Current Affairs Quiz: 16 March 2017

These quizzes will help you in answering questions which can/may be asked in the next exam that will be faced by you. The day’s updated quizzes cover the topics like launch of Women in Politics Map 2017, IIIT PPP Bill, 2017 and US Federal Reserve raised among others.
1. As per the Women in Politics Map 2017 launched by the UN, India stands at which number?
a) 142
b) 149
c) 144
d) 148

2. Snapdeal partnered with which of the following trade organisations to sell Japanese products?
a) JETRO
b) METRO
c) JATRO
d) MATRO

3. The Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga recently approved 20 projects worth nearly Rs 1900 crore. In this regard, consider the following statements.
I. Out of 20 projects, 13 are in Uttarakhand.
II. All the projects will be completely funded by the Union Government. Which is/are correct? a) Only I
b) Only II
c) Both I and II
d) Neither I nor II

4. The Union Cabinet approved introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT PPP) Bill, 2017. The bill grants statutory status to how many IIITs in Public Private Partnership and declares them as Institutions of National Importance?
a) Fifteen
b) Sixteen
c) Twenty
d) Ten

5. The US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by
a) 0.15 per cent
b) 0.25 per cent
c) 0.50 per cent
d) 0.75 per cent

6. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to permit Indian Oil to sale this much per cent of the equity in Lubrizol India to Lubrizol Corporation.
a) 14 per cent
b) 24 per cent
c) 34 per cent
d) 44 per cent

7. Which State government proposed to set up a Cashew Development Board for developing 10,000 hectares of good quality of cashew orchards?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Assam
d) Karnataka

8. The Union Cabinet apprised of MoUs for cooperation in youth and sports matters with these two countries recently.
a) Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
b) Tajikistan & Vietnam
c) Indonesia & Malaysia
d) Malaysia & Kyrgyzstan

9. Name the person who introduced Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017 in its the US House of Representatives.
a) John Culberson
b) Gene Green
c) Joe Barton
d) Ted Poe

10. Name the bank that announced a one-time farm loan settlement scheme worth Rs 6000 crore primarily for tractors.
a) State Bank of India
b) Punjab National Bank
c) Allahabad Bank
d) Axis Bank

11. Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur recently?
a) Manohar Parrikar
b) Laxmikant Parsekar
c) M Venkaiah Naidu
d) N Biren Singh

12. What was the theme of the 2017 Commonwealth Day?
a) A peace-building Commonwealth
b) Team Commonwealth
c) An Inclusive Commonwealth
d) A Young Commonwealth

13. Union government launched the Blue Revolution programme at a total expenditure of what amount?
a) Rs 48000 lakh
b) Rs 52000 lakh
c) Rs 55000 lakh
d) Rs 62000 lakh

14. The National security advisers in the US aren’t subject to Senate confirmation but the appointment of Lieutenant General HR McMaster to the post required a senate vote because:
I. He refused to retire from military service
II. He chose to remain as an active military officer
III. Generals need chamber’s approval when they’re promoted IV. He doesn’t have prior experience in serving a political office Which among the above statements is correct?
a) All of the above
b) None of the above
c) I, II and III
d) I, II and IV

15. The Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) on 15 March 2017. I. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging the gap in export infrastructure.
II. The scheme would help in ensuring smoother movement in export cargo and better quality standards and certification.
III. Under this scheme, all central and state agencies including Commodities Boards, SEZ authorities and Export Promotion Councils will be eligible for financial support.
IV. The funding would be in form of grant-in-aid and in normal cases it would not be more than the equity being funded by the implementing agency. Which among the above sentences is correct with respect to the scheme’s objectives?
a) All of the above
b) Only I and II
c) I, II and III
d) I, II and IV

ANSWER 1. (d) 148 2.
(a) JETRO
3. (c) Both I and II
4.(a) Fifteen
5. (b) 0.25per cent
6. (b) 24per cent
7. (d) Karnataka
8. (a) Indonesia & Kyrgyzstan
9.. (d) Ted Poe
10. (a) State Bank of India
11. (d) N Biren Singh
12. (a) A peace-building Commonwealth
13. (b) 52000 lakh
14. (c) I, II and III
15. (a) All of the above

World’s oldest red algae fossils found in India

World’s oldest red algae fossils found in India A group of scientists in India unearthed a pair of 1.6 billion-year-old fossils that appear to contain red algae. It is estimated that it may be the oldest plant-like life discovered on Earth. The study was published in March 2017 in the journal PLOS Biology. As per the paper, until now, the oldest known red algae were 1.2 billion years old. Key highlights of the study
• The preserved fossils came from phosphorite deposits at Jankikund, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh.
• The samples were analyzed by Professor Stefan Bengtson at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and co-authors.
• They discovered two kinds of fossils resembling red algae. One type is thread-like (named Rafatazmia chitrakootensis) and another consists of fleshy colonies (Ramathallus lobatus).
• The researchers looked inside the algae with the help of synchrotron-based X-ray tomographic microscopy.
• The rocks mainly consist of calcium and magnesium carbonates. However, the microbial mats and the fossils are preserved in calcium phosphate, which allowed the researchers to view the cellular and subcellular structures in three dimensions with the use of synchrotron-radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy.
• In addition, they also found regularly recurring platelets in each cell, which are believed to be parts of chloroplasts.
• Also, distinct and regular structures at the center of each cell wall were also found. It is rather typical of red algae.

H-1B premium processing suspended to handle huge rush

H-1B premium processing suspended to handle huge rush: US The United States (US) has temporarily suspended the premium processing of H-1B visas. H-1B visas, which are popular among Indian IT firms and professionals. The US that gave the information about this suspension in the second week of March 2017 said the temporary ban was implemented to handle the huge rush of applications for the work visas in the first week of April. EU court allows employers to ban workers from wearing religious symbols At the time of suspension of the H-1B premium processing, the petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, request for premium processing service, for a Form I-129, petition for a nonimmigrant worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. In the case of such H-1B petition during the period will be rejected. As per reports, Lori Scialabba, the acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told members of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management efficiency that US will start accepting applications for H-1B work visas from 3 April 2017 for fiscal 2018. A notification on the official website of the department of homeland security says, “All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected”. Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act introduced in US House of Representatives Scialabba informed that USCIS receives about two lakh or more H-1B applications for processing in the first week of April. She also said, once the suspension is lifted, people will be able to file for premium processing and their application will be processed within 15 days. H-1B Program The programme allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific speciality, or its equivalent. H-1B speciality occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology. Under the H-1B programme, US issue an H-1B visa, which is a non-immigrant visa for foreigners. These visas are provided to foreigners for being employed in US companies.

World Bank Group approved USD 210 million for strengthening gram panchayats in West Bengal

World Bank Group approved USD 210 million for strengthening gram panchayats in West Bengal  The World Bank Group (WBG) on 15 March 2017 approved USD 210 million loan to strengthen gram panchayats (GPs) in West Bengal. The loan amount will be utilized for the implementation of the Phase II of the West Bengal Support to Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat Program (ISGPP-II). The ISGPP-II will support all 3,342 GPs in the state to effectively utilize untied and discretionary funds that are being provided to them under the inter-governmental fiscal transfer system. Features of West Bengal Support to Institutional Strengthening of Gram Panchayat Program (ISGPP)
• The program seeks to strengthen local communities’ participation in the planning, budgeting and financial management of projects undertaken in rural areas.
• During the first phase of this project (ISGPP-I), performance-based block grants (PBG) were given to 1,000 better performing GPs within nine districts for investing in priority local infrastructure and service delivery projects.
• So far, 92,000 activities were carried out by the GPs under the ISGPP. Out of them, while 54 per cent of the activities belonged to the transport sector, 23 per cent in the areas concerning water and sanitation.
• Similar activities are envisioned under ISGPP-II for all 3,342 GPs. These activities will generate economic benefits including employment generation and increased efficiency in spending. World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India
• The ISGPP-II will accelerate the pace of decentralization to all GPs across West Bengal through a state-wide unified performance-based grant (PBG) allocation system.
• In order to access the PBG, GPs will be assessed on an annual basis through an independent Annual Performance Assessment (APA).
• The APA will be conducted for all 3,342 GPs in key performance areas including planning and budgeting, project execution and service delivery, accounting, financial reporting and auditing and transparency and accountability.
• Some of the other areas that the program will focus on include building human resource capacity for increased transparency and accountability in local government functioning.
• To achieve these goals, a robust internal audit system will also be developed and implemented in all the GPs.

G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors to begin in Germany

G20 meet of finance ministers and central bank governors to begin in Germany The finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 economies (G20) are due to meet in Baden-Baden in Germany from 17-18 March 2017. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening economic resilience in finance and digitalisation and to promote investment in Africa. Key Highlights
• The meeting will provide a preliminary discussion platform for the finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss their points ahead of the G20 Summit of heads of state and government that will be held in Hamburg, Germany from 7-8 July.
• All the focus will be on whether they are able to agree to work together to promote free trade between themselves despite the protectionist tendency of the United States.
• This meet will be the first such gathering of leaders to discuss global economic challenges since Donald Trump took over as the President of United States in January 2017.
• While most of the G20 nations have been in agreement that encouraging free trade is the way to foster the world economy, Trump administration has been seen taking a protectionist stance on the same, saying it is a part of their effort to save jobs in the US.
• The results of the meeting will be shared by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann in a news conference, which is to be held on 18 March 2017.
• The G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs will be convening again at the International Monetary Fund's spring and annual meetings in April and October 2017 in Washington DC. India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India About G20
• It is an international forum comprising governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
• It was founded in 1999 with the aim of achieving international coordination on policy issues to promote international financial stability.
• The group seeks to address issues that are beyond the responsibility of a particular organisation.
• Some of the member economies include the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, China, Australia, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers

India and Brazil sign agreement to protect rights of detached workers Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India and Brazil signed a social security agreement on 16 March 2017 in Brazil's capital Brasilia, exempting detached workers of the two countries from making social security contribution in either country, as long as they were making such contributions in their own respective nations. The text was signed between the Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry, K Nagaraj Naidu and Brazilian delegation led by Benedito A Brunca, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of Brazil. The same was confirmed through a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. Who are detached workers? They are the workers sent by their respective employers to work in the office of their company or an affiliated one located in a different country. Key Highlights
• The agreement establishes the rights and obligations of nationals belonging to both the countries and provides for their equal treatment and unrestricted payment of pensions even in the case of residence in the other contracting state.
• The requirements to be entitled for pension can be met by aggregating the periods of insurance completed in India and Brazil, whereby each country pays only the pension for the insurance periods covered by its laws.
• India has, so far, signed such Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with 18 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Korea.
• The agreement will come into force in the first half of 2018. It will have a positive impact on the profitability and competitive position of companies of both India and Brazil that are operating in either’s territory.
• The agreement will also help promote more investment flow between the two countries.
• Once the text comes into force, it will be the first such agreement between the BRICS nations.

Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India

Jwala Gutta included in Governing Body of Sports Authority of India Commonwealth badminton doubles gold medallist Jwala Gutta in the second week of March 2017 was included as a member of the governing body of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). In addition, BV Papa Rao, IAS (retired), was also added to the newly constituted governing body. He has the experience of being an officer on special duty of SAI from 1985 to 1990. At present, he is a sports administrator and advisor to Telangana Government. About Jwala Gutta
• Jwala Gutta is a left-handed Indian badminton player.
• She is India’s most successful doubles specialist.
• She has won the National Badminton Championships fourteen times.
• She has won numerous medals for Indian badminton including the bronze medal BWF World Championships in 2011 and a gold and silver at 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games respectively in women's doubles. • In 2011, she was awarded the Arjuna Award, India's second highest sporting award, for her achievements. About Sports Authority of India
• The Sports Authority of India is an apex National Sports body.
• It was set up in 1984 by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
• It was instituted for broad basing and bringing excellence in sports across India.
• SAI has 9 Regional Centres, which are located at Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Chandigarh,Kolkata, Imphal, Guwahati, Bhopal, Mumbai,Lucknow and Sonepat.
• It has two Academic institutions, which are Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NS NIS), Patiala and Laxmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).

Bibhu Prasad Kanungo appointed as Deputy Governor

Bibhu Prasad Kanungo appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI Odisha's Bibhu Prasad Kanungo was on 14 March 2017 appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from April 2017. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for a period of three years. He will succeed R Gandhi. Kanungo is the second person from Odisha to be appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI after Harun Rashid Khan whose term ended in July 2016. About Bibhu Prasad Kanungo
• In March 2016, Kanungo was appointed as Executive Director of RBI.
• He was in charge of Foreign Exchange Department before taking over as Executive Director of RBI.
• Earlier, he had served as RBI’s Regional Director in Jaipur and Kolkata.
• He also served as the Banking Intermediary for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• He began his banking career in 1979 by joining Oriental Bank of Commerce as a Probationary Officer and later in 1980, he joined RBI as an Officer.
• Kanungo is Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers and also holds a degree in Law (LLB) from Utkal University.
• He hails from Kendrapara district of Odisha.

The Governor's Role In The Hung Assembly

The Governor's Role In The Hung Assembly The Assembly Elections in Goa and Manipur produced an inconclusive verdict. As a result, there were Hung Assemblies. In Manipur, the BJP won 21 constituencies and the Congress won 28 constituencies out of 60 Constituencies. But BJP managed to form an alliance. In Goa, the BJP won 13 seats and the Congress won 17 seats out of 40 constituencies. Here also, BJP managed to form an alliance.  In Goa, the Congress Party protested at the Governor’s decision to invite the BJP to form the government. It triggered a debate about the role of the governor in government formation in the states. Especially, in the case of Hung Assembly, what are the constitutional provisions and what we need to know are explained below. History of such cases There are many such incidences in history where the political parties with fewer seats were invited to form the government by the governor. The BJP won 30 out of 81 seats in Jharkhand in 2005. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who won only 17 seats was invited to form the government. In Jammu and Kashmir 2002, the National Conference won 28 constituencies but the governor invited the Congress and PDP who won 21 and 15 constituencies. The BJP won 31 seats in Delhi in 2013, but the AAP who won 27 seats was invited to form the Government. There are other such incidences which took place in 1952 (Madras), 1967 (Rajasthan) and 1982 (Haryana). Role of the Governor in the government formation In 2006, President of India (then) Dr A P J Abdul Kalam while addressing the governors had emphasized the relevance of recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and said “While there are many checks and balances provided by the Constitution, the office of the Governor has been bestowed with the independence to rise above day-to-day politics and override compulsions either emanating from the central system or the state system.” In the Rameshwar Prasad Vs Union of India, 2006, case, a five-judge Constitution Bench, clearly recommended the suggestions made by the R S Sarkaria Commission in its report on Centre-State relations, which had emphasized on the impartiality of Governors and their role in upholding the constitutional mandate. Later, the M M Punchhi Commission also elaborated that the governor should follow “constitutional conventions” in a case of a hung Assembly. Further, in a case of a Hung Assembly, the Punchhi Commission prescribed:
1. The party or alliances which get the widest support in the Legislative Assembly should be called upon to form the government.
2. If there is a pre-poll coalition or alliance, it should be treated as one political party. And in case, such coalition gets a majority, the leader of such alliances shall be called by the Governor to form the government.
3. In case no pre-poll coalition or party has a clear majority, the governor should select the Chief Minister in the order of priorities indicated here: (i) The group of parties which had a pre-poll alliance of the largest number. (ii) The largest single party which claims to form the government with the support of others; (iii) A post-electoral alliance with all partners joining the government; (iv) A post-electoral alliance where parties are joining the government and the remaining including independents are supporting the government from outside. In the Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix Vs Deputy Speaker case a five-judge Bench, recommended the views of the Punchhi and Sarkaria Commissions regarding giving the Governor an independent discretion to take a call on the floor test when the government has lost the confidence of the legislature. In the S R Bommai case, a nine-judge Bench had underlined the significance of a floor test when there are claims by two political groups while laying down that the floor test must be conducted by the Governor as soon as possible. Constitutional Provisions In 1993, advocates on Record Association Vs Union of India, case which was a case in regards to weight of “constitutional convention”, a seven-judge bench, in Supreme Court, had held that “there is no distinction between the ‘constitutional law’ and an established ‘constitutional convention’ and both are binding in the field of their operation. The Supreme court also observed that “Once it is established to the satisfaction of the court that a particular convention exists and is operating then the convention becomes a part of the ‘constitutional law’ of the land and can be enforced in the like manner,”. Article 164(2) of the Constitution says that the Council of Ministers must be collectively responsible to the House. Similar Case in the Lok Sabha In Lok Sabha, the debate between a combination of parties constituting a majority versus the largest single party lacking majority was answered by the former President Shri KR Narayanan. Mr. Narayanan elaborated it in his communiqué in March 1998 when he invited Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee to form the Government. He had said “when no party or pre-election alliance of parties is in a clear majority, the Head of State has in India or elsewhere, given the first opportunity to the leader of the party or combination of parties that has won largest number of seats subject to the Prime Ministers so appointed obtaining majority support on the floor of the house within a stipulated time. This procedure is not, however, all time formula because situations can arise where MPs not belonging to the single largest party or combination can, as a collective entity, out-number the single largest claimant. The President’s choice of Prime Minister is pivoted on the would be Prime Minister’s claim of commanding majority support.” Conclusion In a democracy, the proper representation of public interest is of supreme importance. And the governments are chosen by the people. And, our constitution has clearly directed the ways how the government should be formed in the case of Hung Assembly. And it has given this prerogative to the Governors. So the governor should analyze which political party or alliance is forming the majority on the basis of constitutional provisions. And his decision should be followed by the political parties.

New Zealand River gains legal status of a person

New Zealand River gains legal status of a person, ending 140 years battle The Whanganui River in New Zealand has become the first landmark in the world to be granted the same legal rights as that of a human being, following a 140-year struggle. The river’s new legal identity comes with the passing of the Whanganui River Claims Settlement bill. The bill passed its third reading in New Zealand’s Parliament on 15 March 2017. It aims to establish a new legal framework for the river. Key Highlights
• The bill recognised the river as an indivisible, living whole from the mountains to the sea.
• The river is the first in the world to be granted all the rights, duties, liabilities and legal status of a person.
• The bill’s passing brought an end to the longest running litigation in the history of New Zealand. The people of Whanganui iwi have been fighting for the recognition of their relationship with the river since the 1870s.
• The settlement included a financial redress of $80 million as well as an additional $1 million contribution for establishing the river’s legal framework.
• Besides this, the crown would also be contributing a sum of $30 million for further betterment and well being of the river.
• The move followed the example used in the Tuhoe Settlement Bill that saw Te Urewera National Park gain the status of a legal entity in 2014.   Indian-American teen Indrani Das wins 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search Mercer released 2017 Quality of Living Survey Commenting on the century-long fight, Gerrard Albert , the lead negotiator in the case, stated that the  river is a sacred landmark for the Maori Iwi tribe, they treat it as an ancestor and thus, they needed to find something that would help uphold its position. Speaking on the case, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson stated that the approach of granting legal identity to a river was unique, as the legislation recognised the deep spiritual connection between the locals and the ancestral river and created a strong platform for the future of the river. The new status means that from here on, any abuse or harm caused to the river will be viewed in the same light as harm caused to a human being. Besides this, two guardians will be appointed – one from the crown and one from the Whanganui iwi to act on the behalf of the river. Union Government approves National Health Policy 2017 Background
• All the Maori tribes regard themselves as part of the universe, at par with the mountains, rivers and seas.
• The local tribe of Whanganui has been fighting for the recognition of the river as their ancestor for almost 140 years. • The river is New Zealand's longest navigable river and so, it has got a rich history of human interactions.
• There were once more than 100 Maori villages along the river’s banks.
• The introduction of a riverboat service in 1891 made the river an ideal channel for the flourishing of tourism and trade.
• The trade and communication undertaken through the river reached as far as Wellington, Waikato, Taranaki, Taupo and the Bay of Plenty.

Audit how much timber and money are generated from felling of trees in Delhi:

Audit how much timber and money are generated from felling of trees in Delhi: High Court to CAG  The Delhi High Court on 16 March 2017 asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to audit the forest department and other agencies on the aspects of how much timber and money are generated from the felling of trees in the city. The direction was issued by a two-judge bench of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar. The direction was issued by the court while hearing a PIL initiated by the court on the issue of air pollution and its causes. In its reply on the plea, the Delhi Government informed the court that some timber is auctioned off and some are provided free of cost to crematoriums. In response to which, the court said that it wants to know what happens to the funds that are received by auctioning the timbers and the quantity of timber that is provided to the crematoriums. It also observed that the bereaved families are made to pay for the wood at crematoriums. Highlights of the observation of the High Court
• The court said that it wanted to know how the timber from felled trees and the money charged for permission to cut them were being utilised.
• The bench observed that the trail of timber and the trail of money has to be checked.
• In its observation, the court said that what concerns is that whether each and every tree felled is accounted for in terms of money and timber and whether compensatory afforestation is taking place. Besides, the court also directed the Delhi government to increase the green cover in the national capital to the desired objective of 25 per cent. It also said that not only the existing forests should be preserved and maintained, but areas under encroachment should be reclaimed. It said that the trees in non-forest areas should be replenished if cut and further plantation of trees under compensatory afforestation scheme be undertaken. Who will fall under the bracket of the audit by CAG? CAG will be auditing the case in aspects of the forest department of the Delhi Government and other agencies including the three municipal corporations, the New Delhi Municipal Council, the Public Works Department, Delhi Metro, the Cantonment Board and Northern Railway.

Parliamentary panel suggests BSNL-MTNL merger for long-term

Parliamentary panel suggests BSNL-MTNL merger for long-term survival A Parliamentary panel in its report has suggested a merger of state-run telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) for their long-term survival. The Committee on Petitions, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari, in its report tabled in Lok Sabha on 16 March 2017, said that for the long-term survival and success, the merger of the MTNL and BSNL would be a good proposition. The panel opined that their merger would give both the entities a chance to compete against private sector players. Madhukar Gupta Committee report submitted to Union Government In addition to this, the panel also suggested that the synergies and advantages inherent in an integrated national telecom infrastructure would pave the way for the lower cost of investment and greater combined ability to face competition. As per reports, the panel was informed that both the public sector firms are in financial losses and are facing declining revenues from the loss of market share and increasing expenditure. The information was provided by the Department of Telecom (DoT). UN launches Women in Politics Map 2017; India placed at 148th number Highlights of the DoT’s information to the panel
• The two PSUs were not successful in investing adequately in the expansion and modernisation of their network, which leads to coverage issues.
• Now, these firms are taking steps to modernise their wireline and wireless networks.
• The panel was informed about phase 7 and 8 network expansion plan for BSNL.
• In the case of MTNL, the DoT informed that due to financial crunch, the firm was not able to upgrade its GSM and landline network for the last three-four years. But at present, it is exploring Managed Service Model with BSNL for its mobile services. Mercer released 2017 Quality of Living Survey Besides, urging the government to consider its findings in relation to the merger of BSNL and MTNL, the panel also requested it to constitute an expert committee. The committee was formed to look into representation received by BJP MP Arvind Sawant regarding improvement in services provided by BSNL and MTNL.

Indian-American teen Indrani Das wins 2017 Regeneron Science Talent

Indian-American teen Indrani Das wins 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search Indrani Das, an Indian-American high school student, in second week of March 2017 won the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search bagging the top award of USD 250000. Das won the prestigious high school science and mathematics competition for her new approach to neurological damage. The Indian-American teen is a student at the Academy for Medical Science Technology in Hackensack. Aaron Yeiser, a senior at Perkiomen Valley High School, Pennsylvania, won the second place award of USD 175000. He grabbed the prize for his development of a new mathematical method to solve partial differential equations on complicated geometries. The third place was clinched by another Indian-American student, Arjun Srinivasan Ramani. He was awarded USD 150000 for blending the mathematical field of graph theory with computer programming to answer questions about networks. About Regeneron Science Talent Search
• The Regeneron Science Talent Search is a research-based science competition in the United States for high school seniors.
• For its first 57 years, the competition was known as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. From 1988 to 2015, it was known as the Intel Science Talent Search.
• The competition has been referred to as "the nation's oldest and most prestigious" science competition.
• Former US President George H. W. Bush, in his speech at the dinner honouring the 1991 winners, called the competition as the "Super Bowl of science."

World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India

World Bank Board approves USD 175 million National Hydrology Project of India The World Bank Board on 16 March 2017 approved the USD 175 million National Hydrology Project to strengthen capacity of institutions to assess water situation in their regions. This loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of World Bank will have a 6-year grace period and a maturity of 23 years. The project is aimed at assisting the institutions in reducing the vulnerability to recurring flood and droughts. Highlights of the National Hydrology Project
• The National Hydrology Project will scale up the successes achieved under Hydrology Project-I and Hydrology Project-II to cover the entire country including the states of Ganga and Brahmaputra-Barak basins.
• For the first time, under HP-I and HP-II, real-time flood forecast systems integrated with weather forecast in Krishna and Satluj-Beas river systems will give reservoir managers an accurate picture of the water situation in their region.
• Apart from benefitting the states in further upgrading and completing their monitoring networks, it will also help new states to better manage water flows from the reservoirs.
• National Flood Forecasting Systems with an advance warning system and reservoir operation systems as well as water resources accounting in river basins will be included under the project.
• It will have the potential to help communities to build resilience against possible uncertainties of climate change.
• It will also help the states to monitor all the important aspects of the hydro-meteorological cycle and adopt the procedures to measure how much rain or snow has fallen right in the catchments of rivers, how much silt has built up, and how much water will reach the reservoir.
• Sensors in the field will instantly transmit this information to data centres through satellite or mobile phone technology to form a clear picture of the water situation unfolding in the region.