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Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor

National Events ✪ On 8th Feb 2017 the first phase of ambitious station redevelopment project has been launched by Railway minister Suresh Prabhu. Under this 400 railway stations will be modernize across the country by providing several passenger-friendly amenities. Note: These redeveloped stations would support digital signage, have escalators and elevators, self-ticketing counters, executive lounges, luggage screening machines, walkways and holding areas for passengers, among other facilities. The 23 stations shortlisted for the first phase include Chennai Central, Ranchi, Udaipur City, Indore, Yesvantpur, Bengaluru Cantt., Visakhapatnam, Howrah, Kamakhya, Faridabad, Jammu Tawi, Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Kozhikode and Bhopal. India Geoeconomic Dialogue

✪ India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed USD 375 million pact for loans and grants to develop 800 km Visakhapatnam - Chennai Industrial Corridor, which is the first phase of a planned 2,500 km East Coast Economic Corridor. The USD 500 million loan is approved for multitranche facility to build key infrastructure in the four main centers along the corridor - Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Amaravati, and Yerpedu - Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh.

Agricultural Science Congress in..? neighbors including Pakistan, as progress on market-oriented reforms has been 'uneven'. As per the report, India sustaining an average annual growth of about 7 per cent over the past five years, growth is not deeply rooted in policies that preserve economic freedom. Note: Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand topped the index. Among South Asian countries, only Afghanistan (163) and Maldives (157) were ranked below India. Nepal (125), Sri Lanka (112), Pakistan (141), Bhutan (107), and Bangladesh (128) surpassed India in economic freedom. Science Express

✪ The Ministry of External Affairs and Gateway House have co-hosted the Second Gateway of India Geoeconomic Dialogue from February 13-14, 2017 in Mumbai. The theme of the conference is 'Where Geopolitics meets Business'. Note: This is India's premier geo-economics conference with the focus on building synergies between business and foreign policy. Conference on Counter-radicalization ✪ India is planning to host a conference on counter-radicalization with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October 2017. It will provide common platform to countries for sharing experiences and ideas on prevention of radicalization amid rise of Islamic State and other extremist ideologies. ✪ The Supreme Court on 14th Feb 2017 has clarified that the audience need not stand when the National Anthem is played as a part of the storyline of a film, newsreel or documentary. A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R. Banumathi made this clear after one of the petitioners said the apex court should clarify if people are expected to stand when the National Anthem is played in a film, newsreel or documentary. Note: It is clarified that when the National Anthem is played as part of the storyline of a film, newsreel or a documentary the audience need not stand. India in global health network ✪ India is among nine countries that will be part of a global health network focused on improving the quality of care for new mothers and babies and strengthen national efforts to end preventable deaths of pregnant women and newborns by 2030. The nine countries are India, Bangladesh, A Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Note: Every year, worldwide, 3,03,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth, 2.7 million babies die during the first 28 days of life and 2.6 million babies are stillborn and most of these deaths could be prevented with quality care during pregnancy and childbirth. Index of Economic Freedom ✪ India ranked a dismal 143 in an annual index of economic freedom by a top American think tank, behind its several South Asian

✪ Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS II) flagged off on 17th Feb, 2017 from Safdarjung Railway station in Delhi. The train will be open for public viewing at Delhi Cantonment Railway Station tomorrow and the day after. Note: The train will later embark upon its journey across the country (to cover over 19,000 kilometres). The SECAS II will run till 8th September and culminate its journey at Gandhinagar.

The event will be held at the University of Agricultural Sciences Bengaluru's GKVK campus in collaboration with the local ICAR institutes. Static Sensor Chain ✪ The second phase of the static sensor chain has been approved by the Defense Ministry on 21st Feb, 2017 to further strengthen the surveillance of the India over 7,500-km-long coastline. Phase-II involves setting up 38 additional radars, four mobile surveillance stations and two Vessel Traffic Management Systems at Kutch and Khambat at a cost of approximately Rs. 800 crore. Note: The project would be executed by Indian companies and the lead integrator would be Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru. The Navy currently operates 45 Mig-29K carrier aircraft procured from Russia. ✪ India and Rwanda have inked agreements in the fields of innovation, aviation and visa requirements. Saathiya Resource Kits

BHIM app on iOS ✪ The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app has been launched on the iOS platform after its successful launch on android platform. On iOS it is currently supporting over 35 banks and is currently available in Hindi and English. The Android version supports other regional languages as well. Note: BHIM app on iOS also has a limit of Rs 10, 000 per transaction and Rs20, 000 in a day for transfers through the bank account. India - largest importer of major arms ✪ According to a report released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) India emerged as the world's largest importer of major arms during 2012-16. As per the report, India accounted for 13% of the global total sales. The total volume of international transfers of major weapons has grown continuously since 2004 and increased by 8.4% between 2007-11 and 2012-16. Note: According to the data in Asia, India increased its arms imports by 43 percent between 2007-11 and 2012-16 which is far greater than the imports by its rivals China and Pakistan. Between 2007 and 2011, India accounted for 9.7% of global imports which is still more than any other country. Major arm suppliers to India include Russia, USA, European states, Israel and South Korea.

✪ The 13th Agricultural Science Congress organized in Bengaluru from February 21-24 by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). It will focus on 'Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture'.

Six months maternity leave ✪ Union government has allowed women working in industries to take six months maternity leave preempting parliamentary approval on the maternity benefit amendment bill that is pending in the Lok Sabha. Through an executive order the labour and employment ministry has doubled maternity leave to six months from three for industrial women workers. Note: However the benefit will be restricted to women who make a monthly contribution to the employees' state insurance corpus from their salaries. This means about 2.9 million women working across various industries will get the benefit. India - Israel Deal

✪ Union Health Ministry has launched 'Saathiya Resource Kits' to provide information on adolescent related issues such as puberty and mental health, among others. The resource kit comprises of an Activity Book, BhrantiKranti Game, a Question-Answer Saathiya Kits Book and a Peer Educator Diary. Note: A mobile app 'Saathiya Salah' is also launched for adolescents. The initiative, launched as part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) program. Air Services Agreement ✪ Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Greece to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries bringing it in tune with the developments in the civil aviation sector. Note: It will enable environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. India and China Dialogue

13th Agricultural Science Congress

Note: The move is launched to promote clean and green energy in India and the sub-continent. ✪ A MoU has been signed between Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) with an objective of working together to improve the earnings of artisans across the country, belonging to Scheduled Castes categories. Note: Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment have come together to step up interventions for the economic development of an estimated 12 lakh scheduled caste artisans.

✪ India and China have announced to hold their first Strategic Dialogue in Beijing. The two sides are expected to discuss all issues of mutual concern and interest including friction points. Note: External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup stated that two countries will discuss all issues of mutual interest in bilateral, regional and international domain. Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal ✪ Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has approved investment proposal for generation component of Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal by SJVN Limited.

✪ Ahead of the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel later this year, India has approved a deal to develop jointly a medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) system for the Army in a Rs. 17,000 - crore deal. This is the latest in a series of other variants of SAM systems for the Navy and the Air Force being jointly developed with Israeli help under deals estimated at billions of dollars. Note: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the goahead for the deal to be executed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries. (IAI). Loan to Nepal

✪ India has sanctioned a soft loan of 340 million US dollar to Nepal for various infrastructure development programmes. Under this programme Mahalaki bridge and 15 roads will be constructed in various parts of Nepal. ✪ India has approved a deal to jointly develop a medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) system for the Army in a Rs. 17,000crore deal. The deal is for 200 missiles for five regiments, each getting 40 units. The missile has a range of 50-70 km. The system will be based on the older Barak system of Israel, which is in use in India. It is being changed as per requirements. Note: India now operates three Phalcon AWACS with Israeli radars mounted on Russian IL-76 transport aircraft, under a $1-billion tripartite deal with Russia, signed in 2003.