World Cancer Day

Every year World Cancer Day (WCD) is being observed on 4 February across the world to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. The theme (tagline) for year 2016 WCD is “We can. I can”. It reflects on what everyone can do to raise awareness of cancer and asks to take pledge and action in fight against cancer. The World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will seeks to explore how everyone- as individuals or as a collective – can do their part to reduce the burden of cancer globally. About World Cancer Day The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) had founded the WCD in 2008 by formally writing the goals of the World Cancer Declaration. The primary goal of observing the day is to reduce illness and death caused by it by 2020. UICC:  It is Geneva based leading international non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1933. Its purpose is to help the global health community to accelerate the fight against cancer. It has a membership of over 800 organisations spread across 155 countries.

ISRO successfully launched India’s fifth navigation IRNSS 1E satellite

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched India’s fifth navigation Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1E satellite. It was launched on board of PSLV-C31 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Key facts The IRNSS-1E weighs 1425 kilogram and has the mission life of 12 years. It equipped with two types of payloads viz. navigation payload and ranging devices. The navigation payload will be operating in L5-band and S-band along with and highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock. It will be mainly used to transmit navigation service signals to the users. The ranging payload consists of a C-band transponder. It will facilitate accurate determination of the range of the satellite. About Indian Regional Navigation Satellite system (IRNSS) IRNSS consists of constellation of seven satellites of which three are geostationary and four are non-geostationary. This satellite system aims to provide real-time data on the position of objects to aid road, air and maritime traffic. It will also provide mapping and tracking services. It would provide two types of services viz. Restricted Service (RS) which is an encrypted service provided to authorised users and Standard Positioning Service (SPS) to all users. IRNSS is similar to other satellite navigation service providers like US GPS (Global Positioning System), Russia’s Glonass, Europe’s Galileo, Japan’s Quasi Zenith and China’s Beidou.

Governor’s rule mposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir

Governor’s rule has been imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for sixth time as the process of formation new government following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is taking some time. It was imposed after President Pranab Mukherjee accepted the recommendations forwarded by Union Home Ministry on the basis of a recommendation from J&K Governor NN Vohra. Governor’s Rule in Jammu & Kashmir In case of failure of constitutional machinery in any other state of India, the President’s Rule is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution. But in case of J&K, as per Section 92 of state Constitution, the Governor’s Rule can be imposed for a period of six months in the state. Thus, there is little practical difference between the two provisions. Governor’s Rule can be imposed only after the consent of the President of India in case of failure of constitutional machinery. During the Governors rule, State Assembly is either suspended or dissolved and the state completely comes under direct Central rule. If the Constitutional machinery in the state is not restored before the expiry of this six month period, the provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India are extended to J&K and the President’s rule is imposed in the State.

14वाँ प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस का आयोजन

अभी तक प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस का आयोजन काफी वृहद स्तर पर होता था लेकिन वर्ष 2016 का यह संस्करण संक्षिप्त स्तर पर आयोजित किया गया। दरअसल पिछले साल केन्द्र सरकार ने निर्णय लिया था कि प्रत्येक दूसरे प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस को छोटे स्वरूप में आयोजित किया जायेगा। पिछले वर्ष (2015 में) इसका वृहद संस्करण गाँधीनगर (गुजरात) में आयोजित किया गया था। इसलिए इस बार प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस का संक्षिप्त संस्करण आयोजित किया गया। इसके अलावा यह पहला मौका था कि इस आयोजन को विदेश मंत्रालय (MEA) ने आयोजित किया। अभी तक इसे प्रवासी भारतीयों के मंत्रालय (Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs – MOIA) द्वारा आयोजित किया जाता था लेकिन सरकार द्वारा हाल ही में इस मंत्रालय का विदेश मंत्रालय में विलय करने के प्रस्ताव को पारित किए जाने के बाद यह आयोजन विदेश मंत्रालय की जिम्मेदारी बन गया है। वर्ष 2016 के इस प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस पर मुख्य कार्यक्रम विदेश मंत्री सुषमा स्वराज का सम्बोधन रहा जिसे दुनिया भर में स्थित भारतीय दूतावासों द्वारा मिशनों में वेबकास्ट (Webcast) किया गया। इसके बाद कुछ चुनिंदा भारतीय मिशनों से वीडियो कांफ्रेंसिंग की गई। 9 जनवरी को प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस के रूप में इसलिए चयनित किया गया था क्योंकि वर्ष 1915 में इसी दिन भारत के सबसे प्रसिद्ध प्रवासी महात्मा गाँधी (Mahatma Gandhi) अपना ऐतिहासिक दक्षिण अफ्रीकी प्रवास पूरा कर भारत लौटे थे। वर्ष 2003 से हर साल प्रवासी भारतीय दिवस का आयोजन किया जा रहा है।

India and Pakistan exchanged the list of their nuclear installations

India and Pakistan have exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations. This exchange is done on 1st of January every year between the two neighbouring countries that bars them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. This is the 25th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations It bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan that bars them from carrying out any surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities. It was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991. It was signed by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart Benazir Bhutto. Under it both countries inform each other about their nuclear installations and facilities that need to be covered under the Agreement on 1 January every year.

Financing Agreement with the World Bank for Nai Manzil Scheme

The Union Government has signed a Financing Agreement of 50 million dollars with the World Bank for Nai Manzil Scheme- Education and Skills Training for Minorities. Under this agreement, the credit will be facilitated by the International Development Association (IDA), World Bank’s concessionary lending arm. This credit will be in the form of loan which carries a maturity of 25 years, including a 5-year grace period. The loan funds will be used for interventions under this scheme improve the employability and performance of minority youth in the labour market. The total project size is 100 million dollars, out of which 50 million dollars will be available as IDA credit and the remaining balance funding from the Union Budget. About Nai Manzil Scheme The central scheme is designed to address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities lagging behind in terms of educational attainments. It aims to provide educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system. It seeks to provide trade basis skill training in four courses at the same time of formal education, in field of (i) Manufacturing (ii) Engineering (iii) Services (iv) Soft skills. It intends to cover people in between 17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students. This scheme will provide new avenues for minorities for continuing higher education and also open up employment opportunities in the organised sector.

India and Pakistan exchanged the list of their nuclear installations

India and Pakistan have exchanged the list of their nuclear installations and facilities under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations. This exchange is done on 1st of January every year between the two neighbouring countries that bars them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. This is the 25th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations It bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan that bars them from carrying out any surprise attack (or to assist foreign power to attack) on each other’s nuclear installations and facilities. It was signed on 31st December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991. It was signed by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Pakistani counterpart Benazir Bhutto. Under it both countries inform each other about their nuclear installations and facilities that need to be covered under the Agreement on 1 January every year.