Panjab Government bans sale of 20 insecticides Pt February 7, 2018S Punjab Government's Department of Agriculture has issued directions to discontinue the sale of 20 pesticides insecticides) including Endosulfen harmful to health of humans and environment with immediate effect. This decision was taken based on the recommendations of Registration ‘Committee, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Punjab State Farmers’ ‘Commission (PSFC). Key Facts, ‘The insecticides that are banned includes Tricholorofon, Phosphamidon, Dicofol, Methomyl, Thiophanate Methyl, Benfuracarb, Bifenthrin, Endosulfan, Chlorfenapyr, Carbosulfan, Ethofenprox (Etofenprox), Phorate, Triazophos, Dazomet, Diflubenzuron, Fenitrothion, Metaldehyde, Kasugamycin, Alachior ‘and Monocrotophos. ‘Some of these pesticides (Phosphamidion, Methomy!, Phorate, Triazophos and Monocrotophos) are considered class 1 pesticides by World Health Organization (WHO) and are further categorised into extremely hazardous (class fa) and highly hazardous (class tb) to human health. Many of these are already banned in several countries. Background In India, use of several class | pesticides are still used which are banned by other countries. In 2045, based on the recommendations of Anupamn Verma committee, Union Agriculture Ministry through an order of December 2016 had planned to ban only three out of these five class I pesticides and that too, starting from 2021. jo comments Neelam Kapoor appointed as Director General of Sports Authority of India 1 Fobruary 1, 2018'S) No comments The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior bureaucrat Neelam Kapoor as Director General (DG) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). ACC ‘was headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, She fs 1982 batch officer of Indian Information Service (IIS). At present. she is Principal Director General of the Directorate of Field Publicity. She was Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB) In UPA Government headed by then PM Manmohan Singh. As PIB chief, she was in-charge of information officers attached to every central government ministry. ‘Sports Authority of India (SAI) SAlis an apex National Sports body set up in 1984 by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the development of sport in India. It conducts various acti and schemes to promote sports in India. It is headquartered at, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi). SAI has 2 Sports Academic institutions, 10 SAI Regional Centres (SRC), 14 Centre of Excellence (COE/COX), 56 Sports Training Centres (STC) and 20 Special Area Games (SAG).Dinesh Srivastava takes over as chief executive of Nuclear Fuel Complex $M February 1, 2018 @ No comments Distinguished scientist Dinesh Srivastava took over as Chief Executive of Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC). He has succeeded G Kalyanakrishnan who retired on é superannuation. Srivastava will also be Chairman of NFC board. Prior to this assignment, he was holding the position of Deputy Chief Executive at NFR. sh Srivastava He is a Metallurgical Engineer from University of Roorkee. He had joined 28th batch of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Training School in 1984. In his long career, Srivastava has worked for three decades at BARC, Mumbai and was senior Professor at Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai. He had obtained Doctorate degree from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Srivastava has contributed for development of advanced structural materials of extreme strategic value for India's nuclear energy programme. The focus of his work was on self-reliant development of critical nuclear components with target on Titanium, Zirconium, and lowalloy steels. At NFC, Srivastava has played key role in achievement of record production of fuel assemblies, In addition to meeting production requirement of reactor components for forthcoming 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), being constructed at Kelpakkam. He has won several awards and is life ‘member of major nuclear sclence related national bodies. Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) NNFC is a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy under Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It was established in 1971 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. It is responsible for supply of nuclear fuel bundles and reactor core components forall nuclear power reactors operating in India. Itis unique facility where natural and enriched uranium fuel, zirconium alloy cladding and reactor core components are manufactured under one roof starting from raw materials. Its products are supplied to DAE, Indian Navy, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and other defence organisations, as well as chemical, fertiliser industries.HAL successfully tests Light Combat Helicopter for first time SM February 1, 2018 © Nocomments State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for first time has successfully flown home-made 5.8-tonne Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) with its own automatic flight control system. The 20 ite maiden flight of the multirole x copter was flawless with the engagement of the flight control system throughout. Key Facts The helicopter is powered by two Shakti engines and has many features of indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. It also has day and night targeting systems for crew, including helmet-pointed sight and electro-optical pod. It is twin-seat chopper is equipped for day-and-night combat operations with digital camouflage system for stealth actions and Is known for its agility. The indigenous flight control system of LCH developed by HAL will replace the ported one. The company has also indigenised attack helicopter’s display system or tegrated architecture display system with involvement of private industry. So far HAL has bullt four technology demonstrators of LCH for flight testing. One of them also landed in forward bases at Siachen, located 5,400 metres above sea level in eastern Karakoram range of Himalayas. Background HAL had received a request for proposal (RFP) on December 22 for the supply of 15 LCH from Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army. The deal was cleared by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in 2016 for purchase of 10 LCH for IAF and five for Indian Army. The LCH also participated in IAF's Iron Fist exer in March 2016 and had displayed its rocket-firing capabilities in weaponised configuration. The then Defence Minister Arun Jaltely had launched LCH production when it received the initial operational clearance. 2