October, 2017: India Ranks 100th On Global Hunger Index, Trails North Korea, Bangladesh

India has a “serious” hunger problem and ranks 100th out of 119 countries on the global hunger index — behind North Korea, Bangladesh, and Iraq, according to a report. It has the third highest score in all of Asia — only Afghanistan and Pakistan are ranked worse.

October, 2017: Prime Minister launches Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) at Vadnagar in Gujarat. Through this programme, Government of India aims to reach each and every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunization programme. The special drive will focus on improving immunization coverage in select districts and cities to ensure full immunization to more than 90% by December 2018. The achievement of full immunization under Mission Indradhanush to at least 90% coverage was to be achieved by 2020 earlier. With the launch of IMI, achievement of the target has now been advanced.

September, 2017: India Ranked 40th On World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index

India was ranked as the 40th most competitive economy - slipping one place from last year's ranking - on the World Economic Forum's (WEF) global competitiveness index, which is topped by Switzerland. On the list of 137 economies, Switzerland is followed by the US and Singapore in second and third places, respectively. Other countries in the top 10 are the Netherlands (4th), Germany (5th), Hong Kong SAR (6th), Sweden (7th), United Kingdom (8th), Japan (9th) and Finland (10th).

September, 2017: Rohingya Issue

The influx of nearly one million Rohingya refugees from the northern portion of Myanmar’s Rakhine province due to severe persecution affected the political environment in Bangladesh. The impact was particularly acute in the south-eastern district of Cox`s Bazaar as well as to a lesser extent in adjoining Bandarban district and the nearby estuary areas.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina floated a five-point proposal at the United Nations to find a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

August, 2017: Cabinet approves framework for merger of public sector banks

The Union Cabinet gave its in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM). The decision would facilitate consolidation among the Nationalised Banks to create strong and competitive banks.

Salient Features

The salient features of the approval Framework for Consolidation of Public Sector Banks are as follows:·

August, 2017: Supreme Court strikes down triple talaq

A five-judge constitutional bench by a 3:2 majority judgment said there is no constitutional protection for triple talaq as it is arbitrary and "whimsical" as it leaves no scope for conciliation and violates Muslim women's rights.

Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Fali Nariman, and Uday Umesh Lalit held that triple talaq is not integral to Islam, is bad in law and lacks approval of the Shariat. Chief Justice J S Khehar and justice S Abdul Nazeer held triple talaq to be part of fundamental right to religion of Muslims and said it was not unconstitutional.