23 April 2016 Current Affairs
SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
Union government has notified the new rules on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989 was amended by Parliament in December 2015. The notified rules will ensure speedy justice to their members, it also mandates police to file charge sheet within 60 days after a complaint is lodged. These rules are notified by the Centre on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary towards achieving his vision of a more equal and just society. Monetary increase in the standing quantum of relief amount from between Rs. 75,000/- to Rs. 7, 50,000/-to between Rs. 85,000/- to Rs. 8, 25,000/- upon the nature of the offence, while linking it with the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers for the month of January, 2016.
India’s First Online Interactive Heritage Portal ‘Sahapedia’ Launched
The Union Government has launched India’s first online interactive heritage portal named ‘Sahapedia’ was on 23 April in New Delhi. The web portal is a collaborative knowledge resource on the arts, culture and heritage of India. Sahapedia is a not-for-profit society headed by former TCS chairman S. Ramadorai, who currently helms the National Skill Development Agency. The purpose of this portal is to inform, educate and act on subjects such as knowledge traditions, visual and material arts, performing arts, literature and languages. It also seeks to educated and spread knowledge about practices and rituals, histories, institutions, people, built spaces and natural environment.
Salman Khan Named as Indian Contingent’s Goodwill Ambassador For 2016 Rio Olympics
Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on 23 April named as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Olympics to be held in August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is the first time when a Bollywood superstar has been chosen as a goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent at the Olympics. He was chosen by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from a list of two to three candidates which also included Shah Rukh Khan and veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan.
World Book and Copyright Day Observed Across The World
The World Book and Copyright Day was celebrated on 23 April across the world. The day seeks to encourage everyone and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading. The day is also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days and is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing and copyright. Every year, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry – publishers, booksellers and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a one-year period, effective 23 April each year. This year the city of Wroclaw was chosen as the World Book Capital 2016 for its commitment to spread the message of the power of books to nurture creativity. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had created this day and was first observed in 1995. It is on this date in 1616 Miguel de Cervantes (greatest Spanish writer), William Shakespeare (greatest English writer and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist) and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all have died. It should be noted that 2016 marks the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as that of the birth or death of several other prominent authors.