Mid Day Meal Rules 2015 notified by Union
Government
The
Union Ministry of Human Resources Development notified ‘Mid Day Meal Rules,
2015’ on September 30,, 2015. The rules have been made in accordance with the
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA, 2013) that contains provisions related
to welfare schemes including Mid Day Meal Scheme. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, the Union Ministry of HRD has finalized the MDM Rules
after consultation with the States and other related Central Ministries.
Government released Commemorative stamp on Dr.
B.R.Ambedkar
The
Department of Post under the aegis of Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology, Government of India brought out a Commemorative Stamp on Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar and Constitution of India. The Stamp was released jointly by the Union
Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Union
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on
September 30, 2015. The stamp was released as a part of one year Nationwide
Celebration of 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar.
Trilateral meeting held between India, USA and
Japan
The
foreign ministers of United States of America, Japan and India held trilateral
meeting for the first time in the capital of United States of America,
Washington D.C on September 30, 3015. The meeting was attended by Minister of
External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan,
Fumio Kishida hosted and participated by Secretary of State of the United
States, John Kerry.
BRICS meeting of foreign ministers held in New
York
The
Foreign ministers of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
met in New York City, United States of America on the sidelines of United
Nations General Assembly meet on September 29, 2015, On the sidelines of the
70th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations and the end of the
Second World War.
2nd India- CARICOM meeting held in
New York
The 2nd
India- CARICOM (Caribbean Community) ministerial meeting was held on September
30, 2015 in New York, United States of America on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly meet. The Indian delegation was led by the Minister of
External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj and the CARICOM delegation was led by
Alva Baptiste Minister External Affairs, Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint
Lucia. The meeting was attended by representatives of all member countries.
Palestinian Flag raised at the United Nations
Headquarters for the first time
Palestinian
flag was raised for the first time at United Nations headquarters in New York
on September 30, 2015. The ceremony was attended by the President of the
Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Traditionally, only official member states
of United Nations have the right to raise their flag up in front of the U.N.
tower. Currently, Palestinian Authority has nonmember observer status in UN.
In
September 2015, the UN General Assembly voted to allow the Palestinians and the
Vatican (both with the non-member observer status) to add their respective
flags to the UN.
International Day of Older Person 2015 observed
on October 1
The
International Day of Older Persons 2015 was observed on October 1, 2015. The
theme for International Day of Older Persons 2015 was “Sustainability and Age
Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment”. Aim to celebrate this day is to raise
awareness about issues affecting the elderly people, such as senescence and
elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people
make to society
Core sector grew by over 2.6%
The
Index of Eight Core Industries was published by the Office of the Economic
Adviser (OEA), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on
September 30, 2015. The index of eight core industries grew by 2.6% in August,
2015 compared to August, 2014. The growth was slower compared to the 5.6%
growth in August, 2014. This was mainly because shrinking of steel production
and flattening of coal output. However, the 2.6% growth in core industries was
more than the 1.1% growth in July, 2015. The strongest growth was in the
fertiliser sector which grew at 12.5% in August, 2015.
Indian manufacturing sector output slips to 7
month low
India’s
manufacturing sector output slipped to a seven-month low of 51.2 in September.
A composite monthly indicator of manufacturing performance – Purchase Manager’s
Index (PMI) – stood at 51.2 in September, down from 52.3 in August. According
to the survey, PMI was weighed down by slower increases in new orders and
output as growth of new work moderated to the weakest since June, reflecting
challenging economic conditions
India emerged as top FDI destination in first
half of 2015
India
has emerged as the top destination for Foreign direct investment (FDI) as
compared with China and United states in the first half of 2015. A report
published in London’s Financial Times has mentioned that India has attracted
roughly 31 billion US dollar ahead of 28 billion dollar of china and 27 billion
of United States.
Union Government cuts Natural gas price
The
Union government on October 1, 2015 cut natural gas prices for power and
fertiliser sector by 16 per cent to USD 4.24 per unit for the six month period,
beginning October 1, 2015. Natural gas prices, according to a formula approved
by the government in October last year, will fall to 4.24 US dollar million
British thermal unit (MMBTU) on net calorific value (NCV) basis from the
current 5.50 US dollar MMBTU.
7 Zonal Cultural Centres set up
Government
has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) having their headquarters at
Patiala, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Dimapur, Nagpur and Thanjavur with the
objectives to preserve, promote and disseminate the traditional folk and tribal
arts and culture of all the States/ Union Territories. The ZCCs have been
carrying out various activities and organizing programmes at the national,
zonal and local levels in accordance with their aims and objectives,
implemented through schemes.
CSIR
announced Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science & Technology 2015
CSIR on
26 September 2015 announced Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for Science and
Technology 2015 for eleven scientists in recognition of their work. The
awardees were announced to mark the CSIR’s 73nd Foundation day.The SSB Prize
consists of a citation, a plaque and a cash prize of 5 lakh rupees.
China launched 20th Generation satellite
China
launched a 20th new generation satellite into orbit on September 30, 2015 into
orbit that will support its global navigation and positioning network. The
satellite was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the
south-western province of Sichuan. A Long March-3B carrier rocket carried the
satellite. The launch of the 20th satellite for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite
System (BDS) has put China one step closer to providing an alternative to the
U.S. operated Global Positioning System (GPS).Besides, it was the first time
that the satellite featured a hydrogen atomic clock. Also, multiple tests
related to the clock will be done.
King Kong director John Guillermin died
British
filmmaker John Guillermin died on September 27, 2015 in Los Angeles USA. He was
known for directing the 1976 hit “King Kong” and the disaster classic “The
Towering Inferno”. He was 89 years old. Guillermin, who also helmed the famed
Agatha Christie whodunit “Death on the Nile” (1978), died Sunday of a heart
attack at his home on September 27, 2015.
Asian Air Gun Championship: Heena Sidhu gets
gold medal
Former
world number one Heena Sidhu has clinched the gold medal in women’s 10 metre
air pistol event at the 8th Asian Air Gun Championships in New Delhi. Heena
shot a total of 197.8 to win the top prize in the final. India also had the
silver medal in the kitty as Shweta Singh came second in the day’s marquee
event aggregating 197.0. Korean shooter Seon A Kim took the bronze with a total
score of 175.8. Overall, India won an impressive haul of 17 medals, including
six gold to finish as toppers in the continental event. Iran finished second in
the standing.
West Indies fail to qualify for 2017 Champions
Trophy
West
Indies Cricket team has failed to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy to be
held in England, while Bangladesh will play the tournament for the first time
since 2006. Pakistan pipped the West Indies to the eighth position in
International Cricket Council’s (ICC) one-day team rankings at the September
30, 2015 cut-off.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul Gonzalez’s
record
In
Football, Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul’s all-time goals record for Real
Madrid and took his career tally of total goals scored to 500 by scoring a
brace against Malmo in Sweden to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win in Group-A match of
the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League. Already the
top scorer in the competition’s history, Ronaldo rifled home his 81st and 82nd
Champions League goals and took his Real tally to 323 alongside Raul.
Source:
The Hindu, PIB, The Indian Express