The Daily Brief – 22nd August 2019

A mega health insurance scheme titled ‘Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ (MGSSBY) was launched by the Punjab government for the poor, by clubbing the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) plan with its own. With this, Punjab has become the first state to offer medical insurance for such a large proportion of its population. MGSSBY is expected to benefit 46 lakh families covering 76% of state’s population.

Sadbhavana Diwas or Communal Harmony Day is celebrated every year on 20^th August to encourage national integration, peace, affection and communal harmony among Indian people of all religions. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. 20^th August, 2019 marks the 75th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi became the youngest ever prime minister of India at the age of 40.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard held a High-Level Meeting (HLM) at the Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi to discuss issues of mutual safety and security. Director General of Coast Guard K Natarajan led the Indian side while Rear Admiral Samantha Wimalathunge headed the Sri Lankan delegation.

A flexible e-tourist visa regime for more than 160 countries based on tourist footfall will be introduced by India. As per this, the e-tourist visa fee would be higher for the peak season of July to March and considerably lower during the lean period of April to June. The objective behind the move is to encourage foreign tourists to visit India. There will be no visa fee for tourists belonging to the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 21, 2019 approved major proposals regarding re-organisation of Army Headquarters based on the detailed internal study, which was conducted by the Army Headquarters. The proposals include setting up of a separate vigilance cell under the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) with tri-services representation, establishment of an umbrella organisation under the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) for enhanced focus on human rights issues and re-location of 206 Army Officers from army headquarters to formations/units of the field army.

India and Zambia signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in several areas including geology, defence, arts and culture during Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s state visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu held delegation-level talks and reviewed the bilateral relations between the two nations.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu on 21^st August, 2019 on a two-day visit to Nepal. External Affairs Minister will co-chair the 5th Meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. The Commission will review the overall state of bilateral relations and various areas of cooperation. The main focus will be on economic partnership, trade and transit, connectivity, power, water resources and inundation.

Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the Integrated Teachers Training Programme, NISHTHA – National Initiative for School Head’s and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement, in New Delhi on 21^st August, 2019. The integrated training will motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students, handle diverse situations and act as first level counsellors.