9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 30, 2019

50% VVPAT verification will delay Lok Sabha election results by 6 days, ECI tells SC In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the Election Commission has said that increasing VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) verification to 50% would delay Lok Sabha election results by 6days. The EC’s affidavit in court came in response… Continue reading 50% VVPAT verification will delay Lok Sabha election results by 6 days, ECI tells SC

PM’s speech didn’t violate the code of conduct: EC The Election Commission (EC) has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to nation on the success of Mission Shakti, anti-satellite missile testing, did not violate the provision of ”party in power” in Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The EC has taken the decision based on… Continue reading PM’s speech didn’t violate the code of conduct: EC

Red Cross to send aid to crisis-hit Venezuela The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has announced that it would begin impartially distributing humanitarian aid in Venezuela. Venezuela has been experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis which has led to forced mass migration of many. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red… Continue reading Red Cross to send aid to crisis-hit Venezuela

Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded GI certification The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has recently awarded Geographical Indication (GI) to five varieties of Indian coffee. Geographical Indications (GI) is an intellectual property right (IPR). It is a status accorded to a good which is unique to… Continue reading Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded GI certification

Bengal Odisha schemes held up for incomplete info: EC The Election Commission has said that it had stopped Odisha’s Kalia Scheme and West Bengal’s Krishak Bandhu scheme under the Model Code of Conduct on the grounds that the schemes had incomplete information about beneficiaries. Relevant information about beneficiaries is necessary to ensure the states are… Continue reading Bengal Odisha schemes held up for incomplete info: EC

Debris from anti-satellite test to disintegrate in 45 days: official Defence sources have said that debris from anti-satellite missile test are expected to disintegrate in 45 days. India has assured that that there will be no space debris left as the test was conducted in the lower atmosphere. Being in the Low Earth Orbit, the… Continue reading Debris from anti-satellite test to disintegrate in 45 days: official

NGT asks Chandigarh to formulate action plan The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Union Territory of Chandigarh to develop a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in order to control air pollution. Air pollution has become a major concern in Chandigarh due to excessive number of vehicles on the roads resulting in high emission… Continue reading NGT asks Chandigarh to formulate action plan

MPs reject Brexit deal for third time British MPs has rejected Prime Minister’s EU Brexit deal for a third time, opening the way for a long delay to Brexit or a potential no deal withdrawal by April 12. Britain had to leave the EU on March 29,2019 but UK PM had asked European Union to… Continue reading MPs reject Brexit deal for third time

MSME networking portal launched The Telangana government has launched a Micro, Smalland Medium Enterprises (MSME) networking portal called as Telangana State Global Linker. The core objective of the portal is to make the business growth of MSMEs simpler, more profitable and enjoyable. The platform will offer a host of benefits to MSME members such as… Continue reading MSME networking portal launched

Kartarpur talks only if Pak. concedes demands India has called off a second round of talks with Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor scheduled to be held on 2nd April. The inclusion of Khalistan separatists supporter in the recently constituted Kartarpur-related committee by the Pakistan government is the main reason for India calling off the talks.… Continue reading Kartarpur talks only if Pak. concedes demands

Group to check terror sympathisers Government has set up a Multi-Disciplinary Terror Monitoring Group (MDTMG). The group aims to ensure synergised and concerted action against terror financing and terror-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The MDTMG will have representatives from (a) Jammu and Kashmir Police (b) Intelligence Bureau (c) Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) (c)National Investigation… Continue reading Group to check terror sympathisers

Plea in court against drug pricing regulator’s move to cap trade margin for cancer medicines The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) decision to cap the maximum trade margin for cancer medicine has been challenged in the Karnataka High Court by a private hospital group. Earlier, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had invoked powers under Drugs… Continue reading Plea in court against drug pricing regulator’s move to cap trade margin for cancer medicines

CDSCO asks state drug regulators to ‘keep a strong vigil’ on buclizine sales Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued an advisory to state drug regulators. It has asked them to keep monitoring on the manufacture, sale and distribution of buclizine. It is a brand of antihistamine and used as a motion sickness medicine.… Continue reading CDSCO asks state drug regulators to ‘keep a strong vigil’ on buclizine sales

Oxfam flags gender pay gap, lack of quality jobs in India Oxfam India has recently released a report titled ‘Mind the Gap: The State of Employment in India’. The report says that regressive social norms along with lack of investment in social security and infrastructure continue to hamper women’s participation in the workforce. The report… Continue reading Oxfam flags gender pay gap, lack of quality jobs in India

Now, a blockchain­ enabled marketplace app for coffee The commerce ministry has launched a blockchain-based coffee e-marketplace app. It will help farmers integrate with markets so that they can realise fair prices for the commodity. Coffee Board is collaborating with Eka Plus, one of the global leaders in Digital Commodity Management platforms for Agriculture for… Continue reading Now, a blockchain­ enabled marketplace app for coffee