REPORT/INDEX
On New Health Index, India Ranked 143/188
• A global study on a range of health indicators released today has ranked India 143rd among 188 countries, on September 23,2016.
• The first annual assessment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) health performance published in the Lancet and launched at a Special event at the UN General Assembly in New York (USA).
• India was placed just ahead of Pakistan and Bangladesh which were ranked 149th and 151st respectively. India’s poor performance on hygiene, air pollution mortality are among factors that place it lower than countries like Bhutan, Botswana, Syria and Sri Lanka.
India Ranked 112th in the World Economic Freedom Index
• India sliped by 10 positions and ranks 112th amongst 159 countries and territories included in the Economic Freedom of the World : 2016 Annual Report released worldwide today by Centre for Civil Society in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute on September 16, 2016.
• India lags behind Bhutan (78), Nepal (108) and Sri Lanka (111) but rises above China (113), Bangladesh (121) and Pakistan (133) Hong Kong again tops the index.
• Neighbouring countries—Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka ranked 78th, 108th and 111th respectively in the report gaining an edge over India. On the other hand, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan staggeringly lagged behind India positioned at 113th, 121st and 133th ranks respectively.
MEETING/SUMMIT
19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad
• Apart from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan, Sri Lanka have also pulled out of the SAARC Summit in’Islamabad in November, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which is not right for the successful holding of the meet, resulting in its collapse.
• There is no question of holding the summit if four countries declare their unwillingness to participate. As the current SAARC Chair, Nepal has the responsibility of seeking a solution to such pre-summit disputes but under the current circumstances nothing much can be attempted.
BRICS Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting Held
• The BRICS Labour and Employment Ministerial meeting took place in New Delhi on September 28, 2016. The deliberations included ‘Employment Generation’, ‘Social Security’, and ‘Inclusive Development including Formalisation’. BRICS Ministerial Declaration was adopted by the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers.
• The member countries agreed to pursue bi-lateral social security agreements amongst the BRICS member States.
• They also acknowledged the need to develop a network of lead labour research and training institutions in BRICS member States for undertaking joint research and training activities, capacity building of various stakeholders and exchange of information in areas of expertise.
12th Indo-US Economic Summit
• The I2th Indo-US Economic Summit commenced in New Delhi to enhance bilateral trade and investments between India and the USA on September 14, 2016.
• Indo-US Economic Summit will deliberate on augmenting the existing two-way trade to $ 500 billion and will focus on sectors that foster growth.
• The two-day summit began with panel discussions on the Media & Entertainment industry, Defence & Aerospace, and Smart Cities. Organised by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
