9 PM Current Affairs Brief – April 13th, 2018

Centre to snuff out ‘toxic’ e-cigarettes  What has happened? The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that it is in the process of issuing guidelines to ban the manufacture, import, sale and any kind of trade in e-cigarettes, dubbing it a “new emerging threat” New addictive emerging threat The flavouring agent in e-cigarettes was… Continue reading Centre to snuff out ‘toxic’ e-cigarettes

WHO directives call for support for breastfeeding  Context Health facilities requested to follow 10 important guidelines  What has happened? The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday issued a new 10-step guidance to increase support for breastfeeding in health facilities that provide maternity and newborn services, which provide the… Continue reading WHO directives call for support for breastfeeding

Still on the starting bloc  Context The National Sports University Bill is still pending  Need of a University The university is intended to fill several gaps that exist in the national sports environment, including in areas such as sports science, technology, management and high performance training. Creation of a high standard of infrastructure for the… Continue reading Still on the starting bloc

Give us power to make rules, EC tells court  What has happened? The Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court that it should be given the power to make rules under the electoral law, instead of the Centre  Rulemaking authority should be given to EC Rulemaking authority under the Representation of the People Act… Continue reading Give us power to make rules, EC tells court

Ruling on SC/ST Act is causing great damage, Centre tells Supreme Court  Context In a note seeking a review, government says judgment is in conflict with the law  What has happened? The Supreme Court judgment banning immediate arrest of a person accused of insulting or injuring Dalits is causing disharmony and “great damage” to the… Continue reading Ruling on SC/ST Act is causing great damage, Centre tells Supreme Court

IRNSS-1I to enrich navigation fleet  What has happened? Navigation satellite IRNSS-1I was flown into space from Sriharikota space pad in the early hours of Thursday. The 1,425-kg satellite will shortly become the eighth satellite to join the NavIC constellation of Indian regional navigation satellites  First phase complete of NavIC constellation Latest launch completes the first… Continue reading IRNSS-1I to enrich navigation fleet

Can Ayushman Bharat make for a healthier India?  Context Building a robust primary health-care system will save lives and lead to a healthier India Unmet Primary healthcare needs There is a huge unmet need for primary health care, namely, care for non-communicable diseases (specifically, prevention and early detection and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive… Continue reading Can Ayushman Bharat make for a healthier India?

Pressure on RBI to ease NPA norms  What has happened? The finance ministry is in discussion with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for relaxation of norms regarding stressed asset resolution that was announced in February. This follows representation by large banks to the ministry officials as they worry about pressure on profitability due to… Continue reading Pressure on RBI to ease NPA norms