Current Affairs-GK 24-25 March, 2016

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Longitudinal Ageing Study in India

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 22 March 2016 launched the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI).
• The Longitudinal Ageing Study is the largest survey of its kind. It will survey more than 60000 elderly over 25 years plan. The survey will provide scientifically validated data on various issues of the elderly.
• The study will be important as it will investigate various health structures, and impact of social determinants on health of the elderly. It will also help in framing evidence-based policy.
  

The theme of this year’s World TB Day is: “Unite to End TB”.

• World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year, is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries.
• It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At the time of Koch’s announcement in Berlin, TB was raging through Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one out of every seven people. Koch’s discovery opened the way towards diagnosing and curing TB.

NC-PER-APNT-Justice (retd) Permod Kohli appointed Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 23 March 2016 approved the appointment of Justice (retd) Permod Kohli as the Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
• He is a former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.He was appointed for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or till attaining the age of 68 year, whichever is earlier.

Union Water Resources Ministry implementing its flagship programme Jal Kranti Abhiyan

• The Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry is implementing its flagship programme Jal Kranti Abhiyan.
• The purpose is to create awareness among common people about the conservation of water. In Himachal Pradesh also several steps are being taken by monitoring agency, the Central Water Commission under this programme.The Commission has appointed Jal Mitra and Neer Nari as his representative in these Panchayat.
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India, France sign MoU for construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur

• India and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur nuclear park in Maharashtra. It was inked by Electricite de France (EDF), a French public utility and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).
• The MoU was signed after the two countries had decided to conclude the techno-commercial negotiations for the Jaitapur project by the end of 2016. This cooperation roadmap was finalised during the official state Visit of French President Francois Hollande to India in January 2016.
• EDF is France’s public electricity producer and supplier. It has been designated by the French government for taking over AREVA NP and shall supply equipment to for Jaitapur nuclear park.

Centre releases self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct for industry

• The Consumer Affairs Ministry released a self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct to be adopted by the Industry on providing best products and services.
• The code contains provision of trustworthy products and services for the consumers, comply with the competition and anti-trust laws and respond to consumer complaints promptly.

Nepal joins SCO grouping as dialogue partner

• Nepal was officially made a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Beijing-based regional security grouping. In this regard, Nepal signed memorandum during Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli official visit to China. As a dialogue partner, Nepal will be able to participate in the multi-field cooperation of the SCO.
• It will also create new opportunities for the SCO’s mutually beneficial cooperation and benefit people living in the extensive region that the SCO covers.

Govt approves India-UAE pact for $75 bn investment in NIIF

• Government cleared a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore opportunities for mobilisation of up to USD 75 billion long-term investment in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
• The government in December had set up the Rs 40,000 crore NIIF, which is an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects.
• While the government will invest Rs 20,000 crore in NIIF, another similar amount will come from private investors.
• NIIF has already been established as a Category II Alternate Investment Funds (AIF) as per the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Vijay Mallya exits from Sanofi after 33 years as chairman

• Beleaguered Vijay Mallya is exiting the board of Sanofi India Limited (SIL). The company announced that Mallya, chairman of the board of directors has conveyed his decision to not seek re-election as a director at the ensuing annual general meeting (AGM).
• Mallya, who has been Sanofi chairman for the last 33 years, is the first casualty of the recent decision by market regulator Sebi that wilful defaulters are barred from taking board positions in listed companies.