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Click Here to Current Affairs August 2015
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Indian Affairs
- Railway Minister Advocates Launching of Zero Accident Mission
- Union Cabinet approved signing of agreement between India and Afghanistan
Government gives nod to rename Delhi’s Aurangzeb Road as Abdul Kalam Road
New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) decided to rename Delhi’s famous Aurangzeb Road as APJ Abdul Kalam Road, as the jurisdiction of the road comes under it and Union Government has given its nod to rename it.
- The road was earlier named after the Mughal emperor Abul Muzaffar Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb. It is also said that, Aurangzeb Road is India’s richest road where property prices are the highest and is located in the heart of Lutyens’ bungalow zone.
- The road begins at the Taj Mansingh hotel near India Gate and joins Safdarjung Road near the official residence of the Indian Prime Minister.
Rs 125 coin to mark Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary
As a tribute to the architect of the Constitution Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary the government is likely to come out with a “coin of Rs 125”.
- According to sources, the commemorative coin would carry a picture of Ambedkar with 125th birth anniversary celebrations etched on it and Rs 125 embossed prominently. The government will also release a commemorative postal stamp on Ambedkar.
- Sources said discussions are on between the finance ministry and the social justice ministry headed by Thaawar Chand Gehlot on the shape and value of the coin.
- Besides, the government is likely to start raising the building at 26, Alipur Road in Delhi around October to pave the ground for construction of an ‘Ambedkar Memorial’.
50th anniversary of 1965 Indo-Pak war observed
- India celebrated 50thanniversary of 1965 war with Pakistan on 28th India won the war under the leadership of PM Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the war heroes who fought for our motherland during the 1965 war and President Pranab Mukherjee laid a wreath at the martyr’s memorial at Delhi’s India Gate monument
- The celebrations began on 28 August and go on until 22 September – the day India and Pakistan agreed to a UN-sponsored ceasefire.
- The celebrations will also include seminars, photo exhibitions and a concert.
- Main Event -“victory carnival” with a show of military might, song and dance – is planned for20 September on Rajpath.
NTPC sets a record in single-day power generation
- NTPCBSE, India’s largest power generator, has achieved a record highest single-day electricity generation of 733.12 million units.
- The record generation of 733.12 million units from NTPC’s 18 coal-based power plants, 7 gas-based units and 8 solar and hydro power stations, was achieved on August 27.
- NTPC currently has an installed capacity of 45,548 Mega-Watts (including 6,196 MW through joint ventures).
- During financial year 2014-15, NTPC contributed 25% of total electricity generated in India with 16% share of country’s total installed capacity as onMarch 31.
Ex-Ekuverin 2015 – Joint Military Training between India and Maldives
- Ex-Ekuverin 2015’, the sixth joint military training exercise involving the Indian Army and the Maldivian National Defence Forces(MNDF), will be conducted at the Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram from August 31 toSeptember 13.
- The bilateral annual exercise was first held in Belgaum in 2009 and is alternatively held in India and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation, inter-operability between the two countries and polishing understanding between the Indian Army and MNDF.
- 45 marines from the MNDF and 45 soldiers of the Indian Army will take part in this exercise.Ex-Ekuverin 2015 will be the first joint exercise involving an international contingent to be conducted in Thiruvanathapuram.
International Affairs
Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile could become world’s third largest by 2025
Pakistan will become the third largest nuclear stockpile in the world, behind only the US and Russia in less than 10 years.
- According to the report, Pakistan is adding 20 warheads to its nuclear arsenal annually because of its fear of India which is also a nuclear power.
- India has large stockpiles of plutonium, essential for high-yield weapons, the report says that most of it is being used to produce domestic nuclear energy. It says Pakistan could have 350 warheads in the next 5-10 years, leaving UK and France behind.
- Pakistan has the fastest growing nuclear weapons programme in the world and by 2020 it could have enough fissile material to produce more than 200 nuclear devices.
Banking & Finance
Indian Bank launches IndPay mobile app service
A mobile application service named IndPay has been launched public lender Indian Bank which enables its customers to operate bank accounts from anywhere, anytime.
- IndPay can be operated through smartphones compatible with Android, Windows and iOS mobile operating systems.
- Customers can do transactions like enquiries, getting mini statements and transferring funds to any account, the Chennai-based bank said in a statement.
- Indian Bank closed at Rs 136.00, up Rs 2.65, or 1.99 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 224.20 and the 52-week low was Rs 120.00 as on August 28, 2015.
Business
DRDO collaborates with Patanjali Ayurved for marketing Seabuckthorn based products
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), One of the Life Science laboratories of DRDO successfully developed technologies based on Seabuckthorn that has found to be having high nutritional values.
- Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. has taken Transfer of Technologies (ToT) through a “Non Exclusive” license from DRDO for five of the Seabuckthorn based products namely: Seabuckthorn Beverage, Seapricot Beverage, herbal Tea, Seabuckthorn Oil Soft Gel Capsules and Seabuckthorn Jam.
- These technologies were earlier given to 2 more companies on “Non Exclusive” basis namely: M/s Pravek kalp Pvt. Ltd & M/s Ambe Phytoextracts Ltd. As these Licenses are Non Exclusive in nature, DRDO can provide additional licenses, if required.
Appointments & Resigns
Tsewang Namgyal appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cuba
- Shri Tsewang Namgyal (IFS: 1992), presently DHC in High Commission of India, Ottawa has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cuba.
Rajeev Kumar appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Senegal
- Shri Rajeev Kumar (IFS: 2001), presently DCM in Embassy of India, Brasilia has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Senegal.
Krishan Kumar appointed as the next Ambassador of lndia to the Czech Republic
- Shri Krishan Kumar (IFS : 1984) presently Ambassador of India to Morocco has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Czech Republic.
Ajay Kumar Sharma appointed as the next Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of Mali
- Shri Ajay Kumar Sharma presently Ambassador of India, Pyongyang, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali.
Sports
Indian Women’s hockey team qualifies for next years Rio Olypmics
- Indian women’s hockey team qualifies to the Olympics after a long gap of 36 years courtesy England making it to the final of the ongoing EuroHockey Championships in London, confirmed by International Hockey Federation (FIH).
- England,Netherlands in the other semi-final in the European Championships freed one quota place as both the finalists have already qualified for the Olympic Games.
- India took the quota place on the basis of its fifth-place finish in the women’s Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium last month.
- Indian women’s hockey team last featured in an Olympics in the 1980 Moscow Games, where they finished at a respectable fourth position.
- India’s coach :C R Kumar.
On National Sports Day Modi pays tribute to Dhyan Chand
- PM Narendra Modi on Aug 29 paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on his 110th birth anniversary and extended best wishes to all sports enthusiasts across the country on the occasion of the National Sports Day.
- President Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Sports Awards 2014 – 15 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Retna : Sania Mirza.
The Arjuna awardees for 2015:
- P R Sreejesh (hockey),
- Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics),
- Jitu Rai (shooting),
- Sandeep Kumar (archery),
- Mandeep Jangra (boxing),
- Babita (wrestling),
- Bajrang (wrestling),
- Rohit Sharma (cricket),
- K Srikanth (badminton),
- Swarn Singh Virk (rowing),
- Satish Sivalingam (weightlifting),
- Santhoi Devi (wushu),
- Sharath Gaekwad (para-sailing),
- M R Poovamma (athletics),
- Manjeet Chhillar (kabaddi),
- Abhilasha Mhatre (kabaddi),
- Anup Kumar Yama (rollerskating).
Droncharya awardees:
- Naval Singh (athletics-para-sports),
- Anoop Singh (wrestling),
- Harbans Singh (athletics-lifetime),
- Swatantar Raj Singh (boxing- lifetime),
- Nihar Ameen (swimming-lifetime)
Dhyan Chand awardees:
- Romeo James (hockey),
- Shiv Prakash Mishra (tennis),
- TPP Nair (volleyball).
Books & Authors
Indian Army Releases Amar Chitra Katha & Aan Comics on Inspirational Stories of War Heroes
- Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, Adjutant General of Indian Army released a new series of Amar Chitra Katha and Aan Comics on Aug 28,2015.
Amar Chitra Katha:
India’s favorite storyteller, is presenting a book on inspirational stories of 21 Param Vir Chakra Awardees, as a tribute to the recipients of the highest gallantry award in India.
Aan Comics:
Four Aan Comics were also released based on the heroics of four war heroes who fought in 1965 Indo Pak war and were awarded Maha Vir Chakra. They were Maj Asaram Tyagi, Maj Bhaskar Roy, Sub Ajit Singh and Sub Tika Bahadur Thapa.
- The PVC is India’s highest military honour awarded to those soldiers who display the greatest degree of valour and self-sacrifice on the battlefield.
- The MVC is the second highest gallantry award in India, given to those soldiers who display a very high level of valour & self sacrifice in the face of the enemy.
Army Releases Book on 1965 Indo Pak War
- The Indian Army has released a book on 1965 Indo Pak War. The book, “1965 : Stories from the Second Indo-Pak War” by Rachna Bisht Rawat , is an authoritative narrative in collaboration with the Indian Army to mark fifty years of the historic Indo-Pak War of 1965. Lt Gen KJ Singh,
- Army Commander Western Command released the book and is published by Penguin Books India. The book includes five key battles from the 1965 war and is extensively researched, with interviews and profiles of war veterans.
Obituary
Legendary NBA Player Darryl Dawkins dies
Darryl Dawkins, age 58, the former Philadelphia 76 years player known for his legendary dunking abilities, has died due to heart attack.
- Dawkins began his NBA career in 1975, when he made history as the first player drafted directly from high school.
- Nicknamed the Chocolate Thunder by Stevie Wonder, Dawkins was famous for his dunks. In 1979, he shattered two backboards in separate games.
- Dawkins is survived by his wife Janice and four children.
- Dawkins died at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the Lehigh County coroner’s office.
- Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 726 regular-season games. His 57.2 field goal percentage is seventh best in NBA history.
Important Days
National Sports Day
On the occasion of the National Sports Day celebrated on August 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on his 110th birth anniversary and extended best wishes to all sports enthusiasts across the country.
- Dhyan Chand,born on August 29, 1905 was an Indian field hockey player, who is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time won gold medals for India in year 1928,1932 and 1936.
- Known as “The Wizard” for his superb ball control, Dhyan Chand played his final international match in 1948. He scored over 400 goals during his international career.
- The country’s National Sports Day became extra special as India’s women’s team booked only their second qualification ever for the Olympic Games.
International Day against Nuclear Tests
Nuclear weapons testing began in the mid-twentieth century, with the first test on 16 July 1945, nearly 2,000 have taken place, On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35.
- The United Nations’ (UN) International Day against Nuclear Tests brings public awareness and education about the effects of global nuclear weapon tests. The day aims to end nuclear testing and to promote peace and security.
- Nuclear weapons tests are generally broken into different categories reflecting the test’s medium or location:
- Atmospheric tests.
- Underwater tests.
- Underground tests.
