The Daily Brief – 21st November 2018

India, US Joint Special Forces Exercise 2018 named Vajra Prahar commenced at Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR), Bikaner in Rajasthan. The exercise was called between Special Forces of both countries to deal with operations for counter-terrorism and is being done at unit as well as sub-unit levels. The contingents of both countries in this exercise, will train on aspects such as hostage rescue, building intervention, desert survival, medical aid ad combat fighting.

Sulabh International has introduced India’s first sewer cleaning machine to reduce sewer deaths and put end to unsafe practice of manual scavenging. The machine was unveiled on occasion of World Toilet Day 2018 (observed on 19 November).Sulab International is largest nonprofit organization in India founded by social activists Bindeshwar Pathak in 1970.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ease of Doing Business Grand Challenge on resolving seven identified Ease of Doing Business problems with use of cutting edge technologies. The objective of this challenge is to tap potential of young Indians, startups and other private enterprises to provide solutions to complex problems using current technology. It is in pursuance of Government’s resolve to make India one of the easiest places to conduct business in the world.

Union Government has appointed senior IAS officier as chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). IWAI comes under Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, currently headed by Nitin Gadkari. Jalaj Srivastava is 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Prior to this appointment he was Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. He is also known for launching “Shakti Cab” project and “URJA” project for women when he was with Delhi government.

State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) has inked agreement with US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop a roadmap for modernisation of its air traffic services. Air traffic services (ATS) comprises air traffic management (ATM) and communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS). Founded in 1995, Airports Authority of India (AAI) is statutory body under the aegis of Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Gujarat government on November 20, 2018 launched Rs 351-crore project for the conservation of the Gir lions. The project is launched in the backdrop of the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak that claimed 23 Asiatic lions lives in their only dwelling Gir National park in Saurashtra. Modern technology would also be used in lion conservation. The movements of nocturnal animals like the lions and others will be tracked through CCTV and camera-mounted drones.

West Bengal Assembly passed West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to give land rights to enclave dwellers in north Bengal. The bill will end era of uncertain future for the people residing in those enclaves as it will help them to get full-fledged status as citizens of India, along with all civic amenities and rights. Bangladesh and India had exchanged total of 162 enclaves in August 2015 as per historic 1974 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).

The 26th meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) was held from November 13-16, 2018 at Palais des Congrés, Versailles, France. The CGPM is the highest international body of the world for accurate and precise measurements. The conference redefined the 130-years-old “Le grand K – the SI unit of kg” in terms of the fundamental Planck’s constant (h). The new definitions will come into force on May 20, 2019.