GK Concepts

Anil Kumble, former Indian captain and leg-spinner, has been appointed as the new coach of the Indian Cricket Team for one-year tenure. His tenure will begin from the upcoming West Indies’s tour which starts on July 9, 2016. With this, Kumble has become the first Indian to be appointed as the head coach of the national team since Kapil Dev in 1999-2000.

Boxing 

The Asian Games champion Vikas Krishan (75kg) and Commonwealth Games gold-medalist Manoj Kumar (64kg) has recently booked their berth for 2016 Rio Olympic after advancing to the semifinals of the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) World Qualifying Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan. Apart from them, Shiva Thapa (56 kg) has already booked his ticket to Rio Olympics 2016 during the Asian Qualifiers in March 2016 and is the Indian boxer to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The International Olympic Day is observed every year on June 23 to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

The Vice President of India M Hamid Ansari has inaugurated “The International Conference on Social Statistics in India” in Patna, Bihar. The conference has been organised by Asian Development Research of India.

Shanay Jhaveri 

The book “Chandigarh is in India” has been authored by Shanay Jhaveri. The book is the first-ever compilation of works of art on Chandigarh, presenting a unique perspective on the city. It tells the stories of the city of Chandigarh through the works of Indian and Western artists.

Current Affairs

India and Switzerland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish formal cooperation in the fields of skill development and vocational and professional education and training. The MoU was signed in Winterthur city in Zurich between State Secretary Mauro Dell’ Ambrogio and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Hydrography – the key to well-managed seas and waterways The World Hydrography Day is observed every year on June 21 to create awareness about hydrography which is an essential science before undertaking any activity on or under the sea. The 2016 theme is “Hydrography – the key to well-managed seas and waterways”.

Ken Miyauchi has been appointed as the new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group. He succeeded Nikesh Arora.

Mahasthangarh, the 3rd century BC archaeological site in Bogra, Bangladesh, has been declared as the SARRC cultural capital for 2016-17. The historic place will host festivals on literature, films, foods and dances from October 2016 to September 2017. Every year, an archeologically and culturally rich city of one of the 8- South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries is declared the cultural capital for that year to create a bridge among the people of those countries. Bamiyan, a historic city of Afghanistan, is the current SAARC cultural capital for 2015-16. 

March 2017 

The Union Government has extended the timeline for states to join Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme by a year to March 2017. The move would help states which could not enroll in or operationalise the scheme due to various reasons such as elections and regulatory approvals. Earlier, states were required to join the scheme last fiscal and issue bonds to pay off discoms’ 50 % debt in 2015-16. The main purpose of UDAY scheme is to get these discoms out of the vicious circle of debt and enable them to purchase power to increase consumption in the country. 

GK & Current Affairs

Arvind Subramanian, an Indian economist, is the current Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the Government of India (GoI). He is the author of two books “India’s Turn: Understanding the Economic Transformation” and “Eclipse: Living in the Shadow of China’s Economic Dominance”. The CEA is the ex-officio cadre controlling authority of the Indian Economic Service (IES). The CEA is under the direct charge of the Minister of Finance.

“Sunway TaihuLight” has been named as the fastest computer of the world.

The computer called “Sunway TaihuLight” has been developed by the National Research Centre of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology (NRCPC) and is built in China.

The book “A Life in Diplomacy” has been authored by Maharajakrishna Rasgotra, an Indian diplomat and former Indian Foreign Secretary. It is an insider’s account of the personalities and policies that shaped Indian diplomacy. The book provides a ringside view of the beginnings of ethnic violence in Sri Lanka, the last years of the Cold War, the negotiations on the formation of SAARC, Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the Bhopal gas disaster.

The United Nations (UN) Public Service Day is observed every year on June 23 to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to community and also to raise awareness regarding the contribution of public service in the development of society and honouring the work of public servants.

The first annual meeting of the Board of Governors’ of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be held in Beijing, China on June 25-26, 2016. From India, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley will attend the meeting.

Scientists detect Gravitational waves for second time

Scientists for the second time have successfully detected gravitational waves created by the collision of two black holes 1.4 billion light years away. 

These waves were detected using the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) interferometers in the US. 

This second detection of gravitational waves once again confirms Einstein’s theory of general relativity and successfully tested LIGO’s ability to detect incredibly subtle gravitational signals.

Key Facts 

• The detection was made by the LIGO’s twin detectors in Louisiana and Washington on 26 December 2015 when the waves hit the observatory. 
• The second detection lasted for about a full second and was 5 times longer than the first one announced in February 2016. 
• Using advanced data analysis techniques, the team of researchers determined the waveform signalled a gravitational wave. 
• They also calculated that the gravitational wave arose from the collision of two black holes, 14.2 and 7.5 times the mass of the Sun. 
• The first detection reported on February 11, 2016 had lasted for 1.1 milliseconds and was very faint signal amid the surrounding noise. It had produced a clear peak in the data. 
• The second detection was far subtler, generating a shallower waveform that was almost buried in the data. 

What are Gravitational Waves?

 In physics, gravitational waves are ripples in the curvature of spacetime which propagate as waves, travelling outward from the source at the speed of light. They were first predicted in 1916 by Albert Einstein on the basis of his Theory of General Relativity. Gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation and pass through matter without interacting with it.

SpaceX successfully launches two commercial satellites

US based private space transport service company SpaceX successfully launched two commercial satellites viz. EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A. 

They were launched using SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket which had lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US. This mission was SpaceX’s second dual-satellite launch.

Key facts 

• These two commercial satellites are operated by Eutelsat and ABS companies respectively. 
• They are geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) satellites that seek to provide global communications services to their users. 
• However in this mission, the reusable rocket was lost before it could land on a drone ship platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket: It is a two-stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. It is basically used for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit.

Scientists unveil synthetic Human Genome Project-Write

A group of scientists from United States recently proposed an ambitious project named as Human Genome Project-Write (HGP-Write) to create a genetic blueprint or synthetic human genome. 

The project aims to develop technologies to more efficiently and more cheaply write DNA (synthetic genome) and test it in cells in the laboratory within 10 years.

Key Facts 

The objective HGP-Write is to write the genetic code (DNA of life) rather than reading the genetic code. 

The project envisions on the same scale as the Human Genome Project-Read (HGP-Read) which had sequenced human genome in 2003. 

HGP-Write seeks to reduce the cost of engineering DNA segments synthetically in the laboratory. 

It also aims at improving the ability to chemically manufacture DNA, with one of the goals being to synthetically create an entire human genome. 

Potential applications: Growing transplantable human organs, engineering cancer resistance, engineering immunity to viruses and accelerating vaccine & drug development using human cells and organs. 

Concerns 

This project raises concern over the extent to which human life can or should be engineered. It also raises troubling ethical concerns as this project has potential of creating children with no biological parents.

Microsoft to design app for HRD Ministry’s SWAYAM platform

The technology giant Microsoft is going to design mobile application for Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry’s SWAYAM platform.

 Under this platform ministry is going to launch 2000 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) for over three crore students in the year 2016.

Key Facts

 Microsoft will be deploying the team of professionals to set up the state of the art mobile application. In this regard, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has signed a deal of 38 Crore rupees with Microsoft. Microsoft will be running the app for three years and later AICTE will take over it. 

SWAYAM: 

 It stands for Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds. It is the Indian electronic e-education platform which proposes to offer courses from the high school stage to Post-Graduate stage in an interactive electronic platform.

IAF creates history by inducting 3 women fighter pilots for first time

The Indian Air Force (IAF) created history by inducting 3 women fighter pilots for first time. These three women fighter pilots are Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chatuvedi and Mohana Singh. They were officially commissioned as fighter pilots in the IAF in presence of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a ceremony held at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. 

Key Facts 

Avani Chaturvedi: 

She was born in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. She had completed her schooling from Adarsh School in Rewa and BTech in Computer Science (CS) from Banasthali University, Jaipur. 

Bhawana Kanth: 

She was born in the refinery township of Begusarai, Bihar. She had completed her schooling from Barauni Refinery DAV Public School and BE in Medical Electronics from BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru. 

Mohana Singh: She belongs to Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. She had completed her schooling from Air Force School, New Delhi and BTech in Electronics & Communication from Global Institute of Management and Emerging Technologies, Amritsar. 

Background 

• In October 2015, the Union Government had decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis for five years. 
• These three women fighter pilots were inducted in IAF after all of them cleared the first stage of training in the three stages process. 
• Now they have about 150 hours of flying. Now in the second stage, they will begin advanced training on advanced jet trainer Hawks at Bidar in Karnataka. It will add 145 hours of flying before they actually get into the cockpit of a supersonic fighter in the third stage. 

Comment 

Women pilots were first included in IAF for choppers and transport aircrafts in 1991. At present, combat roles for women in the Indian Army and the Indian Navy are still off limits due to a combination of operational concerns and logistical constraints.

Axis Bank launches India’s first certified green bond at London Stock Exchange

Axis Bank has launched India’s first internationally-listed certified green bond to finance climate change solutions around the world at London Stock Exchange (LSE). 

The proceeds of the bond will be invested by Axis Bank in green energy, transportation and infrastructure projects. It will play important role in reinforcing India’s commitment to produce 175,000 MW of renewable power by 2022. 

The green bonds of Axis Bank were certified by the Climate Bonds Standards Board. It has raised 500 million dollars at the LSE after it launched. This is the first green bond of Axis Bank issued within its 5 billion dollars Medium Term Note (MTN) programme, which has also has been listed entirely on LSE.

 What are Green Bonds?

 Bonds basically are debt instruments which help issuer to get capital while the investors receive fixed income in the form of interest. In case of Green Bonds, the issuer gets capital from the investors only if the investment (capital) is being raised to fund green projects relating to renewable energy or emission reductions etc.

Union Government announces new Print Media Advertisement policy

The Union Information and Broadcasting ministry has framed a New Print Media Advertisement Policy for Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). 

The objective of the policy is to promote transparency and accountability in issuing of advertisements in print media. 

Key highlights of policy 

• It focuses on streamlining release of Government advertisements and to also promote equity and fairness among various categories of newspapers and periodicals. 
• For the first time it has introduced a New Marking System for newspapers to incentivize Newspapers. The system is based on 6 objective criteria with different marks each of them. 
• The newspapers will be able get benefit from new system who have better professional standing and get their circulation verified Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) or Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI). 
• DAVP will release advertisements to newspapers based on marks obtained by each newspaper. 
• This will also ensure transparency and accountability in the release of advertisements by DAVP. 
• For payment and adjustment of Bills, it mandates that DAVP will release payment of advertisement bills in the name of newspaper or company account directly through ECS or NEFT. 
• The policy has classified newspaper and journals into three categories namely (i) small: publishing upto 25,000 copies per day, (ii) medium: between 25,001 and 75,000 copies and (iii) Big: 75,000 copies or more.

 DAVP: It is the nodal agency of the Union Government for advertising on behalf of various Ministries and Departments which are funded by the government.

Union Ministry of Power launches Surya Mitra Mobile App

The Union Ministry of Power has launched Surya Mitra mobile App to serve customers in the field of renewable energy. 

The app was launched by Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal at National Workshop on Rooftop Solar Power held in New Delhi. 

The App will serve customers at their doorsteps with quality installation, repair, and Observations and Measurements (O&M) in the field of renewable energy.

About Surya Mitra Mobile App 

• Surya Mitra Mobile App has been developed by National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institution of Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). 
• The app has been developed in a high end technology platform that can handle thousands of customers’ calls simultaneously and can efficiently monitor all visits of Suryamitra’s. 
• Using this app, customers can avail services like maintenance, serving and repairing at the click of a button on their mobiles.
•  It will help enhance the employment of trained youth i.e. Suryamitra’s in solar PV technology. Further it will also help to improve the businesses of solar entrepreneurs.

Suryamitra initiative: 

It is Union Government’s skill development program to create skilled manpower in commissioning, installation, O&M of solar power plants and equipment. It primary objective is to provide entrepreneurship and employability opportunites to rural and urban youth & women.

Union Railways Ministry flags off Champaran Satyagrah Express train in Bihar

Union Railways Ministry has flagged off Champaran Satyagrah Express train at a function in Motihari, Bihar. 

The train was flagged off by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. This train will run between Bapudham, Motihari to Anand Vihar, Delhi. 

Champaran Satyagrah Express train has been introduced to mark 100 years of the historic Champaran Satyagraha (movement) launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917.

 It is weekly train which will have load combination of 15 coaches, including one third AC, six sleeper and six general coaches and two brake vans. 

Besides, the Union Minister also inaugurated Banmankhi – Purnea rail section and Pipraha Railway Station. He also inaugurated road over bridges at Motihar, Begusarai and Danapur through video conferencing. 

Background 

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in India. It was launched against the oppressive policies European indigo planters that led to exploitation of tens of thousands of landless serfs, indentured labourers and poor farmers in Champaran and neighbouring areas. 

Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha were the events which later put Gandhi on the front seat of Indian National Revolution and made Satyagraha a powerful tool.

Google, Tata Trusts launch ‘Internet Sathi’ in West Bengal to empower rural women

The Indian unit of search giant Google Inc and Tata Trusts have jointly launched ‘Internet Saathi’ program in Purulia district of West Bengal. 

The initiative has been launched as part of Google’s ‘Helping Women Get Online’ campaign, in order to create awareness about the benefits of Internet among women in rural India. 

Key facts

•  The initiative will initially be rolled out with an objective to reach 1 lakh women in over 400 villages in Purulia district. 
• It will focus on training women and larger communities to learn and explore various uses and benefits of the Internet. 
• Tata Trusts will play a crucial role in training women master trainers called “saathis” identified from Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Women’s federations.
•  Google will provide the tablet and mobile devices along with training material. It will also train the master trainers. The initiative includes an awareness module, coupled with hands-on training modules on how to use the Internet, using mobile devices in their local languages.

 ‘Internet Saathi’ program was launched in July 2015. So it has trained and benefitted over 2 lakh women across villages in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Google under its Helping Women Get Online has already trained over 2 million women across the country.

India, US sign MoU for hassle-free entry of Indians into US

India and United States (US) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate hassle-free entry of Indians into America at selected airports. 

The hassle-free entry will provide speedy security clearances for pre-approved, low-risk travellers from the country. The MoU was signed as part of US’s International Expedited Traveller Initiative (also known as the Global Entry Programme). India is only the ninth country with which the US has entered into this initiative reflecting growing relationship between the two largest democracies of the world. 

The expedited entry for the Indian travellers under this programme at the US airports will enable further easing of travel environment. It will also have positive impact on all kinds of people-to-people exchange between our two countries. 

The US is home to more than 3 million Indian-origin people who continue to maintain deep-rooted links with India. Global Entry Programme: It is available at more than 40 US airports and 12 pre-clearance locations. Approximately 50,000 new applications for the programme are filed every month and more than 1.8 million people are enrolled in Global Entry.

India ranked 2nd on GRD index on ease of doing business

India has been ranked second position as per 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) released by London-based business consultancy A T Kearney. 

India has jumped 13 positions from last year (2015) to rank second among 30 developing countries on ease of doing business. 

Key Highlights of 2016 GRDI 

• The sharp pick up in GDP growth and better clarity regarding FDI regulations have helped India achieve a second ranking. 
• India’s retail sector has expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% between 2013 and 2015, with annual sales crossing the US 1 trillion dollars mark. 
• India has also become the world’s fastest growing economy and more attractive market due to its large population base and easing of FDI regulations in retail sector. 
• India’s retail sector has also benefited from the rapid growth in e-commerce. Being world’s second largest internet market and increasing smartphone and internet penetration has contributed to the expansion of e-commerce. 

About Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) 

• The GRDI is annually published by London-based business consultancy A T Kearney. 
• It analyses 25 retail-specific and macroeconomic variables to help retailers devise successful global strategies to identify emerging market investment opportunities. 
• The study is unique as it identifies the markets that are most attractive in present and also their future potential.

Indian Railways conduct trial run of High-Speed Spanish Talgo Train

Indian Railways has conducted the first ever trial run for high-speed Talgo trains of Spain on the 90-km Bareilly-to-Moradabad stretch in Uttar Pradesh. It was the first phase of the trail run and was conducted as part of the Indian Railways’ strategy to increase the speed of trains. 

Trail Run 

• The first phase of trial run was conducted t speeds between 80 KMPH and 115 KMPH (km per hour) by a joint team of the Railway Design Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Spanish train manufacturer Talgo. 
• It consisted of nine-coach Talgo train hauled by a 4500 HP diesel engine. The train covered 90-km distance in 1 hour 10 minutes. 

In the second and third phase, Indian Railway’s is going to conduct trail run on Mathura-Palwal (Rajdhani) route and Mumbai-Delhi route respectively to test the riding, safety and stability of Talgo trains. 

Key features of Talgo train 

• Talgo trains are lighter and faster with speed up to 115 KMPH. They are designed to run on curves tracks without decelerating the speed. 
• They consume 30 percent less energy. The 9 coach Talgo train consists of 2 Executive Class cars, 4 Chair Cars, 1 cafeteria, 1 power car and tail-end coach for staff and equipment. 

Talgo: It is a Madrid-based Spanish leading manufacturer of energy-efficient semi-high speed (160-250 kmph) and high-speed (350 kmph) passenger trains.

Union Railways Ministry launches Rail Humsafar Saptaah

The Union Ministry of Railways has launched Rail Humsafar Saptaah, a week-long initiative to highlight significant achievements made by Indian Railways in all spheres. 

The Rail Humsafar Saptaah starting on 26th May 2016 will conclude on 1st June 2016. The week-long initiative coincides with completion of two years of NDA Government at Centre. 

Each day of the Rail Humsafar Saptaah will focus on a particular theme and the days have been named as

• 26th May (Swachchta Diwas): On this day Intensive Cleanliness Drive will be undertaken on all the Stations and in Trains. 
• 27th May (Satkar Diwas): On this day, officers would be deputed to inspect all drinking water facilities and catering establishments at stations and in trains. 
• 28th May (Sewa Diwas): On this day, each train would be monitored by nominated officer who travel by these trains and interact with passengers in all classes. He will ensure that amenities, as required, are provided and grievances of passengers are redressed.
•  29th May (Satarkata Diwas): It will be observed as punctuality day and ticket checking drive would be undertaken across the Zonal Railways.
•  30th May (Saamanjasya Diwas): Representatives of recognized unions will undertake cleanliness drive in the railway colonies and also for their upkeep and maintenance. Each Zonal Railways will plant at least 1000 trees especially in the railway colonies and other premises.
•  31st May (Sanyojan Diwas): on this day all DRMs and GMs will hold meetings and organize seminars with all Major Freight Traffic Customers. They will advise them about the various reforms and policy initiatives on the freight traffic side. 
• 1st June (Sanchaar Diwas): All DRMs and GMs would review various activities under taken during the week. All Zonal Railways have been directed to ensure that various passenger amenities works nearing completion would be commissioned during this week.

Barack Obama becomes first US president to visit Hiroshima bomb site

Barack Obama became the first incumbent US president to visit Hiroshima memorial, site of the world’s first atomic bombing dropped on August 6, 1945. 

He paid tribute to the 140,000 people killed by the world’s first atomic bomb attack and laid wreath at Hiroshima nuclear memorial. 

In the guest book of the memorial President Obama wrote “We have known the agony of war.

 Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons.” 

However President Obama did not officially apologize for the attack, which is viewed by many in the US as having hastened the end of World War II and others have called it a war crime that targeted civilians. 

Background 

• The official trip of US President Barack Obama comes more than seven decades after an American plane, dropped its payload (nuclear bomb), dubbed ‘Little Boy’ over the western Japanese city. 
• The bombing had claimed lives of about 140,000 people and affected many from radiation-related illnesses. 
• Three days later (On 9 August 1945) US dropped a second bomb dubbed as ‘Fat Man’ on the city of Nagasaki in which 70,000 more people were killed. 
• The twin bombings by US were dealt as the final blows to Japan which led to its unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War. 
• These two nuclear bombs attack on Japanese cities, are only instance in warfare history of mankind in which nuclear weapons by any country were used against another. 

Comment 

• The visit US President Barack Obama also marks seven years since he used his trademark soaring rhetoric to call for the elimination of atomic (nuclear) arms in a landmark speech in Prague that helped him win the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. 
• Visit of incumbent US President, is also considered as a gesture US and Japan hope will showcase their alliance and reinvigorate efforts to rid the world of nuclear arms.