1- Union Government launches Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme for redressal of grievances on drugs pricing

Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme

Union Government has launched Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme, for redressal of grievances of consumers related to drug pricing and availability of medicines.

It was launched by Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar in New Delhi.

About Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme

• The scheme is a web-enabled system created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
• It seeks to serve as a robust E-governance tool for protection of interests of consumers through effective implementation of the price of drugs.
• The scheme will provide consumers with an online facility to redress their complaints related to over-pricing of medicines, non-availability of medicines and refusal of supply for sale of any medicine without good and sufficient reason.
• After receiving the complaint, NPPA will initiate action on any complaint within 48 hrs.
• The scheme also seeks to create awareness among the people and act as a deterrent against black-marketing, spurious medicines and inflated cost of drugs by creating phama-literacy initiative.

2- India and Mauritius ink five MoUs to boost bilateral co-operation

India and Mauritius have inked 5 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to give new impetus to bilateral co-operation.

These MoUs were signed in Port Luis, Mauritius during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to island nation as part of three-nation tour of Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka for cementing strategic partnership with these island courtiers.

Following MoUs were signed

MoU in the field of Ocean Economy-

• It will provide an extensive framework for cooperation in the field of Ocean Economy between two countries for sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region.
• It includes mutually beneficial cooperation for exploration and capacity development in the field of marine resources, green tourism, fisheries, research and development of ocean technology, exchange of experts and other related activities.

Programme for Cultural Cooperation between both nations for the year 2015-18

• The programme will provide enhanced bilateral cooperation between both nations in this field for the term 2015-2018. It will enhance people-to-people participation between the two countries
• The programme envisages exchange of cultural troupes, organization of cultural exhibitions, preservation of cultural heritage, training in fine arts, promotion of Indian languages, exchange of students, etc.

Protocol between both countries for the importation of fresh mango from India

• The aim of this Protocol is to facilitate Mauritius with importation of world-renowned Indian mangoes. This protocol is between India’s Union Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security of Mauritius.

MoU for the Improvement in Air and Sea Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of Mauritius

• It provides provisions for setting up and upgradation of infrastructure for improving sea and air connectivity at Agalega Island of Mauritius and Outer Island.
• These facilities will help to enhance the capabilities in safeguarding interests of the Mauritian Defence Forces in the Outer Island.

MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homeopathy

• It will promote cooperation in the field of traditional system of health and medicine between the both countries.
• It envisages exchange of experts, joint R&D and recognition of the traditional systems of health and medicine, supply of traditional medicinal substances, in both countries.
• It also aims to promote and popularization of the various Indian traditional systems of AYUSH.

3- High Court’s cannot entertain plea against Armed Forces Tribunal: Supreme Court

Supreme Court has barred High Courts (HCs) from entertaining pleas under writ jurisdiction against the verdicts of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in disputes pertaining to Armed forces.  SC ruling also set aside the order of Delhi High Court which had allowed the writ petition against army personnel.

This judgment was given by two member SC bench comprising of Justices SJ Mukhopadhaya and NV Ramana.

The SC bench was hearing a bunch of appeals that had questioned whether the right of appeal under Section 30 of the Armed Forces Tribunal (ATF) Act, 2007 against an order of the Tribunal. It also questioned whether it will bar the jurisdiction of the HC under Article 226 of the Constitution regarding matters related to Armed Forces.

Supreme Court held that

• If the HC entertains a petition under Article 226 against the order passed by AFT, it would by-pass the machinery of statute as enshrined in the AFT Act.
• Thus it may result in of anomalous situation for the aggrieved person in praying for relief from HC.
• So SC barred HCs from entertaining pleas under writ jurisdiction against the verdicts of AFT.

It should be noted that Section 30 of AFT Act stipulates that an appeal against the final decision or order of the Tribunal shall lie in the Supreme Court.

4- Union Government appoints 9 Executive Directors in Public Sector Banks

Union Government has appointed 9 Executive Directors (EDs) in Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

Their appointment was approved by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on recommendation of selection panel headed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Following 9 Executive Directors (ED) of PSBs were appointed

• Sahoo-ED of Allahabad Bank.
• Pawan Kumar Bajaj– ED of Indian Overseas Bank.
• Ravi Shankar Pandey-ED of Syndicate Bank.
• Kishore Piraji Kharat– ED of Union Bank of India.
• Lodha-ED of Central Bank of India.
• Charan Singh-ED of UCO Bank
• Venkata Rama Moorthy-ED of Bank of Baroda.
• Marathe– ED of Bank of India.
• Harideesh Kumar B– ED of Canara Bank.

5- Defending champion Karnataka wins Ranji Trophy 2015

Ranji Trophy 2015

Defending champion Karnataka on 12 March 2015 won Ranji Trophy for season 2014-2015.

Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs in the final day of match played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. With this victory, Karnataka clinched eight Ranji title. The man of the match was Karnataka’s Karun Nair who had scored 338 runs. The captain of Karnataka team was R Vinay Kumar and of Tamil Nadu team was Abhinav Mukund.

Karnataka’s previous Ranji Trophy wins

• First Ranji Title won by Karnataka was in season 1973–74. Later, they had won the championship title in 1977–78, 1982–83, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2013–14 and 2014–15 season.
• In Ranji Title season 2013–14, they had defeated Mumbai.

About Ranji Trophy

• Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship in India. It played between teams representing regional cricket associations.
• At present, the championship is played between 27 teams which include 21 states (of the 29 Indian states) and Delhi (UT). The tournament format of Ranji Trophy is Round-robin then knockout.
• The trophy is named after England and Sussex cricketer Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji and was first played in 1934.
• In the history of Ranji Trophy, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has recorded most wins i.e. 40 wins.

6- Parliament passes Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015

Parliament has passed Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015. It was first passed in Lok Sabha on 4 March 2015 and later in Rajya Sabha on 12 March 2015.

In both the houses the bill was passed by voice vote. The amendment bill replaces ordinance promulgated in this regard and aims to bring improvements and revisions in the existing laws relating to insurance business in India. The bill also seeks to remove archaic provisions in previous laws and incorporate modern day practices of insurance business that are emerging in a changing dynamic environment, which also includes private participation.

The amendment bill hikes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the insurance sector to 49 percent from present 26 percent. It also adds provision for the establishment of Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance Council. These councils will act as self-regulating bodies for the insurance sector.

The bill also grants permission to PSU general insurers to raise funds from the capital market and increases the penalty to deter multilevel marketing of insurance products.

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