India’s first largest biotechnology conference Global Bio-India Summit

1.WHO study on physical activity-India ranks 8^th

The World Health Organization on November 22, 2019 published its study about physical activity of adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years.The assessment included physical education, active play, recreation and sports, walking, planned exercises and cycling.

India was ranked eighth reporting lowest level of physical activity. In India the overall insufficient physical activity in 2001 was 76.6% and has now decreased to 73.9% in 2016.

The lowest level of insufficient physical activity among girls was seen in India.

Bangladesh topped the list and Philippines was the least performing among boys.

2.Indian Railways: North East State capitals linking, Act East policy and Electrification

Government of India has planned to link the capitals of North Eastern States with rail connectivity. This plan, however, does not include Sikkim.The capitals of Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh are already connected through Broad Gauge rail network.

The Ministry of Railways has created a new action plan to electrify 37,237 km of broad-gauge routes. This is 57.91% of total railway network in India.

The Government of India has set target of 100% electrification of the railways in 10 years. It was announced in August 2019.

Currently, there are two rail connectivity projects connecting Indian cities Jogbani and Jayanagar with Nepal cities Biratnagar and Bardibas respectively. In Bangladesh there are two ongoing projects that connects Agartala with Akhuara and Hadibari with Chilhati.

There are no ongoing railway projects with Myanmar and Bhutan.

3.National Policy to speed up Gas Infrastructure

A “high-level committee” has been set up by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory board (PNGRB) to frame national policy on city gas distribution.The intention of the policy is to speed up development of infrastructure of piped natural gas.

The committee formed will perform a detailed review of the issues in the development of piped gas network.

The policy will also address issues like delay in getting approvals at state level.

It will also identify Geographical Areas that are facing difficulties in witnessing significant progress as compared to the other regions.

The number of Geographical Areas with good City Gas Distribution has increased from 78 in the end of 2017 to 229 in 2019 according to the Ministry of Petroleum.

4.Centre extends ban on NDFB for 5 years

Centrehas extended ban on National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) along with all its groups, factions and front organisations, by 5 more years.The National Democratic Front of Boroland is an armed separatist outfit which seeks to obtain a sovereign Boroland for the Bodo people.

It is designated as a terrorist organisation by the Government of India.

President: B. Saoraigwra

Founded: 3 October 1986

5.Indian scientists identify a protein that helps regulate blood sugar levels

Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have demonstrated the role of a protein secretagogin (SCGN) in increasing insulin action in obesity-induced diabetes.SCGN works as a functional insulin-binding protein with therapeutic potential against diabetes.

SCGN binds to insulin and protects it from various stresses, increases its stability and adds to its action.

Diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are often linked with each other. SCGN is found in lower quantities in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

6.RCEP offer ‘was not as much as our aspirations’: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The RCEP negotiations were launched by ASEAN leaders and six other countries during the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) in November 2012.The objective of launching RCEP negotiations was to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among the ASEAN member-states and their FTA partners.

7.India’s first largest biotechnology conference Global Bio-India Summit

India’s first largest biotechnology stakeholders conglomerate, – the Global Bio-India (GBI) Summit, 2019 concluded in New Delhi.The three-day event was organized by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, along with its Public Sector Undertaking, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

The associated partners for this event were Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) and Invest India.

Biotechnology is recognized as the sunrise sector- a key driver for contributing to India’s USD 5 Trillion economy target by 2025.

8.Union Tourism Minister and Chief Minister of Manipur jointly inaugurate 8th International Tourism Mart at Imphal

Minister of State (I/C) for Culture & Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh jointly inaugurated the 8th International Tourism Mart at Imphal, Manipur.The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the North Eastern States is organizing the “International Tourism Mart” (ITM) at Imphal, Manipur from 23 November to 25 November, 2019.

This is the second time when Manipur is hosting the International Tourism Mart.

India has jumped in World Travel and Tourism Index from 40th to 34th position in 2019.

This is the 8th International Tourism Mart and an annual event organised in the North Eastern region with the objective of highlighting the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.

The 8th International Tourism Mart, will put the spotlight on “Sustainable Tourism an engine for Economic Growth and Employment”.

The International Tourism Marts are organised in the North Eastern States on rotation basis. Manipur is hosting this mart for the second time. The earlier editions of this mart have been held in Guwahati, Tawang, Shillong, Gangtok, Agartala.

9.India’s urban unemployment rate drops to 9.3% in Jan-Mar 2019: Govt data

The urban unemployment rate in the country fell to 9.3 per cent during January-March 2019 from 9.8 per cent in April-June 2018, government data.The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released its Quarterly Bulletin for the January-March 2019 period, presenting estimates of labour force indicators, for urban areas.

The data showed that unemployment rate in urban areas among males was estimated at 8.7 per cent during January-March 2019 as compared to 9 per cent during April-June 2018.

For women, the UR was at 11.6 per cent during the reported period as against 12.8 per cent during April-June 2018.

The overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) was estimated as 36 per cent in the urban areas during January-March 2019, as compared to 35.6 per cent during April- June 2018. The LFPR for men was estimated to be 56.2 per cent, while for women it was at 15 per cent in the urban areas during the January-March 2019 period.

10.ISSF World Cup: Manu Bhaker, Elavenil Valarivan, Divyansh Panwar win gold medals

In Shooting, India’s young shooters touched another sensational high with Manu Bhaker, Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Panwar clinching gold medals in their events to give the country its best ever single-day show in the ISSF World Cup Finals in Putian, China.Manu Bhaker won gold with a junior world record in the women’s 10 metres air pistol event.

Elavenil claimed the gold in the women’s 10 metres air rifle competition.

Divyansh finished on top in the men’s 10 metres air rifle competition.