Top current affairs

[18/02 11:15 am] ravi keregond: *India at 2017 T20 World Cup for Blind*

India beat Sri Lanka, reach T20 Blind World Cup Final

India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to enter T20 World Cup final for the Blind at Lal Bahadur Stadium.

India's J Prakash (115 runs from 52 balls) and Ajay Kumar Reddy (51*) set an unbroken opening partnership of 175 runs.

Ranbir Panwar and Sunil both picked up 2 wickets each while Ajay and Golu Kumar picked 1 wicket each.
[18/02 11:16 am] ravi keregond: *Indian Panaroma Film Festival Begins in Port Blair*

The Indian Panorama Film Festival kicked off in Port Blair on February 15, 2017.The five day film festival has been organized by the Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism, Andaman & Nicobar Administration in association with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Directorate of Film Festivals/IFFI, New Delhi, Govt of India.The festival was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Shri Anindo Majumdar at DBRAIT Auditorium, Dollygunj, Port Blair.The inauguration was followed by screening of the film Bahubali (Telegu) directed by SS. Rajamauli.About 15 films of different languages and different genre will be screened at two different venues including PBMC Auditorium and ITF Ground during the festival.The event will conclude on February 19, 2017.
[18/02 11:17 am] ravi keregond: *Vikas Swarup appointed India’s next envoy to Canada*

Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Vikas Swarup, has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Canada.Swarup has been serving as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs since April 2015. Prior to that, he was Joint Secretary incharge of the United Nation’s Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.An officer of the 1986 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Swarup has previously served in Turkey, the United States, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan.He is best known as the author of the novel Q & A, adapted in film as Slumdog Millionaire, the winner of Best Film for the year 2009 at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards.
[18/02 11:18 am] ravi keregond: *AIIMS wins first prize for sanitation & hygiene under Kayakalp awards*

All India Institute of Medical Science, AIIMS of Delhi has won the first prize and a cash reward of 5 crore rupees for maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene under the Government's Kayakalp awards.AIIMS was followed by North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, which got a cash prize of 3 crore rupees. While Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, received the third prize of one crore rupees.Health Minister J P Nadda yesterday gave away the awards to the winners under various categories in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said, the thrust of Kayakalp is to inculcate culture of cleanliness for gaining the trust and confidence of community in these facilities. The Kayakalp award scheme was launched in 2015.
[18/02 12:02 pm] ravi keregond: *J&K govt launches e-Prison project*

The Jammu and Kashmir government launched the e-Prison project to enumerate jail inmates in the State, where numbers of detainees keep swelling during unrest.The information about jail inmates is currently being maintained manually. To avoid delays in processing the information and manage all the jails efficiently, the automation of prison department has been started.The government has already digitised records of 500 inmates. The project will digitise 25 district jails, two Central jails and one sub-jail in the State. The second phase of the project will focus on videoconferencing between jails and prison headquarters, e-court, tele-medication in jails.
[18/02 12:04 pm] ravi keregond: *US, Thailand Launched 2017 Cobra Gold Military Exercises*

The United States and Thailand kicked off the 2017 iteration of the annual Cobra Gold military exercises, Asia’s largest multinational drill.In over 30 years, Cobra Gold, which began as a bilateral drill between the United States and Thailand – Washington’s oldest ally in Asia – has now grown into one of the world’s largest multinational exercises, involving some 30 countries.Cobra Gold 2017, the 36th iteration of the military exercise, is officially taking place from February 14 to 24, according to a statement released by the U.S. embassy in Bangkok. The opening ceremony was held in Sattahip Royal Thai Marine Corps Base in Chonburi Province, while the closing ceremony will be held in Phu Lamyai Training area in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.This year’s exercise will feature 29 countries either directly participating in or observing. As is customary, it will be comprised of three primary events: a staff exercise which includes a senior leader seminar; a field training exercise that includes a variety of training events to strengthen regional relationships and enhance interoperability; and humanitarian civic assistance projects in Thai communities.

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[18/02 12:05 pm] ravi keregond: *First Indian genomics beacon launched in UK*

Global Gene Corp and Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) launched the first-ever beacon for Indian genomics data, which is expected to help scientists develop more effective drug delivery systems.A beacon is an online web service that allows researchers to determine whether an institution has particular genomic data in its data set. The aim of the Indian beacon is to address the gap in shared Indian genomics data, which helps scientists better understand disease and develop more effective drug delivery systems and therapeutics.Genomics is the science that will define healthcare in our lifetime. Solving healthcare problems at scale is exceptionally important for India to ensure quality of life The Indian beacon joins those already on the Wellcome Genome Campus supplied by EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge-based Global Gene Corp (GCC) is based at the Wellcome Genome Campus and is co-founded by alumni from the Indian Institute of Technology, Harvard and National University of Singapore with the mission to “democratise genomics”.

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[18/02 12:06 pm] ravi keregond: *Usain Bolt wins Laureus 'Sportsman of the Year' award*

World's "greatest" sprinter Usain Bolt pipped the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James to win the 'Sportsman of the Year' trophy for a record-equalling fourth time, while gymnast Simone Biles clinched the top honour in the women's category at the Laureus World AwardsBolt, who won this award in 2009, '10 and '13, walked away with the 'Oscar of Sports' for the fourth time, thereby joining tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and surfer Kelly Slater as four-time Laureus award winner.Olympic gymnastics champion Biles notched up the 'Sportswoman of the Year' trophy, riding on her brilliant achievement at the Rio Games last year, where she finished with four yellow metals and a bronze.The most decorated Olympian of all-time, Michael Phelps bagged the 'Comeback of the Year' award after returning to the swimming pool and scooping five more gold medals.Formula One  Nico Roseberg claimed the 'Breakthrough of the Year' award.

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[18/02 12:08 pm] ravi keregond: *Tehmina Janjua appointed as the first woman foreign secretary of Pakistan*

Tehmina Janjua becomes the first women to be appointed as the new foreign secretary of Pakistan. She will be replacing Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in the office. Tehmina Janjua will assume the post of Foreign Secretary in the first week of March 2017. She has rich experience of working in bilateral and multilateral domains both at Headquarters and Missions abroadanjua has a career of over 32 years and she is seasoned diplomat who holds a Master’s degrees from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad and also from Columbia UniversityShe also served as Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 2011. Janjua served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Italy from December 2011 to October 2015. At present she is serving as Ambassador and Permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva since October 2015.

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[18/02 12:10 pm] ravi keregond: *ISRO sets space record with successful launch of Cartosat-2 and 103 other satellites*

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set a new record in space mission achievements after it successfully launched 104 satellites in one go from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra PradeshThis was ISRO’s first space mission for the year 2017, and the most complicated mission it has ever carried out.The PSLV-C37/Cartosat2 Series satellite mission included the primary satellite (Cartosat-2) and 101 international nano satellites. It also launched two of its own nano satellites, INS-1A and INS-1B.PSLV first launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 Series satellite for earth observation, followed by the INS-1A and INS-1B, after it reached the polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. It then went on to inject 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664 kg, in pairs.ISRO scientists used the XL Variant – the most powerful rocket – earlier used in the ambitious Chandrayaan and during the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).

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[18/02 12:11 pm] ravi keregond: *Karnataka amends law to allow kambala*

Paving the way for the conduct of kambala, traditional buffalo race, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017.The Bill seeks to exempt kambala and bullock-cart racing from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.Kambala is currently stayed by the High Court following a petition by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).Thousands in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, where kambala is widely held, had protested the ban. They argued that the annual kambala races in paddy fields were part of their tradition. The sport did not torture animals The movement gathered momentum after the jallikattu agitation in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu.Governor Vajubhai R. Vala is likely to refer the Bill to the President for his assent.

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[18/02 12:12 pm] ravi keregond: *GNFC township becomes 100% cashless*

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers (GNFC) township, the state owned company's township at Bharuch, which has a population of around 5,000 and floating population of around 10,000 every day, has become 100% cashless and probably the first such township in India.It has facilities like a big shopping centre, restaurants, eateries, schools and colleges, hospital, stadium, guest house, etc. The GNFC township shall be launched by Gujarat chief minister Vijay RupaniThe GNFC is the first integrated industrial township in the country to go 100% digital in all financial transactions. All the shops in the GNFC township, which include paan shops, laundries, vegetable shops, barber shops, provision stores, cycle repairing shops, flour mills, conduct their business only through cashless transactions using PoS machines, e-wallets like BHIM, UPI, SBI Buddy, etc. Even a paan is purchased cashless and a cup of tea is also available cashless only.Niti Ayog, government of India, has adopted the GNFC's 100% cashless township model for replication in other parts of the country.

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[18/02 12:13 pm] ravi keregond: *India’s first floating elementary school inaugurated on Manipur’s Loktak Lake*

Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake in the country, has now become home to first of its kind loktak floating elementary school. Situated about 50 km from Imphal, the school has been inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok village in Manipur.The Loktak Lake is referred as the “lifeline of Manipur” as it is highly productive and many lives depend on the lake for endurance. The lake is also an Important Bird Area as it’s a potential breeding site for waterfowl and is a staging site for migratory birds.Now the Loktak Lake has added a feather to its cap by supporting the first of its kind Floating Elementary School. The school was recently inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok village in Manipur. It aims to provide education to drop outs students, who were rendered homeless due to the recent evacuation of phumdis.

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[18/02 12:14 pm] ravi keregond: *‘La La Land’ Wins Top Prize at BAFTA Awards in London*

Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” dominated the 70th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday night, claiming five prizes including best film, director, and leading actress for Emma Stone. The triumph maintained the musical’s momentum through this year’s awards season ahead of the Oscars on Feb. 26.The BAFTA Fellowship award was presented to the hollywood’s legendary comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks (90) by Duke of Cambridge Prince William. The BAFTA Fellowship is a lifetime achievement award presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) since 1971 in recognition of outstanding achievement in the art forms of the moving image

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[18/02 12:15 pm] ravi keregond: *Grammys Awards 2017*

The 2017 Grammy Awards handed out 84 awards to the music industry’s best and brightest The major awards were handed out during the televised broadcast, but many were handed out before the big show began.The big winner of the night was Adele, who took home five Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Hello,” and, in a major upset, beat out Beyoncé for Album of the Year (25).Adele also won all three of the major awards in 2012 for her 2011 album 21.A Grammy Award or Grammy is awarded by the Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the mainly English-language music industry.The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, to honor the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958.The four main category of award includes, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist.

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[18/02 12:17 pm] ravi keregond: *Sandeep Jajodia is new Assocham President*

Sandeep Jajodia has been elected President of the industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham)Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman of Welspun Group, and Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Vice-Chairman of GMR Infrastructure, have taken over as senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively.ASSOCHAM is a not for profit organization, facilitating reach of India to all businesses around the globe, for wanting to do business with India.It has contributed significantly by playing a catalytic role in shaping up the Trade, Commerce and Industrial environment of the country.

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[18/02 12:19 pm] ravi keregond: *INS Sarvekshak Becomes India’s First Ship to be Installed with Solar Power System*

Indian Navy’s survey vessel INS Sarvekshak has gone green by installing a solar power system on board.The system, equipped on the ship, works using sunlight and hence, is 100% reliable for power source that can be used for communication equipment, battery charging and general lightings onboard round the clock with battery outputs during the night.The system is “maintenance free” whereas the diesel generator requires regular maintenance

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[18/02 12:20 pm] ravi keregond: *IIT Kharagpur to set up India's first school on Quality and Reliability*

The Indian Institute of Technology is starting an inter-disciplinary school on Quality and Reliability (Q&R), a first of its kind in India, it said in a statement on Friday.The school in collaboration with other academic units in the Institute will offer academic courses, research and mission-mode programmes in the area of Quality and Reliability which would bring about social transformations. It shall also serve as a hub of Intellectual Property in QualityThe faculty members as well as students will be from various disciplines, and apart from traditional Q&R areas, the school will have a holistic view on QR by including various application domains of the trinity of Process, Planet and People (3Ps) targeting Engineering systems, Human systems and natural systems.Dual Degree programme with B.Tech. in any discipline and M.Tech. in QRE will be launched in academic year 2018-19. Integration with MBA and Entrepreneurship programmes was on the cards.Additionally at least one course will be taught by an international expert in a year. The school will also offer PhD courses in all areas of Quality and Reliability.

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[18/02 12:21 pm] ravi keregond: *National Women’s Parliament begins in Andhra Pradesh*

The three-day National Women’s Parliament, being organised by Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly with the theme of ‘Empowering Women — Strengthening Democracy’, began in the state capital region Amaravati.The vision of NWP is to enable and encourage social, political and economic empowerment of women in all strata of the society.One of the objectives of NWP is to generate new ideas, concepts, theories and ideologies for women empowerment.An ‘International Woman Icon of the World’ award and 12 best young achievers awards for women in different fields will be presented at the NWP.The NWP would facilitate interaction among women from all backgrounds and girl students to sensitise the society on issues like malnutrition, social security, sexual harassment, sanitation, oppression and other gender-based problems.One of the objectives of NWP is to make young girls realise their potential and make them aware of the canvas where they can leave their footprints.

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[18/02 12:25 pm] ravi keregond: *Piyush Goyal launched TAMRA Portal and Mobile App*

Power,Coal and mining minister Piyush Goyalwill launch TAMRA(Transparency, Auction Monitoring and Resource Augmentation) portal and Mobile ApplicationThe sole objective is to enhance transparency and accountability as a part of the Ease of Doing Business in the Mining sector. Ministers of mining and senior officers from 12 mineral rich States would also be connected through videoconferencing.TAMRA will be an interactive platform for all the stakeholders to compress the timelines for statutory and other clearances as it would help minimize the gestation period for commencing production.In case of delay in obtaining any clearances, TAMRA will send triggers to the concerned authority so that the remedial steps can be taken immediately by those responsible. The ministry of mines will also receive triggers generated by TAMRA and will facilitate in expediting clearances. This portal also enables successful bidder to give suggestions/inputs.

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[18/02 12:27 pm] ravi keregond: *Telangana launches India's first social innovation hub in Nizamabad*

The Telangana government has launched India's first social innovation centre -- The ‘Kakatiya Hub For Social Innovation’ in Nizamabad Telangana IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan made this announcement at the one-day Development Dialogue, an international social entrepreneurship ecosystem conference hosted by Kakatiya Sandbox. Jayesh Ranjan said the ‘Kakatiya Hub For Social Innovation’ funded by the Telangana government and implemented through Kakatiya Sandbox will function like a rural incubator to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. The government will make sure that the rural incubator in Telangana will be run exactly in the same as any other high-end incubator like the T-Hub, the country’s biggest, located in Hyderabad. Indian-American entrepreneur Raju Reddy, co-founder of Kakatiya Sandbox, Dr. ‘Desh’ Deshpande, founder of Deshpande Foundation, Redbus founder Phanindra Sama, who is also the co-founder of Kakatiya Sandbox, welcomed the government’s decision to implement the rural incubator in Nizamabad. The move is expected to create a model for promoting entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas in the country. 

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[18/02 12:28 pm] ravi keregond: *Arunachal Pradesh implements 'e-Cabinet' system*

The Arunachal Pradesh government it has implemented a paperless system to cut down on the time taken to hold a cabinet meeting. The 'e-Cabinet' system uses a web-based software by which ministers can prepare for cabinet meetings, entirely without paper. The system is a multi-user secure solution that keeps information updated in real time.Using this system, the cabinet members can access the cabinet notes before the meeting. The entire business of the Cabinet can be conducted using the e-Cabinet solution.e-Cabinet is a powerful tool that the Arunachal Pradesh government plans to use to streamline its decision-making proce

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