Daily GK Updates - 2nd May, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to launch Vidya - Veerta Abhiyan: Today, the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched a nationwide ‘Vidya - Veerta Abhiyan’ to encourage Universities todisplay portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers at a function in New Delhi. The aim of this Abhiyan is to inspire a sense of patriotism and nationalism among students. The ‘Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan’ to create walls of heroes - displaying the portraits of the heroes in institutions of higher learning. The Vice Chancellors (VC) from Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU), Delhi University(DU), Jamia Milia Islamia, Jammu and IIT Delhi, among others, will receive the portraits from the Minister to put it in their educational institutions.

2. Jaitley hands over DRDO developed devices to forces:  The union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley handed over a number of devices like NDRF included 'E-Nasika', a hand-held equipment which is capable of rapid detection of chemical agents well below their toxic limits to National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Police (DP) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The devices developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).

3. DoT launches portal for info on mobile tower radiation: The Telecom Minister 'Manoj Sinha' has launched a 'Tarang Sanchar' portal that will allow people to track radiation emitted from mobile towers within a locality and check their compliance with the stipulated norms. The site will help in clearing "myths and misconceptions" about mobile towers and emissions from them. The portal will empower consumers to know the towers working in a particular area, and whether they are compliant to the Electromagnetic field (EMF) emission norms defined by the government.

4. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar launches Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan: The Minister for Human Resource and Development, Prakash Javadekar has launched Students for soldiers- a nationwide Vidya – Veerta Abhiyan to encourage Universities and educational institutions across the country to display portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers. The portraits of Param Veer Chakra decorated soldiers were handed over to the Vice Chancellors of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Jammu and IIT Delhi, among others, to put it in their educational institutions. The “wall of heroes” depicting portraits of brave soldiers who showed exemplary bravery in defending the nation is expected to instil a sense of patriotism and nationalism among students

5. Department of Telecommunications launches Portal for Information on Mobile Tower Radiation: The Department of Telecommunications has launched a web portal called the ‘Tarang Sanchar’ web portal that will allow tracking of radiation emitted from mobile towers within their locality and check for their compliance with the Electromagnetic field (EMF) emission norms defined by the government. The web portal is aimed at myths and misconceptions about mobile towers and emissions from them.

6. Tejas Express: New Premier Train between Mumbai and Goa: Indian Railways is expected to launch a new 20 coach premier train called the Tejas Express connecting Mumbai and Goa in June. The Tejas service aims to provide comfort to passengers in the inter-city journeys. Once the Mumbai-Goa run becomes operational, the Railways is likely to extend the Tejas service in Delhi-Chandigarh route. The Tejas service was promised in the Union Railway Budget 2016-17.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India & Turkey sign three agreements: India and Turkey have sign three agreements on diplomacy, cultural exchange and on telecommunication during delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Erdogan. It is the first official trip at the presidential level from Turkey to India in seven years. The visiting dignitary held wide-ranging talks with President Pranab Mukherjee on key bilateral and regional issues.

2. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro calls for new constituent body: Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro will form a new constituent National Assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution. The new body will be made up of pro-government worker's groups along with civic society groups. Only half of the 500-member assembly, or less, would be elected and political parties would not participate.

3. India-Turkey inks Three Agreements: India and Turkey have signed three agreements following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first foreign visit after winning the April 16 referendum that will transform Turkey into a presidential form of democracy. The previous visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to India was made in 2008. In total three agreements were signed by both the sides in the fields of ICT, training and culture.

Ø  An agreement for a cultural exchange programme for the years 2017-2020 was signed.

Ø  A MoU was signed between the Foreign Services Institute (FSI) of India and the Diplomacy Academy of Turkey.

Ø  A MoU was signed for cooperation in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also assured India of Turkey’s full support in the fight against terrorism and for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. During his visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Jamia Millia Islamia university for “his contribution to strengthen international cooperation, peace and diplomacy as well as for his extraordinary humanitarian aid to millions of refugees.”

OTHER UPDATES: 

SPORTS:

1.  Hockey India recommends Sardar Singh for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Hockey India has recommended senior player and former captain Sardar Singh for India's highest sporting honor, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. SV Sunil, Dharamvir Singh, and Deepika have been recommended for the Arjuna Award while RP Singh and Sumrai Tete have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award. Coaches Sandeep Sangwan and Romesh Pathania have been recommended for the Dronacharya Award.

A committee of Sports Ministry will decide on the recommendations made by the respective sports federation.

2. Joshna Chinappa becomes first Indian to win Asian Squash title: Joshna Chinappa has become the first Indian to clinch the Asian Squash title with a thrilling win over Dipika Pallikal Karthik in the women's final in Chennai. Chinappa held off a fighting Pallikal 13-15, 12-10, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4 in 78 minutes to win the title.

NATIONAL APPOINTMENT:

3. Shobana Kamineni is the new CII President: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has announced Ms. Shobana Kamineni (Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.) as the new President of CII for the year 2017-18. She takes over from Dr. Naushad Forbes (Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall Limited). Shobana is an active member of CII and has been a recipient of prestigious national awards for Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Ms. Kamineni holds a B.A. in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai and an accelerated Diploma in Hospital Administration from Columbia University, New York.

4. Anthony Lianzuala takes over as Controller General of Accounts: Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Officer (1982-batch) Anthony Lianzuala took over as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Union Ministry of Finance, in New Delhi. He is the First person from the North-Eastern Region to hold this position. Shri Lianzuala's earlier roles include positions in Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Consumer Afairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce, and Rural Development.

OBITUARIES:

5. Sufi legend Begum Yaman passes away: Famous Sufi singer ‘Begum Yaman K. Khan’ (52-year) passed away after multiple organ failures. She was the daughter of legendary Sitar Maestro (late) ‘Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan’. Begum Yaman used to sing all forms of Indian semi-classical music and was probably the only female singer in India of Sufi style of music in its purest form. She was the recipient of ‘Hasrat Amir Khusrao Award’ by Urdu Press Club International and an award for her excellence and contribution to semi-classical and Sufiana kalam by Balkan-Ji-Bari International.

HONORS & AWARDS:

6. Andhra Pradesh CM ‘Chandrababu Naidu’ bags USIBC award: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister ‘Chandrababu Naidu’ has been selected for the  Transformative Chief Minister Award' in recognition for his role in advancing the US-India partnership at the state level. The award would be presented at the USIBC West Coast Summit in the Silicon Valley on 8th May 2017. Last year’s recipient of this award was CEO of Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant.