9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 16, 2019

SC stays contempt order against The Shillong Times editor and publisher The Supreme Court has stayed the judgment passed by Meghalaya High Court.The court had held Shillong Times editor and publisher guilty of contempt of court and had asked them to pay fine of Rs. 2 lakh. Contempt of court is an offense of being… Continue reading SC stays contempt order against The Shillong Times editor and publisher

Myanmar, India raze 12 camps of insurgents The Indian and Myanmar armies conducted a coordinated operation against insurgents in Myanmar territory.This operation was carried out to avert a possible threat to the Kaladan transit and transport project. The action was taken against the Myanmar insurgent group,Arakan Army and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN),Khaplang… Continue reading Myanmar, India raze 12 camps of insurgents

NHRC Special Rapporteur to probe farmer deaths The National Human Rights Commission has directed East Zone Special Rapporteur to conduct a detailed probe into incidences of farmers’ suicide in Odisha. The order comes in the backdrop of a plea which alleged that 30 debt-ridden farmers in 12 districts of Odisha committed suicide during November-December 2015… Continue reading NHRC Special Rapporteur to probe farmer deaths

Mosquito-killing drug offers new tool for fighting malaria In a randomized trial in Burkina Faso, the antimalarial effects of ivermectin has shown that it has the potential to reduce malaria episodes. Burkina Faso is a country in western Africa. Ivermectin reduces new cases of malaria by making a person’s blood lethal to the mosquitoes who… Continue reading Mosquito-killing drug offers new tool for fighting malaria

Bids invited for 20,000 crore Bullet train project The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) has invited bids for Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet train project. Only Indian and Japanese companies can bid. NHSRCL is the implementing agency of the project. The E5 Shinkansen series Bullet Train Project is an India-Japan joint venture. The agreement was signed with… Continue reading Bids invited for 20,000 crore Bullet train project

SC issues notice to EC on plea to verify at least 50% VVPATS’s The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission (EC) on a plea by opposition political leaders. Recently, opposition parties have moved to the SC demanding the random verification of at least 50% Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) using Voter Verifiable… Continue reading SC issues notice to EC on plea to verify at least 50% VVPATS’s

NGT directs Haryana Chief Secy. to review policy, submit report The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Haryana chief secretary to look into the state’s inspection policy of industries. The Chief Secretary has been asked to submit the report within a month. The direction comes in the backdrop of a plea which has alleged that… Continue reading NGT directs Haryana Chief Secy. to review policy, submit report

Ganga pollution rise claim unscientific The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has rejected the claims of Sankat Mochan Foundation, a Varanasi based registered society committed to clean River Ganga. The society had reported substantial increase in level of pollutants in Ganga. NMCG is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council.  It was registered… Continue reading Ganga pollution rise claim unscientific

AGP, BJP strike bill consensus Asom Gana Parishad and BJP have decided not to talk on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 in Assam The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill amends the Citizenship Act, 1955. Legal provisions relating to acquisition and termination of citizenship of India are contained in the Citizenship… Continue reading AGP, BJP strike bill consensus

Post fund infusion, ICRA revises rating for 6 PSBs Credit Rating agency,ICRA has revised the outlook of six public sector banks,of which five are positive revisions.The ratings were revised after the capital infusion in these banks by the government. Earlier,RBI had also removed them from Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) after the infusion of capital in… Continue reading Post fund infusion, ICRA revises rating for 6 PSBs