7) 4th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting at Jaipur.

- India will host the 8th BRICS Summit, in Goa during its Chairmanship of BRICS, As the precursor the same, the 4th BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting was convened at Jaipur to further strengthen the collaboration amongst the BRICS countries in the areas of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
- The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
8) India-Indonesia bilateral maritime exercise commences at Belawan.
- The 28th India and Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise have commenced at Belawan, Indonesia in the Andaman Sea.
- India will be represented by INS Karmuk, an indigenously built missile corvette, based under Andaman and Nicobar Command alongwith a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
9) Union Government to adopt three-pronged approach to spur internal trade.

- The Union Government may soon consider adopting a three-pronged approach to revitalise domestic retail and wholesale trade.
- However, the three-pronged approach includes.
- Establishing a regulatory body for national internal trade (retail and wholesale).
- Comprehensive domestic trade policy.
- Board for Internal Trade.
10) 5.3 magnitude earthquake hits Lakshadweep.

- A medium intensity earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale hit the Lakshadweep Sea region.
- According to the National Centre for Seismology, a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences, the quake hit the Lakshadweep Sea around 4:01 AM at a depth of 10 km.
11) Cabinet approves.
Setting up of IIM Jammu:
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment and operationalisation of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Jammu in a transit/ temporary campus in the Old Government College of Engineering & Technology from the academic year 2016-17.
Pact between EXIM Bank, NDB:

- Union Cabinet approved a pact between Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) and BRICS-promoted New Development Bank (NDB), along with other development financial institutions of member nations, with an aim to strengthen trade and economic ties.
- The Cabinet has given its approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding MoU between India and the Russia on Expansion of Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation. The MoU would expand more bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
- India and Brazil will sign an agreement on cooperation and facilitation of investment on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS Summit in Goa. The major sectors of focus in Brazil are medical equipment and medicines, aerospace, aeronautics, oil and natural gas, chemicals, fertilizers and processed food.
12) Fieldfresh-signs-mou-with-punjab-agricultural-university-to-promote-crop research.

- MoU entails grant from Field Fresh Foods to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to conduct the three-year Research Programme.
- Programme to boost corn/ baby corn productivity in the country besides strengthening small farmer income in corn growing regions.
- The MoU follows the agreement signed recently between Cambridge University and Bharti Foundation to fund the research Programme.
- Indian Railways to ink deal with Germany for high-speed trains.
- Aiming to reduce travel time significantly, the Indian Railways will ink a pact with Germany for running high-speed trains in the country.
- The German minister will hold talks with the Railway Minister in Rail Bhavan. Both ministers will focus on deepening collaboration and strengthening ties in the field of railways and high-speed trains.
13) India, Hungary to ink agreement on cooperation in water management.

- This agreement will encourage the development of bilateral relations between public and private organisations concerning the water resources of both countries.
- Both the countries will benefit from joint activities and mutual exchange of scientific delegations and experts in the field of water resources development and management.
- The cooperation, particularly on river basin management/ integrated water resources management, efficiency in water supply and irrigation technology innovation and flood and drought management, will help improve the socio-economic condition of people of both countries.
14) Union Finance Ministry has constituted a committee to consolidate the regulation of pension products.

- The Finance Ministry has set up a high-level committee to consolidate the regulation of pension products that is currently being done by three different watchdogs including the insurance and stock market regulators.
- The committee would have representatives from all financial sector regulators SEBI, IRDA, RBI and PFRDA.
- Pension products floated by insurance companies come under the purview of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) while those sold by mutual funds are overseen by the SEBI.
15) CERC appointed committee has submitted its recommendations.

- The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) appointed committee has submitted its recommendations. It was headed by power system expert Mata Prasad.
Key Recommendations: Transmission planning: It must be aligned to meet customer aspirations as opposed to existing system where transmission is associated with long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Renewable energy sources transmission system: To be planned by central transmission utility (CTU) based on estimated capacity additions in perspective plan and renewable purchase obligations of each state.
Promote of power market: Transmission corridor allocation must be done suitably made. 5% of each flow gate may be reserved for day-ahead collective transactions.
System studies: They must be carried out for various generation and load scenarios during peak and off-peak hours.
Creation of a central repository of generators: It should be created in the Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA). In this case any generation project developer proposing to set up a new generation plant must register itself.
For accurate demand forecasting: Hand-holding of states by CEA and CTU for accurate demand forecasting. States must procure software for short-term, medium-term and long-term demand forecasting.
16) Dharmendra Pradhan launches National Seismic Programme in Mahanadi Basin.

- Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the national seismic programme to carry out assessment of unappraised areas across the country for potential oil and natural gas reserves.
- The massive 2D seismic survey, which will cost the government more than Rs. 5,000 crore, has been launched on Mahanadi basin (onshore) in Odisha.
17) Govt developing 20 cancer institute across country: J.P. Nadda.

- 20 cancer institutes will be going to be developed by the union government, the Ministry is giving special emphasis to tertiary healthcare and developing 50 tertiary cancer centres.
- National cancer Institute will be established by spending 150 crores rupees and 40 to 45 crores will be spent on tertiary cancer care centres. The National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar in Haryana will be commissioned in July 2018.
18) India to become 2nd biggest steel manufacturer by year-end: Birender Singh.
- Union Steel Minister Birender Singh has announced India will become the second biggest steel manufacturer in the world by year-end.
- Currently, China is the largest steel manufacturing country followed by Japan and produces five times more steel than India.