Important Day
World
Day For Safety & Health At Work: 28 April
The
annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April promotes the
prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.
It
is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on
the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and
health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.
The
ILO’s campaign theme for the 2017 World Day for Safety and Health at Work -
Optimise the collection and use of OSH data - focuses on the critical need for
countries to improve their capacity to collect and utilize reliable
occupational safety and health (OSH) data.
The
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted on September 25,
2015 encompasses a global plan of action with specific targets to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
With
its adoption, the capacity to collect and utilize reliable OSH data has also
become indispensable for countries to fulfil their commitment to implement and
report on some of the agenda’s 17 sustainable development goals and their
targets.
National Events
Niti
Aayog’s vision: Houses, vehicles, ACs for all by 2032
Government
think tank Niti Aayog has envisaged a new India in which all citizens in 15
years will have houses with toilets, two-wheelers or cars, power, air
conditioners and digital connectivity.
This
is a glimpse of Vision 2031-32 presented by the Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind
Panagariya to the body’s Governing Council, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi
The
India 2031-32: Vision, Strategy and Action Agenda also visualises a fully
literate society with universal access to health care.
It
also calls for having a much larger and modern network of roads, railways,
waterways and air connectivity and a clean India where citizens would have
access to quality air and water.
It
is envisions that per capita income would increase three fold to Rs 3.14 lakh
in 2031-32 from Rs 1.06 lakh in 2015-16. Besides, it states that the country’s
gross domestic product or economy would rise to Rs 469 lakh crore in 2031-32
from Rs 137 lakh crore level in 2015-16.
Bengal
drops Pradhan Mantri tag from central scheme
The
West Bengal government has decided to drop the tag "Pradhan Mantri"
from "Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna" and rename it as "Bangla
Fasal Bima Yojna",
The
reason behind the decision to drop the Pradhan Mantri tag, taken at a state
Cabinet meeting earlier this month, was that the Centres share in such schemes
had come down to 50:50
As
per the norm, the farmer had to pay one-third of it while the remaining
two-thirds was borne by the Centre and the state government.
Earlier,
the Centres contribution was either 90 per cent or around 75 per cent, which now
came down to 50 per cent or below in several schemes.
The
state has already renamed some of the central government schemes like Swach
Bharat has become Nirmal Bangla.
It
was also learnt that the Centre has sent a letter to the state Panchayat
department seeking the reason behind dropping "Pradhan Mantri" tag
from the schemes.
Narendra
Modi flagged off first flight under UDAN regional connectivity scheme
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first flight under the Regional
Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (Udan) by flagging off the Alliance
Airlines flight on Shimla-Delhi sector from Jubbar Hatti airport near Shimla.
Simultaneously,
he will also flag off the inaugural Udan flight on Nanded-Hyderabad and
Kadapa-Hyderabad sectors.
This
gains significance as Shimla lacked air connectivity and a petition demanding
recommencement of lights was suspended in 2012.
International Events
Press
freedom rankings: India slips 3 places to 136
India
slipped three places in the 2017 world press freedom rankings to 136th among
180 countries
In
the index released on Wednesday, India was ranked just three places above
Pakistan and was one notch below violence-torn Palestine. India’s neighbours
Bhutan and Nepal were placed at 84th and 100th rank, respectively.
Norway,
Sweden, Finland and Denmark took the first four positions in the rankings. The
United States was at the 43rd position.
Indian
Oil to build new terminal at Motihari to supply fuel to Nepal
The
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to build a new oil terminal at Motihari in
Bihar to supply fuel to neighbour Nepal through the planned pipeline up to
Amlekganj in Nepal. The old terminal at Raxaul, also in the same Indian state,
will be closed
The
Nepal government has accorded the pipeline project a national priority status
and is looking to get clearances from various authorities. Simultaneously, IOC
has started the process of tendering for procuring mainline pipes
as
per the initial agreement, a new 200-km pipeline at a cost of `700 crore is
being laid between Patna and Motihari and will be used in case the new terminal
at Motihari is not operational by the time the pipeline to Nepal is ready.
A
pipeline between Barauni, having a refinery from where fuel can be pumped, and
Patna already exists. IOC is in the process of acquiring environmental
clearances for the Motihari terminal.
Indian
short film to be screened by Unesco in Indonesia
Rahul
V. Chittella's short film "Azaad", starring Atul Kulkarni and Sakshi
Tanwar, will be screened by Unesco as part of a World Press Freedom Day event
on May 3 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Apart
from directing, Chittella, who was mentored by filmmaker Mira Nair for the
film, has also written "Azaad". It tells the story of the
dysfunctional relationship between a father and his son.
Every
year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press
freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from
attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost
their lives in the exercise of their profession.
The
international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a
Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO's General Conference in
1991.
This
in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced
the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.
Theme:
Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and
inclusive societies
Science & Technology
ISRO
Solar Calculator App Launched to Calculate Solar Energy Potential
Indian
Space Research Organisation's Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC)
has developed an Android app, named Solar Calculator, for computing the solar
energy potential of any location.
Developed
at the behest of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the ISRO Solar
Calculator app is considered to be a "very useful" tool for
installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that is used for tapping solar
energy,
ISRO's
Solar Calculator app provides monthly and yearly solar potential in kWh/m2 and
the minimum and the maximum temperatures at any location.
The
Solar Calculator app also displays the location of a place on the satellite
image as well as the day's length there during different periods in a year, and
offers minimum and maximum temperature to calculate realistic solar potential.
The
new ISRO Solar Calculator app can provide solar energy potential of any given
location by typing the name of the required location; the location can also be
obtained through GPS.
ISRO
says the Solar Calculator also gives monthly and yearly solar potential
processed using Indian Geostationary Satellite data (Kalpana-1, INSAT-3D and
INSAT-3DR), and also offers monthly minimum and maximum temperature to
calculate the realistic solar potential.
Scientists
Create ‘Revolutionary’ Artificial Womb-Biobag
Extremely
premature babies could be kept alive in future using an “artificial womb” that
scientists plan to test in humans after a successful study involving unborn
lambs.
A
plastic bag filled with artificial amniotic fluid – the nutrient-rich liquid
that sustains a foetus in the womb – allowed foetal lambs to develop at an age
equivalent to 23 weeks in humans.
Human
infants born at 23 weeks have just a 15 per cent chance of survival, according
to pregnancy research charity Tommy’s. This rises to 55 per cent at 24 weeks,
while babies born at 25 weeks have an 80 per cent chance of survival.
Extremely
premature babies could be kept alive in future using an “artificial womb” that
scientists plan to test in humans after a successful study involving unborn
lambs.
A
plastic bag filled with artificial amniotic fluid – the nutrient-rich liquid
that sustains a foetus in the womb – allowed foetal lambs to develop at an age
equivalent to 23 weeks in humans.
Human
infants born at 23 weeks have just a 15 per cent chance of survival, according
to pregnancy research charity Tommy’s.
This
rises to 55 per cent at 24 weeks, while babies born at 25 weeks have an 80 per
cent chance of survival.
Inside
the device, the infant's own heart circulates blood through the umbilical cord
into an external gas-exchange machine taking the place of the mother's
placenta, while synthetic amniotic fluid enriched with nutrients flows in and
out of the temperature-controlled, near-sterile “biobag”.
Awards & Honours
RDPR
bags e-Puraskar Award
The
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department has bagged e-Puraskar
Award for the best performance in empowering panchayats by using Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, for 2016-17.
Kerala
bagged the second prize, while West Bengal secured third prize in the category
of ICT tools. The cash prize for the first position is Rs. 2 crore, Rs. 1 crore
for second position and Rs. 50 lakh for third position.
The
State bagged the award for its Ganshi Sakshi Kayak GPS-enabled ICT tool.
The
Kodagu Zilla Panchayat bagged the Deendayal Award for empowering panchayats.
In
the taluk panchayat category, Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district and Puttur
Taluk Panchayat of Dakshina Kannda district have bagged prizes.
In
the gram panchayat category, the Malige Gram Panchayat of Theerthahalli taluk
of Shivamogga; Siraguppi GP of Athani taluk in Belagavi district; Palibetta GP
of Virajpet taluk in Kodagu; and Sampaje GP of Madikeri taluk, bagged the
awards.
Indian
businessman wins Queen's Enterprise Award
A
prominent Indian businessman's food processing plant in Britain has won the
prestigious Queen's Enterprise Award 2017 for its exceptional contribution to
the UK's trade, industry and economy.
Yusaffali
MA, 61, said the recognition for his Birmingham-based Y International (UK) Ltd
will spur his Abu Dhabi headquartered Lulu Group International to further
expand business interests in the UK.
The
Queen's Award for Enterprise is conferred annually by Queen Elizabeth II on her
birthday, April 21, upon businesses that display great enterprise across the
fields of innovation, international trade, promoting opportunity through social
mobility and sustainable development.
Bhubaneswar
becomes 1st Indian city to win Pierre L’enfant Awards-2017
Odisha’s
capital city, Bhubaneswar, the first Indian city has won Pierre L’enfant
Planning Excellence and Achievement Awards-2017 instituted by the American
Planning Association.
The
association selected five excellence award recipients, which will be honoured
at an awards luncheon at the association’s National Planning Conference in New
York on May 8.
The
number one, smart city Bhubaneswar received this award for good and advanced
town planning and engaging its residents in the planning process.
Notably,
the American Planning Association honours comprehensive planning efforts and
inspiring individuals to recognize outstanding community plans, planning
programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their
leadership on planning issues.
In
a tweet message, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed his
happiness on becoming the first Indian city to receive Pierre L’enfant Planning
Awards-2017.
Vani
Jairam gets Ghantasala national award
Versatile
playback singer Vani Jairam was presented the Ghantasala national award instituted
by the Ghantasala National Art Academy
She
is known in the North as Meerabai for her rendition of songs sung by the
medieval poet in praise of Lord Krishna.
Her
unique ability to sing at this ripe age as during her heyday has won her the
North American Film Award for Best Singer for the Malayalam film Pookkal
Panineer this year.
The
award was instituted in the memory of the legendary singer Ghantasala
Venkateswara Rao who ruled the roost for over three decades the Telugu tinsel
world.
Youngest
Indian chancellor bags Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Foundation award
The
youngest ever chancellor of any university in the nation, Dileep K Nair, has
added another feather to his cap of achievement after bagging the award for
excellent performance in the field of education in Trivendurum, Kerala.
The
38-year-old academician, who currently is the Chancellor of the North East
Frontier Technical University (NEFTU) in Arunachal Pradesh, received Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar International Foundation Kerala State award for the year
2016-17.
An
eminent educationist, Nair has around 12 years of experience in various
Educational Projects in different parts of the country.
Banking & Finance
SEBI
makes P-Note norms stricter to curb black money in markets
In
yet another move in India against black money, markets regulator Sebi on
Wednesday barred resident as well as non-resident Indians (NRIs) from making
investments through participatory notes (P-Notes).
An
express provision shall be inserted in the regulations to prevent resident
Indians/NRIs or the entities which are beneficially owned by resident
Indians/NRIs from subscribing to Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs),
P-notes
are mostly used by overseas individual investors, hedge funds and foreign
institutions to invest in the Indian securities markets through registered
foreign institutional investors (FIIs).
This
investment instrument constitutes a major portion of the total FIIs'
investments into the key domestic indices.
P-Notes
have also been associated with 'round-tripping' of domestic black money back
into the Indian economy.
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