Current Affairs September 11, 2015

New species of human relative discovered in South Africa

Scientists have discovered a new ancestral species in the human family tree dubbed as Homonaledi in South Africa. The new discovered species were named after the location where it was found i.e. naledi which means star in Sesotho, a local South African language.

Renowned Water policy expert Ramaswamy Ayer passes away

Renowned water policy expert Ramaswamy R. Ayer passed away at the age of in New Delhi following a severe viral fever. He was instrumental in drafting India’s first National Water Policy in 1987.

India  Pakistan agree to maintain peace along border after DG level talks

India and Pakistan have started a three-day Director General (DG)-level border dialogue in New Delhi. Director General (DG) Border Security Force (BSF) D K Pathak is leading 23 member Indian delegation and his counterpart Major General Umar Farooq Burki, DG of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) is leading a 16 members Pakistani delegation.

Tenth World Hindi Conference begins in Bhopal

The three-day conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has been organised in Madhya Pradesh for the first time and being held in India after 32 years. It is joint event of Union Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the state Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Union Cabinet gives nod to Constitution of 21st Law Commission of India

The 21st LCI will have a period of 3 years with effect from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2018. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to constitute the 21st Law Commission of India (LCI).

India Indonesia sign pact to cooperate on criminal matters

India and Indonesia have signed a pact for repatriation of wanted prisoners and cooperate in all criminal matters, including gathering evidence.

DA increased by 6% of Central Government Employees

Dearness Allowance (DA) for the Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) pensioners hiked by 6% on 09th September 2015 which will be effective from 01st July 2015. With this increase, DA will go up to 113% to 119%.

Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report 2015 released

Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report 2015 released by UN Inter-agency Group on 09th September 2015. According to the report, global under five mortality rate has dropped 53%.

Report in relation to India

• India gained a rapid progress in preventing child mortality rate.

• In 1990, U5MR was 126. In 2000, it declined to 91 and in 2015 it was further declined to 48 against the UN MDG target of 42.

• Between 1990 and 2015, India could register 3.9 percent annual rate of reduction in U5M deaths.

• 1.2 million U5M deaths occurred during 2015 against 3.3 million in 1990.

• Among boys, U5MR was 122 in 1990 and 46 in 2015.

• Among girls, U5MR was 130 in 1990 and 49 in 2015.

• IMR (0-1 years) was recorded as 88 in 1990 and as 38 in 2015.

• Number of IM deaths came down from 2.3 million in 1990 to 0.9 million in 2015.

• Neonatal Mortality Rate was 57 (per 1000 live births) in 1990 and 28 in 2015.

• NMR deaths were 1.5 million in 1990 and around 0.7 million in 2015.

Source: The Indian Express, CNN, PIB, DD News