1. India, B'desh sign MoU on traditional medicine
i. Bangladesh and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the fields of traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Unani, as World Health Organisation decided to lay an extra focus on the issue as an "important part of healthcare" in the region.
ii. The two countries inked the deal in Dhaka late Tuesday on the sidelines of the WHO's South-East Asia regional conference where the traditional medicine was one of the major issues of discussion of the 11 health ministers, experts and officials.
iii. Bangladesh's health officials said under the deal the two sides agreed to exchange all kinds of traditional medicines alongside the experts and physicians for conducting training.
iv. They said recognised institutions of both the countries would provide scholarships to each other in addition to setting up an 'academic chair'.
2. Sushma Swaraj inaugurates India Investment meet in Bahrain capital Manama today
i. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the first ever India Investment meet in Bahrain capital Manama today.
ii. The meeting is aimed at attracting investments from Bahrain and the Gulf region into India and give a boost to bilateral trade and investment relations.
iii. During her stay, she will hold talks with top Bahraini leaders and discuss issues of mutual, regional and international interest.
iv. This is the first visit to the Gulf region and to Bahrain by the External Affairs Minister, which underlines the importance of the region in view of high stakes India has in terms of its energy security, Indian Diaspora and trade ties.
3. H Devaraj Committee reported most deemed universities not fit for being a university
i. H Devaraj Committee on 8 September 2014 reported that most of the deemed universities are not fit for being a university.
ii. It said that out of 41 C category deemed universities only 10 universities are found to be fit for being a university. Rest of the university does not fulfil the criteria to become the university.
Main findings of the Committee
i. Many institutions were accorded deemed university status on certain conditions, against the Union Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956 which does not allow conditional notification.
ii. The UGC or Union Human Resource Development Ministry failed to check whether the institutions with conditional notification have fulfilled the specified criteria after a certain time period or not.
iii. Serious discrepancies were noted in upgradation of 8 B category institutions to A category institutions.
4. Former Foreign Secretary A.P. Venkateswaran died
i. Former foreign secretary and a member of the Indian Foreign Service AP Venkateshwaran died on 2 September 2014. He was 84.
ii. He is survived by wife Usha Venkateshwaran and daughter Kalpana who is a well-known choreographer settled in the US.
i. Bangladesh and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the fields of traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Unani, as World Health Organisation decided to lay an extra focus on the issue as an "important part of healthcare" in the region.
ii. The two countries inked the deal in Dhaka late Tuesday on the sidelines of the WHO's South-East Asia regional conference where the traditional medicine was one of the major issues of discussion of the 11 health ministers, experts and officials.
iii. Bangladesh's health officials said under the deal the two sides agreed to exchange all kinds of traditional medicines alongside the experts and physicians for conducting training.
iv. They said recognised institutions of both the countries would provide scholarships to each other in addition to setting up an 'academic chair'.
2. Sushma Swaraj inaugurates India Investment meet in Bahrain capital Manama today
i. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the first ever India Investment meet in Bahrain capital Manama today.
ii. The meeting is aimed at attracting investments from Bahrain and the Gulf region into India and give a boost to bilateral trade and investment relations.
iii. During her stay, she will hold talks with top Bahraini leaders and discuss issues of mutual, regional and international interest.
iv. This is the first visit to the Gulf region and to Bahrain by the External Affairs Minister, which underlines the importance of the region in view of high stakes India has in terms of its energy security, Indian Diaspora and trade ties.
3. H Devaraj Committee reported most deemed universities not fit for being a university
i. H Devaraj Committee on 8 September 2014 reported that most of the deemed universities are not fit for being a university.
ii. It said that out of 41 C category deemed universities only 10 universities are found to be fit for being a university. Rest of the university does not fulfil the criteria to become the university.
Main findings of the Committee
i. Many institutions were accorded deemed university status on certain conditions, against the Union Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956 which does not allow conditional notification.
ii. The UGC or Union Human Resource Development Ministry failed to check whether the institutions with conditional notification have fulfilled the specified criteria after a certain time period or not.
iii. Serious discrepancies were noted in upgradation of 8 B category institutions to A category institutions.
4. Former Foreign Secretary A.P. Venkateswaran died
i. Former foreign secretary and a member of the Indian Foreign Service AP Venkateshwaran died on 2 September 2014. He was 84.
ii. He is survived by wife Usha Venkateshwaran and daughter Kalpana who is a well-known choreographer settled in the US.
