The Daily Brief – 13th August 2019

In order to curb the increasing number of law colleges in the country and laying stress on improvement of standard of the existing institutions, Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex bar body has imposed a three year moratorium on opening of new institutions except for National Law Universities (NLUs), if proposed by a state. Bar Council of India (BCI) is a statutory body established by the Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961.

India and China agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for smooth development of relations. Four MoUs were also signed in various fields including traditional medicine and sports. This was during the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s bilateral meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, China.

Nepal’s Kajin Sara Lake (locally called as Singar) is soon going to be the highest lake in the world. A team of mountaineers discovered it a few months ago and measured the height at which it is located as 5200 metres. It is said to be formed out of the water melted from the Himalayas. Tilicho Lake, situated at an altitude of 4,919 metres in Nepal, is the current highest lake in the world.

Aishwarya Pissay became the first Indian to claim a world title in motorsports by winning Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM World Cup) in women’s category at Varpalota in Hungary. She finally finished with a tally of 65 points, just 4 points ahead of Rita Vieira of Portugal in the final overall standings for women.

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to provide Rotavirus vaccine ‘Rotavac’ to every child across all 36 states/UTs by September, 2019. Rotavirus is a leading cause of diarrhoea in children less than 5 years of age. In India, every year, there are 37 diarrheal deaths out of every 1000 children. Developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Limit, Rotavac is India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for rotavirus infections.

Former Director of the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi, Chandrima Shaha became the first woman to be elected as the President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). She will succeed Ajay K. Sood and have a term from 2020 to 2022. She also served as the Vice President (International) of Indian National Science Academy (2016-2018). As a biologist, her key research focused on understanding cell death pathways. Established in 1935, the INSA was earlier known as the National Institute of Sciences of India until 1970.

Mission Reach Out has been launched by the Indian Army in Jammu to ensure basic essential services and necessities are available in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard, to review the prevalent situation in the region, a high level “Mission Reach Out” conference chaired by the White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh was held at the Nagrota Military Station.