- PM inaugurates hospital in Dickoya, addresses Indian Origin Tamil community in Norwood
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has inaugurated a hospital in Dickoya in Central Province of Sri Lanka, built with Indian assistance. A large number of people lined the roadside, to welcome Prime Minister Modi, who later addressed a large gathering of Indian Origin Tamils at Norwood, in the presence of the Sri Lankan President, Sri Lankan Prime Minister, and a large number of community leaders. During the address, the Prime Minister spoke of the contributions of the Indian Origin Tamil community to Sri Lanka, and the long shared heritage between India and Sri Lanka.
- PM addresses Opening Ceremony of the International Vesak Day Celebrations
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Opening Ceremony of the International Vesak Day Celebrations at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
Vesak as the most sacred of days, when humanity reveres the birth, enlightenment and Parinirvana of Lord Buddha. He added that it is a day to reflect on the supreme truth and timeless relevance of Dhamma, and the four noble truths.
- TN to not give top ranks in board exams to cut competition
Tamil Nadu’s education system, the education department has said that the first three ranks in the state board exams will not be announced. Normally, the department announces names of three rank holders
This announcement comes on a day when a panel is meeting in Chennai to discuss the necessary reforms in education in the state. The decision reportedly comes after 20 years of educationalists demanding that the announcement of ranks be stopped. This was allegedly making the entire education system a form of business and removing the focus from gaining knowledge and placing it on procuring marks.
- Telangana first state with logo for hearing impaired drivers
Hyderabad-based graphic designer Manikanta Annapragada, the first person to obtain a driving license in the ‘hearing impaired’ category designed the logo. Telangana has introduced a logo for identifying vehicles driven by persons with hearing impairment and has become the first state in the country to do so.
The state’s transport department has finalised the logo designed by Hyderabad-based graphic designer Manikanta Annapragada, who incidentally is the first person to obtain a driving license in the ‘hearing impaired’ category.
- NHAI Masala Bond Launched at London Stock Exchange
The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Shri. Nitin Gadkari has launched the NHAI Masala Bond issue at the London Stock Exchange. The NHAI issue witnessed an overwhelming response from a wide range of investors, some of them being first timers to participate in the Masala Bond market.
The transaction marks the largest ever 5 year issuance and the largest inaugural transaction in Masala Bond market. Some of the leading investors were still showing interest in the NHAI issue who may be brought into the fold in the near future.
- Income Tax dept launches e-facility to link Aadhaar with PAN
The Income Tax Department is offering a new way of linking Aadhaar numbers with permanent account numbers (PAN) on its e-filing website, in a move aimed at increasing compliance.
Linking Aadhaar with PAN would help the government ensure that subsidies reach only intended beneficiaries as the tax department can confirm with other arms of the government whether a beneficiary of a scheme, for example, LPG subsidy, belongs to the eligible income group
- India to buy anti-nuclear suits from US for ₹480 crore
The United States has approved the sale of anti-chemical and anti-nuclear suits to India for a cost of $75 million — approximately Rs 480 crore. The purchase is sure to boost India’s capacity to handle, contain and even foil possible chemical, biological or nuclear-based attacks.
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement to the US Congress that it has ‘made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the government of India for CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence] support equipment.
- US launch web-portal to track policies of Indian states
A top US think-tank has launched a knowledge web-portal which tracks the policy and regulatory environments of major Indian states. An initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the online web portal the ‘Engaging Indian States,’ was launched by Griffin Thompson, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Transformation and Richard Rossow, senior adviser and Wadhwani Chair in the US-India Policy Studies.
- India unanimously elected as President of UN-Habitat
India has been unanimously elected as the president of the UN-Habitat, an organ of the United Nations to promote sustainable human settlements across the globe. UN-Habitat reports to the United Nations General Assembly. Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who is currently in Nairobi in Kenya, will chair the four-day meeting of the 58-member Governing Council (GC) of UN-Habitat .
- India & Japan to Strengthen Defence Cooperation
Japan and India affirmed plans to strengthen their military cooperation amid rising tension in the Asian region. Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told his Japanese counterpart, Tomomi Inada, in Tokyo that his country hopes to pursue a strategic partnership with Japan for regional peace and stability. His visit comes at a time of rising tension in the region, including territorial rows in the South China Sea and nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.
- Indian wrestlers win 2 bronze medals at Asian Championships
Anil Kumar and Jyoti provided India two bronze medals with contrasting performances in their respective weight categories on the second day of the Asian Wrestling Championship, at New Delhi. Anil fought hard to climb up the podium on the day when India bagged two medals out of five outings.
- VVS Laxman awarded honorary life membership of MCC
Former India batsman V.V.S. Laxman has been elected an honorary life member of Marylebone Cricket Club. Laxman joins fellow former India top-order team-mates Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly as an honorary life member of MCC, the owners of London’s Lord’s ground – widely known as the ‘Home of Cricket’.
The 42-year-old Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman played 134 Tests, 86 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 internationals for India.
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