June 2019

United Nations Security Council decided to cut 1,000 troops from a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia despite a rise in attacks by the Al-Shabaab militia in Mogadishu. The council voted unanimously to draw down the African Union Mission in Somalia but left the door open for the council to revisit that decision if violence worsens.  African […]

A task force on project management, headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, has suggested the development of a National Project Management Policy Framework for the effective execution of public sector and public-private partnership infrastructure projects. It has also recommended the setting up of a nodal body for the certification of chartered project management professionals to create world-class infrastructure. The project

The United States on formally terminated India’s eligibility for a duty-free import scheme for developing countries on 31 May. It cited that India has not given assurances it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets to US companies as required under relevant American trade laws. The US President Donald Trump has said the country would end its preferential trade treatment for India on June

Indian-origin Anita Bhatia, a veteran in strategic partnerships, resource mobilisation and management, has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as the Deputy Executive Director in the global body’s agency focussed on women empowerment and gender equality. Ms. Bhatia holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Calcutta University, a Master of Arts in Political

Russia has rejected an Iranian request to buy S-400 missile defense systems,concerned that the sale would stoke more tension in the Middle East.  The request was rebuffed by President Vladimir Putinon condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to discuss the matter. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Moscow May 7. Russia’s Foreign Ministry didn’t reply to a request for comment,

Former Indian President Pratibha Patil has been conferred the “Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca” (Order of the Aztec Eagle), the highest civilian award of Mexico given to foreigners, on 1 June 2019. The Ambassador of Mexico to India, Melba Pria,conferred the award on Patil, who created history as this country’s first woman President (2007-2012), at a special ceremony held

Punjab State government plans to ban online delivery of food without hygienerating as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. The announcement was made by the Health Minister Brahm Mohindra announced on 30 May. The decision was taken under the ‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’. Conditions laid by the State: Health Minister of the State Brahm Mohindra

The Rs 21,738 crore procurement of 111 light Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH) for the navy is on track to be the first big procurement of the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. On Thursday, the last day for vendors to submit responses to an Express of Interest (EoI) floated by the defence ministry on February

In the first Cabinet meeting, Modi led new government decided to extend PM- KISAN scheme to all 14.5 crore farmers in the country costing Rs 87,000 crore a year and also announced over Rs 10,000 crore pension scheme for 5 crore farmers, thereby fulfilling the BJP’s poll promise. The Rs 75,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Siddhi (PMKSS – PM Kisan) was announced in

In its first meeting, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday decided to give monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to small traders, businessmen, and shopkeepers after they attain the age of 60 years. “The Union Cabinet has approved, in its effort to provide to universal social security, a new scheme which