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June 2015 Current Affairs Capsule
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Ameenah Gurib-Fakim The government of Mauritius designated Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as the Indian Ocean Island nation‘s new president, making her the first woman to hold the ceremonial position. o Gurib-Fakim , 56, will be the first female President of the Island, which gained independence from Britain in 1968 and which replaced Britain‘s Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in 1992. o Mauritius is one of the richest, and least corrupt, countries in Africa, a middle- income country of some 1.3 million people with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000 (7,200 euros). o Gurib-Fakim is currently director of the Mauritius-headquartered Centre for Phytotherapy Research (CEPHYR) , which carries out research on plants for use in cosmetics, nutrition and therapy. Shri Vijai Sharma Shri Vijai Sharma (Indian Administrative Service:1974), Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission, New Delhi, has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner. o Shri Sudhir Bhargava (Indian Administrative Service:1979), retired Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has been appointed as the Information Commissioner in the Central Information Commission, New Delhi. o The above appointments have been made for a term of five years from the date(s) on which they enter upon their office(s) or till they attain the age of sixty five years, whichever is earlier.
o Central Information Commission , which is mandated to resolve appeals and complaints filed against government departments or public authorities by information seekers under the Right to Information Act , has been working without a Chief for over nine months, after the tenure of CIC Rajiv Mathur ended on August 22, 2014.
Shri K.V. Chowdary
Shri V. Chowdary (Indian Revenue Service:1978) retired Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT ) has been appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) , New Delhi. o Shri M. Bhasin , Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Ba nk, has been appointed as the Vigilance Commissioner in the CVC , New Delhi. o The above appointments have been made for a term of four years from the date(s) on which they enter upon their office(s) or till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. o Chowdary , a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, is working as an Adviser in Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to check black money. o CVC is conceived to be the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
Sharad Pawar
Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar was unanimously re-elected as the president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a post he has occupied since he founded the party in 1999 after parting ways with Congress.
Mogens Lykketoft
The United Nations General Assembly has elected by acclamation Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark as President of its upcoming 70th session.
India-born former Google executive Nikesh Arora has been appointed the President of Japan‖s telecommunications giant SoftBank Corp that paid the ―rising star‖ a whopping USD 135 million for the financial year 2014. o Mr Arora, 47, was appointed company president and chief operating officer at a general meeting of shareholders here. o In less than a year at SoftBank, Mr Arora has already directed about 200 billion yen ($1.67 billion) worth of deals that include investments in Indian technology start-ups – Snapdeal , an online marketplace, and taxi-booking service Ola Cabs , Nikkei Business Daily reported.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo , one of the brightest stars of modern football, has a galaxy named after him. o COSMOS Redshift 7 or CR7 , as it‘s popularly known, is one of the oldest galaxies in the universe. It‘s said to have existed when the universe was only 800 million years old, i.e. some 13 billion years ago. o The Portugal captain and the Real Madrid superstar was bestowed with the honour by the European Southern Observatory(ESO). o The ESO described the CR7 galaxy as ―by far the brightest galaxy yet found in the early Universe.‖ Sister Nirmala Joshi Sister Nirmala Joshi , who succeeded Mother Teresa as the head of the Missionaries of Charity founded by the Nobel laureate, died here this morning. o She was 81. A Missionaries of Charity official said Sister Nirmala was not keeping well for the past few days and her health was gradually deteriorating. o On March 13, 1997 , six months before Mother Teresa‟s death, Nirmala Joshi was selected the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity. She expanded the organisation‘s reach to 134 countries by opening centres in nations such as Afghanistan, Israel and Thailand.
Dileep Singh Bhuria
Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh Dileep Singh Bhuria , one of the prominent tribal faces of the saffron party, passed away after a brief illness at a hospital in Gurgaon today. o Bhuria started his political career with Congress and first made it to Parliament from Jhabua , a tribal-dominated district in Madhya Pradesh which he made his pocket-borough in 1980 when Indira Gandhi swept back to power at the Centre. o He won Jhabua Lok Sabha seat five times consecutively – from 1980 to 1996. o Born on June 19, 1944, Bhuria began his legislative stint in the state in 1972 when he was elected MLA from Petlawad seat in Jhabua district. o He served as National SC/ST Commission Chairman during the Vajpayee government. Bhuria also joined Gondwana Gantantra Party for a brief period.
Zaheer Abbas
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has assumed the role of the ICC President on day three of the apex cricket body‘s Annual Conference week here. o Zaheer began his one-year term and thanked the ICC Board and the Full Council for confirming his nomination. o Zaheer, 67, played 78 Tests and 62 ODIs from 1969 to 1985 in which he scored 5,062 and 2,572 runs, respectively. He also played in the 1975, 1979 and 1983 ICC Cricket World Cups and captained Pakistan in 14 Tests and 13 ODIs. o With 108 centuries, Zaheer is the only Asian batsman to score a century of first- class centuries as he finished his 22-year career with 34,843 runs. o Zaheer was also an ICC match referee in the 1993 series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Sri Lanka. o The ICC has 105 members. The ICC President is required under the body‘s Memorandum and Articles of Association to be ‗an iconic former international cricketer of high standing and repute (unless truly exceptional circumstances mean that nobody so qualified is available)‘.
India and US signed a new strategically important 10-year defence framework agreement setting the stage for co-development and manufacture of defence equipment and technology besides holding joint exercises and greater intelligence sharing. o The agreement, which was decided during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India in January and focuses on issues ranging from maritime security , aircraft carrier to jet engine technology cooperation, was inked by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. o The signing of the agreement comes as the two countries moved ahead on two of the four ―pathfinder projects‖ identified under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) during Obama‘s visit. o One of the projects is the development of a high-tech mobile power source for the Marine Corps that would work on solar energy, be smaller, more portable and efficient, and which could be used in remote outposts. o The other is a protective suit for the Indian Army that would be more lightweight and effective when used in chemical and biological hazard incidents. o During Obama‘s visit, both countries had identified four ―pathfinder projects‖ as well as decided to explore development of aircraft carrier technologies and jet engines. Marking the World Environment Day on June 5 , Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling at the lawns of his Race Course Road residence and exhorted people to work for protecting the environment for the sake of future generations.
Land Boundary Agreement
India and Bangladesh opened a new chapter in their ties as they settled the 41- year-old boundary dispute and promised to do more in other areas amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi‟s announcement of a fresh line of credit of USD 2 billion to the neighbouring country.
o The two sides exchanged documents regarding the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that was passed unanimously by the Parliament last month in the presence of Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina besides West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. o The exchange of documents paves way for the operationalisation of the 1974 India-Bangladesh LBA that provides for exchange of 161 enclaves between the two countries. o A total 111 border enclaves will be transferred to Bangladesh in exchange for 51 that will become part of India. o Under the agreement, India will have an advantage of 500 acres and 10, acres will go to Bangladesh. o The agreement settles the question of citizenship for over 50,000 people. o The issue has been a major irritant in ties between the two countries which share a 4,096-km-long border, most of which is porous. o Boundary pact was signed in 1974 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Bangladesh‟s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to settle the border issue.
A Memorandum of Understanding was arrived at between India and Netherlands for development of vaccines. o The MoU signed under ‗ Make in India‟ initiative of Government of India will enable the Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Ltd (BIBCOL), a Central PSU under Department of Biotechnology, to develop Measles – Rubella vaccine at its plant at Chola, Bulandshahr, U.P. o Translational Vaccinology (INTRAVACC) a government-based institute of the Netherlands will extend technical support for the development of vaccine. The MoU was signed in the august presence of the Prime Minister of The Netherlands Shri Mark Rutte during his visit to New Delhi.
India and Bangladesh inked as many as 22 agreements , including on curbing human trafficking, smuggling of fake currency and setting up an Indian Economic Zone , to boost bilateral ties.
o The chief component under the campaign is the Jal Gram Yojana , whereby one village facing acute water scarcity would be selected from each of the 672 districts in the country. o The scheme will identify and train a cadre of local water professionals, preferably women panchayat members, to be called “Jal Mitra” who will create mass awareness about water problems. o The scheme also provides for a “Sujalam Card” which will provide annual status/information about the quality of drinking water available for a Jal Gram.
The Union government has launched an insurance pool of Rs. 1,500 crore , mandatory under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to offset the financial burden on foreign nuclear suppliers in case of an accident. o The announcement was made here on Saturday by Union Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh. o The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLND), had suggested that the nuclear insurance pool be made operational with funds of Rs 1, crore. o R K Sinha , Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy, said this would be a solution for suppliers‘ concerns about liability from nuclear risks. o Clauses in the CLND Act, which give the operator the Right to Recourse and allow it to sue the suppliers in case of any accident were seen as being a major hindrance to the growth of the nuclear industry. These concerns led to to the formation of the Indian nuclear insurance pool. o Under the Rs 1,500 crore pool, set up by General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) and 11 other non-life insurers including New India, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance and United India Insurance from the public sector apart from private insurance companies, policies offered will be a nuclear operators liability insurance policy and a nuclear suppliers‘ special contingency (against right to recourse) insurance policy.
The Election Commission suspended the recognition of P A Sangma”s National People”s Party for failing to file its election expenditure statement for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. o ―Exercising power under para 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, the Election Commission of India has suspended the recognition of the National People‟s Party , a recognized state party in Meghalaya, due to its failure in filing the election expenditure statement of the party,‖ the EC said. o This is for the time that the poll watchdog has taken such a step of suspending recognition of a party using its powers under Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968 ―for its failure to follow the Lawful directions of the Commission,‖ EC said in a statement. o The party had requested time to submit its expenditure statement by April 15, 2015 and again May 15, 2015 ―but failed to honour the deadline‖
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched an Augmented Reality (AR) application named „Sakaar‟ to highlight the achievements of the Department of Space during one year in office of the present Government. DECU-ISRO has developed this application for Android devices. o Sakaar consists of 3D models of MOM, RISAT, rockets (PSLV, GSLV Mk-III); videos of INSAT 3D-predicting cyclones, GSLV D5/Cryo, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) orbit insertion, launch video of MOM, 360 degree animated view of MOM; Anaglyph of Mars surface. The sakaar app is loaded on webpage with the URL: http://www.sac.gov.in/SACSITE/sakaar/index.html. The user can scan the QR code using a QR code reader on the device for downloading the app. o Augmented Reality is a live direct view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated 3D models, animations, videos etc. The technology enhances user‘s current perception of reality. Augmentation is in real time and the information is overlaid on the live
o Besides, a web-portal on crop insurance was also unveiled to create awareness and encourage more farmers to insure their crops taking advantage of existing schemes. The Web portal, however, has been launched in English. o The free SMS alerts, to be sent in English, Hindi and regional languages as per farmers‘ request, will be issued to over one crore farmers whose mobile phones are already registered on the government‘s mKisan portal. o The data for SMS service would be taken from the 146 weather stations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). o In the second phase, the portal will be launched in Hindi and other regional languages and will also provide an online interface for filing insurance applications and scrutiny of the same by banks.
India offered its expertise to Tanzania in development of its potentially rich natural gas sector and decided to extend e-tourist visa to people of the African nation even as the two countries signed eight MoUs to expand engagements in diverse areas. o During extensive talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete , both the countries also decided to establish a Joint Working Group to strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism.
ISRO has said it will provide navigational support to the country‘s Railways through „GAGAN‟ (GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation) system. o GAGAN is an indigenous navigational guide system developed by ISRO on the lines of GPS system of the U.S. o GAGAN was jointly developed by the ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) with a view to assist aircraft in accurate landing. o The GAGAN signal is being broadcast through two Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites — GSAT8 and GSAT. o ISRO will provide satellite-generated information to the railways through space technology-based tools that will provide safety at unmanned level crossings.
o With the use of GAGAN software system, a train would know the location of any unmanned level crossing and soon a a warning signal can be given. o As soon as the warning signal will be given, the train‘s hooter will automatically start when it comes near an unmanned crossing.
The Haryana Government launched a Village Mentoring Project (VMP) to improve healthcare and education of the villagers with a special emphasis on girl child. o The Village Mentoring Project (VMP) is the first of its kind in Haryana under which villages in the state would be mentored by leading corporate houses, educational institutions and other organizations. o Each of the 22 districts in the state would be launching the project in a phased manner in around five villages each, an official spokesman said. o Project has been commenced in the state from Panchkula district in association with Indian School of Business (ISB ), Mohali whose faculty and students would visit the village. o The students and the staff of ISB presented a street play on the theme of ‗Continuing girl education, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition‘ and conducted a counseling session with village residents.
UNHCR India marked World Refugee Day with an exhibition of refugee photos by world renowned photographer Raghu Rai in India International Center, New Delhi. o Every Year, on 20th June , the United Nations along with government and civil society celebrate World refugee Day. o The theme for the celebrations this year was “With courage let us all combine”, aiming to bring the public closer to the human side of the refugee stories by sharing stories of hope and resilience of displaced people, showing them as ―ordinary humans living in extraordinary circumstances‖ UNHCR
Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO to effectively plan and monitor the Centre‘s flagship Clean Ganga Mission here today, a statement said. o Bhuvan Ganga portal is an exclusive web portal deployed in ISRO Bhuvan‘s geoportal with all geospatial layers related to river Ganga. o It will be used as a tool to support decision making and planning for the Clean Ganga Mission. Bhuvan Mobile App is a user-friendly android based application to enable public to collect and report information on various pollution sources that affects the water quality of river Ganga. o The first version of the app is available for download in the Bhuvan Ganga web portal (http://bhuvan.Nrsc.Gov.In/ganga).
The International Day of Yoga was observed in all 192 countries except strife- torn Yemen , the Union Cabinet was informed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three urban development schemes, AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All , saying urbanisation should be viewed as an opportunity and urban centres should be seen as growth engines. o While 500 cities will be developed under AMRUT scheme , there would be 100 smart cities over five years and Housing for All aims at construction of 2 crore houses in urban areas in the next seven years, Modi said. o PM Modi on Thursday pitched for maximum FDI in urban infrastructure and involvement of private players as he launched three ambitious programmes for provision of housing for all and development of 600 cities, 100 of them as ‗smart cities‘. o The 100 Smart Cities are proposed to be built through a competitive mechanism on the basis of demand from the residents and municipalities instead of the Central government ―imposing‖ it, the Prime Minister said. o Urban development initiatives, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, are likely to infuse Rs 4 lakh crore once integrated with other missions like Digital India and Swachh Bharat , say industry experts.
o The move is expected to help create as many as 34 lakh jobs in the country as the decision will have significant ―multiplier effect‖ for over 250 core and ancillary sectors, including infrastructure, logistics and modern retail, they said.
India was among the 50 founding countries that signed an agreement on Monday providing the legal framework for the China-led USD 100 billion multilateral Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB ) which is being seen as a rival to the US and Europe-dominated banking institutions. o The 60-article agreement specified each member‘s share as well as governance structure and policy-making mechanism of the bank, which is designed to finance infrastructure in Asia. o The AIIB will have authorised capital of $100 billion , and Asian countries will contribute to up to 75% of the total capital. Each member will be allocated a share of the quota based on their economic size, according to the agreement. o China, India and Russia are the three largest shareholders, taking a 30.34%, 8.52%, 6.66% stake, respectively. Their voting shares are calculated at 26.06%, 7.5% and 5.92%. o The AIIB is designed to finance infrastructure construction in the continent. The AIIB was proposed by President Xi Jinping in October 2013. o Apart from China and India, some of the countries which signed the agreement include Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K. o The AIIB is expected to become operational by the end of the year.
India and Thailand signed a number of important agreements, including the double taxation avoidance treaty , and exchanged instruments of ratification on the extradition treaty inked in 2013 , which provides for the legal framework for seeking extradition of fugitive offenders.
o The then Indian primeminister Indira Gandhi was the first ―foreign friend‖ to be conferred with the „Bangladesh Liberation War Honour Award‟. o Most of the subsequent recipients were also from India which extended the most crucial support for Bangladesh‘s independence with incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee being one of them.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto”s party won congressional elections, retaining its simple majority despite protests and falling approval ratings, according to preliminary results.
China launched a freight train service between its northeastern city of Harbin and Europe , opening a new trade route to Europe covering a distance of nearly 10, kms. o During the 9,820-km-long travel, the train will pass Russia and Poland before reaching its destination of Hamburg, Germany, said Tu Xiaoyue, general manager of HAO Logistics Co., Ltd, a joint venture which runs the service. o The train will be run once every week and each single trip takes 15 days. It will transport goods from China, the Republic of Korea and Japan as well as European countries such as Germany, Poland, France, Spain and Italy. o Several Chinese cities, including Chongqing, Chengdu, Changsha, Hefei, Yiwu and Suzhou, have launched similar freight train services to Europe.
Amid US pressure, Pakistan suspended its order and allowed international aid agency ”Save the Children” to resume operations, days after it sealed the NGO‖s office here for alleged ―anti-nation activities‖.
Japan‟s parliament passed a bill to lower the voting age to 18 from 20 , adding 2.4 million new potential voters to the nation‘s current voting population of 104 million. o The legislation will come into effect in time for next year‘s upper house election. o The last time Japan‘s voting age was revised was in 1945, when the voting age was lowered to 20 from 25, and women were given the right to vote.
o The new law puts Japan in line with nearly 90% of the world‘s countries in setting the minimum voting age at 18.
Keith Vaz , Britain‖s longest-serving Indian-origin MP was re-elected as chair of Parliament‖s influential Home Affairs Select Committee , even as a controversy rages over his help to scam-tainted former IPL chairman Lalit Modi in obtaining British travel documents.
Chinese authorities have manufactured the world‟s first electric passenger aircraft. o It is priced at about one million yuan ($163,000). o The ― BX1E” has a 14.5-metre wingspan and a maximum payload of 230kg. It can fly at an altitude of 3,000 metres, according to the report. o It can be charged within two hours, and can fly for 45 minutes to an hour at a maximum speed of 160kmph .According to the manufacturer, the aircraft can be used for pilot training, tourism, meteorology and rescue operations. o The plane was designed by the Shenyang Aerospace University and Liaoning general aviation academy in the northeastern Liaoning province. o The total number of orders has reached 28.
India has moved down to 61st place in terms of foreigners” money in Swiss banks and it now accounts for a meagre 0.123 per cent of the total global wealth worth USD 1.6 trillion in Switzerland”s banking system. o In a first major admission of being an ―attractive location‖ for laundering of assets amassed illegally abroad, Switzerland has said it needs to further strengthen systems for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
China opened a new, ―safer‖ and ―more convenient‖ route for Indians undertaking the arduous Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra as the first batch of pilgrims crossed the Indian border and entered Tibet via Nathu La.
