NEWS 28-04-2019. NEWS FOR 29-APR (MONDAY) President Kovind releases NIRF and ARIIA-2019 The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, released National Institutional Ranking Framework -2019 (NIRF) and presented the India Rankings awards to the top eight institutions in different categories at a function held in New Delhi on April 8, 2019. He also released the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) and presented the ARIIA awards to the top two institutions. IIT Madras ranked on top in overall category in NIRF-2019 while Miranda House College of Delhi University ranked number one in ARIIA. India highest recipient of remittances in 2018 India was positioned as the world’s top recipient of remittances with its diaspora sending USD 79 billion back home in 2018, according to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief. The remittances in 2018 grew by over 14 percent in India, where natural disasters like Kerala floods likely boosted the financial help that migrants sent to their families. Merger of Lakshmi Vilas Bank with Indiabulls Housing As per the ‘Scheme of Amalgamation’ approved by the LVB board, for every 100 shares of Laxmi Vilas Bank held, shareholders will receive 14 shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance. The merger now awaits the approval of the Reserve Bank of India. UAE honours PM Narendra Modi with Zayed Medal The United Arab Emirates (UAE) honoured PM Narendra Modi with its highest decoration, Zayed Medal in recognition of his "pivotal role" in strengthening ties between the two nations. Manu Sawhney takes charge as ICC CEO India’s Manu Sawhney took charge as the new Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council. Sawhney will work alongside incumbent ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson, who will step down after the World Cup in July 2019. Sawhney, former Managing Director of ESPN Star Sports. UN, EU Report on global hunger The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and EU “Global Report on Food Crises 2019”, shows that more than 100 million people worldwide are facing acute hunger and number is rising. Report finds that around 113 million people. Nearly two-thirds of those facing acute hunger are in just 8 countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. UN appoints investigation head for Myanmar The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Nicholas Koumjian of the United States as the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. International criminal justice lawyer Nicholas Koumjian will serve as the first head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism (IIM) for Myanmar. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swears in new government Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sworn in a new government headed by Mohammad Shtayyeh, a long-time ally from his Fatah party. Mohammad Shtayyeh was administered the oath as the new Prime Minister of Palestine in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. What is VVPAT Machine with EVM; How does VVPAT work? The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a method of providing feedback to voters using a ballot less voting system. The VVPAT is an independent printer system attached with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) that allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended. It generates a paper slip every time a voter casts his vote, recording the party to whom the vote was made. The VVPAT helps to detect potential election fraud or malfunction in the Electronic Voting Machine. It provides a means to audit the stored electronic results. It serves as an additional barrier to change or destroy votes. Indonesia kicks off largest one-day elections to elect new President The polls have pitted incumbent President Joko Widodo against ex-general Prabowo Subianto in a race to lead the nation. Jet Airways suspends operations with last Amritsar flight; 20,000 jobs at stake Cash-strapped Jet Airways on April 17, 2019 suspended all its domestic and international flights indefinitely with immediate effect after the lenders refused to release emergency funds for the carrier. TIME's 100 Most Influential People list released Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, public-interest litigators Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy, who spearheaded a historic legal battle for LGBTQ rights in India, are among the Indians who have been included by TIME in its 100 most influential people in the world list. US approves sale of 24 MH 60 helicopters to India The United States has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of 2.4 billion US dollars. The announcement was made by the US State Department on April 2, 2019. The MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopter is considered to be the world's most advanced maritime helicopter. < < Back