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  • Current Affairs 19th September 2015

    Updated : 19-Sep-2015

    Current Affairs 19th September 2015 - Important Points

    Current Affairs 19th September 2015 - Details

    Which renowned Marathi cricket commentator has passed away - Bal Pandit

    On 17th September 2015, Renowned Marathi cricket commentator and writer Bal Pandit died in Pune, Maharashtra passed away at the age of 89.

    Contributions of Bal Pandit

    • Before the arrival of satellite television channels, he worked as a Marathi commentator for both domestic and international matches on All India Radio for over 4 decades.
    • He wrote 30 books on various aspects of cricket.
    • Sunil Gavaskar’s autobiography Sunny Days was translated into Marathi by him.
    • His columns and articles on cricket appeared regularly in newspapers and magazines that enriched readers’ knowledge of the game.
    • In 1978, the Maharashtra Government in recognition of his contribution to the game of cricket, bestowed him with Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award.

    Integrated Power Development Scheme from Varanasi has been launched by - PM Narendra Modi

    On 18th September 2015, the nationwide Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) has been launched by PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

    The aim of the scheme is to enhance power transmission and distribution network in urban areas.

    Features of Integrated Power Development Scheme

    • IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network.
    • Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas.
    • Metering of distribution transformers /feeders / consumers in the urban areas.

    Japan’s Diet removed restrictions on overseas deployment of - Self Defense Forces for military use

    On 18th September 2015, The Diet, Japan’s parliament passed two security bills that allow overseas deployment of the Self Defense Forces (SDF) for military purposes.

    The remilitarization bills can be termed as historic as they allow Japan to be militarily pro active after 70 years.

    Article 9 of the Japanese constitution convey the principle of pacifism to the governance framework.

    The 1945 constitution aimed at curtailing war mongering tendencies of Japan that was defeated in the World War II.

    Features of security bills

    • One of them amends 10 existing security-related laws to lift various SDF restrictions, including Article 9’s long-standing ban on collective self-defense. However, it amends only the interpretation of the article but not the original text.
    • The other creates a new permanent law that allows Japan to deploy the SDF overseas to provide logistic support for United Nations-authorized military operations involving a foreign or multinational force.
    • However, the deployment of forces is subject to three conditions, namely
      • Japan or close ally is attacked/Japan’s survival is threatened
      • There are no other appropriate means to repel the attack
      • The use of force is restricted to the minimum required

    Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution

    Renunciation of War: Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

    In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

    Indian Railways developed prototype of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet

    On 18th September 2015, Indian Railways announced that it has developed a prototype of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet. It is termed as hybrid because the design is based on both vacuum toilets and biotoilets.

    Development Cell of the Indian Railway Board developed this and is considered as the first of its kind to be used in any railways in the world.

    On trial basis, they are installed in the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani train.

    Features of Hybrid Vacuum Toilet

    • It was built by modifying the standard flushing protocol of a vacuum toilet so as to create water seal and additional post flush cycles.
    • The vacuum toilet evacuates its discharge into a biodigester tank is fitted underneath the coach.
    • The biodegester tank contains anaerobic bacteria that convert human fecal matter into water and small amount of gases before discharging the same on the ground or track.

    Significance of the technology

    It will result in saving very precious natural resource as it uses water to the tune of at least 1/20th of the quantity (500 ml) that is used in the current design of biotoilets or conventional toilets (15-20 litres) per flush.

    Further, it will eliminate the need to create separate ground handling installations to evacuate holding tanks that contain untreated human fecal matter.