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!!!
AWARDS AND HONORS
Nandu Natekar – First non-cricketer to become a member of CCI’s Legend Club
Badminton ace Nandu Natekar has been inducted into the Legends Club, founded by the late Cricket Club of India president Raj Singh Dungarpur, as the first non-cricketer, along with 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev. The Legends Club celebrates the birthdays of Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
In addition to the above, the Legends Club will also celebrate the birthdays of Nandu Natekar — on May 12 — and Kapil Dev — on January 6, 2017.
Quick Link – Nandu Natekar
IIT scholar K Ashok Kumar wins International Plant Nutrition Scholar Award
A food engineering research scholar from IIT Kharagpur has won the prestigious International Plant Nutrition Scholar Award.
- The award was recently given by the US-based International Plant Nutrition Institute to K Ashok Kumar, research scholar at the department of agricultural and food engineering, IIT Kharagpur.
- The award carries a cash prize of USD 2,000 and a recognition certificate.
- Mr Kumar has been pursuing his PhD at the department on nutrition management of rice-chickpea production system in laterite soil.
- The research will help application of organic fertiliser such as vermicompost in right amount and timing, to rice crop so that the yield of rice-chickpea cropping system is increased by 10 per cent as compared to use of conventional synthetic fertilisers.
Quick Link – International Plant Nutrition Scholar Award
APPOINTMENTS
Lobsang Sangay re-elected as prime minister of Tibetan government-in-exile
Lobsang Sangay has been re-elected prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile in voting held last month. Sangay said that the election shows that Tibetans in exile “are practicing democracy, whereas China is not.”
- Tibetan election officials announced the result in the northern Indian town of Dharmsala, the headquarters of the government-in-exile.
- Sangay, 47, defeated his only rival, Penpa Tsering, receiving about 58 percent of the 58,740 votes cast.
- It was the second election since the Dalai Lama stepped down as head of the government-in-exile in 2011 to focus on his role as the Tibetans’ spiritual leader.
- Tibetans living in exile cast their votes in 40 countries.
Quick Link – Lobsang Sangay re-elected as prime minister
BANKING AND FINANCE
India may surpass China in attracting FDI: Nomura
According to Nomura, the trend of rising inflows to India and moderating inflows to China began in 2013 and FDI inflows to India can surpass those into China this year. According to the Japanese financial services firm, the trend of rising inflows to India and moderating inflows to China began in 2013 and FDI inflows to India can surpass those into China this year. FDI inflows to India are picking up. They rose from 1.7 per cent of GDP in 2014 to 2.1 per cent in 2015, narrowing the gap with China (2.3 per cent of GDP in 2015).
- These trends of rising inflows to India and moderating inflows to China are likely driven by a mix of pull and push factors, such as divergent growth outlooks, ongoing FDI liberalisation/economic reforms in India and rising labour costs in China.
- Rising FDI inflows not only provide a stable source of financing the current account deficit, they also bring in technical know-how, which can boost India’s productivity growth in coming years.
Quick Link – FDI-Nomura
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Buddhist Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme
The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.
The Ministry has identified Buddhist Circuit as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Quick Link – Swadesh Darshan scheme
New naval detachment launched at Lakshadweep’s Androth Island
A new naval detachment was inaugurated at the Androth Island of Lakshadweep that will help India have better surveillance and reach in the Arabian Sea.
- The naval detachment was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command.
- The setting up of a naval detachment will extend India’s naval presence at Androth Island, provide communication network connectivity with the mainland, enable monitoring of Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) and function as an observance and reporting organisation, besides helping in radar surveillance.
- Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands occupy a strategic location in the Arabian Sea. A number of shipping lanes pass close to these islands. Setting up of a Naval Detachment at Androth Island will enhance the navy’s reach and surveillance, and contribute significantly to strengthen maritime security and stability.
Quick Link – New naval detachment
Cabinet Approvals – April 27′ 2016
i) MoU between Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and the Insurance Authority, UAE
ii) Installation of Solar Power Plant of 200 MW or more Capacity at the Central State Farm at Jetsar, Rajasthan
iii) Government decides to allow States to impose and enforce stock limits to check the price rise in sugar
iv) Cabinet approves MoU between India and Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the field of health area and medical science
v) Enhancement of Investment by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in Bharat Oman Refineries Limited
Quick Link – Cabinet Approvals
MoU Between Railways and ISRO
Railways have recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for developing applications in the field of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. The aims and objectives of the MoU is to develop applications and services in tune with the requirements of Indian Railways such as:-
i) Develop an advance warning system at Unmanned Railway Crossings for road users.
ii) Mapping of Indian Railway assets through Geospatial technology.
iii) Develop paperless unreserved ticketing solution based on geo-fencing of station area.
Quick Link – MoU Railways and ISRO
Tourism Ministry launched NOAPS web portal of National Monuments Authority
Union Tourism Ministry has launched NOC Online Application and Processing System or NOAPS Web Portal of National Monuments Authority. The Portal was developed through the technology and expertise of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), who are in the process of mapping of 3686 ASI protected monuments and sites.
- One of the tasks mandated to NMA is to consider the impact of large scale development projects, including public projects proposed in the regulated area; to make recommendations to the Competent Authority for grant of NOC for construction of residential/commercial building in the regulated area of Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites.
- The web portal integrates NMA’s portal with the online portal of local bodies of Delhi and Mumbai viz. NDMC, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and MCDs to facilitate single window clearance for construction on a common application form.
Quick Link – NOAPS
Heart of Asia conference began in New Delhi
The Heart of Asia (HoA) conference began on 26 April 2016 in New Delhi. The conference was attended by officials of a number of countries including Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry. Earlier, Pakistan hosted the fifth Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Islamabad on 9 December 2015.
- The key elements of HoA process have been to devise a sustained, incremental approach to implementation of the confidence building measures (CBM) in Afghanistan.
- It will also seek to speed up reconstruction in Afghanistan with a focus on enhancing investment and connectivity to the country.
- Energy, infrastructure and investment deals to shore up economic growth of Afghanistan may figure in the talks.
Quick Link – HoA
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India may surpass China in attracting FDI
India may surpass China this year in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), as the gap in inflows between the two has been narrowing with the reforms being implemented by India, according to Japanese financial services firm Nomura.
The trend of rising inflows to India and moderating inflows to China are likely driven by a mix of pull and push factors like divergent growth outlooks, ongoing FDI liberalisation and economic reforms in India, compared to rising labour costs in China, the report added.
American credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has also said earlier this month that India’s rising FDI inflows help reduce the current account deficit and also the external financing needs.
Quick Link – FDI
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Launching of GSAT-11 Spacecraft
India has plan to release GSAT-11 spacecraft for launch during the end of 2016 or first quarter of 2017. GSAT-11 is a first generation high throughput communication satellite with a lift-off mass of about 5600 kg, operating in Ka/Ku bands. It is a multi-beam satellite with 32 user beams and 8 hub beams over India. It is planned to launch GSAT-11 spacecraft using procured launch services. At present, the indigenous capability to launch this weight class of satellite is not available.
The in-orbit testing of GSAT-11 satellite is planned to be conducted from the Master Control Facility (MCF) in Hassan, Karnataka and other suitable locations of ISRO Centres. The spacecraft capability includes providing broadband connectivity to rural areas with higher bandwidth as compared to traditional communication satellites.
Quick Link – GSAT-11
SPORTS
ICC suspended Cricket Association of Nepal
The Cricket Association of Nepal has been suspended by the International Cricket Council due to a ‘vacuum of cricket leadership’ in the country and also in view of government interference in the board. The ICC Board held its second meeting of the year at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on Sunday and called for the suspension of the CAN among many other outcomes.
The governing body of world cricket said the membership of CAN will remain suspended until it “becomes free of government interference and is properly structured to begin exploiting the tremendous cricket talent and opportunities that exist in Nepal”. However, the ICC decided that Nepal cricket teams would continue to feature in ICC events.
Quick Link – ICC suspends CAN
Thank you 🙂 🙂 🙂
