India ranks 91st in 2016 Networked Readiness Index

July 7, 2016 India was placed at 91st position in the recently released 2016 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). The index was released as the part of the WEF’s Global Information Technology Report. It measures countries’ success in creating the necessary conditions for a transition to a digitised economy and society.

Key Facts Top-ten countries in 2016 NRI: Singapore (1st) while Finland (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Norway (4th), United States (5th), Netherlands (6th), Switzerland (7th), UK (8th), Luxembourg (9th) and Japan (10th). Among BRICS: Russia (41st), China (59th), South Africa (65th) and Brazil (72nd). Thus, India was ranked the lowest.

India related Facts: India’s position on the list has come down for the fourth consecutive year in a row, from 89th in 2015, 83rd in 2014 and 68th in 2013. In different parameters of Index, India has scored better in terms of political and regulatory environment (78th position). It ranked very high (8th) place in terms of affordability. India’s performance in terms online services (57th) and allowing e-participation (40th). It scored worse in terms of business and innovation environment (110th). In terms of infrastructure it even scored worse (114th) place. India also fares poorly on sub-indices for levels of skills (101st) and individual usage (120th).

Kerala Government bans e-cigarettes

July 2, 2016 Kerala Government has banned ‘electronic cigarette’ alias ‘e-cigarette’ as its use can cause various health

issues, including cancer and heart ailments. In this regard, an order was issued that banned the production, sale and advertisement of e-cigarettes in the state. With this, Kerala becomes fourth state in India to ban e-cigarette. Punjab was the first state to ban e cigarettes in November 2014 under the provisions of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. It was followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

What are e-cigarettes? 

e-cigarettes are handy battery-powered devices that emit doses of vaporised nicotine. It produces the feel of tobacco smoking. Unlike regular cigarette, e-cigarettes do not produce smoke but produces an aerosol (mist), which is inaccurately referred to as vapor. e-cigarettes have a heating element that atomizes a liquid solution known as e-liquid which usually is a mixture of propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings. 

Ill effects: A series of studies conducted in Japan and United States (US) had proved that the usage of e-cigarette can cause

cancer and heart ailments.

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA 2016

General Framework Agreement on Renewable Energy Cooperation

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a General Framework Agreement (GFA) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

• The GFA was signed, in New Delhi on 11th February this year during the state visit of Crown Prince of UAE.

 Presidential Proclamation in Relation to Uttarakhand Revoked 

• The President of India on 11th May, 2016 revoked the Proclamation issued under the Article 356 of the Constitution on 27th March, 2016 in relation to the State of Uttarakhand. 

UP Government Approves Bicycle Highway between Taj and Lion Safari

• The Uttar Pradesh government has given its nod to develop nearly 200-km long bicycle highway from Agra to the lion safari in Etawah to encourage eco-tourism in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. 

• Starting from eastern gate of the Taj Mahal, it will cover areas such as Raja Bhoj ki Haveli, Bateshwarnath Temple, Mela Kothi Jarar, Naugava ka Quila and other rural areas to reach lion safari in Etawah.

GK Quiz - TNPSC

1.Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy, Corynebacterium diphtheria causes diphtheria and Vibrio comma causes

Tetanus Influenza Cholera Typhoid

2.Photosynthesis takes place faster in

Yellow light White light Red light darkness

3.Which of the following an animal shaped like lizard but it belong to the group of amphibian

Salmon Walrus Lampreys Salamander

4.Examples of blue green algae

Anabaena Nostoc Oscillatoria All of these

5.Sugar cane research centre is located at

Tanjore Madurai Trichy Coimbatore

General Awareness

1.Which registration module has been launched by the Union Government for Indian students studying abroad?

Madad Milan Bharat iBharat

2.Who has been appointed as the CMD of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL)?

J Satyanarayana C.K. Asnani Vivek Bhandari Surya Deva

3.Who has become the first Indian woman cricketer to get the prestigious honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)?

Shobha Pandit Anjum Chopra Sravanthi Naidu Mithali Raj

4.Ankur Dhama is associated with which sports?

Sprint Boxing Wrestling Discuss throw

5.Which weather satellite has been successfully launched by ISRO into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)?

INSAT-3WR INSAT-3MR INSAT-3SR INSAT-3DR

Current Affairs 2016

1.Who has been appointed as the new MD and CEO of SBI Mutual Fund?
Sunila Galappatti Anuradha Rao P.K. Parakkadavu Dinesh Kumar Khara

2.Who of the following will be awarded with an honorary Academy Award?
Frederick Wiseman Lynn Stalmaster Jackie Chan All of the above

3.Islam Karimov, who recently passed away, was the President of which country?
Tajikistan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan

4.The Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary (IIWS) is located in which state/ UT of India?
Andhra Pradesh Andaman and Nicobar Islands Karnataka Assam

5.The first-ever BRICS film festival has started in which of the following cities?
Mumbai Chennai Ahmedabad New Delhi

Current Affairs 2016

1.Which of the following countries has been hit by severe tropical Typhoon Nida?
Japan United States France China

2.Who is the newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal?
Khadga Prasad Oli Pushpa Kamal Dahal Khil Raj Regmi Baburam Bhattarai

3.Ahmed Zewail, who died recently, was the Nobel Laureate in which field?
Chemistry Physics Medicine Peace

4.Which union ministry has launched Twitter Sewa for addressing the complaints of common man in the telecom and postal sectors?
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Ministry of Communications Ministry of Human Resource Development Ministry of Science and Technology

5.Which state has become the first Indian state to approve sewage and waste water policy?
Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Odisha

President Pranab Mukherjee presents BC Roy National Awards for 2008, 2009 & 2010

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday presented the Dr BC Roy national awards for 2008, 2009 and 2010 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

These awards were presented on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day observed on July 1 to pay honour and tribute to India’s most famous physician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

The awardees are 

2010: Nikhil C. Munshi, O.P. Kalra, Tejinder Singh, Subash Gupta, Amrinder Jit Kanwar, Rajendra Prasad and Glory Alexander. 

2009:H. Sancheti, Renu Saxena, Atul Kumar, A.K. Kriplani, Kanan A. Yelikar, H.S. Bhanushali, G.V. Rao, Moti Lal Singh, C.N. Purandare and C.V. Hari Narayan. 

2008: Rajeshwar Dayal, Mammen Chandy, Neelam Mohan, Rohit V. Bhatt, Mohan Kameswaran, Harsha Jauhari, Gopal H. Badlani and Yash Gulati.

About BC Roy Awards 

The BC Roy Awards were instituted by the Medical Council of India in 1976 in memory of renowned physician and former West Bengal Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. 

They are bestowed annually in the following categories: Statesmanship of the Highest Order in India, Eminent Medical Person, Medical man-cum-Statesman, Eminent person in Philosophy, Eminent person in Arts and Eminent person in Science.

IAF creates history by inducting 3 women fighter pilots for first time

The Indian Air Force (IAF) created history by inducting 3 women fighter pilots for first time. These three women fighter pilots are Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chatuvedi and Mohana Singh. They were officially commissioned as fighter pilots in the IAF in presence of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a ceremony held at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. 

Key Facts 

Avani Chaturvedi: 

She was born in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. She had completed her schooling from Adarsh School in Rewa and BTech in Computer Science (CS) from Banasthali University, Jaipur. 

Bhawana Kanth: 

She was born in the refinery township of Begusarai, Bihar. She had completed her schooling from Barauni Refinery DAV Public School and BE in Medical Electronics from BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru. 

Mohana Singh: She belongs to Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. She had completed her schooling from Air Force School, New Delhi and BTech in Electronics & Communication from Global Institute of Management and Emerging Technologies, Amritsar. 

Background 

• In October 2015, the Union Government had decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis for five years. 
• These three women fighter pilots were inducted in IAF after all of them cleared the first stage of training in the three stages process. 
• Now they have about 150 hours of flying. Now in the second stage, they will begin advanced training on advanced jet trainer Hawks at Bidar in Karnataka. It will add 145 hours of flying before they actually get into the cockpit of a supersonic fighter in the third stage. 

Comment 

Women pilots were first included in IAF for choppers and transport aircrafts in 1991. At present, combat roles for women in the Indian Army and the Indian Navy are still off limits due to a combination of operational concerns and logistical constraints.

Indian Air Force successfully test fires Brahmos missile at Pokaran

 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired a land-attack version of the supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos at the Pokaran field firing range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 

Test: During the flight trial, the missile met its mission goals and destroyed a designated target. 

Two squadrons of IAF already have been equipped with the land-attack version of the missile version (One squadron has about 70 to 80 missiles). IAF is deploying this version of the missile in the border areas to take out the enemy’s communication towers, runways, and radar in case of a conflict.

About Brahmos missile 

• BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been designed and developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia.
•  It has derived its name from the names of two rivers, India’s Brahmaputra River and Russia’s Moskva River. 
• It operates on fire and forget principal and is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against sea and land targets.
•  Features: It is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kilogram and has top supersonic speed of Mach 3 (that is, three times the speed of sound). 
• It can strike a target at maximum range of 290-km. It is two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant. 
• BrahMos missile already has been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy.

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.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Prof. Sriram Ramaswamy, Director of TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TCIS), Hyderabad, has been on the list of 50 scientists elected as the Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS) of London, a premier scientific academy of the U.K. and the Commonwealth. Besides him, two other Indian viz.biochemist Ramanujan Hegde, MRC Laboratory of Microbiology, U.K. and applied mathematician Lakshminarayanan Mahadevan, Harvard University were also elected. The Royal Society elects new Fellows and Foreign Members every year. Its mission is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.
2. In the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, India’s growth forecast for 2016 and 2017 has retained at 7.5%. The key to boost India’s economic growth are structural reforms like Goods and Services Tax(GST) and in areas like land and labour.
3. The Supreme Court of India (SCI) has recently constituted R.M. Lodha committee to monitor the functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for at least a year. The apex court has used its rare and extraordinary powers under the Article 142 of the Constitution as the Government of India (GoI) had not acted on the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. The 3-member committee will have the authority to oversee all statutory functions under the MCI Act and will be free to issue appropriate remedial directions. All policy decisions of the MCI will require approval of the oversight committee.
4. The World Asthma Day (WAD) is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. It takes place on the first Tuesday of May. The theme of 2016’s event is “You Can Control Your Asthma”.
5. The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam. It is a home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species viz. tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant.

Current Affairs 2016

• Surender Kumar Bhagat, the 1982-batch IPS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, has been appointed as the new Director General (DG) of Railways Protection Force (RPF). He will succeed Rajiv Ranjan Verma and will serve RPF till the date of his superannuation i.e. on June 30, 2017. Presently, he is working as Special Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• The book “Param Vir: A War Diary” has been written by Manju Lodha, a well-known Indian social activist. It was recently launched in London by Navtej Sarna, Indian High Commissioner to United Kingdom. The book chronicles the lives of 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, the highest military honour bestowed by India to those serving in the Indian armed forces.
• The Maharashtra Government has recently launched ‘Adi Praman’’ a web-based application, which will facilitate the tribal populace of the state to get the caste validity certificates online. The validity certificate will be bar-coded with a unique identification number and enable authorities to directly verify the status of validity certificate using the unique barcode number. The portal “etribalvalidity.mahaonline@gov.in” will show the real-time status of the applications through email and text messages. This initiative will make the entire process of securing caste validity certificate transparent, fast and easy and will effectively curb the menace of bogus certificates.
• The mobile app “Indian Customs- Guide to Travellers” has been launched by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to inform traders, exporters and importers about Customs Baggage Rules, 2016. The mobile App has been developed by Bengaluru Customs and is available on Android Play store, Apple Store and Windows Store. The app is user friendly and serves as a useful tool for quick and effective dissemination of information about baggage rules and entitlements and hence serves to clarify doubts and concern of International passengers and also ensure better compliance. The CBEC is the nodal national agency responsible for administering customs, central excise, service tax and narcotics in India.
• The Kerala state branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has partnered with UNICEF to promote safe and healthy practices for improving maternal and child health in the state. The initiative will help Kerala to achieve world class level in reducing child mortality rate. As part of the partnership, IMA and UNICEF will orient all the 35,000 doctors of the association in the state, on the importance of prescribing good practices to their patients, besides medicine.