Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under the updates. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
APPOINTMENTS
Goa Government appoints Justice PK Mishra as Lokayukta
The Goa government has decided to appoint Justice PK Mishra, former Chief Justice of Patna High Court who had recently retired as chairman of Goa State Human Rights commission, as Lokayukta of the State. Justice (Retd) Sudarshan Reddy, Goa’s first Lokayukta, had resigned within seven months of his appointment on October 17, 2013 and since then the post was vacant for more than two years.
Mishra had retired as chief justice of Patna High Court before taking up his assignment in Goa. In October 2013, the first Goa Lokayukta, Justice (retd) B Sudarshan Reddy, had quit from his post citing personal reasons. He had assumed charge in March 2013. His resignation left investigations of 21 cases, including the crucial illegal mining scam and the recruitments in government department, pending before the ombudsman in the State.
Quick Link – PK Mishra as Lokayukta
BANKING AND FINANCE
GOI renamed Department of Disinvestment as DIPAM
The Department of Disinvestment has been renamed as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management or ‘Dipam‘, a decision aimed at proper management of Centre’s investments in equity including its disinvestment in central public sector undertakings.
- The new department has been mandated to “advise the government in the matters of financial restructuring of central public sector enterprises and for attracting investment through capital markets.
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced renaming of the Department of Disinvestment in his budget speech for 2016-17.
- The Dipam will work under Finance Ministry and it will deal with “all matters relating to management of central government investments in equity including disinvestment of equity in central public sector undertakings.
- The branch will assist entrepreneurs in setting up new companies or enterprises and offers a host of banking products including, foreign exchange services, remittances and cash management.
- The Branch will also provide a range of value added services including registration, legal and tax formalities etc. through its affiliates and partners.
- The bank is also focusing on industry-wise specialists in wholesale lending, e-commerce and new-tech business.
Quick Link – RBL Bank
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan Rechristened as Khelo India
The government of India has merged Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), launched by the previous UPA government, with the Khelo India programme for development of sports, thereby dropping former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from it. The move left the Congress fuming as this is not the first time that Rajiv Gandhi’s name is being dropped from a scheme after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power.
- The RGKA was launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in February 2014 to replace Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).
- Two other sport projects launched by the previous regime, that is, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme and National Sports Talent Search Scheme, have also been merged under Khelo India.
Quick Link – RGKA
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
TCS in UK’s Times Top 50 employers for women list
India’s largest IT services firm TCS has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading employers for women in a list published by The Times. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had a formal Diversity & Inclusion corporate function since 2010 designed to provide strategic guidance and support for diversity programmes across the globe. TCS employs over 1,00,000 women globally, a third of its total workforce.
The Times Top 50 Employers for Women recognises organisations that are spearheading gender equality in the workplace and making a conscious effort to even out the playing field for men and women. TCS’ rank in The Times Top 50 is recognition of its continued drive to make gender equality a central part of its business strategy.
Quick Link – TCS-Top 50 employers for women list
Xi Jinping is ‘commander in chief’ of China’s military
China’s President Xi Jinping has taken on a new military title, in his latest move to exert greater control over the armed forces. Mr Xi is now commander in chief of the military’s Joint Operations Command Centre. China’s foreign policy has become increasingly assertive in recent years, especially on its claims to disputed territories in the South China Sea. Mr Xi is already General Secretary of the Communist Party, and chair of the Central Military Commission, which manages the People’s Liberation Army.
Since taking office, Xi has sought to increase his authority over the People’s Liberation Army, which is technically the armed force of the Communist party rather than the Chinese state.
Quick Link – Xi Jinping
Europe becomes world’s first region to end malaria: WHO
Europe has become the world’s first region to wipe out malaria, with zero cases reported last year. The number of indigenous malaria cases dropped to zero in 2015 from 90,712 in 1995, and the last cases were reported in Tajikistan in 2014. Ahead of World Malaria Day 2016, WHO announces that the European Region hit its 2015 target to wipe out malaria, thus contributing to the global goal to “End malaria for good”.
The 2005 Tashkent Declaration “The Move from Malaria Control to Elimination”, endorsed by malaria-affected countries in the Region, was a turning-point in achieving a malaria-free Europe. The Declaration led the way to the new Regional Strategy 2006–2015, which guided affected European countries to reduce the number of indigenous malaria cases to zero.
Quick Link – End malaria for good
UN, IMF, World Bank and OECD formed Platform for Collaboration on Tax
Four international organizations have joined hands to form the Platform for collaboration in Tax Matters. The Platform has been created as their step to boost global cooperation in tax matters. The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), announced a joint platform for collaboration on tax issues, a beginning step to design and implement international standards.
The announcement regarding this was made just within two weeks after the release of the “Panama Papers” that stirred outrage at the widespread use of tax haven countries and shell companies by wealthy global elites and corporations to hide assets and avoid paying taxes.
Quick Link – OECD
FOREIGN RELATIONS
India, China agree for peaceful negotiations to settle border issue
India and China have agreed to adhere to “peaceful negotiations” to settle the vexed border issue and reach a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution”. The decision was taken during the annual 19th round of boundary talks here between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to discuss the way forward to resolve the dispute which has bedevilled the relations between the two countries.
- Both the leaders had an “extensive, deep and candid” discussion on the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains undemarcated resulting in tensions between the two sides.
- Both sides shared the view that China-India relations have broad prospects and Beijing and New Delhi have far more common interests than differences.
Quick Link – Peaceful negotiations
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO Scientists made world’s lightest material ‘Silica Aerogel’
Scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India’s premier rocket lab recently manufactured the world’s lightest material called silica aerogel or ‘blue air.’
- This material has excellent thermal resistance and if used as a filler in soldiers’ uniforms it can possibly help save many lives at the Siachen glacier.
- The material has uses both in space and on Earth.
- So light weight that it can be delicately placed on a flower head, ISRO has made the world’s lightest known material, sometimes also called ‘frozen smoke.’ Scientists hope it can be used to insulate rocket engines.
Quick Link – Silica Aerogel
Accenture opens cyber centre in Bengaluru
To expand its security presence, Global consulting and technology services firm Accenture has set up a cyber center in Bengaluru. The new facility brings together inter-disciplinary capabilities, ranging from innovation, incubation and development of new solutions to strategic consulting and transformation and the managed delivery of a broad range of cyber defense services.
This enables clients to tap the latest strategies and technologies to address their toughest cyber security challenges, As-a-Service model. The center is a cornerstone of Accenture’s cyber security growth strategy and commitment to a multi-million-dollar investment in new cyber security capabilities, platforms, and industry-specific solutions over the next several years.
Quick Link – Accenture opens cyber centre
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