NEWS

India moves ahead to get WHOs polio eradication certificate

Entering third polio-free year, India must destroy all wild poliovirus lab samples by December Having successfully completed two polio-free years, India is preparing to receive the crucial polio eradication certificate from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The certificate is issued on completion of incident-free three years. This primarily involves the destruction or safe storage of all laboratory sources of wild poliovirus. The storage should be in laboratories that meet international standards of biosafety.

World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) and Light It Up Blue

On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on 2nd April 2013, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism and other developmental disabilities and Archaeological Survey of India are collectively organizing lighting of six historical monuments in Delhi vis a vis Qutab Minar, Humayuns Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Purana Quila and Red Fort with Blue Light. Light It Up Blue is dedicated to raising awareness of autism. This initiative is intended to raise awareness of autism as a growing public health crisis. Autism is a Neuro-physiological disorder which affects the social and emotional areas of the brain. It affects as many as 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys. Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism. There is no medical cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention helps a person to adapt and function better.

National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) during 11th Plan period to address various health related problems of elderly people, keeping in view the recommendations made in the National Policy on Older Persons as well as the States obligation under the Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act 2007.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dead

Margaret Thatcher, Britains first woman Prime Minister who led the Conservative party for more than a decade through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history and became a deeply divisive political figure, died on Monday following a stroke. She was 87 and was suffering from Alzheimers

Devinderpal Singh Bhullar case

Following is the chain of events leading to rejection of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's plea for commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court Friday: September, 1993: Bhullar triggers a bomb blast in Delhi which killed nine people and injured 25 others, including then Youth Congress president M S Bitta. December, 1994: Bhullar seeks political asylum in Germany. January, 1995: Germany rejects Bhullar's asylum plea and deports him to India. 2000: Bhullar's case is sent to trial. August, 2001: Trial court convicts and sentences Bhullar to death. March 26, 2002: Supreme Court dismisses Bhullar's plea against his conviction and sentence. December 17, 2002: Apex court dismisses Bhullar's review petition. January 14, 2003: Bhullar files mercy petition to the President. March 12, 2003: SC dismisses Bhullar's curative petition. May 25, 2011: President Pratibha Patil rejects Bhullar's mercy plea. He, thereafter, moves SC seeking commutation of his death sentence to life term on the ground of delay in rejection of his mercy plea. April 19, 2012: SC reserves its verdict on Bhullar's plea. April 12, 2013: SC dismisses Bhullar's plea for commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

Flag off of Science Express- Biodiversity Special Train

With a view to create awareness amongst masses in general and youth in particular about the exceptional biodiversity of India, the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) in collaboration with Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Indian Railway launched last year on World Environment Day

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

In a vast country like India, the need for ensuring a healthy and dynamic future for a large populace and creating a developed society, agile and able to compete with the rest of the world, is of paramount importance. The dream of such a healthy and developed society can be achieved through concerted efforts and initiatives undertaken in a systematic manner at all levels. Equitable child health, care and early detection and treatment can be the most pragmatic initiative, or rather solution, at this juncture! The Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services Programme under National Rural Health Mission initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, therefore, aims at early detection and management of the 4Ds prevalent in children. These are Defects at Birth, Diseases in Children, Deficiency conditions and Developmental Delays including Disabilities.

Delhi to Host Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4)

Energy ministers from more than 20 of the worlds leading economies will gather in New Delhi on April 17-18 for the fourth international Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4). The ministers will identify tangible steps that each government can take to generate more rapid progress toward CEMs overall goal of accelerating the transition to a global clean energy economy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) will also release the 2013 version of its Tracking Clean Energy Progress report during CEM4

Revised consolidated guidelines on FDI

Seeking to further simplify the foreign investment regime, government on Saturday came out with the revised consolidated guidelines on FDI. The guidelines incorporated changes with regard to inflows in multi brand retail and allowing Pakistan nationals and companies to invest in the country. Besides, it has included policy changes in sectors like single brand retail, asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), power exchanges, civil aviation, broadcasting and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). The government made these changes in the sixth edition of the Consolidated FDI Policy Circular, a ready reckoner on foreign investment-related regulations that is effective from April 5. Last year, amid opposition from some of its key allies and state governments, the Centre permitted 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail sector. The government also allowed foreign airlines to pick 49 per cent stake in the cash-strapped domestic carriers.

Indian economy to grow at a higher pace of 6 pc in FY14: ADB

A report of Asian Development Bank said on Tuesday, Indias growth rate will improve to 6 per cent in the current fiscal on the back of stronger external demand and progress on reforms. Reforms are needed in India to facilitate the turnaround from growth deceleration due to structural bottlenecks, deteriorating investment and a worsening current account deficit, said the Asian Development Outlook 2013 report.

Boxer sent to judicial custody in drug haul case

Singh, sparring partner of Olympian Vijender Singh, was produced before the court after expiry of his two-day police remand. He was the 16th accused who was arrested following recovery of 26 kg of heroin worth over Rs.100 crore from the house of a Canada-based NRI Anoop Singh Kahlon at Zirakpur in Mohali.

Hockey India forms High Performance and Development Committee

Having observed Indian hockey up close for a while now, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans has taken the first step towards bringing uniformity in the development of the sport across the country. Hockey India (HI) has announced the formation of a 15-member High Performance and Development Committee for the year 2013-14. The committee will work on the development of hockey at the grassroots level in the country, on the lines of the system in Europe and Australia, under the guidance of Oltmans.