1. 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' ceremony in Rajasthan
Tags: State News
According to Jaskaur Meena, MP from Dausa, Rajasthan, people in Dausa, Rajasthan celebrate 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' (Baby Shower) ceremony.
An Overview of the News:
- In this ceremony all the pregnant women of the area come together and they are provided with 'nutritional kits' for the health of their babies.
- According to MP Jaskaur Meena, about 3.5 lakh women have benefited from this scheme during 2022-23 only in Rajasthan.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the new initiative of celebrating 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a 'baby shower' ceremony in Dausa, Rajasthan.
- This unique initiative of Dausa will give new energy to 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana'. This initiative will ensure the health security of not only the mothers but also the babies.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
- PMMVY was launched on January 1, 2017 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- This scheme, run by the Union Ministry of Child Development, was done for the welfare of pregnant and lactating women across the country.
- Under this, cash benefits are provided to pregnant women directly into their bank accounts to meet increased nutritional requirements and partially compensate for wage loss.
- All pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment under the Central Government or State Governments or Public Undertakings or who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law.
- Under this, five thousand rupees are given to all the eligible beneficiaries in three installments and the remaining amount of one thousand rupees is given after institutional delivery as per the conditions of maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
- Thus on an average a woman is given Rs.6000.
Rajasthan:
- Capital: Jaipur
- Governor: Kalraj Mishra
- Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
- Number of seats in the Legislative Assembly: 200
- Number of seats in Lok Sabha: 25
- Number of seats in Rajya Sabha: 10
2. Prannoy wins BWF World Tour title for the first time
Tags: Sports Sports News
Prannoy won his maiden BWF World Tour title on 28 May 2023 by emerging victorious at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament held in Kuala Lumpur.
An Overview of the News
After six years, Prannoy captured the championship title by defeating Weng Hong Yang of China in a thrilling men's singles final.
Prannoy is ranked 34th in the world and had earlier won a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Championships.
The win ensured India's first singles title of the year.
Malaysia:
It is a South East Asian country.
It occupies parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo.
Capital - Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Prime Minister -Anwar Ibrahim
Official language - Malay
3. US court approved extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India
Tags: International News
A US court has approved the extradition of26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Pakistani-origin Canadian Tahawwur Rana to India.
An overview of the news
California District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian has approved the Indian government's request for Rana's extradition.
Rana was arrested in the US on an extradition request by India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed over 160 people, including six Americans.
India has charged Rana with offenses including conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, waging war, murder and forgery.
Rana was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which planned the Mumbai terror attacks.
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing his role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in 2008.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is the formal process of surrendering a person from one state to another.
The purpose of this process is the prosecution or punishment for offences committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the requesting country.
The extradition of a fugitive criminal to India is regulated under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.
The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs is the central/nodal authority to administer the Extradition Act.
Extradition process can be initiated in case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
4. Orleans Masters 2023: Priyanshu Rajawat wins men's singles title
Tags: Sports
Indian men's singles badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat won the Orleans Masters 2023 men's singles title on 9th April, 2023.
An Overview of the News
- Rajawat won his first Tour title by defeating Magnus Johansson of Denmark in the final match of the tournament.
- Orleans Masters 2023 was held in France and is considered a Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 event.
- It is a significant achievement for Rajawat as it is his first BWF Super 300 title.
- Priyanshu Rajawat was also a part of the Indian badminton team that won the historic 2022 Thomas Cup in Bangkok.
About Badminton World Federation (BWF)
- It is the international governing body for badminton recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
- It was founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation with nine member countries.
- The BWF sets the rules and standards for badminton, including equipment regulations, player eligibility criteria and tournament formats.
- BWF hosts major international badminton tournaments such as the World Championships and the Olympic Badminton Tournament.
- The BWF promotes ethics and fair play in badminton and punishes players and officials who violate its code of conduct.
Establishment - 5 July 1934
President - Paul-Erik Hoyer Larsen
Headquarters - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Membership - 194 member associations
5. JP Nadda launches book 'Modi: Shaping a Global order in flux'
Tags: Books and Authors
BJP national president J P Nadda on 22 February launched a book "Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux" in Chanakyapuri, Delhi.
An overview of the news
In this book, an attempt has been made to tell how PM Modi has taken such decisions which have changed the image of India around the world.
It is important to understand what was the image of India before Modiji came to power.
The book has been forwarded by Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The editors are Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala and Uttam Kumar Sinha.
6. MEA's annual flagship event Asia Economic Dialogue begins in Pune
Tags: National National News
External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship event on Geoeconomics, Asia Economic Dialogue began on 23 February in Pune, Maharashtra.
An overview of the news
It is being hosted in association with the Pune International Center from February 23-25.
The main theme of the dialogue is 'Asia and the Emerging World Order'.
The dialogue will also discuss topics such as Global Growth Prospects, How the Global South Will Shape the G20 Agenda and the Metaverse.
The inaugural session began with talks between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, H.E. Leonpo Namgye Tshering, Minister of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan and H.E. Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Finance of Maldives.
More than 44 speakers from different countries including Brazil, USA, UK, South Africa, Bhutan, Maldives, Switzerland, Singapore and Mexico are participating in this dialogue.
Asia Economic Dialogue (AED)
The Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) is the External Affairs ministry's annual event and is hosted in collaboration with the Pune International Centre.
It is the flagship geo-economics conference.
The dialogue focuses on the dynamics of trade and finance in Asia and its neighbouring countries.
7. University of Auckland, Tata Memorial Hospital sign MoU for cancer care
Tags: National National News
Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai and Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 February to engage in long-term cooperation in cancer care.
An overview of the news
Tata Memorial Hospital is the largest and the most renowned cancer care hospital and research centre in India.
The University's Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Professor Frank Bloomfield met TMH representatives led by TMH Director Dr Rajendra Badwe and Professor Dr Vanita Noronha.
The MoU aims to explore ways to enhance cancer care using digital health.
The two countries have a long history of cooperation in healthcare and this partnership builds on an already strong relationship.
The University of Auckland is strongly committed to finding solutions to some of the most pressing global health issues in partnership with leading institutions.
8. Sansad Ratna award, 2023
Tags: Awards
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names for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 were released on 21 February.
An overview of the news
A total of thirteen Members of Parliament and two Parliamentary Committees have been honoured with this award.
The Jury Committee of eminent Parliamentarians and civil society, chaired by Arjun Ram Meghwal (State Minister of Parliamentary Affairs) and Co-Chaired by T S Krishnamurthy (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India) has nominated eight MPs from Lok Sabha and five from Rajya Sabha for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023.
Prominent CPI-M leader T K Rangarajan nominated for the lifetime achievement award.
These nominations are based on cumulative performance in questions, private members' bills and members' debates from the beginning of the 17th Lok Sabha till the end of the Winter Session 2022.
Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 from Lok Sabha
Bidyut Baran Mahato (BJP, Jharkhand),
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (BJP, West Bengal),
Kuldeep Rai Sharma (INC, Andaman Nicobar Islands),
Dr Heena Vijayakumar Gavit (BJP, Maharashtra),
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (INC, West Bengal),
Gopal Chinayya Shetty (BJP, Maharashtra),
Sudhir Gupta (BJP, Madhya Pradesh) and
Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe (NCP, Maharashtra)
Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 from Rajya Sabha
Dr. John Brittas (CPI-M, Kerala),
Dr. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD, Bihar),
Smt Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed Khan (NCP, Maharashtra) Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (Samajwadi Party, UP) and
Smt Chhaya Verma (INC, Chhattisgarh)
Two Parliamentary Committees of Lok Sabha nominated for Sansad Ratna Award 2023
Lok Sabha's Parliamentary Committee on Finance, chaired by Jayant Sinha
Rajya Sabha's Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport, and Culture, chaired by Vijay Sai Reddy
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award - T K Rangarajan, (Former Rajya Sabha MP for two terms and a Senior CPIM Leader).
About Sansad Ratna Award
Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted on the suggestion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to honour top performing Parliamentarians.
He himself inaugurated the first edition of the award ceremony in 2010 in Chennai.
So far, 90 top performing parliamentarians have been honoured and all of them have received the award individually.
The 13th edition of the award ceremony will be held on 25 March 2023 in New Delhi.
K. Srinivasan is the Founder Chairman of the Sansad Ratna Award Committee and Ms. Priyadarshini Rahul is the Chairman.
9. Cabinet approves the extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law Commission of India
Tags: committee National National News
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The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the 22nd Law Commission of India which has been extended till August 31, 2024.
22nd Law Commission
The Union ministry of Law and Justice constituted the 22nd Law Commission on 7 November 2022 and appointed former Karnataka High court chief justice Rituraj Awasthi as the chairperson of the Law Commission.
The five member 22nd Law Commission will have a term of three years.
Justice BS Chauhan was the chairman of the 21st Law Commission whose term expired in August 2018.
Other members
Former Kerala High Court judge Justice KT Sankaran, Prof. Anand Paliwal, Prof. DP Verma, Prof.(Dr) Raka Arya and M Karunanithi have been appointed members of the Law Commission.
Law Commission of India
Law commission is a non-statutory body which is set up by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for suggesting reform in laws in India.
Its recommendations are not binding on the government.
The provision for the Law commission was made in the Charter act 1833 and the first Law commission was set up in 1834 under the chairmanship of Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay.
The Indian Penal Code 1860 is based on the recommendation of the Macaulay commission.
The First Law commission in Independent India was set up in 1955 and M.C Setalvad who was also the first Attorney General of India was the chairman of the Law Commission.
10. Cabinet approves Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana
Tags: National National News
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Union Cabinet on 22 February approved the signing of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of India and Guyana.
An overview of the news
The Air Services Agreement will come into force after the exchange of Diplomacy Notes.
The Diplomacy Notes shall confirm that both sides have completed the necessary internal procedures for the entry into force of this Agreement.
The signing of the Air Services Agreement with Guyana will create a framework for the provision of air services between the two countries.
The agreement will give a boost to the aviation market and aviation sector in India.
To strengthen international air connectivity, India has so far signed air service agreements with many countries.
India and Guyana are signatories to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
There is a significant Indian presence in Guyana and according to the 2012 census Indians constitute about 40% of the population.
What is an Air Services Agreement?
Air Services Agreement (ASA) provides the legal framework for air operations between two countries.
It is based on the sovereignty of the nations, the nationality of the carriers and the commercial opportunity for each side's designated airlines.
Prior to this there was no Air Services Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Guyana.
About Guyana
Prime Minister: Mark Phillips
President: Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Capital: Georgetown
Currency : Guyanese dollar (G$)
