Current Affairs Update - 15th & 16th July 2017

Current Affairs Update - 15th & 16th July 2017

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Important Days

World Youth Skills Day to be observed on 15 July

• Young people are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and continuously exposed to lower quality of jobs, greater labor market inequalities, and longer and more insecure school-to-work transitions. In addition, women are more likely to be underemployed and under-paid, and to undertake part-time jobs or work under temporary contracts.
• That is why education and training are key determinants of success in the labor market. But unfortunately, existing systems are failing to address the learning needs of many young people, and surveys of learning outcomes and skills show that a large number of youth have low levels of achievement in basic literacy and numeracy. Skills and jobs for youth feature prominently in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and SDG target 4.4 calls for a substantial increase in the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills.

New Appointments

Finance veteran Vikram Limaye to take over as NSE CEO on Monday 

• Vikram Limaye, former head of infrastructure lender IDFC Ltd, will take over as the next managing director and chief executive of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday, the country's largest bourse said. 
• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board on India (SEBI) had approved his appointment last month, subject to his resignation from a Supreme Court-appointed cricket committee. 
• Limaye was relieved of his duties as part of the committee on Friday, the exchange  .. 

Satyendar Jain has been appointed as new chairperson-cum- managing director of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC)

• Delhi Industries minister Satyendar Jain has been appointed as new chairperson-cum- managing director of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC). 
• An official said that Lt governor Anil Baijal has given his nod to his appointment. 
• Usually, IAS officers are appointed to the post of the chairperson of DSIIDC, but the the AAP Government had recommended the name of Jain, and the Lt. Governor approved it earlier this week, the official said. 
• As Industries minister, Jain was already overseeing the work of the DSIIDC, but now he will be directly in charge of the operations. 

Mukesh Kumar Jain appointed MD & CEO of Oriental Bank

• Mukesh Kumar Jain was today appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of Oriental Bank of Commerce. 
• He is at present the executive director in Punjab and Sind Bank. 
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Jain's appointment to the post for a period of three years, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

Tata Sons names Aarthi Subramanian as chief digital officer

• Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has appointed Aarthi Subramanian as the conglomerate's chief digital officer. Subramanian, 49, who is an executive director at TCS, will join Tata Sons next month. She will, however, continue with TCS in a non-executive capacity.
• Subramanian is the second TCSer whom Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has picked up to be a part of his core team after Suprakash Mukhopadhyay. Chandrasekaran (Chandra), former MD & CEO of TCS, became the chairman of Tata Sons five months ago. The other members of Chandra's team include Saurabh Agrawal, group chief financial officer, and Shuva Mandal, group general counsel.

Justice Vikramajit Sen appointed new BCCC chairperson

• The Board of Directors of Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) appointed former Supreme Court judge, Justice Vikramajit Sen, as the new chairperson of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), the independent self-regulatory body set up by the Foundation in June 2011 to examine content-related complaints relating to all non-news general entertainment channels in India.

Inda's Rank

India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on SDG index 

• India is ranked 116 out of 157 nations on a global index that assesses the performance of countries towards achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs). 
• The SDG Index and Dashboards Report produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows that world leaders need to strengthen their joint efforts to realise the 17 global goals. 

Banking / Economic Affairs

Yes Bank gets $150 mn from OPIC to fund SME lending 

• Private sector Yes BankBSE -1.04 % has received $ 150 million funding from the US government and Wells Fargo to increase lending to support women entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in India. 
• This is the third round of funding to the bank as part of arrangement with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) --the US government development finance institution -- and Wells Fargo. 

National Affairs

Shri J P Nadda launches the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22)

• Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) at a function, here today. 
• The Strategic Plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next 5 years. Speaking at the launch, Shri Nadda said that the government would like to eliminate malaria by 2027 and urged the states for active cooperation. 
• He further stated that the programme has to be owned by the states. Dr.Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, Shri R.K.Vats, Additional Secretary & Director General and Acting WHO Representative to India Dr. Suchaxaya Prakin were also present at the launch function. 

DIPP to set up India’s first innovation support centre in Punjab

• The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said it had signed an agreement to establish India’s first Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) in Punjab. “The DIPP signed the institutional agreement with Punjab State Council of Science and Technology to establish the TISC at Patent Information Centre, Punjab, under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) TISC programme,” an official statement said.

International Affairs

China gets largest BMW R&D centre outside of Germany

• German luxury carmaker BMW today opened a new research and development (R&D) centre in northeast China's Liaoning province, the company said.
• China gets largest BMW R&D centre outside of Germany The new R&D centre, covering an area of over 40,000 square metres, is by far the BMW group's largest auto R&D hub outside Germany, the company said.
• The centre is an extension of the original one built in 2012, and is five times larger than the first-stage project.
• About 75 per cent of the 800-plus research personnel are Chinese. The centre will focus on new energy technology to establish a complete R&D and production chain in China, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Defence & Railway

Indian Railways launches first solar-powered diesel electrical multiple unit train 

• Indian Railways today launched first solar-powered DEMU (diesel electrical multiple unit) train from the Safdarjung railway station in Delhi. The train will run from Sarai Rohilla in Delhi to Farukh Nagar in Haryana. A total of 16 solar panels, each producing 300 Wp, are fitted in six coaches. 
• The cost of these solar panels, manufactured under 'Make in India' initiative, is Rs 54 lakh. This is the first time in the world that solar panels are being used as grid in railways. 

Railways come up with ‘Nivaran’ portal to redress grievances; ‘Rail Cloud’ for digitisation

• Railways are taking various initiatives for benefiting their passengers and providing them with better facilities. Recently, Railway came up with new initiative ‘Rail Cloud Project’, ‘Nivaran’ and ‘Cashless treatment Scheme’ in Emergency (CTSE) Scheme and Handing over of 1st CTSE Card.
• Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said, “Efforts are being made to bring entire Railway system on integrated Digital Platform. RailCloud is another step towards Digitization of Railways. Rail Cloud works on popular Cloud Computing system. Most Important works are done through Cloud Computing”.

Railways Launches 'SAARTHI' App, Solar Train

• Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu launched a new integrated mobile app 'SAARTHI - synergised advanced application rail travel help and information' for passengers.
• Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday launched a new integrated mobile app "SAARTHI - synergised advanced application rail travel help and information" for passengers. This new app will allow passengers to book tickets, enquiry, on-board cleaning and ordering meal on a single platform. 
• The new SAARTHI app also includes features such as safety for women, complaint facility and suggestion for improvement, Mr Prabhu said. It is believed to provide better customer experience, he added. Earlier in the day, the minister has also unveiled the country's first solar powered DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train.

Russia launches 73 satellites into orbit

• A Russian Soyuz 2-1A rocket—like the one seen in this file photo taken on April 28, 2016—launched 73 satellites into orbit on Friday
• The Soyuz 2-1A rocket successfully lifted off at 0643 GMT with the satellite payload, Roscosmos said in a statement.
• According to Russian news agencies, Glavcosmos, charged with putting the satellites into orbit, later reported that by 1441 GMT all the satellites had successfully separated. They were released into three different orbits.
• "For the first time in the world, such a complex and large mission has been developed and implemented," said Glavcosmos.
• The primary payload, the Kanopus-V-IK satellite, is to provide wide-angle images of the Earth and will be used especially to detect forest fires or to update the topography of maps.

Books & Authors

President Pranab Mukherjee receives first copy of book on his late wife

• The book, ‘President’s Lady’ (Pranaber Preyosi), was released by vice president Hamid Ansari on a day that marked the President’s wedding anniversary.
• President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday received the first copy of a book on his late wife, Suvra Mukherjee.
• The book, ‘President’s Lady’ (Pranaber Preyosi), was released by vice president Hamid Ansari during a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on a day that marked the President’s wedding anniversary.
• The book has been written by Sangeeta Ghosh.
• Speaking on the occasion, the president said Suvra was essentially a private person with a strong interest in music (particularly Tagore music) and paintings.
• He said that she was not into politics but came to know a large number of political personalities, according to a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Agreements / MoU

India contributes additional $1 million to UN partnership fund

• India had made an initial contribution of a million dollars when the fund was created and the amount was allocated for the implementation of a project benefiting seven Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific.
• India has contributed an additional million dollars to a UN partnership fund launched to support sustainable development projects across the developing world. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was set up last month as a partnership between India and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
• India had made an initial contribution of a million dollars when the fund was created and the amount was allocated for the implementation of a project benefiting seven Small Island Developing States in the South Pacific.

US House passes bill on defence cooperation with India

• The US House of Representatives has passed a $621.5 billion defence policy bill that proposes to advance defence cooperation with India
• An amendment in this regard, moved by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, was adopted by a voice vote by the House as part of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018, beginning 1 October this year. NDAA-2018 was passed by the House 344-81.
• The India-related amendment passed by the House requires the Secretary of Defence, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the United States and India.
• “The United States is the world’s oldest democracy and India is the world’s largest democracy. It is vitally important to develop a strategy that advances defence cooperation between our two nations,” Bera said.

Centre, UP govt sign MoU to set up AIIMS in Gorakhpur

• The Uttar Pradesh government today signed an MoU with the Centre for setting up of an AIIMS hospital in Gorakhpur, hometown of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
• Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Adityanath said after establishment of AIIMS in Gorakhpur, people of the region will not have to go anywhere else and would get quality treatment there.
• "It will help those living in eastern Uttar Pradesh to get health care services and they will not have to run to Lucknow, New Delhi or other places for treatment of serious ailments," he said.
• The hospital will have 750 free beds and the project is set to cost Rs 1,750 crore.
• The foundation of the AIIMS at Gorakhpur was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

BRPL, TERI in MoU to explore opportunities in solar rooftops, e-vehicles 

• BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have entered into a partnership to explore collaboration opportunities for solar rooftop, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, energy efficiency and smart grid technologies. 
• “The collaboration will foster path breaking research and explore newer collaboration opportunities in the domain of emerging technologies. This will also provide impetus in rooftop PV sector in NCT of Delhi by mitigating challeng.

Google acquires Bangalore-based artificial intelligence firm Halli Labs 

• American technology giant Google has acquired Bangalore-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm Halli Labs for an undisclosed sum. 
• The firm which was co-founded by former chief technology officer of now defunct Stayzilla, Pankaj Gupta, announced the acquisition in a blogpost on Tuesday. 
• The firm becomes the latest AI start up to be snapped by a technology giant after a spate of similar acquisitions by firms such as Microsoft, Facebook, Apple among others. 

Brand Ambassador

Sandeep Patil named brand ambassador of indoor cricket team

• Former Indian batsman Sandeep Patil was on Wednesday named as the brand ambassador of the Indian Indoor Cricket Team.
• Patil, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, will be the face of the team in the lead-up to the 10th edition of the World Indoor Cricket Federation (WICF) World Cup, to be held from September 16-23 at the Insportz Club in Dubai, a media release said.
• The week-long tournament will be held in partnership with Cricket Australia (CA) and Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
• The Indian team is managed and operated by the XLR8 India, an indoor arena in Bengaluru.

Lilly Singh appointed UNICEF’s Global Goodwill Ambassador

• UNICEF today appointed Indian-origin Canadian YouTube star Lilly Singh as its newest Global Goodwill Ambassador at a special event here.
• Lilly was in the capital to support UNICEF’s Youth4Change initiative, a programme for youth that brings them together to support their peers and communities in taking action on issues such as health, hygiene, child labour and gender equality.
• “I’m honoured to join UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador and to use my voice to support its mission of reaching every child. It’s time to stand for what your kids want and not society,” Lilly said.

Sports / Awards & Honours

Sundar Singh Gurjar bags India's first gold at World Para Athletics Championships

• In the F46 category, Sundar recorded his personal best effort of 60.36m on the very first night of the tournament
• Sundar, a 21-year-old, was disqualified last year at the Rio Paralympics after he turned up late for the event
• Sundar then won three gold medals at the Fazza IPC Athletics Grand Prix in February this year

Kishore Sansi, Vijaya Bank MD gets Skoch award

• Kishore Sansi, Managing Director and CEO of Vijaya Bank, has been conferred the ‘Personality of the Year’ award by Skoch Consultancy Services. The award is part of the ‘Skoch Banking and Financial Leadership’ series. Past recipients of the award include C Rangarajan, Dilip Parekh and Nandan Nilekani.

Obituary 

Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo just died in Chinese custody

• Liu Xiaobo, one of China’s most famous pro-democracy advocates and political prisoners, just died in Chinese custody at a hospital. He was 61.
• Liu was moved from prison, where he was serving an 11-year sentence for calling for democracy in China, to a hospital last month. 
• There, he was under constant surveillance by Chinese authorities and was being treated for late-stage liver cancer, but his condition quickly declined. 
• He died of multiple organ failure on Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press. He is the first Nobel Peace Prize winner to die in state custody since the days of Nazi Germany.

Miscellaneous

Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals back in Indian Premier League: BCCI

• The two franchises have completed their two-year suspension
• Supreme Court-appointed Justice (Retd.) Lodha Committee had suspended CSK and Rajasthan Royals for fixing charges
• The two former champions will now participate in the cash-rich league

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