03 February 2016 Current Affairs
Balram Jakhar passed away
Former Lok Sabha Speaker and veteran Congress leader Balram Jakhar passed away on 3 February 2016 in New Delhi. He was 92. Jakhar served as Speaker of Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1989 during which he contributed to the establishment of Parliament Museum. He also served as Agriculture Minister in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. Jakhar also served as Governor of Madhya Pradesh from June 30, 2004 to May 30, 2009. Jakhar also served as Deputy Minister Cooperation, Irrigation and Power in Punjab between 1973-77 and then Leader of Opposition in the Assembly between 1977 and 1979. Jakhar was a four-time MP in Lok Sabha starting from his election in the seventh Lok Sabha in 1980. He was again elected in 1984, 1991 and 1998. In 1980, he became Lok Sabha Speaker and served till 1989 for two terms during which he was instrumental in automation and computerisation of the House works.He worked extensively for promotion of Parliament Library, smartening the reference, research and documentation system of the House and streamlining information for the members. Jakhar headed Business Advisory Committee, Rules Committee; General Purposes Committee; and Standing Committee of the Conference of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies in India.In the party, he became General Secretary All India Congress Committee in 1990 and from 1992 he was member, Congress Working Committee.
Major General Jai Shanker Menon appointed as UNDOF Head
Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India was appointed as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Maj Gen Menon succeeds Lt Gen Purna Chandra Thapa of Nepal, who will complete his assignment on 7 February 2016. Till now, Menon was Additional Director General Equipment Management in the Indian Army. From 2012 to 2013, he was General Officer, Commanding an Infantry Division. The UNDOF was established on May 31, 1974 by UN Security Council following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan. Menon held a number of command positions in the Indian Army, including Commandant of Regimental Training Centre, Brigade Commander and Battalion Commander. He also served at the international level, including in the United Nations as a Military Observer in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in 1993 and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from 2007 to 2009. He holds a Master of Management Studies degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad, a Master of Defence Studies degree from Madras University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jawahar Lal Nehru University.
Hamid Ansari concludes 3-day visit to Brunei, leaves for Thailand
“Vice President Hamid Ansari 3 February 2016 left for Thailand for the second leg of his two-nation visit after concluding his three-day trip to Brunei during which he held talks with the top leadership of the Brunei and oversaw signing of three agreements.
The three agreements with Brunei are:
The MoU on health seeks to upgrade the health care, medical education and research co-operation between the two countries. The MoU on defence will enable the two countries to conduct joint military exercises and improve co-operation between the defence industries of both nations. The MoU on youth and sports affairs seeks to facilitate the exchange of expertise in coaching, sports management and administration.
This is the first visit by an Indian Vice President to Thailand after a gap of 50 years. Ansari Thailand schedule is:
He will deliver a speech at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on ‘From Look East to Act East: India’s Partnership with Thailand and ASEAN’. He will have a one-to-one meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who will host a banquet in Ansari’s honour. Talks on enhancing counter-terrorism and defence co-operation are expected to be held.”
President Pranab confers honorary General rank on Nepalese Army Chief
President Pranab Mukherjee on 3 February 2016 conferred honorary ‘General of the Indian Army’ rank to Nepalese Army Chief General Rajendra Chettri who is on a six-day official visit to India. The honour was given for his military prowess and immeasurable contribution to fostering Nepal’s long and friendly association with India, at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Chettri began his visit to India on February 1. It is his first visit abroad after assuming the top Army post in September last year.Since 1965, both the armies have been conferring the honorary rank of General on each other’s army chiefs in view of the close military ties shared by the two neighbours.
Kerala won the 61st National School Athletics Championship
Kerala has won the 61st National School Athletics championship which concluded in Kozhikode on 2 February 2016. This is for the 19th consecutive time Kerala becomes the champions in the event. Tamil Nadu came second. Kerala, the host of the championship got 306 points winning 39 gold, 29 silver and 17 bronze medals. Tamil Nadu, who came second, got 116 points winning 11 gold, 8 silver and 13 bronze medals. Maharashtra with 101 points gained the third position. Kerala won 10 meet records out of 20 records which were reported in the meet.
SC appoints panel to sell PACL’s assets
Supreme Court has appointed a committee under former chief justice RM Lodha to sell assets of Pearls Agrotech Corporation Ltd (PACL) and refund 49 thousand crore rupees to the investors. A bench headed by justice Anil Dave also said that the title deeds of various lands belonging to PACL should be handed over by the CBI to the SEBI. SEBI will accordingly take appropriate steps to ensure their sale. It also directed the PACL not to accept any deposit from the public and restrained any court from interfering with sale proceedings. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 2, 2016.