22 August 2017 Current Affairs
Karnataka Govt launches clouding seeding Project Varshadhari
Karnataka Government has launched clouding seeding Project Varshadhari in Bengaluru under which an aircraft will spray chemicals to induce rainfall. The cloud seeding project is an experimental project that will cover Bengaluru, Gadag and Yadgir districts of the state. The experimental project aims to condense small water particles by clouds (size less than 10 microns) to droplets of 50 microns, which can constitute rains. The flight for cloud seeding – BQ-100 Beechcraft will spray Silver Iodide, Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride to condense the water particles.
O Pannerselvam sworn in as Dy CM of Tamil Nadu
O Pannerselvam was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu, following the much speculated merger of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) factions. He was administered oath by Governor Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, Edappadi Palaniswamy will continue to stay on as the Chief Minister of the state. Pannerselvam is tasked to look after Finance of the State besides Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and CMDA.
Scientists discover new therapy to prevent sepsis in new born babies
A team of scientists from US have discovered an inexpensive prevention technique (therapy) against sepsis in new born babies. The team was led by US-based Indian doctor Dr Pinaki Panigrahi. The therapy has been found to reduce the risk of sepsis infection by 40% in trials and it can be inexpensive –less than one dollar for a course. Each year globally, more than 600,000 infants die of sepsis most of them in developing countries. In India, more than a quarter of neonatal deaths are due to sepsis. In a significant number of these cases, the infection probably begins in the gut.
Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat Programme launched
The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) launched ‘Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat’ Programme. It was launched by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar in Kochi, Kerala The programme is an initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to prepare a physical Health and Fitness Profile Card for more than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students. The programme aims to provide a comprehensive and inclusive report card for children covering all age groups and children of different abilities. Its main objective is to make students, teachers and parents aware about the importance of good health and fitness and encouraging 60 minutes of play each day.
Supreme Court strikes Triple Talaq by 3:2 majority
With its trial to give an end to the issue of the Triple Talaq in Muslim community, the five judges of five faith of the Supreme Court of India in its judgement struck down the validity of triple talaq by a majority of 3:2. The court in its verdict also said that the practice of instant triple talaq was violative of Article 14 and Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The bench said that the practice violates the fundamental right of Muslim women as it irrevocably ends the marriage without any chance of reconciliation.
FDI jumps 37% to $10.4 billion during April-June 2017
Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country grew by 37 percent to USD 10.4 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal. According to the figures of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), India had received USD 7.59 billion FDI during April-June 2016-17. The main sectors which attracted the highest foreign inflows include services, telecom, trading, computer hardware and software and automobile. The bulk of the FDI came in from Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and Japan.
Police verification for passport to go online within a year
Soon passport applicants will be free of the tiresome procedure of physical police verification, as the Union Government is planning to connect the procedure with the national database of crimes and criminals, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). The CCTNS is expected to be linked with the passport service of the External Affairs Ministry and it will replace physical police verification for passport applicants with online verification within a year.
Android Oreo released by Google
Keeping up its tradition of naming its Android upgrades with delectable desserts, Google has launched its version 8.0 of the operating system as Android Oreo. The Oreo boasts of a two times faster boot speed, autofill option, and a longer battery life. The new update comes with a Picture-in-Picture feature that allows the user to see two apps simultaneously.
National Sports Awards 2017 announced
The Union Sports Ministry announced the National Sports Award for the year 2017. Th conferment of National Sports Award on 29 sportsperson was made on the recommendations of the Selection Committees set up for the same. Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award an Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice C. K. Thakkar (Former Judge Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of High Court of Himachal and Bombay). Selection Committee for Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Awards was headed by Pullela Gopichand.
Winners are:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2017: Instituted in the year 1991-92, it is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four year. The first recipient was Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. The winners will receive a statuettes, certificate and cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh. The winners are:
- Para Athlete Devendra Singh Jhajharia
- Hockey Player Sardar Singh
Dronacharya Awards 2017: Instituted in the year 1985, it is given to coaches for producing medal winners at presigious International sports events. The winners will receive a statuettes, certificate and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The winners are:
- Athlete Late Dr. R. Gandhi
- Kabaddi Player Heera Nand Kataria
- Badminton Player G.S.S.V. Prasad (Lifetime)
- Boxing Player Brij Bhushan Mohanty (Lifetime)
- Hockey Player P.A. Raphel (Lifetime)
- Shooter Sanjoy Chakraverthy (Lifetime)
- Wrestler Roshan Lal (Lifetime)
Arjuna Awards 2017: Instituted in the year 1961, it is given for consistency outstanding performance for four years. The winners will receive a statuettes, certificate and cash prize of Rs. 5 Lakh. The winners are:
- Archer V.J. Surekha
- Athlete Khushbir Kaur
- Basketball Player Prasanthi Singh
- Boxer Sub. Laishram Debendro Singh
- Cricketer Harmantpreet Kaur
- Footballer Oinam Bembem Devi
- Golfer S.S.P. Chawrasia
- Hockey Player S.V. Sunil
- Kabaddi Player Jasvir Singh
- Shooter P.N. Prakash
- Table Tennis Player Amalraj
- Tennis Player Saketh Myneni
- Wrestler Satyawart Kadian
- Para Athlete Mariyappan
- Para Athlete Varun Singh Bhati
Dhyanchand Award 2017: Instituted in the year 2002, it is given for life time contribution to sports development. The winners will receive a statuettes, certificate and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh. The winners are:
- Athlete Bhupendra Singh
- Football Player Syed Shahid Hakim
- Hockey Player Sumarai Tete
The award distributing ceremony will held on August 29, 2017 where the achievers will be awarded for their outstanding performance by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
ISA extends India’s exclusive rights to explore Polymetallic Nodules
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) in its 23rd session recently held at Kingston, Jamaica has extended India’s exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules from seabed in Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). These rights extend over 75000 sq. km of area in international waters allocated by ISA for developmental activities for polymetallic nodules. The estimated polymetallic nodule resource potential of this area is around 380 million tonnes, containing nickel (4.7 million tonnes), copper (4.29 million tonnes), cobalt (0.55 million tonnes) and manganese (92.59 million tonnes).
ICMR, Health Ministry ink MoU with IVI for vaccine R&D
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Ministry of Health inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to collaborate on vaccine research and development. The signing of the MoU is a continuation of India’s partnership with IVI to provide safe, effective and affordable vaccines for people around the world. With this partnership, India is committing an annual contribution of US $5,00,000 to IVI.
17th meeting of FSDC Held in New Delhi
The seventeenth Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance, Shri Arun Jaitley. A brief report on the activities undertaken by the FSDC Sub-Committee Chaired by Governor, RBI was placed before the FSDC. The Council discussed the Central KYC Registry (CKYCR) system. The Council also deliberated on strengthening the regulation of the Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs).