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69

19TH JULY 2015 1ST AUGUST 2015

Index:

NATIONAL
PM launches Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana
Cabinet approves setting up of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund

Cabinet nod for Consumer Protection Bill 2015

INDIA AND WORLD
India signed a loan agreement with ADB for National Urban Health Mission

INTERNATIONAL
U.N. Security Council adopted resolution on Irans nuclear programme deal
Ramon Magsaysay Award 2015
Kazakhstan became 162th member of WTO

ECONOMY
WTO strikes 'landmark' deal to cut tariffs on IT products

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Cryogenic engine of C25 Stage tested successfully

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NATIONAL
PM launches Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana
The Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 25 July 2015 launched Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) in
Patna on 25 July 2015. The DeenDayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for rural areas was launched to fulfil the objectives
of- to provide electrification to all villages; Feeder separation to ensure sufficient power to farmers and regular supply
to other consumers; Improvement of Sub-transmission and distribution network to improve the quality and reliability of
the supply and Metering to reduce the losses
Benefits of the scheme will be :

All villages and households shall be electrified

Increase in agriculture yield

Business of Small and household enterprises shall grow resulting into new avenues for employment
Improvement in Health, Education, Banking (ATM) services
Improvement in accessibility to radio, telephone, television, internet and mobile
Betterment in social security due to availability of electricity

Accessibility of electricity to schools, panchayats, hospitals and police stations

Rural areas shall get increased opportunities for comprehensive development.

The Scheme has an outlay of 76000 crore rupees for implementation of the projects under which Union Government
shall provide Grant of 63000 crore rupees.

Cabinet approves setting up of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund

Union Cabinet on 29 July 2015 approved setting up of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to back new
and stressed projects may help restart the investment cycle. The fund will have an initial corpus of 20000 crore rupees
which can be leveraged by infrastructure companies. NIIF objective is to boost infrastructure development in the
country and to provide equity support to non-banking financial companies and institutions set up to fund infrastructure
projects across sectors.
NIIF is proposed to be set up as a Trust which would raise debt to invest in the equity of infrastructure finance
companies such as Indian Rail Finance Corporation (IRFC) and National Housing Bank (NHB).
Government contribution would not exceed 49 per cent of the subscribed capital of NIIF, so that it can be seen as a
sovereign fund and take independent decisions on its planned investments.
The mandate of the NIIF would include investment in commercially viable and stalled projects. It would also consider
nationally important projects, especially in the manufacturing sector, if commercially viable. The fund was proposed
by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget 2015-16.

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Cabinet nod for Consumer Protection Bill 2015

The Cabinet has approved the Consumer Protection Bill 2015; on 30 July 2015. The bill envisages a regulatory authority
to curb unfair trade practices, along the lines of those in place in the U.S. and Europe for the fast-tracking of consumer
grievances. The new bill will provides for a comprehensive framework for protection of consumer interest and will
replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
The decision comes against the backdrop of emergence of complex products and services in the era of growing tele marketing, multi-level marketing, direct selling and e-commerce business in India that has rendered consumers
vulnerable to new forms of unfair trade and unethical business practices such as misleading advertisements.

Key provisions

The 'Central Consumer Protection Authority' (CCPA) will establish as an executive agency. The authority will
intervene when necessary to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices and to initiat e
class action including enforcing recall, refund and return of products.
The bill has provisions for "product liability" if product/services cause personal injury, death or property
damage and will take action against defaulting manufacturers or service providers.
The bill proposes "mediation" as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for speedy disposal of court
cases. The mediation will be under the aegis of consumer courts.
The bill also has several provisions aimed at simplifying the consumer dispute resolution process in the
consumer fora. They include enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Grievance Redress Agencies,
power to review their own records by the state and district commissions.

The bill also has a provision for setting up of a 'circuit bench' to facilitate quicker disposal of complaints and
there is an enabling provisions for consumers to file complaints electronically and file complaints in consumer
courts that have jurisdiction over the place of residence of the complainant.

The complaints will be deemed as admissible if the question of admissibility is not decided within 21 days.
The Bill also provides for stringent penalty, including life imprisonment in certain cases.

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INDIA AND WORLD

India signed a loan agreement with ADB for National Urban Health Mission
India signed a loan agreement of $300 million with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its flagship programme National
Urban Health Mission (NUHM) on 28 July 2015. The loan agreement is seeks to reinforce ongoing government efforts
under the NUHM to develop health systems in urban areas that can deliver quality health services to the urban poor
and vulnerable.
Further, it will focus on strengthening primary health care and also promote better co ordination between health and
urban sectors and opportunities for public-private partnerships. Besides, the two parties also signed the accompanying
capacity building technical assistance of 2 million US dollars financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
National Urban Health Mission
The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission of National Health Mission (NHM) for the period of 2013
to 2017. The main objective of the mission is to improve the health status of the countrys urban population. It is
implemented by the Union Ministries of Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Human Resource
Development and Women & Child Development.
NUHM objectives

It seeks to cover all 779 cities with a population of above 50000 and all the district and state headquarters
(irrespective of the population size).

It provides for Mahila Arogya Samitis for promotion of access to improved health care at household level on the
lines of Mahila Bachat Gat scheme in Maharashtra
It seeks to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) by 40 percent (in urban areas) and National Urban IMR down to
20 per 1000 live births by 2017
It also aims to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by 50 percent by 2017
Achieve universal access to reproductive health including 100 percent institutional delivery

Achieve replacement level fertility of 2.1 by 2017

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INTERNATIONAL
U.N. Security Council adopted resolution on Irans nuclear programme deal
The U.N. Security Council (UNSC), all 15 countries on the council, on 20 July 2015 unanimously adopted a resolution
that endorses the historic deal on Irans nuclear programme and clears a path for international sanctions crippling its
economy to be lifted. The resolution launches a progressive and conditional lifting of sanctions, in exchange for
guarantees that Iran will not develop a nuclear bomb.
The passing of the resolution marks formal U.N. endorsement for the hard -won, groundbreaking agreement reached
between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group after 18 straight days of talks that capped almost two years of mome ntous
negotiations. The agreement with Iran was reached in Vienna, Austria, by the Security Council's five permanent
members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany .
The document specifies that seven resolutions related to UN sanctions will be terminated when Iran has completed a
series of major steps to curb its nuclear programme and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded
that "all nuclear material in Iran remains in peaceful activities". But the measure also provides a mechanism for UN
sanctions to "snap back" in place if Iran fails to meet its obligations.
'Snap back' provision
All provisions of the UN resolution will terminate in 10 years, including the "snap back" provision on sanctions. One of
the biggest challenges to negotiators during the Iran nuclear talks was the question of how to reimpose the sanctions if
Iran was credibly found to be cheating. This is called a snap back provision i.e. the sanctions would somehow snap
back into place if Iran was in non-compliance.
Under the nuclear agreement, Iran's nuclear programme will be curbed for a decade in exchange for potentially
hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of relief from international sanctions. Many key penalties on the Iranian economy,
such as those related to the energy and financial sectors, could be lifted by the end of the year.
The resolution calls for full implementation on the timetable established of the agreement reached in Vienna and urges
UN member countries to facilitate the process.

Ramon Magsaysay Award 2015

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) on 29 July 2015 announced the Ramon
Magsaysay awardees for the year 2015.
List of Awardees
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, India: He was awarded for Emergent Leadership for his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in
uncompromisingly exposing and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office. He is an Indian Forest Service
officer and currently the deputy secretary of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He also served as a Chief
Vigilance Officer (CVO) at AIIMS during 2012-14.

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Anshu Gupta, India: He was recognized for his creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India and his
enterprising leadership in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor. He founded Goonj in
1999, which is a non-governmental organisation based in Delhi and works in 21 states across India in disaster relief,
humanitarian aid and community development.
Kommaly Chanthavong, Laos: She was recognized for her fearless, indomitable spirit to revive and develop the ancient
Laotian art of silk weaving, creating livelihoods for thousands of poor, war-displaced Laotians, and thus preserving the
dignity of women and her nations priceless silken cultural treasure.
Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, the Philippines: She was recognized for her single-minded crusade in preserving the
endangered artistic heritage of southern Philippines, and in creatively propagating a dance form that celebrates and
deepens the sense of shared cultural identity among Asians.
Kyaw Thu, Myanmar: He was recognized for his generous compassion in addressing the fundamental needs of both the
living and the dead in Myanmar -- regardless of their class or religion -- and his channeling personal fame and privilege
to mobilize many others toward serving the greater social good.

Ramon Magsaysay Award

The Award established in 1957 is Asias highest honour and is widely regarded as the regions equivalent of the Nobel
Prize. The Award honours those individuals whose lives are characterized by selfless service which impacts the lives of
the greater many the same ideals and achievement for which the Philippines third President Ramon Magsaysay is
remembered.

Kazakhstan became 162th member of WTO

Kazakhstan, a member of the Russia-led economic blocks became 162th member of World Trade Organization (WTO).
Kazakhstans entry has ended its long wait of 20 years to become a member of WTO as its accession talks were initiated
in 1996. The agreement of accession was signed between the WTO Director General Robert Azevedo and Kazakhstan
president Nursultan Nazarbayev at Geneva. The final accession will be done when the membership agreement is
ratified by Kazakhstan Parliament on 31 October 2015.
The path of Kazakhstan to become WTO member was difficult because of the complexity of process and it is also a
member of two economic blocks led by Russia; The Eurasian Economic Union, which has member nation like Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Kazakhstan also member of the Customs Union which has membe rs like
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

WTO
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization which regulates international trade. The
WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994,
replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948
The World Trade Organization (WTO) primary purpose is to open trade for the benefit of all and to create a strong
and prosperous international trading system. The WTO provides a forum for negotiating agreements aimed at reducing
obstacles to international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all, thus contributing to economic growth and
development.

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The WTO also provides a legal and institutional framework for the implementation and monitoring of these
agreements, as well as for settling disputes arising from their interpretation and application.
The WTO currently has 161 members, of which 117 are developing countries or separate customs territories.

ECONOMY
WTO strikes 'landmark' deal to cut tariffs on IT products
World Trade Organization (WTO) members on 24 July 2015 struck a deal to add more than 200 products to the list of
goods covered by zero-tariff and duty-free trade. In value terms, the deal cuts tariffs on 1 trillion US dollar worth of
information technology (IT) products, which is equal to global trade in iron, steel, textiles and clothing combined.
Products added range from advanced computer chips to GPS devices, printer cartridges and video-game consoles, hi-fi
systems, new -generation semi-conductors, medical products which include magnetic resonance imaging machines,
printed circuits and satellites.
The deal was agreed as part of need to update the 18-year old Information Technology Agreement (ITA) as it has
become redundant. Removing tariffs on trade worth $1.3 trillion is expected to give a $190 billion boost to the world
economy.
However, five of the 54 WTO members that negotiated the deal - Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, Colombia and Mauritius failed to sign up, leaving the deal short of a quorum, measured as 90 percent of world trade in those products, needed
to bring it into force for all 161 WTO members.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

_________________________________________________________________
Cryogenic engine of C25 Stage tested successfully
Indias first indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine generating a nominal thrust of 19
tonnes was successfully tested on July 16, 2015 at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri. This cryogenic engine of C25
Stage operates on Gas Generator Cycle using extremely low temperature propellants Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) at 20
Kelvin (-253 deg C) and Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at 80K (-193 deg C). The engine will be used for powering the Cryogenic
stage (C25), the upper stage of the next generation GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle of ISRO, capable of launching four tonne
class satellites.
This high performance cryogenic engine was conceived, configured and realised by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
(LPSC), the lead centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) responsible for developing liquid propulsion
systems for Indian Space Programme.
LPSC has also developed a cryogenic upper stage of 12.5 tonne propellant loading and successfully flight tested it in
GSLV Mk-II vehicle on January 05, 2014. Compared to this stage, the C25 stage has a higher propellant loading (27
tonnes versus 12.5 tonnes) and higher engine thrust (19 tonne versus 7.5 tonne).
Cryogenic technology involves the use of rocket propellants at extremely low temperatures. The combination of liquid
oxygen and liquid hydrogen offers the highest energy efficiency for rock et engines that need to produce large amounts
of thrust.

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