Current Affairs 10th February 2018

Current Affairs 10th February 2018 - Important Points

• Ratification of Minamata Convention on Mercury approved by - Cabinet
• 1st initial edition of Khelo India School Games  ended on - 8th February 2018
• India ranks 44 in US Chamber’s Intellectual Property Index issued by - United States Chamber of Commerce

Current Affairs 10th February 2018 - Details

Ratification of Minamata Convention on Mercury approved by - Cabinet

The Union Cabinet has passed proposal for contract of Minamata Convention on Mercury and submitting contract, thus enabling India to become Party of Convention. The acceptance entails contract of convention along with flexibility for continued usage of mercury related products and procedures involving mercury compound till 2025.
Minamata Convention on Mercury

• The Convention is worldwide settlement that focuses to safeguard human health and the environment from anthropogenic discharge and releases of mercury and its related compounds.
• It got its name after Japanese city Minamata which had suffered from devastating occurrence of mercury poisoning.
• It focuses to control anthropogenic emissions of mercury throughout its lifecycle.
• The Convention was decided at fifth session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury in Geneva, Switzerland in January 2013 and was accepted in October 2013 at Diplomatic Conference, Kumamoto, Japan.
  Obligations on Parties of Convention
• Restriction on new mercury mines, the phase-out of present ones.
• Phase-out and phase-down of mercury usage in various products and procedures.
• Control measures on discharge to air and on emission to water and land.
  Significance
• It is executed in context of sustainable development programme with aim to safeguard human health and environment from anthropogenic discharge and releases of mercury and its related compounds.
• It safeguards most unsafe from the injurious effects of mercury.
• It also safeguards the developmental space of developing nations. Therefore, safeguards interest of the poor and unsafe groups.
• It further suggests enterprises to shift to mercury-free choices in products and non-mercury techniques in production procedures. This will promote Research & Development, and drive innovation.

1st initial edition of Khelo India School Games  ended on - 8th February 2018

The 1st initial edition of Khelo India School Games was organised from 31st January to 8th February, 2018 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. It was initiated by our PM Narendra Modi.
It was organised under the Khelo India Programme and focused at providing a perfect platform for the
nation’s youth and promising athletes to present their talent at the national level.
Key Points

• Khelo India School Games-2018 were organised around 16 disciplines in Under-17 section. 5,000 school children from 29 different states and 7 UTs took part in an extreme sporting programme.
• Total 199 Gold badges, 199 Silver badges and 275 Bronze badges were given at first Khelo India School Games.
  Medal List
• Haryana came out as overall winners, ending with 102 badges, which consisted of 38 Gold, 26 Silver and 38 bronze badges. Maharashtra was placed 2nd with 111 badges, which consisted of 36 Gold, 32 Silver and 43 Bronze badges. Delhi got 3rd place with 94 badges, which consisted of 25 Gold, 29 Silver and 40 Bronze badges.

India ranks 44 in US Chamber’s Intellectual Property Index issued by - United States Chamber of Commerce

India was placed 44th out of 50 nations in the Intellectual Property Index issued by United States
Chamber of Commerce. During the last year as per the report, India was placed 43rd out of 45 nations in index, with an overall point
if 8.4 numbers.
The index was issued as part of annual report formed by the Global Innovation Policy Center of the
United States Chambers of Commerce. The report inspected IP climate in 50 world economies related to 40 special indicators that touchstone activity critical to innovation development surrounding patent,
trade secrets protection, copyright and trademark.
Key Highlights

• The United States topped this edition of list with total 37.98 scores, followed by UK 37.97 and Sweden 37.03.  India has raised substantially its score present year.
• Its overall point has raised substantially from 25% in past year to 30% to 12.03 out of 40, in fresh edition.
• Apart from improvement in points, India continues to placed at bottom of ladder. India has indicated long-standing and clear commitment to raising awareness of importance of IP rights and respect for creators and innovators. However, India has long journey to cover.
• India’s position shows slightly strong performance in new measures and positive reform attempts on computer Implemented inventions patents and registration processes for known spots.
• Guidelines on the Examination of Computer-Related Inventions issued by India in July 2017 has remarkably improved patentability environment for technological innovations.
• India’s points continued to propose that additional reforms are required to complement the policy.