KERALA

The India Met Department (IMD) is gearing up to strengthen its weather observation network for cities in Kerala to provide early warning about extreme events such as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and squalls.

The system involves a dense network of rain gauges, automatic weather stations and S-band radars for more accurate estimation of rainfall.

The IMD was also augmenting its lightning detection and warning system for Kerala to minimise the risks to people and property. Eight lightning detectors with a detection range of 200 km each had been installed across the State and efforts were on to deploy a mobile application to provide warning for residents in lightning-prone areas.

INTERNATIONAL

· IMF estimates growth rate of India as 7.3 percent this year

TheInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) said that India has been estimated to grow at 3% in 2018 and 7.4% in 2019. This is to regain the tag of the world’s fastest-growing major economy 2018, surpassing China with more than 0.7% points. In 2017, India had clocked a 6.7% growth rate.
In India, important reforms like the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the inflation-targeting framework, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and steps to liberalise foreign investment and make it easier to do business have been implemented in the recent years.
China was the fastest-growing economy in 2017. The IMF has lowered the growth projections for both India and China by 0.4% and 0.32%, respectively, from its annual April’s WEO.

Indian Naval Ship Kulish, a Kora class missile corvette, commanded by Commander Deepak Bali and an Indian Dornier (naval maritime time patrol aircraft) from Andaman and Nicobar command entered Belawan harbour, Indonesia for the opening ceremony of the 32nd edition of India – Indonesia coordinated patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT), to be held from 11 – 27 Oct 2018.

The delegation is led by Commodore Ashutosh Ridhorkar, Naval Component Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Command.

The ships and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary Line.

The patrolling would be conducted in three phases from 14 – 24 Oct 2018 followed by a closing ceremony at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Island, scheduled from 25 – 26 Oct 2018.

NATIONAL

· Union Cabinet approves Merger Of NCVT And NSDA To Establish NCVET

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the merger of the existing regulatory institutions in the skills space – National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA)into the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
The institute will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training, both long-term and short-term and establish minimum standards for the functioning of such entities.

The Indian Air Force on the occasion of its 86th anniversary announced an innovative mobile health App named ‘MedWatch’.
The main aim is to provide health information to air warriors and all citizens of India.
It has been developed by Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) and the idea was conceived by IA doctors.
It is in sync with Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Digital India, Ayushman Bharat and Mission Indradhanush’.

Tushar Mehta will assume the office of the Solicitor General till June 30, 2020.
Presently, Mehta is serving as the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India.
Solicitor General is the second highest ranking law officer of the government after the Attorney General.