Prashant Mavani, is an expert in current affairs analysis and holds a MSc in Management from University of Surrey (U.K.). Above all he is a passionate teacher.

Vice President's Secretariat

• The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that we need to focus on women’s issues in the country.

• He was receiving the first copy of the Book ‘Journey of Women Law Reforms and The Law Commission of India – Some Insights’, from the Author former Joint Secretary, Law Commission of Indika, Dr. Pavan Sharma, here today.

• The Vice President said that the author has made an excellentanalysis and more such studies can help focus nation’s attention to important areas like matrimonial laws, property laws, lawsrelating to inheritance, succession, guardianship as well as NRI marriages and issues of sexual violence.

• He hoped that this book will inspire many more experts to focus on women’s issues in the next few years.

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Prime Minister's Office

• Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

• He briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments in the bilateral relationship as follow-up to the Prime Minister’s visit to France in June 2017.

• The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of Mr. Le Drian to the growing India-France engagement, in his current role as well as in his earlier role as Defence Minister of France.

• The Prime Minister said that the significance of India-FranceStrategic Partnership is not limited to the bilateral context, but acts as a force for peace and stability in the regional and global context as well.

• The Prime Minister also said that he looks forward to receiving President Macron in India at his earliest convenience.

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday reviewed the progress of key infrastructure sectors including PMGSY, housing, coal and power.

• The review meeting, which lasted for about two and a half hours, was attended by top officials from PMO, NITI Aayogand infrastructure Ministries of the Government of India.

• In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, it was noted that remarkable progress has been made in several areas.

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 81 per cent of the targeted habitations numbering about 1.45 lakh have so far been connected.

• Officials said progress is being made towards connecting all the remaining unconnected habitations within a defined timeframe. The Prime Minister observed that resources available for this work should be used optimally throughout the year. He also hoped that the advancement of the Union Budget date would lead to further improvement in performance. He called for detailed analysis of the complaints, so that timely remedial measures are initiated wherever required.

• Reviewing the coal sector, the Prime Minister called for renewed efforts towards underground mining and coal gasification, through infusion of latest technology inputs. The Prime Minister was also informed about progressing towards the targets for rural electrification and household electrification.

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry

• The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu is on a visit to Russia from November 15-17, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting of the Ministers of Member States responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade.

• The Minister of Commerce and Industry is also holding bilateral meetings during his visit.

• This is the first Ministerial Conference on Trade organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization after India became a full member of the Organization in June 2017.

• During his visit, the Minister of Commerce and Industry met the Member of Board (Minister) for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EaEC), Ms. VeronikaNikishina on November 15 and discussed early start of negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Commission, as well as the potential and opportunities for increasing trade cooperation.

• Shri Prabhu participated in a Round Table interaction with 30 of Russia’s leading business leaders.

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• SCO was formulated in 1996 with five countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, China, Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined in the group in 2001.

• The primary motive behind the formation was to ensure stability along the borders.

• The presence of China and India, the world’s most populous countries, would make the SCO the organisation with the largest population coverage.

• The inclusion of India and Pakistan into the SCO would mean the addition of another 1.45 billion people which would make the grouping cover around 40 per cent of the global population.

• Cooperation on counter-terrorism is a major point of India’s exchange with SCO.

• Becoming a full member of the body will strengthen India’s position in Central Asia.

• It will also help the country’s aim to regional integration, promote connectivity and stability across borders.

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Ministry of Defence.

• Closing ceremony for the seventh Indo-Bangladesh joint exerciseSAMPRITI was held at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte in Mizoram today.

• Exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bangladesh.

• Working together in a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment under the UN mandate.

• The troops have not only learnt about each other’s organisation, but have also identified best practices.

• The exercise was a great success and has taught valuable lessons to the troops of both the countries.

• Joint Exercises between Armies across the world are increasingly becoming an important aspect of the bilateral relations.

• Exercise SAMPRITI between the armies of India & Bangladesh was not only symbolic of their maturing relationship but will also built trust and confidence between both Armies.

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Focus Topic

• Out of 789 universities, 37204 colleges and 11443 stand alone higher education institutions not even 1% are disable friendly.

• Since 1995, when the government made it mandatory for educational institutions receiving aid from the State to reserve 4% seats for people with disability, there has been little improvement in the situation.

• Despite the enactment of the Right to Education Act in 2009, which promised free and compulsory primary education to every child in the country, less than 0.1% of India’s 2.68 crore people with disabilities are enrolled in schools. As they move from primary to secondary and higher education, the figure drops to a dismal .01%.

• The dearth of infrastructure that facilitates access for the physically challenged — ramps, railings and accessible wash rooms – is just one of the reasons which prevent them from pursuing their studies.

• There is the absence of trained staff and alternative teaching aides. In order to compete with their peers, the partially sighted, for instance, need specialised books and material in Braille. Those are seldom provided.

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• In the last decade, since the non-profit Samarthyam’s Centre for Accessible Environments began conducting access audits for educational institutions, co-founder Anjlee Agarwal doesn’t recall coming across even one college that can be termed disabled-friendly.

• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill passed in 2016 sets the government a two-year deadline to ensure that those with disability get barrier-free access in infrastructure and transport systems.

• Additionally, it holds the private sector — builders and developers — accountable for creating an accessible environment.

• This, experts say, is a departure from the 1995 act which was largely toothless. The punitive action for non-compliance can be a five-year prison term.

• So, in accordance with National Building Code announced in 2016, any new school and college being planned has to be 100 per cent accessible.

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• Since building by-laws are a state subject, implementation across the country is uneven. The few exceptions to this appear to be government-led initiatives in Odisha, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Still, putting up a ramp here and a disabled-friendly toilet there doesn’t really turn things around.

• One measure of a civilised society should be the sensitivity it displays towards the disabled.

• If a chunk of the 2.68 crore physically challenged people in the country cannot board a train, watch a movie or operate an ATM owing to lack of access, and if we make it difficult for many of them to attend college, all the talk of a demographic dividend amounts to little.

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Questions

1. Considering terrorism what is a Lone Wolf attack? Explain why it is one of the most dangerous way of terrorism?

2. What is the main purpose of Nivesh Bandhu portal?

3. Gyan Sangam is related to

a. Higher Secondary School

b. Universities

c. Banks

d. Post Office

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