1. Election Commission of India host an International Conference on the Role, Framework & Capacity of EMBs’ at New Delhi
Tags: place in news Summits
Chief Election Commissioner of India (ECI) Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey inaugurated a two day international conference (31October and 1 November) on 31 October 2022 on the theme ‘Role, Framework & Capacity of Election Management Bodies (EMB)’.
The conference is organized by Election Commission of India at New Delhi under Cohort on Election Integrity led by ECI, which was established as a follow on to the ‘Summit for Democracy’ held in December, 2021.
Nearly 50 Participants from Eleven EMBs from 11 countries including Armenia, Mauritius, Nepal, Cabo Verde, Australia, Chile, Federal States of Micronesia, Greece, Philippines, Sao Tome & Principe, USA and three international organisations namely, IFES, International IDEA and UNDP(United Nation Development Programme) India are expected to join the Conference..
‘Summit for Democracy’, an initiative of the US President Joe Biden was hosted by him in December 2021. Following this Summit, a “Year of Action” was proposed with events and dialogues on themes related to Democracy.
As part of the ‘Summit for Democracy’ Year of Action, India through the ECI, is leading the ‘Democracy Cohort on Election Integrity’ to share its knowledge, technical expertise, and experiences with other democracies of the world.
2. More than 134 people killed in a bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat
Tags: place in news State News
In a tragic incident more than 134 people have been reported dead after a cable bridge collapsed in Morbi town in Gujarat on 30 October 2022. The authorities fear that the casualties could grow as many bodies are likely to be recovered from the river.
The 230-metre (755 feet) bridge on river Machhu was built during British colonial rule in 1877. It was recently renovated and opened to the public.
Some 400 people including children had bought tickets to get onto the bridge to celebrate the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. However the bridge collapsed and plunged people about 10 meters (33 feet) into the river below.
The Gujarat government has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy and filed an FIR against the Oreva company which was responsible for the maintenance of the bridge.
Machhu River
The Machhu River rises in the Madla hills of Jasdan near village Khokhara in Chotila taluka of Surendranagar district of Gujarat.
This is one of the North flowing rivers of Saurashtra in Gujarat state. It falls into the little Rann of Kachchh.
Total length of this North Flowing river from its origin to its outfall into the little Rann of Kachchh is 114.75 km.
3. Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Asia’s first pathogen reduction machine at KGMU in Lucknow
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Asia’s first pathogen reduction machine at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, State minister Mayankeshwar Sharan and Professor Bipin Puri, Vice Chancellor of King George's Medical University. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the KGMU’s Department of Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery.
What is a Pathogen?
- The pathogens is an organism which can cause disease to its host body. It could be viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites.
- Pathogens cause illness to their hosts through a variety of ways. It directly damages the tissues or cells of the host during replication,
- However, sometimes due to a strong or excessive immune response from the host body, the body itself kills infected and uninfected cells and damages host tissues.
Need of cleaning transfused blood of pathogens
- Blood transfusions are needed in procedures ranging from surgery to delivery and transplant. Blood transfusion is always done after all the necessary blood tests are done. But despite this, some impurities like pathogens remain in the blood, due to which reactions or side effects can be seen in recipient patients.
- This machine helps in eliminating any type of pathogens in the donor's blood which will prove to be very beneficial for organ transplant or patients with weak immunity.
- The machine is capable of completely purifying the blood unit by removing all types of bacteria from the blood within 10-15 minutes through the ultraviolet immunometer.
4. India wins Sultan of Johor Cup for the third time beating Australia in a penalty shoot out
Tags: place in news Sports
The Indian junior men’s hockey team held their nerves to win the penalty shootout against the Australian team to win its 3rd Sultan of Johor Hockey cup title, at the final match played at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on 29 October 2022. The 10th edition of the Sultan of Johar cup was held from 22-29 October 2022 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
In the final match India and Australia were tied 1-1 after regulation time. In the penalty shootout India won by 5-4 goals. Sudeep Chirmako (14’) scored the goal for India in regulation time.
India has now equalled the record of Great Britain having won it three times. India has won the titles in 2013 and 2014. The Indian hockey team reached the final of the last edition in 2019 as well but lost 2-1 to Great Britain.
Indian player Sharda Nand Tiwari was the top goal scorer of the tournament with 7 goals and the player of the final was Sudeep Chirmako.
India, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Malaysia and South African team participated in the 10th Sultan of Johar cup
Sultan of Johar Cup
The Sultan of Johar cup is a u-21 men’s International Hockey championship held annually in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The cup was started in 2011 and the 2022 edition was the 10th edition of the tournament.
It was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to covid.
India and Great Britain have won it 3 times each.
5. Kerala to cull 20,000 birds after Avian flu outbreak in Alappuzha
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
The Alappuzha district administration in Kerala has started the culling of around 20,000 birds in the Haripad municipality area to control the spread of the Avian flu outbreak.
The district administration started the operation from 27 October 2022 after the sample of dead birds from the area was sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal tested positive for H5N1 virus.
Birds within one kilometer of the infection area will be killed and the authorities have already imposed a ban on the transportation of birds within 1 kilometer area.
Center sends a high level delegation
The Union Ministry of Health has already sent a high-level team headed by Dr Rajesh Kedamani to Kerala to investigate the outbreak in detail and submit a report with immediate recommendations for prevention and control.
The seven-member team comprises experts drawn from the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi; the National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi; the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai; and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Bird Flu and its Impact on Human
- Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
- Infected birds shed virus through saliva, mucus and feces. The virus can affect human beings through eyes, nose or mouth.
- Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. According to the World Health Organisation , Humans can be infected with avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2) .
6. PM Modi calls for ‘one Nation One uniform’ for police at the Chintan Shivir held in Surajkund
Tags: place in news Summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his virtual address to the Chintan Shivir of state home ministers on 28 October 2022, suggested the idea of “One Nation, One Uniform" for police to have uniformity among various forces.
The two day (27&28 October) Chintan Shivir at Surajkund, Haryana, chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah was attended by chief ministers of eight states and home ministers and deputy chief ministers of 16 states. Home Secretaries and Director General of Police (DGPs) of the States, Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) also attended the Shivir.
Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister said he thinks that the identity of the police across the country could be identical.
He also urged the state governments to review old laws and amend them to the current context as he batted for coordinated action by all the agencies to meet the emerging challenges of law and order and security.
Police a state subject
Law and Order, Police is a state subject in India and the central government has no power on the matter. It is for the state government to decide the uniform of the state police and the uniform of the policies varies across the states in the countries.
7. First Global Digital Health Summit, Expo, and Innovation Awards held in New Delhi
Tags: place in news Summits
The first ever two day (28&29 October 2022) Global Digital Health Summit, Expo, and Innovation Awards is being held in New Delhi.
The summit has been organized in association with the world's foremost digital health associations; The Global Health Connector Partnership, The International Society for Telemedicine & Health, Switzerland, and United Nations Internet Governance Forum- Dynamic Coalition on Digital Health.
Global leaders in digital health and healthcare from across the USA, European Union, Africa, UK, and Southeast Asia are participating in the Summit.
Theme of the Global Digital Health Summit, Expo, and Innovation Awards: Digital Health for All
What is Digital Health?
Digital health refers to the use of information and communications technologies in medicine and other health professions to manage illnesses and health risks and to promote wellness.
Digital health has a broad scope and includes the use of wearable devices, mobile health, telehealth, health information technology, and telemedicine.
8. Saras Food Festival 2022 inaugurated by the Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste
Tags: Festivals place in news Person in news
The Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel, Faggan Singh Kulaste inaugurated the “Saras Food Festival 2022” in New Delhi on 28 October 2022. The Food Festival has been organized by the Union Rural Development Ministry from 28th October to 10th November, 2022 in New Delhi.
Women from self-help groups (SHG), formed under the flagship program ‘National Rural Livelihoods Mission’ of the Union Ministry of Rural Development are participating in this festival.
Speaking on the occasion the minister said that efforts are on to have at least 25% of all sales by women self-help groups through e-commerce portals annually.
He said that the Ministry has already signed agreements with e-commerce giants like Amazon, and Flipkart and there have been efforts by States/Union Territories in getting SHGs products registered on e-commerce platforms. e.g, Flipkart, Amazon and Meesho etc.
Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development said that there are about 8 crore 62 lakh women are members of SHGs and they have presence in 97% of Blocks, while 85 % of them are directly connected with the network of the Ministry.
9. 1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival 2022 held in Indonesia
Tags: place in news Summits
Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, inaugurated the 1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival (AISF) on 27th October 2022 in Bogor, Indonesia.
The four-day event is being hosted in conjunction with the Indonesia Research and Innovation Expo (INA-RIE) from the 27th until the 30th October 2022 at the Innovation Convention Centre, Cibinong Bogor, Indonesia. The AISF is part of a series of events to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India diplomatic relationship.
The festival is part of the over-all ASEAN-India Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation program between the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (Govt of India) and is supported under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund (AISTDF) of Govt of India which is jointly contributed by Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The festival commemorates and strengthens cooperation and collaboration in science, technology, and innovation between the ASEAN countries and India.
ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nation) is a regional organization which was set up in 1967. It is an association of 10 countries of Southeast Asia namely; Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar.
Headquarters of ASEAN: Jakarta, Indonesia.
10. Ministry of Corporate Affairs organises an Investor Education, Awareness and Protection Conference in Srinagar
Tags: place in news Summits Economics/Business State News
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs organised an Investor Education, Awareness and Protection Conference in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir on 28 October 2022. The Conference was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Corporate Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh.
During the conference the minister launched various initiatives of the IEPFA.
- The IEPFA Mascot “Fundoo” was released.
- “Niveshak Didi” or female dakiya, is a joint venture of IEPF Authority with India Post Payment Bank wherein Investor Education will be promoted in “By the women, for the women” concept.
- “Niveshak Sarathi”, an investor awareness van was flagged by the minister. It is an initiative by IEPFA to promote financial literacy among people in far-flung areas by spreading knowledge through dedicated audio-visual and print material & a specially designed Van.
- “Investors’ Handbook” - a concise compilation of information on savings, budgeting, and investments which provides a vast knowledge of financial instruments.
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)
It was set up by the Government of India on 7 September 2016 under the Companies Act 2013, to administer the Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Investor Education and Protection Fund
The fund was set up under the Companies act in 1999 under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The main aim of the Fund is to promote investors’ awareness and protection of the interests of investors. Here investor means those who have invested in companies shares, debentures, fixed deposits etc.
Source of Fund
The following amounts that remained unpaid and unclaimed by the investor for a period of seven years from the date they became due for payment are credited to the Fund:
- Amounts in the unpaid dividend accounts of the companies
- The application moneys received by companies for allotment of any securities and due for refund
- Matured deposits with companies
- Matured debentures with companies
- Grants and donations given to the fund by the Central Government, State Governments, companies or any other institutions for the purposes of the Fund;
- And, the interest or other income received out of the investments made from the fund.
