- Ravi Mittal appointed part-time member of IRDAI board
Ravi Mittal, who has joined as an additional secretary in the Ministry of Finance in place of Anil Khachi, is now a part-time member of the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) board.
Besides, Maruthi Prasad Tangirala, a 1990-batch IP&TAFS (Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service) officer, has been appointed as an executive director (ED) at IRDAI and his position will be equivalent to a joint secretary.
- Delhi metro first to become 100% ‘green’
Delhi Metro has become the only completely ‘green’ Metro system in the world for adhering to green building norms for its residential colonies.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had earlier received the green certificates for its Phase-3 stations, depots, and sub-stations.
Delhi Metro has also secured the platinum rating for adherence to green building norms for its 10 residential colonies from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
- Maharashtra bans integrated coaching from next academic year
Maharashtra government has announced that integrated coaching will not be allowed in the state from the next academic year.
It will be compulsory to attend college lectures and attendance will be marked through bio-metric system, reports said.
Notably, integrated coaching is an arrangement between colleges and coaching centres,in which students don’t need to attend college lectures.
- Punjab govt launches ‘Care Companion Programme’
Brahm Mohindra, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab has launched its flagship health scheme “Care Companion Programme” (CCP) targeted at improving patient outcomes through better family engagement and education.
Government of Punjab, has entered into an MoU, with Noora Health India Trust, a healthcare non-profit organization dedicated to patient and caregiver education that works to improve patient outcomes through better family engagement and education through the award winning Care Companion Program (CCP).
- Ministry of Health releases Operational Guidelines for Planning and Implementation of Family Participatory Care
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released Operational Guidelines for Planning and Implementation of Family Participatory Care (FPC) for improving newborn health.
The guidelines will serve as a guiding document for those intending to introduce FPC in their facility as an integral part of facility based newborn care.
The document also provides details of infrastructure, training, role of health care providers and steps in the operationalization of FPC in the newborn care unit.
The operational guidelines of FPC are for all stakeholders involved in the process of planning and delivering newborn care.
- BSF and NSDC sign MoU on Skill Development
The Border Security Force (BSF) signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in the presence of MoS (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE.
The MoU will enable NSDC to provide “Skill training to retired and retiring BSF personnel, as well as to the population residing in the border areas.
- ‘India among top nations with potential for digital payments’: Digital Evolution Index 2017
India has emerged strong, exhibiting a high potential in terms of digital payments and has been categorised under the “break out” segment among 60 countries, according to the Digital Evolution Index 2017.
The Fletcher School at Tufts University in partnership with Mastercard, unveiled the Digital Evolution Index 2017.
- Canara Bank launches “CANDI”-its first digital branch in Bengaluru
Canara Bank, which has set an ambitious target of moving to ‘paperless’ futuristic banking, launched its first ‘Digital Banking Branch’ at Spencer Towers in MG Road, Bengaluru.
Titled ‘CANDI’, the branch will provide an end-to-end digital experience to customers. The bank, as part of the run-up to its digital foray, has introduced customer-friendly mobile apps which help customers get most of the information related to their accounts from the app without the need to visit the branch.
The most attractive feature of the Digital Branch is a humanoid robot that addresses basic queries of customers on banking products and services. This is a first-of-its kind initiative by a public sector bank in the country.
- DRDO develops India’s first unmanned tank ‘‘MUNTRA’
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India’s first unmanned tank, which has three variants – surveillance, mine detection and reconnaissance in areas with nuclear and bio threats.
It is called Muntra (Mission UNmanned TRAcked) and has been rolled out of the Chennai lab.
The tanks will facilitate Indian Armed forces in conducting unmanned surveillance missions.
Muntra-S developed for unmanned surveillance missions, where as Muntra-M is built for detecting mines.
- US successfully tests THAAD with ballistic missile
The United States said it shot down a medium-range target ballistic missile in its latest test of the country’s THAAD missile defense program, which is designed to protect the country against potential threats from countries such as North Korea and Iran.
The test, conducted over the Pacific Ocean, comes amid heightened tensions with North Korea, which said it had conducted its own successful test of a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that proved it has the capacity to strike American’s mainland.
- Breakthrough Starshot successfully launch world’s smallest spacecraft
The smallest spacecraft ever launched are successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth, scientists have announced.
Known as ‘Sprites’, the miniature satellites are just 3.5cm x 3.5cm and carry radios, sensors and computers, with each device powered by sunlight and weighing just four grams.
- July 30, 2017: World day against trafficking in persons
The United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2017 is observed across the world on 30 July.
This year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selected ‘Act to Protect and Assist Trafficked Persons’ as the focus of the Day.
The theme emphasizes one of the most pressing issues of the large mixed migration movements of refugees and migrants.
The day aims at raising awareness of the plight of human trafficking victims, and promoting and protecting their rights.
- 2017 BRICS national security advisors (NSAs) meeting held in china
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in China to attend Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (Brics) top security officials meeting beginning during which he is expected to hold talks with Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi on the ongoing Sikkim standoff.
This meeting is a major platform for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries to discuss and conduct cooperation in politics and security fields.
Discussions were held on topics including global governance, anti-terrorism, internet security and energy security, as well as major international and regional hotspot issues.
- Sri Lanka signs deal on Hambantota port with China
Sri Lanka has signed a $1.1 billion deal to sell a 70% stake of the strategic Hambantota port to China, amid concerns over the massive debt the island nation incurred in building the port.
The deal had been delayed by several months over concerns that the deep-sea port could be used by the Chinese Navy.
Cash-rich China has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure since the end of a brutal civil war in 2009.
- World’s longest hanging bridge opens in Swiss Alps
The world’s longest hanging pedestrian bridge opened in the Swiss Alps near the town of Zermatt. The structure measures 494 meters in length and hangs 85 meters above the Grabengufer ravine.
The Zermatt Tourist board claims it’s the world’s longest hanging bridge, although a similar bridge in Austria hangs 110m higher off the ground.
- Shiva, Manoj strike gold at Czech boxing tournament
Indian boxers packed quite a heavy punch at the 48th Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem, clinching five gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the event in the Czech Republic.
World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (60kg), former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (69kg), Amit Phangal (52kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg) claimed gold medals after winning their respective summit clashes.
Kavinder Bisht (52kg) and Manish Panwar (81kg), on the other hand, settled for silver medals. Earlier, Sumit Sangwan (91kg) had claimed a bronze after going down in the semifinals.
- Sebastian Vettel wins Hungarian Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel eases to Hungarian Grand Prix victory in Ferrari one-two
Hamilton hands third place to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
The Hungarian Grand Prix could yet stand as one of the defining moments of the 2017 Formula One season.
- Freedom fighter k E Mammen passes away
Freedom fighter K.E. Mammen, who had participated in the Quit India Movement, passed away. He was 96.
Mr. Mammen had always followed Gandhian principles. He became active in the freedom movement as a college student.
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