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- The Mental Healthcare Bill 2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha, thereby securing parliamentary approval after the Rajya Sabha’s assent in 2016. The bill decriminalizes attempt to suicide by mentally ill people.
- Supreme Court has ordered installation of CCTV cameras in the High Courts of all States and Union Territories. This move is aimed towards increasing transparency in courtroom proceedings.
- The government replied to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha regarding the status of virtual currency, like Bitcoin, in India. Arjun Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance, said that virtual currencies, including Bitcoins, are not authorized for use in India by RBI. Value of 1 Bitcoin=INR 67,300.
- SBI Card Unnati launched by the State Bank of India for various discounts and schemes. The minimum account balance of INR 25,000 is required to avail this card.
- India becomes a net exporter of electricity for the first time, revealed by the Central Electricity Authority of India. This means that between April 2016-February 2017, India exported more units of electricity than it imported.
- FSSAI and Coca Cola signed an agreement under the project ‘Clean Street Food’. By the virtue of which, they will be training 50,000 street vendors in various states. The initiative is a part of Skill India.
- The UN appointed David Beasley to be the new head (Executive Director) of the World Food Programme. WFP is the UN arm that aims to end world hunger and promotes food security.
- Priti Patel received the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman for her outstanding contribution to national and international politics. She is an Indian-origin British cabinet minister.
- Australian coast hit by a scale-4 Tropical Cyclone Debbie, damaging resorts and the Great Barrier Reef. The cyclone was only a level short of the most dangerous cyclone range- scale 5 cyclones.
- Lionel Messi has been banned from the next four matches after insulting the assistant-referee in the match against Chile. Using insulting words against the referee is violative of Act 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
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