Updates on 13 July 2016

1. Operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ launched to evacuate Indian citizens from South Sudan

i. The Union Government has launched ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ to evacuate the Indians from South Sudan.
ii. Two C17 aircraft of Indian Air Force left for Juba with Minister of State for External Affair VK Singh onboard.
iii. South Sudan has been hit by violence which has claimed hundreds of lives till now. The conflict is because of clashes between government troops and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar.

2. Ashok Patnaik appointed new National Intelligence Grid chief

i. Senior IPS officer Ashok Patnaik was appointed CEO of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
ii. One of the most ambitious intelligence projects that failed to take off during United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.
iii. Patnaik is currently serving as Additional Director in the Intelligence Bureau and he will continue to hold this post till his superannuation in 2018.


3. Cabinet approves the Revised Cost Estimate of Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs. 7290.62 crore for the ongoing 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan.
ii. The Project will provide surplus power to India and thus augment power availability in the country and would enable project works to proceed smoothly without interruption. The total cost escalation for the project, at this stage, is Rs.3512.82 crore.

4. Theresa May takes over as Britain's Brexit PM, appoints Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary

i. British politician, Theresa May  became Prime Minister of United Kingdom (UK) after meeting Queen Elizabeth II. She succeeds David Cameron, who had resigned in the wake of Brexit referendum that ended his six-year-long stint as the Prime Minister of Britain.
ii. Theresa May has made Boris Johnson, the former London mayor who led the Brexit campaign, foreign secretary in her new government.
iii. She became UK’s second-ever female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher (in office from 1979-1990).

5. Emirates named world's best airline in 2016 Skytrax awards

i. According to a survey conducted by Skytrax, Emirates is the world's best airline for the year 2016.
ii. The survey underscores the consistency of the quality service among the world's top carriers. The international airline Emirates based in Dubai has won the top honors at Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony at the Farnborough International Airshow in England.
iii. The top 5 best airlines: Emirates (1st), Qatar Airways (2nd), Singapore Airlines (3rd), Cathay Pacific (4th), ANA All Nippon Airways (5th)

6. BSE introduces 'Paperless SIP'

i. Leading stock exchange BSE is introducing 'Paperless SIP' (systematic investment plans) that would allow mutual fund investors to make transactions through various modes of payments.
ii. The additional feature on BSE's mutual fund platform - StAR MF  - would allow MF distributors to register SIPs for their clients, who can pay SIP amounts through various modes.
iii. The new facility, to be launched, is available only for non-dematerialised transactions and for instalment of amount more than Rs 2 lakh.
iv. Under the Paperless SIP facility, the investors would receive an e-mail for all the payment modes, including direct pay, nodal account, one-time mandate and cheque, after the SIP has been registered.

7. Cabinet approves revival of defunction Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revival of defunct Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni.
ii. These include two closed urea units of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL).

8. Cabinet approves Official amendment to the Bill for change of name to “Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also given its ex-post facto approval for the Official amendment to the Rajendra Central Agricultural University Bill, 2015 for change of name from “Rajendra Central Agricultural University” to “Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”.
ii. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, situated in Pusa is to fulfill the desired goal and achieve excellence in teaching and produce the much-needed manpower educated in agriculture and allied sciences.
iii. This would help in getting over the shortage of technical manpower and infrastructural facilities and would contribute to the development of agriculture, including animal husbandry, horticulture, and fisheries in the region.

9. HAL, Safran to set up support centre in India for helicopters

i. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and French firm Safran Helicopter Engines have agreed to establish a support centre in India for national and international rotorcraft customers.
ii. An agreement was signed by DK Venkatesh, Director (Engg and R&D), HAL, and Bruno Even, CEO, Turbomeca, at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow (July 11-17) in England.
iii. The new centre will provide MRO services for Safran TM333 and HAL Shakti engines that power HAL-built helicopters. Safran and HAL will provide their customers with services including optimised engine availability.

10. Cabinet allocates Rs 12,000 crore to impart skill training to 1 crore people over next 4 years

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an outlay of Rs.12000 crore to impart skilling to one crore people over the next 4 years (2016-2020).
ii. The PMKVY will impart fresh training to 60 lakh youths and certify skills of 40 lakh persons acquired non-formally under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
iii. The post placement support would be given directly to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Skill training would be done based on industry-led standards aligned to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF).

11. Indian-American Dr. Kinshuk named US university Dean

i. An Indian-American professor with a diverse set of academic experience in the field of science and technology has been named the dean of a leading U.S. university. Dr. Kinshuk
ii. He received his doctoral degree from De Montfort University in England, a master of science in mechanical computer aided engineering from Strathclyde University in Scotland and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Rajasthan in India.

12. Kerala launches ‘world’s first’ digital student incubator

i. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched SV.CO, purportedly world’s first digital student incubator, as a digital makeover of the Startup Village in Kochi.
ii. SV.CO will constitute the second phase of development of Startup Village and is designed to help thousands of college-goers make an early start in entrepreneurship.
iii. Startup Village is India’s first PPP model technology incubator and has supported more than 500 start-ups and helped create 3,000 jobs during its first phase 2012-15.

Source :bankersadda.com

Posted via Blogaway

News on July 12 2016

1. India, Kenya ink seven agreements:

1. MoU on Cooperation in the field of standardisation, expertise sharing and mutual trade between Bureau of Indian Standards and Bureau of Kenya Standards.
2. MoU on Cooperation in the field of National Housing Policy Development and Management.
3. The line of Credit Agreement for US $15 million (first tranche of US $30 million) to IDB Capital Limited, Kenya, for the development of various small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya.
4. The line of Credit Agreement for the US $29.95 million to the Government of Kenya for the upgrade of Rift Valley Textiles Factory [RIVATEX East Africa Limited], Kenya.
5. Revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
6. A bilateral agreement on the exemption of Visa for holders of Diplomatic passports.
7. MoU on Defence Cooperation.

2. Nepal’s first woman chief justice sworn in

i. Justice Sushila Karki took charge as the first woman chief justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court after her name was endorsed by a parliamentary panel.
ii. The 64-year-old was administered oath of office and secrecy by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the head of the state.
iii. With Karki’s appointment, Nepal has three women in prominent positions.

3. President confers the 51st Jnanpith Award on Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari

i. The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on the renowned writer, Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari.
ii. The Jnanpith Award is an Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith and is given to an author for the "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961.
iii. Dr. Chaudhari represents the fluid brilliance that characterizes Indias pluralistic literary genius. It is indeed an example of his brilliant fluidity that an author, who strove to master Hindi academically, expressed himself in Gujarati in his literary pursuit.

4. D Rajkumar appointed CMD of BPCL; Utpal Bora to head Oil India

i. D Rajkumar and Utpal Bora has appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Oil India Ltd, respectively.
ii. Rajkumar at present, working as Managing Director of Bharat Petro Resources Ltd, a unit of BPCL focused on exploration and production.
iii. Bora is Executive Director in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited. 

5. HDFC Bank's Aditya Puri named best banking CEO in Asia

i. Aditya Puri, the chief executive and managing director (MD) of the second largest private sector lender HDFC Bank, has been ranked as the best banking CEO in Asia by the investor community.
ii. The bank's chief financial officer Sashi Jagdishan has been ranked as the best CFO, apart from getting ranked as the best IR company as well, thereby making it the most honoured one in the Institutional Investor magazine.

6. Ministry of Health launches Nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)"

i. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda, Ministry of Health launched nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)". To be observed from July 11-23
ii. The IDCF drive is a very cost -effective intervention to curb the risk of spread of diarrhoea which scales up during monsoon season Intensified community awareness campaigns on hygiene and promotion of Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) and Zinc therapy will be conducted at the state, district and village levels.
iii. Under this initiative, the government aims at covering over 80 % of children affected by diarrhoea across the country.

7. Maharastra Police launches 4 apps

i. Maharashtra police has launched four mobile apps for timely intervention into emergency situations.
ii. The four applications Pratisaad Ask, Police Mitra, Vahanchoritakrar and Railway helpline app were launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur.
iii. With the launch of these apps, dependency on police emergency number 100 would reduce substantially and citizens can reach out to police to report any emergency situation or crime like robbery or assault on women 24X7.

8. Karnataka trade body inks pact with Sanya City

i. The Karnataka Region Economic and Trade Organisation (KRETO) and the Sanya People Municipal Government, China,  signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster trade between Sanya City and Karnataka.
ii. The agreement allows for large and medium delegations from Sanya to visit Karnataka and vice-versa. This agreement also allows for Sanya city to be certified as an approved destination for delegation visits from Karnataka.

9. Lafarge to sell India assets to Nirma for $1.4 billion

i. Lafarge-Holcim has entered into an agreement with Nirma Ltd to sell its entire 100% holding in cement maker Lafarge India for an enterprise value of $1.4 billion.
ii. The deal is subjected to approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) also the proceeds from the divestment will be used to reduce debt.
iii. Lafarge India operates three cement plants and two grinding stations with a total capacity of around 11 million tonnes per annum. The company also markets aggregates and is one of India's leading ready-mix concrete manufacturers. The proceeds from the divestment will be used to reduce debt further.

10. Sun Pharma introduces anti-cancer product in Europe

i.  Sun Pharma has announced rollout of Gemcitabine InfuSMART in Europe. InfuSMART is a technology in which oncology products are developed in a ready-to-administer (RTA) bag.
ii. With the introduction of Gemcitabine InfuSMART, Sun Pharma become the world’s first pharmaceutical company to manufacture and launch a licensed RTA oncology product.
iii. InfuSMART is a technology in which oncology products are developed in a ready-to-administer (RTA) bag after the company has received regulatory approval to produce InfuSMART in eight key SKUs (stock keeping units).

11. Jinson Johnson, Dharambir Singh, Renjith Maheshwari qualify for Rio 2016 Olympics

i. sprinter Dharambir Singh and Jinson Johnson along with Triple jumper Renjith Maheshwari were the latest athletes to join the line for representing the country at the Olympics in Brazil.
ii. Renjith Maheshwari and Dharambir Singh also broke two national records in Triple jump and 200-metre race event respectively.
iii. After P Subramaniam who represented India at Moscow Olympics in 200-metre race, Dharambhir became the first male Indian to qualify at in the event for Olympic after 36 years. The men's 4*400m relay team had secured their 4*400m relay qualification. 

Moon ‘photobombs’ Earth again in new NASA image

Moon ‘photobombs’ Earth again in new NASA image

Image: NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration/ Facebook

The new images show the moon moving over the Indian and Pacific oceans. The North Pole is at the top of the images.

For the second time in a year, a NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured a ‘lunar photobomb’ — a stunning view the Moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth, crossing over the Indian and Pacific oceans.

“The project recorded this event on July 5 with the same cadence and spatial resolution as the first ‘lunar photobomb’ of last year,” said Adam Szabo, DSCOVR project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in the US.

The images were captured by NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC), a four—megapixel CCD camera and telescope on the DSCOVR satellite orbiting one million miles from Earth.

From its position between the Sun and Earth, DSCOVR conducts its primary mission of real—time solar wind monitoring for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates, providing scientific observations of ozone, vegetation, cloud height and aerosols in the atmosphere.

The EPIC camera is providing a series of Earth images allowing study of daily variations over the entire globe.

The new images show the moon moving over the Indian and Pacific oceans. The North Pole is at the top of the images.

DSCOVR is orbiting around the Sun-Earth first Lagrange point (where the gravitational pull of Earth is equal and opposite of that of the Sun) in a complex, non-recurring orbit that changes from an ellipse to a circle and back (called a Lissajous orbit) taking the spacecraft between four and 12 degrees from the Sun—Earth line.

This orbit intersects the lunar orbit about four times a year. However, depending on the relative orbital phases of the moon and DSCOVR, the moon appears between the spacecraft and Earth once or twice a year.

The last time EPIC captured this event was on July 16, last year.

EPIC’s “natural colour” images of Earth are generated by combining three separate monochrome exposures taken by the camera in quick succession.

EPIC takes a series of 10 images using different narrowband spectral filters- from ultraviolet to near infrared - to produce a variety of science products.

The red, green and blue channel images are used in these colour images.

Combining three images taken about 30 seconds apart as the moon moves produces a slight but noticeable camera artifact on the right side of the moon.

Since the moon has moved in relation to Earth between the time the first (red) and last (green) exposures were made, a thin green offset appears on the right side of the moon when the three exposures are combined.

This natural lunar movement also produces a slight red and blue offset on the left side of the moon in these unaltered images.