#AtalBihari Vajpayee will be conferred with Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award by Bangladesh government

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be conferred with Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award by Bangladesh government. He will be bestowed this award for his outstanding support for the Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was member of Lok Sabha. Bangladesh Government will hand over this award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to the country from June 6, 2015. Besides, Bangladesh Government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also honour the families of the members of Indian armed forces who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of Bangladesh’s independence. In this regard, a letter alongside a certificate to be signed by the Bangladesh PM will be sent to the martyrs’ family members.

#John Nash

#John Nash Jr., whose life was depicted in the book and Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind, was killed in a car accident along with his wife on May 24. They had just returned from Norway, where Nash was awarded the prestigious Abel Prize for his contributions to the field of partial differential equations. Nash is best known for his contributions to game theory — the study of interaction and decision-making strategies between different rational actors. Nash’s work, particularly the Nash Equilibrium, have given rise to foundational concepts in this field. Although a mathematician at heart, Nash’s work in game theory has had far-reaching implications that span well beyond the field of quantitative theories, changing the way we understand human psychology, global trade and even strategic forecasting.

Committee on Revisiting & Revitalizing the #PPP Model of Infrastructure Development

Committee on Revisiting & Revitalizing the PPP Model of Infrastructure Development Constituted; to Submit Its Report Within a Period of Three Months from the Date of Its Constitution

During his Budget Speech while presenting the General Budget 2015-16 in Parliament, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley had announced that the PPP mode of infrastructure development has to be revisited, and revitalized, in which the major issue involved is rebalancing of risk.  In pursuance of this announcement, a Committee comprising of the following members has been constituted:

Dr. Vijay Kelkar, former Finance Secretary and Chairman, National Institute of Public Finance & Policy(NIPFP), New Delhi	Chairman
Shri C.S. Rajan, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan	Member
Shri S.B. Nayar, CMD, IIFCL, New Delhi	Member
Dr. Shekhar Shah, Director General, NCAER	Member
Shri Pradeep Kumar, MD, CBG, State Bank of India	Member
Representative of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways – not below the rank of Joint Secretary	Member
Shri Vikram Limaye, MD, IDFC	Member
Shri Sudipto Sarkar, Barrister-at-law, Kolkata	Member
Ms. P.S. Behuria, IRS (Retd.)	Member
Ms. Sharmila Chavaly, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, New Delhi	Member Secretary

The Terms of Reference of the Committee are as follows:

• Review of the experience of PPP Policy, including the variations in contents of contracts and difficulties experienced with particular variations/conditions, if any,

• Analysis of risks involved in PPP projects in different sectors and existing framework of sharing of such risks between the project developer and the Government, thereby suggesting optimal risk sharing mechanism,

• Propose design modifications to the contractual arrangements of the PPP based on the above, and international best practices and our institutional context, and

• Measure to improve capacity building in Government for effective implementation of the PPP projects.

            The Committee may consult various stake holders in the private sector, government sector, legal experts, banking/financial institutions and academia while firming-up its recommendations. 

            Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) shall provide secretarial assistance to the Committee. 

           

            The Committee shall submit its report within a period of three (3) months from the date of its Constitution.

PM launches #DDKisan – India's first television channel dedicated to farmers

PM launches DD Kisan – India's first television channel dedicated to farmers

PM: Foodgrain productivity must rise from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare
PM: Tehsil should be the unit of agricultural development

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called for increasing food-grain productivity from 2 tons per hectare to 3 tons per hectare. Addressing a gathering of farmers at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of the launch of DD Kisan, Doordarshan's channel dedicated exclusively to farmers, the Prime Minister also called for making the "Tehsil" the unit of agricultural planning and development.

The Prime Minister said that if the country has to move forward, villages must progress, and if villages are to progress, then it is essential for agriculture to progress. He said there was a time when agriculture was the most preferred of professions, but over a period of time, its attractiveness had declined to rock bottom. He added that with the right incentives and actions, this trend could be completely reversed.

The Prime Minister recalled the inspiration of former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, which had led farmers to make the country self-sufficient in the production of foodgrains. He said the same inspiration and spirit was needed again, so that the nation became self-sufficient in the production of pulses and oilseeds.

The Prime Minister said the DD Kisan channel should keep an eye and inform farmers about the changes in weather, global markets etc., so that farmers can plan ahead and take the right decisions well in time.

The Prime Minister called for re-engaging rural youth with agriculture in a big way. He said DD Kisan channel can also highlight the efforts of progressive farmers, so that their innovations can be replicated across the country.

The Prime Minister called for farmers to adopt a three-pronged approach to agriculture, which balanced farming, animal husbandry and tree plantation. 

ARF DiREx-15

INS Saryu Participating in Asean Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise (Direx-15)

INS Saryu, an indigenously built NOPV based at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, shall be participating in a week long ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise (DiREx) 2015.

The aim of ARF DiREx-15 is to exercise information sharing and networking among national agencies of this region towards providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) during natural calamities like Earthquakes, Tsunami, etc as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) for ships and aircraft lost at sea.

Disaster management continues to be a vital area for cooperation in the region. A consensus has thus emerged on the need to better mitigate, manage and respond to natural and man-made disasters due to the constant dialogue within ARF.

This exercise, being conducted in Penang, Northern Malaysia from 24 to 28 May 2015 would have participation from China, Malaysia, Thailand and India. Co-hosted by Malaysia and China, DiREx-15 would include Field Training Exercises like Collapsed Structure, Mass Evacuation, Chemical Leakage (HAZMAT), Road Traffic Accident, After Action Review and Search & Rescue Operations. The marine component of the exercise would include Search and Rescue operations using a simulated maritime incident, and would include helicopter operations to locate survivors as well as diving operations to evacuate trapped personnel. This is the third edition of DiREx with the previous two held in Philippines (2009) and Indonesia (2011).

INS Saryu, the naval offshore patrol vessel is commanded by Cdr Sreekumar Pillai. 

SIMBEX-15 with Singapore Navy from 23-26 May 2015.

The Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, is on an operational deployment to South Indian Ocean and South China Sea. As a part of this deployment, INS Satpura, indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate, commanded by Captain Hari Krishnan and INS Kamorta, the latest and indigenous Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette, commanded by Commander Manoj Kumar Jha had arrived at Singapore on 18 May 2015. These ships participated in IMDEX-15 and are now conducting bilateral naval exercise SIMBEX-15 with Singapore Navy from 23-26 May 2015.

2.         Operational interaction between IN and RSN commenced with ASW training exercises in 1994, which has grown steadily over the past 20 years. The operational interaction was formalised as an annual bilateral exercise ‘SIMBEX’ in 1999. Since its inception, SIMBEX has grown in tactical and operational complexity. It has transcended the traditional emphasis on ASW to more complex maritime exercises, involving various facets of Naval operations such as Air Defence, Air and Surface Practice Firing, Maritime Security and Search and Rescue. SIMBEX-14 was conducted from 22-28 May 14 off Port Blair in which RSN ships Valour and Independence participated, whileIN was represented by Guided Missile Corvettes Karmuk, Kuthar and Maritime Patrol Aircraft Dornier.  This year RSN ship Supreme and submarine Archer along with MPA and fighter aircraft are participating from Singaporean side, whilst Indian Navy is represented by INS Satpura with integral helicopter, INS Kamorta and Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti Submarine (LRMRASW) aircraft P 8I.

3.         The port visit of IN Ships to Singapore also coincided with the commemoration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. This visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter-operability between navies of the two friendly nations. During the stay in harbour, various activities were conducted viz.  official calls, reception on board, ship open to visitors, guided tours for Indian naval personnel and professional interaction between personnel of both the navies.

Mauritius has designated internationally renowned biodiversity scientist and biologist #AmeenahGurib-Fakim as their new President

Government of Mauritius has designated internationally renowned biodiversity scientist and biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as their new President. This designation will make her Indian Ocean island nation’s first woman and sixth President, a top ceremonial position. Now this appointment is subject to Mauritian Parliament approval. She will succeed Former president Kailash Purryag, who had stepped down as the island’s figurehead and was appointed in 2012 by then Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam.

 About Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was born in October 17, 1959 in Mauritius. She is the Managing Director of Centre International de Développement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Research & Innovation. Ameenah had authored numerous academic and research papers. She has received several accolades and honours including Laureate for the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Award for Africa (2007), African Union Award for ‘Women in Science’ for the Easter African Region (2009) etc. 
Mauritius
 Mauritius is one of the richest and least corrupt countries in Africa. It is a middle-income country with population around 1.3 million and per capita GDP of just over US 9,000 dollars. The island nation has strong outsourcing and financial services sector along with an important tourism industry. Mauritius had gained independence from Britain in 1968. The President is nominal head of country and had replaced Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in 1992.