General Knowledge Current Affairs

Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Current Affairs. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2019

PM launches One Nation, One Card in Ahmedabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched One Nation, One Card for transport mobility at a function in Ahmedabad today. The Indigenous Automatic Fare Collection System based on One Nation One Card Model i.e. National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is the first of its kind in India. India’s First Indigenously Developed Payment Eco-system for transport consisting of NCMC Card, SWEEKAR (Swachalit Kiraya: Automatic Fare Collection System) and SWAGAT (Swachalit Gate) is ased on NCMC Standards. These are bank issued cards on Debit/Credit/Prepaid card product platform. The customer may use this single card for payments across all segments including metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking, smart city and retail. The stored value on card supports offline transaction across all travel needs with minimal financial risk to involved stakeholders. The service area feature of this card supports operator specific applications e.g. monthly passes, season tickets etc.

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Apurvi Chandela wins gold in 10m air rifle

Apurvi Chandela shattered the world record on her way to the gold medal in women’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi. The Indian shot an astonishing 252.9 to win the top prize on day one of the competitions at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. Apurvi Chandela became the only Indian shooter to qualify for the 10m Women Air Rifle final. She finished at the 4th spot in the Qualification round with 629.3 Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valarivan did not qualify for the final.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

PM Modi receives Seoul Peace Prize for 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize for 2018 for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth. The award was presented to him by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation at a grand ceremony here. A short film on the life and achievements of Prime Minister Modi was also screened at the event. While conferring the award on Modi, the award committee recognised his contribution to the growth of Indian and global economies, crediting 'Modinomics' for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor.

Thursday, February 7, 2019

India successfully launches latest communication satellite GSAT-31

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-31 was successfully launched by European launch services provider Arianespace's rocket from French Guiana. Weighing about 2,536 kg, the Indian satellite, GSAT-31, will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. The satellite derives its heritage from ISROs earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, the space agency said, adding that it will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands. GSAT-31 is the country's 40th communication satellite which is configured on ISRO's enhanced 'I-2K Bus', utilising the maximum "bus capabilities" of this type. With a mission life of around 15 years, GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH-television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications. The GSAT-31 is a "high power" communication satellite with Ku-band, and it is going to serve and replace some of the satellites that are going to expire soon.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015,2016,2017 and 2018 announced

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015,2016,2017 and 2018 has been conferred on the following

  • Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for the year 2015 for their contribution in Rural Development, Education , Development of natural resources.
  • For 2016 jointly to Akshaya Patra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers.
  • Ekal Abhiyan Trust for the year 2017 for their contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender and Social Equality.
  • Shri Yohei Sasakawa for the year 2018 for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Zoramthanga sworn in as Mizoram chief minister

Mizo National Front (MNF) leader Zoramthanga was in as Mizoram’s new chief minister. The 74-year-old rebel-turned-politician was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. A former Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, 74, was elected for a fifth term from Aizawl East-I seat, defeating Independent candidate K. Sapdanga by a margin of 2,504 votes.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Govt appoints Krishnamurthy Subramanian as Chief Economic Adviser for 3 years

The government on December 7 appointed Krishnamurthy Subramanian as the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the finance minister for a period of three years. The main role of a CEA is to advise the government on key economic issues. Besides, the adviser and its team comes out with an annual Economic Survey ahead of Union Budget. Subramanian, who is currently the associate professor of finance (with tenure) and executive director for the Centre for Analytical Finance at country's premier business-school Indian School of Business.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

India’s heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 launched successfully from French Guiana

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) heaviest and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite GSAT-11 was successfully launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana. GSAT-11 will boost the broadband connectivity to rural and inaccessible Gram Panchayats in the country coming under the Bharat Net Project, which is part of Digital India Programme.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga claims India’s first Youth Olympics gold

Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga notched up India’s maiden gold medal at the Youth Olympics, claiming the top honours in the men’s 62 kg category here. Earlier this year, Lalrinnunga claimed a silver (youth) and a bronze (junior) in the Asian Championships, smashing two national records in the process. #Jeremy_Lalrinnunga

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Gita Gopinath appointed IMF Chief Economist

Indian-origin economist Gita Gopinath was appointed the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday, becoming only the second Indian after Raghuram Rajan to hold the prestigious post. Rajan held the post from 2003 to 2006 before he joined the finance ministry as chief economic adviser and later the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Gopinath, 46, succeeds Maurice “Maury” Obstfeld. Gopinath currently serves as the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Village Rockstars is India’s official entry for Oscars 2019

Rima Das's Assamese film 'Village Rockstars' has been selected as India's official entry in the Foreign Language Film category for Oscars 2019. 'Village Rockstars' had bagged the Best Feature Film trophy at the 65th National Film Awards, besides also winning Best Child Artist, Best Location Sound Recordist and Best Editing. The coming-of-age film is set for a country-wide release on September 28, 2018.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

G. Satheesh Reddy appointed as new DRDO chairman

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri to the post of Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) and Chairman, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for a period of two years with effect from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Indian men’s hockey team defeats Hong Kong 26-0, breaks 86-year old record

Indian men hockey team broke their 86-year old record as they defeated Hong Kong China 26-0 in a one-sided Pool B match of the Asian Games in Indonesia. India recorded their biggest International win and beat their own 86-year old record when they defeated USA with a 24-1 margin in Olympics. New Zealand hold the biggest margin win record when they beat Samoa 36-1 in 1994.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Ballistic Missile Interceptor AAD Successfully Flight Tested

DRDO conducted the successful test of the Ballistic Missile Interceptor Advanced Area Defence (AAD)  from Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The endo-atmospheric missile, capable of intercepting incoming targets at an altitude of 15 to 25 kms was launched against multiple simulated targets of 1500 km class ballistic missile. One target among simultaneously incoming multiple targets was selected on real time, the weapon system radars tracked the target and the missile locked on to it and intercepted the target with a high degree of accuracy. The complete event including the engagement and interception was tracked by a number of electro-optical tracking systems, radars and telemetry stations. All the mission objectives were successfully met.

Technology for detecting contamination in water

National Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials (NCCCM), has developed visual detection kits for detection of Fluoride, Chromium (VI) and Iron. The detection can be done in 5 minutes. Portable Visual Kits for detection of Fluoride, Chromium and Iron have been developed and technology for indigenous manufacturing of these kits is transferred to six private entrepreneurs and product is available in the market. In all detection kits developed, reagents kept inside different bottles are to be added to the water sample. Reagents are added and mixed for two minutes.  Within 5 minutes, colour develops in the top layer, the intensity of colour is compared with a colour chart by visual inspection to obtain the concentration range of contaminant in water.

Iron Contamination detection kit is at advanced stage of development and very soon will be available to private entrepreneurs.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Netherlands win eighth Women’s Hockey World Cup title

Netherlands retained the Hockey World Cup title with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Ireland. Ireland, the second-lowest ranked country in the tournament, was unable to produce a fairy-tale ending at Lee Valley Hockey Center.

Virat Kohli becomes no. 1 Test batsman

India skipper Virat Kohli, jumped up one place and surpassed Australia’s Steve Smith to become the No.1 batsman in ICC Test Rankings. He has become only the seventh Indian and first since Sachin Tendulkar in June 2011, to take the pole position.

Lakshya Sen stuns World No 1 to bag badminton gold in Asian Junior Championships

Lakshya Sen become the third Indian shuttler after PV Sindhu and Gautam Thakkar to win a gold medal at the Junior Asian Championships. The gold medal win is Sen’s biggest win in his career as the world number nine became the first Indian to win the medal at the competition in six years. He also became the first individual in 53 years to win the medal in men’s singles event.

Carolina Marin beats PV Sindhu to claim third World Championship title

Spain's Carolina Marin beat India's PV Sindhu to claim third World Championship title, and she become the first woman to claim three World Championship titles as well.

Friday, August 3, 2018

Indian-origin academic wins maths 'Nobel' Fields Medal

Indian-origin academic Akshay Venkatesh has been awarded the Fields Medal, which is often called the Nobel Prize of mathematics. The award to the 36-year-old academic was announced on 2nd August at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Rio de Janeiro.