By: D.K Chaudhary
1. Parliament Passes Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill 2018
i. The Parliament approved a legislation to help the government bring back fugitives involved in white-collar crimes to stand trial in India. The fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 will become law after the President’s assent and will empower the government to seize both local and overseas assets of alleged offenders, such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.
ii. This will help the government confiscate properties of fugitives even before they are convicted. The bill also provides for confiscation of benami properties. ED will be the apex agency to implement the law.
2. IRDAI Forms Panel to Review 3rd Party Motor Cover Costs
i. Insurance regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a 16-member committee to examine motor third party insurance pricing aspects and make recommendations on the premium rates for 2019-20.
ii. IRDAI Member P.J. Joseph has been appointed as the Chairman of the committee. This is for the first time IRDAI has formed such a committee.
- IRDAI stands for Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.
- Headquarters of IRDAI is in Hyderabad.
- Subhash Chandra Khuntia is Chairman of IRDAI.
3. 6th India-UK Science & Innovation Council Meeting Held in New Delhi
i. The 6th India-UK Science & Innovation Council (SIC) meeting held in New Delhi discussed a range of issues on S&T cooperation between the two countries.
ii. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences & Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Mr. Sam Gyimah, Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, UK led the Indian and UK delegations respectively.
ii. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences & Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Mr. Sam Gyimah, Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, UK led the Indian and UK delegations respectively.
4. Odisha CM Inaugurates Rs 300 crore Irrigation Dam Project
i. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Rs 300 crore Rukura Medium Irrigation Dam project in Sundargarh district.
ii. This project will irrigate 5,800 hectares of the agricultural field. Mr Patnaik stated that his promises to provide irrigation to an additional 10 lakh hectare of land ahead of 2014 elections, will be fulfilled by 2019.
- Ganeshi Lal is the present Governor of Odisha.
- Hirakud Dam built over Mahanadi River is situated in Odisha.
5. Indian Women’s Compound Archery Team Reaches World Rank 1
i. Indian women’s compound archery team created history by becoming the world rank one side in the category. The team is six points ahead of the Chinese Taipei team.
ii. With the contribution from each member, the women’s compound archery team jumped to the top spot with 342.6 points, with the Chinese Taipei team standing second with a difference of six points.
