Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bolivia in the field of Railwaysregarding Bioceanic Railway Integration Corridor Project: The MoU will facilitate exchange of information, expert meetings, seminars, technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Finland in the area of cyber security: The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security related incidents between India and Finland.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Russia in the field of Railways: The MoU will facilitate exchange of information, expert meetings, seminars, technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Thailand in the field of Astronomy: The MoU will lead to new scientific results, human resource development through increased scientific interaction and training, joint use of scientific infrastructure etc.
Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019: The Bill to replace the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (12 of 2019).After the amendment of sub-section (v) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, a trust or any entity notified by the Central Government will be eligible to be considered for grant of permission to set up a unit in Special Economic Zones.
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Kyrgyzstan in the field of Legal Metrology:
Exchange of information and documents relating to legal metrology;
Develop training programme for officials and non-officials dealing with the subject of legal metrology;
Exchange of officials, experts and professionals for mutual cooperation in the area of legal metrology;
Participation in Seminars, Workshops, Meetings, Attachment Learning Programmes etc. in area of mutual interest, as may be appropriate;
Establishment of requirements for pre-packaged goods and carrying out the state metrological supervision of pre-packaged goods;
Review of the status of the rules / regulations on pre-packaged goods.
Sharing of experience in carrying out of metrological supervision in mutual settlements between producers and consumers
Signing and ratification of bilateral investment treaty between India and Kyrgyzstan: The Bilateral Treaty is likely to increase investment flow between India and Kyrgyzstan and protection to investors of both countries making investments in both countries.
Ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting: The Convention will modify India’s treaties in order to curb revenue loss through treaty abuse and base erosion and profit shifting strategies by ensuring that profits are taxed where substantive economic activities generating the profits are carried out and where value is created.
MoU between India and Kyrgyzstan on Cooperation in the field of Health:
Strengthening of healthcare systems;
Non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases and anti-microbialresistance;
Development of hospital management systems and health informationsystems Hospital Management;
Maternal and child health;
Medical Researches;
Exchange of experience in transplantation of kidney and liver, cardiacsurgery, oncology, orthopedics, traumatology, etc.;
Improving capacity of human resources in the field of health;
Exchange of information and experience in the field of regulation ofpharmaceuticals & medical devices circulation;
Exchange of experience and information on good practice of clinical trials ofmedicines and medical products;
Integrated surveillance of diseases;
Arranging visits for the experience exchange among physicians, nurses andIT-specialists;
Exchange of experience on e-health;
Providing opportunities for health specialists to receive training and professional development at the “India-Kyrgyz Center for InformationTechnologies” with further internships in the Republic of India;
Health Tourism
Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019: The move will ensure transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country.
The New Bill provides for supersession of MCI for a period of two years w.e.f. 26.09.2018.
During this period, the Board of Governors shall exercise the powers and functions of MCI as assigned under the IMC Act, 1956.
The number of members in the Board of Governors will be increased from existing 7 to 12.
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019: The Cabinet decision will address the long standing demands of persons belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and ensure their rights envisaged under the Constitution. It will also ensure providing of 10% reservation to EWS. This decision will:
Allow filling up of more than 7000 existing vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers’ Cadre with 200 point roster. Ensure compliance of the Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21.
Ensure full representation of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections in direct recruitment in teachers’ cadres.
Expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions by attracting all eligible talented candidates belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs/EWS
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019:The Bill would ensure gender equality and gender justice to Muslim women. The Bill would also help in protecting the rights of married Muslim women and prevent divorce by practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ by their husbands. The Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.
Implications:
The Bill proposes to declare the practice of triple talaq as void and illegal.
It also makes an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years and fine.
It also provides for payment of subsistence allowance to married Muslim women and dependent children.
The Bill also proposes to make the offence cognizable, if information relating to the commission of an offence is given to an officer in charge of a police station by the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced or by any person related to her by blood or marriage.
The offence is made compoundable with the permission of the Magistrate at the instance of the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced.
The Bill further provides for hearing the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced, before the accused is released on bail by the Magistrate.
Extension of President’s Rule in J&K for six months with effect from 3rd July, 2019:Under article 356(4) of the Constitution of India.
New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019: Making India the hub of International Arbitration has been one of the pioneering initiatives of the Government and setting up of an independent an autonomous regime for institutionalized domestic and international arbitration are a step in this direction.
This will result in quality experts being available in India and also an advantage in terms of cost incurred. It will facilitate India becoming a hub for institutional arbitration.
The Bill provides for setting up of an independent an autonomous body for institutional arbitration and to acquire and transfer the undertakings of International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC)w.e.f a specified date 2nd march, 2019.
The Bill replaces the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019, promulgated by President on 02.03.2019 for the creation of an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalized domestic and international arbitration and establishing India as an International Hub of Arbitration.
The Bill provides for the repeal of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019 and saves all the actions done or taken under the Ordinance which will be deemed to have been done or taken under the provisions of this Bill.
Prelims oriented News
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth in Japan
India is implementing one of the largest renewable energy expansion and energy efficiency programmes and is moving towards achieving the target to fulfill the country’s commitments made in Paris Agreement.
India will achieve 40 per cent renewable in the energy mix by 2030.
Various energy efficiency programmes such as through PAT, UJALA, Standard and Labelling and ECBC and reiterated India’s commitment for a greener and healthier planet.
India is achieving one of the largest expansions of renewable energy in the world and has become a net exporter of power in the past five years. The talk there was also about India’s achievements in transmission systems like — One nation one Grid and Green Energy Corridors.
The participants are leaders from 19 countries and the Europian Union (EU). The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.
The G20 Summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”.
As the “premier forum for international economic cooperation” (agreed by leaders at the Pittsburgh Summit in September 2009), representing more than 80% of the global GDP, the G20 has made continuous efforts toward achieving robust global economic growth.
As globalization progresses and various issues become more intricately intertwined, the recent G20 summits have focused not only on macroeconomy and trade, but also on a wide range of global issues which have an immense impact on the global economy, such as development, climate change and energy, health, counter-terrorism, as well as migration and refugees.
The G20 has sought to realize an inclusive and sustainable world through its contributions towards resolving these global issues.
20th Anniversary of ‘The Victory at Kargil’
The year 2019, marks the 20th anniversary of victory in ‘Operation VIJAY’ popularly known as the ‘Kargil War’. The Kargil War is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions.
The Kargil War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil – Siachen Sectors and swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans. The Kargil War will also be remembered for the determination and daring junior leadership and the raw courage of our jawans at tactical level.
This year, 20th anniversary of victory in ‘Operation VIJAY’ is being celebrated with the theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’. We ‘remember’ our martyrs, by revisiting the sacrifices and instilling pride and respect among us, we ‘rejoice’ by celebrating the victory in Kargil and we ‘renew’ our resolve to safeguard the honour of the Tricolour.
Nipah Virus disease
Nipah Virus is an emerging infectious disease that broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999. It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. The infection is also known to affect human beings.
The organism which causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus. Nipah virus infection gets its name from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease.
How does Nipah spread or get transmitted?
The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses.
The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids.
Nipah Virus, which is a zoonotic disease, was known to affect humans in Malaysia and Singapore after coming in direct contact with the excretions or secretions of infected pigs.
Symptoms of the Nipah infection:
The human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death.
There is no specific treatment for Nipah Virus. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care.
Girish Karnad
Playwright, translator, film director and actor, screenplay writer, director of FTII in Pune, director of the Nehru Centre in London and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi
He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
