India
ranked 117 in World Happiness Report 2015
India was placed at 117th position in
the recently released World Happiness Report 2015 among the 158 studied
nations. The report was published by the United Nations (UN) Sustainable
Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Key facts from report Top five countries:
Switzerland (1st), Iceland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Norway (4th) and Canada (5th).
Bottom five countries: Rwanda (154th), Benin (155th), Syria (156th), Burundi
(157th) and Togo (158th). Other countries: United States (15th), United Kingdom
(21th), Japan (46th) and China (84th). India is ranked below countries like
Pakistan (81st), Bangladesh (109th), Ukraine (111th) and Iraq (112th).
The
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has redefined priority sector loan norms
RBI has modulated PSL norms which
stipulate that banks operating in India must offer 40% of all loans to farmers,
small entrepreneurs and so-called weaker sections of society. The old norms had stipulated that 13.5% of
agriculture loans should be given to the farmers directly as crop loans and the
rest, 4.5%, could be indirect loans to the farm sector, to allied industries
such as food processing and fertilizer. Now, RBI has abolished the distinction
between direct and indirect loans. RBI has introduced a sub-target within the
18% share of agriculture. Banks must give 8% loans to small and marginal
farmers. Social infrastructure, such as school and healthcare facilities in
smaller towns, and renewable energy have been included in the basket of
priority loans.
Indian-American
Vivek Murthy takes over as US Surgeon-General
37-year-old Indian-American Vivek Murthy
was sworn-in as the US Surgeon General by Vice President Joe Biden at a
ceremony, becoming the youngest-ever in-charge of the country's public health.
Murthy, who took the oath on the Gita, is now the highest ranking
Indian-American in the US President Barack Obama Administration. He succeeded
Boris D. Lushniak who had served as Surgeon General from 2013 to December 2014.
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the U.S.
Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading
spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the
United States.
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