NATIONAL NEWS
Health Minister inaugurates 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit
Health Minister JP Nadda inaugurated the 4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadda said, the government is committed to secure Universal Health Coverage for the underprivileged and deprived section of the society.
- He also said, nearly 13 lakh poor people have availed the benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme. The scheme is primarily dependent on maximising the use of digital tools for effective implementation and monitoring.
Indian passport improves its ranking on global index, jumps 10 ranks in 5 years
The ranking of Indian Passport in the previous 5 years has been tremendously improved. It continues to strengthen the nation's rank on the global index as more and more nations around the globe are offering visa-free entry and visa on arrivals to Indians.
- The Passport Index of 2019, which ranks almost 199 countries in the world based on their Visa-Free Scores and their ranking according to the UNDP human development index, shows that Indian passport has steadily strengthened in a period of 5 years from rank 77 in 2015 to 67 in 2019. In the year 2018, it was 1 point higher with 68 ranks.
- The UAE passport ranked No.1 in the index with it allowing hassle free travel to 167 countries
India 47th in 'Inclusive' Internet list: Facebook
India ranked 47th in the overall "Inclusive Internet Index 2019" score while Sweden topped the chart, followed by Singapore and the US, a Facebook-led study has revealed. According to the Inclusive Internet Index (3i) prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for Facebook, there are demonstrable benefits from comprehensive female e-inclusion policies, digital skills programmes and targets for women and girls to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
- The UK, Namibia and Ireland, followed by Austria, Chile and South Africa, are among the top performers of the year, all with female digital skills training plans.
Govt launches Rail Drishti Dashboard to keep people informed about ongoing Railway works
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched Rail Drishti Dashboard in New Delhi. The Dashboard has been launched to keep people informed about the work going on in the Railways across the country. Ministry of Railways will get suggestions and comments through the platform and will plan on future actions. People will get useful information from Rail Drishti through Railway WiFi facilities that are continuously expanding in the country.
- Rail Land Development Authority and Dharavi Redevelopment Authority have reached an agreement under which Railway will lease surplus land of 45 acres to Dharavi Redevelopment Authority for 99 years. It will accelerate the redevelopment work in Dharavi and there will be a change in the lives of lakhs of people.
Govt approves construction of 560695 more houses
Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has approved the construction of 560695 more affordable houses for the benefit of urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). The approval was given in the 43rd meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee in New Delhi. The cumulative number of houses sanctioned under the scheme is now over 79 lakh.
- The number of houses sanctioned for Uttar Pradesh is over one lakh 79 thousand, for Andhra Pradesh one lakh 10 thousand, Maharashtra over one lakh while Karnataka has been sanctioned over 48 thousand houses.
Odisha: DRDO test fires new Surface to Air missile
India successfully test fired a quick reaction surface to air missile (QRSAM) off the coast of Odisha. Two quick reaction surface missile were tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile is being developed by DRDO for the Indian Army.
- In January this year, India achieved major success as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the next generation anti-radiation missile which can take on enemy radar stations from a distance of 100 kilometres.
- The NGARM was fired from a Su-30 aircraft successfully at a radar station and it took out its target successfully.
Monkeys declared vermin in eleven districts of Himachal Pradesh
Monkeys have again been declared vermin for the next one year in 11 districts' 91 tehsils and sub-tehsils of Himachal Pradesh, state Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur said in Shimla. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had raised this matter time and again with the Centre urging that it is necessary to declare monkeys as a vermin species as the animals have been adversely affecting crops and causing harm to humans.
- In 2016, monkeys were declared as vermin in 38 tehsils and sub-tehsils of 10 districts in Himachal Pradesh. The period of this notification was extended for one year on December 20, 2017.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Relief to e-wallets: RBI extends KYC compliance norms by six months
In a relief to e-wallet companies, the Reserve Bank of India extended by six months the deadline for compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, for prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuers. The earlier deadline was February 28.
- PPIs are instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and services, including financial services and remittance facilities, against the value stored on such instruments.
SPORTS
Grandmaster Gupta wins Cannes International Open Chess
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won the Cannes International Open after taking an easy draw with Pier Luigi Basso of Italy in the ninth and final round that concluded recently. Earlier this year, Abhijeet had also tied for the first place at the Delhi International open in January.
- The BPCL-officer will also gain some important rating points that will see him back in the 2600 rating club.
Rashid Khan 1st bowler in T20I history to pick 4 wickets in 4 balls
Leg-spinner Rashid Khan became the first bowler to bag four wickets off successive deliveries in Twenty20 Internationals. Rashid's impressive bowling performance in the third and final game also helped Afghanistan sweep the T20I series against Ireland in Dehradun.
- Rashid became the seventh bowler in the T20I history to bag a hat-trick and in the process also completed his second five-wicket haul in the format.
Sri Lanka creates history, becomes first Asian Team to win Test Series in South Africa
Sri Lanka became the first Asian side in the world to beat South Africa in their home conditions. The Lankans completed a 2-0 sweep against the Proteas, bagging an 8-wicket win in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.
- Before Sri Lanka, only Australia and England have managed to beat South Africa in a Test series at home.
Jayasuriya banned from all cricket for 2 years
Sanath Jayasuriya was banned from all cricket-related activities for two years after the former Sri Lanka skipper admitted to breaching Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption code. As a result of the admissions, he has accepted a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility.
- The conviction of Jayasuriya is the latest part of a much broader ICC ACU investigation into corruption in cricket in Sri Lanka.
APPOINTMENTS
NBT appoints Govind Prasad Sharma as Chairman
The National Book Trust (NBT) has appointed educationist and author Govind Prasad Sharma as its new Chairman. NBT, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, was previously chaired by Baldeo Sharma since 2015.
- Sharma also served as Vice Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education.
AWARDS
President confers Gandhi Peace Prize
President Ramnath Kovind gave away the Gandhi Peace Prize for four years from 2015 to 2018. Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, got the award for 2015 for their contribution to rural development, education, development of natural resources.
- For 2016, it has been jointly given to Akshaya Patra foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to children and Sulabh International for improving the condition of sanitation and emancipation of manual scavengers.
- Ekal Abhiyan Trust has won the award for 2017 for their contribution in providing education to rural and tribal children in remote areas, rural empowerment, gender, and social equality.
- Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organisation for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa has been honoured with Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018 for his role in leprosy eradication.
G.R. Karthikeyan gets Lifetime Achievement award
G.R. Karthikeyan, father of India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the FMSCI annual awards function in Mumbai. Raghul Rangasamy was applauded as he walked up to receive the Upcoming Motorsport Person of the Year award for the Raymond Gautam Singhania Trophy.
- FIA president Jean Todt was the chief guest and handed over the awards.
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