2 January 2015 Current Affairs
R K Srivastava Takes Over as AAI Chief
R.K Srivastava 2 January took over as the new chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI) replacing Sudheer Raheja.The government had announced Srivastava’s appointment on December 19 for five years. Srivastava is a 1984-batch Jharkhand-cadre IAS officer.
Veteran Scientist Vasant Gowarikar Died
Space veteran and eminent scientist Vasant Gowarikar passed away in Pune on 2 January. Gowarikar, a protege of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, was part of the illustrious band of scientists who initiated India’s satellite research programme and included luminaries such as A. P. J. Kalam, E. V. Chitnis, Pramod Kale and U. R. Rao among others. He pioneered solid propelant development and later served as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) between 1979 and 1985. Gowarikar also served as scientific advisor to late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao between 1991 and 1993, was appointed as Vice-Chancellor, Pune University and was chairman of the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad between 1994 and 2000. Gowarikar, who was earlier honoured with the Padma Shri, was later awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
Petra Kvitova Named Right To Play Ambassador
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been chosen as a Global Athlete ambassador for Right To Play, an organization emphasizing on sports and play in order to educate and empower more than one million children around the world.