The index was prepared by the US Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC).
It ranks countries based on 45 indicators that are critical to an innovation-led economy supported by robust patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secrets protection.
The Index analyses the IP climate in 50 global economies.
The US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany remained the top five economies on the intellectual property index in 2019.
India ranks 36 in the IP Index
India's has jumped from 44th position in 2018.
According to the index report, the key problems in India include
barriers to licensing and technology transfer
strict registration requirements
limited framework for the protection of bio-pharmaceutical IP right
patentability requirements outside international standards
Samadhan
The Union government has launched Samadhan portal to help workers and employers raise industrial disputes online.
Samadhan stands for Software Application for Monitoring and Disposal, Handling of Industrial Disputes.
It is a dedicated web portal to bring all stakeholders - government, industry, and labor - involved in industrial disputes on a single integrated platform.
The bodies which help in resolving the disputes – office of chief labor commissioner (central), industrial relations division, and central government industrial tribunal (CGIT)– will be able to get the requests and send updates to workers and employers on this portal.
It has been launched on a pilot basis for workers belonging to five states – Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
Under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, an industrial dispute is defined as any dispute or difference between employers and employees or amongst a group of workers or employers related to employment, termination, and condition of work, among others.
The web portal will make the process of settling industrial disputes is simplified, standardized and streamlined.
Emergency Response Support Sysytem(ERSS)
The Women Safety initiative of Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) was launched in 16 States/UTs and Mumbai city.
Under ERSS a pan-India network of single emergency helpline number 112 was made operationalised.
On the emergency number ‘112’ immediate assistance can be sought by anyone in distress.
The single emergency services number 112 will combine Police, Fire, Health and other help-lines through an Emergency Response Centre in the State.
Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO)
Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and Safe City Implementation Monitoring Portal was also launched.
It is meant for the law enforcement agencies in the country.
The system is an online module available to law enforcement agencies at all levels - national, state, district and police station.
It allows the state to undertake real-time monitoring and management for completion of investigation in rape cases.
It would also strengthen the ability of states for analytics and prognosis for timely investigation and prosecution in rape cases.
Bramble Cay melomys
Australia officially declared a Great Barrier Reef rodent called Bramble Cay melomys extinct recently.
A Cay is a low-lying island on a coral reef.
It became the first mammal believed to have been killed off by human-induced climate change.
The rodent lived solely on a tiny sand island in the Torres Strait, near the coast of Papua New Guinea.
The species has not been seen since 2009.
A key factor in its disappearance was repeated ocean inundation of the cay over the last decade, which had resulted in dramatic habitat loss.
The Melomys rubicola is considered the Great Barrier Reef’s only endemic mammal species.
It was first discovered on the cay in 1845 by Europeans who shot the large rat for sport.
According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Australia has one of world's highest rates of animal extinction.
Great White Shark
A major study decoded Great White Shark entire genome and found that it could hold new clues to the fight against cancer.
The great white shark is also known as the great white, white shark or white pointer.
It is one of the most powerful and dangerous predatory sharks in the world.
They are a large shark and grow up to at least 20 feet long, or 6.1 meters.
They are frequently centered in highly productive temperate coastal waters.
It the only known surviving species of its genus Carcharodon.
According to IUCN, the species is classified as vulnerable.
