Read from our blog

National News

1. CSIR-NEERI launches India’s first interactive online repository-IndAIR

The Council of Scientific Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) recently launched the country’s first interactive online repository named as IndAIR (Indian Air quality Studies Interactive Repository).

The aim of the project is to make air quality research available to everyone. It presents these studies in an easily accessible web format for the media, researchers, and academics.

It is the first comprehensive effort to enlist existing Indian research and analysis on air pollution, its causes and effects.

IndAIR has archived scanned documents from pre-Internet times (1950-1999), research articles, reports and case studies, and over 2,000 statutes to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation in the country.

It includes all major legislations in the country dating back to 1905.

NEERI received support from institutions such as the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), BARC and National Archives of India (NAI). Institutions such as TERI, MoEFCC, and CPCB also partnered with NEERI for the project.

2. IAF to sign contract to procure 83 LCAs

The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to procure the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (LCA) Mark-1A and Mark-2 and 114 new fighter jets in the next decade. IAF plans to buy LCA jets before the launching of the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

The contract for 83 LCA Mark-1A by IAF is expected to be signed in the financial year 2019-2020. The AMCA is being designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). It is supported by IAF and is expected to make the first flight in 2032.


3. Cabinet approves Special Window for funding of stalled Affordable and Middle-Income housing projects

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a 'Special Window' fund to provide priority debt financing for the completion of stalled housing projects that are in the Affordable and Middle-Income Housing sector. For the purposes of the fund, the government shall act as the Sponsor and the total commitment to be infused by the Government would be upto INR 10,000 crore.

The fund will be set up as a Category-11 AIF (Alternate Investment Fund) debt fund registered with SEBI and would be professionally run. For the first AIF under the Special Window, it is proposed that SBICAP Ventures Limited shall be engaged to be the Investment Manager. This fund would in turn would provide relief to developers that require funding to complete a set of unfinished projects and consequently ensure delivery of homes to the home-buyers. Since the real estate industry is intrinsically linked with several other industries, growth in this sector will have a positive effect in releasing stress in other major sectors of the Indian economy as well. The Finance Minister on September 14, 2019 had announced that a special window for affordable and middle-income housing will be created. This special window will provide last mile funding for housing projects which are stressed.

4. Gujarat government gives nod for world’s first CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar

Gujarat Government has given its nod to the world’s first CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar. The U.K. based Foresight group and Mumbai based Padmanabh Mafatlal group joint venture will invest Rs.1900 crore to set up a CNG portterminal at Bhavnagar port. Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board- GIDB under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has also approved this proposal.

The proposed CNG port terminal will have annual capacity of 6 million matric tone, which will increased the total handling capacity of the port to 9 million matric tones. The MoU for this project between Gujarat government arm Gujarat Maritime Board and London based Foresight Group was signed during the 2019 Vibrant Gujarat summit.

The new facility will be developed in the Northen side of present port, underwhich RoRo terminal, liquid terminal and container terminal will be developed in future.

The consortium has proposed an investment of Rs.1,900 crore in two phases with Rs 1,300 crore in the first phase and Rs 600 crore in the second phase through the 'Swiss challenge' method. Studies for pre-feasibility report, cite selection, gas supply agreement and CNG vessel development have also been completed.

5. Public Service Broadcasting Day being celebrated to mark Mahatma Gandhi's first visit to AIR

Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi had visited  All India Radio on 12 November 1947 to address to displaced people, who had temporarily settled at Kurukshetra in Haryana after partition. That was Bapu's first and the only visit to All India Radio. Public Service Broadcasting Day is celebrated every year on this to commemorate this visit of Bapu.

6. Centre Gives Nod For Four Medical Device Parks

The government has approved setting up four medical device parks with a view to support Make in India initiative and provide world-class treatment at affordable prices. The parks will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Uttarakhand and Gujarat have also approached the Centre for such parks.These parks will provide necessary infrastructure, where companies can easily plug and play.This will not only cut import bill but will also help in easy access to standard testing facilities and reduce cost of production.The project of Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone for creation of Common Facility Centre (CFC) for Superconducting Magnetic Coil Testing and Research was given in-principle approval recently.The scheme proposes to provide ₹25 crore or 70 per cent of the project cost of setting up of CFCs, whichever is less, for creation of common facilities in any upcoming park.The  medical devices retail market in the country is of around ₹70,000 crore. The domestic medical devices industry is very small even though India is the fourth largest market in Asia.India is largely an importer of medical devices, with domestic industry accounting for about 2 per cent of the global industry which stands at USD 250 billion, as per the estimates.

7. IOC gets green nod for 2G ethanol plant in Panipat

The IOCL had submitted a proposal seeking environment clearance for its proposed 100 KLPD Ligno-Cellulosic 2G ethanol plant at Baholi in Panipat district of Haryana.

This project not only promotes use of environment friendly fuel but also aids in fulfilment of government's goal of doubling farmers' income.

The estimated investment in setting up the plant is Rs 766 crore.

Ethanol produced will be used for blending in transportation fuel.Recently, the central government had notified that no environmental clearance would be required by sugar mills to produce additional ethanol from sugarcane juice.

8. JK govt sets up panel to declare Dal Lake as ESZ

The Jammu and Kashmir government has set up a ten-member committee to declare Srinagar's famous Dal Lake and its surrounding areas as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), following concerns over its shrinking size.Pollution and encroachments have resulted in the Dal Lake shrinking from its original area of 22 square kilometers to about 10 square kilometers, according to an assessment by the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in 2017.The DCI also found that the world-famous lake's capacity has shrunk to about 40 per cent and that its water quality has deteriorated.

The committee comprises of Chief Conservator for Forests, Director of the Tourism Department, Vice-Chairman of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Director of Industries Department, Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Kashmir's Regional Wildlife Warden, Regional Director of the State Pollution Control Board, Director of the Agriculture Department, the Chief Town Planner and a representative of the Law Department.The DCI assessment also found that intense pollution by untreated sewage and solid wastes that flow into the lake, encroachments of water channels and clogging has diminished the circulation and inflows into the lake, leading to extensive growth of the weed water hyacinth which has emerged as a health hazard. Further, it established that the depth of the lake has reduced at many places due to siltation and encroachment, and that continuing night soil discharge from the 800 to 900 houseboats causes extreme pollution in the water body.

9. Suranga Bawadi on World Monument Watch list

Suranga Bawadi, situated in Bijapur Karnataka, has entered the World Monuments Watch List under “Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau” of the World Monument Funds.Suranga Bawadi is an integral part of the ancient Karez System of supplying water through subterranean tunnels.It was built by Adil Shah-I of Adilshahi dynasty of Bijapur in the 16th century to supply water to Vijaypura in Karnataka.

A New York-based non-governmental organisation has included it in the World Monument Watch list for 2020 along with 24 other monuments from across the world.With this, the Suranga Bawadi is expected to get funds for restoration within the next two years.

The NGO would also coordinate with the authorities concerned for restoration and create public awareness on its importance.

Karez is a method of irrigation in which groundwater is tapped by a tunnel.After running for some distance the tunnel comes out in the open and the water is conducted to the command area.

According to historians, the Adil Shahis built the magnificent underground system to supply water to the city, which had a population of nearly 12 lakh then.

Though the Karez system was built in the 16th century by Ali Adil Shah–I, his successor, Ibrahim Adil Shah–II, brought in several changes by adding more structures to strengthen it.

Every two years WMF publishes the World Monuments Watch (formerly the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites).

Since the first list was compiled in 1996, this program has drawn international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, commercial development, natural disasters, and climate change.

10. Karnataka: Supreme Court upholds disqualification of 17 rebel MLAs, can contest bypolls

The Supreme Court (SC) upheld an order by former Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar disqualifying 17 Karnataka MLAs in July.Though the top court upheld the disqualification of the MLAs from Congress and JD(S), the term of the disqualification was struck down.The order, therefore, allows all the disqualified MLAs to contest in the upcoming bypolls. The former speaker had said in his order that the MLAs cannot contest elections until the term of the current assembly ends in 2023.The top court also said that the speaker acts as a "quasi-judicial authority" and that the scope of the assembly speaker's inquiry is limited to examine whether the resignation of MLAs was voluntary or not.

In a nutshell, the top court has allowed the 17 MLAs to contest in the upcoming bypolls but upheld their disqualification by the former Karnataka assembly speaker.Seventeen disqualified Karnataka MLAs belonging to Congress and JD(S) had filed petitions after former Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar passed an order to disqualify them ahead of the trust vote in July.A three-judge bench of justices N V Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna and Krishna Murari had on October 25 reserved its verdict on the petitions filed by these disqualified MLAs.

11. Tribunal headed by Delhi HC judge confirms five-year ban on LTTE

The five-year ban imposed by the Centre on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been confirmed by a tribunal set up by the Narendra Modi government to examine whether the prohibitions on the terror organisation should continue. The tribunal headed by Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal confirmed the ban.The tribunal arrived at its decision after hearing all stakeholders, including Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko.MP Vaiko is an LTTE sympathiser.

The tribunal, set up under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), had held hearings in Delhi and Chennai after it was constituted on May 27.

India had banned the LTTE after the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. Since then, the ban imposed on the group has been extended every five years.The terror organisation had suffered a military defeat in May 2009 in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had on May 14 extended the ban for five more years. The organisation was last banned in 2014 for five years.The group's continued violent and disruptive activities are prejudicial to the integrity and sovereignty of India, and it continues to adopt a strong anti-India posture and also continues to pose a grave threat to the security of Indian nationals.

The tribunal was constituted on May 27 under the UAPA to give an opportunity to the banned entity to present its case.

The LTTE, a terror outfit based in Sri Lanka but having its supporters, sympathisers and agents in India, came up in 1976.Even after its military defeat in May 2009 in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has not abandoned the concept of 'Eelam' and has been clandestinely working towards this cause by undertaking fundraising and propaganda activities, and the remnant LTTE leaders or cadres have also initiated efforts to regroup the scattered activists and resurrect the outfit locally and internationally, the Home Ministry had said.

12. CJI's Office to Come Under RTI Ambit, Rules SC, Says Openness Doesn't Undermine Judicial Independence

The Supreme Court ruled that the office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority under the Right to Information Act.The order was passed by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Other members of the bench are Justices NV Ramana, DY Chandrachud, Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna.

A five-judge constitution bench had on April 4 reserved its verdict on the appeals filed in 2010 by the Supreme Court secretary general and its central public information officer against the high court and the central information commission's (CIC's) orders.

In a landmark verdict on January 10, 2010, the Delhi High Court had held that the office of the chief justice of India comes within the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) law, saying judicial independence was not a judge's privilege, but a responsibility cast upon him.

The 88-page judgment was then seen as a personal setback to the then CJI, K G Balakrishnan, who has been opposed to disclosure of information relating to judges under the RTI Act.

The high court verdict was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah (since retired) and Justices Vikramjit Sen and S Muralidhar. The bench had dismissed a plea of the Supreme Court that contended bringing the CJI's office within the RTI Act would "hamper" judicial independence. Justice Sen retired as the judge of the apex court, while Justice Murlidhar is a sitting judge of the high court.

The move to bring the office of the CJI under the transparency law was initiated by RTI activist SC Agrawal. His lawyer Prashant Bhushan had submitted in the top court that though the apex court should not have been judging its own cause, it is hearing the appeals due to "doctrine of necessity".

13. Swachh-Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan

The Environment Ministry is undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”. It was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and aimed to make beaches clean and create awareness amongst citizens about the importance of coastal ecosystems – in Beaches across 10 states / UTs.

The campaign will be organized in the beaches after consultation with the state governments.

Environment Education Division and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the Environment Ministry will be responsible for its implementation.

At end of the drive, the best three beaches will be suitably awarded along with a certificate of appreciation for all the participating eco-clubs.

The implementation of the drive will be monitored by the MoEF&CC officials.

14. Maharashtra placed under President’s Rule

President Ram Nath Kovind has approved a proclamation imposing President’s Rule in Maharashtra under Article 356(1) of the Constitution, following a recommendation from Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.In his report to the President, the governor said a situation had arisen in which it was impossible to constitute or form a stable government in the State, and the government could not be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.Article 356 of the Constitution of India gives President of India the power to suspend state government and impose President’s rule of any state in the country if “if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”.Upon the imposition of this rule, there would be no Council of Ministers. The Vidhan Sabha is either dissolved or prorogued.

The state will fall under the direct control of the Union government, and the Governor will continue to be head the proceedings, representing the President of India – who is the Head of the State.

The imposition of the President’s rule requires the sanction of both the houses of Parliament.

If approved, it can go on for a period of six months. However, the imposition cannot be extended for more than three years, and needs to be brought before the two houses every six months for approval.

President’s rule would mean that for the next six months no major government decisions will be made. No projects will be sanctioned, and no major policy decisions including subsidies and others will be made — keeping the progress in a can until the next government is formed.

A proclamation of President’s Rule may be revoked by the President at any time by a subsequent proclamation. Such a proclamation does not require parliamentary approval.

This happens, in case, the leader of a party produces letters of support from a majority of members of the Assembly, and stakes his claim to form a government.

In the recent elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the BJP got 105 seats, the Shiv Sena got 56, NCP 54 and the Congress 44 seats. Although the BJP and Shiv Sena had fought the election as an alliance, after the results, the alliance fell apart on the issue of who will be the chief minister. No single party got a majority in the House, and no alliance could be formed claiming a majority. Hence the governor of the state recommended President’s Rule, which was imposed.

15. Supreme Court refers Sabarimala temple issue to larger bench, no stay on women's entry

Afive-judge bench of the Supreme Court referred review pleas in the Sabarimala temple issue to a larger seven-member bench.There is no stay on women entering the shrine in the meantime.

The decision to refer the case to a bigger bench was a 3:2 majority ruling, with Justices RF Nariman and DY Chandrachud dissenting by dismissing all review pleas.

The Supreme Court said restrictions on women in religious places weren't limited to Sabarimala alone, and that they were prevalent in other religions too.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi read the verdict on behalf of himself and Justices AM Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra; he said the larger bench would decide all such religious issues relating to Sabarimala, the entry of women in mosques and the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawood Bohra community.

16. UP govt launches e-Ganna app, web portal

Uttar Pradesh government has launched a dedicated web portal and a mobile application, e-Ganna App, for sugarcane farmers of the state.The app ad portal will have entire information about the issue of cane supply slips to the farmers for the whole cane crushing season from November to May.The web portal and e-Ganna app will help in eradicating the cane mafia and middleman and strengthen the cane development societies.

The portal and the app will ensure transparency in the process and facilitate sugarcane supply by farmers to sugar mills and check irregularities in the process.

17. Supreme Court dismisses Rafale review petition seeking criminal probe in fighter jet deal

In a major relief for the government, the Supreme Court dismissed a review petition seeking a court-monitored criminal probe in Rafale fighter jet deal between the Indian government and France's Dassault Aviation.The three-judge bench of the top court comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph dismissed the review pleas in a unanimous judgment.

The development comes as a huge relief for the Modi government, which received a lot of flak over the deal after some leaked documents related to the deal surfaced earlier.While the top court had earlier rejected pleas seeking court-monitored investigation into the controversial Rafale deal in December last year, it again initiated hearing a review petition in February this year.Advocate Prashant Bhushan and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie filed review pleas in February 2019, demanding the court to reverse its verdict and initiate a probe into the dealings to acquire the 36 Rafale fighter jets.

The petitioners in the case had moved the top court seeking review of its verdict, which earlier dismissed a plea challenging India's agreement with France for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

In December, the top court had denied a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the corruption allegations in the deal.

The Rafale deal pertains to a government-to-government agreement signed between India and France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from the French aerospace giant Dassault. The deal was signed by PM Narendra Modi during his first term in office.

The deal became controversial over allegations that the Modi government had bypassed established norms of acquisition to sign the deal and that industrialist Anil Ambani received undue favours under the deal.

In December, the Supreme Court said it had not seen any evidence that could raise doubts over the government's decision-making process and so, it ruled to dismiss the pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the deal.

18. After Chandrayaan 2 mission, ISRO aims for Chandrayaan 3 in November 2020

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now planning for its next lunar mission, Chandrayaan 3. The agency has started working on Chandrayaan 3 with a deadline of November 2020. ISRO has formed multiple committees comprising an overall panel and three sub-committees and have held at least four high-level meetings since October. Since the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter is functioning well, the new mission is likely to include only a lander and a rover.

19. India is home to 77 million diabetics, second highest in the world

World Diabetes Day is held on 14 November each year. It seeks to raise awareness on diabetes. The awareness campaign is led by International Diabetes Federation

The theme for diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2019 is Family and Diabetes.International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has launched the latest edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas to mark World Diabetes Day.

The Worldwide prevalence of diabetes estimated at 463 million adults in 20-79 age group.

The number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise to 578 million by 2030 and to 700 million by 2045

China has the highest number of adults with diabetes- 116 million adults in 20-79 age group

India continues to be home to the second-largest number of adults with diabetes worldwide- 77 million in the 20-79 years age group.

India was the largest contributor to diabetes mortality with more than 1 million estimated deaths attributable to diabetes and related complications, in the larger South East Asian region.

Diabetes was responsible for an estimated $760 billion in health expenditure in 2019

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes had reached 9.3 percent with more than half (50.1 per cent) of adults undiagnosed.

Type 2 diabetes accounted for around 90% of all people with diabetes. The reasons for rise in the number of people with type 2 diabetes are urbanisation, an ageing population, decreasing levels of physical activity and increasing levels of overweight people and obesity.

20. Andhra Pradesh launches Rs 12,000 crore ‘Nadu-Nedu’ scheme to introduce English medium in govt schools

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy launched the 'Nadu-Nedu' programme to introduce English medium from classes 1 to 6 in state-run schools and said there will be "some difficulties" in implementing the scheme, but these will be overcome.

21. India saw second highest pneumonia deaths of kids under 5 in 2018: UN

India had the second-highest number of deaths of children under the age of five in 2018 due to pneumonia, a curable and preventable disease that claimed the life of one child every 39 seconds globally, according to a new report by the UN.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that globally, pneumonia claimed the lives of more than 800,000 children under the age of five last year--or one child every 39 seconds. Most deaths occurred among children under the age of two, and almost 153,000 within the first month of life.The report said just five countries were responsible for more than half of child pneumonia deaths: Nigeria (162,000), India (127,000), Pakistan (58,000), the Democratic Republic of Congo (40,000) and Ethiopia (32,000).

This “forgotten epidemic” is now responsible for 15 per cent of deaths in children under the age of five, and yet, just three per cent of global infectious disease research spending is allocated to the disease.

22. WCD Ministry to announce Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) and Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, announced Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) in New Delhi. The BPKK will be a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones in India for better nutritional outcomes.At the request of the Ministry of WCD the Harvard Chan School of Public Health through its India Research Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will document and evaluate promising regional dietary practices and the messaging around them and develop a food atlas on regional agro-food systems. Both efforts are aimed at mobilizing the diverse sectors of the society.

In consultation with Ministry of WCD and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project team will select around 12 high focus states which are representative of the geographical, social, economic, cultural and structural diversities of India. In each of the states or group of states the team will identify a local partner organization which has relevant work experience in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and nutrition for developing the food atlas.

23. Delhi CM launched Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana on 15 November.

The scheme aimed to help the people living in unauthorized colonies where sewer lines are yet to be laid. People in such areas depend on manual scavengers for cleaning the tanks, which is an illegal act. Under the scheme, the Delhi government will clean the septic tanks for free.Nearly 45 lakh citizens in the authorized and unauthorized colonies of Delhi do not have sewer pipelines and depend on septic tanks. The process of installing sewage pipelines across all the unauthorized colonies is going on. Also, it is important to ensure the cleanliness of the septic tanks through safe means. The scheme will help to collect waste from the septic tanks of the illegal colonies. It will ensure the safe disposal of waste in sewage treatment plants and the safety of people.

Under the scheme, trained staff with all the safety equipment will be used for the work of septic tank cleaning.

24. National Mission NISHTHA was launched in Jammu and Kashmir

National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) was launched in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It was inaugurated by Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Sarita Chauhan.

NISHTHA is a National Mission that aims to improve learning outcomes at Elementary level through integrated Teacher Training. It is a pioneering scheme being launched across the country, with a total of 86000 Elementary teachers of Government Schools being trained in J&K under the programme. It aims to build the capacities of 42 lakh participants covering all teachers and Heads of Schools at the elementary level in all Government Schools across the country, faculty members of SIEs/SCERTs, DIETs, etc.

25. India Pledges to Contribute $13.5 Million for UN Development Activities for 2020

India has pledged to contribute USD 13.5 million for various operational activities of development across the UN agencies for the year 2020. India will contribute USD 5 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, USD 4.5 million to the UN Development Programme.The World Food Programme will get USD 1.92 million, USD 900,000 to the UN Children's Fund, USD 500,000 to the UN Population Fund, USD 200,000 dollars to the UN Voluntary Fund for Technical Co-operation and USD 150,000 dollars to the UN Commission on Human Settlements Programme.

India will also be contributing USD 100,000 each to the UN Voluntary contribution for Financial and Technical Assistance for the implementation of Universal Periodic Review, UN Environment Programme and UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

About 16 countries pledged a total of USD 516 million at the 2019 United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, representing a considerable increase over 2018 which saw USD 425.69 million promised.

 

Economy News

1. Govt should explore Israel, Brazil models for onion storage: FICCI study

India, which is currently witnessing a spike in retail onion price up to Rs 100/kg on tight supply, should explore low-cost modern technology models from countries like Israel and Brazil for storing the commodity, industry body FICCI.The government's Tomato Onion Potato (TOP) scheme announced in the 2018-19 Budget was expected to address the problem of surplus in producing areas, but the scheme has not taken off, it said, adding that the government should provide railway rakes for reducing transportation cost.FICCI stated that ad-hocism in export bans had serious repercussions and there was a need to remove onion from the purview of the Essential Commodities Act and undertake agriculture marketing reforms to facilitate direct purchase from the farmer in a transparent way.

Onion, being high in water content, is a delicate commodity to store. Up to 40 per cent of the total produced onions can be damaged in some areas in periods of high rainfall due to non-availability of appropriate post-harvest storage facilities. To address the current onion crisis, FICCI said the government should focus on a long-term solution including studying the Israel and Brazel models and making investment in low cost modern technology for storing onion.

For ensuring cost-effective storage of onions, FICCI said the emphasis should be laid on building low-cost farm gate storage.In Brazil, for the procurement and storage of onions, low-cost ventilated silos system is being used at farm level. They also use refrigerated storage rooms which is the most efficient system, it said.Onion is cultivated in various parts of India almost throughout the year and can be made available in fresh form, except in the months of July, August and September.To maintain regular supply in this lean period of about three months, onions are being traditionally stored in ventilated warehouses (in bulk) where the losses are very high (range between 20-40 per cent mainly because of poor pre-harvest and post-harvest practices).Onion prices have risen sharply because of excessive rains in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh which produce 60 per cent of India's onion.

External factors such as climatic changes, deficient rainfall leading to delayed sowing and abnormally high rainfall in September were beyond the control of the government, the industry added.

2. RBI tells banks not to charge transaction fees for NEFT from Jan 2020

Banks will not be able to charge their savings account customers for online transactions done via the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system from next year. NEFT can be done by bank customers either online or offline through bank branches. While several major banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and YES Bank, do not charge for online NEFT transactions, Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India charge Rs 2.25, excluding the goods and services tax (GST), for such transfers up to Rs 10,000.

The RBI earlier this year had waived the charges it levied on banks for transactions routed through NEFT and the Real-Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), which is used for large fund transfers.

According to the RBI, in the period between October 2018 and September 2019, digital payments constituted 96 per cent of the non-cash retail payments, said the RBI. NEFT and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the same period handled 2.5 billion and 8.7 billion transactions with year-on-year growth of 20 per cent and 263 per cent, respectively.

To further promote digital payments, the RBI has decided to operationalise the acceptance development fund with effect from January 1, 2020.

The fund was created to improve the payments infrastructure in small towns and villages with the help of various stakeholders, including banks, card payment networks, and the government.

The Nandan Nilekani committee on digital payments had recommended the RBI to consider the setting up of an acceptance development fund, which would be used to develop new merchants in poorly served areas.This, the panel recommended, could be funded by the market.The RBI will also constitute a committee to asses the need for plurality of Quick Response (QR) codes and merits of their co-existence or convergence from both systemic and consumer viewpoints.

Furthermore, the central bank has permitted all authorised payment systems and instruments, including non-bank prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), cards and UPI for linking with National Electronic Toll Collection FASTags. This will facilitate the use of FASTags for parking, fuel, etc., payments in an interoperable environment, the RBI said. The RBI also said it would enable the processing of e-mandates for transactions through UPI.

It had asked banks to pass on the benefit to customers to provide an impetus to the digital funds movement.

3. India to fund 250 Defence Startups in next 5 years

India will fund at least 250 defence startups over the next five years as it seeks new technologies to give a cutting edge to the armed forces. The plan is to achieve at least 50 ‘tangible innovations’ by the startups that can be inducted over the coming years.

The defence ministry will be earmarking at least Rs 500 crore for its Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and will try to bring together innovators with public and private sector industry and the armed forces to find new technology solutions.

4. DRDO grants free patent access to boost indigenous production

To boost indigenous production and give a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ policy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to grant the Indian industry free access to patents held for technologies developed by it.A new policy formulated by the DRDO recently states that no licence fee or royalty will be applicable on the use of Indian patents held by the research agency. There are hundreds of such patents covering missile technology, aeronautics, naval systems, life sciences, armaments, combat engineering, electronics and communication material.The previous DRDO policy called for managing intellectual property (IP) rights in an effective, efficient and ethical manner to derive full economic potential and consider opportunities for commercial exploitation of IP and wealth creation.

5. C-295 transport plane clears cost negotiations

The Defence Ministry has concluded cost negotiations with Tata and Airbus for the purchase of Airbus C-295 transport aircraft as part of the Avro replacement programme of the Indian Air Force(IAF).The Airbus C295 is a new generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment.It is manufactured by the Airbus Defence and Space in Spain.

It is robust and reliable but also highly versatile in terms of the number of different missions it can perform.

The C295 conducts multi-role operations worldwide under all weather conditions.It is fully certified and routinely operates day and night in combat missions in all weather extremes.

India has concluded a deal to acquire 62 Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft(MTA).

As part of the deal,16 aircraft will be built by Airbus at its manufacturing facility and the remaining will be built locally by the Tata-Airbus joint venture under transfer of technology.

The deal is now being processed to put it up for clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS).The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is chaired by the Prime Minister.The committee comprises of Minister of External Affairs,the Home Minister,the Finance Minister and the Defence Minister.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) takes decision on (a)senior appointments in the national security apparatus (b)defence policy and expenditure and (c)generally all matters of India’s national security.

6. BHIM UPI goes international; QR code-based payments demonstrated at Singapore FinTech Festival

A pilot demonstration of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) united payments interface (UPI) QR-based payments has begun at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2019.Conducted through a live transaction at a merchant terminal on November 13, this is the payment system's first approach to the international market.The demo will continue for the duration of the festival, which started on November 11 and ends on November 15.This QR code-based system would allow anyone with a BHIM app to scan the SGQR at NETS terminals for payments in Singapore.

The project is being jointly developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) of Singapore. It is targeted to go live by February 2020.

A memorandum of understanding between the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) was also signed on November 13 to work towards access of TPCI dashboard to Business sans Borders (BSB) at the festival.

BSB, a project conceived by MAS and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), is an initiative for connecting various platforms domestically as well as internationally, covering trade, financial services and other essential SME (small and medium enterprises) services.

This would allow SMEs, within and across borders, to match their demand and supply along with the provision of ancillary services such as credit facilities, insurance, logistics, and legal and professional services, said the commissioner.The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which has 70 million traders in India as its members, is already connected to BSB through a platform provided by Mastercard GlobalLinker.The Indian contingent at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2019 is one of the biggest, with 43 companies and start-ups participating from India.

7. Amazon launches 'Project Zero' in India to block counterfeit goods

In a bid to ensure that customers receive authentic goods when shopping on Amazon announced to bring "Project Zero" to India. "Project Zero" introduces additional proactive mechanisms and powerful tools to identify, block and remove counterfeits.Over 7,000 brands have already enrolled in Project Zero across US, Europe and Japan. A number of Indian brands participated in a pilot to help the company test the experience in India.

“Project Zero" combines Amazon's advanced technology and innovation with the sophisticated knowledge that brands have of their own intellectual property and how best to detect counterfeits of their products.

It does so through three powerful tools: Automated protections, self-service counterfeit removal tool and product serialization.

8. MELPL – Visionary Indo – French Collaboration (Largest FDI Project of Railways)

Indian Railways has entered into Procurement cum Maintenance Agreement with Madhepura Electric Locomotive Pvt. Ltd. (MELPL), a joint venture of Indian Railways and M/s Alstom. As part of largest Foreign Direct Investment project of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways and Alstom came together in 2015 to transform the heavy freight transportation landscape of the country. A landmark agreement worth 3.5 billion Euro was signed to manufacture 800 electric locomotives for freight service and its associated maintenance.

M/s Alstom has delivered prototype locomotive in March 2018. Based on the test results, Alstom has redesigned the complete locomotive including bogies. The new design of locomotive has been inspected by RDSO at Madhepura factory and cleared for dispatch from factory. After test and trials M/s Alstom will accelerate the delivery schedule and supply 10 locomotives in FY 2019-20 and 90 locomotives in FY 2020-21 and 100 locomotives per year beyond March 2021 as per their recovery plan. This is the first time such High Horse Power locomotive is being tested on Broad Gauge network in the World by any Railways.

As part of the project, factory along with township has been set up in Madhepura, Bihar with  capacity to manufacture 120 locomotives per year. The project will create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country. More than Rs 2000 Crores invested in the project already by the company. One Maintenance Depot already established in Saharanpur. Work starting on the second Depot at Nagpur. More than 300 Engineers from India and France are working in Bangalore, Madhepura and France on the Project. This is a truly  Make in India project and even the first loco has been assembled in Madhepura factory. In two years time, more than 90% parts will be manufactured in India.

9. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates Sisseri River bridge connecting Dibang Valley and Siang in Arunachal Pradesh

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Sisseri River bridge at Lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. The 200-metre long bridge between Jonai-Pasighat-Ranaghat-Roing road will provide connectivity between Dibang Valley and Siang to meet the long-pending demand of the people of Arunachal Pradesh as it would cut down the travel time from Pasighat to Roing by about five hours.The Sisseri River bridge provides connectivity to Tinsukia via Dhola-Sadia bridge. It was constructed by Project Brahmank of Border Roads Organisation (BRO). This bridge is also strategically important from military view point and will be a part of Trans Arunachal Highway. The bridge will play an important role in the overall development adding that it would open more avenues in the fields of employment, trade & tourism.

There are four projects of BRO in the state namely Vartak, Arunank, Brahmank and Udayak working relentlessly to meet the strategic requirement of the nation and also immensely contributing in the socio-economic development of the region.

10. India-US tri-services exercise 'Tiger Triumph' to begin in Vizag on Nov 13

The maiden India-US joint tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise named 'Tiger Triumph' is scheduled to begin at Visakhapatnam from November 13.

In consonance with the growing partnership between India and the US, Tiger Triumph is scheduled on the Eastern seaboard from November 13 to 21, 2019.At the HADR Exercise Area, a Joint Command and Control Centre would be established jointly by the Indian Army and US Marines. The IAFRAMT and the US Navy Medical Team would establish a Medical Facility Camp for providing medical aid to victims, who would have been previously evacuated by road and air to the Camp.

The Exercise would culminate with a closing ceremony onboard US Naval Ship Germantown on November 21.

11. India gets USD 43 million from Green Climate Fund to boost climate resilience in 3 coastal states

In a move that may positively impact over 10 million people living on the coastline, India kicked-off a USD 43 million project to boost climate resilience in three coastal states in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund, established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist developing countries.The six-year project will build climate-resilient livelihoods for 1.7 million people in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha, offset 3.5 million tonnes of carbon, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and benefit another 10 million people with improved shoreline protection.

The project will work with communities in restoring ecosystems and promoting climate-resilient livelihood options, such as the sustainable farming of mud crabs.

This initiative will particularly address India’s strategic plan to achieve its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement, which focuses on adaptation efforts in vulnerable communities. To protect life on land and below water as outlined in the 2030 Agenda, project activities will focus on restoration and conservation of over 15,000 hectares of mangroves, coral reefs, seagrasses and saltmarshes. Communities, including the local youth, will be trained to work with scientists in monitoring ecosystem health and coastal ecology.

To strengthen climate risk-informed coastal management and infrastructure planning, the innovative project will create an online decision-support tool available via mobile phone for use by government officers, academic institutions, community members and scientists.

The project will also build local knowledge of climate change and the associated risks via training and public education programmes, the UNDP said.

 

Days and events

1. India celebrates the National Education Day on 11 November

National Education Day is celebrated on 11 November in India. The day aims to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

On 11 September 2008, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had decided to celebrate 11 November as National Education Day. The ministry decided to commemorate the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad for his contribution to the cause of education in India. The National education day is celebrated from the year 2008.

Maulana Sayyid Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad was an Indian scholar and independence activist. He was famously called as Maulana Azad. He was one of the senior leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) during the Indian independence movement. Maulana Azad established the national education system. He focused on free primary education. In 1922, he was awarded Bharat Ratna for his contributions toward education.

2. 11th BRICS summit 2019: PM Modi held bilateral talks with Russia and China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Brazil to attend the 11th BRICS Summit, met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazil’s capital, Brasilia and discussed on various issues.

The BRICS summit 2019 theme is 'Economic Growth for an Innovative Future'. The five BRICS nations account for almost 50 percent of the world's economic growth. The BRICS bloc comprises five major developing economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

3. Guru Nanak Jayanti 2019: Gurupurab celebrations begin with fervour to mark 550th anniversary of Sikhism founder

Also known as Gurupurab, Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated across the country to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, and is considered one of the holiest festivals of the Sikh community. This year, Gurupurab is even more special as on 12 November it marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first of the 10 Sikh gurus.According to the Hindu calendar, Gurupurab falls on a full moon day in the month of Kartik Puranmashi while, in the month of October and November, as the Gregorian calendar suggests. But some scholars believe that the birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru should be celebrated on 14 April, according to the original Nanakshahi calendar passed by Sri Akal Takht in 2003.

Defined by his spirituality and devotion to the Divine, Guru Nanak Dev was a man of peace who spent his entire life emphasising on equality and tolerance. He was born in a village called Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, presently popular as Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in Pakistan.

Guru Nanak Dev played an instrumental role in setting up various spiritual, social and political platforms, which were constituted on the principles of quality, goodness, and virtue.

A three-day festival, Gurupurab celebrations begin with Prabhat Pheris (early morning processions) at the gurudwaras and then proceed to the localities with Sikh devotees singing hymns. It is led by Panj Pyaras or Nagarkirtan (the five beloved ones), who carry the Sikh flag, known as the Nishan Sahib and the palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib.

Usually two days prior to Gurupurab, an Akhand Path or the 48-hour non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib – the holy text where the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev are preserved – is organised at the Gurdwaras. Some of the popular prayers are – Japji Sahid and Sidh-Ghost. The holy book of the Sikhs also entail the sayings of all the 10 gurus.

On the main day of the occasion, devotees wake up early in the morning and sing Asa-di-Var and other morning hymns from the Sikh scriptures. In the Gurudwaras, priests recite poems in praise of Guru Nanak Dev. Langar or free community lunch is served in the afternoon to celebrate life and prophecy of Guru Nanak Jayanti. Gatka, a special type of martial art is performed by the people on this occasion with a sword.

4. India To Host Shanghai Summit's Heads Of Government Council Meet In 2020

India will host the 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation next year, the first such high level meeting of the eight-member grouping to be organised by New Delhi after its admission into the grouping in 2017.

The SCO is a China-led eight-member economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017. Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh represented India at the summit in Tashkent.

The SCO has four observer states, namely Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. It has six dialogue partners, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka.

The SCO, which has its headquarters in Beijing, holds summits of heads of states as well as heads of government meetings annually in member countries. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the summit, the heads of the government meetings are attended by senior Cabinet Ministers.

5. 2nd edition of Paris Peace Forum held in France

The second edition of annual Paris Peace Forum was held at la Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, France from 11 to 13 November 2019. It included a two-day event of debate sessions aimed at finding global solutions for global issues. More than 30 heads of state and government attended the forum and India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Paris Peace Forumis an international event on global governance issues and multilateralism, held annually in Paris, France.The Forum convenes heads of states, national and local representatives, representatives from international organizations among others for the purpose of discussing in depth major global challenges and finding practical solutions.

 

People in News

1. T N Seshan, the man who helped clean up India's elections

TN Seshan, an IAS officer of 1955 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre, managed to stamp his authority on the country's electoral system during his term as the country's 10th Chief Election Commissioner from 1990 to 1996.Born on December 15, 1932 in Palakkad, in then Madras Presidency, now in Kerala, his full name was Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan.

TN Seshan brought back faith in the Indian electoral system at a time when Indian elections were synonymous with booth rigging and misuse of government machinery.His strict commandments were: no bribing or intimidating voters, no distribution of liquor during the elections, no use of official machinery for campaigning, no appealing to voters' caste or communal feelings, no use of religious places for campaigns and no use of loudspeakers without prior written permission.He also enforced the Model Code of Conduct, strictly monitored limits on poll expenses, and cracked down on several malpractices like wall graffiti. The issuance of Voter IDs for all eligible voters came into being under his strict watch.

Appointed by Prime Minister Chandrashekhar as the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Seshan would always be remembered as a shining example of what a CEC should be.He had earlier served as the 18th Cabinet Secretary of India in 1989. In 1996, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Seshan even contested for the post of President of India in 1997 and lost to KR Narayanan.

2. Justice Sanjay Karol sworn in as Patna HC chief justice

Justice Sanjay Karol was sworn in as the chief justice of the Patna High Court.Justice Karol succeeded Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, who has been transferred to the Madras High Court.

Karol was earlier the chief justice of the Tripura High Court.

3. Justice Muhammad Raffiq takes oath as Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC

Justice Muhammad Raffiq, was sworn in as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.Justice Raffiq, 59, succeeds Ajay Kumar Mittal who is now the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court.In 2008, Justice Raffiq was appointed as a judge at the Rajasthan High Court.

4. First woman officer posted as Assistant Naval Attache in Moscow

Lt. Cdr. Karabi Gogoi will become the first woman officer from the Navy to be posted as a Defence Attache at an Indian mission abroad. She has been posted as the Assistant Naval Attache at the Indian embassy in Moscow.

The Navy has selected Lt. Commander Karabi Gogoi as Assistant Naval Attache at the Moscow Embassy, making her the second woman defence personnel to be appointed for a diplomatic assignment.

Currently posted as a naval engineer at the Karwar base of the Navy, the officer is also learning Russian and is expected to take up her new assignment in Moscow next month.

In September, Wing Commander Anjali Singh became India's first female military diplomat to be posted in any of the Indian missions abroad. Singh, who is trained on MiG-29 fighter aircraft, is the Deputy Air Attache in the Indian mission in Moscow.

5. Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro to be the chief guest at Republic Day 2020

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to be the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2020.Prime Minister Modi met Bolsonaro on the sidelines of the 11th BRICS Summit, which is being held in Brasilia.During his meeting with Bolsonaro, Prime Minister Modi invited the President of Brazil to be the chief guest at the Republic Day in 2020. Bolsonaro accepted the invitation with pleasure. Former French President François Hollande was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in 2016. In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates took part in the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.The year 2018 was historic as leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations attended the event as chief guests.

In 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was in attendance as the chief guest. He was the second South African president, after Nelson Mandela, to attend the grand event as its chief guest.

6. Lt Col Jyoti Sharma appointed as first female JAG officer

Lieutenant Colonel Jyoti Sharma has been appointed as the Indian Army's first female Judge Advocate General officer to be deployed on a foreign mission. She will be appointed as the military legal expert with the government of Seychelles. The main role of Jyoti would be to update the government of Seychelles officials on the defence and military act.

The Indian Army is also preparing to induct women in the Military Police Corps. In April 2019, the Indian Army started the process of inducting women as jawans by starting their online registration for recruitment in the Corps Of Military Police. India Army will induct women in a graded manner to eventually compromise 20% of the total Corps of Military Police.

7. Nita Ambani Becomes 1st Indian Trustee to be Elected to Board of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art

Educationist, philanthropist and businesswoman Nita Ambani has been named an honorary trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The announcement was made by Daniel Brodsky, the museum's chairman. Nita Ambani’s election took place at a meeting of the Board on November 12. She is the first Indian to be so honoured.

8. Two advisors appointed by Home ministry to assist J & K LG

Ministry of Home Affairs appointed two advisors to assist the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, GC Murmu.Retired IAS, KK Sharma and retired IPS, Farookh Khan have been selected to do the job.

9. Indian-Origin Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth Has A UP Connect

Incumbent Pravind Jugnauth took oath after the elections which consolidated the grip of his Morisian Alliance on parliament.

The election of Pravind Jugnauth as the Prime Minister of Mauritius has created a buzz in the Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district's Rasra. Mr Jugnauth's ancestors are said to have migrated to the island-nation from Rasra.

 

International News

1. Planet Mercury passes across the face of the Sun

Mercury has made a rare transit, where the planet passes across the face of the Sun as seen from Earth.During the transit, Mercury appeared as a dark silhouetted disc against the bright surface of our star.There are 14 transits in this century; the last before this was in 2016, but the next event will not occur until 2032.This is a rare event, and we'll have to wait 13 years until it happens again. Transits are a visible demonstration of how the planets move around the Sun. The entire event was visible from the eastern US and Canada, the south-western tip of Greenland, most of the Caribbean, Central America, the whole of South America and some of West Africa.

Mercury is the smallest and innermost planet in the Solar System.It completes each orbit around the Sun every 88 days, and passes between the Earth and Sun every 116 days. As the orbit of Mercury around the Sun is tilted compared with the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, the planet normally appears to pass above or below our nearest star.A transit can only take place when the Earth, Mercury and the Sun are exactly in line in three dimensions.

2. Sri Lanka becomes first South Asian nation to criminalise offences related to match-fixing

Sri Lanka has become the first South Asian nation to criminalise several offences related to match-fixing as its parliament passed all three readings of a bill labelled "Prevention of Offences Related to Sports".If a person is found guilty of committing an offence related to corruption in sports, then he may find himself jailed for a term up to 10 years and he will also be required to pay various fines. The newest legislation covers all sports and it is believed that the recent investigation by Anti-Corruption Unit prompted this bill to be drafted.Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been under investigation by the ICC's ACU since 2017. Former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya was charged under the ICC Code and he was handed a two-year ban.

3. China completes crucial landing test for 1st Mars mission in 2020

China successfully completed a crucial landing test in northern Hebei province ahead of a historic unmanned exploration mission to Mars next year.In 2016, China officially began the Mars exploration mission work, and currently all of the different development work is progressing smoothly.As scheduled, China's first Mars exploration mission will take place in 2020. China has developed the powerful Long March 5 rocket to transport the probe to Mars in 2020.The journey through space will take about seven months, while landing will take seven minutes, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars exploration programme.

The landing will be the toughest and most challenging stage.The same Long March 5 rocket is meant to deliver the Chang'e-5 probe to the Moon by the end of 2019 or early next year to bring back samples of lunar rocks.

The Chang'e-4 probe successfully touched down on the far side of the Moon in January this year, a historic first and major achievement for China's space programme.China made its first lunar landing in 2013.China expects to complete a modular space station around 2022, around the time when National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) is said to start building a new space station laboratory to orbit the Moon, as a pit stop for missions to other parts of the solar system.

In 2003, China became the third nation to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States.Since then, it has been racing to catch up with Russia and the United States and become a major space power by 2030.

4. New Zealand Parliament passes euthanasia bill

New Zealand Parliament has passed a bill legalising voluntary euthanasia and a final decision on assisted dying will be decided by a referendum in next year's general election.Members of the Parliament went through conscience voting 69 to 51 in favour of the euthanasia bill, which allows terminally ill adults to request assisted dying.The euthanasia bill, or End of Life Choice Bill, sponsored by Act Party leader David Seymour, was introduced to the New Zealand parliament in June 2017. The bill received a record of 39,000 submissions from the New Zealand public.

The bill passed first reading in December 2017. A second reading was passed in June 2019. Last month the bill was amended to require a referendum at the upcoming 2020 general election to formally become a law if the bill passed final reading.

A poll in July found there was 72 percent backing for some kind of assisted dying for the terminally ill among the New Zealand public.

 

Sports News

1. India bags unprecedented 15 Olympic quotas

India bagged an unprecedented 15 Olympic quotas in shooting after Angad Vir Singh Bajwa and Mairaj Ahmad Khan's 1-2 finish in skeet and teenager Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar's bronze at the Asian Championship in Doha. There was a shoot-off for the gold medal and Bajwa prevailed 6-5 against his compatriot after both were tied on 56. This is the first time that Indian skeet shooters won both gold and silver in the Asian Championships.This is India's best-ever Olympic quota haul, easily surpassing the 12 at the 2016 Rio Games and 11 in London in 2012.  18-year-old Tomar secured the country's 13th quota with a bronze in men's 50m rifle 3 positions.Continuing India's impressive performance at the prestigious championship, the duo of Manu Bhaker and Abhishek Verma got the better of compatriots Saurabh Chaudhary and Yashaswini Singh Deswal 16-10 to win the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Bhaker and Verma shot 577 and 387 in the two qualifications, while Chaudhary and Deswal managed 576 and 387.

2. ICC T20I Rankings: Deepak Chahar jumps 88 places after record six-wicket haul

Deepak Chahar, who forged a world record of registering the best-ever bowling figures (6/7) in T20I history against Bangladesh, has catapulted himself by 88 spots to move to 42nd in the bowlers’ list of ICC T20I rankings.

While Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan tops the list, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner is just behind him on second position — his best position since he topped the table in January 2018.

The latest update includes the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, the series between Australia and Pakistan, between New Zealand and England, as well as the one between India and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma maintained his dominance on the shortest format of the game by remaining India’s top-ranked batsman at seventh position, while KL Rahul moved up a place to eight after his sixth T20I half-century on Sunday.

After his record-breaking century against New Zealand, scoring the fastest ton in a T20I for his country, England’s Dawid Malan has carved out a place in the batting charts, grabbing the third position in the list.

3. Thomas Dennerby Appointed Head Coach Of India's U-17 Women's World Cup Team

Sweden's Thomas Dennerby was appointed head coach of the Indian women's team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, bringing with him plenty of success he had tasted with various national squads.The 60-year-old UEFA Pro Diploma holder comes with a rich coaching experience of 30 years in which he guided Sweden women's national team to a third-place finish in the FIFA World Cup in 2011, and a quarterfinal spot in the 2012 London Olympics.

His last assignment was with the Nigerian women's national team, coaching the Super Falcons to the 2019 FIFA World Cup.

He also helped the Nigerian women win the AWCON 2018, and was awarded the 2018 Coach of the Year in Nigeria.

Sweden are currently placed 5 in the FIFA ranking, while Nigeria are at 36.Dennerby thanked the AIFF for making him a "part of the project".

4. India toHost 2019 Kabaddi World Cup in December

The 2019 Kabaddi World Cup, to be organised by the Punjab government, will be held from December 1 to 9, state’s Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said. He also said that this year’s tournament would be dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev ji. Sodhi said nine teams — India, USA, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan and Canada — are expected to take part in the tournament.

5. FIFA names Arsene Wenger as global football development chief

Veteran coach Arsene Wenger has been named FIFA's Chief of global football development. FIFA said, the former Arsenal and Monaco coach would be responsible for the growth of the game for both men and women around the world and would also be the leading authority on technical matters, including potential changes to the sport's laws.He  would also be tasked with coach education and aiding a programme designed to help former players enter management.The new role brings Wenger back to the game for the first time since 2018, when he left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

Wenger made the Gunners one of the strongest sides in Europe, winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups and taking his team to the 2006 Champions League final.

 

Awards

1. Ravi Prakash, an Indian wins 'BRICS-Young Innovator Prize' for indigenous milk chilling unit

Ravi Prakash, an Indian PhD scholar has won the USD 25,000 BRICS-Young Innovator Prize for inventing an affordable indigenous milk chilling unit for smaller and marginal rural dairy farmers.Prakash, PhD scholar of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Bangalore, was a part of 21-member delegation sent to Brazil by the Department of Science and Technology for the 4th BRICS-Young Scientist Forum (YSF), 2019.India won the first prize, carrying USD 25,000, in the forum. The prize was awarded to Prakash, who hails from Bihar, for inventing an affordable indigenously designed milk chilling unit for small to marginal rural dairy farmers.The technology can be used for chilling milk from the point of production by bringing down the temperature of raw milk from 37C to 7C within 30 minutes using nano-fluid based phase change materials.

BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This year's event is being held in Brasilia from November 13-14 under the theme BRICS: Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.

 

Index & Reports

1. Carbon emissions from world’s 20 biggest economies rising: Climate Transparency

Carbon emissions from the world’s 20 biggest economies, including India, are rising, and the countries have to increase their emission targets that will put them on track to limit globalwarming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a report by Climate Transparency, a global research body has cautioned.

To keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees goal within reach, G20 countries will have to increase their 2030 emission targets by 2020 and significantly scale up mitigation, adaptation and finance over the next decade, said the report ‘New Brown to Green Report 2019’.It also said that none of the G20 countries have plans that will help them achieve the target even as 82 per cent of energy supply in these economies still comes from fossil fuels.The report is the most comprehensive review of G20 countries’ climate performance, mapping achievements and drawbacks in their efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and green the financial system.Many of the current 2030 climate targets under the Paris Agreement (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) are too weak, with about half of the G20 countries projected to meet or overachieve their inadequate NDCs. Among the G20 countries, India has the most ambitious NDC. However, it still needs real action now to prepare the different sectors for stringent emission reductions.  Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in G20 countries shot up by 1.8 per cent in 2018 due to rising energy demand.

2. Bangladesh tops business bribery risk in South Asia

Bangladesh has the highest business bribery risk among South Asian courtiers, according to the Trace Bribery Matrix which releases annual ranking for 200 countries. The Matrix evaluates countries under  four parameters which are business interaction with the government, anti-bribery deterrence, transparency and civil society oversight.

Bangladesh has been placed at 178 position among 200 countries in terms of business bribery risk.  It has been on the high risk country list of Trace Bribery Matrix since 2014 when the first matrix was released.According to the report Bangladesh has a high degree of government interaction in business, a high expectation of bribes and a high regulatory burden which contributes in high bribery risk for business in the country.In South Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where the bribery risk is 'high'. Bhutan has the lowest risk of bribery on the index in South Asia as it is placed at 52 in the ranking.

Overall, according to this year's TRACE Matrix data, Somalia, South Sudan, North Korea, Yemen and Venezuela presented the highest risk of bribe demands. New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland presented the lowest bribery risk.

TRACE is a US based organisation which provides ranking to various countries in terms of the risk of bribery companies face in doing business in those countries.