Dear SH Aspirants,
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Government announces 4
new schemes to promote young scientists
On January 24, 2018, Central Government
launched four new schemes to promote young scientists and researchers in India.
All the schemes focus on empowering, recognising and motivating youth.
i. Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) Scheme will connect
the educators to leading public funded institutions like Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) or national institutions
like Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)to
pursue research.
ii. Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship scheme, support
will be offered to 100 PhD scholars for training at foreign
universities/laboratories up to 12 months during their doctoral research.
iii. Distinguished Investigator Award scheme, 100
fellowships will be offered to principal investigators of Science and
Engineering Research Board/Department of Science and Technology projects.
iv. Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) scheme aims
to encourage science writing.
International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with
Disabilities in the Election Process’ in New Delhi
On January 24, 2018, Election Commission
of India (ECI) hosted a one-day International Conference on ‘Inclusion of
Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ in New Delhi.
ighlights of International Conference on ‘Inclusion of
Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’:
i. The Conference was organized under the
VoICE.NET platform, a common knowledge/resource sharing network
for 25 Election Management Bodies and International Organisations.
ii. It was attended by representatives from five Election
Management Bodies (EMBs) viz. Australia, Guinea, Bhutan, Moldova & Zambia
and Heads of two International Organisations viz. International Institute for
Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and International Foundation of
Electoral Systems (IFES).
iii. During the conference, representatives from EMBs and
international organisations shared their experiences, initiatives and best
practices for electoral engagement, enrolment and active participation of
Persons with Disabilities in ballot exercise.
iv. On the sidelines of the Conference, ECI
signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the field of
election management with Central Election Commission of Moldova, with National
Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) of Guinea and also with International
Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
India, Vietnam sign MoUs on I&B, space cooperation
On January 24, 2018, India and Vietnam
signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the areas of
Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and space.
Details about India-Vietnam MoU:
i. MoU documents were exchanged in presence of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnam counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc in New
Delhi.
ii. Under the MoU, India and Vietnam will strive to
enhance cooperation in the field of Information and Broadcasting based on
principles of equality and in accordance with their national laws and
regulations.
iii. In area of space cooperation, India and
Vietnam have agreed on the implementation arrangement between Vietnam’s
National Remote Sensing Department and Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) for the establishment of tracking and data reception station and data
processing facility in Vietnam. This arrangement will be set up
under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation.
Quick Facts about Vietnam:
♦ Capital – Hanoi
♦ Currency – Vietnamese Dong
♦ Current President – Tran Dai Quang
♦ Important Rivers – Red River, Perfume
River
Government to increase number of ‘AMRIT’ pharmacy stores 4
times
Union Health Minister, J P Nadda has stated
that his ministry is working to increase the number of AMRIT pharmacy stores by
four times (from the existing 111 outlets) by the end of 2018.
About AMRIT Pharmacy stores:
i. Since November 2015, Union Ministry for Health & Family Welfare
has opened several Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment
(AMRIT) pharmacy stores across India with an aim to reduce
the expenditure incurred by patients on treatment of cancer and heart diseases.
ii. According to Mr. Nadda, AMRIT stores have benefited
over 52 lakh patients as medicine buyers have saved over Rs 267 crore by buying
drugs from these stores.
iii. In order to help more patients, Health Ministry is
working for opening more such stores. Mr. Nadda has stated that the goal is to
have one AMRIT store in every district of India.
