Indonesia has recently agreed to give India access to its port for operational turnaround for Indian Navy.
In a first, , Indian ship INS Sumitra berthed at Sabang Port close to the Malacca Strait for operational turnaround.
INS Sumitra sailed from Port Blair to Sabang, where it will take provisions and fuel before going for further deployment in the Indian Ocean.
It will increase the Indian Navy’s footprint in the region.
Sabang port is in Sumatra island of Indonesia
Buddha of Swat
Buddha of Swat is located in Jahanabad, the epicentre of Swat’s Buddhist heritage, a beautiful valley in the foothills of the Himalayas.
It belongs to 7th century depicted in a lotus position at the base of a granite cliff in northern Pakistan.
It was damaged by Afghan Taliban in 2007.
It is restored recently by Italian government nearly 12 years after the Afghan Talibans damaged.
Directive of Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India, an organisation under the Ministry of Culture, has recently issued a notification regarding photography within the premises of archaeological monuments.
ASI has decided to allow photography within the premises of all centrally protected monuments/sites except three sites.
The 3 monuments/sites in which the photography would not be permitted are Ajanta Caves and Leh Palace having paintings, and Mausoleum of Taj Mahal.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
The EBRD is a multilateral development bank set up in 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It aims to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe.
It invests in 38 emerging economies across three continents.
The Indian government had applied for membership in the London-based EBRD in December 2017.
The EBRD board of governors, voted unanimously in favour of the country's application in March 2018, with the entire membership process completed this week.
India takes a shareholding in the EBRD but it will not be a recipient of EBRD financing.
India's membership opens up further joint investment prospects in markets such as Central Asia, Egypt and Jordan.
Global Innovation Index (GII)
The 11th edition of Global Innovation Index (GII) has ranked India as the 57th most innovative nation in the world.
The GII is being developed jointly by Cornell University, the Paris-based business school Insead and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.
GII ranks 126 economies based on 80 indicators.
India has improved its ranking from 60th position in 2016 and 81st position in 2015.
China improved its ranking from 22 in 2017 to 17 this year.
Since 2011, Switzerland has been ranked at the top every year. This year, Netherlands follows at second place and Sweden at third.
Deputy Chairman in Rajya Sabha
The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The Deputy Chairman is elected from amongst the Rajya Sabha members.
The chairman of Rajya Sabha (Vice President of India) presides over its sessions.
Whenever a vacancy arises, the election takes place in the very next session.
Currently, the chair of Deputy Chairman remains vacant since June 30.
The Rajya Sabha has a panel of six to seven senior members as part of Vice-President’s panel who officiate in his absence.
But the panel can’t play the role of Deputy Chairman.
