SC freezes BCCI’s transactions with state cricket bodies
Supreme Court has frozen all financial transactions between the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and state cricket associations.
The apex court directed BCCI, the apex cricket body not to disburse any funds to state cricket associations till they resolve to abide by Justice RM Lodha Committee recommendations.
Besides, the Supreme Court also asked the Lodha Committee to appoint an independent auditor to verify the BCCI’s accounts.
It was also asked to set a “threshold value” for various contracts the BCCI enters into, and all contracts in excess of that amount would need the committee’s approval.
NABARD sanctions Rs. 19,702 crore loan to National Water Development Agency
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned loan worth Rs. 19,702 crore to National Water Development Agency (NWDA).
The loan will be provided through NABARD’s Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) for 50 irrigation projects from 11 States.
This loan will be part of the Central share of assistance to State Governments.
It will ensure front loading of resources so that the identified incomplete irrigation projects under Pradhan Mandtri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY) are executed in time.
Global Conference to strengthen Arbitration & Enforcement held in New Delhi
The first ever global conference to strengthen Arbitration and Enforcement in India was held in New Delhi.
The 3-day Conference was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on 21 October 2016.
The conference aims to provide impetus to commercial arbitration in country or faster and efficient dispute resolution outside the court room.
It was started with title ‘National Initiative On Strengthening Arbitration and Enforcement’.
It was held to change the face of dispute resolution in India.
Union Govt launches UDAN Scheme for Regional Air Connectivity
The Union Govt has launched the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam naagrik) which seeks to get more people to fly in the smaller towns.
The scheme was launched by the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in New Delhi.
It will be rolled out by January, 2017 and will be in operation for a period of 10 years.
The scheme seeks to provide connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports.
The first-of-its-kind scheme will ensure affordability, connectivity, growth and development.
It aims to increase ticketing volume from 80 million to 300 million by 2022.
Union Govt inks loan pact with World Bank for Eastern Freight Corridor
The Union Govt has signed $650 million loan agreement with the World Bank for construction of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC)-III project.
The agreement was signed between International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IRBD), part of World Bank Group to lend $650 million, third tranche for construction EDFC to Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL).
The project aims to enhance rail transport capacity, improve service quality and boost freight carriage on the 401-km- long Ludhiana-Khurja section of the EDFC.
ICGS Aryaman and Atulya Commissioned into Indian Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGSs) ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’ were commissioned into Indian Coast Guard in Kochi, Kerala.
These ships are the eighteenth and nineteenth in the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
The ships have been christened ICGS ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’.
Aryaman literally meaning is ‘Possessor of Greatness’ and Atulya meaning is ‘Unrivalled’.
They can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with range of 1500 nautical miles.
They are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, advanced communication and navigational equipment. Aryaman will be based at Kochi under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).
Atulya will be based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).
IIL develops CYSVAX, world’s first vaccine to fight against tapeworms in pig
The Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has launched CYSVAX, world’s first vaccine to fight against Taenia solium Tapeworms in pigs.
The vaccine has significant potential benefit to reduce the incidence of epilepsy in humans.
The CYSVAX is a recombinant porcine (Pigs) Cysticercosis Vaccine.
The vaccine has potential to break the Cysticercosis disease parasite’s life-cycle in pigs which is considered to be one of the important reasons for epilepsy in humans.
Smooth-coated otter sighted for first time in Krishna sanctuary
Smooth-coated otter was sighted for the first time in the mangrove forest near the Krishna wildlife sanctuary (KWS) in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.
In all, seven otters were sighted in the mangrove forests and brackish water channels of Eelachetladibba and Lankevennedibba and other areas outside the KWS.
The presence of the otter is a key indicator for rise of the mangrove cover in the KWS.
BCCI approves use of DRS in India-England Test series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given its consent for using the Decision Review System (DRS) in the forthcoming five-Test series against England in November 2016.
BCCI will use the DRS on a trial basis to evaluate the improvements and changes made to the system over a period of time.
Decision Review System (DRS) is technology-based system used in sport of cricket for the sole purpose of reviewing controversial decisions made by on-field umpires as to whether or not a batsman had been dismissed.
The system was first tested in an India v Sri Lanka match in 2008.
It was officially launched by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2009 during the first Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan.
India wins 2016 Kabaddi World Cup
India has won the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup by defeating Iran by 38-29 score in the final match played at the Arena By TransStadia in Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
It was India’s third consecutive Kabaddi World Cup in the Standard Style version of Kabaddi. Earlier India had won in 2004 and 2007.
Kabaddi World Cup is standard style indoor international kabaddi competition conducted by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
