22 February 2016 Current Affairs
‘Swachh Paryatan Mobile App’ Launched
“Swachh Parayatan Mobile App” was launched by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, the Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism & Culture and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on 22 February 2016 under the ‘Clean India – Clean Monuments’. This project is being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India through DeGS and NIC. This Mobile App is available on Google Search Engine as ‘Swachh Paryatan’ and initially it is available on Android Phones and very soon it will be available on Apple and Microsoft also. This mobile app shall be monitored by the Project Monitoring Unit of Swachh Bharat Mission in Ministry of Tourism.This mobile app enables a citizen to take photograph of garbage at the monument and upload the same along with his/her remarks. The application then sends an SMS to the ASI Nodal Officer concerned with the monument upon receipt of which the Nodal Officer gets the garbage cleared/removed.
Mahamaham festival was held in kumbakonam
The nine-day Mahamaham festival, known as the ‘Kumbh Mela of the south’, concluded in Tamil Nadu’s Kumbakonam on 22 February 2016, with conduct of the most important event ‘theerthavari’, witnessed by lakhs of people.The theerthavari event is considered the most sacred to take a holy dip in the Mahamaham tank. Since February 13, more than 25 lakh people have taken a holy dip as part of the festival, which falls once in 12 years.
Nicole Kidman won best actress prize at WhatsOnStage awards
“Nicole Kidman has won best actress in a play honours at London’s WhatsOnStage Awards for her depiction of a real-life scientific heroine in “Photograph 51”. Kidman played Rosalind Franklin, one of the team that discovered the double helix structure of DNA, in Anne Ziegler’s drama, which also was named best new play.Benedict Cumberbatch was named best actor in a play for “Hamlet,” which was also named best revival. Judi Dench was named best supporting actress for “The Winter’s Tale.” Musical performance prizes went to Imelda Staunton for “Gypsy” and Matt Henry for “Kinky Boots”.The awards are sponsored by website whatsonstage.com and decided by public vote.”
Four Bengali sweets to get GI tag
The West Bengal government is planning to get Geographical Identification (GI) tag for four traditional sweetmeat delicacies of the State to help protect them from imitations.The four sweetmeats are ‘Moa’ of Jainagar, ‘Sarpuria’ of Krishnagar, and ‘Sitabhog’ and ‘Mihidana’ of Burdwan, said Jayanta Kumar Aikat, Director of Food Processing Industries.A GI tag is given to products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Justice Vineet Saran appointed as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
President Pranab Mukherjee appointed Justice Vineet Saran as the Chief Justice of Orissa (Odisha) High Court on 22 February 2016. He will take oath on 26 February 2016.Prior to this appointment, Justice Saran was working as a senior judge of Karnataka High Court. The post of Orissa (Odisha) Chief Justice was vacant since 15 February 2016 as Justice D H Waghela was transferred be the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.
Empowered Group of State Transport Ministers formed to suggest measures on transport sector
“Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 22 February 2016 formed an Empowered Group of State Transport Ministers. An announcement in this regard was made at the 16th Meeting of National Road Safety Council by the Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.The group, chaired by the Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan, will suggest measures to boost the transport sector, improve the public transport system and minimise road accidents in the country. The formation of the group is in tune with the Union Government’s concerted action plan to reduce road accidents by half by 2019.”