1) Govt launches new scheme for developing export linked infrastructure
•The government has launched a new scheme Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) for developing export linked infrastructure in states with a view to promote outbound shipments.
•Launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, TIES seeks to bridge the infrastructure gap and provide forward and backward linkages to units engaged in trade activities. The TIES would focus on projects like customs checkpoints, last mile connectivity, border haats and integrated check posts.
•The scheme, to be implemented from April 1, would have a budgetary allocation of Rs 600 crore for three years with an annual outlay of Rs 200 crore. Five percent of the grant approved would be used for appraisal, review, and monitoring. It will be implemented from 2017-18 till 2019-20.
2) Indian-American Teen Indrani Das Wins 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search
•An Indian-American high school student, Indrani Das, 17, of New Jersey, has won the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search bagging the top award of 250,000 dollars.
•Indrani, a student at the Academy for Medical Science Technology in Hackensack, won the prestigious high school science and mathematics competition for her new approach to neurological damage.
•The second place award of 175,000 dollars was conferred on Aaron Yeiser, 18, for his development of a new mathematical method to solve partial differential equations on complicated geometries.
•In third place was another Indian-American student, Arjun Srinivasan Ramani, 18, awarded $150,000 for blending the mathematical field of graph theory with computer programming to answer questions about networks.
•It was held in Washington, DC on March 14, 2017.
3) International Vision Zero Conference Begins In New Delhi
•The International Conference on the Vision Zero and its relevance to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) began at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
•The aim is to focus on the Occupational Safety and Health issues and challenges in the Manufacturing, Construction and Mining sector and provide a forum for promoting safety and health at work by exchanging knowledge, practices, and experience.
•The conference was inaugurated by the Minister of State (Independent) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, in the presence of Smt. M. Sathiyavathy, Secretary, Labour and Employment, Government of India.
4) SEBI allows celebrity endorsements in MFs
•Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed celebrities to endorse Mutual Fund products at the industry level and issued new advertising code that will require fund houses to communicate in a simple manner with the public.
•SEBI stated that it has permitted celebrity endorsements at the industry level for the purpose of increasing awareness of mutual funds as a financial product category.
•The capital markets watchdog has reviewed advertisement guidelines for mutual funds with regard to disclosing performance-related information about such products.
5) India joins WHO call to end TB by 2030 in South East Asian
•India with World Health Organization (WHO) signed a 'call for action' and pledged to scale up measures to end the Tuberculosis by 2030.
•India among other countries in the South East Asian Region, which bear half of the global tuberculosis burden. India reports 2.8 million new TB cases annually and nearly half a million deaths due to the disease.
•Six of the region's countries Bangladesh, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand are among the 30 high TB burden nations globally.
6) Jwala Gutta appointed SAI governing body member
•India's most successful Badminton Doubles specialist Jwala Gutta has been appointed a member of the governing body of Sports Authority of India (SAI).
•Conveying the information about her appointment, SAI Secretary SS Chhabra said in his letter that he was sure Jwala would be able to spare her valuable time to attend Governing Body meetings as and when scheduled by the chairman.
•The 14-time national champion and two-time Olympian Jwala won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships. She is also a 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games champion and a silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Games in women's doubles.
