9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 8, 2019

Soumya Swaminathan is WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has been named as the Chief Scientist in a newly created Chief Scientists department in WHO. The Chief Scientists division has been created to strengthen WHO’s core scientific work and ensure the quality and consistency of WHO’s norms and standards. Swaminathan was one of the three the… Continue reading Soumya Swaminathan is WHO chief scientist

JKLF chief Yasin Malik booked under Public Safety Act Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) spokesman have been booked under Jammu and Kashmir’s Public Safety Act. The Public Safety Act was enacted in 1978 to take action against the timber smugglers. It provides for administrative detention for people against whom there… Continue reading JKLF chief Yasin Malik booked under Public Safety Act

Large hydro projects get ‘renewable energy’ status The government has introduced a slew of measures for the hydropower sector. The measures come at the time when the share of hydro-power in the total capacity in India has declined from 50.36% in the 1960s to only around 13% in 2018-19. The major measure has been the… Continue reading Large hydro projects get ‘renewable energy’ status

Huawei fights back against U.S. blackout with Texas lawsuit Chinese tech giant Huawei has sued United States government over a legislation that prevents US federal agencies from using its product.Huawei argues that the federal ban is a piece of legislation that punishes an individual or organization without trial. The restrictions were imposed because American authorities… Continue reading Huawei fights back against U.S. blackout with Texas lawsuit

Cabinet approves Continuation of Atal Innovation Mission The Union Cabinet has approved continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was set up in Niti Aayog in 2016. It aims to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. It seeks to create institutions and programs that enhance innovation in schools, colleges, and entrepreneurs… Continue reading Cabinet approves Continuation of Atal Innovation Mission

Teachers entitled to gratuity, rules SC The Supreme Court has ruled that teachers come under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The SC has recalled it January 2019 judgement which held that teachers were not entitled to gratuity. In January 2019, the court had stated that teachers did not fall within the ambit of the… Continue reading Teachers entitled to gratuity, rules SC

Odisha forest dwellers seek permanent relief under FRA A large number of forest dwellers have held a protest after the Central government’s recent failure to defend the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in the Supreme Court. Protestors have demanded a permanent relief under the FRA. The Supreme court had ordered eviction of more than 10 lakh… Continue reading Odisha forest dwellers seek permanent relief under FRA

India excluded again from student visa relaxation list The UK government has once again excluded Indian students from a new list of countries considered “low risk” under Tier 4 visa category.It would have allowed an easier visa application process for Indian students to UK universities. The British government has said that the exclusion of Indian… Continue reading India excluded again from student visa relaxation list

India, Russia sign deal on nuclear submarine India has signed a $ 3.3 billion deal with Russia to take third Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine on lease for 10 years. The submarine is expected to join the Indian Navy by 2025.It will be fitted with Indian systems to validate them for the indigenous submarines. The submarine will… Continue reading India, Russia sign deal on nuclear submarine

IAF went for precision strikes in Balakot: official The Indian Air Force has submitted dossier to the government containing high resolution satellite images proving that 80% of the precision guided bombs deployed during the airstrike at Balakot had hit their intended targets. Air Force had used Mirage 2000 fighter jets which dropped Israeli Spice 2000… Continue reading IAF went for precision strikes in Balakot: official