WBCS Current Affairs 28/05/2015 to 05/06/2015
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 11:05 am1. World Bank has approved 250 million US dollars loan for Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The project will be funded by loan credit from International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank’s concessionary with a maturity of 25 years, including a 5 year grace period. About Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project The recovery project will play important role in reconstruction of flood-affected public infrastructure. It includes roads, bridges and public infrastructure. It will also strengthen the capacity of state government to respond and better manage natural disasters in future. It will focus on 20 districts of state and help to rebuild damaged public buildings such as schools, hospitals, higher education buildings, fire stations, selected block and district offices. It also seeks to strengthen and reinforce existing weak and vulnerable flood control infrastructure. The investments will primarily include rehabilitation and renovation of storm water pumping stations in several areas. The project will also focus on disaster risk mitigation in state and strengthen the capacity of government entities in disaster risk management. It will also help in preparation of a Hydro-Meteorological Resilience Action Plan to enhance preparedness and achieve resilient recovery. The action plan will focus on river morphology study for some key rivers impacted by the disaster, extreme weather events and urban vulnerability assessment. Background In September 2014, continuous unprecedented heavy heavy rainfall had caused Jhelum, Chenab and Tawi rivers, their tributaries to flow above the danger mark. It had flooded the catchment areas, particularly low lying ones for more than two weeks in the state which had severely affected livelihoods and basic infrastructure in the state.
2. India and United States (US) have signed a new strategically important 10-year defence framework agreement on 3 June 2015. The agreement was signed between Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and visiting US Defence Secretary Dr. Ashton Carter in New Delhi. The framework agreement provides avenues for high level strategic discussions between both nations along with continued exchanges of armed forces and strengthening of defence capabilities.
3. India has joined the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEOI). The new global standards has wide in scope and oblige the treaty partners to exchange wide range of financial information from institutions from their country. In order to implement these standards in India necessary legislative changes will be made in section 285BA of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
4. Jaipur Metro’s Phase-1 was inaugurated by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje by flagging off the inaugural train. Phase 1 of Pink City’s Metro covers 9.6 km long route from Mansarovar to Chandpole with nine metro stations. The phase 1 of Jaipur Metro was completed in record four-and-a-half-years making it one of the fastest-built rail metros in India with cost of 2,023 crore rupees.
5. India and Belarus signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co-operation. The agreements were signed in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee during his state visit to Belarus. President Pranab Mukherjee is on two nation’s tour viz Sweden and Belarus. The tour had started from Sweden on 31 May 2015 and later in Belarus on 3 June.
6. India and Belarus signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co-operation. The agreements were signed in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee during his state visit to Belarus. President Pranab Mukherjee is on two nation’s tour viz Sweden and Belarus. The tour had started from Sweden on 31 May 2015 and later in Belarus on 3 June.
7. Union Government has launched IAP HealthPhone programme, world’s largest digital mass education programme to address malnutrition in women and children. It was launched by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi in New Delhi. This programme is initiative of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in partnership with Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD). United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Supported by Vodafone India. It should be noted that Bolloywood Actor Aamir Khan is support partner and brand ambassador of this programme. Facts about IAP HealthPhone programme IAP HealthPhone aims to tackle the challenge of malnutrition in mothers and children across India. It is a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative that seeks to educate over 6 million girls and women between 13 and 35 years of age and their families on better health and nutrition practices by 2018 by leveraging penetration of mobile phones in the country. It will promote and distribute four re-edited videos from the Poshan (nutritional videos) series in 18 Indian languages, which are jointly produced by Union Ministry WCD and UNICEF. These videos addressed issues of status of women, care of pregnant women and children, breastfeeding. It also seeks to spread awareness and importance of balanced diet, health and simple changes in nutritional care practices to enhance nutritional levels. Vodafone India will encourage the viewing of the four videos by enabling its customers to view/download them for free. It will also provide its users with incentive talk time of Rs.10 on viewing the 4 videos. It will also send around 300 million awareness text messages to its subscribers every year to promote the viewing of the four videos. Vodafone India will also help for comprehensive communication campaign to promote the programme across the country via print and social media. The three-year intensive awareness campaign under IAP HealthPhone programme is expected to benefit to improve health of around 60 million children born by 2025 in India and also play important transformative role in India’s fight against malnutrition.
8. Bangladesh has granted permission to India’s state-owned insurance group Life insurance Corporation (LIC) to do business in the country. It was announced by M Shefaq Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA). LIC will start its operations in Bangladesh as a joint venture (JV) entity to be called LIC Bangladesh Ltd with a paid up capital of one billion Taka. In this JV entity LIC will hold half of the amount while the rest would be owed by its Bangladeshi partners. The capital will be raised from the Bangladesh’s capital market and local entrepreneurs. Earlier in 2013, Bangladesh IRDA had rejected LIC’s proposal to operate in the country citing small capital base.
9. Maharashtra government has approved a new Renewable Energy Policy which aims at achieving 14,400 MW of installed capacity over a period of five years i.e. till 2020. The approval decision of new policy worth 4,156.43 crore rupees was taken by state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra in Mumbai. The policy aims at achieving installed capacity of renewable energy of 21,100 MW by 2020 from current installed capacity of 6,700 MW. The target will be achieved through public-private partnerships (PPP) and captive power projects and rolled out of slew incentives for developers for these renewable power projects.
10. Edward Snowden, former US security contractor and electronic surveillance whistleblower has been awarded a Norwegian prize for freedom of expression (also known as Bjornson Prize). The award was bestowed upon him by the Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression for his work protecting privacy and for shining a critical light on US surveillance of its citizens and others. In 2013, Snowden had uncovered the most extensive US global electronic surveillance programmes carried out by National Security Agency (NSA). Presently, he is leaving his exile in Russia. Earlier, Snowden was awarded Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award in 2014 but chose to accept it by video link. He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the second year in a row.
11. President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Sepp Blatter has resigned amid a corruption scandal which under investigation in United States. Earlier on 30 May 2015, he was re-elected as the FIFA President for a fifth term by defeating his rival candidate Prince Ali bins Al Hussein of Jordan.
12. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 7.5 per cent to 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. It was announced in the second bi-monthly policy of RBI. It says that Cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks has kept unchanged at 4 per cent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). Continuation of providing liquidity under overnight repos at 0.25 per cent of bankwise NDTL at the LAF repo rate. Liquidity under 14-day term repos as well as longer-term repos of up to 0.75 per cent of NDTL of the banking system through auctions. Continuation with overnight/term variable rate repos and reverse repos to smooth liquidity. This the third time RBI has cut interest rates in 2015. RBI has reduced the rates in order to take advantage of subdued inflation and to give more support to an economy.
13. Two people have died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea making it country’s first fatalities from the disease. The first victim was a 58-year-old woman who had contact with the original case, a South Korean who visited the Middle East and second one is of a 71-year-old man. So far, 25 confirmed cases of MERS virus have detected in South Korea and around 680 people who might have come into contact with the infected patients, have been placed in isolation. Facts about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) MERS belongs to the family of coronaviruses which includes large family of viruses such as common cold and Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It was discovered in 2012 and was mostly centred in Saudi Arabia. Source: MERS is a betacoronavirus derived from bats. Camels have shown to have antibodies to MERS, but the exact source of infection in camels has not been identified. Transmission: It can be transmitted from infected person to others after close contact via a respiratory route. It spread’s in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms: fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. Treatment: Till date there is no vaccine available to prevent it. However intensive medical care can help patient to breath.
14. Former Indian Cricket Captain, Ravi Shastri was named interim coach of the Indian cricket team for the tour of Bangladesh starting from 10 June 2015 which will host one Test and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
15. Government of Mauritius has designated internationally renowned biodiversity scientist and biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as their new President. This designation will make her Indian Ocean island nation’s first woman and sixth President, a top ceremonial position. Now this appointment is subject to Mauritian Parliament approval. She will succeed Former president Kailash Purryag, who had stepped down as the island’s figurehead and was appointed in 2012 by then Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam.
16. India and Sweden inked six agreements, during the visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Sweden, key Arctic Council member. It should be noted that Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is the first Indian President to visit Sweden.
17. riends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award by Bangladesh government. He will be bestowed this award for his outstanding support for the Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was member of Lok Sabha. Bangladesh Government will hand over this award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to the country from June 6, 2015.
18. Former Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman have joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI’s) newly-constituted Cricket Advisory Aommittee. They were nominated by BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya with immediate effect. The advisory committee will guide BCCI in all matters related to the game and the national team on various progressive steps needed for future challenges on overseas engagements.
19. Meena Hemchandra was appointed as the Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With this appointment she will be in charge of RBI’s department of banking supervision, non-banking supervision and department of co-operative banking supervision.
20. Hemant Sonawala, one of the pioneer founders of India’s information technology (IT) industry passed away on 30 May 2015 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 78.Sonawala was chairman of Hinditron Group which was started in 1966 and engaged in IT, scientific instrumentation and Tele-communication services. Company’s computer division was started in 1971
21. Researchers from China have successfully developed the first automated teller machine (ATM) with facial recognition technology. The machine has unique security feature which does not allow users to withdraw cash unless their face matches their facial ID. The first of its kind ATM was developed by researchers from Tsinghua University and technology firm Tzekwan.
22. Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa was sworn-in as the 19th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. Acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Justice K Sreedhar Rao administered the oath of office as per provisions of Article 159 of Constitution.
23. Gatimaan Express is the first semi high-speed train service that will be launched between Delhi and Agra. The train will run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph and is expected to cover the 200-km distance between both destinations in about 105 minutes.
24. President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to re-promulgation of land ordinance for third time as per provisions of Article 123 of Indian Constitution. Earlier, Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved re-promulgation of the ordinance, which was to expire on 3 June 2015. Currently, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 is with the Joint Committee of Parliament chaired by BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia for detailed discussion on the provisions of the legislation. Earlier, Lok Sabha had passed the bill, however in Rajya Sabha it was not able to pass were as government is in minority and opposition parties including Congress and Left as well as some NDA allies had opposed it. Article 123 of Constitution It gives legislative power to President. He can issue ordinances when Parliament is in recess i.e. not in session if there is urgent need to have a law on some urgent public matter. The promulgated ordinance has similar effect to an act of parliament. However, every ordinance must be laid and approved by both houses of the parliament within 6 weeks from the reassembling. If not placed and approved by both houses of the parliament after reassembling it becomes invalid or lapses.
25. Punjab government has announced that year 2015-16 will be will be observed as development year to give further fillip to the all-round development of the state. It was announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in Dhuri Assembly segment of the state.
26. Ace Indian shooter Gurpreet Singh has secured India a fifth quota place in shooting for the 2015 Rio Olympics. He achieved this feat by finishing fourth in the Men’s 10 metre Air Pistol final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup held in Munich, Germany.
27. Ace Indian archer Deepika Kumari has clinched the bronze medal in the women’s individual Women’s Recurve event at Antalya Archery World Cup held in Turkey.
28. Dilawar Singh of Haryana has won ‘Pedal for Kashmir’ cycling competition, held along the banks of picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar. During this cycling, Singh pipped local champion Mohammad Akbar Khan who came runner up, followed by another local cyclist Mohammad Adil Teli.
29. Advanced version of indigenous Pinaka mark-II rockets were successfully tested on 30 May 2015 in Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan. They were test-fired using a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). In the test six rounds were successfully tested which had hit the target situated 53 kms from the firing point. The MBRL version of Pinaka has high operational mobility, flexibility and accuracy which is capable of acting as a force multiplier and has been developed to supplement artillery guns. Facts about Pinaka II rockets The Pinaka II rocket is also known as the Weapon Area System (WAS). Jointly and indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army. It has battery of six launchers which can fire rockets with a range of 40-65 kms. WAS can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds with 1.2 tonne of high explosives. Can neutralise a target area of 3.9 square km and supplement existing artillery system at a range beyond 30 km. Can be fitted with wide range of warheads including blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives to anti-tank mines. It should be noted that Pinaka had undergone several tough tests since 1995 and already has been introduced into the Indian army.
30. Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan Football Club (FC) has won the I-League title by defeating Bengaluru Football Club. Mohun Bagan won the title after a 1-1 draw score against Bengaluru FC in their final game of the 2014-15 season played at the Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru. John Johnson of Bengaluru FC had scored a goal in the 41st minute and later Mohun Bagan’s Bello Rasaq scored the equaliser in the 86th minute. With this win, Mohun Bagan FC ended the season with 39 points at top, while Bengaluru FC finished second on the ladder with 37. It should be noted that it is the fourth national title for Mohun Bagan FC after having won the last in 2002 when the I-League tournament was named the National Football League (NFL).
31. World No-Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year across the world on 31 May.
32. A case was lodged in Barabanki court in Uttar Pradesh against Nestle India over inadequate safety standards of its product Maggi. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UP FDA) had asked Nestle India to withdraw a batch of Maggi noodles from the market after they had found that it contained high level of lead and Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a taste enhancer. During these routine tests of UP FDA, it was found that packets of instant noodles of 2014 batch contained high lead concentration of 17.2 parts per million (ppm) which is nearly seven times more that the permissible limit of 0.01 ppm to 2.5 ppm. About Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate is a kind of amino acid. It occurs naturally in many agricultural products. Monosodium glutamate is added artificially to packaged food to enhance flavour. Health impact: Large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort collectively known as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.
33. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the New Bank Note Paper Line unit of 6000 metric ton capacity at Security Paper Mill in Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. He also flagged off the first consignment of one thousand rupee bank notes made indigenously from this paper mill to the Currency Note Press Nasik.
34. Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President for a fifth term. He was declared victorious after rival candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan conceded defeat before final voting went into a second round. (later resigned).
35. Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has appointed Veena Jain as director general (news) in Doordarshan (DD).
36. United States (US) in a landmark decision has removed Cuba from its list of State Sponsor of Terrorism. In this regard US secretary of state John Kerry has signed an order removing Cuba from the terrorism blacklist.
37. Eminent scientist Dr. Selvin Christopher has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the rank of a secretary. As a DG of DRDO, he will also severe as Secretary at Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) for a period of 2 years from the date of taking over the charge.
38. According to recently released United Nations (UN) annual hunger report titled The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015, India was placed at top in the World Hunger list. The report has mentioned that India is home to the highest number of hungry people in the world with around 194 million people, surpassing China. The report was published by UN subsidiary body Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Key facts from report Top ten countries: India (194.6), China (133.8), Pakistan (41.4), Ethiopia (31.6), Bangladesh (26.3), Indonesia (19.4), Tanzania (16.8), Philippines (13.7), Nigeria (12.9) and North Korea (10.5). Note: (population is million). At global level: The corresponding figures have dropped to 795 million in 2014-15 compared to 1 billion in 1990-92. In this case with East Asia led by China accounted for most of the reductions. India: It has shown reduction between 15 years timespan form 1990 to 2015. In 1990-92, in Indian those who were starved of food were numbered around 210.1 million. It came down to 194.6 million in 2014-15. India’s numerous social programmes and schemes have made great strides in reducing the proportion of food insecure persons in the overall population. These schemes are expected to continue to fight hunger and poverty. China: It was able to achieve reduction in the number of hungry people which was much higher than in India. China’s figures came down to 133.8 million in 2014-15 compared to 289 million in 1990-92. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target: 72 out of 129 countries monitored by FAO have achieved the MDG target of halving the prevalence of undernourishment by 2015. The overall analysis of the report had suggested that inclusive economic growth, social protection and agricultural investments along with political stability has played important role in eradication of hunger.
39. Nobel peace prize winning organisation OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) has achieved major milestone of destroying 90 per cent of the global chemical weapons stockpile.
40. Abhinav Bindra has become the fourth Indian shooter to win a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He got qualified to 2016 Olympics after finishing sixth in the Men’s 10 metre Air Rifle final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup held in Munich, Germany. Bindra in the final round of this event had shot a score of 122.4 and overall had shot 627.5 to qualify for the final. It will be his fifth consecutive Olympic Games. It should be noted that, Abhinav Bindra is India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist and had achieved this feat by winning in the 10 m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Earlier, Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela were the Indian shooters who had qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in various shooting disciplines. For Olympics, each country can win a maximum of 30 quota places from a total of 15 shooting disciplines (including shotgun events), two each from each discipline.
41. Indian- origin businessman and diplomat S Chandra Das was appointed as Resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka by Singapore Government. Earlier, Das had served as served as Singapore’s Trade Representative in the USSR erstwhile Soviet Union from 1970 to 1972.
2. India and United States (US) have signed a new strategically important 10-year defence framework agreement on 3 June 2015. The agreement was signed between Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and visiting US Defence Secretary Dr. Ashton Carter in New Delhi. The framework agreement provides avenues for high level strategic discussions between both nations along with continued exchanges of armed forces and strengthening of defence capabilities.
3. India has joined the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEOI). The new global standards has wide in scope and oblige the treaty partners to exchange wide range of financial information from institutions from their country. In order to implement these standards in India necessary legislative changes will be made in section 285BA of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
4. Jaipur Metro’s Phase-1 was inaugurated by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje by flagging off the inaugural train. Phase 1 of Pink City’s Metro covers 9.6 km long route from Mansarovar to Chandpole with nine metro stations. The phase 1 of Jaipur Metro was completed in record four-and-a-half-years making it one of the fastest-built rail metros in India with cost of 2,023 crore rupees.
5. India and Belarus signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co-operation. The agreements were signed in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee during his state visit to Belarus. President Pranab Mukherjee is on two nation’s tour viz Sweden and Belarus. The tour had started from Sweden on 31 May 2015 and later in Belarus on 3 June.
6. India and Belarus signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co-operation. The agreements were signed in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee during his state visit to Belarus. President Pranab Mukherjee is on two nation’s tour viz Sweden and Belarus. The tour had started from Sweden on 31 May 2015 and later in Belarus on 3 June.
7. Union Government has launched IAP HealthPhone programme, world’s largest digital mass education programme to address malnutrition in women and children. It was launched by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi in New Delhi. This programme is initiative of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in partnership with Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD). United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Supported by Vodafone India. It should be noted that Bolloywood Actor Aamir Khan is support partner and brand ambassador of this programme. Facts about IAP HealthPhone programme IAP HealthPhone aims to tackle the challenge of malnutrition in mothers and children across India. It is a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative that seeks to educate over 6 million girls and women between 13 and 35 years of age and their families on better health and nutrition practices by 2018 by leveraging penetration of mobile phones in the country. It will promote and distribute four re-edited videos from the Poshan (nutritional videos) series in 18 Indian languages, which are jointly produced by Union Ministry WCD and UNICEF. These videos addressed issues of status of women, care of pregnant women and children, breastfeeding. It also seeks to spread awareness and importance of balanced diet, health and simple changes in nutritional care practices to enhance nutritional levels. Vodafone India will encourage the viewing of the four videos by enabling its customers to view/download them for free. It will also provide its users with incentive talk time of Rs.10 on viewing the 4 videos. It will also send around 300 million awareness text messages to its subscribers every year to promote the viewing of the four videos. Vodafone India will also help for comprehensive communication campaign to promote the programme across the country via print and social media. The three-year intensive awareness campaign under IAP HealthPhone programme is expected to benefit to improve health of around 60 million children born by 2025 in India and also play important transformative role in India’s fight against malnutrition.
8. Bangladesh has granted permission to India’s state-owned insurance group Life insurance Corporation (LIC) to do business in the country. It was announced by M Shefaq Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA). LIC will start its operations in Bangladesh as a joint venture (JV) entity to be called LIC Bangladesh Ltd with a paid up capital of one billion Taka. In this JV entity LIC will hold half of the amount while the rest would be owed by its Bangladeshi partners. The capital will be raised from the Bangladesh’s capital market and local entrepreneurs. Earlier in 2013, Bangladesh IRDA had rejected LIC’s proposal to operate in the country citing small capital base.
9. Maharashtra government has approved a new Renewable Energy Policy which aims at achieving 14,400 MW of installed capacity over a period of five years i.e. till 2020. The approval decision of new policy worth 4,156.43 crore rupees was taken by state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra in Mumbai. The policy aims at achieving installed capacity of renewable energy of 21,100 MW by 2020 from current installed capacity of 6,700 MW. The target will be achieved through public-private partnerships (PPP) and captive power projects and rolled out of slew incentives for developers for these renewable power projects.
10. Edward Snowden, former US security contractor and electronic surveillance whistleblower has been awarded a Norwegian prize for freedom of expression (also known as Bjornson Prize). The award was bestowed upon him by the Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression for his work protecting privacy and for shining a critical light on US surveillance of its citizens and others. In 2013, Snowden had uncovered the most extensive US global electronic surveillance programmes carried out by National Security Agency (NSA). Presently, he is leaving his exile in Russia. Earlier, Snowden was awarded Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award in 2014 but chose to accept it by video link. He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the second year in a row.
11. President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Sepp Blatter has resigned amid a corruption scandal which under investigation in United States. Earlier on 30 May 2015, he was re-elected as the FIFA President for a fifth term by defeating his rival candidate Prince Ali bins Al Hussein of Jordan.
12. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 7.5 per cent to 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. It was announced in the second bi-monthly policy of RBI. It says that Cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks has kept unchanged at 4 per cent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). Continuation of providing liquidity under overnight repos at 0.25 per cent of bankwise NDTL at the LAF repo rate. Liquidity under 14-day term repos as well as longer-term repos of up to 0.75 per cent of NDTL of the banking system through auctions. Continuation with overnight/term variable rate repos and reverse repos to smooth liquidity. This the third time RBI has cut interest rates in 2015. RBI has reduced the rates in order to take advantage of subdued inflation and to give more support to an economy.
13. Two people have died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea making it country’s first fatalities from the disease. The first victim was a 58-year-old woman who had contact with the original case, a South Korean who visited the Middle East and second one is of a 71-year-old man. So far, 25 confirmed cases of MERS virus have detected in South Korea and around 680 people who might have come into contact with the infected patients, have been placed in isolation. Facts about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) MERS belongs to the family of coronaviruses which includes large family of viruses such as common cold and Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It was discovered in 2012 and was mostly centred in Saudi Arabia. Source: MERS is a betacoronavirus derived from bats. Camels have shown to have antibodies to MERS, but the exact source of infection in camels has not been identified. Transmission: It can be transmitted from infected person to others after close contact via a respiratory route. It spread’s in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms: fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. Treatment: Till date there is no vaccine available to prevent it. However intensive medical care can help patient to breath.
14. Former Indian Cricket Captain, Ravi Shastri was named interim coach of the Indian cricket team for the tour of Bangladesh starting from 10 June 2015 which will host one Test and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
15. Government of Mauritius has designated internationally renowned biodiversity scientist and biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as their new President. This designation will make her Indian Ocean island nation’s first woman and sixth President, a top ceremonial position. Now this appointment is subject to Mauritian Parliament approval. She will succeed Former president Kailash Purryag, who had stepped down as the island’s figurehead and was appointed in 2012 by then Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam.
16. India and Sweden inked six agreements, during the visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Sweden, key Arctic Council member. It should be noted that Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is the first Indian President to visit Sweden.
17. riends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award by Bangladesh government. He will be bestowed this award for his outstanding support for the Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was member of Lok Sabha. Bangladesh Government will hand over this award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to the country from June 6, 2015.
18. Former Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman have joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI’s) newly-constituted Cricket Advisory Aommittee. They were nominated by BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya with immediate effect. The advisory committee will guide BCCI in all matters related to the game and the national team on various progressive steps needed for future challenges on overseas engagements.
19. Meena Hemchandra was appointed as the Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With this appointment she will be in charge of RBI’s department of banking supervision, non-banking supervision and department of co-operative banking supervision.
20. Hemant Sonawala, one of the pioneer founders of India’s information technology (IT) industry passed away on 30 May 2015 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 78.Sonawala was chairman of Hinditron Group which was started in 1966 and engaged in IT, scientific instrumentation and Tele-communication services. Company’s computer division was started in 1971
21. Researchers from China have successfully developed the first automated teller machine (ATM) with facial recognition technology. The machine has unique security feature which does not allow users to withdraw cash unless their face matches their facial ID. The first of its kind ATM was developed by researchers from Tsinghua University and technology firm Tzekwan.
22. Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa was sworn-in as the 19th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. Acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Justice K Sreedhar Rao administered the oath of office as per provisions of Article 159 of Constitution.
23. Gatimaan Express is the first semi high-speed train service that will be launched between Delhi and Agra. The train will run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph and is expected to cover the 200-km distance between both destinations in about 105 minutes.
24. President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to re-promulgation of land ordinance for third time as per provisions of Article 123 of Indian Constitution. Earlier, Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved re-promulgation of the ordinance, which was to expire on 3 June 2015. Currently, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 is with the Joint Committee of Parliament chaired by BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia for detailed discussion on the provisions of the legislation. Earlier, Lok Sabha had passed the bill, however in Rajya Sabha it was not able to pass were as government is in minority and opposition parties including Congress and Left as well as some NDA allies had opposed it. Article 123 of Constitution It gives legislative power to President. He can issue ordinances when Parliament is in recess i.e. not in session if there is urgent need to have a law on some urgent public matter. The promulgated ordinance has similar effect to an act of parliament. However, every ordinance must be laid and approved by both houses of the parliament within 6 weeks from the reassembling. If not placed and approved by both houses of the parliament after reassembling it becomes invalid or lapses.
25. Punjab government has announced that year 2015-16 will be will be observed as development year to give further fillip to the all-round development of the state. It was announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in Dhuri Assembly segment of the state.
26. Ace Indian shooter Gurpreet Singh has secured India a fifth quota place in shooting for the 2015 Rio Olympics. He achieved this feat by finishing fourth in the Men’s 10 metre Air Pistol final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup held in Munich, Germany.
27. Ace Indian archer Deepika Kumari has clinched the bronze medal in the women’s individual Women’s Recurve event at Antalya Archery World Cup held in Turkey.
28. Dilawar Singh of Haryana has won ‘Pedal for Kashmir’ cycling competition, held along the banks of picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar. During this cycling, Singh pipped local champion Mohammad Akbar Khan who came runner up, followed by another local cyclist Mohammad Adil Teli.
29. Advanced version of indigenous Pinaka mark-II rockets were successfully tested on 30 May 2015 in Pokhran field firing ranges in Rajasthan. They were test-fired using a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). In the test six rounds were successfully tested which had hit the target situated 53 kms from the firing point. The MBRL version of Pinaka has high operational mobility, flexibility and accuracy which is capable of acting as a force multiplier and has been developed to supplement artillery guns. Facts about Pinaka II rockets The Pinaka II rocket is also known as the Weapon Area System (WAS). Jointly and indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army. It has battery of six launchers which can fire rockets with a range of 40-65 kms. WAS can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds with 1.2 tonne of high explosives. Can neutralise a target area of 3.9 square km and supplement existing artillery system at a range beyond 30 km. Can be fitted with wide range of warheads including blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives to anti-tank mines. It should be noted that Pinaka had undergone several tough tests since 1995 and already has been introduced into the Indian army.
30. Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan Football Club (FC) has won the I-League title by defeating Bengaluru Football Club. Mohun Bagan won the title after a 1-1 draw score against Bengaluru FC in their final game of the 2014-15 season played at the Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru. John Johnson of Bengaluru FC had scored a goal in the 41st minute and later Mohun Bagan’s Bello Rasaq scored the equaliser in the 86th minute. With this win, Mohun Bagan FC ended the season with 39 points at top, while Bengaluru FC finished second on the ladder with 37. It should be noted that it is the fourth national title for Mohun Bagan FC after having won the last in 2002 when the I-League tournament was named the National Football League (NFL).
31. World No-Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year across the world on 31 May.
32. A case was lodged in Barabanki court in Uttar Pradesh against Nestle India over inadequate safety standards of its product Maggi. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UP FDA) had asked Nestle India to withdraw a batch of Maggi noodles from the market after they had found that it contained high level of lead and Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a taste enhancer. During these routine tests of UP FDA, it was found that packets of instant noodles of 2014 batch contained high lead concentration of 17.2 parts per million (ppm) which is nearly seven times more that the permissible limit of 0.01 ppm to 2.5 ppm. About Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate is a kind of amino acid. It occurs naturally in many agricultural products. Monosodium glutamate is added artificially to packaged food to enhance flavour. Health impact: Large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort collectively known as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.
33. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the New Bank Note Paper Line unit of 6000 metric ton capacity at Security Paper Mill in Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. He also flagged off the first consignment of one thousand rupee bank notes made indigenously from this paper mill to the Currency Note Press Nasik.
34. Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President for a fifth term. He was declared victorious after rival candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan conceded defeat before final voting went into a second round. (later resigned).
35. Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has appointed Veena Jain as director general (news) in Doordarshan (DD).
36. United States (US) in a landmark decision has removed Cuba from its list of State Sponsor of Terrorism. In this regard US secretary of state John Kerry has signed an order removing Cuba from the terrorism blacklist.
37. Eminent scientist Dr. Selvin Christopher has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the rank of a secretary. As a DG of DRDO, he will also severe as Secretary at Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) for a period of 2 years from the date of taking over the charge.
38. According to recently released United Nations (UN) annual hunger report titled The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015, India was placed at top in the World Hunger list. The report has mentioned that India is home to the highest number of hungry people in the world with around 194 million people, surpassing China. The report was published by UN subsidiary body Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Key facts from report Top ten countries: India (194.6), China (133.8), Pakistan (41.4), Ethiopia (31.6), Bangladesh (26.3), Indonesia (19.4), Tanzania (16.8), Philippines (13.7), Nigeria (12.9) and North Korea (10.5). Note: (population is million). At global level: The corresponding figures have dropped to 795 million in 2014-15 compared to 1 billion in 1990-92. In this case with East Asia led by China accounted for most of the reductions. India: It has shown reduction between 15 years timespan form 1990 to 2015. In 1990-92, in Indian those who were starved of food were numbered around 210.1 million. It came down to 194.6 million in 2014-15. India’s numerous social programmes and schemes have made great strides in reducing the proportion of food insecure persons in the overall population. These schemes are expected to continue to fight hunger and poverty. China: It was able to achieve reduction in the number of hungry people which was much higher than in India. China’s figures came down to 133.8 million in 2014-15 compared to 289 million in 1990-92. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target: 72 out of 129 countries monitored by FAO have achieved the MDG target of halving the prevalence of undernourishment by 2015. The overall analysis of the report had suggested that inclusive economic growth, social protection and agricultural investments along with political stability has played important role in eradication of hunger.
39. Nobel peace prize winning organisation OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) has achieved major milestone of destroying 90 per cent of the global chemical weapons stockpile.
40. Abhinav Bindra has become the fourth Indian shooter to win a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He got qualified to 2016 Olympics after finishing sixth in the Men’s 10 metre Air Rifle final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup held in Munich, Germany. Bindra in the final round of this event had shot a score of 122.4 and overall had shot 627.5 to qualify for the final. It will be his fifth consecutive Olympic Games. It should be noted that, Abhinav Bindra is India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist and had achieved this feat by winning in the 10 m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Earlier, Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela were the Indian shooters who had qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in various shooting disciplines. For Olympics, each country can win a maximum of 30 quota places from a total of 15 shooting disciplines (including shotgun events), two each from each discipline.
41. Indian- origin businessman and diplomat S Chandra Das was appointed as Resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka by Singapore Government. Earlier, Das had served as served as Singapore’s Trade Representative in the USSR erstwhile Soviet Union from 1970 to 1972.