1. Centre approves South-Asian wildlife enforcement network

a) India has adopted South Asian Wildlife Enforcement Network (SEWEN).

b) The objective of becoming the member of SEWEN is also to strengthen ties with member countries to control the transboundary wildlife crime through building mutual cooperation in the region.

c) The SEWEN aims at bringing harmony & standardization in laws and policies of member countries related to the conservation of flora & fauna. It also strives to strengthen the institutional responses to fight against the wildlife crime.

d) South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) is an inter-governmental wildlife law enforcement support body of South Asian countries namely – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAWEN was officially launched in January, 2011 in Paro Bhutan.

2. Delhi govt. approves Slum & JJ Rehabilitation & Relocation Policy, 2015

a) Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation & Relocation Policy, 2015 has been approved by Delhi state government to bring the development of city’s urban poor.

b) By this policy, the JJ clusters which were created before 1st January, 2016 cannot be removed without their rehabilitation. No new juggi will be allowed to be created.

c) Planning and implementation of In-situ rehabilitation or redevelopment of jj clusters will be done by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). After the in-situ redevelopment & rehabilitation 40% land returned to the land owning agency & the jj dwellers will rehabilitate the remaining 60% by constructing the multi storey flats.

d) JJ clusters on the land of land owning authorities like Delhi Development Board (DDA) will be handed over to to DUSIB/GNCTD on the land sharing basis in 40:60 ratio.

3. India, Germany sign pact on Namami Gange programme

a) An implementation agreement was signed under Namami Gange programme between the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the German International Cooperation (GIZ).

b) Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) & Sustainable Environment friendly Industrial production (SEIP) will be also closely collaborated with this project.

c) The duration of this project is of three years. It will run from 2016 to 2018. Under this project, an integrated river basin management approach will be applied for the rejuvenation of Ganga.

d) The river basin management strategies used for Rhine & Danube in Germany will be applied for rejuvenation of Ganga.

4. Logistics exchange agreement signed between India & US

a) India & United states have recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement to enable the militaries of both the countries to use each other’s assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

b) But, there is no provision of letting US troops to land or create military bases on Indian soil.

c) Both the countries agreed to commence Navy-to-Navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare.

d) Both the countries will expand their collaboration under the Defence Technology & Trade Initiative (DTTI). Under DTTI, two new pathfinder projects on Digital Helmet Mounted Displays & the Joint Biological Tactical Detection System.

e) They have also noted the understanding reached to conclude an information exchange annex (IEA) to enhance data and information sharing specific to aircraft carriers.

5. England’s James Taylor retires from international cricket

a) Veteran English cricketer James Taylor has recently announced his retirement from the international cricket owing to his ill health.

b) Recently , James Taylor was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

c) Till this date, he has player around 7 test matches for England with his top test score 76 against Pakistan in November, 2015.

6. India to sign a MoU with UAE to prevent human trafficking

a) India & UAE will soon ink a MoU for mutual cooperation in preventing and combating of Human Trafficking.

b) Both the countries have agreed to provide all the necessary cooperation to each other on the issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking especially women and children expeditiously.

c) Both the sides will launch Anti-trafficking cells and task forces to prevent human trafficking. A joint task force will be also launched to monitor the efficient working of the agreed terms in MoU.

d) Police forces and other vigilant authorities from both the countries will work together to minimize the increasing events of Human Trafficking in both the countries.

7. Maharashtra approves Social Boycott Bill, 2016

a) The prohibition of social boycott bill, 2016 was unanimously approved in maharashtra assembly to curb the inhuman practice like social boycott and the extra judicial bodies like caste and community panchayats.

b) As per this bill, social boycott will be considered as a crime. The bill provides for prohibition of social boycott of a person or group of persons, including their family members as an individual or as a group like caste panchayat.

c) Engaging in social boycott will be considered as an offence and the offender will punished with either 7 years in prison or fine up to 5 lakh rupees or both.

d) Government will appoint Social boycott prohibition officers to detect the commission of offences, to assist the magistrate and police officers in discharge of their duties under the Act.

e) The trial for offence of social boycott should be completed within a period of six months from the date of the filing of charge sheet. This provision is enlisted in the bill to provide the speedy justice to the victims of social boycott.

8. Kane Williamson named Wisden Almanack Cricketer of the Year

a) New Zealand cricket player Kane Williamson is recently named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2015.

b) New zealand female cricketer Suzie Bates was also named as Leading Women’s cricketer in the world. She captains the White Fern’s cricket team.

c) It is the first time ever when two new zealanders are part of the Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year when Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum were named among.

d) The principle criteria to be chosen for this accolade is the level of performance of the cricketer on the previous English summer.

9. Mission Drinking Water launched in Maharashtra

a) On the verge of the recent famine & severe water crisis in Maharashtra , CM of Maharashtra has launched ‘Mission Drinking Water’ to scale up the drought mitigation.

Under this mission, the ongoing crop pattern will be changed to sustain holistic development. A good amount of investment will also be done the field of agriculture and industries.

b) Maharashtra government will provide a roadmap and adequate budget to every famine hit village in the state.

c) Agricultural minister & Opposition leader of maharashtra will be a part of Maharashtra Drought Relief Committee.

10. IMF cautions UK about risks of Brexit

a) International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently warned of upcoming risks of Brexit.

b) Brexit means Britain’s exit from European Union amidst cutting the global growth forecast. This move of Britain will disrupt the already established trade relations do severe regional and global damage.

c) Due to the recent migration crisis in Europe and the interminable euro mess, the demand of Brexit had surface and gained momentum.

d) Following the passing of the European Union Referendum Act, 2015, UK prime minister David Cameron has also declared to hold a referendum on the country’s membership of the EU.

11. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary celebrated

a) Father of Indian constitution Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s 125 the birth anniversary was celebrated across India on Thursday. He was born on 14th April, 1891.

b) Dr Ambedkar was responsible for bringing a change in the social perspective of India.

c) As the first Minister of Law and Justice in Independent India, Ambedkar was the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Besides, his economic reforms and plans also played a major role in building guidelines for the Reserve Bank of India

d) To strengthen the panchayati Raj institution in the villages Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched ‘Gram Uday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan’ at Dr. Ambedkar’s birthplace Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.