31 December 2012 Current Affairs
Dr Muthunayagam, V K Saraswat win Aryabhatta Awards
Dr A E Muthunayagam, former Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of Indian Space Research Organisation and Union Department of Ocean Development Secretary was selected for prestigious Aryabhatta Award for the year 2010. Chief Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat was chosen for the award for the year 2011.ASI awards for Rocket and Related Technologies was awarded to G Satheesh Reddy, Research Centre Imarat, DRDO (2010) and P Kunhikrishnan, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) (2011), The awards under Spacecraft and Related Technologies was bagged by P Chakraborty, Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems(LEOS), ISRO (2010) and Yateendra Mehta, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), ISRO (2011). Dr Y V N Krishnamurthy, National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO and Prof N M Ashok, Physical Research Laboratory, ISRO have bagged the awards under the category of Space Sciences and Applications for the years 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Scientist Venkatesh Mannar honoured with Order of Canada Award
Venkatesh Mannar a Channai-born Scientist of Indian Origin and President, Micronutrient Initiative, Canada was awarded with Canada’s Highest Civilian Award – the Order of Canada in the last week of December 2012. He was honoured with the award for his forty years long contribution working towards reduction of debilitating micronutrient deficiencies among the worlds most vulnerable.
McGrath inducted into Hall of Fame
The ICC announced on 30 December 2012 that McGrath, who took more Test wickets (563) than any other fast bowler and holds the record for most wickets in World Cups (71), will be inducted as the 68th male player in the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Jobs up by 7.8%, wages by 18.1% in FY11(2010-2011)
According to government survey the number of jobs in industries increased by 7.8 per cent while wages rose by 18.1 per cent in real terms in 2010-11.Total persons engaged in different industries were 1.27 crore in 2010-11 compared to 1.17 crore in 2009-10.
Cyrus Mistry took charge as Tata Group Chairman
Cyrus Mistry, the new chairman of the Tata Group, took charge of his office on 31 December.Mistry is the sixth chairman of the Tata empire.