Development of Small Scale Industries in the Country

A Prime Minister's Task Force on MSMEs, constituted under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, looked into the constraints which were affecting the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. To overcome these constraints, the Task Force gave recommendations in various areas like credit, taxation, labour, infrastructure, technology, skill development, marketing etc. Many of the recommendations of the Task Force have been implemented for further development of the MSME sector. This Task Force made 85 recommendations of which 77 were accepted and 8 were dropped/ delinked by the Steering Group. Out of these 77 recommendations, action on 39 recommendations has been completed. 

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing Technology and Quality Upgradation Support to MSMEs (TEQUP) scheme under National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) in order to equip this sector with high technological development in the field of Energy Efficiency. Under this scheme, the Government is providing 25% of subsidy subject to maximum of Rs.10.00 lakh per project for implementation of energy efficiency technologies in MSME sector. Further, Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) being implemented by the Ministry facilitates technology upgradation by providing 15% upfront capital subsidy for inclusion of well established and improved technology in specified sub-sector/ products. Besides, 10 Tool Rooms and 8 Technical Development Centres are also providing technology support services to MSMEs and conducting technical training programme for providing skilled manpower to industries. 

Mother and Child Health Status of the Country

As per the estimates brought out by the Registrar General of India, Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country was 212 per 100,000 live births during 2007-09, theInfant Mortality Rate (IMR), female IMR and male IMR  in 2011 were  44, 46 and 43 per 1000 live births respectively. Taking into account the figures of MMR, IMR, midyear Population and Birth Rate for the corresponding period, it is estimated that about 56, 000 maternal deaths in 2008 and 11.64 lakhs infant deaths in 2011 would have occurred in the country.

The Neo-natal mortality rate of India was 31 per 1000 live births in 2011 indicating thereby deaths of 3.1 percent new born babies within first month of their birth.

As per the National Family Health Survey -3  ( 2005-06) report, the nutritional status  among children under 5, and anaemia among adolescent are given below:

Indicator	% of children / adolescent
Children - under 5
Stunted	48.0
Wasted	19.8
Underweight	42.5
Severely malnourished	15.8
Adolescent (15-19 years)
Any Anaemia - boys	30.2
Any Anaemia - girls	55.8

Innovation Centre for Climate Change

Government of India has proposed to set up the National Institute for Climate Change Studies and Actions (NICCSA) under Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests with a view to carry out analytical studies of scientific, environmental, economic development and technological issues related to climate change. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. NICCSA will be set up during the 12th Five Year Plan Period.

Indo-Australian Joint Naval Exercise

India and Australia have agreed to continue bilateral Naval exchanges between Navies of both countries, including working towards a bilateral naval exercise in 2015 in order to build confidence and familiarity between both Navies. Such exercises are planned as per felt need and mutual convenience of both sides. The government also proposes to hold joint exercises with countries with whom it has relevant agreements. 

Hassan Rouhani sworn in as the new President of Iran

Hassan Rouhani on 4 August 2013 took oath as the new President of Iran in the ceremony held at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran. The 64 year old Rouhani, kissed the Quran and took his oath to the office before the countries senior politicians, foreign dignitaries and MPs. The newly elected, Iranian President began his four-year mandate to the office from 3 August 2013 after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme leader certified his victory in the Presidential election that was conducted on 15 June 2013. 

Rouhani is the seventh (different) President of Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He secured a little over 50 percent votes to win the election and has succeeded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the President.
    
Earlier, he defeated Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of Islamic Society of Engineers party. The Presidential elections in Iran took place on 14 June 2013. 

China blocked import of Milk Powder from New Zealand

China in the first week of August 2013 blocked the import of milk powder from New Zealand after it discovered bacteria that can lead to botulism in some of its dairy products. Global dairy giant Fonterra revealed that three batches of whey products contained Clostridium botulinum, a toxic bacteria, which can cause Botulism.

Yet the ban on the import of the products was not imposed by China as it has asked New Zealand to take effective measures to prevent products from being supplied to China, which could have an adverse impact on the health of Chinese Consumers. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has ordered the importers for withdrawal of all types of contaminated products and quarantine officials have been ordered to step-up the inspections of dairy products, which were being imported from New Zealand.  

The ban issued from China was termed as an appropriate stand by Tim Groser, the Trade Minister of New Zealand, as some of the exported whey products (also infant formula) available with global dairy giant Fonterra contained bacteria, which could have affected the health and lead to fatal illness. 
China is a major market for New Zealand infant formula products.

Vietnam launched Micro-Satellite Pico Dragon to International Space Station

Vietnam's micro-satellite Pico Dragon, together with three other such US satellites, was sent to ISS (International Space Station) by Japan's Kounotori-4 (HTV-4) cargo spacecraft .The two-stage H-2B rocket carrying the HTV-4 ship lifted on 3 August 2013, initiating a five-day journey to the habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. Pico Dragon is programmed to capture images of the earth, collect space environment data and test communication systems, said the report, quoting sources from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. The satellite is planned to stay at the ISS for two-three months before going into space. In May this year, Vietnam's first remote sensing satellite - VNREDSat-1 - was launched into orbit from the Kourou launch pad in French Guiana. 

World s first talking robot Kirobo sent into Space

The world’s first talking robot Kirobo was successfully sent into space by Japanese Scientists on 4th August. The robot was sent by H2B rocket from the island of Tanegashima. The rocket carried food, water and other supplies. Kirobo will serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.

Kirobo was put through a series of zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34 centimetres tall and can speak Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people in space. Kirobo will talk to JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata when he arrives at the space station in November. The name of Kirobo is a merging of Kibo and robot. Kirobo was designed by scientists and engineers at the University of Tokyo. It is equipped with voice-recognition and face-recognition technology, as well as a camera, emotion recognition software and natural language processing.

India won its first ever Bronze Medal at Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013

Indian Junior Women Hockey team won its first ever Bronze medal in ERGO Hockey Junior World Cup at Monchengladbac, Germany on 4 August 2013. India beat England by 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out. The tournament was played at Monchengladbach, Germany from 27 July to 4 August 2013. India ended at third position in the tournament. 

In the third-fourth place playoff match, both the teams India and England had scored 1-1 in regualtion time of 70 minutes. Defender Sushila Chanu captained the Indian side and Shona McCallin captained the English side. Indian forward Rani was declared the Best Player of the ERGO Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013.

The Vice-Captain and forward Rani scored India's only goal in the regulation time. Navneet Kaur's strike helped India a 3-2 lead in the shoot-out.

CCEA approves dilution of safeguards for FDI in multi-brand retail

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its nod for the “dilution” of certain safeguards including relaxing the 30% sourcing norm and doing away with the mandatory 50% condition for backend infrastructure investment which were approved by Parliament while allowing 49% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multibrand retail announced in 2012. Though the changes were strongly opposed by theMinistry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) but they were ignored by the CCEA while approving the new norms seeking to attract much needed FDI investments by global retail chains in Multi-brand Retail Trade (MBRT).  

Malayalam poet Sugathakumari gets Saraswati Samman 2012

Eminent Malayalam poet Sugathakumari was conferred the ‘Saraswati Samman 2012’ for her collection of 27 poems in book “Manalezhuthu” (Writings on the Sand) at a function New Delhi on 2nd August. The prestigious award — instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation — carries a citation and a plaque, apart from Rs. 10 lakh as prize money. It is given annually to an outstanding literary work published during the last 10 years in any of the Indian languages. 

Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju, who presented the award, said Sugathakumari’s life and writings were a true reflection of the humanitarian spirit and value systems intrinsic to the Indian culture. Sugathakumari said it was a matter of pride and joy for her to be chosen as the 22nd recipient of the award for her work published in 2006. Past recipients include Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Vijay Tendulkar, Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Dr. Dharam Veer Bharati and Srilal Shukla.

FDI in print media increases to 49%

Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Executive Committee approved to increase the FDI percentage in Print Media from its present 26% to 49 %. In order to encourage investments in the print media sector, which has become the investment-incentive of late, the committee has taken this decision.

Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy passes away

Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy, the veteran music director died at his residence in Mylapore, Chennai on 2nd August. He was 94. He was known as Swamy in the music industry and worked for more than 125 films in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi and composed music for 859 songs. 

He served the industry for a period of over six decades during this period; more than 50 singers of three generations sang tunes set by him. 

His songs are known for the classical touch. He was a person, who nurtured both the Carnatic as well as Malayalam music. Few of the films in which he composed music include Navalokam, Seetha, Viyarppinte Vila, Sri Guruvayoorappan, Kadamattathachan and Indulekha.

Petroleum Ministry and Delhi Government launched IGL Suraksha Yojana

Union Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Delhi state government on 31 July 2013 launched IGL Suraksha Yojana, a group accident insurance scheme for nearly 2.5 lakh drivers of CNG run public transport vehicles in Delhi.

New schemes like IGL Suraksha Yojana are required to be introduced to benefit the common man.  IGL would be paying the premium amounting to nearly 35 lakh rupees for the insurance scheme, which is currently being offered through Oriental Insurance Company.

Pravasi Friend launched its Operations in Kochi

Pravasi Friend launched its operations in Kochi, Kerala on 1 August 2013. Pravasi Friend will help NRIs and NRKs to complete a large list of mandatory tasks such as legal services, medical services, spiritual needs and government departmental services.

Under Pravasi Friend, Assistance is given in buying, renting out and maintaining their properties, providing property documentation, investigation, home security services, besides securing admissions for their children in schools and colleges in the state.

Getting medical consultations of doctors and undertaking customised healthcare and treatment requests are also taken care of. S Manoj and P R Ganesh, began the organisation recently. S Manoj is a former Ranji Trophy cricket player and selector of the Kerala cricket team.