Daily Current Affairs

1.Who has been appointed the new vice-chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU)?

Neeraj Tripathi Ajay Singh Kuldeep Mehta B A Chopade

2.How many medals did India Open Boxing team obtained recently?

10 15 25 35

3.What is the name of tech book that addresses ways students can tackle stress during examinations has been released?

Stress Free Exam Warriors Take a Breath Coping With Exams

4.Who becomes the highest-ranked Indian squash player in PSA rankings?

Ramit Tandon Abdul Bari Saurav Ghosal Cyrus Poncha

5.This company Signed MoU With Russian Firm USC.

Ashok Leyland Tata Group Limited Mahindra Cochin Shipyard Limited

India ranks 91st in 2016 Networked Readiness Index

July 7, 2016 India was placed at 91st position in the recently released 2016 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). The index was released as the part of the WEF’s Global Information Technology Report. It measures countries’ success in creating the necessary conditions for a transition to a digitised economy and society.

Key Facts Top-ten countries in 2016 NRI: Singapore (1st) while Finland (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Norway (4th), United States (5th), Netherlands (6th), Switzerland (7th), UK (8th), Luxembourg (9th) and Japan (10th). Among BRICS: Russia (41st), China (59th), South Africa (65th) and Brazil (72nd). Thus, India was ranked the lowest.

India related Facts: India’s position on the list has come down for the fourth consecutive year in a row, from 89th in 2015, 83rd in 2014 and 68th in 2013. In different parameters of Index, India has scored better in terms of political and regulatory environment (78th position). It ranked very high (8th) place in terms of affordability. India’s performance in terms online services (57th) and allowing e-participation (40th). It scored worse in terms of business and innovation environment (110th). In terms of infrastructure it even scored worse (114th) place. India also fares poorly on sub-indices for levels of skills (101st) and individual usage (120th).

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA 2016

General Framework Agreement on Renewable Energy Cooperation

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a General Framework Agreement (GFA) on Renewable Energy Cooperation between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

• The GFA was signed, in New Delhi on 11th February this year during the state visit of Crown Prince of UAE.

 Presidential Proclamation in Relation to Uttarakhand Revoked 

• The President of India on 11th May, 2016 revoked the Proclamation issued under the Article 356 of the Constitution on 27th March, 2016 in relation to the State of Uttarakhand. 

UP Government Approves Bicycle Highway between Taj and Lion Safari

• The Uttar Pradesh government has given its nod to develop nearly 200-km long bicycle highway from Agra to the lion safari in Etawah to encourage eco-tourism in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. 

• Starting from eastern gate of the Taj Mahal, it will cover areas such as Raja Bhoj ki Haveli, Bateshwarnath Temple, Mela Kothi Jarar, Naugava ka Quila and other rural areas to reach lion safari in Etawah.

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA

Railways Sets up Two New Directorates

• Railways has constituted a new directorate named as Non-Fare Revenue Directorate (NFR) to increase revenue by 10 % to 20 % from non-tariff sources like advertising and commercial exploitation of vacant rail land.

• The public transporter has also set up another directorate to focus on areas like speed enhancement as part of the Mission Raftaar announced in the budget. The Mobility Directorate will address various factors affecting train movement at enhanced speeds in a focused manne

President gives away National Florence Nightingale Awards 2016

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards were given away by the President Pranab Mukherjee to thirty-five nursing personnel at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of International Nurses Day. The Award carries a cash award of 50 thousand rupees, a certificate, a citation and a medal.

• The International Nurses Day is celebrated all over the world on 12th May every year to commemorate Florence Nightingale's birthday.

President gives away National Technology Day awards 2016

• President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday conferred the National Technology Awards on National Technology Day. 

• At a function in Vigyan Bhavan, the President awarded Bangalore's Racil Chemicals, Coimbatore's Aitom Electric and Tejas Network again from Bangalore with awards for the year 2016.

 Padma awards for Rajnikanth, Sania Mirza 

• President Pranab Mukherjee presented Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities in a Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 10.05.2016, Tuesday. While Padma Vibhushan has been conferred on 10 persons including a posthumous award for Dhirubhai Ambani.

• Padma Bhushan has been conferred on 29 persons including a posthumous award late Swami Dayanand Sarawasati and Padma Shri on 112 persons.

• Padma Awards one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. 

• The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA

Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra top 2015 Road Mishap Chart

• Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are among five states that recorded the highest number of road mishaps for the second consecutive year but Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of fatalities in 2015, provisional data compiled by the Transport Research Wing (TRW) of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways indicates.

• TRW’s provisional data for 2015 showed an increase of 4.6% in Nationwide road mishap fatalities, from 1,39,671 in 2014 to 1,46,133 deaths in 2015.

• In 2015, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of road accidents followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. These states contributed 29.66 per cent of total accidents and also the highest number of injuries at 2,75,873.

Asia’s first Rice Technology Park at Gangavati in Karnataka

• Karnataka Government has decided to go ahead with the establishment of Asia’s first Rice Technology Park at Gangavati in Koppal district. 

• Apart from it state government has decided to set up a Maize Technology Park at Ranebennur in Haveri district.

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015

• The Lok Sabha passed the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 for the establishment of funds under the public accounts of Centre and each State towards compensatory afforestation. 

• It also provides for additional afforestation and penal compensatory afforestation to regulate collected funds.

34 Satellites are Operational in India

• The Central Government has announced that currently 34 Indian satellites are operational in the space. 

• It was announced by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.Number ‘112’ Single Emergency Number to be operational throughout India
  • The single emergency number ‘112’ will be operational throughout India from January 1, 2017 to help people reach immediate services of police, ambulance and fire department. 

  • In this regard, Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad approved the provision of a single number for various Emergency Services.

CURRENT AFFAIRS - INDIA

1.New Chief of the Naval Staff is Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba 

• Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba has been appointed as next Chief of the Naval Staff. He will be 23rd chief of Indian Navy and 21st as an Indian. 

• He will assume the charge on 31 May 2016 and shall have full three-year-term in office till 31 May 2019. He will succeed incumbent Navy Chief Admiral Robin K. Dhowan, who will superannuate from the post on 31 May 2016.

 2. The Central Government launches Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• The Central Government launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for providing free of cost LPG (Cooking Gas) connections to women from BPL Households. 

• It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Maldepur Morh, Ballia in Uttar Pradesh. 

3. Now RM Lodha to oversee the functions of the Medical Council of India (MCI)

• The Supreme Court has appointed a 3 member high-powered committee headed by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha to oversee the functions of the Medical Council of India (MCI).