UTTARAKHAND

Rs 903 cr for rail infra projects and safety works in U’khand: Piyush Goyal

Union railways minister Piyush Goel, told the Lok Sabha that Rs 903 crore has been allotted to Uttarakhand in the Union Budget for infrastructure projects and safety works. The minister added that this amount is “383% more than the average of the Budget outlay in the state from 2009 to 2014.

Goyal told the House that a new railway line is being laid between Rishikesh-Karnaprayag (125.09 km), Kichha-Khatima (57.70 km), and Deoband (Muzzafar Nagar)-Roorkee (27.45 km). Meanwhile, railway line doubling work is also being carried out between Haridwar-Laksar (27.03 km), added the minister.

INTERNATIONAL

India ranks second as the most promising source of disruptive technology

According to KPMG’s “2020 Global Technology Industry Innovation Survey” report, India shared the second position with China as the most promising source of disruptive technology in the world. The report was topped by the United States as the most promising market for developing disruptive technologies.

The report ranked countries that are committed to setting up strong innovation ecosystems.

In terms of the world cities, it highlighted that Silicon Valley/San Francisco would be leading technology innovation hubs over the next four years. Under this category, Bengaluru entered the top 10 list and ranked ninth. Mumbai was ranked 16th.

NATIONAL

India ranked second as the better-performing countries in the API list

The international animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection, released the global Animal Protection Index 2020. India has ranked second as the better-performing countries in the Animal Protection Index (API).

The aim of API is to showcase where countries are doing well, where they fall short on animal welfare policy and legislation, in order to take steps to improve.

The index ranks countries from A, being the highest score, to G, being the weakest score.

India secured a ‘C’ ranking in the index, along with countries like Spain, New Zealand, Mexico, and France.

India has strong laws on the protection of animals, and the welfare of dairy animals is yet to part of any such law. This index highlighted the work that still needs to done to protect every animal.

New research reveals poor animal welfare practices will provide a perfect breeding ground for viruses to mutate and spread while trading.

World Animal Protection assessed the animal welfare policies and legislation of 50 countries.

The report highlighted the lack of adequate animal welfare laws.

The index is aimed to help countries to put in place good animal welfare practices such as keeping animals clean, healthy, and with sufficient space to exhibit natural behaviours.

India invokes 123-year-old Epidemic Disease Act

GoI is to invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. The 123-year old Law is to be invoked in order to limit the spread of the outbreak. The announcement comes after WHO declaring COVID-19 as GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

The Central government has declared that all the states and Union Territories (UTs) should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.

The move comes as COVID-19 cases crossed the 70 mark on 12 March.

The Act is meant to contain dangerous epidemic diseases.

The Law confers special powers upon local authorities to implement measures necessary to control epidemics.

Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 states that When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State is threatened with an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person. It is necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred, including compensation if any, shall be defrayed.

The 1897 law was invoked earlier during the bubonic plague in the then Bombay state.

Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 introduced in Lok Sabha

The Bill will provide for the regulation, operation, and planning of major ports in India and to provide greater autonomy and flexibility in decision-making.

The Bill is not aimed at the privatization of government ports. The number of labour trustees will remain the same as earlier.

The Bill will provide the ports greater autonomy and flexibility to major ports in decision-making as they have to compete with the private sector.

The Bill proposes to repeal the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

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