Gujarat government announces Biotechnology Policy 2016

Gujarat Government announced its ‘Biotechnology Policy-2016’ to establish state as a preferred destination for manufacturing of biotechnology products.

 The policy has provisions for various incentives for investors who are keen to set up their units in the state. It aims to take annual turnover of biotechnology products to Rs 15,000 crore from current f Rs 4,500 crore turn over within next 3-4 years and make Gujarat top state in this sector in the country.

 Under the policy 

• State government will provide capital subsidy up to Rs 25 crore on the total investment for developing a Biotechnology (BT) Park.
•  In addition, the developer of such park will be eligible for 100% reimbursement of stamp duty paid on lease or sale of the land for setting such park. 
• BT Park developer will also be given 100% reimbursement for electricity duty paid for a period of five years. Capital subsidy up to Rs 10 per cent of the gross fixed capital investment(GFCI) with a ceiling of Rs 5 crore will be given to individual BT manufacturing units having GFCI up to Rs 50 crore. 
• Further, BT units borrowings up to Rs 50 crore will be entitled to an interest subsidy at the rate of 5% with a ceiling of 2.5 crore per annum. 
• Government would give 100% reimbursement of stamp duty paid on sale or lease of the land o encourage new start-ups in this sector.

1st meeting of BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency begins in Visakhapatnam

July 4, 2016 The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency began in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The two day conference will be attended by all 5 member BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries. India being BRICS chair for 2016 has organized this event in order to shape and steer the BRICS agenda.

Brexit: IMF warns of repercussions for global economy

July 4, 2016 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) has created significant uncertainty. The uncertainty is likely to dampen growth in the near term, particularly in the UK, but with repercussions for Europe and the global economy.

•  Key facts IMF predicts that macroeconomic and financial market impacts in the UK and EU due to Brexit will radiate outward across the globe. The impacts of Brexit will lead to a rising level of uncertainty, both financial and possibly political in EU and UK.
• Second BRICS Youth Summit concludes in Guwahati July 4, 2016 The second BRICS Youth Summit was held in Guwahati, Assam from 1st July 2016 to 3rd July 2016. The theme of the summit was “Youth as bridge for intra-BRICS exchanges“.

India to host meet of BRICS anti-narcotics heads

July 5, 2016 India is going to host meet of the heads of anti-narcotics agencies of BRICS nations to discuss issues related to narco-terrorism and money laundering. This meet will be held ahead of the eighth annual Summit of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-ChinaSouth Africa nations scheduled in October 2016.

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA

Railways Sets up Two New Directorates

• Railways has constituted a new directorate named as Non-Fare Revenue Directorate (NFR) to increase revenue by 10 % to 20 % from non-tariff sources like advertising and commercial exploitation of vacant rail land.

• The public transporter has also set up another directorate to focus on areas like speed enhancement as part of the Mission Raftaar announced in the budget. The Mobility Directorate will address various factors affecting train movement at enhanced speeds in a focused manne

President gives away National Florence Nightingale Awards 2016

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards were given away by the President Pranab Mukherjee to thirty-five nursing personnel at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of International Nurses Day. The Award carries a cash award of 50 thousand rupees, a certificate, a citation and a medal.

• The International Nurses Day is celebrated all over the world on 12th May every year to commemorate Florence Nightingale's birthday.

President gives away National Technology Day awards 2016

• President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday conferred the National Technology Awards on National Technology Day. 

• At a function in Vigyan Bhavan, the President awarded Bangalore's Racil Chemicals, Coimbatore's Aitom Electric and Tejas Network again from Bangalore with awards for the year 2016.

 Padma awards for Rajnikanth, Sania Mirza 

• President Pranab Mukherjee presented Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities in a Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 10.05.2016, Tuesday. While Padma Vibhushan has been conferred on 10 persons including a posthumous award for Dhirubhai Ambani.

• Padma Bhushan has been conferred on 29 persons including a posthumous award late Swami Dayanand Sarawasati and Padma Shri on 112 persons.

• Padma Awards one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. 

• The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

GK & Current Affairs – August , 2016

1. Who has been bestowed with the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for 2016?
Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Antoine Griezmann Gareth Bale

2.“POCSO e-box” has been launched by which Union Ministry for protection of children from sexual offenses?
Ministry of Human Resource Development Ministry of Women and Child Development Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

3.The 2016 Mother Teresa International Film Festival (MTIFF) has started in which of the following cities?
Kolkata Chennai Bengaluru Kochi

4.Who led Indian delegation at the 2016 SAARC Finance Ministers conference?
Sushma Swaraj Shaktikanta Das Amit Mitra Arun Jaitley

5.“Operation Euphrates Shield” has been launched by which country in Syria to end Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) rule?
Jordon Israel Turkey Lebanon

National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016

The Union Government has approved National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, 2016 to promote the IP regime and to encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in India. The first of its king policy in the country seeks to strengthen legislative and legal framework of IPRs, their commercialization and reinforce enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for IPR infringements. 

The National IPR Policy will endeavour for a “Creative India; Innovative India: रचनात्मक भारत; अभिनव भारत”.

 The Policy lays down seven objectives 

IPR Awareness: Outreach and Promotion- It seeks to create public awareness about the social, economic and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society. 

Generation of IPRs: It seeks to stimulate the generation of IPRs. 

Legal and Legislative Framework: It call for a strong and effective IPR laws, which will have balance the larger public interest and interests of rights owners. 

Administration and Management: It seeks to strengthen and modernize service-oriented IPR administration. 

Commercialization of IPRs: Provide appropriate value for IPRs through commercialization. 

Enforcement and Adjudication: Seeks to strengthen the adjudicatory and enforcement mechanisms for combating IPR infringements. 

Human Capital Development: Seeks to expand and strengthen human resources, capacities and institutions for teaching, research, training and skill building in IPRs.

 Other highlights of the Policy 

Recognises abundance of innovative and creative energies in the country and prioritizes the need to tap and channelise these energies towards a better and brighter future for all. 

Exploit and create synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned agencies and statutes in the country. Sets in place an institutional mechanism for monitoring, implementation and review of IP regime. Aims to incorporate and adapt global best practices to the Indian scenario. 

Makes the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), under the Union Commerce Ministry nodal agency for regulating IP rights in the country. 

Seeks to weave in the strengths of the Government, R&D organizations, educational institutions, corporate entities including start-ups, MSMEs and other stakeholders in the creation of an innovation-conducive environment. 

Facilitates a transparent, stable and service-oriented IPR administration in the country. Recognizes that India has well-established TRIPS-compliant administrative, legislative and judicial framework to safeguard IPRs.

 Meets international obligations while utilizing the flexibilities provided in the international regime to address its developmental concerns. 

Reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Declaration on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement and Public Health.