29th April 2016

A.Lok Sabha passes Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016 

1.The Lok Sabha passed the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016 to provide statutory status to the existing Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad, Haryana. 

2.The Bill seeks to provide legislative backing to the Regional Centre and also confers upon it the status of an institution of national importance. 

Key facts Objectives: 

(i) Disseminate knowledge by providing teaching and research facilities in biotechnology and related fields, 

(ii) create a hub of biotechnology expertise, 

(iii) facilitate transfer of technology and knowledge in the SAARC region and generally Asia and 

(iv) Promote cooperation at the international level. 

3.The Regional centre will provide masters and doctoral degrees, and post-graduate diplomas in biotechnology and related subjects. 

4.It will have Board of Governors, Programme Advisory Committee, Executive Committee and Finance Committee etc as authorities responsible for its administration and functioning. 

Background 

1.India had entered into an agreement in 2006 with the UNESCO regarding establishment of the Regional Centre to serve the member countries of UNESCO. 

2.In this regard, the Union government through an executive order had established the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Training and Education in Faridabad, Haryana in 2009. 

Note: An institution of national importance is a national level institute which imparts scientific or technical education and is empowered to grant educational degrees.

B.India, Mongolia hold joint exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ to boost military cooperation 

1.The eleventh edition of India-Mongolia joint military training Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant – 2016’ has commenced at Mongolia. 

2.It seeks to promote military associations between India and Mongolia. The first joint exercise was held in 2004 and since then it is annually held. 

Key facts 

1.Aim of exercise is to develop synergy and interoperability between the two armies to fight in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CICT) environment under the United Nation mandate. 

2.In this edition, a platoon of the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army along with a team of two observers is taking part in the event. 

3.The Indian contingent will share its practical experiences of CICT operations through a series of classroom lectures and outdoor demonstrations.

C.India to host 2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships 

1.India is going to host the 2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships in Jaipur, Rajasthan. 

2.It was announced by the Judo Federation of India (JFI). 

3.The announcement came after the Commonwealth Judo Congress allotted the Championships to India at its meeting held at Port Elizabeth in South Africa. 

4.This will be the first time that Commonwealth Judo Championships will be held in India. 

5.However the Championsips dates are yet to be finalised. Besides, India will also host the 10th Asian Cadet Judo Championships and the 17th Asian Junior Judo Championships from September 6th to 12th, 2016 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kadvanthaa in Kerala. 

6.Judo It is generally categorized as a modern martial art. It was created in 1882as a physical, mental and moral pedagogy in Japan by Kanō Jigorō. 

7.Later it evolved into a combat and Olympic sport. A judo practitioner is called a judoka. 

8.Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objectives is to either takedown or throw an opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue an opponent with a force with a joint lock or a choke.