GK & INFORMATION: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

Today CA : 30/01/2015 (शाहिद दिन)

1. Gujarat government launches Taluka Planning Atlas project
Gujarat government has launched Taluka Planning Atlas (TPA) project.

It was launched by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel at a function held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Taluka Planning Atlas (TPA) project:

This project has been undertaken by the state planning department with the help of director of Economics and Statistics, Gujarat and Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG).

TPA aims to help the local administration in taking effective decisions about the development in respective regions.

In this regard, TPA will provide the maps that will give precise information about the current status of various facilities and schemes.

Under this project, an atlas of 100 maps will be compiled to showcase various facilities as well as government schemes at village level in each taluka.

It will include precise information about facilities such as number of primary and secondary schools, health centres, dairies, cold storages, post offices, banks, etc.

It will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, atlas for one taluka each in 33 districts will be prepared and put on state government portal Gswan.

This atlas has used the information consisting of village profile provided by every village in state as well as taluka panchayat based on various indicators of development since 2010.

2. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe appointed as Chairman of African UnionZimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has been appointed as Chairman of African Union (AU).

He will be 13th Chairman of African Union (AU) and succeed Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz for a one-year term. The position of chairman of the AU is a rotating one on yearly basis and largely ceremonial.

Robert Mugabe: He has ruled Zimbabwe since independence. He is Zimbabwe’s longest serving President and had assumed office in December 1987. Currently, he is also chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community.

African Union (AU)

It is the successor of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and came into existence in 2002 at Durban summit in South Africa.

Headquarters: It is located at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Motto: A United and Strong Africa.

Objective: As pan-African organization, AU aims at promoting unity and cooperation among African nations. It also strives to spread democracy and good governance in the continent.

Members: At present the African Union has a total of 54 members. Morocco is the only African country which is not the part of the Union.

3. IIT Bombay launches Mass Open Online Courses (MOOC)
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has launchedMass Open Online Courses (MOOC) in three subjects, computer programming, thermodynamics, and signals and systems.

It aims to provide mass online education programme that will provide free online courses by giving access to high quality, IIT-style education to Indian students in Indian language.

Key features of Mass Open Online Courses (MOOC)

It is launched as part of institute’s IITBombayX platform developed in collaboration with edX, a not-for-profit initiative by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.

It will provide 16-week Computer Programming course in two parts aimed at computer programming students.

The course on Thermodynamics is designed for mechanical engineering students and will last 12 weeks.

Signals and Systems will be a 16-week course in two parts designed for electrical engineering students.

The students will get an honour certificate of achievement certifying successful completion of the course after they have qualified in the tests.

It will also offer training workshops for invited teachers on effective teaching for each of these three subjects under the Train 10,000 Teachers or T10KT programme of the institute.

4. India tops Credit Suisse emerging consumer scorecard 2015
India has topped in the list of Credit Suisse emerging consumer scorecard 2015, among the 9 emerging economies.

This scorecard was prepared by fifth annual Emerging Consumer Survey by the Credit Suisse Research Institute.

Key facts

The survey had interviewed consumers across nine emerging economies including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.

Ranking of other countries: Brazil (2nd), Indonesia (3rd), Saudi Arabia (4th), China (5th), Turkey (6th), Mexico (7th), Russia (8th) and South Africa (9th).

This survey had profiled the consumer sentiment and its drivers across the emerging world. Thus, providing insights regarding consumer sentiment and future consumption patterns in emerging economies.

As per the survey, the formation of a strong government at the centre in India had triggered a major revival of consumer sentiment in 2014.

It also mentioned that, e-commerce share in India have increased to 32 per cent from 20 per cent in 2013.

In 2014 survey, India was placed at fourth position.

5. Zomato buys Turkey’s restaurant search company Mekanist
India’s online restaurant search and discovery service provider Zomato has announced the acquisition of Turkey’s restaurant search company Mekanist.

With this acquisition, Zomato has increased its coverage from about 27,500 restaurants in Istanbul and Ankara to more than 50,000 restaurants across Turkey.

Now, Mekanist’s traffic and restaurant-related content will be shifted to Zomato. While, Turkish restaurants now will be able to make use of Zomato’s hyperlocal advertising model to reach out to target customers.

Over the past year, Zomato has acquired five restaurant search players in New Zealand, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy.

Earlier in January 2015, it had taken over Urbanspoon for about $52 million, which enabled Zomato to enter US and Australian markets.

About Zomato

It was founded in 2008. Since, then it has expanded to global market on its own. At present it has its presence in India and 21 other countries.

Zomato’s founder is Deepinder Goyal and he is current CEO. Its Headquarter is in New Delhi.

6. World Bank Report on Himachal Pradesh released
The World Bank has released report Scaling the Heights: Social inclusion and sustainable development on Himachal Pradesh.

It was released by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil in Shimla.

This was first of its kind report prepared by the World Bank for Himachal Pradesh. The report reveals that state has effectively balanced economic growth with social inclusion.

Some facts from report

Himachal Pradesh has emerged as one of the states with the best human development outcomes in the country.

The performance in poverty reduction, education, women employment and health sectors was much better as compared to other states in India.

The state had also taken lead in implementation of various national programmes and had given special emphasis on infrastructural development.

The state had prepared a plan to mitigate the natural disasters which had been well appreciated by the government of India.

But female child sex ratio, under-nutrition in children and an ageing population still remain issues of concern in the state.

7. GNLF founder Subhash Ghisingh passes awayGorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) founder Subhash Ghisingh has passed away in New Delhi. He was 78.

He had spearheaded the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s for a separate state for ethnic Gorkha people living in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

Subhash Ghisingh

He was born on 22 June 1936 at Manju Tea Estate in Darjeeling, West Bengal.

In 1954, he had joined the Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army as a soldier but quit in 1960.

In 1968, he formed a political organisation called Nilo Jhanda to protect rights of the ethnic Gorkhas. Later, in April 1979, he raised the demand for a separate state for the Nepali-speaking people of the Darjeeling hills.

In 1980, he had founded GNLF and led the movement, which disrupted the Darjeeling district with massive violence between 1986 and 1988.

Later in 1988, this issue was resolved and resulted in setting up of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, a semi-autonomous body.

He was first chairman of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council after winning the first council elections and was its chairman from 1988 to 2008.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Today CA : 29/01/2015

1. SC directs search engines to block sex determination advertisements
Supreme Court (SC) has directed search engines like Google India, Yahoo and Micrsoft’s Bing to block advertisements on sex determination and strictly comply with the laws.

This ruling was given by SC bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant on public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr. Sabu Mathew George in 2008.

PIL had highlighted that the use of Internet and popular search engines to promote sex determination technologies violates laws.

SC directions to search engines:

Withdraw advertisements on sex determination as it violates Section 22 of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act,1994.

Search engines must upload this order on their policy page and also the page containing terms and conditions of service to serve as a warning for persons intending to put up such advertisements.

Background:

Though sex determination is illegal India, it is still practiced which has a severe effects on male-female ratio.

As per UN data, India’s child sex ratio has dropped from 964 in 1971 to a low of 918 in 2011.

While between 2001 and 2011, child sex ratio has declined in more than two-thirds of the districts in the country and this problem is worse in urban areas.

2. Nation pays tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai on his 150th birth anniversaryOn 28 January 2015, nation paid tributes to national martyr of freedom movement, Lala Lajpat Rai on his 150th birth anniversary.

Events marking this day: Various seminars and symposia were organised at many places in Punjab to remember Lala Lajpat Rai. Special programme and sports meet was organised in his ancestral village Dhudi ke of Moga district where thousands of people paid their tributes to national martyr at the memorial. While, intellectual’s apprised young generation about Lala and his sacrifice for the nation.

About Lala Lajpat Rai:

He was born on 28 January 1865 in Dhudike (now Moga district) of Punjab.

He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari meaning The Lion of Punjab also known asSher-E- Punjab in Punjabi for his contribution to the freedom movement.

He was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio i.e. assertive nationalists Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal from 1905 to 1918. Lal Bal Pal trio had advocated the Swadeshi movement involving the boycott of all imported items and the use of Indian-made goods in 1907 during the anti-Partition agitation in Bengal which began in 1905.

He was lawyer by profession and had practiced his legal profession for few years but later curtailed it to focus on all his efforts to the freedom struggle.

He was also associated with the foundation of Punjab National Bank in 1895 and laterLakshmi Insurance Company.

He also had helped to establish the nationalistic Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School and became a follower of Dayanand Saraswati (founder of the Arya Samaj).

In 1888 and 1889 he was a delegate to the annual sessions of Indian National Congress (INC) and was elected as its President in the Calcutta Special Session of 1920.

In 1921, he had founded Servants of the People Society, a non-profit welfare organisation, in Lahore, which shifted based to Delhi after partition, and has branches in many parts of India.

His books: As an author he had written many books which includes The Story of My Deportation (1908), Arya Samaj (1915), The United States of America: A Hindu’s Impression (1916), Unhappy India (1928) etc.

Death: He died on 17 November 1928 after sustaining serious injuries in lathi charge carried by the police when he leading a non-violent protest against the Simon Commission.

3. Union Government to sell up to 10% stake in Coal India Limited (CIL)
Union government has announced to sell up to 10 per cent stake in state owned Coal India Limited (CIL) on 30 January 2015.

This decision was cleared by high-powered ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

It will help the government to raise revenue of 24,000 crore rupees at the current market price and meet the fiscal deficit.

Government is planning to divest 5 per cent stake in the company via share sale and the remaining 5 per cent through the green-shoe option.

Currently, the government holds 89.65 per cent stake in CIL. As per the minimum shareholding norms for listed companies, the government needs to lower its stake to 75 percent.

Coal India Limited (CIL):

It is a state-controlled coal mining company, headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.

It is the largest coal producer company in the world and contributes around 81% of the coal production in India.

Union Government of India owns 90% of the shares in CIL and controls the operations of CIL through Ministry of Coal.

In April 2011, CIL was conferred the Maharatna status by Government of India. It is India’s 5th most valuable company in terms of market value.

4. Packaging of foodgrains & sugar in jute material mandatory: CCEAThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has made packaging of foodgrains & sugar in jute material mandatory for jute year 2014-15.

In this regard CCEA mentioned that packaging with jute material will be mandatory for minimum 90 per cent of production in case of food grains and 20 per cent in case of sugar production.

With this decision, government is seeking to help the jute sector which generates a lot of livelihoods for farmers and workers.

CCEA also has approved providing financial support to the Jute Corporation of India (JCI). In this regard, government will provide subsidy to JCI on a continuous basis to off-set the losses on account of Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations.

The quantum of subsidy will include the difference between the Purchase and Sale Price of MSP Raw Jute.

5. India to host ICC World Twenty20 in 2016
India is going to host International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 in 2016.

It was announced by ICC Board meeting chaired by Chairman N. Srinivasan held in Dubai. ICC Board meeting also scheduled the ICC events during the period 2015-2019.

Following schedule was announced:

India will host the World Twenty20 from 11 March to 3 April 2016. While, Ireland and Scotland will host the qualifiers between 6-26 July, 2015.

England will host three ICC events in the next four-year period.

In 2017, England will host two events- the Champions Trophy from 1 to 19 June and Women’s World Cup from 4 to 27 August and 2019 ICC World Cup from 30 May to 15 July 2019.

2018 Women’s World Twenty20 will be organised in the West Indies between November 2 and 25.

6. Eminent singer Shekhar Sen appointed as Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi
Eminent singer, composer, lyricist and actor Shekhar Senhas been appointed as the chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA).

His appointment was announced by Union Ministry of Culture and will have term five years with immediate effect.

This post was vacant since September 2014, after then Chairman Leela Samson had resigned.

About Shekhar Sen

Since 1983, as a singer, lyricist and composer, he has done many research oriented musical programmes including Dushyant Ne Kaha Tha, Madhya Yugeen Kaavya, Pakistan Ka Hindi Kavya, Meera Se Mahadevi Tak.

He also has rendered many significant bhajan albums.

He is famous for his mono act musical plays Tulsi, Kabeer, Vivekananda, Sanmanti, Saahab and Soordas.

His performances have been acclaimed in India and abroad where he has performed.

Awards: He has received prestigious awards including the Padma Shri (2015), Safdar Hashmi Puraskaar (2001) by Sangeet Natak Academy of Uttar Pradesh, Shantaram Samman (2008) by Rajya Hindi Sahitya Academy of Maharashtra.

7. US tech giant Apple reports largest quarterly profit in history

US technology giant Apple, has reported the biggest quarterly profit of 18 billion US dollar.

It is the biggest quarterly profit ever made by any public company in World and broke the previous record of ExxonMobil which had earlier topped by making $15.9 billion profit in 2012.

Apple’s revenue had grown to $74.6 billion in 2014 from $57.6 billion in 2013 i.e. reporting 30% increase in profit.

The main reason for Apple’s profit is record sale of iPhones. The company has sold 74.5 million iPhones in quarter ending December 2014 with 39.9% profit per product.

Apple’s impressive profit comes after it shifted towards the massive untapped potential of Chinese market and partnering with China Mobile Limited the largest global mobile carrier.

Company sales in China had hit $16 billion in 2014- a 70% increase from 2013 and almost equalling the $17 billion in sales the company recorded in Europe 2013.

8. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar appointed as new Foreign Secretary
Union Government has appointed Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as the new Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs (i.e. Foreign Secretary).

His name was cleared by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He will be replacing incumbent Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh whose tenure was curtailed with immediate effect. She had assumed office in August 2013 and was due to retire in August 2015.

About Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

He was born 9 January 1955 and is son of Indian foreign policy doyen K Subhramanyam.

He is Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1977 batch and was one of the key officials who negotiated in the India’s nuclear deal with the US in 2009.

Before this appointment, he was India’s Ambassador to United States and was appointed in September 2013.

Previously he had served as India’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 2009 to 2013. High Commissioner to Singapore from 2007 to 2009 and Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2001 to 2004.

9. Maharashtra government issues Letter of Intent to buy B R Ambedkar’s London house

Maharashtra government has issued Letter of Intent (LoI) to buy Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s London house to the Indian High Commission in United Kingdom(UK).

This is the house where architect of the Indian Constitution Ambedkar had lived in 1920 during his stint with the London School of Economics.

State government is buying this 2050 square feet three-storey house on 10, King Henry Road, NW3 of London and has finalised at a sum of 35 crore rupees.

This house is of cultural and national importance and pride of millions of people of India as Dr. Ambedkar had stayed in it when he was completing higher studies at the London School of Economics in 1920-21.

State government after buying the house will convert it into a memorial-cum-museum and open it to public from 14 April, 2015 i.e. on the 124 birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian constitution.

10. Sri Lanka’s new government reinstates impeached chief justice Shirani BhandaranayakeSri Lanka’s new government led by President Maithiripala Sirisena has reinstated former Chief Justice Shirani Bhandaranayake to her former position.

She was impeached by the previous government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

With this move, country’s new government is attempting to deliver on election promises assuring independence of the judiciary.
Shirani Bhandaranayake was 43rd and first woman Chief Justice of Sri Lanka appointed in May 2011.

In 2013, she was unceremoniously removed from this post after she was impeached in late 2012.

Earlier in January 2015, Sri Lanka’s new government had reinstated the rank of former army Chief General Sarath Fonseka, who was stripped of all ranks and sentenced to jail by Rajapaksa.

General Sarath Fonseka was Sri Lanka’s only four-star general who had led the Army to defeat the Tamil Tigers in 2009. In 2010, he had fallen out with Rajapaksa and challenged him in the election of 2010. Thereafter Fonseka was arrested, court martialled and jailed for corruption.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Today CA : 28/01/2015

1. Gujarat Technological University launches e-Raksha centre to fight cybercrime

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has launched e-Raksha Research Centre to curb rising menace of cybercrimes.

This research Center will provide solution for issues related to cyber security by encouraging research and enhance capability in this field.

Key facts e-Raksha Research Centre:

This centre is established by GTU in collaboration with Cyber Peace Foundation (CPF).

Its goal is to establish a peaceful and harmonious cyber space through research in this area.

Various activities like research on latest techniques of cybercrime and capacity building on this issue to the faculties, students and government officers will be undertaken by this centre.

It will also support Union government’s Make in India campaign by manufacturing routers, switches, firewalls, UTMs (Unified Threat Management) and other network appliances.

This centre will also train students in areas of cyber security and enhance their capability to provide solution for issues related to it.

It will support government in protecting critical infrastructure and mission critical services including research on malwares such as botnet by setting up malware analysis test bed.

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) : It is headed by the state government and came into existence on the 16th of May, 2007.

2.Ancient star with five Earth size planets discovered by astronomers

Astronomers have discovered a star that is 11.2 billion years old and has at least five Earth-size planets.

It was discovered by team of astronomer’s after analyzing data from NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft for over four years.

Key findings:

This star is named as Kepler-444. It is 25 percent smaller than our Sun and is 117 light years from Earth.

It belongs to the first generation of stars and considered as part of one of the oldest systems in the galaxy.

This star has five known planets which have sizes that fall between Mercury and Venus.

These 5 planets are so close to their star that they complete their orbits in fewer than 10 days.

This discovery is going to help astronomers learn more about the history of our solar system- Milky Way.

3. India challenges WTO panel’s ruling in US poultry case to DSB
India has challenged a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel’s ruling that challenges country’s ban on United States (US) poultry product imports.

In this regard, India has appealed to the Dispute Settlement Board (DSB) of the WTO.

Background:

In 2007, India had banned imports of various agriculture products including poultry meat and eggs from the US. They were banned as a precautionary measure to prevent outbreaks of Avian Influenza.

In March 2012, US had dragged India to the WTO for banning these products.

WTO ruling: WTO panel’s ruling in October 2014 in this regard had said that India’s measures are arbitrarily and unjustifiably discrimination on international trade and constitutes a disguised restriction on it.

US Stance: US also had contended that India’s Avian Influenza measures amounted to an import prohibition was not based on the relevant international standard or on a scientific risk assessment.

India’s Stance: While, India has claimed that the panel ruling is committed with several legal errors in its interpretation and application of numerous articles of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) agreement.

Why US is focusing on India’s poultry business?

US is one of the world’s largest exporters of chicken meat. It is looking India as one of its potential markets poultry exports.

While, in past few years India’s broiler meat consumption has increased and has touched to 3.72 million tonnes in 2014 from 3.45 million tonnes in 2013.

4. Australian cricketer Sean Abbott wins Bradman young cricketer of the year award
Australian cricketer Sean Abbott has won Bradman young cricketer of the year award 2015.

While, Steve Smith was awarded the Allan Border Medal and being named both Test and one day player of the year.

Sean Abbott is the bowler, who was unwittingly at the centre of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes. In November 2014, he had delivered bouncer to Hughes that hit him in head during a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG against South Australia.

Bradman young cricketer of the year award: It was instituted in 1990. It is bestowed annually by Cricket Australia to best player under the age of 24. The recipient is presented with a bat personally signed by Sir Donald Bradman (He had signed 100 bats in 1989 for this award)

5. Kalyan Singh sworn in as Himachal Pradesh Governor
Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh has sworn in as the 26th Governor of Himachal Pradesh.

He was administered oath of office by Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir at oath taking ceremony held at Raj Bhawan in Shimla.

He was given an additional charge of Himachal Pradesh after then governor Urmila Singh, completed the full five year term on January 24.

About Kalyan Singh:

Kalyan Singh was born on 5 January 1932 in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

He was elected as member of Uttar Pradesh legislative Assembly for six times consecutively from 1967.

He has served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. First term from 24 Jun 1991 to 6 Dec 1992. Second term from 21 Sep 1997 to 12 Nov 1999.

In 1977, he was Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was also Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2014.

He is 20th Governor of Rajasthan and was appointed on 26 August 2014.

Article 153: It says that there shall be Governor for each state. But 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor for two or more states.

6. Veteran Malayalam actor Mala Aravindan passes away
Veteran Malayalam actor Mala Aravindan has passed away in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He was 76.

He was best known for his work as a comedian, character artist in Malayalam films and was also noted theatre personality. He was also the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

About Mala Aravindan:

He was born in 1941 at Vadavucode in Ernakulam, Kerala.

Career: He had started his career as a tabla artist with the vibrant travelling professional theatre groups.

He began his acting career in the plays of National Theatres, Kottayam, and later associated with theatre groups such as Natakasala and Suryasoma.

His made debut as actor in 1968 by acting in film Sindhooram, directed by Balakrishnan. Since then he has acted in over 400 films.

Awards: He has won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi’s award for the best actor for his role in Sooryasoma’s play Nidhi.

7. Maharashtra to observe Industries Day on September 17
Maharashtra government has announced that, September 17 (on Vishwakarma Jayanti) will be observed as Industries Day in each district.

Significance of Day:

It will be observed as part of State government’s effort to provide balanced growth to existing small, medium and large scale enterprises.

It will also render assistance to state government for setting up new industries to boost the state’s financial health.

On this day, all districts in state will exhibit their growth potential and opportunities received for their development in the year.

It will provide state government single platform to ensure that its policies benefit people at the grass-root level with regards to industrial growth as well as provide employment opportunities.

In each district of state, a committee will be set up under district collectors for holding the Industries Day celebrations.

On this day, awards to industries at the district level will be given for their exemplary performance.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Today CA : 27/01/2015

1. Barack Obama becomes first US President to be Chief Guest at Republic-Day

US President Barack Obama has become the first American President to be Chief Guest on Republic Day celebrations.

He is also the first American President to visit India twice (earlier he had visited India in November 2010).

Key highlights of 66th Republic Day celebrations

In this Parade, US President witnessed India’s military might and cultural diversity. This year’s parade was more based on cultural diversity rather than showing on military might.

For the parade, Barack Obama arrived in his own vehicle named cadillac one (The Beast) and not with President Pranab Mukherjee. Thus, breaking the traditional practice, as the Chief Guest usually comes to the venue with the President, the Head of the State.

Several States displayed tableaux depicting their local flavor and traditions.

While, some Union government departments displayed tableaux related to government initiatives like Make in India and ‘save the girl child.

For first time in history, all women contingents of the three services Army, Navy and Air Force marched in the parade.

Some of India’s latest military arsenal was displayed in this year’s parade. However, Nuclear-capable Agni missiles- a highlight for the past several years was not displayed this year.

2. DP Sinha appointed as secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariatAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Divya Prakash Sinhaas secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat.

Since November 2013, this post was lying vacant after Yashovardhan Azad who was holding the post then, was appointed information commissioner.

Divya Prakash Sinha:

He is IPS officer, belonging to 1979 batch of the Manipur-Tripura cadre.

Before this appointment he was special director with Intelligence Bureau (IB).

He is associated with IB for several years handling operations in key regions such as the northeast and even Delhi.

He known to be instrumental in neutralization of banned terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) and various extremists groups in North east India.

3. RBI signs an information sharing agreement with Brazil’s Central Bank

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information with Brazil’s Central Bank- Banco Central do Brasil (BCB).

This MoU was signed by Anthero de Moraes Meirelles, Deputy Governor for Supervision, BCB and S.S. Mundra, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

RBI by signing such MoU with supervisors of other countries is seeking to promote greater co-operation and share supervisory information among the authorities.

In this regard, RBI in total has signed 23 such MoUs, one Letter for Supervisory Co-operation and one Statement of Co-operation (SoC), with different Central Banks of other countries and overseas regulators/supervisors.

4. K Durga Prasad appointed as Special DG of CRPFAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed K Durga Prasad as the special director general (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

He will be in office for next three years or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
K Durga Prasad

He is IPS officer of 1981 batch from Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Before this appointed, he was director of the Special Protection Group (SPG), but was removed from this post in November 2014.

It should be noted that SPG provides security to the prime minister, former prime ministers and their family members.

About Central Reserve Police Force (CRFP)

CRPF is the largest Central Armed Police Forces in India. It operates under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

It was established in 1939, under Crown Representative’s Police but after independence it was made statutory Central Reserve Police Force after the enactment of the CRPF Act, 1949.

At present CRPF is the world’s largest paramilitary force with 228 battalions and over three lakh personnel.

Function: Its primary role is to assist States/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency.

5. Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos passes awayFamous Greek singer Demis Roussos passed away in Athens, Greek. He was 68.

He was best known for his hit operatic pop ballads in the 1970s and 1980s and for his high-pitched voice and melodies inspired by Greek folklore which sold about 60 million records worldwide.

About Demis Roussos

He was born as Artemios Ventouris Roussos in Alexandria, Egypt in 1946.

He had started his music career at age of 17, when he joined band called The Idols.

He was best known for his solo hits in the 1970s and 80s, including Forever and Ever, Goodbye and Quand je t’aime.

He was also a member of progressive rock group Aphrodite’s Child.

6. Libby Lane, first female bishop of England consecrated

Church of England has consecrated Reverend Libby Lane as its first female bishop in a ceremony held at York Minster (a Gothic cathedral) in northern England.

With this consecration, Church of England ended its 500 year old male dominated tradition and considered as a historic move towards widening female participation in the Church.

Background

Earlier in December 2014, she was appointed Bishop after Church formally had adopted legislation to allow women bishops.

In this regard General Synod- the law-making body of the Church of England had given nod to this legislation in November 2014 which was passed by UK Parliament in October 2014.

Reverend Libby Lane

Since April 2007, she was Vicar of St Peter’s Hale and St Elizabeth’s Ashley, in Greater Manchester, England.

In 1993, she was ordained as deacon and later in 1994, as priest.

In January 2010, she was appointed as Dean of Women in Ministry for the Diocese of Chester.

7. In R-Day message, China tells India don't fall into ‘trap’ laid by U.S.

China has offered to lift its strategic partnership with India to a “higher level,” and prompted New Delhi to avoid a “zero-sum trap” that was being set up by Washington and its allies.

In a message, on the occasion of 65th Republic Day, to President Pranab Mukherjee, his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping expressed China’s willingness “to make concerted efforts with India to lift their strategic cooperative partnership oriented to peace and prosperity to a higher level”.

The felicitations coincided with the New Delhi visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.

An article on Monday that appeared in the Global Times and People’s Daily, cautioned India, not to fall into the “trap” that was being laid, to pit New Delhi against Beijing, by Washington, as part of its “pivot to Asia” doctrine.

The commentary noted that "the second visit by a sitting U.S. President to India, the first time on record, has undoubtedly drawn wide attention from the international community”.

It added that many Western media reports “have pointed out that the U.S., regardless of historical complications, is putting more efforts into soliciting India to act as a partner, even an ally, to support Washington's "pivot to Asia" strategy, which is mainly devised to counter China's rise.

In a further elaboration, the daily pointed to the West’s “ulterior motives’’ to frame the "Chinese dragon" and the "Indian elephant" as natural rivals. “The West is egging India on to be fully prepared for "threats" posed by its large neighbour.

Considering the fact that both sides still have territorial disputes and will probably have wider engagement at many levels, this so-called rivalry between India and China will not stop making headlines in Western media.”

However, it cautioned India that it was facing a carefully positioned “trap”. “Although craftily set, it will be revealed eventually.”

The daily advised both countries to put aside their “debates over specific issues,” and ensure that “their relations cannot take a life-or-death struggle as a foothold.”

“The common interests they share are way larger than any differences. As both are emerging powers, which have the huge potential of being important forces in the international community, China and India should see more space for cooperation instead of contention. This agreement is fundamental to bilateral relations.

The article counselled Beijing and New Delhi to “come to terms with a bottom line of interactions, making sure the big picture remains intact, although both sides still have disagreements on some specific matters,” and steer clear of a zero-sum game, that India, under Western influence was “sliding into”.

Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that India’s diplomacy is pursuing a “multi-vectored approach” that is geared to promote New Delhi’s core interests, through simultaneous engagement, in carefully defined areas, with several countries, which may have problems with each other.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Today CA : 26/01/2015 गणतंत्र दिवस की शुभकामना

1. Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously

Two army personnel, Major Mukund Varadarajan and NaikNeeraj Kumar Singh were awarded the highest peacetime military honour, the Ashok Chakra posthumously by President Pranab Mukherjee.

The awards were received by their wives at the 66th Republic Day celebrations.

Both the army men had laid down their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir.

In April 2014, Major Mukund Varadarajan who was an officer in the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army had killed three terrorists in an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.

While in August 2014, Naik Neeraj Singh was leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district, he died after heavy fire from terrorists.
About Ashok Chakra:

It is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield

It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.

2. Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman passes awayEminent cartoonist, illustrator and humorist Rasipuram Laxman passed away in Pune. He was 94.
About Rasipuram Laxman

Rasipuram Laxman (famously known as RK Laxman) was born on 24 October 1921 in Mysore, Karnataka. Famous novelist R. K. Narayan was his older brother.

His creation:

He is best known for creation of iconic character The Common Man, for his daily cartoon strip, You Said It in The Times of India(TOI). It was started in 1951. This character held a mirror to the society and targeted politicians for more than five decades.

In 1988, commemorative postage stamp of The Common Man was released by the Indian Postal Service on the 150th anniversary TOI.

He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called Gattu in 1954.

Other Works:

His cartoons have appeared in Hindi films such as Mr. & Mrs. in 1955 and a Tamil film Kamaraj.

His creations also include the sketches drawn for the television adaptation of Malgudi Days (written by his elder brother R K Narayan and directed by Shankar Nag).

Awards: He is recipient of Padma Vibhushan (2005) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts (1984).

His Autobiography: The Tunnel of Time: An Autobiography.

Books: He had published numerous short stories, essays, and travel articles, some of which were collected in The Distorted Mirror (2003). His novels include The Hotel Riviera, The Messenger and the short story collection Servants of India.

3. Colombia’s Paulina Vega crowned Miss Universe 2015
Colombia’s Paulina Vega was crowned 63rd Miss Universe after beating out contenders from the United States, Ukraine, Jamaica and Netherlands.

Miss USA Nia Sanchez from Las Vegas was named a runner-up, along with Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha.

Paulina Vega- She is granddaughter of celebrated Colombian singer Gastón Vega. Currently, she is a student of business from the northern Colombia city of Barranquilla.

Miss Universe

It is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the Miss Universe Organization.

Along with the Miss World and Miss Earth contests, Miss Universe is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world and one of the most anticipated beauty pageants worldwide.

It was founded in 1952 by the California clothing company Pacific Mills.

4. Anti-austerity Syriza party wins Greece’s general elections
In Greece, anti-austerity Syriza party has won general election.

In this election Syriza party has won about half the seats in Parliament.

While the earlier ruling government led by outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of centre-right New Democracy party has been placed second.

Syriza party:

It was formed in 2004 as an umbrella group. Syriza- an acronym means the Radical Coalition of the Left.

It is led by Alexis Tsipras and first came to prominence following the 2008 Greek riots.

In this general election, Syriza Party has promised to end Greece’s painful austerity measures and wants to renegotiate its debt.

For first time all-women contingent marches on 66th Republic Day parade

For the first time in the history of India’s Republic Day, all-women contingent from the three forces Army, Air Force and Navy marched down in the parade.

Army contingent was led by Capt Divya Ajith.
Navy contingent was led by Lt Commander Sandhya Chauhan.
Air Force contingent was led by Squadron Leader Sneha Shekhawat.

Each contingent had 148 women personnel. In previous Republic Day parades, women officers were just participating.

Some facts:

Capt Divya Ajith who had led Army contingent is a graduate from the prestigious Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.

Earlier, in 2010 she had created history by becoming the first woman in the army to receive the coveted Sword of Honour (which is awarded to the best cadet of a course).

Currently, Indian army does not have women in combat roles.

Padma Awards 2015 (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri)

President Pranab Mukherjee has announced the names of Recipients of this year’s Padma awards. He approved conferment of 104 Padma Awards.

Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three Categories viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

This years list comprises 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. Among these awardees 17 are women and equal number are in category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs. While, 4 are posthumous awardees.

The Awards are given in various disciplines- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

Decending Awards order list : Bharat Ratna > Padma Vibhushan > Padma Bhushan > Padma Shri

2015 Padma Vibhushan Awards:

It is the second highest civilian award. It is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.

S. No.	Name of the Awardee	Discipline	State/Domicile
1.	Shri L. K. Advani	Public Affairs	Gujarat
2.	Shri Amitabh Bachchan	Art	Maharashtra
3.	Shri Prakash Singh Badal	Public Affairs	Punjab
4.	Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade	Social Work	Karnataka
5.	Shri Mohammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip Kumar	Art	Maharashtra
6.	Shri Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya	Others	Uttar Pradesh
7.	Prof. Malur Ramaswamy Srinivasan	Science and Engineering	Tamil Nadu
8.	Shri Kottayan K. Venugopal	Public Affairs	Delhi
9.	Shri Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (Foreigner)	Trade and Industry	France/UK

2015 Padma Bhushan Awards:

It is the third highest civilian award. It is awarded for distinguished service of high order.

S. No.

Name of the Awardee

Discipline

State/Domicile

1.	Shri Jahnu Barua	Art	Assam
2.	Dr. Vijay Bhatkar	Science and Engineering	Maharashtra
3.	Shri Swapan Dasgupta	Literature and Education	Delhi
4.	Swami Satyamitranand Giri	Others	Uttar Pradesh
5.	Shri N. Gopalaswami	Civil Service	Tamil Nadu
6.	Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap	Public Affairs	Delhi
7.	Dr. (Pandit) Gokulotsavji Maharaj	Art	Madhya Pradesh
8.	Dr. Ambrish Mithal	Medicine	Delhi
9.	Smt. Sudha Ragunathan	Art	Tamil Nadu
10.	Shri Harish Salve	Public Affairs	Delhi
11.	Dr. Ashok Seth	Medicine	Delhi
12.	Shri Rajat Sharma	Literature and Education	Delhi
13.	Shri Satpal	Sports	Delhi
14.	Shri Shivakumara Swami	Others	Karnataka
15.	Dr. Kharag Singh Valdiya	Science and Engineering	Karnataka
16.	Prof. Manjul Bhargava(NRI/PIO)	Science and Engineering	USA
17.	Shri David Frawley (Vamadeva)(Foreigner)	Others	USA
18.	Shri Bill Gates(Foreigner)	Social Work	USA
19.	Ms. Melinda Gates (Foreigner)	Social Work	USA
20.	Shri Saichiro Misumi(Foreigner)	Others	Japan

2015 Padma Shri Awards

It is the fourth highest civilian award. It is awarded for distinguished service in any field.