21 January 2016 Current Affairs
Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace named the world’s best hotel of 2016
“In the 14th edition of the travel site’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, the Umaid Bhawan Palace was named the best hotel of 2016, with a five out of five bubble rating among its 840 guests.Built over 15 years between 1928 and 1943 after its namesake, the Maharaja Umaid Singh, the palatial hotel is literally fit for an Indian king, as the sprawling property is the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family.The palace features 347 rooms.
Here are the top 10 hotels for 2016 according to TripAdvisor members:
1. Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur – Jodhpur, India
2. Shinta Mani Resort – Siem Reap, Cambodia
3. Bellevue Syrene – Sorrento, Italy
4. Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa – Hanoi, Vietnam
5. Achtis Hotel – Afitos, Greece
6. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Great Milton, United Kingdom
7. Mirihi Island Resort – Mirihi, Maldives
8. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts Aruba – Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba
9. Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa – Lance aux Epines, Grenada
10. Hotel Ritta Höppner – Gramado, Brazil”
Mawlynnong in Meghalaya is a cleanest village in Asia
“Mawlynnong, a tiny village in Meghalaya, has a toilet in every house. There are bamboo waste baskets on each road to ensure that there is no littering. Children as young as four learn at school to keep their surroundings clean. Cleanliness as a way of life came to Mawlynnong, a village of 503, long before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his Swachh Bharat or clean India campaign. The village cherishes the title of “”Asia’s cleanest village”” given to it by India Discovery Magazine. By 2007, the village had eradicated the practice of open defecation, with toilets built for each of its 91 households under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.”
Mrinalini Sarabhai passes away
Noted danseuse and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away on 21 January 2016 in Ahmedabad. She was 97.Trained in Bharatnatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattom, she was educated at Shantiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore. She was married to the architect of India’s space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai.Besides being a classical dancer, she was a poet, writer and environmentalist and played a leading role in the social and art scene in Ahmedabad. She was one of the first classical dancer to turn to choreography.She is survived by daughter Mallika and son Kartikey, founder of Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
Atulesh Jindal appointed new CBDT chief
On 21 January 2016,Senior revenue service officer Atulesh Jindal was appointed Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy making body of Income Tax department. He will succeed A K Jain, who completes his term this month-end. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Jindal as Chairman CBDT, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said without mentioning his tenure. Jindal, a 1978 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, is currently working as Member (Revenue) in the CBDT. His batchmate, Jain, was made acting Chairman of the board following superannuation of Anita Kapur on November 30. In December, he was appointed as CBDT chief.