NATIONAL NEWS
India Wins the Seat to UN Human Rights Council
India was elected to the United Nations' top human rights body for a period of three years beginning 1 January 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category.
- The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot.
- India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category. Along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and Philippines had also staked a claim in the same regional group.
Special Central Government Package for Footwear and Leather Sector
The Central Government has approved a special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. Centre has approved four projects worth over 105 crore rupees to promote leather industry in Tamil Nadu.
- The projects, under the Central Sector Scheme, Indian Footwear, Leather and Accessories Development Programme (IFLADP), aims to facilitate upgradation of infrastructure, job creation and environmental sustainability. The project has earmarked 2600 crore rupees for 2017-20 in this connection.
- The Commerce and Industry Ministry said that in-principal approval has also been given to mega leather cluster at Bantala in West Bengal. This will generate employment for around 7000 people and lead to an investment of up to 500 crore rupees.
- Extra info.:
Earlier, the government had approved a special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme- IFLADP with an expenditure of 2600 crore rupees for 2017-20.
India and Sri Lanka sign two MoU for construstion of 1200 houses
India and Sri Lanka signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for construction of 1200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of 60 crore Srilankan rupees.
- With this, India's collaboration with Srilankan government under Model Villages Housing Program stands at 2400 houses in 100 model villages. As per the new MoUs, 600 houses each will be constructed in the Southern and Northern Provinces.
- The project will target low income landless and homeless beneficiaries. A cash grant of 5 lakh Sri Lankan rupees will be provided to each beneficiary in installments, linked to the stages of construction of the house. Indian financial commitment, under grant, for housing in Sri Lanka currently stands at around 350 million US dollars.
IWAI launches Ro-Ro service from Neamati to Manjuli Island in Assam
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is set to launch a Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) service in Assam from Neamati to Manjuli island, the Ministry of Shipping said.
- This service will reduce the road route distance of 423 km that trucks take from Neamati to Majuli Island via Tezpur Road Bridge to only 12.7 km with the use of river route.
- Majuli is one of the biggest riverine islands in the world located on river Brahmaputra and faces serious challenges of connectivity. It has 144 villages with a population of over 1,50,000.
PM Modi Inaugurates Silver Jubilee Celebrations of NHRC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said National Human Rights Commission has an important role to play in government's efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. Addressing an event in New Delhi to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the NHRC, he said the government is committed to improve the lives of people by ensuring their rights.
- On the occasion, Mr Modi issued a Postage Stamp and Special Cover. He also launched the new version of the NHRC website, which is more user-friendly and accessible to persons with special needs.
- Extra info.:
The NHRC was set up on the 12th October, 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, passed by Parliament.
NHRC Chairman: Justice HL Dattu
Global Hunger Index 2018: Belarus Tops, India Ranks 103rd
As per the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) the level of hunger and undernutrition worldwide fell to 20.9, down from 29.2 in the year 2000.
- As per the index, India was ranked 103rd out of 119 qualifying countries. The Global Hunger Index 2018 report was prepared jointly by global NGOs namely, Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welthungerhilfe (Germany). The index was topped by Belarus.
India ranks 115 in World Bank's Human Capital Index; govt dismisses report
India rejected the findings of the Human Capital Index (HCI) report of the World Bank, which placed the country at the 115th position, lower than Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
- The World Bank, in its first report on HCI, ranked 157 economies on parameters like child mortality, health and education.
- The Finance Ministry said the HCI score for India does not reflect the key initiatives that are being taken for developing human capital in the country.
BANKING & FINANCE
Bank of Baroda’s MD and CEO P S Jayakumar gets one-year extension
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in tenure of Bank of Baroda's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer P S Jayakumar given one-year extension, i.e. till October 12, 2019.
- He is a chartered accountant by qualification, had joined Bank of Baroda in October, 2015. He has contributed to several innovations in retail banking in India.
SPORTS
On concluding day of Asian Para Games, India's medal tally mounts to 72 with 2 more golds
India recorded its best-ever showing in the Asian Para Games by bagging 72 medals, including 15 gold, with the shuttlers adding two gold on the concluding day of the competitions in Jakarta.
- In men's singles SL3 class badminton, Pramod Bhagat defeated Ukun Rukaendi of Indonesia to clinch the gold medal.
- Tarun added another gold for India by beating Yuyang Gao of China in the men's singles SL4 class.
- With 15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze medals, India is placed ninth in the overall tally. While China finished on top with 172 gold, 88 silver and 59 bronze for a whopping total of 319 medals.
OBITUARIES
Classical music doyenne Annapurna Devi passes away
Hindustani classical musician Annapurna Devi passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She was 89. The Indian ‘surbahar’ player was the daughter and disciple of sarod exponent Allauddin Khan.
- She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1977 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day For Disaster Reduction 2018
The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) encourages every citizen and government to take part in building more disaster-resilient communities and nations. The United Nations General Assembly designated October 13 as the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction as part of its proclamation of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.
- The theme of 2018 is: “Reducing the economic loss of disasters”.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Floccinaucinihilipilification: Shashi Tharoor introduces book and a 29-letter word
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor 'unveiled' the word to the public in a tweet that also introduced his new book, "The Paradoxical Prime Minister".
- Shashi Tharoor described his new book on PM Narendra Modi as "more than just a 400-page exercise in floccinaucinihilipilification".
The word means "the action or habit of estimating something as worthless" - Extra info.:
Mr Tharoor is currently a second-term parliamentarian from Thiruvananthapuram constituency.
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