GUJARAT
- Guajrat’s weight-height ratio of kids 2nd worst in India
- The National Family Health Survey (2015-16) revealed that Gujarat is the second worst state when it comes to the weight-height ratio.
The state was only better than Jharkhand, which has the mean standard deviation (SD) of 1.4. Gujarat shared the second worst slot with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Daman and Diu, with the mean SD score of 1.2. According to the NFHS-IV data, 26.4% children in Gujarat are stunted and 9.5% are severely stunted. - According to NFHS-IV survey, the population of children considered short for their age are stunted, or chronically undernourished. Children recording -3 SD are considered severely stunted.
- As for underweight children, Gujarat was the fourth worst state in the country. The state has mean standard deviation of 1.7. This was better than Jharkhand (1.9), Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh (1.8).
- In the category of underweight children, 39.3% in Gujarat are stunted and 12.4% are severely stunted.
- According to the survey, 49.2% of children are stunted in Gujarat, 19.7% are wasted, and 41.1% are underweight. Malnutrition among women, adolescent girls, and children is the underlying cause of deaths due to common ailments.
INTERNATIONAL
- List of MoUs signed during the Visit of the King of Jordan to India
- MoU on Defence Cooperation
- Visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders
- Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP)
- Manpower Cooperation Agreement
- MoU for cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine between India and Jordan
- MoU for setting up of the next generation Centre of Excellence (COE) in Jordan
- MoU for long term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK
- Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
- Twining Agreement between Agra and Petra (Jordan)
- Cooperation between Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and Jordan Media Institute (JMI)
- MoU between PrasarBharati and Jordan TV
- MoU between University of Jordan (UJ) and ICCR regarding setting up of a Hindi Chair at the University.
· IOC Restores Russia’s Olympic Membership
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC)restored Russia’s Olympic membership with immediate effect following its suspension from the Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang in South Korea.
- Russia was banned from February’s Games by the IOC over state-sponsored doping.
- Before closing ceremony of Winter Olympics, the IOC had stated that the ban would be lifted, as long as there were no more anti-doping violations.
NATIONAL
- First Mega Food Park in Maharashtra at Satara Inaugurated
- The first Mega Food Park in the state of Maharashtra, M/s Satara Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Village Degaon, District Satarawas inaugurated on 1stMarch, 2018 by Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries in the presence of Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, of Maharashtra.
- This is the 12th Mega Food Park operationalized in the country so far and the 10th operationalized during the tenure of present government.
- Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50 Crore per Mega Food Park project.
- Western Naval Command Concludes Exercise Paschim Leher (XPL-18)
- The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy concluded a large scale operational exercise in the Arabian Sea.
- The three week long exercise termed Exercise ‘Paschim Leher’ (XPL), tested the operational readiness of the Western Naval Command and the execution of it’s operational plans.
- Over 40 naval assets including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, frontline ships of the Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet (including the newly inducted Kolkata class), submarines, potent missile vessels of the 22nd Killer Squadron, Patrol vessels and craft of the Local Flotilla and Indian Coast Guard participated in the exercise.
- Finance Minister Inaugurates GPF and EPPO Modules on 42nd Civil Accounts Day
- The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley said that there is a certain amount of sanctity which must remain attached to the Government Accounting System.
- Delivering the Inaugural Address at the 42nd Civil Accounts Day function in national capital, the Finance Minister said that while there are Government Departments that can function with a fairly high amount of accuracy, the Civil Accounts Department is one that cannot afford to err because a small error can lay a huge foot prints.
- Delhi govt to set up State Sanskrit Education Council
- The Delhi government has decided to set up its State Sanskrit Education Council to improve the state of formal education of the language in the national capital.
- Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has directed the education department to examine various representations received by the Delhi government pertaining to Sanskrit education in schools and colleges.
- NHAI to deploy all women toll collecting staff on international Women’s Day
- The National Highways Authority of India has decided to deploy all women toll collecting staff in day shift on at least one toll plaza close to the city area, in every state and UT of the country on 8th March 2018, International Women’s Day.
- If this initiative is successful, then it will be implemented across all toll plazas under operation by NHAI within the next 3 months.
- The Regional Officers have been instructed in this regard.
- Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and creation of one post of Chairperson, three posts of full-time Members and one post of Secretary for NFRA.
- The decision aims at establishment of NFRA as an independent regulator for the auditing profession which is one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013.
- The inclusion of the provision in the Act was on the specific recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance (in its 21st report).
- EESL to install energy-efficient LEDs across all airports in India
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for installing energy-efficient LED lights at airports, buildings and facilities owned by AAI across India.
- EESL will make the entire upfront investment of Rs. 24.41 crore on the project.
- The MoU is signed under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP).
- Tamil Nadu launches 24 hour helpline for students
- Calming the students over the stressful situation created because of the ongoing exam fever, the State of Tamil Nadu has launched a 24 hour helpline for the first time in the country.
- This helpline would provide information on education and offer guidance to the students.
- Chief Minister K Palaniswami formally launched the toll-free number 14417 through the 24-hour Education Guidance Centre set up at the Secretariat that would offer information relating to school education and offer guidance to students.
- Palaniswami launched the facility at a function, following the announcement in the Assembly that a toll-free helpline would be set up at Rs 2 crore. Earlier, the Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan had informed that a special student helpline shall be set up.
- This would serve as a platform where students and parents can get their grievances addressed. And career guidance will also be provided for higher secondary students.
- This will be of great help for the students in rural areas.
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