By: D.K. Choudhary
Akhilesh Yadav Gets Right over Party’s Symbol “Cycle”
i. The Election Commission (EC) on January 16, 2017 gave its decision that Chief Minister 
of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav would be the owner of the Samajwadi Party Symbol “Cycle” and also acknowledged him as the national President of the party.
ii. The three-member EC committee headed by Nasim Zaidi and comprising of other two judges, O.P. Rawat and A.K. Jyoti gave the decision after the founder of the party Mulayam Singh Yadav approached EC as President of the party and claimed to be entitled for the symbol.
iii. The assembly election process will begin from January 17, 2017. The state will have seven-phase polling from February 11 to March 8.
Timothy Gonsalves Committee Suggests 20 Percent Reservation for Girl Students in IITs
i. A committee formed by the IIT Joint Admission Board (JAB) has recently given its suggestion to create 20 percent reservation seats for the girl students in IITs out of the total number of seats available.
ii. The committee headed by professor Timothy Gonsalves recommended the supernumerary seats to address the issue falling number of female students entering the institute.
iii. However, the recommendation of the committee will get the final approval after the decision of the Joint Admission Board (JAB) who will decide whether the reservation will come in effect from 2017 or 2018.
iv. The decision will not affect the number of seats available for male candidates and only those candidates who have already qualified in JEE-Advanced will be considered. The decision will enable IITs to achieve the 1 lakh target by 2020.
Petroleum Conservation Campaign ‘Saksham 2017’ Inaugurated in Nagaland
i. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP & NG) inaugurated one month long oil and gas conservation campaign “Saksham-2017” at a function in Unity College, Dimapur in Nagaland on January 16, 2017.
ii. The mass awareness campaign was inaugurated by chief guest Ramongo Lotha, secretary Food and Civil Supplies. The campaign would be conducted from January 16 to February 15, 2017.
iii. The main aim of such campaign is to spread the awareness on fuel conservation so as to minimize the wastage of petroleum products as the demand for it remains high.
iv. The Oil Companies in the State would organize a number of events such as cycle rally, seminars and workshops for drivers and workers in motor workshops, quiz for students, motor rally etc. to spread awareness about the need to conserve fuel.
v. India is the Third largest global consumer of petroleum and imports 80 percent of the crude oil to meet the demand.
vi. The mass awareness campaign on oil and gas conservation is conducted every year by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP & NG across the country on January 16.
India & Mauritius Sign MoU for Cooperation in the field of Cooperatives
India and Mauritius signed an Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for cooperation in the field of cooperatives and related areas on January 16, 2017
♦ The agreement was signed between Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, and the Indian Ocean island country’s Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives Minister Soomilduth Bholah.
Aim of the MoU :
i. To enable the two countries to collaborate in this vital sector and can significantly benefit thousands of Mauritians.
ii. To exchange its expertise and technology in agro industry, fisheries and dairy sector.
Mauritius :
♦ Capital: Port Louis
♦ Currency: Mauritian rupee
♦ President: Ameenah Gurib
♦ Prime minister: Anerood Jugnauth
