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National News

1. Gujarat to get country’s first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology 

Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said that Gujarat will get the country’s first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (CICET) at Vatva or Surat.

It will be built on the lines of Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET). The aim is to facilitate the chemical industry with research and innovations. It is, however, not known if it is still in planning or implementation stage.

 

2. India suspends Thar Link Express 

India suspended weekly Thar Link Express which connects Jodhpur in Rajasthan to Karachi in Pakistan. Thar Link Express runs on the Indian side between Bhagat Ki Kothi railway station in Jodhpur to Munabao.

45 people had booked tickets for this train to go to Pakistan.

On August 9, Pakistan’s Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had announced in Islamabad that the day’s train would be the last one to Jodhpur.

The announcement came after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India after the government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and divided the state into two Union territories.

 

3. President Kovind inaugurates bunker museum at Mumbai Raj Bhavan 

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the underground Bunker Museum at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The 15,000 square feet underground bunker museum has virtual reality booths in which visitors can time travel to the 19th century.

The bunker was created in the 19th century to fire cannons at approaching enemy ships. Another section depicts the history of Raj Bhavan. The museum will be opened for the general public with an online booking facility later this year.

President Kovind was shown around the exhibition and given an audio visual experience of the history of Raj Bhavan at a virtual reality booth.

Earlier, he unveiled the foundation stone for the proposed reconstruction of Jal Bhushan, the Governor's office-cum-residential building.

Jal Bhushan has a history of nearly 200 years, and the present building has undergone several modifications and renovations.

It became the official residence of British governors in 1885 when the 'Government House' was shifted to Malabar Point from Parel.

 

4. India gets its first national essential diagnostics list

India has got its first National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) finalised by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which aims to bridge the current regulatory system’s gap that do not cover all the medical devices and In-Vitro Diagnostic device (IVD).

The current system is equipped to manage only the few notified devices.

With this, India has become the first country to compile such a list that would provide guidance to the government for deciding the kind of diagnostic tests that different healthcare facilities in villages and remote areas require.

The list is meant for facilities from village till the district level.

WHO released first edition of essential diagnostics list (EDL) in May 2018. Even though WHO’s EDL acts as a reference point for development of national EDL, India’s diagnostics list has been customised and prepared as per landscape of India’s health care priorities.

NEDL builds upon the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative and other diagnostics initiatives of the Health Ministry to provide an expanded basket of tests at different levels of the public health system.

The implementation of NEDL would enable improved health care services delivery through evidence-based care, improved patient outcomes and reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure; effective utilisation of public health facilities; effective assessment of disease burden, disease trends, surveillance, and outbreak identification; and address antimicrobial resistance crisis too.

In India, diagnostics (medical devices and in vitro diagnostics) follow a regulatory framework based on the drug regulations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945. Diagnostics are regulated under the regulatory provisions of the Medical Device Rules, 2017.

 

5. All CAPF personnel to retire at 60 years: Government order

All Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel will now retire at a uniform age of 60 years. All personnel of the forces - the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal - will superannuate at the age of 60, instead of 57 years for certain rank of officials.  The development pertains to a January order of the Delhi High Court where it had called the current policy of different age of superannuation in these four forces as “discriminatory and unconstitutional” and said it created two classes in the uniformed forces.

According to the existing policy, all personnel in the Central Industrial Security Force and the Assam Rifles retire at the age of 60.

However, in CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB, the personnel from the ranks of constable to commandant retire at the age of 57, while those above them superannuate at the age of 60.

The Home Ministry order directed all the forces to “comply with the court order and amend provisions of rules.” These forces are deployed across the country to render a variety of internal security duties including border guarding, counterterrorism, anti-Naxal operations, and maintenance of law and order.

 

6. Narendra Modi visit to Bhutan Highlights 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering during which the two leaders discussed steps to further expand the bilateral partnership across several sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out details of projects in several areas from LPG to space technology to mark efforts to take India-Bhutan relationship beyond hydro-power on the first day of his two-day visit to the Himalayan Kingdom. He inaugurated the Mangdechhu hydroelectric power plant and also launched stamps to commemorate five decades of India-Bhutan Hydropower cooperation.  The two countries signed 10 MoUs in the field of space research, aviation, IT, power and education.

Modi also launched the RuPay Card in Bhutan by making a purchase at Simtokha Dzong, built in 1629 by Shabdrung Namgyal. This place functions as a monastic and administrative centre and is one of the oldest dzongs in Bhutan.

On increasing the currency swap limit for Bhutan under the SAARC currency swap framework, Modi said India’s approach is “positive”.

The two leaders also unveiled e-plaque of the interconnection between India’s National Knowledge Network and Bhutan’s Druk Research and Education Network.

The two leaders jointly inaugurated the Ground Earth Station and SATCOM network, developed with assistance from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for utilisation of South Asia Satellite in Bhutan.

 

7. Punjab rolls out Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, to cover 76% population 

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh launched his government’s flagship universal health insurance scheme — Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana — benefiting nearly 46 lakh families.

It would entitle beneficiaries to avail annual cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, including pre-existing diseases.

With this scheme, covering 76% of the state’s population, Punjab has become the first state in the country to offer medical insurance cover to the maximum number of its people.

The state government decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to provide cashless health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year to more 31 lakh families.

While the cost of the premium of Rs 14.86 lakh families originally covered under PMJAY, as per Socio Economic and Caste Census

2011 data, is being borne by the Centre and state in the 60:40 ratio. For the rest of the beneficiaries the state will bear the entire cost of the premium.

Giving details of the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, the CM said it would cover 20.43 lakh smart ration card holder families, in addition to 14.86 lakh families enrolled as per Socio Economic Caste Census data, 4.94 lakh farmer families, 2.8 lakh small farmers and more than 2.38 lakh construction workers registered with the state construction welfare board, besides 46,000 small traders.

The scheme has also been extended to around 4,500 journalists accredited by the state or holding yellow cards. Equipped with specially designed 1,396 treatment packages, the scheme will be implemented through more than 450 empanelled hospitals, including 200 government hospitals.

Of the total premium of Rs 333 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, the state’s share is 83%, which amounts to Rs 276 crore, while the Union government will pay the remaining Rs 57 crore.

Surgical packages under the scheme also include the cost of pre-hospitalisation for three days and post-hospitalisation for 15 days.

 

8. Union HRD Minister launches NISHTHA to build capacities of 42 Lakh government teachers across the country 
   

Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the National Mission to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level- NISHTHA, National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. This is the  largest teachers’ training programme of its kind in the world and the basic objective of this massive training programme ‘NISHTHA’ is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students.

Teachers will get awareness and develop their skills on various aspects related to Learning Outcomes, Competency Based Learning and Testing, Learner-centered Pedagogy, School Safety and Security, Personal-social qualities, Inclusive Education, ICT in teaching-learning including Artificial Intelligence, Health and well-being including yoga, Initiatives in School Education including library, eco club, youth club, kitchen garden, School Leadership qualities, Environmental Concerns, Pre-school, Pre-vocational Education and School Based Assessment in a joyful learning manner.

This integrated programme aims to build the capacities of around 42 lakh participants covering all teachers and Heads of Schools at the elementary level in all Government schools, faculty members of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) as well as Block Resource Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators in all States and UTs.

The initiative is first of its kind wherein standardized training modules are developed at national level for all States and UTs. However, States and UTs can contextualize the training modules and use their own material and resource persons also, keeping in view the core topics and expected outcomes of NISHTHA.

 

9. Sports Minister flags-off Op-Blue Freedom 

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and former India football captain Baichung Bhutia flagged off the Delhi leg of Op-Blue Freedom, an initiative in which a group of armed forces veterans train sports enthusiasts in survival training and self-defence.

Op-Blue Freedom is a nation-wide adaptive scuba diving programme for people with disabilities as well as the able bodied.

The program aims to train adventure enthusiasts in special forces skills like survival techniques, emergency first response skills, unarmed combat, endurance and fitness.

 

10. Shri Prahlad Singh Patel to launch the book the Diary of Manu Gandhi in New Delhi

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel will launch the book “Diary of Manu Gandhi’ (1943-44) The function at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.
The book brought out by the National Archives of India on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in collaboration with Oxford University Press.
The Diary of Manu Gandhi originally in Gujarati edited and translated by Dr Tridip Suhrud, a well known scholar engaged in understanding the Gandhian Intellectual tradition.  The first volume covers the period 1943-1944. Manu Gandhi (Mridula) a grand niece of Mahatma Gandhi , daughter of his Nephew Jaisukhlal Amritlal Gandhi, and stayed with Gandhiji .She was an aide to Kasturba Gandhi during her imprisonment in the Aga Khan Palace in 1943.
The first volume of the diary is a record of her life and times with Mahatma Gandhi between 1943- 44. The entries in the Diary throws light on his life as a prisoner and his endeavour to establish the possibility of collective non-violence. She shares a moving portrait of Kasturba Gandhi’s illness and death. The author expresses the deep emotional bond she had developed with Gandhiji.

 

11. Indian Railways to ban single-use plastics from October 2

The Indian Railways has decided to enforce a ban on single-use plastic materials on its premises, including trains, with effect from October 2, 2019.

While directing the authorities to expedite installation of 1,853 plastic water bottle crushing machines at 360 major stations in the first phase, the Railway Board asked Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Development Corporation (IRCTC) to implement return of plastic drinking bottles as part of Extended Producer Responsibility.

Railway employees were also advised to reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and to use inexpensive reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.

Accordingly steps should be taken to minimise generation of plastic waste and for its eco-friendly disposal. Going by the rules, single-use plastics shall not be less than 50 microns, except where the thickness of such plastic sheets impair the functionality of the product.

 

12. India opens up 137 mountain peaks for mountaineering, trekking 

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the opening of 137 mountain peaks situated in Jammu and Kashmir Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim for mountaineering and trekking. The proposal to open the peaks in the Himalayan states was under consideration of the government. The list of peaks includes Kanchenjunga located at a height of 8,598 metre and Nepal Peak located at the height of 7,168 metre in Sikkim, Garur Parbat (6,504 m) and Purbi Dunagiri (6,489 m) in Uttarakhand, Mount Kailash (6400 m) in Jammu and Kashmir and Mulkila (6,517 m) in Himachal Pradesh.

This decision has opened 137 mountain peaks to foreigners desirous of obtaining mountaineering visa for climbing, trekking on these peaks.

Of the 137 peaks, 51 are in Uttarakhand, 24 in Sikkim, 47 in Himachal Pradesh and 15 in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

13. Srinagar, Jammu Mayors get Ministers of State status 

Mayors of Srinagar and Jammu civic bodies have been granted a status equivalent to that of Ministers of State (MoS).  Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Kashmir held the elections in four phases in October last year after a gap of 13 years. BJP leader Chander Mohan Gupta and People's Conference leader Junaid Maattu are the mayors of JMC and SMC respectively.

The elections for the municipal corporations were held in four phases in October last year after a gap of 13 years. On August 5, the government at the Centre scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split it into two Union Territories-Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

 

14. Manipur CM launches scheme to improve infrastructure in government schools-School Fagadaba

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched a scheme to improve infrastructure of government schools in the state under the scheme named “School Fagadaba” (Make education better).

 The objective of the scheme was to ensure better infrastructure, quality education and overall improvement of government schools to make them model schools. The project is aimed at improving 60 government schools across the state, in as many assembly constituencies. Under the mission, one High or Higher Secondary School in each Assembly Constituency was selected in the first phase. The overall objective of the mission is to improve the government schools in terms of physical and manpower gaps and increase in enrollment of students.

 

15. Environment Ministry relaxes lease rent on wind power projects

Ministry of Environment has decided to relax the mandatory charging of lease rent of  30 thousand rupees per Mega Watt for wind power projects. 
The Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar took a conscious decision to relax the condition of charging the lease rent in this regard during a review meeting.  The step will boost the investment in wind power projects and will help in providing wind power at a cheaper rate. To establish wind power project over forest land, the existing procedure requires payment of mandatory charges for compensatory afforestation and Net Present value. 
In addition to mandatory charges, the wind power companies had to pay additional lease rent of 30 thousand per Mega Watt and this additional cost is not mandatory for other renewable energy projects such as solar power and hydel electric projects. 

The government envisages meeting maximum energy requirement by tapping renewal energy resources to achieve the target of clean energy in a time-bound manner, various policies and regulations. The promotions of such projects also strengthen Government's commitments towards International Agreements, and one of the National Commitment pledged in Paris in 2015 was to have 40 per cent of the power from renewable resources by 2030. Currently India has overachieved the target and is well on track to ensure that more than 50 per cent of installed capacity come from renewable sources by 2030.

 

International News

1. Iceland holds funeral for first glacier lost to climate change

Iceland has marked its first-ever loss of a glacier to climate change as scientists warn that hundreds of other ice sheets on the subarctic island risk the same fate. As the world recently marked the warmest July ever on record, a bronze plaque was mounted on a bare rock in a ceremony on the barren terrain once covered by the Okjökull glacier in western Iceland. Nation commemorated the once huge Okjokull glacier with plaque. The commemoration ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister of Iceland Katrin Jakobsdottir.

It is also labelled “415 ppm CO2”, referring to the record level of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere last May.

The plaque is “the first monument to a glacier lost to climate change anywhere in the world”.

 

2. US Tests Medium-range Cruise Missile Weeks After Exiting INF Treaty 

The US Defense Department announced the test of a medium-range ground-launched cruise missile, just weeks after ending the Cold War-era pact with Russia eliminating such potentially nuclear-capable weapons.

The test missile exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately impacted its target after more than 500 kilometers of flight.

 

3. Saudi allows women to get passports, go abroad without male guardian's nod 

Saudi Arabia began implementing a landmark reform allowing women over the age of 21 to receive passports and travel abroad without permission from a male guardian. The reform weakens the restrictive guardianship system that has long been a symbol of repression against women.

Women in the kingdom have long required permission from their male ‘guardians’- husband, father and other male relatives-for these tasks, a restriction that drew international censure.

The reform comes after high-profile attempts by women to escape alleged guardianship abuse despite a string of reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including a landmark decree last year that overturned the world's only ban on women drivers.

In other changes unveiled earlier this month, Saudi women were also granted the right to officially register childbirth, marriage or divorce and to be recognised as a guardian to children who are minors -- same as men.

The reforms were widely celebrated in the kingdom, but they also drew backlash from arch-conservatives, many of whom shared old video sermons on social media by Saudi clerics advocating guardianship laws.

 

4. Iran unveils domestically-made Bavar-373 missile defense system 

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani attended an unveiling ceremony for the mobile Bavar-373 system, which Iranian media have described as a competitor to the Russian S-300 missile system.  The system's unveiling came on Iran's National Defense Industry Day. Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes that have barred it from importing many weapons.

This comes at a time of rising tension with the United States.

Iran shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June. It says the drone was over its territory, but the United States says it was in international airspace.

Iran installed the S-300 system in March 2016 following several years of delays, after the nuclear agreement reached with world powers the previous year allowed the lifting of international sanctions.

Western military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its weapons capabilities, though concerns about its long-range ballistic missile program contributed to Washington last year leaving the nuclear pact.

 

5. FATF group ‘blacklists’ Pakistan 

Pakistan has been placed on the lowest rung, or “blacklist”, of the Financial Action Task Force’s Asia Pacific Group (APG) for non-compliance and non-enforcement of safeguards against terror financing and money laundering.

The APG, one of nine regional affiliates of the FATF, met in Canberra from August 18 to 23 to discuss a five-year review of the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) for Pakistan, and decided to place it among countries requiring “enhanced, expedited follow-up”. 

While the placing does not bring any new punitive measures on Pakistan, it will mean quarterly reporting to the group on improvement in its financial safeguards.  Countries under review during the current session included China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Pakistan, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands 

The APG process is one of three review processes that Pakistan faces in the next few months. On September 5, the APG will meet again, to take forward the main 15-month process of Pakistan’s FATF evaluation, which will present its recommendations for the FATF plenary session in Paris from October 18 to 23. At present, Pakistan is on the “greylist” of the FATF, a common group for countries that are termed “high risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions”. 

The Paris plenary will decide whether to remove Pakistan from the greylist, continue the listing, or downgrade it to a blacklist of non-cooperative countries. The downgrade might not occur, given that any three countries in the FATF can veto it, and Pakistan is likely to secure the backing of China, Turkey and Malaysia. However, the APG decision would make it difficult for Pakistan to extricate itself from the greylist. 

According to sources, at the APG Canberra meet, Pakistan failed in 32 of 40 ‘compliance’ parameters for its legal and financial systems, and failed 10 of 11 ‘effectiveness’ parameters for enforcing safeguards against terror-financing and money-laundering by UN-sanctioned entities and other non-government outfits.

 

6. Russia sends its first humanoid robot Fedor into space

Russia launched an unmanned rocket, named Fedor carrying a life-size humanoid robot that will spend 10 days learning to assist astronauts on the International Space Station.

Fedor stands for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research. The robot is the first ever sent up by Russia. Fedor blasted off in a Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft at 6:38 am Moscow time (0338 GMT) from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Soyuz ships are normally manned on such trips, but no humans are travelling in order to test a new emergency rescue system.

Instead of cosmonauts, Fedor, also known as Skybot F850, was strapped into a specially adapted pilot's seat, with a small Russian flag in hand.

The silvery anthropomorphic robot stands 1.80 metres (5 foot 11 inches) tall and weighs 160 kilogrammes (353 pounds).

Fedor copies human movements, a key skill that allows it to remotely help astronauts or even people on Earth to carry out tasks while the humans are strapped into an exoskeleton.

Such robots will eventually carry out dangerous operations such as space walks. Russian media speculated that Fedor-like robots will be used in Russia's Moon programme.

Fedor is not the first robot to go into space.

In 2011, NASA sent up Robonaut 2, a humanoid robot developed with General Motors that had a similar aim of working in high-risk environments.

It was flown back to Earth in 2018 after experiencing technical problems.

In 2013, Japan sent up a small robot called Kirobo along with the ISS's first Japanese space commander. Developed with Toyota, it was able to hold conversations — albeit only in Japanese.

 

7. Nepal bans single use plastics on Everest region

Nepal will make the Everest region a plastic-free zone by 2020 by banning single-use plastics, a move that will curb excessive pollution on the highest point of the Earth’s surface.

The new rule will come into effect from January 1, 2020.

Nepal is also marking the “Visit Nepal” campaign next year which aims to draw 2 million foreign visitors.

International environmentalists have expressed their concern that Nepal has not done enough to protect the fragile environment of the world’s highest peak.

In 2014, the government introduced a rule forcing each member of an expedition to bring back at least 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of collected garbage, in addition to the trash they generate themselves.

Each expedition team has to make a $4,000 deposit which is refunded if each climber returns with the 8 kg of waste. But there are no such rules for trekkers.

The deposit is refunded only if the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee certifies that they have collected all their trash and brought it back down with them. But many commercial expeditions still end up leaving trash scattered among the gelid snow. Several tonnes of old equipment, oxygen cylinders, rubbish and human waste litter the iconic mountain.

Last May, the Nepal government concluded a clean-up drive of Everest collecting nearly 11 tons of trash that had piled up for decades.

The clean-up initiative, the first of its kind since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa conquered the summit 66 years ago, was launched in mid-April and involved an elite team of 12 high-altitude Sherpa climbers who spent over a month collecting the waste.

 

8. Water pollution is causing economic growth decline, says World Bank 

The world faces an invisible crisis of water quality that is eliminating one-third of potential economic growth in heavily polluted areas and threatening human and environmental well-being, according to a World Bank report. According to the World Bank report, the Invisible Water Crisis shows that with new data and methods, how a combination of bacteria, sewage, chemicals, and plastics can suck oxygen from water supplies and transform water into poison for people and ecosystems. To shed light on the issue, the World Bank assembled the world's largest database on water quality gathered from monitoring stations, remote sensing technology, and machine learning. The report found that a lack of clean water limits economic growth by one-third. It called for immediate global, national, and local-level attention to these dangers which both, developed and developing countries, face.

The report also found that as salinity in the water and soil increases due to more intense droughts, storm surges and rising water extraction, agricultural yields fall. The world is losing enough food to saline water each year to feed 170 million people.

When Biological Oxygen Demand - a measure of how much organic pollution is in water and a proxy measure of overall water quality - crosses a certain threshold, GDP growth in downstream regions drops by as much as a third because of impacts on health, agriculture, and ecosystems.

A key contributor to poor water quality is nitrogen, which, when applied as fertilizer in agriculture, enters rivers, lakes and oceans where it transforms into nitrates. The run-off and release from every additional kilogram of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare into water can increase the level of childhood stunting by as much as 19 percent and reduce future adult earnings by as much as 2 percent, compared to those who are not exposed.

 

9. Amazon Rainforest fire explained 

Amazon rainforest, the world's largest  rain forest is at the risk of getting burned out completely. The rainforest, which contributes almost 20 percent of the earth’s oxygen, has been burning for over 16 days resulting in a major loss of trees and biodiversity.  It will get completely burned out if it is not put out soon.  Amazon rainforest fire impact can already be seen in different regions in South America including the Atlantic coast and Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.

Though forest fires are common in the Amazon during this period, as it is a dry season in the southern Amazon, the year 2019 has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of the fires and their intensity. The worrisome fact is that the burning has increased at a time when there is a huge decrease in the rates of deforestation in Brazilian Amazon.

According to environmentalists, 99 percent of the forest fires are a result of human actions, either on purpose or by accident. Farmers and ranchers use fire generally to clear the land for further utilisation. This year's fires also fit perfectly into the established seasonal agricultural pattern. This time is the most suitable to burn because the vegetation is dry. Farmers generally wait for the dry season to start burning and clearing areas so that their cattle can graze, However, peak of the dry season is yet to come in September.

The fire in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has been burning at the highest rate. There have been around 72,843 fires in Brazil in 2019 itself, with more than half in the Amazon rainforest. This shows an 80 percent increase in fires during the same period in 2018.

According to scientists, the Amazon rainforest fire could deliver a huge blow to the global fight against climate change. The fire will not only result in a major loss of trees and biodiversity but also release excess CO2 into the atmosphere.  The forest fires also release pollutants including particulate matter and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and non-methane organic compounds into the atmosphere

Amazon rainforest, considered to be as the planet’s lungs as it contributes about 20 percent of the earth’s oxygen, is vital to slow down global warming. The rainforest is currently home to uncountable species of fauna and flora. While the immediate impact of the fire would be changes in the heating of the regional atmosphere, in the long term it is expected to lead to a potential decline in natural carbon.

Bolivia has contracted world's largest air tanker-Boeing 747 ‘Supertanker’  to help put out the Amazon rainforest fire. The supertanker is expected to be put in operations from August 23. The announcement was made by Bolivia’s President Evo Morales  on August 21, 2019. The Boeing 747 ‘Supertanker’  has the capacity to carry more water than any other aircraft in the world.

 

Economy News

1. Forex reserves at new life-time high of $430.57 billion 

India’s foreign exchange reserves surged by USD 1.620 billion to USD 430.572 billion in the week to August 9 on rise in foreign currency assets, according to the latest RBI data. In the previous reporting week ended on August 2, the reserves had declined by USD 697.2 million to USD 428.952 billion.

In the reporting week, foreign currency assets, a major component of the overall reserves, increased by USD 15.2 million to USD 398.739 billion. Expressed in dollar terms, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves.

The country’s gold reserves surged by USD 1.591 billion to USD 26.754 billion, according to data. Special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund were up by USD 6.7 million to USD 1.441 billion. The country’s reserve position with the fund rose by USD 7 million to USD 3.636 billion.

 

2. Start-ups can raise capital from abroad without losing control of the company 

In a major relief to Start-ups that were trying to raise capital from abroad while retaining the control over the decision-making process of their companies, the Union government made crucial changes in the law that will permit Indian companies to issue majority shares with differential voting rights (DVRs). The Government also removed the requirement of distributing profits in the last three years before Indian companies can issue this kind of shares. It will enable Indian promoters to retain control of their companies as they pursue growth and long-term value creation for shareholders while they raise equity capital from global investors, said the ministry of corporate affairs.

It would strengthen the hands of Indian companies and their promoters who have lately been identified by deep pocketed investors worldwide for acquisition of controlling stake in Indian start-ups to gain access to the cutting edge technology development being undertaken by them.

Fresh amendments made in the Companies (Share Capital & Debentures) Rules of the Companies Act of 2013 will permit Indian companies to issue up to 74 per cent shares of the total post issue paid-up share capital with differential voting rights.

Unlike ordinary shares, differential voting rights shares (DVRs) are those shares where investors do not get voting rights commensurate to their investment. However, these investors get a proportionate share in the dividend paid by the company. Some foreign investors are more interested in investing through DVRs as they do not want to interfere with the decision-making process of an Indian start-up and are more concerned with the dividend paid by them. It also suits Indian start-ups as they can raise capital by diluting majority stake in the company but at the same time maintain control over the decision-making process.

Raising the limit for issuing DVRs from 26 percent to 74 percent will permit Indian start-ups to dilute majority stake without ceding control over the decision-making process.

It will allow Indian companies to issue shares to those foreign investors who may not be interested in taking the control of decision-making process of a company but are more interested in dividend payment.

In addition to these two changes, the period for issuing Employee Stock Options (ESOPs) to promoters and directors of DPIIT recognised start-ups who hold more than 10% equity shares in a company has been enhanced from 5 to 10 years. Now, start-ups can issue ESOPs to their directors and promoters within 10 years from the date of incorporation against the earlier limit of 5 years.

Last week, the government had extended relief from Angel tax to DPIIT recognised start-ups with retrospective effect.

 

3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approves Committee to review defence procurement procedure to strengthen 'Make in India' 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the setting up of a Committee under the chairmanship of Director General (Acquisition) to review the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2009 to strengthen the 'Make in India' programme.

The Committee will revise and align the procedures with the aim of ensuring a seamless flow from asset acquisition to life cycle support.  Apart from DG (Acq) 11 other members, not below the rank of joint secretary/major general equivalent, are part of this high-level committee.

Terms of reference of the Committee include to -- revise the procedures as given in DPP 2016 and DPM 2009, so as to remove procedural bottlenecks and hasten defence acquisition. The Committee will also examine and incorporate new concepts, such as life cycle costing, life cycle support, performance-based logistics, lease contracting, codification and standardisation and to promote Indian start-ups and research and development. Any other aspect which will contribute towards refining the acquisition process and support the 'Make in India' initiative, it said. The Committee has been given six months to submit its recommendations.

 

4. Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam double-decker Uday Express launched 

Indian Railways' UDAY or Utkrisht Double Decker Air-Conditioned Yatri Express is a specially-designed air-conditioned train with chair car coaches for business travellers. The first UDAY Express train started service between Coimbatore and Bangalore in the month of June 2018. 

With an aim to cater to the busy route between Visakhapatnam and Vijaywada route, a special double decker train will soon become operational. Railways' second double-decker Uday Express will run between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. The first Uday Express was a specially-designed air-conditioned chair car which started service between Coimbatore and Bangalore in June 2018. The trains are primarily allocated to routes with heavy passenger traffic.

 

5. DRDO hands over design of mobile metallic ramp to Indian Army 

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an indigenous Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR) and handed over MMR to the Indian Army in an event held at New Delhi.  This Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR) has a load-bearing capacity of 70 metric ton (MT).   A premier research laboratory of DRDO has been designed and developed the MMR. This laboratory is known as Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES). It is based on requirements projected by the Army for reducing mobility time for mobilising armoured vehicles. MMR will be beneficial for the Army in various manners; it will provide strategic mobility to the mechanized units and formations of the Army. 
Since, it is modular in design and portable, which can be easily assembled or disassembled.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) works under the Department of Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence.
It is assisting Indian Army in various areas of military technology like combat vehicles, missiles, advanced computing, aeronautics, electronics, armaments, instrumentation engineering systems, naval systems, materials, simulation and life sciences. DRDO was established in 1958 with an aim to enhance self-reliance in Defence Systems. It undertakes design & development leading to the production of a world-class weapon system.

 

6. Army HQ restructuring: Rajnath Singh approves setting up of human rights cell, moving 200 officers to field 

With an aim to enhance transparency and put in place a more stringent mechanism to look into corruption and human rights violations in the armed forces, the Ministry of Defence has approved setting up separate bodies to probe allegations of wrongdoings against officials. Rajnath Singh has given the go ahead for setting up of these two cells that were part of the military reforms.

1. For corruption

A vigilance cell that will look into complaints of corruption and impropriety will be directly under the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). An independent vigilance cell will be made functional under the COAS.
As per the proposal, additional director general (ADG), Vigilance, will be placed directly under the COAS for this purpose, who will be a major general rank officer. It will have three colonel-level officers -- one each from the Army, Air Force and Navy -- to have tri-service representation.

Presently, the vigilance function for the COAS is through multiple agencies and there is no single point interface.

2. For human right violations

To give high priority to observance of human rights convention and values, it has been decided to set up a special human rights section headed by ADG (major general rank officer) directly under the VCOAS (Vice Chief of the Army Staff).

It will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports. To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation.

The government has also accepted the recommendation for a new Deputy Chief of Army Staff Strategy to deal with operational and force planning. The office will have military operations, military intelligence, strategic planning and the newly created information warfare branches under it. A final approval for this is yet to come though.

 

7. India’s new e-Tourist visa programme

India will introduce a flexible e-tourist visa regime for more than 160 countries based on tourist footfall. There will be no visa fee for tourists from belonging to Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), which consists of 14 Pacific Island nations. Tourists from all countries to which India has extended e-visa facility will pay USD 10 for 30-day e-visa during lean season and will have to pay USD 25 during peak period.

 

8. SEBI announces reward worth Rs 1 crore, hotline access for insider trading informants 

SEBI’s board approved a detailed set of rules for the new ‘Informant Mechanism’ under its Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) Regulations.

However, these benefits would only be available to individuals and corporates, and professionals like auditors will not be able to use this route as they are duty-bound to report any wrongdoing.

The new mechanism has been prepared after taking into account the feedback SEBI received on a public discussion paper floated in June.

Under the proposed amendment to SEBI’s PIT Regulations, an informant would need to submit a Voluntary Information Disclosure Form (VIDF) detailing credible, complete and original information related to an act of insider trading, including communication of unpublished price-sensitive information or trading in violation of rules that has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur.

It would be mandatory to disclose the source of information and attach an undertaking that it has not been sourced from a person employed with SEBI or any related regulator.

SEBI would establish an Office of Informant Protection (OIP), which would be independent from the investigation and inspection wings or any other operational departments. It would be responsible for receipt, registration and processing of VIDF and also for ascertaining its veracity and authenticity.

The OIP would also decide reward for the informant, besides acting as a medium of exchange between the informant (directly or through a legal representative) and SEBI. It will maintain a hotline to help informants submit the details. While the informant would need to disclose his or her identity to OIP, the identity details would be excised from the information forwarded further.

Those willing to submit any information anonymously would need to appoint a practising advocate as a legal representative.

The identity of the informant would need to be revealed only if SEBI finds him or her in non-compliance to its regulations, or when a disclosure is required in relation to court proceedings, or if the regulator needs to verify identity for granting the reward.

The informant would be given a reward if SEBI is able to disgorge at least Rs 1 crore of ill-gotten gains from insider trading on the basis of the information. The reward would be 10 per cent of the money collected, subject to a maximum amount of Rs 1 crore.

While an interim reward of up to Rs 10 lakh can be given at the time of SEBI’s final disgorgement order, the rest would be given after the regulator has disgorged at least twice the amount of the final reward.

Action against those submitting frivolous information

While maintaining confidentiality of the informant, SEBI can share the details with other regulators and law enforcement agencies in India or abroad. However, the information given by the informant would be exempt from the Right to Information (RTI) framework.

Also, any entity associated with the securities markets, including listed firms and intermediaries, would face SEBI action if it subjects any employee to direct or indirect harassment, including by way of demotion, suspension or termination, for breaching any terms and conditions of employment or confidentiality agreements.

At the same time, SEBI would also act against those submitting frivolous or vexatious information under this mechanism.

Under the amnesty clause, SEBI would take into account the cooperation rendered by an informant in deciding any enforcement action or settlement application filed by him or her.

In cases where proceedings have already begun against a person who later becomes an informant, the reward can be given upon compliance to its directions, including for monetary sanction.

An informant who is culpable but voluntarily cooperates and assists SEBI can also be eligible for the reward and for a settlement with confidentiality in proceedings against him or her. But, this would not prohibit initiation of action for any misconduct.

 

9. EPFO approved changes in Employees' Pension Scheme to restore commutation of pension

Providing relief to 6.3 lakh pensioners, retirement fund body EPFO has approved a proposal to restore commutation, or advance part-withdrawal, under the Employees' Pension Scheme.

The move would benefit the pensioners who had opted for commutation and got a lump-sum amount at the time of retirement before 2009. The provision for commutation of pension was withdrawn by the EPFO in 2009.

Under the commutation, monthly pension used to be cut by one-third for the next 15 years and the reduced amount would be given in lump sum. After the 15 years, the pensioners were entitled to get the full pension.

 

10. Govt names its e-commerce portal Bharat Craft

Government is planning to launch Bharat Craft, an e-commerce portal, on the lines of Alibaba, and should soon see turnover on the platform to the tune of Rs 10 lakh crore in the next few years and this would benefit Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a big way.   Bharat Craft will have to compete with these three big players to establish itself and achieve the Rs 10 lakh crore turnover target set by the government.

 

11. FASTags to be made mandatory by 1 December

FASTag is an electronic toll connection device installed in the vehicle to help drivers to drive through toll plazas without having to stop.  The move is part of the government’s plan to promote digital payments at toll plazas and decongest national highways

All lanes in the fee plazas shall be declared as “FASTag lane of fee plaza by December 1, 2019.  FASTag is attached to the windscreen and uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable direct toll payments while the vehicle is moving. The toll fare is deducted from the bank account linked to FASTag.

Currently, there is a provision of making a vehicle owner pay twice the toll fee amount under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. The ministry has now said imposition of higher toll fee must be ‘strictly implemented’ if a non-FASTag vehicle enters the FASTag lane.

 

12. Govt gives businesses four months to settle indirect tax disputes 

Businesses can now settle their pending disputes relating to central excise duty and service tax within four months starting 1 September under the terms.

The finance ministry notified a scheme to settle the indirect tax disputes in the pre-GST era, named Sabka Vishwas legacy dispute resolution scheme, which was announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the union budget for FY20.  The scheme offers attractive terms to settle disputes that are at different stages and also offers amnesty to those who wish to disclose any previously undisclosed tax liability and pay the tax amount involved without any penalty or prosecution.

The government expects a large number of taxpayers to sign up for the scheme and close their pending disputes.

The amnesty offers an opportunity to the taxpayers to pay the outstanding tax and be free of any other consequence under the law. The most attractive aspect of the Scheme is that it provides substantial relief in the tax dues for all categories of cases as well as full waiver of interest, fine and penalty. In all these cases, there would be no other liability of interest, fine or penalty. There is also a complete amnesty from prosecution.

Reducing tax litigation and improving ease of doing business is a priority for the government at a time businesses are facing an economic downturn.

For all the cases pending in adjudication or appeal—in any forum—the scheme offers a relief of 70% from the duty demand if it is ?50 lakh or less and 50% if it is more than ?50 lakh. The same relief is available for cases under investigation and audit where the duty involved is quantified and communicated to the party or admitted before 30 June, 2019.

In cases of confirmed duty demand, where there is no appeal pending, the relief offered is 60% of the confirmed duty amount if the same is Rs. 50 lakh or less and 40% if the confirmed duty amount exceeds ?50 lakh.

In cases of voluntary disclosure, the person availing of the scheme will have to pay only the full amount of disclosed duty.

Since the idea is to free as large a segment of the taxpayers from legacy taxes as possible, the relief given is substantial and that it is tailored to benefit a large number of small taxpayers.

The scheme would continue till 31 December 2019.

 

People in News

1. Rajiv Gauba appointed Cabinet Secretary 

The government appointed outgoing Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba as Cabinet Secretary for two years. His tenure will be effective from August 30, 2019, as per the official order. Ajay Kumar appointed as Secretary Defence; Subhash Chandra is Secretary, Defence Production and Brij Kumar Agarwal is Secretary, Lokpal.

 

2. Three-year extension to Pak Army Chief

Pakistan's PM Imran Khan has recently extended the term of the Army Chief General Bajwa for another 3 years. The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment. Pakistani Army Chief General Bajwa (58) was expected to retire this year. Now, he will retire in 2022.

 

3. Ravinder Takkar appointed Vodafone Idea CEO; Balesh Sharma steps down

Vodafone Idea has appointed Ravinder Takkar as the group CEO after Balesh Sharma has stepped down due to ‘personal reasons’. This development came  amidst intense competition in the telecom sector eroding market share and subscriber base of the company.

 

4. Arun Jaitley, former Finance Minister, passes away at 66

Arun Jaitley passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi on August 24. Jaitley was admitted to AIIMS a few days ago after he complained of palpitations and restlessness. Due to his health reason he did not contest the Lok Sabha elections. run Jaitley was born on 28 December 1952, he was an ABVP student leader at the Delhi University Campus in the seventies. Arun Jaitley first became a Cabinet minister in the government of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000.  He then also went on to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from June 2009. He was appointed the finance minister in the first term of Modi government in 2014. He opted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing health reasons. 

 

Events & Days

1. Sadbhavana Diwas 2019, 75th Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi 

Sadbhavana Diwas is observed on 20 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of youngest Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This day is observed to encourage the national integration, peace, affection and communal harmony among the Indian people of all religions.

 

2. World Humanitarian Day (WHD)-19 August

2019 WHD campaign theme: #WomenHumanitarians

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.

On 19 August 2003, a terrorist attack hit the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, killing 22 people. Among those who lost their lives was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s top representative in Iraq.  Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day. Every year since then, the humanitarian community has organized global campaigns to commemorate WHD, advocating for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, and for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises.

 

3. International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism-22 August 

The General Assembly designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief recognizing the importance of providing victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief and members of their families with appropriate support and assistance in accordance with applicable law.  The Day comes right after the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 21 August.  International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.

  

4. President of India inaugurates first ever World Youth Conference for Kindness 

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the first World Youth Conference on Kindness organised by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development. The Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' along with President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the event celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi' on the theme 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Gandhi for the Contemporary World at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on August 23, 2019.

This conference was organized with the aim to impart critical competencies (i.e. empathy, compassion, mindfulness, and critical inquiry) in global youth to inspire, empower and enable them to transform themselves and build long-lasting peace in their communities.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, the conference aimed to provide global youth and policymakers an innovative, engaging and inspiring platform to come together and discover ground-breaking pathways to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While addressing the gathering, President Ram Nath Kovind praised Mahatama Gandhi's work and explained how his vision and principals are still relevant in this era.

 

Awards

1. CISF wins 10 medals at 'World Police and Fire Games' in China 

CISF sports personnel have won 10 medals, including five gold, at the recently-concluded 'World Police and Fire Games' in China's southwestern Sichuan province.

The 'World Police and Fire Games-2019', an Olympic-style competition with 10,000 athletes representing law enforcement, fire-fighters and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs from over 70 countries competing in more than 60 sports, were held from August 8 to 18 in Chengdu city.  The CISF sports personnel represented India in different sporting events and won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

CISF DG Rajesh Ranjan felicitated the sports personnel for their performance.

The CISF said it has a comprehensive sports facility that seeks to foster the culture of sports in the force and to ensure fair and reasonable opportunities to talented sports personnel so that they can fully realise their potential and win laurels for the organisation and the country.

 

Rankings

1. India biggest emitter of sulphur dioxide: report using NASA data 

A new report by Greenpeace India shows the country is the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide in the world, with more than 15% of all the anthropogenic sulphur dioxide hotspots detected by the NASA OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite. Almost all of these emissions in India are because of coal-burning.  The vast majority of coal-based power plants in India lack flue-gas desulphurisation technology to reduce air pollution.

The Singrauli, Neyveli, Talcher, Jharsuguda, Korba, Kutch, Chennai, Ramagundam, Chandrapur and Koradi thermal power plants or clusters are the major emission hotspots in India.  In a first step to combat pollution levels, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced, for the first time, sulphur dioxide emission limits for coal-fired power plants in December 2015. But the deadline for the installation of flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) in power plants has been extended from 2017 to 2022.

The NASA data revealed that Norilsk smelter complex in Russia is the largest SO2 emission hotspot in the world, followed by Kriel in Mpumalanga province in South Africa and Zagroz in Iran.  However, in the country-wise ranking, India topped the list in emitting SO2 as it has the maximum number of hotspots.

 

2. Power Minister launches SARAL - 'State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index 

The Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, RK Singh launched the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index-SARAL. The State of Karnataka has been placed at the first rank in the Index that evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development. Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have got 2nd, 3rd and 4th rank respectively.

SARAL has been designed collaboratively by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY). It was launched during the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State Power Utilities. SARAL currently captures five key aspects - i. robustness of policy framework, ii. implementation environment, iii. investment climate, iv. consumer experience and v. business ecosystem.

It encourages each state to assess the initiatives taken so far, and what it can do to improve its solar rooftop ecosystem. This will help states to channelize investments that can eventually help the sector grow. In addition, such an exercise is likely to create a more conducive environment for solar rooftop installations, encourage investment and lead to accelerated growth of the sector.

To achieve rooftop solar targets, it is important to develop an ecosystem that ensures information symmetry, access to financing and clear market signals. Thus, the MNRE has developed the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index-SARAL that evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development. SARAL is the first of its kind index to provide a comprehensive overview of state-level measures adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment.

 

3. Gujarat retains top position in water management, says NITI Aayog

Gujarat retained the top position in water management, the NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index revealed. Gujarat retained the top position on the Index for the third consecutive year with 75 points closely followed by Andhra Pradesh with 74 points and Madhya Pradesh at 71 points among the non-Himalayan states. The results of this year’s exercise reveal an overall improvement in state performance, but severe disparities remain between states, and across themes, which must be bridged.

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Delhi — four of the top 10 contributors to India’s economic output — have scores ranging from 20 to 47 points.

The report said these low-performing states bear the largest burden of national population and economic production. The 16 low-performing states collectively account for 48 per cent of the population, 40 per cent of agricultural produce, and 35 per cent of economic output for India.

One of the key challenges driving this water crisis is the lack of water data. Data systems related to water in the country are limited in their coverage, robustness, and efficiency.

India will lose 6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050 because of a water crisis, setting off alarm bells on an impending water scarcity scenario.

India’s demand for water will exceed supply by a factor of two by 2030.

The annual per capita availability of water is expected to reduce to 1,140 cubic metres by 2050, close to the official water scarcity threshold of 1,000 cubic metres. While a declining per capita water availability contributes towards India’s water crisis, the NITI Aayog report said the failure to manage its water resources effectively is also a major reason.

 

Sports News

1. BCCI awards title sponsorship rights to Paytm for five more years 

One 97 Communications Pvt. Ltd, owners of Paytm retained the sponsorship rights for BCCI's International and domestic matches with a winning bid of?3.80 crore per match.

 

2. WADA suspends India’s National Dope Testing Laboratory accreditation

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the National Dope Testing Laboratory’s (NDTL) accreditation for a period of up to six months due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL).

The flaws, including in relation to the laboratory’s isotope ratio mass spectrometry analytical method as regulated by the relevant technical document, were identified by WADA during a site visit.

The disciplinary proceedings were initiated by WADA’s Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG) in May last. The process was subsequently carried out by an independent disciplinary committee.

The suspension prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including analyses of urine and blood samples.

 

MoUs and Agreements

1. MoU between AWHO and Tata Realty 

A historic milestone was reached with the signing of an MoU between Indian Army and Tata Realty & Housing on 22 Aug 2019. The MoU enables the personnel of Indian Army to immediately take over  dwelling units in 13 ‘Ready to Move in’ projects of Tata Realty pan India spread over 10 cities including Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune among others at a discount ranging from 11% to 27%.  This also heralds a new era for Army Welfare Housing Organization (AWHO), which has always endeavored to provide quality housing for Army personnel who are deployed in remote locations across the country. AWHO will now facilitate acquisition of homes from reputed private builders at discounted rather than building them for the soldiers.