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. Union Government unveils National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020
The National Biotechnology Development Strategy -2015-2020 has been unveiled by the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi.
Objective
The Strategy aims to establish India as a world-class bio-manufacturing hub. It intends to launch a major mission, backed with significant investments, for the creation of new biotech products, create a strong infrastructure for R&D and commercialization, and empower India’s human resources scientifically and technologically.
Quick Link – National Biotech Devpt Strategy
2. LRSAM Barak 8 Missile successfully tested from INS Kolkata
In a boost to India’s maritime prowess, the Indian Navy has successfully test-fired 70 km-range Surface-to-Air Missile Barak 8 from INS Kolkata, paving the way for installation of the system, developed jointly by India and Israel, on board country’s frontline warships.
With this test, India has joined a select group of countries which has such an anti-air warfare capability for their navies. According to Navy, this was a quantum jump for the country’s air defence prowess. The Barak 8 missile fired by the Indian Navy from its warship INS Kolkata on the Western Seaboard successfully intercepted an aerial target at extended ranges. The missile has a range of nearly 70 km.
Quick Link – BARAK 8
3. WHO declares Guinea Ebola free
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Guinea Ebola free, thereby ending two-year long plague in West Africa. This is the first time in two years- when original chain of transmission that began in Gueckedou, Guinea in December 2013 and spread to seven other countries- that all three Ebola affected countries in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) are Ebola free. The WHO said that 42 days have passed since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease tested negative for the second time.
The end of Ebola transmission in Guinea marks an important milestone in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In addition to the original chain of transmission, there have been 10 new small Ebola outbreaks (or ‘flares’) between March and November 2015. These appear to have been due to the re-emergence of a persistent virus from the survivor population.
Quick Link – Ebola Free
4. DAVA project wins 2015 eASIA Award
The Department of Commerces DAVA (Drug Authentication and Verification Application) project has won the 2015 eASIA Award under Trade Facilitation category. The announcement has been made by Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) in Tehran, Iran. This project is a significant step in this direction and will contribute considerably in enhancing the brand image of our pharmaceutical exporters.
Quick Link – DAVA Project
5. Dr Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan appointed DG of National Centre for Good Governance
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Dr. Gyanendra D. Bandgaiyan, former Chief Economist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as Director General, National Centre for Good Governance under the Department of Personnel & Training. The appointment was for a period of three years which is extendable by another two years or upto 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Quick Link – Center for Good Governance
6. Virat Kohli named BCCI Cricketer of the Year
Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has been named the winner of the Polly Umrigar award for BCCI’s international cricketer of the year, while Mithali Raj was picked for the top women’s award in the BCCI annual honours to be given away on January 5 in Mumbai.
Kohli
Under Kohli, the Indian team ended a 22-year wait for a series win on Sri Lankan soil before battering world No 1 South Africa to give them their first overseas loss in nine years. The right-hander has done well with the bat too, scoring 640 runs in 15 Test innings that he played at an average of 42.67. In his 20 ODI outings this year, Kohli managed 623 runs at an average of 36.65.
Mithali
Mithali, on the other hand, became the first Indian woman and second overall to complete 5,000 runs in the ODI format this year. Mithali will be presented with the MA Chidambaram Trophy for the best women’s cricketer.
Quick Link – Virat Kohli
7. Indian-origin cancer researcher knighted by Queen Elizabeth
An Indian-origin cancer research expert has received a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his “influential” work on prevention and treatment of cancer in the annual New Year’s Honours list published in London. Harpal Singh Kumar, who is the chief executive of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), has been honoured for services to cancer research and being “hugely influential in promoting research into the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and cancer care.” Mr Kumar leads this year’s honours list of Indian-origin names, covering fields of entrepreneurship, financial services and community service.
Quick Link – Knighthood
8. Important Cabinet Approvals
i. Union Cabinet gives nod for India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation deal
ii. Union Cabinet approved construction of 69 bridges on trilateral highway in Myanmar
iii. Union Cabinet approved MoU between India & Jordan for promoting cooperation in IT & Electronics
iv. CCEA approves Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for textile sector
Quick Link – Cabinet Approvals
9. Charlie Hebdo to release special issue one year after the terror attack
Magazine Charlie Hebdo said it would release nearly a million copies of a special issue to mark a year since jihadists killed a dozen people in its Paris offices.The 32-page double issue – featuring a selection of drawings by the cartoonists who died in the attack.
The release comes at a time of heightened concern about more attacks in Europe after jihadists with links to the Islamic State group killed 130 people in Paris in November, in a wave of coordinated shootings and explosions.
Quick Link – Charlie Hebdo
10. No UK financial aid to India from January 1 2016
A decision, India will no longer receive financial aid from the UK , will be implemented from January 1 2016, which was taken by the British government in 2012 after a domestic outcry about India’s growing economic status. In 2012, then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had famously said British aid was “a peanut” (sic) in India’s total development spend and that the country could very well do without it.
UK international development secretary Justine Greening had announced three years ago that Britain`s aid to India would end by the end of 2015, as the two countries developed “a new kind of relationship”.
Quick Link – Financial Aid
11. Food and Drug Scanner to be unveiled in 2016
California-based technology startup Stratio Inc is set to unveil its first product called LinkSquare at the 2016 International CES in Las Vegas.
Quick Link – Food and Drug Scanner
12. Disney reveals ‘VertiGo’ wall climbing robot
The wall-climbing robot called VertiGo is invented by Disney which is equipped with four wheels and two propellers, which allow it flip upward and move from the ground to the wall. It can drive smoothly on a vertical surface, maintaining its hold even when perpendicular to the ground.
Quick Link – VertiGO
13. R Ashwin is number one Bowler of 2015, Steve smith tops batsman
Ravichandran Ashwin of India and Australia captain Steve Smith have finished 2015 as the number-one ranked bowler and batsman respectively in the ICC Test Player Rankings. The rankings were released on 31st December 2015 following the conclusion of the Boxing Day Tests in Durban and Melbourne.
Ashwin has achieved the number-one spot for first time in his career after injury prevented Dale Steyn from bowling more than 3.5 overs in England’s second innings.Even though the fast bowler bagged four wickets in the first innings, these were not enough for him to end the year as the number-one ranked bowler for the sixth time since 2009.
Quick Link – Top Players
14. Adnan Sami is Indian now
Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1 following his request to the Centre to legalise his status in the country on humanitarian grounds.
The 46-year-old singer, who has made India his second home for the past few years, had made a representation to the Home Ministry on May 26 this year requesting his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.
Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, grants Indian citizenship to applicants with distinguished contribution in the field of science, philosophy, art, literature, world peace or human progress via a certificate of “naturalisation”.
Quick Link – Adnan Sami
15. Union Cabinet approves Raptor MoU for conservation of migratory birds of prey
The Union Cabinet on 29th December 2015 approved to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia. It is also called the ‘Raptor MoU’ with the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). It was initiated on October 22, 2008 and came into effect on November 1 the same year.
The CMS or Bonn Convention, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to conserve migratory species throughout their range. India had become a party to the CMS since November 1, 1983.
Quick Link – MoU for bird conservation
Thank You 🙂 🙂 🙂
