Ahead of Modi’s U.S. visit, $3 bn defence deals cleared – (Defence)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign in the U.S. to attract capital to the country and boost his ‘Make in India’ initiative kicked off with a meeting with eight influential figures in the key financial hub of the world on Thursday.
- Financial sector leaders flagged red tape, slow pace of deregulation, and unpredictable tax regimes, as their main concerns.
HC stays sedition circular – (Indian Polity)
- The Urban Development Ministry has asked 36 States to terminate their research and capacity-building measures under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a move that will roll back the achievements of the scheme launched by the UPA government and render it defunct.
- Under the JNNURM, the State governments established Reform and Performance Management Cells (RPMCs), a body of experts to guide municipal bodies in urban planning.
West Bengal seeks GI tag for rasagolla – (Environment)
- The Urban Development Ministry has asked 36 States to terminate their research and capacity-building measures under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a move that will roll back the achievements of the scheme launched by the UPA government and render it defunct.
- Under the JNNURM, the State governments established Reform and Performance Management Cells (RPMCs), a body of experts to guide municipal bodies in urban planning.
National Health Profile highlights poor doctor-patient ratio – (Health)
- The Union government will unveil its Green Highways policy on September 29, Road Transport and Highways Secretary Vijay Chhibber said on Thursday.
- Under it, bushes and trees will be grown along all the highways in a phased manner.
India, U.S. look at expanding horizons – (International Relation)
- The Union Ministry of Mines is planning to use remote sensing satellite data to curb illegal mining across States, Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said on Thursday.
- Satellite imageries taken regularly would help to keep an eye on legal boundaries of mined areas. The Ministry plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Space Research Organisation on using satellite data for mining .
Modi’s unrealistic American dreams – (International Relation)
- There are over 1,200 Scheduled Castes in India.
- Politically, this demand has been crucial for decades. For, while advanced and populous Dalit groups have been Scheduled Caste leaders in most States, and have already settled their political affiliations, political parties have sensed fresh opportunities to expand their votes into the most deprived groups’ demands.
Lessons in crowd computing – (Governance)
- While promoting the Indian manufacturing sector is the key thrust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s six-day U.S. tour that began on Wednesday, what could add some fizz to the efforts is Apple if the digital giant announces some India-based facilities.
- And that is possible, at least two sources, one a U.S. diplomat and the other an Indian business leader in Washington DC, indicated to The Hindu .
Syria gets Russian warplanes – (International Relation)
- There is an impression that India feels comfortable in its role as ‘a recessed power’ — more intent on treading the path of ‘least activism’. This has to be dispelled.
- To merit UN permanent membership India needs to demonstrate that it has the gravitas to play a bigger role. Countering IS through its vast Islamic scholarship, and offering Europe help in dealing with the refugee crisis are two areas where the country can display global leadership.
Relatively low emigration from India – (International Relation)
As ironies go, this one is rich. A circular in Maharashtra containing guidelines aimed at preventing the misuse of the law relating to sedition appears to endanger freedom of speech and expression.
The Bombay High Court has now stayed the August 27 circular, pending a decision on its constitutional validity. The controversial aspect of the circular is that it seems to tell police personnel that strong criticism of public servants can possibly attract the sedition charge if it shows them as “representatives of the Union or State government”.
Risks grow for global sugar market as India’s cane crop wilts – (Economics)
- The Colombian government and FARC rebels will sign a definitive peace deal within six months to end half a century of conflict, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday, as the two sides announced a major breakthrough.
- Mr. Santos and FARC leader Timoleon ‘Timochenko’ Jimenez presided over a ceremony where government and rebel negotiators signed a deal on justice for crimes committed during the conflict, which had been the key issue blocking progress in the dragging peace talks .
Volkswagen emissions cheating probe spreads to Asia – (Economics)
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified norms that allow banks to upgrade credit facilities extended to borrowing entities upon a change in ownership, so long as the ownership has been changed outside ‘Strategic Debt Restructuring Scheme’.
- The decision will give banks more flexibility to bring in a change in ownership of borrowing entities which are under stress, RBI said in a notification to all banks.