The Daily Brief – 29th January 2020

Union Minister of State for PMO Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 web portal that will function with the help of satellite technology developed by Indian Satellite Research Organisation (ISRO). The portal will enhance the network application of gram panchayats. The project is meant to provide geo-spatial services to aid gram panchayat development planning process of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde on 28^th January, 2020 approved the project of introduction of African Cheetah in India on a carefully chosen location which suits its habitat and also examine if the animal could adapt to Indian conditions. Stating that the Indian Cheetah has become extinct, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission to relocate the African Cheetah from Namibia. The apex court also constituted a three-member committee to guide the NTCA in taking a decision after conducting a thorough survey. NTCA was established in December 2005.

The Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for skill development, empowerment of persons and rehabilitation has been launched by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Port Blair. The Composite Regional Centres in India are located in Kozhikode, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, Guwahati, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Mandi and Suraghi. CRCs are centres set in order to create infrastructure and resources for persons with disabilities.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held bilateral talks in New Delhi on 28^th January, 2020. They reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen ties in the areas of trade and economic cooperation, space, political and strategic relations among others. Mr Asselborn, who is one of the longest serving Foreign Ministers in Europe, arrived in Delhi on 27^th January on a three day official visit to India. The Ministers agreed to further intensify the high level political contacts.

Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 22^nd meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 28^th January, 2020. Central Zonal Council comprises of four states- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. The chief ministers and Chief Secretaries of these states attended the meeting. During the meeting, issues related to security, law and order, infrastructure related matters like roads, transport, water, industries and power along with various issues between centre and member states and inter-state disputes will be discussed. Five Zonal Councils were set up in 1957 under Sections 15-22 of the States Reorganization Act, 1956. The Union Home Minister is the Chairperson of each of these five councils.

Punjab National Bank’s former MD and CEO Sunil Mehta has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Bank Association (IBA) for a term of 3 years. He will succeed VG Kannan, who resigned from the post in December 2019. The chairman of IBA for the year 2019-20 is Rajnish Kumar, SBI chief. IBA was formed on 26^th September, 1946 with headquarters in Mumbai.

Passport renewal reminder services have been launched by the Union Ministry of External Affairs on 28^th January, 2020 to send the reminder alerts before the expiry of the passport. The Passport Seva Kendras will send SMS to the passport holders about the renewal. The Henley Passport Index, an annual ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, had ranked Indian passport at number 82 as it gives visa-free entry to 58 destinations all over the world.