IRDAI removes age bar for buying health insurance
The Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India ( IRDAI ) has removed the age limit for purchasing health
insurance policies with effect from April 1. Earlier , there was an age limit
of 64 years to buy new health insurance policies .
The latest IRDAI directive say :
- Health
providers must develop specialized policies catering to the senior
citizens , and establish dedicated
channels for addressing their claims and grievances .
- Companies
are encouraged to develop tailored products to meet specific age related
requirements .
The directive adds that the move will enhance
the accessibility and affordability of healthcare coverage across all age
groups .
EC orders re polling in 11 Manipur booths tomorrow
The Election Commission has declared void of
polling conducted at 11 booths , across
five assembly segments in Manipur on
Friday .
The violence was marred by officer
reporting mob violence , gunfire and
destroyed EVMs at some booths .
The ECI has announced that a repoll will be
conducted ,at these , booths between 7 AM and 5 P.M. on April 22 .
India in favor of regulating , not banning single use
plastics
Next week 192 countries will meet in Toronto ,
Canada to look into elimination efforts of
removing plastics .
There are 17 topics countries will be
deliberating upon , one of the topics is “ problematic and avoidable plastic
products including single use plastics “
The aim of
negotiating countries is to implement global and national measures ,
such as removing these products from the market , reducing production and
bringing sustainable alternatives .
Science and Environment ( CSE ) a non profit
organization said that India had opted for “ regulating “ rather than banning
single use plastics .
In 2022 India brought laws that had banned 19
categories of “ single use plastics ‘ .
which refers to section of plastics that is
largely going
India is in favor of “ regulating “ and not
eliminating single use plastics pollution .
It was held in a Public Negotiation position .
In 2022 , India brought a law that banned 19
categories of ‘ single use plastics ‘ .
SC to consider the uniform norms of Advocates body
The
Supreme Court has decided to consider framing uniform guidelines for advocates
association across the country . This is in a bid to make their admission
regulation uniform and democratic .
Indian Navy conducts mega exercise along east coast
The Indian Navy on Saturday said that it
carried out an extensive exercise operation ‘ poorvi Leher ‘ on East Coast .
FAQ
What
are the new Green Credit Programme rules
?
On April 12 , the Environment ministry
released issued new guidelines for its Green Credit Programme ( GCP ) .
The new guidelines says that it will
prioritize the restoration of ecosystem
over mere planting of trees .
What is
the Green Credit Programme ?
The Green Credit Programme is a “ innovative ,
market based mechanism “ to incentivise , “ voluntary action “ for environment
conservation . The programmes comes under mission Life . The programme has
following features :
●
Under this individuals
,Organisation and companies – Public and
Private would be encouraged to invest in sectors ranging from afforestation ,
water. conservation , stemmig waste management , mangrove conservation and in return be eligible to get ‘ green
credit ‘ .
The green credit will be traded .
●
A new Autonomous body under
ministry of finance has been created . The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (
ICFRE ) , is in charge of administering the programme . They will define
methodology to calculate ‘ green credit ‘ . They will also manage a trading
platform , whereby such credits could be traded .
In
february Ministry had issued guidelines , Ot said that Companies z
Organizations will be allowed to pay for afforestation project in degraded
forest and wasteland.
Controversy
surrounding GCP
●
GCP allows companies to “ exchange
_ credits for complying with “compensatory afforestation” . This could lead to diversion of forest land
to mining and infrastructure companies.
●
Planting trees does not
necessarily boost ecosystem . Wrong type of tees can act as an invasive species
and harm the ecosystem.
Progress
under the Scheme
13 states have offered 387 land parcels of
degraded forest land , worth 10 , 699 hevrates .
Those who are successful in fulfilling the
criteria will be given an estimated of the cost involved in afforestation .
Why are
sugary processed food harmful ?
The
story so far :
The
spotlight has returned on high sugar content in malt based milk powedrs and
baby food .
Govt has warned against branding these items as “ healthy “ .
FSSAI
stand on Sugar Content
FSSAI said that only if total sugar is less
than 5 grams per 100 grams in a product
it can claim to be a ‘low on sugar ‘ . Such type of food items can potentially
be ‘ healthy’ .But when the product does not fulfill this criteria and still
advertise as “ health drinks “ , then it’s problematic.
Controversy
over baby food
Nestle under brand name Cerelac has 24 gram
sugar per 100 grams.
Extra sugar can lead to further problems in
babies .It will create unnecessary pressure on babies ‘ pancreas .
It can lead to obesity and Diabetes in later
stage of their life .
World
One killed in blast at Iraqi base housing project Iran
group
One person was killed and eight wounded in an
overnight explosion in Iraqi military base housing a coalition of pro Iranian
armed groups , officials said on Saturday .
The full details remain unclear hours after
the blast hit the Kalsu military base in
Babylon province in South Baghdad , where the Iraqi forces are stationed .
US in a statement said thats it’s forces were
not behind the attack . While , Israel refrained to comment .
First major political test for Muizzu is Maldives votes
in Parliament polls
On Sunday , Maldives will hold Parliamentary elections for 93
constituencies across the island nation
.
Over 2 lakh and 84 thousand voters will vote
across 602 polling stations .
This will be the first major political test
for Mohammad Muizzue who will determine
the control of parliament or Parliament or people’s Majlis .
AUKUS risks nuclear proliferation in Pacific , says
China’s Wang Yi in Papua New Guinea
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is on a visit to Papua and New Guinea .
Here after meeting with his counterpart Mr.
Wang accused AUkUS of risking nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific .
The three way AUKUS runs parallel to a South
Pacific treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region ..AUKUS also “ raises
serious Nuclear proliferation risks “ , the Chinese Foreign Minister told
reporters .
Under the AUKUS agreement , Australia will be
provided with nuclear submarines by US and UK .
South
Pacific Islands – Most of these islands are facing
poverty , they are rich in minerals resources though .
China has made the relation with these island
better in recent times .
Papua New Guinea and Solomon’s island are the islands where China is investing.
Erdogan calls for Palestinian unity after his meeting
with Hamas Chief
Turkish President Erdogan urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel”a war in
Gaza after an hour long meeting with
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh .
Erdogan is one of the fierce supporters of
Hamas .
Ukraine and Russia trade strikes as US fears up for key
vote
Ukrainian sources said that Ukriane launched large scale drone attack on eight
Russian regions overnight . This was aimed mostly at “ energy infrastructure
that feeds Russia’s military Industrial complex “ .
Russia defense minister said that it
intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones .
This comes amidst the ,
US lawmakers is prepared to vote on a 61
billion dollar aid package to Ukraine . It has been passed by Ukraine .
Ukraine and Russia both accused each other of
deadly strikes on civilians
