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INDEX

1. National news 1.1 Russia can assist India in curbing blue whale menace

1.2 Child Mortality on the decline, says study

1.3 India third in nuclear power installations: Study

1.4 PM Launches ‘Saubhagya’ plan for household electrification

1.5 There will be blood, if you ask in Facebook

2. International News 2.1 Nuclear deal in danger

2.2 Hasina proposes ‘safe zones’ for Rohingya

2.3 SriLanka Constitutional reforms

2.4 Merkel wins 4th term as chancellor

2.5 Kurds Signal desire for independence

3. Polity and Governance 3.1 Nirbhaya Scheme is disarray: Apex court

4. Economy 4.1 GSTN tweaked feature handled robust return filing

5. Science and Tech 5.1 GM mustard in for a long wait

5.2 Drug resistant bacteria emerge from drug companies untreated effluents

5.3 Illegal sale of Oxytocin continues

6. Security 6.1 Army hits ultras on Myanmar border

7. India and World 7.1 Bangladesh seeks help from India, China

7.2 India signs MoU to train Afghan Police


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Current Affairs (21 to 30 September, 2017)

1. National News

1.1 Russia can assist India in curbing blue whale menace

Michael J. Gobartov, Vice Consul, Consulate General of Russian Federation in Southern India,

and Director, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, on Friday informed the Madras High Court

(Madurai Bench) that Russia would render assistance to India in curbing the dangerous Blue

Whale Challenge game, which originated in his country.

The court was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition initiated by it following

the recent suicide of a Madurai-based college boy, who had allegedly taken to the Blue Whale

Challenge.

However, he submitted that the competent government authority’s decision to block the

Russian social media site VKontakte (VK) was not wise as the Blue Whale Challenge content,

which first surfaced on VK, was now available on other platforms as well.

The Consul stated that all the discovered suicidal groups of VK had been blocked and the ones

that existed were moderated in the Russian language, including the game tasks.

Since the language was Russian, and with very few Indian users, he said only the [relevant]

content should have been blocked rather than the social media site itself.

The Division Bench of Justices K.K. Sasidharan and G.R. Swaminathan, which had initiated the

suo motu PIL, had directed the Centre to use the diplomatic relationship it shared with Russia to

block the URLs and links to the game.

1.2 Child Mortality on the decline, says study

India’s child mortality rate has always been a cause for concern, but a recent study published in

the medical journal Lancet suggests that the situation may be changing for the better.

The study shows a significant decline in cause-specific child mortality rates between 2000 and

2015 in the country.

The faster declines in child mortality after 2005 (average annual decline of 3.4% for neonatal

mortality and 5.9% for 1 to 59-month mortality) suggest that the country has avoided about one

million more child deaths compared to the rates of progress in 2000–2005.

Premature births

However, on a sobering note, in the same period, deaths due to premature births or low birth

weight rose from 12.3 per 1000 live births in 2000 to 14.3 per 1000 live births in 2015.

The increase was driven mostly by more term births with low birth weight in poorer States and

rural areas.


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The Million Death Study titled “Changes in cause-specific neonatal and 1–59 month child

mortality in India from 2000 to 2015: a nationally representative survey’ was published online by

the Lancet on September 19.

India’s child mortality rate per thousand live births has fallen by 62% from 125 per thousand live

births in 1990 to 47 per thousand live births in 2015. This is slightly less than the 2015

Millennium Development Goal of a 66% reduction.

Interpreting the outcome, the Lancet report said: “To meet the 2030 Sustainable Development

Goals for child mortality, India will need to maintain the current trajectory of 1–59-month

mortality and accelerate declines in neonatal mortality (to >5% annually) from 2015 onwards.

Continued progress in reduction of child mortality due to pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, and

measles at 1–59 months is feasible. Additional attention to low birth weight is required.”

The study tracking 52,252 deaths in neonates and 42,057 deaths at 1–59 months has been

funded by National Institutes of Health, Disease Control Priorities Network, Maternal and Child

Epidemiology Estimation Group, and the University of Toronto.

1.3 India third in nuclear power installations: Study

India is third in the world in the number of nuclear reactors being installed, at six, while China is

leading at 20, the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2017, released this month, shows.

The number of nuclear reactor units under construction is, however, declining globally for the

fourth year in a row, from 68 reactors at the end of 2013 to 53 by mid-2017, the report says.

The latest report further reveals that most nuclear reactor constructions are behind schedule,

with delays resulting in increase in project costs and delay in power generation.

There are 37 reactor constructions behind schedule, of which 19 reported further delays over

the past year. In India itself, five out of the six reactors under construction are behind schedule.

Eight nuclear power projects have been under construction globally for a decade or more, of

which three have been so for over 30 years.

Data gathered by the authors shows that global nuclear power generation increased by 1.4% in

2016 due to a 23% increase in China, though the share of nuclear energy in electricity

generation stagnated at 10.5%.

By comparison, globally, wind power output grew by 16% and solar power by 30%. Wind power

increased generation by 132 TWh (terawatt hours) or 3.8 times, and solar power by 77 TWh or

2.2 times more than nuclear power’s 35 TWh respectively. Renewables represented 62% of

global power generating capacity additions.

Russia and the U.S. shut down reactors in 2016, while Sweden and South Korea both closed their

oldest units in the first half of 2017, the report notes.

1.4 PM Launches ‘Saubhagya’ plan for household electrification

Prime Minister launched Rs. 16,000 crore scheme, Saubhagya, under which households across the

country that have no access to electricity, will be given power connections free of cost.


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Free connections

Under the PM Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), every household in the country,

whether it is in a village or a city or in a far-flung area, will be given an electricity connection. No

price will be charged for the poor to get an electricity connection, and the government will go to

their houses to give them the connection.

The government will bear the expected Rs. 16,000 crore cost of giving electricity connections to

the four crore households in the country, which the Prime Minister regretted are yet to get any

electricity and haven’t seen a light bulb.

“It’s been over 125 years when the famous scientist Thomas Alva Edison invented the bulb and

said: ‘We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles’,” Mr. Modi stressed,

highlighting that it was unfortunate many households were still lit only with candles or lanterns.

‘Dreams of the poor’

Forget about conveniences; the women of the house have to cook in the dark, which is why

most of them are under pressure to try and finish the cooking before the sun sets.

Arguing that few would have imagined a government that would give bank accounts to 30 crore

poor people, insure 15 crore people at a cost of 90 paise per day and reduce the price of stents

and knee replacements, the Prime Minister said the dreams of the poor were the dreams of his

government.

1.5 There will be blood, if you ask in Facebook

Social networking platform Facebook is all set to roll out a new feature that would make it faster

and easier for people, blood banks, and hospitals to connect to blood donors when needed. This

initiative is specifically designed for India, its second largest user base in the world.

Starting October 1, Facebook users in India can sign up to become willing blood donors. All the

critical information, such as blood group and whether they have donated blood in the past, will

remain private and set to ‘only me’ by default. But people can choose to share their donor

status on their timelines.

In many countries, including India, there is a shortage of safe blood. Not enough people are

donating blood to meet the demand. In many cases, this leads to patients and their family being

responsible for finding donors.

Over the next few weeks, the company will enable people and organisations to get in touch with

donors in an easier manner. Individuals and organisations in need of blood will be able to create

a special post with information such as time, blood bank or hospital name, contact number, and

so on.

Automatic notification

Once a request is created, Facebook will automatically notify blood donors who may be nearby.

Donors can then contact the requestor directly through WhatsApp, Messenger, or a phone call.


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But the donor’s information will not be available to the requestor unless the donor herself

explicitly provides it.

Wrong approach

Blood donation activists, however, pointed out that trying to create registries of voluntary blood

donors is the wrong approach to promote blood donation.

This is the most incorrect method that anyone could adopt to promote blood donation. We

don’t need any registries of blood donors. What we need is a blood donor to simply walk in to

any hospital and donate blood, with or without any patient in need. By creating such databases,

one is only aggravating the shortfall.

According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at the national level, there is a requirement

of 1.2 crore blood units per annum. But the country grapples with 10% to 20% shortage over all,

with some states showing a shortfall, and a few others collecting excess blood units.


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2. International News

2.1 Nuclear deal in danger

U.S. President Donald Trump’s opposition to the Iran nuclear deal is not new. But by choosing

his first address at the UN General Assembly, in which he listed his administration’s foreign

policy priorities, to slam Tehran and the nuclear accord, he has put to rest any hope for

improvement in ties with Iran.

In his tirade, he called the Iran deal, which the U.S. and five other countries had signed with

Tehran two years ago, an “embarrassment”, and “one of the worst and most one-sided

transactions the United States has ever entered into”. Unsurprisingly, it triggered a reaction

from Iran.

According to U.S. law, the administration must certify the Iran deal every 90 days. The Trump

administration has twice done so, and the next deadline is October 15. Mr. Trump has already

signalled that he would withdraw the certification next time.

If he does so, it would be the beginning of the unravelling of an agreement that was forged after

months of intense negotiation.

Failure of the U.S. to respect an international agreement it’s a signatory to would set a

dangerous precedent. For all its shortcomings, the Iran nuclear deal is a multilateral agreement.

And it has shown results. What had appeared to be an irresolvable issue only three years ago is

now settled.

International agencies have repeatedly certified that Iran is fully compliant with the terms of

the agreement, which means the country is not pursuing any nuclear weapons programme.

In plain terms, the deal is a success as it prevented a country with potential nuclear capabilities

from developing weapons, and all this without a shot being fired.

If the U.S. is serious about non-proliferation, it should use the Iran deal to resolve other complex

international conflicts. What’s happening is just the contrary.

But it is undermining the global non-proliferation regime and international institutions. Should

the U.S. pull out of the Iran deal, it would be a great setback for rules-based multilateral

mechanisms.

2.2 Hasina proposes ‘safe zones’ for Rohingya

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon members states of the Organisation of

Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take a united stand to resolve the Rohingya issue “before it is too

late” and placed a set of proposals.

The proposals, placed at the OIC Contact Group at the United Nations headquarters, included a

call for an immediate end to atrocities against Rohingya Muslims, the creation of ‘safe zones’ in

Myanmar for the protection of civilians and an immediate and unconditional implementation of

the recommendations put forward by the Kofi Annan Commission.


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Stating that that the crisis has its roots in Myanmar and hence its solution also has to be found

in Myanmar, she said, “We want to see an end to the ‘ethnic cleansing’.”

“Myanmar is forcibly driving out the Rohingya Muslims through a planned and organised

process. First, they were excluded from the list of recognised ethnic groups of Myanmar. Then in

1982, they were denied their right to citizenship. Later, they were sent to IDP camps in their

own country.

Visit to Cox's Bazar camps

Referring to her recent visit to the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, she said it was reminiscent of

1971. “When the Pakistani forces burned down our houses and killed our people, around 10

million people crossed the border into India. Now they (Rohingya) are in danger and we

definitely need to give them shelter.”

Also, Bangladesh’s ruling 14-party alliance rejected the speech of Myanmarese leader Aung Sang

Suu Kyi. The alliance’s spokesperson Mohammad Nasim said on Wednesday that it was

unfortunate that Ms. Suu Kyi did not even mention the word ‘Rohingya’ in her speech.

2.3 SriLanka Constitutional reforms

It is only with a great degree of caution and circumspection that the interim report of the

Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly of Sri Lanka can be welcomed.

The panel, chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has done creditably by producing a

forward-looking proposal within 18 months of its first sitting.

However, there have been several such reports in the past that envisioned far-reaching reforms

in the country’s structure. None of them found broad acceptance within Sri Lanka’s polity.

It is thus difficult to see the interim report as the beginning of an irreversible process of

constitutional reform. There is room for both hope and fear.

There is scope for optimism that Sri Lanka’s fractious polity could get its act together and adopt

a durable constitution that would protect its unity and stability, distribute powers equitably

across ethnic and geographical divisions, and ensure economic prosperity for all.

There is equal scope for the fear that the whole process could be derailed by extremists. Yet,

there is a sustained effort to build a consensus among all sections of society.

The report, which incorporates a framework for key elements of a new constitution, envisages

an undivided and indivisible country, with the province as the unit for devolution of power.

It suggests that the controversial terms ‘unitary’ and ‘federal’ be avoided, and instead Sinhala

and Tamil terms that suggest an undivided country be used to describe the republic.

Predictably, there is opposition from some parties, which argue that nothing should be done to

dilute the state’s unitary character.


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Reforms proposed

On the lines of proposals made since the 1990s, the interim report aims to abolish the executive

presidency. It introduces the concept of ‘subsidiarity’, under which whatever function can be

performed by the lowest tier of government should be vested in it.

Other reforms envisaged are a change from the electoral system solely based on proportional

representation to a mixed method under which 60% of parliamentary members will be elected

under the first-past-the-post system, and the creation of a second parliamentary chamber

representing the provinces.

Nationalists worried about the ramifications of devolving power to the periphery are likely to

oppose some of the federal features, and may even seek the retention of the all-powerful

executive presidency.

The report marks a milestone, but it is still at a preliminary stage in a long-drawn process of

enacting a new constitution.

The government has promised that the pre-eminent status given to Buddhism will remain, an

assurance that may help overcome opposition from the majority.

The willingness of the Tamil National Alliance to accept a founding document arrived at on the

basis of a bipartisan consensus is also a good sign.

It is time Sri Lanka set itself free from the shackles of divisive notions of nationalism and charted

a new path of equality and reconciliation for itself.

2.4 Merkel wins 4th term as chancellor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office but will have to build an uneasy

coalition to form a German government after her conservatives haemorrhaged support in the

face of a surge by the far-right.

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by winning

13.1% of the vote, projected results showed, a result that will bring a far-right party into

Parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

‘Hoped for better’

Ms. Merkel said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to

the concerns of their voters and win them back.

Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result. But we mustn’t forget that we have just

completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the

strategic goals of our election campaign.

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far-left and far-right

parties across Europe.

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than one million refugees and other

new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscow’s incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt

about Europe’s future since Britain voted to quit the EU.


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2.5 Kurds Signal desire for independence

The Iraqi government ruled out talks on possible secession for Kurdish-held northern Iraq and

Turkey threatened sanctions after a referendum in the region showed strong support for

independence.

Initial results of Monday’s vote indicated 72% of eligible voters had taken part and an

overwhelming majority, possibly over 90%, had said “yes”.

Celebrations in Irbil

Celebrations continued in Irbil, capital of the Kurdish region, which was lit by fireworks and

adorned with Kurdish red-white-green flags. People danced in the squares as convoys of cars

drove around honking their horns.

In ethnically mixed Kirkuk, where Arabs and Turkmen opposed the vote, authorities lifted an

overnight curfew imposed to maintain control.

In neighbouring Iran, which has a large Kurdish minority, thousands of Kurds marched in the

streets to show their support for the referendum, defying a show of strength by Tehran which

flew fighter jets over their areas.

The referendum has fuelled fears of a new regional conflict. Turkey, which has fought a Kurdish

insurgency within its borders for decades, reiterated threats of economic and military

retaliation.

But Iraq’s opposition to Kurdish independence did not waver.

The Kurds held the vote despite threats from Baghdad, Iraq’s powerful eastern neighbour Iran,

and Turkey, the region’s main link to the outside world.

Turkey’s warning

“This referendum decision, which has been taken without any consultation, is treachery,”

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said, repeating threats to cut off the pipeline that carries

hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a day from northern Iraq to global markets.

He warned that Iraqi Kurds would go hungry if Turkey imposed sanctions and said military and

economic measures could be used against them.

Iraqi Kurds — part of the largest ethnic group left stateless when the Ottoman empire collapsed

a century ago — say the referendum acknowledges their contribution in confronting Islamic

State after it overwhelmed the Iraqi Army in 2014 and seized control of a third of Iraq.


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3. Polity and Governance

3.1 Nirbhaya Scheme is disarray: Apex court

A 10-year-old rape survivor from Chandigarh, who gave recently gave birth, has not received the

₹9 lakh due to her from the Central Victim Compensation Fund under the Nirbhaya scheme.

The money, to be put in a fixed deposit, was meant to take care of her psychological well-being,

medical treatment and education. It was part of the total ₹10 lakh the Supreme Court had

awarded her while denying her an abortion. So far, her family has received only ₹1 lakh.

Supreme Court found that the Chandigarh case was only the tip of the “utter confusion and

unhappy state of affairs” over the disbursal of compensation to sexual assault victims under the

Nirbhaya scheme started in 2013 following the brutal gang-rape and death of a 23-year-old

student in Delhi.

The Centre has disbursed ₹200 crore each to the States to compensate sexual assault victims

under the Nirbhaya fund, senior advocate Indira Jaising, the court’s amicus curiae.

The court referred to the Home Ministry affidavit, which showed “anomalies” like the Jharkhand

government’s disbursal of ₹2.48 crore to women victims of sexual assault, but with the column

showing the number of victims was blank. Similarly, Delhi has disbursed ₹4.29 crore, but the

column showing the number of victims is blank.

Again, the Chandigarh administration disbursed ₹38 lakh to just one victim in 2015-16 and ₹21.5

lakh to four victims in 2016-17. In Goa, ₹3 lakh was disbursed to one victim in 2017-18. Tamil

Nadu paid ₹35.5 lakh to 27 sexual assault victims in 2016-17.

The Bench pulled up the Centre, saying “you should have at least been conscious of the fact that

there is a problem (with Nirbhaya scheme). You should have been pro-active. You are the

person making the pay-out, you should have ensured that they (States) are paying

compensation to them (victims)”.


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4. Economy

4.1 GSTN tweaked feature handled robust return filing

GST Network (GSTN) has tweaked some of the features on its portal over the past month to

make the system more robust and allow glitch-free tax payment facility to almost 35 lakh

assessees, CEO Prakash Kumar.

Of the total 87.33 lakh registered businesses on the GSTN, which manages the IT infrastructure

of the new tax regime, 68 lakh were eligible to pay taxes in August.

Of the total registered taxpayers, 24.56 lakh are new registrations, while 62.77 lakh have

migrated from the earlier excise, service tax and VAT regime. Mr. Kumar said the GSTN portal

had handled a humongous load of 1.3 lakh tax return filings and payments per hour on

September 20 — the last day of filing of August tax returns.

Nearly 35 lakh people had filed returns till Saturday. We have done some tweaking in our portal

and it is evident from the load GSTN handled at the time of August return filing

There is a significant number of returns were filed even after the due date of September 20 for

the month of August. Till September 20, over 30 lakh returns were filed, and the tally went up to

almost 35 lakh till September 23.

The group of ministers will meet just two days before the full GST Council meeting on October 6

and would update the Council on its findings.

GST Network (GSTN) had faced glitches during the GSTR-3B filing for July, which had forced the

government to extend the due date for filing of returns.

Tax collection

As many as 49.68 lakh returns in GSTR-3B were filed for July. This compares with 59.6 lakh

businesses who are required to file returns. Taxes of more than Rs. 95,000 crore were collected

in the maiden month of roll-out.

The GST Council had constituted the group of ministers to sort out the issues faced by

businesses while filing returns and paying taxes on GSTN portal.


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5. Science and Tech

5.1 GM mustard in for a long wait

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has indicated that a decision on releasing

genetically modified (GM) mustard commercially was unlikely any time soon.

GM mustard was developed by scientists at Delhi University and the project was part-funded by

the Department of Biotechnology, a division of the Science Ministry.

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India’s regulator for genetically modified

seeds, had on May 12, 2017 cleared GM mustard for environmental release and use in fields.

Though it was cleared by scientists, the Environment Minister’s approval is required.

The Centre told the Supreme Court last week that it was considering various aspects and was

still to take a final call on the commercial release of GM mustard.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee, headed by Renuka Chowdhary of the Congress, last

month said that there was a paucity of studies on the impact of GM crops on human health.

Should the Minister’s consent be obtained, GM mustard would be the first transgenic food crop

to be allowed for commercial cultivation in India.

It could pave the way for several other GM food crops in the country. Dhara Mustard Hybrid

(DMH -11), the transgenic mustard in question, has been developed by a team of scientists at

Delhi University under a government-funded project.

5.2 Drug resistant bacteria emerge from drug companies untreated

effluents

Thanks to discharge of untreated effluents from pharmaceutical companies in Hyderabad, water

bodies in and around the Patencheru-Bollaram Industrial area are contaminated with antibiotics

and antifungal agents leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The bacteria from these water bodies have been found to produce enzymes such as extended

spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases which can protect them from antibiotics such

as penicillin, cephalosporins, cephamycins, and carbapenems.

The study was carried out by scientists from Leipzig University, Germany along with a

Hyderabad-based NGO Gamana. The results were published in the journal Infection.

Polluted Patancheru

The Patencheru-Bollaram Industrial area, 32 km outside Hyderabad is a growing hub with over

100 industries and more than 30 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.

Samples were collected from different water bodies — rivers, lakes, ground water, and water

from sewage treatment plant to name a few — in the vicinity of the companies as well as from

locations far away from the industrial area.


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All the 16 samples collected from the vicinity of the industrial area and 10 of 12 samples

collected from distant locations were contaminated with antifungals and/or antibiotics.

The antifungal agent fluconazole was detected in 13 samples and one particular sewer in the

vicinity of the industrial area showed levels as high as 20 times greater than therapeutically

desired levels in blood in patients.

According to the scientists, this is the highest concentration of any drug ever measured in the

environment.

The other antiinfectives found in the waters included antifungal medicine voriconazole,

medications for bacterial infections such as moxifloxacin, linezolid, levofloxacin, clarithromycin,

ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, doxycycline, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole.

Monster microbes

The bacterial isolates from the different samples were tested for drug resistance. Except two

samples taken from tap water away from the industrial area, the remaining samples showed

bacteria containing drug-resistant genes.

Carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria and non-fermenting bacteria such as Acinetobacter

and Pseudomonas species were found in more than 95% of all water samples collected.

This finding further confirms previous studies that there is a strong association between drug

pollution and presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

“The sewage treatment plant at Patancheru is ill equipped to treat pharmaceutical wastewater

containing effluents with different chemical compositions. So it simply discharges it into the

river.

There have been complaints that they just mix household waste water from BHEL Township

with these industrial effluents and discharge it into the river.

Despite the Supreme Court demanding last year that the industries in the Patencheru-Bollaram

area should treat wastewater and reuse it, “massive violations” have been the norm.

The ground water in this area is yellow. The villagers who live around this estate have many skin

problems. Though there is a water treatment plant nearby, it is not really of use.

Despite decades of campaigning by local NGOs the pollution has not been reduced. In 2009, the

national pollution index classified this industrial area as ‘critically polluted.

5.3 Illegal sale of Oxytocin continues

Despite a ban on the retail sale of hormone drug Oxytocin (that is used to induce labour in

women) for veterinary use, several pharmacies in the State continue to sell it illegally over the

counter to dairy owners and farmers, who use it to boost milk production.

In the long run, it lowers the lifespan of cows and makes them infertile sooner.

Under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the drug can be distributed on the

prescription of a registered medical practitioner only. To avoid its bulk sale, Oxytocin injections

are packed only in single unit blister packs.


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Vigilance has been effective in Belagavi district. While a case has been booked against

Vardhaman medical stores in Mangasuli of Athani taluk in the past, it was detected last week

that another medical store in Belagavi city has been selling the drug to farmers.

In fact, officials from the Drugs Controller’s office in Belagavi led by Deputy Drugs Controller

Deepak N. Gaikwad posed as farmers and purchased the drug from the store in bulk.

The product sample (that does not have any batch number or other details of the manufacturer)

has been sent for laboratory tests and we are awaiting results. We learnt that the drug was

being supplied to the pharmacy by an Indore-based manufacturer. Investigations are on and we

will soon file a case.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Act explains the manner in which Oxytocin can be prescribed and the

detailed records which need to be kept by registered medical practitioners. The records need to

be maintained for three years.

The manufacture and sale of the drug without licence is a cognizable and non-bailable offence

under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, she added.


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6. Security

6.1 Army hits ultras on Myanmar border

The Army has inflicted heavy casualties on NSCN(K) militants in an operation close to the

Myanmar border, the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command has said.

“In the early hours of 27 September, a column of the Army, while operating along the India-

Myanmar border, was fired upon by unidentified insurgents,” it said in an official statement.

Confined to border

The Army emphasised that the operation was limited to the Indian border. “It is reiterated that

our troops did not cross the international border.”

This was in clear contrast to the June 2015 operation, when the Indian troops crossed over to

Myanmar to carry out a surgical strike against NSCN(K) militants, a few days after 18 soldiers

were killed by the group in Chandel district of Manipur.

In recent times, the Indian troops have stepped up operations against the NSCN(K), which

operates mostly out of Myanmar.

The faction, led by S.S. Khaplang, called off its 14-year-old ceasefire with New Delhi in March

2015. In August 2015, the Narendra Modi government announced a peace deal with the other

major Naga group, NSCN(I-M).

The Army did not specify the number of insurgents killed or injured in the attack. Responding to

a question at a Cabinet briefing about the incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “There

are no two opinions that Myanmar is a friendly country. Whatever information we get, we will

share it with you.”


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7. India and World

7.1 Bangladesh seeks help from India, China

India, China and Southeast Asian countries should help implement Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina’s five-point Rohingya solution proposals, said a Bangladesh High Commission source.

“We are satisfied with the Indian position and hope that China and ASEAN countries will also

take more active roles in implementing the proposals of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” said an

official from the Bangladesh High Commission.

The official, however, said that the ASEAN countries are yet to take a united step to force

Myanmar to take effective measures. He also said that China needs to be more vocal in stopping

the tragedy inflicted on the Rohingya.

Bangladesh has been handling the crisis of influx of refugees from Myanmar single-handedly,

said the official, urging more international support. The role of ASEAN and the Organisation of

Islamic Countries (OIC) will be critical in ensuring support for the Rohingya, said the official.

Bangladesh has been receiving attention from international relief agencies, though political

support to force Myanmar to stop the campaign against the Rohingya has not arrived so far so

far.

Prime Minister Hasina did not receive the assurance of support from U.S. President Donald

Trump during her ongoing trip to the U.S. for the UN meet.

7.2 India signs MoU to train Afghan Police

India and Afghanistan exchanged a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, which will see

Afghan police forces trained in India for the first time. The agreement followed a meeting

between Afghanistan Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to extend full support to Afghanistan's efforts for

building a peaceful, united, prosperous, inclusive and democratic Afghanistan.

The two leaders exchanged views on the security environment in Afghanistan and the extended

region, and, in this context, agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation.

MoU on Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development will see India expand its

capacity building of Afghan troops to include policemen and security forces, who are facing the

brunt of Taliban attacks in the country, under a UN Development Programme project.

Dr. Abdullah’s visit was delayed by a day due to a sustained rocket attack on Kabul airport even

as U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis landed there.

The attacks also prevented Dr. Abdullah from inaugurating the India-Afghanistan trade and

investment exhibition in New Delhi, sponsored by the United States Agency for International

Development.


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