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1) The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed in Lok Sabha. The features of the bill are: Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951 provided for the erection of a National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. The 1951 Act also provided for a Trust to manage the National Memorial. The Trust as per the 1951 Act included the Prime Minister, as Chairperson, (ii) the President of the Indian National Congress, (iii) the Minister in-charge of Culture, (iv) the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, (v) the Governor of Punjab, (vi) the Chief Minister of Punjab, and (vii) three eminent persons nominated by the central government. The 2018 amendment bill removes the President of the Indian National Congress as a Trustee. Further, the bill clarifies that when there is no Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha will be the Trustee. The 1951 act provided that the three eminent persons nominated by the central government will have a term of five years and will be eligible for re-nomination. The 2018 bill added a clause to allow the central government to terminate the term of a nominated trustee before the expiry of his term without assigning any reason. The government claimed that the bill was brought in to address various deficiencies in the management of the National Memorial and to ensure that the Trust is an apolitical entity.

2) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) every year celebrate February 13 as the World Radio Day. World Radio Day 2019 is celebrated to highlight the importance of the radio in its search for a more peaceful and tolerant world. The World Radio Day 2019 is celebrated with the theme Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace. The theme is selected to provide a platform for dialogue and democratic debate over issues like migration or violence against women which can help to raise awareness among listeners and inspire understanding for new perspectives in paving the way for positive action. Genesis of the World Radio Day: Spain’s Radio Academy in the year 2010 proposed the idea of World Radio Day. In the following year, UNESCO declared February 13 as the World Radio day and the first World Radio Day was celebrated in 2012. February 13 was chosen because the United Nations Radio, the United Nation’s international broadcasting service was established on February 13, 1946. The World Radio Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Radio.

3) The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019. The bill aims to address the demands of the Gujjars who are protesting for reservations. Features of the Bill: The features of the Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019 are- It provides five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions to Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria communities. The communities, namely Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria are currently provided one per cent reservation under More Backward Classes (MBC). The Bill seeks to grant them an additional four per cent quota. The statement on the objective and reasons for the bill said the five castes are the most backward and required a separate reservation in government jobs and educational institutes. The bill increases the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. With the 5 per cent quota for Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria communities the backward classes’ reservation in the state has increased from present 21 per cent to 26 per cent. The reservations in Rajasthan now crosses the 50 per cent cap on reservations set by the Supreme Court. To avoid the possible legal tussle the Rajasthan Assembly passed a resolution and urged the Centre to incorporate it in the 9th schedule to ensure the reservation for these communities. The statement on the objective and reasons for the bill notes that Parliament has amended the Constitution to exceed the limit of 50 per cent laid down by the Indra Sawhney case having regard to the compelling circumstances in which Economically Weaker Sections of the society are languishing.

4) Minister of State for AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik launched the e-Aushadhi portal for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs. Features of the e-Aushadhi Portal- The new e-portal, e-Aushadhi is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative. The important features of the e-Aushadhi Portal are: The portal is intended to bring increased transparency, improved information management facility, improved data usability and increased accountability in the licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs. The timelines will be fixed for processing of application through this portal with SMS and e-mail status updates at each step of the process. The portal will aid the licensing authority, manufactures and consumers, as it will provide real-time information of the licensed manufactures and their products, cancelled and spurious drugs, contact details of the concerned authority for specific grievances. The launch of the e-Aushadhi portal for online licensing is part of governments commitment towards e-governance, ease of doing business and Make in India.

5) The World Sustainable Development Summit 2019 was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi. The World Sustainable Development Summit 2019, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute – TERI. World Sustainable Development Summit: The World Sustainable Development Summit is the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). World Sustainable Development Summit is the sole Summit on global issues taking place in the developing world. The World Sustainable Development Summit provides a platform for global leaders and practitioners to discuss and deliberate over climatic issues of universal importance. The World Sustainable Development Summit strives to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of the global community by assembling the world’s most enlightened leaders and thinkers on a single platform. World Sustainable Development Summit is continuing the legacy of Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) which was initiated in 2001 with the aim of making ‘sustainable development’ a globally shared goal. The Energy and Resources Institute – TERI: TERI – the Tata Energy Research Institute was established by the Mr Darbari S Seth in 1974. Mr Darbari S Seth was the builder of Tata Chemicals Limited. He provided a decent sum for establishing TERI’s corpus and provided encouragement, inspiration, and moral support to the Director and staff of the Institute without ever interfering with the operational decision-making. Over time from its inception, TERI has emerged as one of the world’s pre-eminent think tanks and research institutions in the field of energy, climate change and sustainability. TERI aims to usher transitions to a cleaner and sustainable future through the conservation and efficient use of Earth’s resources and innovative ways of minimizing and reusing waste.

6) The International Labour Organisation has released the annual World Employment and Social Outlook Trends for the year 2019. The important features of the report are: Unemployment rates were anticipated to fall to 4.9% in 2019 and are expected to hold steady into 2020. The number of jobless in real terms is estimated to rise from 172 million to 174 million in that time as the labour market expands. The unemployment rate increased from 5 to 5.6% between 2008-9, as the fallout of the near total collapse of major markets took hold. The report lamented the fact that it had taken nine years to recover from the shock of the 2007/8 global financial crisis. The report presents concerns about the female workforce participation rate. The much lower labour force participation of women at 48%, compared with 75% for men means that around three in five of the 3.5 billion people in the global labour force were men. After a period of rapid improvement that lasted until 2003, subsequent progress on closing the gender gap in participation rates had stalled. 2 billion of the 3.3 billion people in the global labour market worked in informal employment which put their economic security at risk. The poor quality of many jobs also resulted in the fact that in 2018 more than one-quarter of workers in low and middle-income countries were living in extreme or moderate poverty. The global unemployment among young people (between 15-24) stood at 11.8 per cent, higher than other age brackets. The report notes that in line with a stable aggregate unemployment rate, the outlook for men, women and young people with regard to opportunities on the job market is also very stable and further adds that neither the gender disparities nor the labour market challenges faced by young people are expected to abate in the coming year. Youth participation in the labour market had been declining steadily for the last 25 years and one of the main causative factors for this was more young people were entering further education. The report also notes that around 114 million children aged between 5-14 involved in the global labour market and 73 million of them were working in hazardous conditions, according to data from 2016.

7) The notification issued by the Union Home ministry has designated Dera Baba Nanak land post located in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district as an authorised immigration checkpoint to exit and enter for visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan. Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor connects Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi River, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan. The proposed corridor was institutionalised to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims between Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan and Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India. The visitors are required to obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib where the Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life. Dera Baba Nanak shrine was established in 1522 by Guru Nanak Dev. As part of the trust-building exercise, the Pakistan new government had proposed to open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. Works to facilitate the opening the corridor began with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laying the foundation stone at the Indian side November 28 and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laying the foundation stone at the Pakistani side on November 28.

8) On the Sidelines of the Petrotech 2019, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan released the guidelines for setting up of Dealer Owned Dealer Operated (DODO) CNG stations in India. The City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities run by central public sector undertakings will execute these guidelines for the setting up of CNG stations on DODO model in the country. New Guidelines- The features of these new guidelines are: Initially, these guidelines would be implemented in over 150 districts of the country. Entire plot owned by a private owner shall be developed exclusively for setting up of CNG station and allied commercial activities at the discretion of CGD entity. The plot owner applicant desirous of setting up CNG station will have to enter into a long term agreement with CGD entity. The CNG equipment (compressor/ cascade/ dispenser, etc.) will be installed and commissioned by CGD entity while adhering to all the statutory rules/guidelines related to fire and safety. The dealer is required to arrange all the permissions to set up CNG Station including change of land use, necessary clearance, license, etc. at own expense and cost. The dealer shall be paid commission by the concerned CGD entity as per the sales achieved based on the fixed dealer commission. Objectives of the New Guidelines: The new guidelines will act as an advisory for bringing the uniform system in line with DODO policy which will further help in bringing hygiene and cleanliness in the environment. The guidelines aim to encourage those with possession of land to join hands with CGD entities in their endeavour to provide clean fuel for the transport sector. Together with reducing the cost of setting up CNG filling stations for CGD entities the guidelines will provide landowners and investors to become partners in this green drive. The new guidelines are expected to give a fillip to the CNG business in the country as the easy availability of CNG across the country shall encourage more people to switch to eco-friendly and economical CNG.

9) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PETROTECH -2019 conference and called for responsible pricing of crude oil that balances interests of both producers and consumers highlighting the need to have universal assess to clean, the affordable and equitable supply of energy. PETROTECH -2019 conference is a three-day mega event held from 10 to 12 February 2019. The conference was held at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 11th February 2019. In the backdrop of changing global energy basket, PETROTECH-2019 offered an excellent opportunity to hydrocarbon industry, their associates and academia to interact and debate the latest advances in the hydrocarbon sector, which can be leveraged for meeting global energy requirements. Along with PETROTECH -2019 an exhibition over 13 country pavilions and around 750 exhibitors from over 40 countries, with exclusive areas on the Make in India and Renewable Energy theme was organised. PETROTECH: PETROTECH conference is a biennial International Oil & Gas Conference. The conference provides a platform for national and international experts in the oil & gas industry to exchange views and share knowledge, expertise, and experiences. The 13th edition of International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, PETROTECH-2019 is being organized by Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited, under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.

10) February 11 every year is observed as the Unani Day. As part of the Unani Day celebrations, various activities including marathons, writathon, quiz competitions, public health talks, daily health tips for the general public and workshops were organised across the country. National Conference on Unani Medicine for Public Health: To commemorate the Unani Day 2019 a two day National Conference on Unani Medicine for Public Health was held at New Delhi. The two-day conference had a dedicated session on lifestyle disorders and their management, regiment therapy, mother and child care, geriatric care, integration and mainstreaming of Unani Medicine in public health and globalisation of Unani Medicine. Also, a ceremony was held for the distribution of AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine during the conference. The conference shed light on the important role played by Unani Medicine in public health especially in combating NCDs, lifestyle disorders and various chronic diseases by providing cost-effective Unani treatment and quality products for patient healthcare. The conference was hosted to provide an excellent platform for sharing of knowledge and development of linkages between institutes and organisations engaged in the promotion and development of Unani Medicine. Why February 11 is celebrated as Unani Day? February 11 marks the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan. Hakim Ajmal Khan took great interest in the expansion and development of the native system of Unani medicine and to that end built three important institutions, the Central College in Delhi, the Hindustani Dawakhana and the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College better known as Tibbia College, Delhi, which expanded research and practice in the field and saved the Unani System of Medicine from extinction in India. His efforts infused a new force and life into an otherwise decaying Unani medical system under British rule. In recognition of the contribution of Hakim Ajmal Khan, the Ministry of AYUSH adopted 11th February as Unani Day in 2017.

11) The Ministry of External Affairs had organised a training course for the officials of the Government of Nepal on ‘Global Perspectives on Public Financial Management’ at the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF) in New Delhi. The training programme was part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. It was a special tailor-made training programme on Public Finance Management designed at the request and requirement of the Ministry of Finance of Nepal for a total of 62 officials. The training was aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the officials in global practices dealing with e-payment system, accounting & cash management, public borrowing system, accounting of foreign loans/grants and repayments, pension payment system, internal audit, fiscal responsibility and budget management, etc. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC): The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme was instituted on 15 September 1964 as a bilateral programme for providing assistance from the Government of India. The ITEC programme was constituted based on the underlying belief that it was necessary to establish relations of mutual concern and inter-dependence based not only on commonly held ideals and aspirations but also on solid economic foundations. Technical and economic cooperation was considered to be one of the essential functions of an integrated and imaginative foreign policy. The ITEC Programme is fully funded by the Government of India. Due to the various successful initiatives of ITEC, there is now a visible and growing awareness among other countries about the competence of India as a provider of technical know-how and expertise as well as training opportunities, consultancy services and feasibility studies. As a result, these programmes are generating immense goodwill and substantive cooperation towards India among the developing countries.

12) Prime Minister Narendra Modi served the three billionth meal of Akshaya Patra, an NGO that works with the government on Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The Prime Minister Served the food to about 20 schoolchildren who are the beneficiaries of the mid-day meal scheme at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir campus in the holy city of Vrindavan. Prime Minister also unveiled a ceremonial plaque to mark the serving of “3rd billionth meal” by Akshaya Patra Foundation. Akshaya Patra Foundation: Akshaya Patra Foundation is a Bengaluru-based not-for-profit organisation Funded by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Akshaya Patra Foundation is an implementation partner for the governments Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Akshaya Patra Foundation has served meals to more than 1.76 million children in twelve states covering 14,702 schools since its inception. In the year 2016, Akshaya Patra commemorated the serving of 2 billion cumulative meals in the presence of the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest not-for-profit run organisation serving wholesome food to over 1.76 million children every school day from over 14,000 schools across 12 states in India.

13) The Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan passed the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Rajasthan Municipality (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to end the minimum education criterion for panchayat and civic polls candidates. What was the education criterion proposed? As per the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Amendment Bill 2015, Candidates were: Required to have passed Class X for contesting municipal elections, Class VIII for contesting panchayat polls for the post of a sarpanch, and Class X for contesting Zila Parishad or Panchayat Samiti elections. Construction of toilets in their homes as mandatory for contesting polls to the panchayati raj institutions in the state. Even the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional validity of a similar law in Haryana which mandated education qualification for candidacy in local polls. The Supreme Court had said that “it is only education which gives a human being the power to discriminate between right and wrong, good and bad”. Why the government scrapped the criterion? In the run-up to the assembly elections in 2018, the Congress Party had included in its manifesto that it would abolish the minimum education criterion for panchayat and civic polls candidates if it comes to power. Defending the bill the government stated in assembly that Sarpanches awarded by President, Vice President were declared ineligible due to the provisions in the previous Act. The Act was against the basic tenants of the Constitution and society cannot be divided on the basis of education. The government even stated that several cases had come up where people contested the election on the basis of fake certificates. The minimum education qualification created two sections in the society and the illiterate people had started feeling inferior.

14) The Art and Culture Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude has announced that Ghumot, an indigenous earthen drum will soon be notified as a heritage instrument of Goa. Ghumot is an indigenous earthen drum fashioned as a designed clay pot, with the skin of the monitor lizard stretched taut across the pot’s mouth, forming a drumhead. Ghumot is a percussion instrument widely played during Ganesh Chaturthi Aarties. Fact Box- Goa which is the former Portuguese colony presented Ghumot as a gift to the Portuguese Prime Minister Anotnio Costa during his visit to India in 2017. Portuguese Prime Minister Anotnio Costa is is of Goan origin. Why Ghumot was banned? The skin of monitor lizard is one of the key components of the Ghumot. Since the monitor lizard was classified as an endangered wildlife species and was listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Ghumot was banned by the Forest Department of Goa. In recent years attempts were made to revive the heritage instrument of Goa by replacing monitor lizard skin with the skin of a she-goat. This revival had spiked the interests about the instrument. Taking forward the efforts to conserve the heritage musical instrument the government of Goa is taking steps to declare Ghumot as the heritage musical instrument of Goa.

15) The government has introduced the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 in the Parliament. The bill was introduced by the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha. Features of the Bill- The Bill aims to arrest the cases of Indian women being trapped in fraudulent marriages with non-resident Indians (NRI). The important features of the bill are: The bill mandates the Non-Resident Indians who marry an Indian citizen or a fellow NRI abroad to compulsorily register their marriages within 30 days. Failure to register their marriage would face the prospects of their passports being impounded or even revoked. The bill allows courts to attach movable and immovable properties of NRIs who are declared “proclaimed offenders” for failing to appear before the law. The bill allows courts to send summonses and warrants to the accused through a specially designated website to be hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs. The bill amends the Passport Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow passport authorities to revoke or impound passport or travel documents of the accused, and allow courts to attach their properties. The bill clearly states that if an NRI marries an Indian citizen here, the marriage has to be registered as per local laws and if the marriage takes place abroad, it has to be registered with designated officers to be appointed in foreign countries. The Bill proposes to offer greater protection to Indian women married to NRIs and serve as a deterrent to NRIs against harassment of their spouses.

16) The President of Egypt Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi took over the chairmanship of African Union from Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda. African Union chairmen set agendas of issues to be addressed during their tenure of one-year. El-Sissi is expected to concentrate on security and financial reform. African Union: The Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity issued a Declaration, Sirte Declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union on 9.9.1999. The Union was launched on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was launched on 9 July 2002 in South Africa and the African Union replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established on 25 May 1963. Africa Day- Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) (now known as the African Union) on 25 May 1963. The African Union was established for accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalisation. All UN member states based in Africa and on African waters are members of the AU.

17) Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated National Cancer Institute (NIC) at Badhsa in Jhajjar district of Haryana. Prime Minister also inaugurated an ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Faridabad. It is the first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and hospital in North India. It has 510 beds and includes the facilities of surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, anaesthesia, palliative care, and nuclear medicine. Fact Box- There are 6 existing ESIC medical colleges at Kolkata, Faridabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Gulbarga. About Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC): It was established under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948(ESI Act) by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. It is an autonomous organization and it manages the funds of all employees earning ₹21,000 or less per month. Employees’ State Insurance includes self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers. ESIC is operating many medical, dental, nursing and paramedical schools in India. What is the purpose of ESIC Hospital? Workers are generally exposed to sickness related to their occupation; they may even suffer from temporary or permanent disablement etc, which results in loss of their wages. Institutions like this negate the resulting physical or financial distress in such contingencies and uphold human dignity in times of crises. Cancer Incidence in Haryana: According to 2018 survey, 38% of deaths due to cancer occur in Haryana. Some of the identified reasons are- Rapid industrialization. Industries are disposing waste directly into the river without undergoing any sewage treatment process. This gives rise to air and water-borne diseases among which skin infection and cancer are most common. Improper sanitation. Excessive use of fertilizers. The contamination due to the reasons listed above pollutes water by causing eutrophication (the phenomenon of a body of water becoming overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of plants and algae) and the consumption of this polluted water is resulting in cancer.

18) Indian Army on 12th February 2019 showcased its artillery firepower by using ultra light Howitzers and indigenous Swathi weapon-locating radar at the annual “Exercise Topchi”. The exercise was held at Deolali Camp near Nashik. The aviation and surveillance capabilities were also showcased. About the Exercise Topchi 2019: There were a showcase of display of rockets, missiles, surveillance and target acquisition radars, remotely piloted aircraft and hi-tech equipments in addition to gun fire. The precision displayed while delivering the explosives in the target area stunned all those present. The ones who were present included Lt Gen YVK Mohan, Commandant of Defence Service Staff College (DSSC), Wellington; Lt Gen R S Salaria, Commandant, School of Artillery and Colonel Commandant Regiment of Artillery and other Army officials. What is the Ultra Light Howitzer M777? It is a towed 155 mm artillery piece that is used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, India and Saudi Arabia. It is manufactured by BAE Systems’ Global Combat Systems division (London, England). It was inducted in the Indian Army on November 9, 2018. What is the Swathi Weapon Locating Radar? Swathi Weapon Locating Radar is a mobile artillery locating phased array radar developed by India. It is a counter-battery radar designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for Counter-battery fire. It has been developed by DRDO’s Bangalore based laboratory, LRDE and the Government owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). What is the Deolali Camp? Deolali is a small hill-station in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It has one of the oldest military centres in India. It was established in 1869 and is situated on the banks of the River Darna. The prestigious School of Artillery is located in Deolali.

19) Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released a publication titled “India – Spearheading Climate Solutions” on 12 February, 2019. This document mentions India’s key actions taken towards combating and adapting to climate change. India’s Key Actions Towards Combating and Adapting Climate Change. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) that has eight major missions on Solar, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change. International Solar Alliance (ISA) – It is an alliance of 121 countries, most of them sunshine countries (i.e. lying either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn). It was founded in 2015 at Paris and was initiated by India. Membership now has been extended to all the members of the United Nations. State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): FAME Scheme – It stands for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME-India) Scheme, which was launched in 2015 under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). It aims to create the infrastructure for and promote e-mobility. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) –The scheme was launched in the year 2015 and is solely aimed for Smart Cities. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – The scheme was launched in 2016. It aims for providing access to clean cooking fuel. UJALA scheme – It stands for Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All and was started in 2015. Its aim is to embrace energy efficient LED bulbs. Swachh Bharat Mission – It is a nationwide campaign from 2014 to 2019 aiming to clean up India. National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) – It was launched in 2015-16 and aims to support robust adaptation techniques to reduce adverse effects of climate change. Other Initiatives Taken by Government: Apart from the above, Government of India has taken an ambitious goal of generating 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022. India will leapfrog from Bharat Stage -IV to Bharat Stage-VI emission norms by April 2020. India’s renewable energy capacity stands at more than 74 GW today including about 25 GW from solar. Further, India submitted its Second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in December 2018 as per the reporting obligations under the convention, which stated that India’s GDP came down by 21% between 2005 & 2014. It also stated that India’s climate-goal for pre-2020 is well on track.

20) Indian historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam has won prestigious Dan David Prize of Israel for the year 2019 for his work on inter-cultural encounters between Asians, Europeans and people of North and South America during the early modern era. Sanjay Subrahmanyam shares the award in the category of ‘past time dimension’ with Prof Kenneth Pomeranz of the University of Chicago. Dan David Prize: The Dan David Prize is a joint international award given by the Dan David Foundation headquartered at Tel Aviv University. The award was instituted by late Dan David, an international businessman and philanthropist who envisioned a project that would extend beyond traditional academic categorisations. The Dan David Prize is awarded under three categories namely: Past category is generally drawn from the fields of history, archaeology, palaeontology and biography. Present from arts, media, policy and economics. Future from one of the exact or natural sciences. For the Year 2019, the awardees were chosen from the three categories for their work: Macrohistory: Past category. Defending democracy: Present. Combating climate change: Future. The award in the “Present” category for “Defending Democracy” has been won by Reporters without Borders and Prof Michael Ignatieff. The prize in the “future” category for combating climate change has been won by Christina Figueres, a Costa Rican diplomat. To encourage and foster new generations of scholars, the awardees are required to donate 10 per cent of their prize money towards scholarships for graduate or post-graduate researchers in their respective fields.

21) The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework under the Defence Ministry is envisaging setting up of independent Defence Innovation Hubs (DIHs) where innovators can get information about needs and feedback from the Armed Services directly and create solutions for India’s major defence platforms. Defence Innovation Hubs are aimed at attracting more innovators to work for the defence sector in India. Guidelines for Setting up of Defence Innovation Hubs: The Framework to Fund Defence Innovation Hubs under iDEX has been approved by the Board of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). The framework prescribes the following minimum criterion for setting up Defence Innovation Hubs: Any Central Government recognized Incubator including but not limited to- Department of Science and Technology (DST) recognized Incubators. Atal Innovation Mission, NITIAayog created Atal Incubation Centers (AICs) and Established Incubation Centers (EICs). Ministry of MSME recognized incubators. Any other incubator recognized or funded through any Central government scheme. The incubator located in districts mentioned in the list of SME clusters hosted by the Ministry of MSME in collaboration with UNIDO. Incubator / Hub promoted by local industry associations. The Defence Innovation Organisation set up under iDEX has announced setting up of two DIHs in Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore) and Maharashtra (Nashik). Defence Innovation Organisation- Defence Innovation Organisation is a not for profit company under section 8 of the Companies Act. The Defence Innovation Organisation is funded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The headquarters of the Defence Innovation Organisation is located at Bengaluru. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme aims to create an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, Startups, Individual Innovators, R&D institutes and Academia and provide them grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D which has good potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs. The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) functions as the executive arm of the Defence Innovation Organisation.

22) The Union Government has envisaged the development of the National Gas Grid. The government is implementing various projects of about 14,239 Km gas pipelines which would add to the existing 16,788 Km natural gas pipeline. Authorisation Authority: Under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has been recognised as the authority to grant authorization to the entities for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Geographical Areas. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board identifies the geographical areas for authorizing the development of the CGD network in synchronization with the development of natural gas pipeline connectivity/ natural gas availability. Objectives of the National Gas Grid- The objectives of the National Gas Grid are: To remove regional imbalance within the country with regard to access for natural gas and provide clean and green fuel throughout the country. To connect gas sources to major demand centres and ensure availability of gas to consumers in various sectors. Development of City Gas Distribution Networks in various cities for the supply of CNG and PNG. The National Gas Grid together with providing gas connections to households will provide better infrastructure for automobiles using gas. The National Gas Grid will also aid in renewing of the fertilizer sector and also give a boost to the Power and Automotive sector.

23) The Union Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the Cremica Food Park in Una which is the first mega food park of Himachal Pradesh. Cremica Food Park- The important features of the Cremica Food Park are: The mega food park set up at a cost of Rs 107.34 crore will benefit people of Una district and nearby districts of Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur. The Mega Food park provides facilities such as bulk aseptic packaging (24 MT/ hour), Frozen storage (1,000 MT), Deep Freeze, Dry Warehouse, QC Laboratory and other food processing facilities. The park has a common administrative block for office and other uses by the entrepreneurs and 3 Primary Processing Centers(PPC) at Solan, Mandi, and Kangra having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms. The mega food park at Una will leverage an additional investment of about Rs 250 crores in 25-30 food processing units in the park and generate a turnover of about Rs 450-500 crore annually. The mega food park will also provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers. Mega Food Park Scheme: The Ministry of Food Processing is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme to give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with a particular focus on perishables. These mega food parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market along with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster-based approach.

24) The first LAWASIA Human Rights Conference was organised by LAWASIA, in association with the Bar Association of India. The LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 was held between 9 – 10 February 2019. The conference aims to provide a unique opportunity for lawyers and associated professional members to exchange insights and expertise on topics of significant importance to all. The theme of the LAWASIA Human Rights Conference 2019 was “State Power, Business and Human Rights: Contemporary Challenges”. The conference explored a wide range of human rights issues of relevance in the Asia Pacific region, including: Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights. New Technologies, Privacy and Mass Surveillance. Experiences and Challenges of Human Rights Lawyers. Aggressive Policing and Human Rights. Freedom of the Press in the Digital Age. Cross-border Migration & its Conflicts. Climate Change, Water Conflicts & Human Rights. Business and Human Rights. LAWASIA: LAWASIA is a regional association of lawyers, judges, jurists and legal organisations and it advocates for the interests and concerns of the Asia Pacific legal profession. LAWASIA provides a platform to promote the cross-jurisdictional exchange of legal knowledge; as a voice of the legal profession; and as a conduit for encouraging adherence to mutually-held principles of the rule of law, professional integrity and the protection of human rights. LAWASIA’s central aim is to strengthen professional and business relations among law associations, lawyers, the private sector and government representatives in the Asia Pacific.

25) The central government has launched the following schemes to improve the research ecosystem in India: Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship- To attract the bright and meritorious students into research within the country, the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship has been initiated. Students selected for the fellowship are given fellowship for 5 years – Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs. 75,000/- per month in the third year and Rs.80,000 per month in 4th and 5th year with an annual research grant of Rs. 2 lakh. Setting up of Research Parks: The Government has approved setting up of Research Parks at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Gandhinagar and IISc Banglore. Impacting research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT): IMPRINT India scheme aims to provide solutions to the most relevant engineering challenges and translating knowledge into viable technology (products or processes) in ten selected technology domains. Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY): Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana has been launched to promote innovation of a higher order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing. Smart India Hackathons: Smart India Hackathons are organized on yearly basis since 2017 to find out digital solutions to various problems faced by the people and gives hands-on working and research opportunity for engineering students. Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC): Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) have been established in 960 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for promoting the innovation ecosystem within their campuses. Trainee Teacher Scheme: A Trainee Teacher Scheme has been initiated in NITs with the objective to attract, motivate and sponsor best graduate engineers for part-time M.Tech and PhD programmes. Further schemes like Colleges with Potential for Excellence (CPE), University with Potential for Excellence(UPE), Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Areas(CPEPA), Special Assistance Programme (SAP), Major Research Project (MRP) have been initiated by the government to boost the research ecosystem in the country.

26) India and Norway signed a letter of Intent for establishing the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative. The letter of intent was signed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India together with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative: During the visit of the Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit to India in January, India and Norway had agreed to work more closely on oceans by signing a MoU and establishing the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue. Both the governments had agreed to share experiences and competence, and collaborate on efforts to develop clean and healthy oceans, sustainable use of ocean resources and growth in the blue economy. The India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative is the first Joint initiative and it takes forward the commitments made under the MoU. The Joint initiative aims to combat marine pollution, which is one of the fastest growing environmental concerns. The India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative will support local governments in implementing sustainable waste management practices, develop systems for collecting and analyzing information about sources and scope of marine pollution and improve private sector investment. The initiative will also support beach clean-up efforts, awareness-raising campaigns and pilot project using plastic waste as fuel substitution for coal in cement production and developing frameworks for deposit schemes.

27) Government e Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable a fair and competitive environment in the e-Marketplace. Combating Anti-competitive practices: Both CCI and GeM attach significant importance to the advanced analytical tools and processes for identification of malpractices like cartelization. Hence to pool their knowledge of the public procurement domain for detection of Anti-competitive practices GeM and CCI have signed a MoU. Government e Marketplace (GeM): GeM is a state-of-the-art national public procurement platform of Ministry of Commerce and Industries. GeM facilitates online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organisations / PSUs. GeM provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users, achieve the best value for their money. GeM aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement and has used technology to remove entry barriers for bonafide sellers and has created a vibrant e-marketplace with a wide range of goods and services. Competition Commission of India (CCI): Competition Commission of India is a statutory body of the Government of India, responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002 throughout the country and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.

28) The Sarthi Sandesh Vahini vehicles were flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Uttar Pradesh state family welfare department has initiated the Sarthi Sandesh Vahini mission to spread awareness regarding family planning in urban and rural areas. The Sarthi Sandesh Vahini vehicles will provide family planning information to the viewers through various documentaries and films. To ensure the objectives of the mission are accomplished the Uttar Pradesh government will appoint the nodal officers to supervise the campaign and ensure that several targets set by the department including women and child development and education for all are being fulfilled. Tackling Encephalitis: The Uttar Pradesh government has also launched the new initiative to eradicate encephalitis. Encephalitis: Encephalitis is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen). Encephalitis can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. The very young and very old are most at risk of Encephalitis.

29) The seventh annual World Government Summit is being held in Dubai (UAE). The World Government Summit is a forum dedicated to shaping the future of governments. The Summit is being attended by 4,000 decision-makers from 140 countries including heads of state, ministers and business leaders. World Government Summit: The World Government Summit is a global platform dedicated to shaping the future of governments worldwide. The Summit: Sets the agenda each year for the next generation of governments, focusing on how they can harness innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity. Provides a unique platform to showcase and exchange best practices and smart solutions to the challenges that nations face. About the Organisation: The World Government Summit is a neutral, non-profit organization at the intersection of government and innovation. The World Government Summit functions as a knowledge exchange platform for leaders in the public and private sectors to convene and collaborate with world-renowned experts to create a positive impact for citizens worldwide. The Organisation comprises a wide network of leaders of the public and private sectors and inspires them to think collectively and creatively about disruptive intersections between government and innovation, with the ultimate goal of promoting development and prosperity.

30) The government has introduced the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Parliament to increase the financial and executive powers of the 10 Autonomous Councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of the northeastern region. Features of the Amendment Bill- The salient features of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill which will impact one crore tribal people in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are: The amendments proposed provide for elected village municipal councils, ensuring democracy at the grass-root level. The amendment empowers the village councils to prepare plans for economic development and social justice including those related to agriculture, land improvement, implementation of land reforms, minor irrigation, water management, animal husbandry, rural electrification, small scale industries and social forestry. The amendment bill mandates the finance commission to recommend devolution of financial resources to these autonomous councils. The Autonomous Councils are dependent on grants from Central ministries and the State government for specific projects. The amendment bill also reserve one-third of the seats for women in the village and municipal councils in the Sixth Schedule areas of Assam, Mizoram and The bill to empower the Autonomous Councils was announced by the government last month in the backdrop of the protests in the North-East following the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha.

31) The United States is reportedly considering withdrawal of benefits to India under its Generalised System of Preferences amid a widening dispute over its trade and investment policies. The US Trade Representative (USTR) is in the process of completing the review of India’s status as a GSP beneficiary and an announcement was expected over the next two weeks. The withdrawal of the Generalised System of Preferences from India could be the strongest punitive action since President Donald Trump took office in 2017 vowing to reduce the US deficit with large economies. The Trump administration has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs. Generalised System of Preferences: Generalised System of Preferences instituted in 1976 under the Trade Act of 1974 is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories. Impact on Trade with India: The withdrawal of the Generalised System of Preferences from India would result in the elimination of duty-free access for about 2,000 Indian product lines. This will hurt small businesses such as jewellery. This will adversely affect Indian exports to the US. After the withdrawal of the Generalised System of Preferences number of goods qualifying for preferential treatment could be reduced, or the whole programme could be withdrawn.

32) India’s export to China is expected to reach an all-time high in the financial year 2018-19. Increase in Exports: The increase in the exports to China is attributed to US-China trade spat creating new opportunities for exporters and Beijing removing some trade barriers in its effort to check the growing bilateral trade imbalance. The growth of exports was driven by the following sectors which include marine products, organic chemicals, plastics, petroleum products, grapes and rice. Bridging the Trade Deficit: Indian exports are expected to reach an all-time high in the current financial year. The exports between April and December stood at $12.7 billion which is closer to last year’s exports of $13.33 billion. India feels that more efforts are required for greater market penetration in China to bridge the trade deficit. India’s trade deficit with China stood at $63 billion in 2017-18. This $63 billion trade deficit was more than a third of India’s total trade deficit. The exports to China stood at $13.3 billion and imports from China stood at $76.38 billion in 2017-18. Acknowledging the need to take steps to check the deficit, the following steps have been initiated to bridge the deficit: China signed three export protocols with India on rice, fishmeal and tobacco to allow imports of the three items. An announcement regarding Chinese import quotas for sugar and rice for 2019 is expected soon which would aid in planning their exports well in time. India is also expecting to sign a protocol for export of Indian soyabean meals, cakes and pomegranates to China in the near future. To make the most of the US-China trade dispute, the Department of Commerce had taken the initiative to identify and share with Indian exporters and other stakeholders, specific lines where the US will lose competitiveness in China and where India had an export potential.

33) The first batch of four Chinook military helicopters manufactured by the American aerospace major Boeing has arrived at the Mundra port in Gujarat. This first batch consignment will be ferried to Chandigarh, where they will be formally inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2019. Chinook Helicopters: Chinook is a multi-role, vertical-lift platform, which is used for transporting troops, artillery, equipment and fuel. Chinook would be deployed for humanitarian and disaster relief operations and in missions such as transportation of relief supplies and mass evacuation of refugees. The advanced multi-mission helicopter Chinook will provide the Indian armed forces with unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and humanitarian missions. India had placed a mega contract to Boeing for the procurement of 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinooks for the Indian Air Force in September 2015. To deliver on the order, Boeing has strengthened its supply chain with over 160 partners in India. Boeing has also planned a joint venture to manufacture fuselages for Apache helicopters and the annual sourcing from India stands at $1 billion.

34) Abu Dhabi has included Hindi as the third official language to be used in its courts, alongside Arabic and English. It is part of the efforts of Abu Dhabi to improve access to justice. Inclusion of Hindi: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has announced that it has extended the adoption of interactive forms of statement of claims filed before courts by including the Hindi language alongside Arabic and English in labour cases. The inclusion of Hindi language is aimed at helping Hindi speakers to learn about litigation procedures, their rights and duties without a language barrier, in addition to facilitating registration procedures via unified forms available through the ADJD website. The adoption of multilingual interactive forms for claim sheets, grievances and requests aim to promote judicial services in line with the plan Tomorrow 2021 and increase the transparency of litigation procedure. Indians in the UAE: The population of UAE is estimated to be around nine million of which 2/3rd are immigrants from foreign countries and the Indian community in the UAE, numbering 2.6 million, constitutes 30 per cent of the total population and is the largest expatriate community in the country.

35) The Prime Minister while addressing the Lok Sabha made the following claims about the creation: New jobs were created in the unorganised sector, which accounts for 80-85 per cent employment. PM cited an increase in the sale of commercial vehicles, infrastructure building and housing activities as evidence for the claim. PM further said that 1.8 crore people had enrolled in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) in the past 15 months, and 64 per cent of them, who were below the age of 28 were first-time employees. PM also cited data showing an increase in the registration of employees under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) from 65 lakh in March 2014 to 1.2 crore till October 2018. Why the critics claim this argument as flawed? The critics refuse to buy these data on job creation based on the following grounds: Considering the EPF enrolments as a reflector of job creation is not correct as it can be the formalisation of informal jobs. Enrolment for the EPF does not necessarily mean that the person has got a job. It is most likely that the person has enrolled for the EPF for the first time though he/she had a job for a long time. As per the law, an employer with 20 people or more is required to register with the EPFO. If a firm had 19 employees till yesterday and today 20th person joins in, then all 20 would be enrolled for the first time. Hence what is perceived as 20 jobs created is actually one. PM also said that new 6.35 lakh new non-corporate taxpayers such as doctors must have provided jobs in the past four years. Experts call it “incomprehensible” in the absence of the source of the data. As per data from CMIE India’s unemployment rate shot up to 7.4 per cent in December 2018 and the number of unemployed increased by a substantial 11 million – the highest in 15 months. Further critics cite the alleged data from the NSSO survey which is said to be withheld by the government. It is said that the report puts the unemployment rate at 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, post-demonetisation. It is the highest level of unemployment since 1972-73 – the period since when the jobs data is comparable.

36) ASCEND 2019 is an ambitious initiative of the Kerala government to position the state as an investment hotspot. Union Minister of Commerce & Industries and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the day-long conclave, ASCEND 2019. ASCEND 2019: ASCEND 2019 aims to make Kerala a top investment destination and empower entrepreneurs to launch their enterprises in a speedy and hassle-free manner. The important aspects of the ASCEND 2019 are: ‘Invest Kerala Guide’ – a compendium of administrative and policy reforms was released by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Invest Kerala Guide provides a ready reckoner on the immense business opportunities in the state and simplified procedures and protocol in making the investment. The two-day conclave aims to bring into focus governance that is simplified, efficient and transparent and facilitates business and investments by clipping a plethora of irksome bureaucratic procedures. Invest Kerala Portal would be launched to improve the investment ecosystem of the state and help entrepreneurs from India and abroad to set up a wide array of enterprises and conduct business in a congenial environment. The two-day initiative will also display the landmark administrative and policy reforms that have considerably improved Ease of Doing Business in Kerala and raised its profile among both industry leaders and young entrepreneurs for setting up their shops. K-SWIFT (Kerala Single Window Interface for Fast, Transparent Clearances) and IBPMS (Intelligent Building Plan Management System) will be displayed on the two-day conclave. KSWIFT is an online clearance mechanism designed by the Kerala government to simplify and speed up the issuance of clearances from Departments / Agencies for launching enterprises in the state. The two-day conclave would be attended by the leading lights from industry and businesses.

37) India has successfully undertaken the demonstration of the indigenously developed propulsion technology. The successful demonstration of indigenous technology is a step forward in the development of long-range air-to-air missiles. A Long Journey: India had embarked on the journey to indigenously develop the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology in 2013 with estimated funding of nearly Rs 500 cr to develop the technology and demonstrate it in 5 years. The Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) at Hyderabad was the lead agency for the collaborative mission project. The first test of this indigenous technology was carried out in May 2018. The recent one was a second trail and it established a series of technologies including the ground booster, separation of the ground booster and nozzle-less booster. During the test flight, the missile was guided to high altitude to simulate aircraft release conditions and subsequently the nozzle-less. All the mission parameters were successfully met. How Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propelled missile is different? The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propelled missile uses the air-breathing ramjet propulsion technology, which helps propel the missile at high supersonic speeds (above Mach 2) for engaging targets at long ranges.

38) The Asiatic Lion Conservation Project was announced by the Centre and the Gujarat government at a cost of Rs 97.85 crore. Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: Asiatic Lion Conservation Project would use modern information and communication technology for conservation and protection efforts of the Great Gir Region, including GPS-based animal and vehicle tracking, automated sensor grid with movement sensors, night vision capability and real-time monitoring and report generation. The project will also have a dedicated veterinary institute, “lion ambulances”, and back-up stocks of vaccines that may be required. The government of Gujarat has envisaged a ‘Greater Gir’ that includes, other than the existing Gir National Park, sanctuaries in Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala. The conservation project also includes “habitat improvement” measures, making more sources of water available, creating a wildlife crime cell, and a task force for the Greater Gir region. Conservation of Asiatic Lion: In 2013 Supreme Court had ordered translocation of some lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh within six months and the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was identified to be the most suitable for reintroducing the species. But no step forwards was made in this regard. The translocation was planned as part of long-term survival plan so that the objectives of the conservation would be best served if they could be present outside Gujarat, too, so that they are protected against calamities like a forest fire, a disease, or calamities. The deaths of the Asiatic lions in Gujrat last year has again brought the questions of conservation to the forefront. The other challenge is the increasing number of Asiatic Lions in Gujrat. As a result, several of them were now found outside protected areas and involved in the human-animal conflict as well as in increasing contact with domestic animals as well as feral dogs, from where they could have contracted the virus.

39) The annual multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express was held from 27 Jan to 06 Feb 19. The exercise is aimed to improve law enforcement capacity, promote regional security and progress inter-operability between the armed forces of the participating nations for the purpose of interdicting illegal maritime activity in the Western Indian Ocean. The annual Exercise Cutlass Express is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and conducted by Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF). Exercise Cutlass Express 2019 is the eighth iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise and was held in the vicinity of Djibouti, Mozambique and Seychelles. The participating nations in the exercise Cutlass Express 2019 were Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, France, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Portugal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, The Netherlands and the United States. The Indian Navy was represented in the exercise through INS Trikand. During the exercise, Naval, Coast Guard and Marine Police personnel from a number of East African countries were jointly trained by mentors from USA, India, and Netherlands, with the support of international organisations like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Combined Maritime Force (CMF) and European Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR).

40) The government of Meghalaya has decided to rename the Dikkibandi stadium after P A Sangma. The decision was made by the state cabinet as per the recommendations made by state naming authority tasked with the job to name roads, and institutions after personalities. Along with the Dikkibandi stadium, a junction leading to AMPT road in Tura have been renamed after P A Sangma. P A Sangma: Purno Agitok Sangma has served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He began his political journey with the Congress party and represented the Tura constituency of Meghalaya in Lok Sabha multiple times. P A Sangma served as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990. He formed the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999 along with Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar. He contested the elections for the post of President of India in 2012 and lost the elections to Pranab Mukherjee. P A Sangma died from cardiac arrest in New Delhi on 4 March 2016 at the age of 68.

41) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the development works at Tripura during his visit. The development projects inaugurated were: A 23.32-km railway track in southern Tripura. This 23 Km Garjee-Belonia section is built at a cost of Rs 400 crore and is part of the Rs 3,407-crore Agartala-Sabroom (115 km) national railway project aiming to link southern Tripura’s last border town (Sabroom). This new railway line would facilitate the carriage of goods and passengers from the northeastern states on the Bangladeshi railway network. New complex of Tripura Institute of Technology (TIT) at Narsingarh. The new complex was built at a cost of Rs 103 crore. The cost was shared by the state and the Central government. Unveiled a statue of Tripura’s last ruler, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya at the Agartala airport. Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya: Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya (reigned 1923-47) is considered as the father of modern architecture in Tripura, as the entire planning of present-day Tripura was initiated during his rule including planning of the capital city of Tripura, Agartala. In 1939, the Maharaja reserved land for the local Tripura tribals, which was later instrumental in the creation of the Tripura autonomous district council. He is also credited for the construction of the first airport at Agartala in Tripura, which is today the second busiest airport in the entire northeast. The statue of the Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya is designed and built by the faculty and students of Tripura government’s Art and Craft College at a cost of Rs 5 lakh. The statue was unveiled as part of the efforts of the union government policy of honouring the unsung heroes of India, who have contributed greatly to nation-building.