Lok Sabha passes Triple Talaq Bill

Four months after the Supreme Court set aside the centuries-old practice of talaq-e-biddat or instant triple talaq, Lok Sabha passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, outlawing talaq-e-biddat. The proposed law, which makes talaq-e-biddat a "cognizable and non-bailable offence", has provisions of "imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and fine" for any Muslim man who divorces his wife by uttering talaq three times in quick succession. It also provides for "subsistence allowance" to Muslim women and custody of minor children as "may be determined by the magistrate".

Mirabai Chanu lifts 194 kgs to win gold

Mirabai Chanu became only the second Indian (after Karnam Malleswari) to win the gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, USA. This was after she lifted a new world record of 194kg (85 snatch and 109 C&J) in women’s 48kg category.

Contestant from South Africa wins Miss Universe crown

The woman representing South Africa won the Miss Universe crown. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned during the event at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, while the second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.

Manmohan awarded Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was chosen as the recipient of 2017 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. Singh received the international award, named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for "improving India's stature in the world" and for his "for his contributions to the cause of economic and social development".

India’s Manushi Chhillar crowned Miss World 2017

India’s Manushi Chhillar won the coveted Miss World 2017 pageant here, 16 years after Priyanka Chopra won the title in 2000. Chhillar competed against 108 contestants from various countries at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena here. Miss World 2016 winner Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle gave away the coveted crown to the winner. Chhillar, who is from Haryana, had earlier this year won the Femina Miss India 2017. India, England, France, Kenya and Mexico grabbed the top five spots at the pageant.

Rajnish Kumar appointed as new SBI chairman

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr. Rajnish Kumar as Chairman of State Bank of India for a period of three years from October 7, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize in Literature 2017

British author Kazuo Ishiguro, best known for his novel The Remains of the Day, has won the Nobel Literature Prize. Born in Nagasaki, he moved to Britain with his family when he was five years old, only returning to visit Japan as an adult. Both his first novel, A Pale View of Hills, from 1982 and the subsequent one, An Artist of the Floating World, from 1986, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation calling it Gujarat’s lifeline, which has been completed despite many hurdles. The foundation stone of this Dam was laid by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.This Narmada dam is the second biggest in the world after the Grand Coulee Dam in the United States and India’s biggest Dam.

Global Human Capital Index - India ranks 103

India has been placed at a low 103 rank, the lowest among BRICS economies, on the WEF’s Global Human Capital Index, which has been topped by Norway. India also ranks “among the lowest in the world” when it comes to the employment gender gap, but has fared well when it comes to development of skills needed for the future with a rank of 65 out of total 130 countries surveyed. The list compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) takes into account “the knowledge and skills people possess that enable them to create value in the global economic system” to measure the ‘human capital’ rank of a country. The WEF said India is ranked lower than its BRICS peers, with Russian Federation placed as high as 16th place, followed by China at 34th, Brazil at 77th and South Africa at 87th place.

Rafel Nadal won US Open Mens Title

World No. 1 #Rafael_Nadal defeated No. 28 Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to lift his third #US_Open title and his 16th overall #Grand_Slam title. He is second to only No. 3 Roger Federer, who has 19 Grand Slam titles.

PNB, BSNL join hands for mobile wallet Speedpay rollout

Punjab National Bank and state-run firm BSNL today teamed up to roll out open mobile wallet Speedpay across 10 states in the country. PNB's Speedway wallet will operate like any other mobile wallet for paying bills, recharging phone besides its users will be able to deposit and withdraw money from authorised retail outlets.

Justice Dipak Misra sworn in as CJI

Justice Dipak Misra was sworn in as the 45th Chief Justice of India. At a brief ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Ramnath Kovind administered the oath of office to Mr. Misra.

Ashwani Lohani is appointed as the new Chairman of Railway Board

The Railway Ministry appointed Ashwani Lohani as the new Chairman of Railway Board after A K Mital tendered his resignation following the derailment of Kaifiyat Express near Aurariya in Uttar Pradesh. An officer with the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), Lohani currently is the Chairman & Managing Director of Air India.

Shri Prasoon Joshi appointed Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (37 of 1952) read with rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, the Central Government has to appointed Sh. Prasoon Joshi as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification in an honorary capacity from 11th August, 2017 for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Communication satellite GSAT-17 launched from French Guiana

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-17 was successfully launched by a heavy duty rocket of Arianespace from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. Configured around I-3K extended bus, GSAT-17 with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg carries payloads in Normal C- band, Extended C-band and S-band to provide various communication services.It also carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites.

UN honours Bengal CM with highest public service award

The West Bengal government is among the winners to receive the prestigious UN Public Service Award for its initiative to combat child marriage and ensure education to the girl child in the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received the 2017 UN Public Service Award at a ceremony held in The Hague, Netherlands on behalf of her government for the 'Kanyashree Prakalpa' initiative that sought to reduce the high child marriage rates and low female education rates in the state. The UN Public Service Awards are given by the world body to institutions from across the world for their innovation and excellence in providing public services. It highlights the pivotal role of public services in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Neeru Chadha becomes 1st Indian woman as member of ITLOS

International law expert Neeru Chadha has won a crucial election to a top UN judicial body that deals with disputes related to the law of the sea, becoming the first Indian woman to be appointed as a judge at the tribunal. Ms. Chadha, an eminent lawyer and the first Indian woman to become the chief legal adviser in the ministry of external affairs, won the election to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for a nine-year term from 2017 to 2026.

Rafael Nadal creates history with 10th French Open title

Rafael Nadal win his tenth French Open title and add his name to history books. In the process, he continued his winning streak in French Open finals to ten.  With the win, Nadal has now moved to World No 2 behind Andy Murray while Wawrinka moves to No 3 in the world.

Jelena Ostapenko wins Women French Open 2017

Jelena Ostapenko stormed to a maiden Grand Slam title. The Latvian, who turned 20 just two days ago, beat Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the title. She came into the tournament unseeded, and all the way through to the title itself. In the process, she has become the first to do so since 1933.

Rohan Bopanna becomes the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam

Rohan Bopanna becomes the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam with mixed doubles French Open victory by teaming up with Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski.

#Bopanna #Dabrowski

India unanimously elected to head UN-Habitat, the United Nations’ Human Settlements Programme

India has been unanimously elected as the President of the UN-Habitat, an organ of the United Nations’ Organisation (UNO) that promotes socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements across the world, after 10 years. UN-Habitat reports to the United Nations General Assembly.

India ranks below Bangladesh in healthcare index

India's health care index has gone up in last 25 years from 30.7 to 44.8 but numbers are much lesser than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. A report published by Global Burden of Disease in The Lancet has revealed that India has recorded a poor health care index than several neighbouring Asian nations, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and China in last 25 years. The data, in the report, takes a look at 195 countries, between the years 1990-2015, and assesses the measuring mortality rates from 32 diseases which should not be fatal in presence of effective medical care. As per the report, India’s health care index has seen an increase of 14.1 in last 25 years, going up from 30.7 in 1990 to 44.8 in 2015, but the numbers are much lesser than Sri Lanka (72.8), Bangladesh (51.7), Bhutan (52.7) and Nepal (50.8). The report shows that India has performed the worst in preventing deaths by Neonatal disorders, with an index rate of 14.

Paytm to become payments bank

India's leading digital wallet player Paytm has received the final licence from the Reserve Bank of India for its payments bank entity. With this, the road is now clear for the Noida-based payments player to kickstart its much-awaited payments bank operations next week. Paytm Payments Bank Limited will begin its banking operations from May 23, 2017.

Emmanuel Macron takes charge as President of France

Emmanuel Macron was inaugurated as France’s new President at the Elysee palace in Paris, and immediately launched into his mission to shake up French politics, world economics and the European Union. The 39-year-old Macron is the youngest President in the country’s history and the 8th President of France’s Fifth Republic, which was created in 1958.
#Emmanuel_Macron

Indore emerges as the Cleanest City of India

Indore has emerged as the India’s Cleanest City in the Swachh Survekshan-2017 conducted in 434 cities and towns, the results of which were announced by the Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venakaiah Naidu. Bhopal, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Mysuru, Tiruchirapally, New Delhi Municipal Council, Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Chandigarh are among the Top 10 clean cities in that order. #CleanestCity #Indore #SwachhSurvekshan

Chhetri Jamil get AIFF top awards

Bengaluru FC striker Sunil Chhetri was named as the best player of the I-League while Khalid Jamil, who guided Aizawl FC to a historic title win, was expectedly chosen as the coach of the year by All India Football Fedaration. Other awards: Best Goalkeeper: Debjit Majumder; Best Defender: Anas Edathodika; Best Midfielder: Alfred Kemah Jaryan; Best Emerging Player: Jerry Lalrinzuala.

India and ADB Sign $175 Million Loan Agreement

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $175 million loan agreement to support construction of high voltage transmission systems to evacuate power generated from new mega solar parks to the interstate grid, and improve reliability of the national grid system. The loan will be given to the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) and will include subprojects in various locations in India. As an innovative feature, the project is designed to adopt the country systems on both safeguards and procurement at the agency level. This will be the ADB’s first breakthrough of the country system’s application to a specific project.

ADB says India growth to accelerate to 7.4% in 2017-18

 

India’s economic growth will accelerate to 7.4% during 2017-18, and go up further to 7.6% in the next fiscal, as the impact of demonestisation fades and as reforms pick up pace, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on 6th April 2017. With more than 7% growth, ADB said India will continue to outpace China and other nations in Asia.

S.P. Bala Subramanyam and Hema Malini bag NTR awards

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced NTR National Film Award to renowned singer S.P. Bala Subramanyam for 2012 and to Hindi film actor Hema Malini for 2013. The NTR award carries a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation. The State government revived the presentation of four prestigious awards instituted in the name of eminent film personalities– NTR, B.N. Reddy, Nagireddy and Chakrapani (all national ) and Raghupathi Venkaiah Film Award after a gap of five years.

PV Sindhu clinch India Open World Superseries title

 

PV Sindhu beats Spanish Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the final of the Yonex India Open World Superseries to clinch maiden title.

Finance Bill gets presidential assent

President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Finance Bill 2017 to give effect to provisions like bar on cash transactions above Rs 2 lakh and compulsory quoting of Aadhaar for filing tax returns. With this, the provisions of the Finance Bill come into effect from 1st April 2017.

Mathematician Yves Meyer has been awarded the Abel Prize for 2017

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has awarded the Abel Prize for 2017 to mathematician Yves Meyer of the Ecole normale superieure Paris-Saclay, France, for his “pivotal role in the development of mathematical theory of wavelets.” The theory of wavelets that he started and made fundamental contributions to finds wide-ranging applications from image processing to fluid dynamics. #YvesMeyer #AbelPrize