Saturday, 22 August 2015
July 2015 is Earth’s hottest month ever recorded
July 2015 is Earth’s hottest month ever recorded
Author(s): Vani Manocha
July surpassed all the records to become the hottest month worldwide since records began being kept in 1880, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday.
The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for July 2015 was the highest for July in the 136-year period of record. At 0.81°C above the 20th century average of 15.8°C, the temperature smashed the previous record of 0.08°C increase, set in 1998.
A report by NOAA also said that as July is climatologically the warmest month of the year globally, this monthly global temperature of 16.61°C was also the highest among all 1627 months in the record that began in January 1880. The July temperature is currently increasing at an average rate of 0.65°C per century.
Separately, the July average temperature across global land surfaces was 0.96°C above the 20th century average, the sixth warmest for July on record. The average temperature for Africa was the second highest for July on record, behind only 2002, with regional record warmth across much of eastern Africa into central areas of the continent. Record warmth has also been recorded across much of northern South America, parts of southern Europe and central Asia, and western United States, says NOAA.
What is happening where?
While much of Europe sweltered to one of its hottest temperatures, for Africa, July's average temperature was the second highest, behind July 2002. Asia, however, recorded 10th warmest July in 106 years. A look at how increasing temperatures are melting some countries across the globe
Austria: It recorded its hottest July since national records began in 1767. The average temperature was 3.0°C higher than the 1981–2010 average, beating the previous record of +2.7°C, set just a few years earlier in 2006
France: It had its third warmest July in its 116-year period of record. Overall, the temperature was 2.1°C higher than the 1981–2010 average
The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for July 2015 was the highest for July in the 136-year period of record. At 0.81°C above the 20th century average of 15.8°C, the temperature smashed the previous record of 0.08°C increase, set in 1998.
A report by NOAA also said that as July is climatologically the warmest month of the year globally, this monthly global temperature of 16.61°C was also the highest among all 1627 months in the record that began in January 1880. The July temperature is currently increasing at an average rate of 0.65°C per century.
Separately, the July average temperature across global land surfaces was 0.96°C above the 20th century average, the sixth warmest for July on record. The average temperature for Africa was the second highest for July on record, behind only 2002, with regional record warmth across much of eastern Africa into central areas of the continent. Record warmth has also been recorded across much of northern South America, parts of southern Europe and central Asia, and western United States, says NOAA.
What is happening where?
While much of Europe sweltered to one of its hottest temperatures, for Africa, July's average temperature was the second highest, behind July 2002. Asia, however, recorded 10th warmest July in 106 years. A look at how increasing temperatures are melting some countries across the globe
Austria: It recorded its hottest July since national records began in 1767. The average temperature was 3.0°C higher than the 1981–2010 average, beating the previous record of +2.7°C, set just a few years earlier in 2006
France: It had its third warmest July in its 116-year period of record. Overall, the temperature was 2.1°C higher than the 1981–2010 average
The Netherlands: The country experienced abnormally hot July temperatures at the beginning of the month
United Kingdom: Record-breaking heat was observed in parts of the southern country at the beginning of July, including the highest temperature recorded in the country since August 2003
Middle East: A high pressure dome over the region brought what may be one of the most extreme heat indices ever recorded in the world on July 31. Media reports also suggested that for Iran’s Bandar Mahshahr city, the air temperature of 46°C combined with a dew point of 32°C jumped to a heat index of 74°C, second only to 81°C that occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran city on July 8th, 2003
United Kingdom: Record-breaking heat was observed in parts of the southern country at the beginning of July, including the highest temperature recorded in the country since August 2003
Middle East: A high pressure dome over the region brought what may be one of the most extreme heat indices ever recorded in the world on July 31. Media reports also suggested that for Iran’s Bandar Mahshahr city, the air temperature of 46°C combined with a dew point of 32°C jumped to a heat index of 74°C, second only to 81°C that occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran city on July 8th, 2003
El Nino fears gather pace
The international agency has also warned that across the world, ocean surfaces also experienced record warmth or much warmer-than-average conditions. With sea surface temperatures during July nearly 1.0°C above the 1981–2010 average in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, and more than 2.0°C above average across the eastern Pacific, there is a greater than 90 per cent chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2015-16, and around an 85 per cent chance that it will last into early spring 2016. This could also mean that the current El Nino could likely exceed the previous high by some margin. Strengthening of this phenomenon has often led to disruption in rainfall and droughts in India.
The international agency has also warned that across the world, ocean surfaces also experienced record warmth or much warmer-than-average conditions. With sea surface temperatures during July nearly 1.0°C above the 1981–2010 average in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, and more than 2.0°C above average across the eastern Pacific, there is a greater than 90 per cent chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2015-16, and around an 85 per cent chance that it will last into early spring 2016. This could also mean that the current El Nino could likely exceed the previous high by some margin. Strengthening of this phenomenon has often led to disruption in rainfall and droughts in India.
Earlier this week, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology had warned that El Nino is likely to persist into early 2016.
Fuming over food
Fuming over food
Author(s): Chinmayi Shalya
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issue dietary guidelines for its citizens every five years. These form the basis of the country’s nutritional policy. This year, when recommendations for the 2015 dietary guidelines were opened for public comment in February, it created quite a storm in the US Congress and the food industry. The recommendations contained two unprecedented propositions: one, they introduced environmental sustainability as a concern and proposed limited consumption of meats for a healthier and planet-friendly diet; and two, they recommended that not more than 10 per cent of calorie intake should be from added sugars.
“Average US diet has a larger environmental impact in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and energy use. This is because the current US population intake of animal-based foods is higher and plant-based foods are [sic] lower, than proposed in dietary patterns,” state the recommendations. The solution is a diet “higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods”.
The recommendations led to a no-holds-barred debate, with senators and the food industry on one side, and pro-environment groups on the other. Thirty senators shot off a letter to USDA and HHS, protesting against the recommendations and questioning the expertise of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC)—which makes the recommendations on the basis of new scientific developments—to discuss environment sustainability. DGAC comprises some of the country’s top scientists and nutrition researchers.
The meat industry launched campaigns like “Hands off My Hotdog” to counter the recommendations. Media reports say the recommendations created such a stir that USAD and HHS received close to 30,000 comments, against 1,200 comments received for the 2010 recommendations. The guidelines will be released later this year, and implemented from 2016.
Industry's hold
In the US, industry interference through lobbying and funding is an open secret. “The cattle industry donated more than half-a-million dollars to the senators listed in the letter in the previous campaign year,” says Laura MacLeery, chief regulatory affairs lawyer at the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a non-profit which advocates on issues of nutrition, health, food safety and science. CSPI’s analysis also shows that sugar manufacturers were among the top donors to many senators and representatives on agriculture and labour/HHS appropriations committees.
“Average US diet has a larger environmental impact in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and energy use. This is because the current US population intake of animal-based foods is higher and plant-based foods are [sic] lower, than proposed in dietary patterns,” state the recommendations. The solution is a diet “higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods”.
The recommendations led to a no-holds-barred debate, with senators and the food industry on one side, and pro-environment groups on the other. Thirty senators shot off a letter to USDA and HHS, protesting against the recommendations and questioning the expertise of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC)—which makes the recommendations on the basis of new scientific developments—to discuss environment sustainability. DGAC comprises some of the country’s top scientists and nutrition researchers.
The meat industry launched campaigns like “Hands off My Hotdog” to counter the recommendations. Media reports say the recommendations created such a stir that USAD and HHS received close to 30,000 comments, against 1,200 comments received for the 2010 recommendations. The guidelines will be released later this year, and implemented from 2016.
Industry's hold
In the US, industry interference through lobbying and funding is an open secret. “The cattle industry donated more than half-a-million dollars to the senators listed in the letter in the previous campaign year,” says Laura MacLeery, chief regulatory affairs lawyer at the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a non-profit which advocates on issues of nutrition, health, food safety and science. CSPI’s analysis also shows that sugar manufacturers were among the top donors to many senators and representatives on agriculture and labour/HHS appropriations committees.
Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, and professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, points out that in 1991, the meat industry forced the USDA to withdraw its food guide pyramid which displayed meat towards the narrow top (highlighting its low requirement in the diet). “Eventually the USDA released almost the same pyramid but with some changes that appeased the meat industry,” Nestle told Down To Earth. In her book, Nestle also points out how the 1980 and 1985 guidelines obfuscated the issue of sugar consumption by asking people only to avoid too much sugar.
Global pattern
In making these recommendations, DGAC has followed European countries. The Netherlands was perhaps one of the first to include an ecological perspective in its dietary guidelines in 2011. In April 2015, Sweden, too, urged people to limit consumption of red and processed meats and dairy products. Germany has also introduced a sustainable shopping basket. The thrust of all these recommendations is similar—limit consumption of animal-based foods, sugar and salt.
In South America, Brazil pushed the envelope in 2014 by issuing guidelines that listed the food items that should be eaten, and not the nutrients. Carlos Monterio, a nutrition expert and one of the formulators of the Brazilian guidelines, says that the new guidelines are a way to pre-empt the disappearance of traditional and local dietary habits and to ensure that consumption of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods does not impact the dietary patterns in Brazil, like it did in the US.
Global pattern
In making these recommendations, DGAC has followed European countries. The Netherlands was perhaps one of the first to include an ecological perspective in its dietary guidelines in 2011. In April 2015, Sweden, too, urged people to limit consumption of red and processed meats and dairy products. Germany has also introduced a sustainable shopping basket. The thrust of all these recommendations is similar—limit consumption of animal-based foods, sugar and salt.
In South America, Brazil pushed the envelope in 2014 by issuing guidelines that listed the food items that should be eaten, and not the nutrients. Carlos Monterio, a nutrition expert and one of the formulators of the Brazilian guidelines, says that the new guidelines are a way to pre-empt the disappearance of traditional and local dietary habits and to ensure that consumption of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods does not impact the dietary patterns in Brazil, like it did in the US.
Apart from advocating environmental sustainability, the guidelines also devised the concept of “ultra processed foods” to differentiate them from minimally processed ones in terms of nutrient and health effects. With Brazil struggling with a nutritional anomaly—malnutrition on one hand, and rising obesity on the other—the new guidelines seem to be a timely intervention.
But like US, the new guidelines faced resistance in Brazil too. “During public consultations, they (manufacturers of ultra-processed foods) criticised almost every guideline recommendation and even tried to stop the promulgation of the guidelines, but with no success,” says Monterio.
Experiences in India
In India, the issue has had its share of controversies. In 2014, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) set-up an expert committee to frame junk food guidelines for schools after a High Court order. The guidelines submitted by the committee were mellowed down by FSSAI before being presented to the court. The guidelines had recommended restriction of junk food within 500 m of school, which was changed to 50 m. A complete ban on junk food in schools was also not allowed.
In another instance last year, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal asked PepsiCo India head, Indra Nooyi, to develop “nutritious processed foods” for the Rs 13,000 crore mid-day meal scheme. This was despite a 2001 Supreme Court order that made providing freshly cooked food mandatory in mid-day meals. Badal’s ministry later retracted the statement.
T Longvah, director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, denies that the industry is involved in the process of framing the dietary guidelines. He, however, admits that there is a possibility of the industry funding research projects to promote its own agenda. “Published results from such projects could be used for developing dietary guidelines,” he says.
Conflict of interest
When commercial interests dominate politics and public health, is there a way out? The World Health Organization, which had come under scrutiny due to an increased proportion of funding from non-state players like corporates, is now trying to lay down a Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors to address this conflict of interest.
A funding reform in political campaigns is a must, says Robert Lawrence, director, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Nestle says that passing a law against industry influence is unlikely as the current Congress bends to pressure easily. She says advocacy for transparency of corporate influence, and publicity of undue interference can make a difference.
Experts say that India too should look at issues of environmental sustainability while framing dietary guidelines, like Brazil, even though the protein intake in the country is low and diets, largely vegetarian. “Plants sources are environment friendly.
Unlike western countries, India’s high-quality protein intake is low and is provided by pulses. India should focus on increasing pulses production. It is environmentally sustainable too because pulses fix nitrogen in the soil,” says Anura Kurpad, head of the nutrition division at St John’s Research Institute, Bengaluru. He says that though Indian dietary guidelines refer to sugar intake and soft drinks, they still need to focus on ultra-processed foods because the market is flooded with processed food.
For a country like India, where the industry interference is covert, pre-emptive steps could be useful. “India is moving towards a scenario where people might consume more ultra-processed and ready-to-cook foods. If the government looks at proper labelling of foods and generates awareness, it could pre-empt a surge in the consumption of these products,” says Kurpad.
But like US, the new guidelines faced resistance in Brazil too. “During public consultations, they (manufacturers of ultra-processed foods) criticised almost every guideline recommendation and even tried to stop the promulgation of the guidelines, but with no success,” says Monterio.
Experiences in India
In India, the issue has had its share of controversies. In 2014, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) set-up an expert committee to frame junk food guidelines for schools after a High Court order. The guidelines submitted by the committee were mellowed down by FSSAI before being presented to the court. The guidelines had recommended restriction of junk food within 500 m of school, which was changed to 50 m. A complete ban on junk food in schools was also not allowed.
In another instance last year, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal asked PepsiCo India head, Indra Nooyi, to develop “nutritious processed foods” for the Rs 13,000 crore mid-day meal scheme. This was despite a 2001 Supreme Court order that made providing freshly cooked food mandatory in mid-day meals. Badal’s ministry later retracted the statement.
T Longvah, director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, denies that the industry is involved in the process of framing the dietary guidelines. He, however, admits that there is a possibility of the industry funding research projects to promote its own agenda. “Published results from such projects could be used for developing dietary guidelines,” he says.
Conflict of interest
When commercial interests dominate politics and public health, is there a way out? The World Health Organization, which had come under scrutiny due to an increased proportion of funding from non-state players like corporates, is now trying to lay down a Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors to address this conflict of interest.
A funding reform in political campaigns is a must, says Robert Lawrence, director, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Nestle says that passing a law against industry influence is unlikely as the current Congress bends to pressure easily. She says advocacy for transparency of corporate influence, and publicity of undue interference can make a difference.
Experts say that India too should look at issues of environmental sustainability while framing dietary guidelines, like Brazil, even though the protein intake in the country is low and diets, largely vegetarian. “Plants sources are environment friendly.
Unlike western countries, India’s high-quality protein intake is low and is provided by pulses. India should focus on increasing pulses production. It is environmentally sustainable too because pulses fix nitrogen in the soil,” says Anura Kurpad, head of the nutrition division at St John’s Research Institute, Bengaluru. He says that though Indian dietary guidelines refer to sugar intake and soft drinks, they still need to focus on ultra-processed foods because the market is flooded with processed food.
For a country like India, where the industry interference is covert, pre-emptive steps could be useful. “India is moving towards a scenario where people might consume more ultra-processed and ready-to-cook foods. If the government looks at proper labelling of foods and generates awareness, it could pre-empt a surge in the consumption of these products,” says Kurpad.
Deadly air: face it
Deadly air: face it
Author(s): Sunita Narain
I do not know how best to respond to this question. These days, concerned about the toxic air of Delhi, many parents, particularly those with children who have asthma, ask me if they should leave the city. Many times, I am also told that they have decided to move away; they cannot take it anymore. It is a no-brainer, you would say. After all, Delhi is very polluted and we know from all evidence that air toxins are deadly for our health. There may not be any comprehensive epidemiological study, which conclusively shows how growing air pollution in Indian cities is adding to health burden, but there is enough to tell us that things are bad. Only the most diehard polluter—a manufacturer of diesel vehicles, for example—would argue that the current level of air pollution in Delhi is not hazardous for our health.
This past winter, in November, December and January, air was classified as “severely polluted” for over 65 per cent of the days. According to the government’s own air quality index this would mean pollution is so bad that it would cause “respiratory effects even on healthy people”. So why am I troubled in saying that yes, they should leave the city? After all, their health is at risk.
One, I realised, painfully, that it would mean accepting defeat. It was in the mid-1990s that we started work on clean air. Then, unlike now, people did not even see the connection with our bodies. When we said tiny particles, emitted from diesel vehicles, could be carcinogenic, a leading automobile manufacturer slapped us with Rs 100 crore defamation suit. But courts and governments worked to take decisive and difficult action, and pollution was checked.
Now we are back to where we started. Pollution is rising; governments are scrambling to deny the obvious and it is clear that this second-generation reform is much more difficult. All the easy pickings—if you can call the contested transition to compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles easy—are over. Now the answer is to restrain the growth of cars and build convenient and modern public transport system so that even the rich do not use their vehicles. Now the answer is to drastically improve the quality of fuel and technology used in trucks or find ways for them to bypass cities. Now the answer is to find more CNG to use in industries and to ensure that there is tight enforcement of rules from institutions that have been whittled away deliberately. All this is difficult. More difficult than before. So, should we give up? Decide that it is impossible to do anything?
But then, I think of how Anil Agarwal—Centre for Science and Environment’s founder—had reacted to the news of his own cancer. He investigated cause and found clear links with contaminants like pesticides. “My story today your story tomorrow” was his poignant rallying call for bringing change in the way we spray our food with poison. Just before his death, he set up India’s first public laboratory to test contaminants in our everyday life. Since then the tests done—from pesticides in soft drinks and Punjab farmer’s blood to antibiotics in chicken—have brought home the fact that we need to reduce our exposure to toxins. And even though much more needs to be done, it is good to know that Agarwal’s fight has not been wasted. So, leaving should not be the question. How to fight and win this battle against pollution should be.
Secondly, where will you go? The fact is that most of India is getting equally polluted—air is equally foul but it is just not monitored. This is the difference between Delhi and other cities. Other cities also have everything going for pollution cocktail—growing number of diesel vehicles, poor public transport, weak surveillance of polluting factories and poverty that forces people to burn biomass instead of cleaner cooking fuel. So, where will you run away to?
This is the same when we believed that the answer to fighting pollution was to buy air purifiers. But the fact is that purifiers can clean only up to a limit and not all pollutants. Besides, we have to breathe common air sometime. Yes, if you are rich you can install it in your house to protect yourself and your children from the worst of the harm. But it is not the answer because not everyone is rich enough to use one. The answer is to clean the air.
Yes, you can run abroad where countries breathe better air. But how many have that option? This is what should drive us to not give up. We have to win this battle—for the sake of those who have left our city and for the sake of those who stay. There is no choice. This is the answer.
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/22/2015
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/22/2015
1. “RISHTA” PROJECT LAUNCHED BY HIMACHAL PRADESH GOVERNMENT
i. “Rajiv Gandhi Illuminating Scheme for Hill Town Advancement” project is launched by Himachal Pradesh Government for Smart LED Street Lights
ii. Himachal Pradesh has became the first state government to start LED based street lights in north India.
CM of Himachal Pradesh : Virbhadra Singh
2. CHETAN BHAGAT RELEASED ‘MAKING INDIA AWESOME’
i. Chetan Bhagat has released a new book ‘making India Awesome’
ii. Chetan Bhagat is the country’s biggest selling writer.
iii. In this Book he explained and provided solutions for the country’s current issues like poverty , unemployment, corruption, violence against women, illiteracy etc.
3. “WEB PORTAN VIDYA LAKSHMI” LAUNCHED BY UNION GOVERNMENT:
i. The Union Government has launched a web portal ‘Vidya Lakshmi’ for helping students.
ii. This portal will provide information to students for getting education loans from banks and government financial institutions.
Union Minister of Education: Smriti Irani
4. RANIL WICKREMESINGHE IS NEW PM OF SRILANKA
i. Ranil Wickremesinghe has sworn in as new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
ii. Recently Parliamentary Elections 2015 were held in Sri Lanka.
iii. Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP) has inked a memorandum of Understanding to make government in Sri Lanka.
President of Sri Lanka : Maithripala Sirisena
Currency of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan rupee
5. ‘MRS FUNNY BONES’ BOOK RELEASED BY TWINKLE sKHANNA
i. Bollywood Actress Twinkle Khanna has authored a book ‘Mrs Funny Bones: She is just like ‘you and a lot like me’.
ii. This book explains how a modern women looks at India and how India looks back at her.
6. NASA’S “LADEE” FOUND NEON GAS ON MOON:
i. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Spacecraft ‘LADEE’ (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) found neon gas on moon.
ii. It is the first time that availability of neon gas is found on moon’s atmosphere
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarter of NASA: Washington D.C.
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/21/2015
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/21/2015
1. BANGLADESH 1ST COUNTRY TO GET FUNDS FROM UNITED NATIONS FOR SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS
1. BANGLADESH 1ST COUNTRY TO GET FUNDS FROM UNITED NATIONS FOR SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS
i. Bangladesh is the first country in world to receive the 3.56 million US dollar from United Nations for Solar home system to maximize the use of solar energy at homes.
ii. The fund will be given by United Nations frame work convention for climate change (UNFCC) to Bangladesh’s two companies. Infrastructure development company ltd and Grameen Shakti.
PM of Bangladesh : Sheikh Hasina
Currency of Bangladesh: Taka
2. COCHIN AIRPORT WORLD’S 1ST AIRPORT TO FULLY OPERATE ON SOLAR POWER:
i. Cochin International Airport limited of Kerala has become 1st airport in world to fully operate on solar power
ii. The airport will get solar power from 12MWP solar power plant grid near the Cochin Airport.
CM of Kerala: Oomman Chand
3. WORLD HUMANITARIN DAY OBSERVED ON 19TH AUGUST:
i. World Humanitarin Day is observed on 19th August by United Nations General Assembly to recognize humanitarian and those who lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.
ii. The theme of the day was ‘Inspiring the World Humanity’
4. CONVERSION OF URBAN CO-OPERTIVE BANKS INTO REGULAR BANKS RECOMMENDED BY R.GANDHI
i. The high powered committee of RBI headed by RBI deputy governor R.Gandhi has recommended conversion of Urban Co-operative Banks into regular banks.
ii. Urban Co-operative banks with business size of 20000 crore are recommended for conversion into regular banks.
iii. Earlier in January a high powered committee on Urban co-operative banks is formed under the chairmanship of RBI deputy Governor R. Gandhi on conversion of Urban Co-operative banks into commercial banks.
Governor of RBI: Raghuram Rajan
5. ASHWANI LOHANI NEW CMD OF AIR INDIA LTD:
i. Air India limited has appointed Ashwani Lohani as its new Chairman and Managing Director.
ii. Aswani Lohani has replaced Rohit Nandan
iii. Ashwani Lohani is appointed for next 3 years.
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/20/2015
CURRENT AFFAIRS AUG/20/2015
1. SEBASTIAN COE NEW PRESIDENT OF IAAF
i. Former Olympic Champion Sebastian Coe is elected as new President of International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
ii. He will replace Sergey Bubka.
iii. Sebastian had won 4 Olympic medals in Athletics.
IAAF: It is an International Governing Body for Athletics. It was founded in 1912.
Headquarter at Monaco
2. HISTORIAN BABASAHEB GOT ‘MAHARASTRA BHUSHAN AWARD 2015’
i. Historian Babasaheb got Maharashtra state’s highest civilian award ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2015’
ii. He is famous as ‘Shivaji’s Poet’
iii. The award was given by Governor of Maharashtra C. Vidyasagar Rao.
CM of Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis
3. THREE INDIAN COMPANIES IN ‘TOP 100 INNOVATIVE COMPANIES LIST’ REALISED BY FORBES:
i. Forbes the US Magazine realized list of top 100 innovative companies.
ii. The list is topped by California’s Tesla Motors.
iii. 3 Indian Companies: Hindustan Unilever has been ranked at 41st, TCS stood at 64th and Sun Pharma at 71st in the list of 100 innovative companies.
4. ‘IN PRINCIPLE’ APPROVAL BY RBI TO 11 PAYMENT BANKS APPLICANTS
i. Reserve Bank of India has given approval to 11 payment Bank applicants out of 41 applicants.
ii. ‘In Principle’ means Approval for 18 months period.
i) Payment Banks: These are those banks which can take deposits, allow remittances and can sale financial products but cannot lend to its customer.
ii) Minimum capital for setting up a payment Bank: 100 crore.
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