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!!!
1. Thomas Cook India elevates Madhavan Menon as CMD
Travel services provider Thomas Cook India has re-designated its present MD Madhavan Menon as Chairman and Managing Director, effective January 1, 2016. The board of Directors has announced the appointment of Sunil B Mathur and Nilesh S Vikamsey as additional non-executive independent directors of the company, effective December 23, 2015. The board has considered and accepted the resignation of Mahendra Kumar Sharma, non-executive chairman (independent), with effect from close of business hours of December 31, 2015.
Quick Link – Thomas Cook
2. Coast Guard launches ‘Operation Oliva’ to intercept unlawful trawling along Odisha coast
The Coast Guard has launched ‘Operation Oliva’ to intercept unlawful trawling activities along Odisha coast while embarking on its annual mission to ensure safe mid-sea sojourn of Olive Ridley turtles. The Odisha government agencies have sought for Coast Guard’s services in the turtle conservation programme. The Coast Guard had pressed into service an improvised ship, besides a dronier aircraft to keep a tab on illegal fishing in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. As the turtles had begun arriving en masse for mating, an aircraft was being pressed into service for easy interception of illegal trawling operation along the marine sanctuary water zone.
Quick Link – Operation Oliva
3. India delivers three Mi 25 choppers to Afghanistan
India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country. The three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists. The choppers were taken to Afghanistan in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
While Afghanistan has repeatedly sought India’s support in beefing up its military’s fighting capability in terms of machinery, India had shied away till now. The development came after the recent visit of Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar to New Delhi.
Quick Link – Mi25 Choppers
4. Former wicket-keeper batsman Syed Kirmani to get Lifetime Achievement Award
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated former India wicket keeper Syed Kirmani to receive the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2015. The Awards Committee met at Cricket Centre, BCCI headquarters – Mumbai and unanimously nominated Kirmani for Award for 2015. The committee consists of BCCI president Shashank Manohar, secretary Anurag Thakur and N Ram, editor – The Hindu.
The BCCI celebrates the birth centenary of Col. Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, the country’s first Test captain, by instituting an annual Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour individuals for their unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket, on and off the field. The Award comprises a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs. 25 lakhs.
Quick Link – Syed Kirmani
5. Biocon introduces advanced therapy to treat Hepatitis C
Biotechnology major Biocon has launched advanced novel therapy for the treatment of Hepatitis C at low cost. CIMIVIR-L, a fixed dose combination of Ledipasvir 90 mg and Sofosbuvir 400 mg, will be made available to patients in India at a fraction of the global cost of the innovator brand. The cost of a 12-week course of this combination therapy in the US is USD 94,500 (about Rs 63 lakh). Biocon, President-Marketing, Ravi Limaye said the introduction of CIMIVIR-LTM will strengthen the company’s current portfolio of virology products.
CIMIVIR-L is an equivalent of the innovator product commercialised by Gilead Sciences in the US. Biocon had entered into a licensing agreement last year with US-based Gilead to manufacture and commercialise its chronic Hepatitis-C blockbuster product range, Sofosbuvir and Sofosbuvir-Ledipasvir combination in India and in select emerging markets.
Quick Link – Biocon
6. Reliance Defence Signs Pact with Russia’s Almaz-Antey
Reliance Defence has signed a manufacturing and maintenance deal worth $6 billion with Russia’s Almaz-Antey, the maker of an air defence system. The partnership between the Indian firm controlled by billionaire Anil Ambani and the Russian firm was announced as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a trip to Moscow aimed at strengthening defence ties.
Indian defence ministry said the government had cleared the purchase of five S-400 air defence systems that are estimated to cost about $4.5 billion in a bid to modernise the country’s defences against airborne attacks. India is forecast to spend $250 billion over the next decade to upgrade its military and the government wants a greater role for Indian state and defence firms.
Quick Link – Almaz-Antey
7. Colombia legalises marijuana for medical use
Colombia’s president Juan Manuel Santos has signed a decree fully legalising medical marijuana in a shift away from preventing drug crop production. Until now marijuana production in Colombia had fallen into a legal grey area. While a 1986 law allowed for the manufacture, export, sale and medical and scientific use of marijuana, the practice was, until Tuesday, never formally regulated.
Now anyone wishing to grow marijuana must now apply to the National Narcotics Council for a licence. Medical marijuana is used for medical ailments such as Crohn’s disease, seizures, HIV and nausea. A number of countries in Latin America have decriminalised or legalised marijuana use in recent years, as have US states such as Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Uruguay fully legalised the production, sale and recreational use of marijuana in 2013.
Quick Link – C0lombia
8. RBI extends deadline to exchange pre-2005 notes to June 30, 2016
The Reserve Bank had, in June 2015, set the last date for public to exchange pre-2005 banknotes notes as December 31, 2015. RBI decided to extend the date for the public to exchange their pre-2005 banknotes till June 30, 2016. However, RBI added that from January 1, 2016, such facility will only be available at identified bank branches and Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank.
Soliciting cooperation from members of public in withdrawing these bank notes from circulation, RBI has urged them to exchange pre-2005 bank notes at the identified bank branches or Issues Offices of the Reserve Bank, convenient to them.
Quick Link – RBI’s Extension
9. 24th December: National Consumer Day
National Consumers Right Day is observed across India on 24th December of every year. The date was chosen, because on this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted on this day in 1986. The day provides an unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Quick Link – National Consumers Day
10. China builds 3rd largest hydropower station on Yangtze River
China has started construction of its third largest hydropower station on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, a project estimated to cost more than 100 billion yuan (USD 15.4 billion). The Wudongde project, located upstream from three other hydropower stations on the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze, is the world’s 7th largest in operation or under construction.
The project has a designed capacity of 10.2 gigawatts and will be able to generate 38.9 billion kwh of electricity per year after its 12 generating units start operation. The first unit is expected to start operating in 2020. The project, which was approved by the State Council on December 16, is estimated to cost more than 100 billion yuan (USD 15.4 billion). The project’s construction will require more than 16,000 workers in the next few years.
Quick Link – Hydropower Station
11. Former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala HC VS Malimath dead
Former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala High Courts VS Malimath has died at the age of 86. Justice Malimath has been undergoing treatment for viral infection and significant weakness. He is survived by a son and four daughters. Justice Malimath, a post-graduate diploma in Public International Law from University of London, commenced practice at the High Court of Bombay in 1952. He later shifted to Bengaluru where he went on to become Advocate General in 1968. He was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Karnataka in 1970 and its Chief Justice in 1984.
Quick Link – VS Malimath
