The Ministry of Communications launched DARPAN “Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for A New India” Project to improve the quality of service, add value to services, and achieve “financial inclusion” of un-banked rural population.
Eminent scientist and father of DNA fingerprinting in India Dr. Lalji Singh passed away. He was instrumental in making DNA fingerprinting mainstream in India for research and for forensic applications.
The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched first NIC-CERT, a setup of National Informatics Centre (NIC) to prevent and predict cyber-attacks on government utilities.
Rocks and dust particles from space close to Earth’s atmosphere are called meteoroids. Those entering and blazing through the atmosphere are called meteors. Geminid Meteor Shower in 2017 was observed on December 13.
Physicists from University of Illinois discovered a new form of matter called excitonium. This condensate, made up of excitons, was theorized almost 50 years ago. Term ‘excitonium’ was coined in the 1960s by Harvard theoretical physicist Bert Halperin.
NEXT ISSUE – Banking Sector Reforms, Key Issues: Consumer awareness on services is complex – hospital bills, threatens of legal action, evidence of consent, Consumer rights and consumer protection (2500 yrs ago – Kautilya), Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – protect… (3057 more words) …
Next Week! ! Bharatmala Pariyojana: 👌 What is Insolvency, Bankruptcy & Liquidation? , Types of Loans? , 👌 What is NPA? , Need for a Code & Board? Single law for insolvency & bankruptcy.
NASA satellites have been observing new volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. The emerging rock offers scientists a laboratory to map rarely seen rapid geological processes, which could model the mysterious terrain of Mars.
The Energy Conservation Day is organized on 14th December each year by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power to demonstrate India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation.
Indian government approved the enabling regulatory architecture for setting up and upgrading of 10 public and 10 private Institutions of Eminence to enable them to reach amongst top 100 of world institutions ranking.
US disagreed to any permanent solution on the public stockholding issue at the ongoing ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - MC11in Buenos Aires. US move poses a threat to the talks reaching a successful… (455 more words) …
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched ‘LaQshya’ Initiative and mHealth: Safe Delivery Application on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. In addition, Operational Guidelines for Obstetric High Dependency Units and Intensive Care Units were released.
Rajasthan was first state in India to launch free email addresses in Hindi for its residents. The facility will be available at name@rajasthan. bharat (in Devanagari script). Aims to increase participation of people towards e-governance and ensuring maximum government facilities… (271 more words) …
Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned into the Indian Navy. It is first of the six Scorpene-class submarines built under the strategic Project 75 by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) with assistance and technology transfer from France’s DCNS.
The Ken-Betwa ILR project transfers surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin through concrete canal to irrigate India’s worst drought-prone Bundelkhand region. Union Government is clubbing phase I and phase II of Ken-Betwa inter linking river (ILR)… (177 more words) …
Cabinet approved the establishment of International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOO), as a Category-2 Centre (C2C) of UNESCO, in Hyderabad, Telangana. Agreement establishes training centre for countries on Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), African countries bordering Indian and Atlantic Oceans,… (273 more words) …
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), 2015 - 2030, is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda identifying targets and priority actions towards reducing disaster risks by resilient and sustainable development.
The Cottage Industries play important role in the Indian Economy by providing employment opportunities reducing the regional imbalance, assuring more equitable distribution of national income and wealth.
India’s UIP is one of the largest public health programmes in the world targeting 3 crore pregnant women and 2.7 crore new born annually and conducting more than 90 lakh immunization sessions.
Health coverage in India is still very poor. Health expenditure is also very small portion of GDP. Following are the details of important government policies and schemes for achieving goal of Universal Health Coverage.
Centre approved Central Sector North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme to fill gaps in creation of infrastructure in two sectors of physical infrastructure and social infrastructure.
The cabinet to give a shot in the arm to Digital India approved several steps like taking brunt of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on all debit card/BHIM UPI/AePS transactions up to a value of Rs. 2, 000 (small transactions). Move… (313 more words) …
The Union Cabinet cleared National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, dissolving Medical Council of India (MCI) as the apex medical education regulator. MCI Used to conduct annual inspections and managed the education.
Union Cabinet cleared National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill
Legatum Prosperity Index is annual ranking developed by the London-based Legatum Institute. According to the 2017 ranking, gap between prosperity of China and India narrowed by four ranks since 2016.
Image of Top Contributors To Global Prosperity Gains Since 2007
The eCourts Mission Mode Project (Phase I 2010 - 15; Phase II 2015 - 19) is a national eGovernance project for ICT enablement of district and subordinate courts of the country. It is being implemented by the Government of India… (383 more words) …
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) set up three-member committee to study minority status of Hindus in 8 states where their population is less than 50%. Committee led by NCM’s Vice Chairman George Kurien has been given three months to… (423 more words) …
Uttar Pradesh became first state to endorse Union Government’s draft law- Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act making the practice of instant “triple Talaq” or Talaq-e-biddat a cognizable and non-bailable criminal offence.
Union Government constituted high-level committee headed by NITI Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant for addressing problem of Non-performing assets (NPAs) or stressed assets in power sector.
The Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO inscribed ´Kumbh Mela´ on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Following are the main reforms to decrease the losses of the DISCOMs and make them viable ultimately achieve the 24x7 power for all. Power Utilities must devise strategy to reduce their losses without burdening the consumer with high power tariffs… (391 more words) …
The AMRUT and Smart Cities Missions are inter-linked programmes where AMRUT follows a project-based approach and Smart Cities Mission an area-based strategy. The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with the state governments… (635 more words) …
Infective Trachoma was a leading cause of infectious blindness among children. India is now declared free of Infective Trachoma. Trachoma caused by poor environmental and personal hygiene and inadequate access to water and sanitation.
US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and plans to relocate the US embassy there, against seven decades of US foreign policy. Status of Jerusalem is sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Germany’s Steinbeis University announced an MS degree in Global Technology Management Asia. The program is specially designed by the Berlin-based University to build technology framework for ‘Make in India’ initiative.
June 2017, the Central government approved the FRDI Bill intended to frame new rules for failing banks to contain the impact of a failing bank and protect the rights of depositors.
Image of Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed Kapu Reservation Bill, 2017 providing 5 % quota in education and employment by including them in Backward Classes list. The Telugu word Kapu or protector. They are also referred to by their caste title Naidu,… (232 more words) …
Next Week! ! Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code: Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry service allows traveling from Ghogha to Dahej through the sea which in future can also link Hazira, Pipavavo, Jafrabad, Daman and Diu, and even to Bombay.
The first phase of Iran’s Chabahar port (Shahid Beheshti Port) with significant strategic and economic importance for India was inaugurated by Iran. Iran’s only oceanic port located on the Gulf of Oman, southeast of Iran near Pakistani border jointly developed… (461 more words) …
Venezuela launched cryptocurrency called Petro to circumvent US-led financial sanctions backed by the country’s vast natural resource reserves. Venezuelan President approved the creation of BlockchainBase observatory to oversee development and rollout of new cryptocurrency.
India’s indigenous surface-to-air missile Akash successfully test fired with “made in India” radio frequency seeker from Chandipur in Odisha. Akash system is primarily designed as an air defence SAM; it also provides missile defense capabilities, providing air defence for an… (236 more words) …
ISRO is getting ready to land its very first lunar rover by the end of March 2018, as part of its Chandrayaan-2 mission- the Indian government’s most ambitious moon exploration project to date.
The High Level Inter-Governmental Mid-Point review meeting of Asia and Pacific Decade for Persons with Disabilities, 2013 - 2022 was held in Beijing with Indian delegation led by Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Spread of IT and “Aadhaar” based services in India not only increases beneficial use of data but also allows unregulated and arbitrary use of personal data. Data protection laws are required to guard such unauthorized use.
Members of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in New Delhi discussed the promotion of coastal shipping under the draft text of BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement drafted by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.… (156 more words) …
The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957 was amended in 2015 by Ministry of Mines to include Mineral Auction Rules, 2015 which prescribed the procedure of the auction process. On 30/11/2017, further amendments have been proposed.
The Union Cabinet approved National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a three year budget of Rs. 9046.17 crore from 2017 - 18. Set up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among… (442 more words) …
India and Singapore signed Bilateral Agreement for Navy Cooperation, which will allow Indian Navy ships logistical support, including refueling at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base located near disputed South China Sea (SCS).
North Korea successfully launched Hwasong-15, a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). India has a series of ballistic missiles called Agni. Following figure depicts the range of Agni.
An Indian Air Force Embraer transport aircraft specialised in conducting Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) function carried out Air to Air Refuelling (AAR). The AAR refueling allows an aircraft to fly a long duration flight beyond its endurance.
Project Swarna aims to make major leap in improving passenger experience on Rajdhani trains. 14 Rajdhani Trains & 15 Shatabdi Trains are planned to be upgraded under Project Swarna. Earlier New Delhi- Kathgodam Shatabdi Express was launched under Project Swarna.… (175 more words) …
Higher Education Funding Agency provides additional funds for research and related infrastructure. HEFA Board in its 2nd meeting approved projects for Rs. 2, 066.73 Cr for six institutions – IITs Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur, and NIT Suratkal.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week is a World Health Organisation campaign focusing attention on antibiotic resistance. Like climate change, antibiotic resistance in one region has consequences across the globe.
Karnataka’s amended the law governing private medical establishments to provide universal health coverage in the State. It provides for basic components of healthcare reform: Lays down treatment standards.
48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in Panaji in Goa. The closing ceremony was held at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim. Following are key points:
For building Urban Local Bodies capacity under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban, Minister of state for Housing and Urban Affairs conducted a National Workshop titled “Accelerating Implementation of Urban Missions” under Pradhan Mantri Avaas Yojana (Urban), and Swachh Bharat Mission… (300 more words) …
