic" laws which were "hindering
efficient governance".
14. Between 1950 and 2001, over 100 Acts were repealed.
15. A bill to repeal 758 Appropriation Acts, including Railways (Appropriation) Acts, which have lost
relevance and are clogging the statute books, was introduced in Lok Sabha recently.
16. A large number of Appropriation Acts passed in the past several years have lost their meaning but
these are still shown on statute books. Appropriation Acts are intended to operate for a limited
period of time - authorising expenditures for the duration of one financial year.
Agreement between SERB and CMU

1.
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Government has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to support a minimum
of 5 outstanding Indian students per year for doctoral research in identified areas of Science,
Engineering and Mathematics at CMU. SERB, through the MoU, proposed to spend 2.4 million dollars
and CMU will spend at least 5 million dollars on Indian students, who will be selected during 2016-17
to 2020-21.
2.
This Overseas Doctoral Fellowship programme is aimed to build national capacity where the talent
supply of researchers in areas of interest to the country is sub-critical.
3.
The Program in the long run will create critical mass of performing scientists in niche areas where
there is shortage of scientists in the country.
4.
The country can also utilize the expertise gained by these young scientists to strengthen/initiate
national programmes in the domain knowledge of interest to the country. The Board has also signed
MoU with other top ranking institutions like Cambridge University, Stanford University etc. to build
expertise in other areas of interest to our country.
Hiroshima marks 70th anniversary of atomic bombing

1.
The residents of Japans Hiroshima city on Thursday commemorated the 70th anniversary of the first
atomic bomb dropped by a US aircraft on this day in 1945.
2.
The crowd observed a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time the US B-29 bomber Enola Gay
dropped the atomic bomb, which exploded some 600 metres (1,800 feet) above the city on August 6,
1945, state-run news agency NHK reported.
3.
The Hiroshima bombing and a second one in Nagasaki three days later is credited with ending
the Second World War. It claimed the lives of at least 140,000 people in Hiroshima city.
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4.
At least 55,000 people, including Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui
and some of the survivors, were present at the Peace Memorial Park for the annual ceremony.
5.
Prime Minister Abe expressed his commitment to global dialogue. He said Japan will continue to seek
cooperation from both nuclear and non-nuclear countries to do even more to achieve a world
without nuclear weapons. Abe said that to demonstrate this determination, Japan will introduce a
new resolution at the UN General Assembly seeking the abolition of nuclear weapons. Matsui called
nuclear weapons an absolute evil and ultimate inhumanity.
World's first ant map launched

1.
The world's first ever ant map showing the distribution of the tiny industrious creature around the
globe was launched Thursday by the University of Hong Kong in a bid to shed more light on the insect
world.
2.
The colourful interactive online map (antmaps.org), which took four years to complete, displays the
geographic locations of nearly 15,000 types of ant with the Australian state of Queensland home to
the highest number of native species at more than 1,400.
3.
"(Insects are) one of the main groups we need to focus on when we talk about biodiversity," Benoit
Guenard, one of the co-founders of the map, said.
4.
"Ants are very important in most ecosystems," Guenard added, as they cycle soil nutrients and help in
seed dispersal.
5.
"They are one of the best studied groups of insect."
6.
'Antmaps', a joint project between HKU and the Okinawa Institute of Sciences and Technology, also
differentiates ants which are native to a region and species which were imported.
7.
Guenard, a professor at HKU's school of biological sciences, said the map would provide an important
record of insect life around the world and would aid research and wildlife conservation.
8.
"It will help us in approaching the question of how well we are doing in protecting certain regions," he
told AFP.
9.
Work on the map is ongoing with new species of ants discovered frequently, Guenard said.
10. He leads the university's study of ants in Hong Kong and said his team believed they had discovered
12 new species in the city in the past year.
11. "We are finding and describing new life almost every week... that's what I find absolutely astonishing
about the work we do."
12. In a recent study by the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel published in July, ants were found to
have an astonishing ability to mix collective muscle with individual initiative for heavy lifting.
13. In experiments, researchers showed how a dozen or more ants working in unison to haul, say, a large
insect can adjust their course based on intelligence provided by a single ant joining the effort.
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Kayakalp - Initiative launched to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection
control practices
Kayakalp- an initiative has been launched to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in
public health facilities. Under this initiative, public healthcare facilities shall be appraised and such public
healthcare facilities that show exemplary performance meeting standards of protocols of cleanliness, hygiene
and infection control will receive awards and commendation.
Under this initiative, the number of awards are as under
v Best two District Hospitals in each state (Best District hospital in small states)
v Best two Community Health Centres/Sub District Hospitals (CHC/ SDH) (limited to one in smaller states).
v One Primary Health Centre (PHC) in every district
Based on the set criterion prize winners will receive a cash award with a citation.
Further, Certificate of Commendation plus cash award would be given to in facilities that score over 70%,
but do not make it to the list of top two/one in a particular year.
For FY 2015-16 awards will be taken up only for District Hospitals. Awards for SDH/CHCs and PHC will be
taken up in subsequent years. Details of Kayakalp initiative are available at URL

http://nrhm.gov.in/images/pdf/in-focus/Kayakalp_Guidelines.pdf
Swachhta Guidelines for public health facilities to promote Cleanliness, Hygiene and Infection Control Practices
in public health facilities were released on 15th May, 2015.
First National Handloom Day inaugurated

1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurate the first National Handloom Day at a function in
Chennai. Prime Minister Modi will confer the Sant Kabir awards and National awards for the years
2012, 2013 and 2014 to distinguished handloom personalities.
2.
The program is being held in the prestigious Centenary hall of Madras University. The Prime Minister
will also launch India Handloom Brand. An exhibition showcasing master creations of the awardees is
also being inaugurated on the occasion in the adjacent senate building of Madras University.
3.
The Handloom Day will be celebrated all over the country in cooperation with state governments. The
date August 7 has been chosen due to its special significance in Indias history; it was on this day that
the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905.
Global satellite to be named after Abdul Kalam

1.
A global satellite for earth observation and disaster risk reduction GlobalSat for DRR proposed
under the UN framework is to be dedicated to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as a tribute to the vision of the
celebrated rocket scientist and former Indian president who died July 27.
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2.
This has been stated by Milind Pimprikar, Chairman of CANEUS (CANada-Europe-US-ASia)

Organization on Space Technologies for Societal Applications headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
3.
Founded in 1999, CANEUS serves to develop a common platform for space technology solutions for
natural and man-made disaster management. The GlobalSat for DRR is a UN-driven global initiative
on sharing space technology for disaster risk reduction, Mr. Pimprikar told IANS.
4.
Launch of this satellite was mooted at the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held
at Sendai in Japan this March.
5.
The concept was initiated by CANEUS in cooperation with UN agencies including the UN Office for
Outer Space Affairs, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations
Development Programme and the World Bank.
6.
The GlobalSat was proposed in response to the need for a globally interconnected disaster and
environmental management system since no single country can afford to develop a complete set of
sensors and satellite systems needed for forecasting, monitoring and mitigating disasters like floods,
drought, typhoons, earthquakes, wild fires, windstorms, or tidal events, Mr. Pimprikar said.
7.
The UN-led GlobalSat will provide a common platform that will allow sharing of space and data
segments, with an ability to serve individual nations disaster management and development needs.
8.
Mr. Pimprikar said the goals of UN GlobatSat are the same as those of Kalam. In his World Space
Vision-2050 Mr. Kalam had envisaged space faring nations joining hands to find solutions to
mankinds major problems such as natural disasters, energy and water scarcity, health-care education
issues and weather prediction.
9.
Therefore we now plan to dedicate the UN GlobalSat initiative as a tribute to Late Dr. Abdul Kalam
by renaming it UN Kalam GlobalSat, Mr. Pimprikar said.
10. Mr. Pimprikar hoped the renaming will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and space
explorers to foster innovation and entrepreneurship and pooling of resources to find low-cost
solutions to major problems facing mankind.
11. Mr. Pimprikar said the recommendations made at the Sendai conference including the proposed
GlobalSat will be formally adopted by more than 150 world leaders at the UN Session in New York in
September that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to attend.
12. Noting that Mr. Modi has already proposed an Indian initiative for a dedicated satellite for the SAARC
(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries. Mr. Pimprikar said India, as a leading
space nation in the world, has the unique opportunity to champion and lead the proposed UN
GlobalSat initiative at the UN Session.
13. Respecting Indias leadership, other nations from across the globe will support it wholeheartedly to
seek formal UN endorsement of UN Kalam GlobalSat, he said.
14. After the formal approval, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs will work out the details that can be
addressed and finalised for implementation at the proposed UN-India Workshop in early 2016, he
said.
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15. The eventual goal of this satellite, he said, is to establish a public/private partnership that would
create a low-cost, internationally shared data collection and distribution backbone in space with no
barriers to entry for participating nations.
India Newborn Action Plan (INAP)

1.
The India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in September 2014 with the aim of ending
preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2030.
The salient features are:

2.
INAP has set the goals for neonatal mortality and stillbirths. The goal is to attain Single Digit Neonatal
Mortality and Stillbirth Rates by 2030.
3.
INAP is to be implemented within the existing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and
Adolescent health (RMNCH+A) framework of the National Health Mission (NHM).
4.
Six pillars of intervention packages impacting stillbirths and newborn health have been identified,
which include:
o Preconception and antenatal care

o Care during labour and child birth
o Immediate newborn care
o Care of healthy newborn
o Care of small and sick newborn
o Care beyond newborn survival
5.
For effective implementation, a systematic plan for monitoring and evaluation has been developed
with a list of dashboard indicators.
6.
INAP is now serving as a framework for the States to develop state-specific action plans and it is
expected that these interventions would have an impact in reducing newborn mortality in the
country.
7.
Birth Defect surveillance has been started recently in 37 Medical Colleges across the country. This
aims to build and strengthen surveillance capacity and expand the availability of standardized and
accurate data on congenital anomalies.
8.
INAP has been disseminated at the national and regional levels in order to facilitate the States to
formulate their own need-based plans. As a result, the States are now in the process of developing
their State-specific Newborn Action Plans.
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Swachh Bharat rankings
1.
Mysore has topped the Swachh Bharat rankings among 476 cities in the country with three more
places from Karnataka figuring in the top 10.
2.
Among urban local bodies in the national capital, Delhi Cantonment was ranked 15th in the list and
New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) 16th, while Municipal Corporation of Delhi was at 398th
position.
3.
West Bengal has done well in the rankings with 25 cities/towns finding a place in the top 100.
4.
These rankings are based on the extent of open defecation and solid waste management practices,
according to a government release.
5.
The city of Mysore leads the cities with minimal open defecation and extensive adoption of solid
waste management practices.
6.
Thirty-nine cities from the southern states were among the top 100, followed by 27 from East, 15
from West, 12 from North and seven from the North-Eastern states.
7.
Fifteen of the 27 capital cities surveyed figured among the top 100 performers while five were ranked
beyond 300.
8.
Bengaluru leads the list of capitals at 7th rank while Patna came at the bottom at 429th.
Among the bottom 100 cities, 74 are from North, 21 from East, three from West and two from South.
9.
The top 10 ranked cities are Mysore, Thiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu), Navi Mumbai, Kochi (Kerala),
Hassan, Mandya and Bengaluru from Karnataka, Thiruvananthapuram, Halisahar (West Bengal), and
Gangtok (Sikkim).
Damoh (Madhya Pradesh) came at the bottom at 476th, preceded by Bhind (MP), Palwal and Bhiwani
both in Haryana, Chittaurgarh (Rajasthan), Bulandshahr (UP), Neemuch (MP), Rewari (Haryana),
Hindaun (Rajasthan) and Sambalpur in Odisha at 467th rank.
All the 476 Class-1 cities in 31 States and Union Territories, each with a population of above one lakh
were surveyed for assessing total sanitation practices covering a set of parameters including the
extent of open defecation, solid waste management, septage management, waste water treatment,
drinking water quality, surface water quality of water bodies and mortality due to water born
diseases.The survey, conducted during 2014-15, was commissioned by the Ministry of Urban
Development as required under the National Sanitation Policy of 2008.
10. Since the Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented in urban areas with focus on construction of
individual household, community and public toilets to eradicate open defecation and ensure door-todoor collection and disposal of municipal solid waste, all the 476 Class-1 cities have been ranked
based on the data pertaining to these elements.
11. This helps in assessing the present situation in these cities so that they can undertake necessary
interventions to meet Swachh Bharat Mission targets in urban areas.
12. Overall sanitation rankings of these cities based on a total of 100 marks assigned to different
parameters covering all aspects would be announced later.
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13. The Swachh Bharat rankings are based on a total of 42 marks including 20 for open defecation
indicators and 22 for solid waste management indicators.
14. Number of cities surveyed in major states include : UP (61), West Bengal (60), Maharashtra (43),
Madhya Pradesh (32), Gujarat (30), Andhra Pradesh (30), Tamil Nadu (29), Rajasthan (28), Bihar (27),
Karnataka (26), Haryana (20), Punjab (16), Telangana (11), Odisha (10), Jharkhand (10), Chhattisgarh
(9) and six each from Kerala, Uttarakhand and North-Eastern states.
New BrahMos gets Kalam name

1.
India will pay its Missile Man the ultimate tribute -- naming its first hypersonic missile, which will
travel at a speed of 8,575 kmph, after the late president APJ Abdul Kalam.
2.
A cruise missile capable of taking out hardened targets such as underground bunkers and weapon
storage facilities at seven times the speed of sound (Mach 7), BrahMos-II (K) is being developed by the
Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace. The K in it is for Kalam, the man who fired Indias
missile and nuclear programme.
3.
Kalam is the reason we are standing on the threshold of a new era of hypersonic weapons. Thats
why BrahMos-II is being named after him, BrahMos Aerospace CEO Sudhir Mishra told HT.
4.
Their sheer speed makes hypersonic weapons, designed to fly at least Mach 5 (6,125 kmph), difficult
to intercept and packs them with destructive power. The US, Russia and China are the only other
countries working on these weapon systems.
5.
Six weeks before Kalam died on July 27, he asked BrahMos Aerospace to press the accelerator on
hypersonic weapons technology and help India field an operational missile in three to five years.
6.
We have a two-pronged approach to exploit the hypersonic realm upgrading the existing BrahMos
engine to achieve Mach 5+ speed in three to five years and simultaneously working on a pure
hypersonic engine to breach Mach 7 in five-seven years, Mishra said.
7.
The existing BrahMos missile provides India the capability to hit targets 290km away at nearly three
times the speed of sound. Its the worlds fastest supersonic cruise missile.
8.
The 1998 inter-governmental agreement with Russia to build these missiles bears Kalams signature,
who was then heading the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
9.
Kalam visited the BrahMos Delhi headquarters on June 13 to mark the missiles first test flight in 2001
and spoke at length about hypersonic capabilities.
10. The headquarters Mission of Life museum, dedicated to arguably the countrys most loved president,
mirrors his extraordinary relationship with BrahMos.
11. It captures his journey from a boy in a remote Tamil Nadu village to Peoples President told through
memorabilia donated by Kalam.
12. On display is the Bharat Ratna he was presented in 1997 for his contribution to the scientific research
and modernisation of defence technology in India.
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13. Two Padmas share the space with the flight suit that Kalam wore during his now famous Sukhoi-30
sortie. An entire wall of sketches and caricatures presented to him by school children perhaps
captures the rocket-scientist presidents life the best that of Peoples President and ardent
nationalist.
Breakthrough discovery in malaria parasite

1.
In a breakthrough discovery, researchers have revealed a new compound which could be a potential
new tool to fight malaria.
2.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have shown that they can trick malariainfected red blood cells into building up a volatile chemical stockpile that can be set off by luminols
glow. To achieve this, the scientists gave infected red blood cells an unusual amino acid and used
luminols glow to trigger the chemical, killing the parasite.
3.
Senior author Daniel Goldberg said that the light that luminol emits was enhanced by the antimalarial
drug artemisinin. The new approach targets proteins made by human red blood cells, which the
parasite cant mutate.
4.
Goldberg said that amino acid, the luminol and artemisinin have been cleared for use in humans
individually, adding that they are optimistic that it wont present any safety problems together.
About a 4th of population under medical cover

1.
With improving awareness on health insurance, about 24 per cent of countrys total population has
been covered under any health insurance policy.
2.
As per the data compiled by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), the
number of lives covered under health insurance policies during the financial year, 2014-15 were 28.87
crore (provisional numbers). As per the Census of India 2011, the population of India was 121.02
crore.
3.
As such, approximately 24 per cent of Indias total population has been covered under any health
insurance policy during the FY 2014-15, according to an official statement.
4.
Of the 28.87 crore people covered, public sector insurance firms National Insurance, United India
Insurance, New India Assurance and Oriental Insurance Co accounted for 73 per cent, followed by
private insurers (17 companies) at 22 per cent. Specialized health insurers (5 companies) accounted
for the remaining five per cent.
5.
Among the public sector insurers, National Insurance tops the list (29 per cent share in the total
coverage), followed by United India (about 24 per cent). In the private sector table, Reliance is the
leader (6 per cent share in overall coverage), followed by Iffco Tokio (5 per cent) and ICICI Lombard
(four per cent).
6.
Among the specialized health insurance firms, Star Health is the leader (2.5 per cent share in overall
coverage).
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7.
Prime Ministers Jan Dhan Yojana-PMJDY- has brought in 12.5 crore families into its fold by their new
bank accounts, which have a total deposit of Rs.10,500 crore.
8.
This covers around 15 per cent of our population. This scheme has a built in health cover of Rs.30,000
per family and has become a game changer. By these initiatives, the rural insurance penetration has
increased manifold, said an IRDA document.
Suraksha Bandhan Drive launched

1.
In order to build on the very encouraging response to the two very affordable and convenient to
subscribe insurance schemes, namely the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) for accident
and disability cover of up to Rs.2 Lakh at an annual premium of Rs.12 and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan
Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for a term life cover of Rs.2 Lakh at an annual premium of Rs.330,
launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015, a special enrolment drive is
being launched by participating Banks and Insurance Companies in the months of August-September,
in the backdrop of the forthcoming festival of Raksha Bandhan. The drive will reach out to the pool of
eligible Bank account holders who are yet to be enrolled under these schemes.
2.
This Suraksha Bandhan drive aims to take forward the Governments objective of creating a
universal social security system in the country, targeted especially at the poor and the underprivileged. The envisaged social security initiative also includes the Atal Pension Yojana (APY),
launched along with the above two insurance schemes, which addresses the issue of old age income
security by facilitating regular contributions during the working life of the subscriber for a guaranteed
pension at the age of 60, with certain Government contribution for eligible subscribers who enroll by
31stDecember, 2015.
3.
Participating Banks supported by the participating Insurance Companies will work towards local
outreach, awareness building and enrolment facilitation during this drive. All eligible citizens are
requested to contact their Bank branches for enrolment.
4.
Public service organizations supported by peoples representatives, field functionaries of Govt.

Departments / Ministries working with the unorganized / informal sector and Banks / Insurance
companies are expected to participate in these efforts through outreach drives, camps etc. in large
numbers during this period.
5.
The last date for enrolling under the PMSBY and PMJJBY schemes has been extended till 30th
September, 2015, and persons enrolling within this period would not be required to submit a
certificate of good health for PMJJBY. PMSBY enrolment does not in any event require any such
certification.
6.
The drive envisaged in the backdrop of Raksha Bandhan, will be supported through the Jeevan
Suraksha Gift Cheques, which will be available for purchase for Rs.351 in Bank branches by persons
wishing to gift them to facilitate one year payment of premium for PMJJBY and PMSBY by the
recipient. The recipient of the gift cheque would deposit the instrument in his / her bank account for
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a realizable value of Rs.342 (Rs.12 + Rs.330) to cover one year subscription to PMJJBY and PMSBY. The
balance of Rs.9 from the purchase price of Rs.351 would be retained by the issuing Bank as a service
charge.
7.
In addition Banks will make available a facility to account holders under the Suraksha Deposit Scheme
and theJeevan Suraksha Deposit Scheme aimed at enabling them to deposit Rs.201 or Rs.5001,
respectively in their accounts either on their own initiative by cash, regular cheque etc. or based on
cash / regular cheques etc. received as gifts during the festive season of Raksha Bandhan for long
term subscription to PMSBY or to both PMSBY and PMJJBY, respectively.
8.
The Rs.201 deposit envisaged under Suraksha Deposit Scheme would be used by the individual
through his / her Bank account to reserve Rs.24 for paying two annual payments of Rs.12 each for
PMSBY, at the appropriate time, and the remaining Rs.177 would be in a Fixed Deposit (FD) for 5 to 10
years for payment of future PMSBY subscriptions from the interest accrued every year.
9.
Similarly the Rs.5001 deposit under Jeevan Suraksha Deposit Scheme would be used to reserve Rs.684
for paying two annual payments of Rs.342 (Rs.12 + Rs.330) each for subscription to PMSBY and
PMJJBY, at the appropriate time, and the remaining Rs.4317 would be kept in FD for 5 to 10 years for
payment of future PMSBY and PMJJBY subscriptions from the interest accrued every year.
India has 1866 registered political parties: EC

1.
There has been a rush for registration of political parties, with as many as 239 new outfits enrolling
themselves with the Election Commission between March, 2014 and July this year, taking their
number to 1866.
2.
According to the Commission, as on July 24, there are 1866 political parties which are registered with
it. Out of these, 56 are recognised as registered national or state parties, while the rest are
unrecognised, registered parties. According to data complied by the Commission, in the last Lok
Sabha election in 2014, 464 political parties had fielded candidates.
3.
The data complied by the poll panel was shared with the Law Ministry for use in Parliament.
Legislative Department of the ministry is the administrative unit for the poll watchdog. According to
the Election Commission, there were a total of 1,593 such parties in the country till March 10, 2014.
24 more such parties were registered between March 11 and March 21. And by March 26, 10 more
outfits had registered as political parties. This was days after the Lok Sabha polls were announced on
March 5. The total number of political parties registered with the EC in March last year stood at 1,627.
Between March, 2014 and July this year, 239 parties registered themselves with the Commission.
4.
These registered but unrecognised political parties do not have the privilege of contesting elections
on a symbol of their own. They have to choose from a list of free symbols issued by the poll panel.
According to a latest EC circular, 84 such free symbols are available. Air conditioner, almirah, balloon,
chappals, coconut, window, carpet, bottle and bread were some of the free symbols available for
registered, unrecognised political parties.
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5.
The Election Commission had come out with a list of 84 free symbols in January this year available
with it to be used by registered political parties which are unrecognised. To become a recognised
political party either at the state or national level, a party has to fulfil certain criteria. The criteria for
recognition include conducting activities as a political party for a continuous period of five years, or
getting at least 4 per cent of the votes polled in elections to the state legislative Assembly or the Lok
Sabha in a particular state. But while calculating the votes polled, seats where candidates of such
parties have forfeited their deposit are not included.
6.
Election Commission rules say that if a candidate fails to get a minimum of one-sixth of the total valid
votes polled, the deposit goes to the treasury. As of now, six parties BJP, BSP, Congress, CPI, CPI (M)
and NCP are recognised as national parties. Besides, there are 50 recognised state parties. The
Law Commission in its 255th report submitted to the Law Ministry in March this year had
recommended deregistration of a political party for its failure to contest parliamentary or state
elections for 10 consecutive years.
Russian astronauts set for spacewalk on ISS

1.
NASA will broadcast the live coverage of a six-hour spacewalk by two Russian crew members aboard
the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday.
2.
Expedition 44 commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Mikhail Kornienko of the Russian
Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will wear their spacesuits and exit the stations Pirs airlock at
19.44 p.m. (IST).
3.
The objectives are to rig new equipment on the Russian segment of the station and conduct a
detailed photographic inspection of the exterior of the orbiting outpost, the US space agency said in
a statement.
4.
Padalka and Kornienko will install devices called gap spanners on the hull of the station.
5.
These devices will facilitate the movement of crew members on future spacewalks.
6.
They will also install fasteners on communications antennas and replace an aging antenna used for
the rendezvous and docking of visiting vehicles at Russian docking ports.
7.
The spacewalk will be the 188th in support of space station assembly and maintenance and the 10th
spacewalk for Padalka, who has spent more time in space than any other human.
8.
On August 22, 2013, ISS 36 flight engineers Alexander Misurkin and Fyodor Yurchikhin, both of the
Russian Federal Space Agency, conducted a five-hour, 58-minute spacewalk to replace a laser
communications experiment, install new spacewalk aids and inspect antenna covers on the stations
exterior.
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Pahal enters Guinness Book of World Records as the largest cash transfer
program
1.
The programme to pay cash subsidy to cooking gas LPG consumers has been recognised byGuinness
Book of World Records as the largest cash transfer programme in the world.
2.
India launched the `PAHAL Scheme in 54 districts of the country on 15 Novemeber, 2014 and in
remaining districts of the country on 1st January, 2015.
3.
LPG consumers who join the PAHAL scheme will get the LPG cylinders at market price and receive LPG
subsidy (as per their entitlement) directly into their bank accounts.
4.
As on today, 13.9 crore LPG consumers have joined the Pahal scheme.
5.
Presently, a household is entitled to receive subsidy to buy 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each every year.
Cash advance is transfered into the beneficiary account on first enrollment and another installment is
given the moment it is used to buy a LPG refill.
PM announces Start-Up India initiative to encourage entrepreneurship

1.
The Prime Minister today announced the Start-Up India initiative, which would encourage
entrepreneurship among the youth of India.
2.
In his Independence Day address, he said Start-up India; Stand up Indiawill promote bank financing
for start-ups and offer incentives to enhance entrepreneurship and job creation.
3.
He said each of the 1.25 lakh bank branches should encourage at least one Dalit or Adivasi
entrepreneur and at least one woman entrepreneur.
4.
The initiative, Modi said, would provide a new dimension to entrepreneurship and help in setting up
of a network of start-ups in the country.
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Preparatory meeting for 7th SAARC Finance Ministers meet begins
1.
The preparatory meeting for the impending 7th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) Finance Ministers meeting has begun in Kathmandu. The preceding meeting, chaired by
Finance Secretary Suman Prasad Sharma, has the participation of the finance secretaries of six
countries in the SAARC region.
2.
The meeting will deliberate on the implementation of the recommendations furnished by the sixth
meeting ofSAARC Finance Ministers held in Sri Lanka in 2013 as well as on cooperation in finance
sector among the SAARC member countries. The finance ministers are also likely to discuss on the
decisions about holding the seventh meeting of the inter-governmental finance experts.
3.
Similarly, emphasis on effective use of the SAARC Development Fund, setting up of SAARC
Development Bank, greater flow of financial capital and intra-regional long-term investment,
quarantine and trade facilitation and progress achieved in avoidance of double taxation.
South Asian FMs agree on allowing SDF to invest in infrastructure projects in

single country
1.
South Asian Finance Ministers have agreed on allowing the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) to invest
in infrastructure projects in a single country in an attempt to activate the infrastructure and economic
windows under the SDF. According to SAARC Charter, projects located in one or more SAARC member
countries, of significant economic interest for three or more member states, are eligible for funding
from the SDF.
2.
During the 18th SAARC summit held in Kathmandu last year, the leaders had agreed to open
infrastructure and economic windows of the SDF while its social window has remained operational
currently.
3.
The infrastructure window of the SDF would cover projects in the area of energy, power,
transportation, telecommunications, environment, tourism and infrastructure, while the economic
window would primarily look after non-infrastructure funding.
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4.
The existing social window offers grant and technical assistance to member countries in their poverty
alleviation and social efforts. The 7th meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers that concluded yesterday in
Kathmandu also decided to increase the capital of the fund as current amount is very low to fund any
big scale project. Currently, capital of the SDF is just $350 million.
Greek PM resigns; calls for snap polls to deal with party revolt
1.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprasannounced his resignation and called for snap elections, as he
went on the offensive to defend the countrys massive bailout after it triggered a rebellion within his
own party.
2.
Mr Tsipras, who was only elected in January this year, said that now that the country has secured its
funding, he felt a deep moral obligation to lay his actions before the judgment of the Greek people.
Earlier in the day, Greece received its first 14.5 billion dollars tranche, allowing it to repay a debt to
the European Central Bank and avoid a default.
India gifts former Indian Coast Guard Ship Varaha to Sri Lanka
1.
India has gifted the former Indian Coast Guard Ship Varaha to Sri Lanka to help the island nation
maintain maritime security in the region.
2.
The official handing over ceremony took place at Colombo port last evening when Sri Lankas Defence
Secretary Mr BMUD Basunayaketook charge of the ship from Indian High Commissioner Mr Y K
Sinha in accordance with Naval customs and traditions.
3.
The patrol ship, which is 75 metres in length and 11 metres in width, was provided by the Indian
Government on a free dry lease to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2006.
4.
It successfully served the Sri Lanka Navy for surveillance and other activities during this period.
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In a bid to step up Indias engagement with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc.

PM's address at the Valedictory Function of the 6th World Ayurveda

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The President of India inaugurates 34th India International Trade Fair

Modified DBTL scheme for LPG to be launched in 54 districts spread across 11

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Church of England allows female bishops

India extends $75 million credit line to Fiji

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18th SAARC Summit begins in Kathmandu

Iran nuclear talks: Negotiations between Iran, 6 major world powers

Iran nuclear talks

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Select committee clears insurance Bill

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India to set up 12 nuclear plants with Russian collaboration

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