Focus Merit

Category: National Current Affairs

A legal framework to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace

January 22, 2020

The Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister Amit Shah, which was constituted to strengthen the legal framework to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, has finalised its recommendations. The recommendations, includes addition of new provisions to the Indian Penal Code, which will be put up for comments from the public.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Human Resource and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani are among the other members of GoM. The GoM was constituted first in October 2018 in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement when many women shared their ordeal on social media.

The Women and Child Development Ministry had steered the Sexual Harassment of Women and Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in 2013, which was applicable to government offices, the private sector, NGOs and the unorganised sector.

India starts thermal screening of passengers for Coronavirus

January 22, 2020

India on Tuesday expanded thermal screening of passengers arriving from China including Hong Kong to seven airports for preventing any entry of ‘Novel Corona Virus Disease (nCoV) in the country. Ministry of Civil Aviation has called for immediate implementation of the action plan and strict adherence by identified airports and all concerned airlines.

Following advisory from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed for all logistics support and arrangements to be made immediately with regard to screening of passengers arriving in India from China including Hong Kong at the identified airports i.e. Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin along with three airports at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata identified earlier.

World Gold Outlook 2020: RBI at 6th position in buying gold abroad

January 22, 2020

“World Gold Outlook 2020” has been released by World Gold Council in which it placed Reserve Bank of India on 6th position in the largest buyer of sovereign gold abroad. RBI currently holds 625.2 tonnes of gold which is 6.6% of the country’s foreign exchange.

The other 5 countries that have bought more gold than India include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Poland. Higher taxes have exacerbated the local gold price consumption. The recently introduces new hallmarking reforms are expected to increase consumer trust, remove inefficiencies, promote growth and improve confidence.

IIM Indore to provide training to Uttar Pradesh Police

January 22, 2020

The Indian Institute of Management Indore in Madhya Pradesh will teach lessons on crowd management and effective communication to Uttar Pradesh police. A memorandum of understanding for this project was signed by UP Director General of Police OP Singh and IIM Indore Director Professor Himanshu Rai in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, police will be trained in traffic management, data analysis, use of artificial intelligence, social media management among other aspects. The MoU comes at time when UP, as well as other states, are seeing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, several of which have turned violent.

Essel Finance’s MSME lending business acquired by Adani Capital

January 22, 2020

Essel Finance’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) loan business has been acquired by Adani Capital Private Ltd. Through the acquisition, Adani Capital has secured a loan book of around Rs 145 crore, 1100 customers and a staff strength of 40 professionals.

Adani Finserve, which primarily operates in western India, is aiming to gradually expand its geographic presence in central and east India, targeting states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Through the geographic expansion and organic growth, the company expects the business to reach ₹2,700-3,000 crore by the end of the next fiscal.

Brazilian President invited as the Chief Guest on India’s 71st Republic Day

January 22, 2020

On the occasion of 71st Republic Day Parade at Raj Path, New Delhi on 26 January, President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro has been invited as the chief guest. Bolsonaro will arrive in New Delhi on a four-day state visit to India.

President Ram Nath Kovind will meet President Bolsonaro on January 25th, President Kovind who will host a Banquet in his honour. Vice President and the External Affairs Minister will call on President Bolsonaro.

Delegation comprising of seven Ministers, Chairman of Brazil-India Friendship Group in the Brazilian Parliament, senior officials and a large business delegation will also be accompanying President Bolsonaro.

32nd edition of PRAGATI chaired by Prime Minister Modi

January 22, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI platform which was held in New Delhi. PRAGATI is defined as the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

Prime Minister had launched the multi-purpose and multi-modal governance platform PRAGATI on 25th March 2015. PRAGATI is an integrating and interactive platform aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances.

PRAGATI also helps in simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Centre as well as projects flagged by various State governments.

‘National Startup Advisory Council’ to be set up by Government of India

January 22, 2020

The ministry of commerce has officially announced the establishment of the National Startup Advisory Council to provide representations to the Indian startup ecosystem during policy-making processes. The council will be led by union minister Piyush Goyal. The Council will advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.

Although the commerce ministry hasn’t finalised on the name of the members yet, the central government will be nominating the members for a period of two years. The council will consist of founders of successful startups, entrepreneurs, representatives from incubators and investors, along with representatives from government departments and regulators that deal with startups.

‘The Gateway’ A Social Commentary on Safety of Senior Citizens

January 22, 2020

‘The Gateway’ by Hariharan Balagopal draws attention to the plight of senior citizens who are susceptible to a multitude of crimes against them – ranging from petty robberies to murders. The novel also stresses on the importance of preventing self-isolation by senior citizens.

Within the bracket are several other crimes committed against the elderly, often undetected and unreported, like ill-treatment, rape, deliberate neglect, and physical harm by own kin. Bonding over food and drinks is one of Delhi’s essential characteristics, and ‘The Gateway’ employs it effectively for a cause.

India secures 5th rank in Carbon Disclosure Project 2019

January 22, 2020

Global non-profit organization published the annual Carbon Disclosure Project 2019. The United States of America secured the top spot followed by Japan, United Kindom and France while India secured the 5th spot on the project report.

The Report said that a total of 58 companies shared details about the environment-related activities undertaken by them in this year. The report also claims that over 98 percent of top Indian companies have formed some type or committee or group within its organization to drive and address climate-related issues.

Carbon Disclosure Project, an initiative of the Global Reporting Initiative, is aimed at measuring the carbon reduction activities undertaken by different companies and firms operating in various countries across the globe.