Current Affairs 23rd September 2015

Current Affairs 23rd September 2015 - Important Points

• Who is elected as President of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India - Zayn Khan

• Draft of Revised Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour released

• 24th Vyaas Samman has been conferred on - Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka

• International Migration Outlook 2015 released by - OECD

• Where did the Korea Caravan 2015 held - Vishakhapatnam

• Who is elected as Chairman of US-India Business Council - Cisco’s Executive Chairman John T Chambers

• Who has won Community Impact Award at Google Science Fair - Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai

• Who has approved signing of Joint Declaration of Intent between India and Germany - Union Cabinet

• Millennium Development Goals: Delhi State Report 2014 released

• CCS cleared multi-billion deals for Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from US

• Who has approved 1575 crore rupees road project in Odisha - CCEA

• World Rhino Day observed on - 22nd September

Current Affairs 23rd September 2015 - Details

Who is elected as President of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India - Zayn Khan

On 22nd September 2015, Zayn Khan was elected as the President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI). His appointment was entailed by the death of R Bharath Raj, who passed away while serving as President on 15th August.

He has experience in the sport and has contributed a lot for the technical side of the sport in India.

As head of the stewards development, training and deployment, Khan has extensive knowledge about rallying. He also has experience in officiating at the international level.

About The Federation of Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI)

• In 1971, it was formed as a federation of five clubs to promote motorsporting events in the country.
• For the promotion and governance of motorsports in India, it is also recognised as the National Sports Federation (NSF) by the Indian Government.

Draft of Revised Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour released

On 22nd September 2015, the draft of Revised Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour was released by The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The revised scheme seeks to address irregularities associated with the original scheme of 1978 like low rehabilitation package, lack of provisions for special category beneficiaries, lack of monitoring, etc.

Features of the Revised Scheme

• Unlike the original scheme which is a Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS), the revised scheme will be a Central Sector Scheme (CSS). Hence, the Union Government will bear the entire expenditure under the scheme.
• For special category beneficiaries such as young children including orphans, girl child rescued from beggar rings and forced prostitution the package will be of 2 lakh rupees.
• The expenditure on awareness generation will be to the tune of maximum 10 lakh rupees per state.
• The rehabilitation package will be 1 lakh rupees per adult male beneficiary
• For disabled people the package will be 3 lakh rupees
• The amount of assistance for survey of bonded laborers shall be 4.50 lakh rupees per sensitive district.

24th Vyaas Samman has been conferred on - Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka

On 22nd September 2015, Eminent Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka was conferred with 24th Vyaas Samman for the year 2014 for his work 'Premchand ki Kahaniyon ka Kaal Kramanusaar Adhyayan'.

He was awarded with a cash amount of 2.5 lakh rupees along with a citation by Eminent Hindi writer Prof Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.

About the Vyas Samman

KK Birla Foundation instituted the award in 1991. It is presented to an outstanding literary work in Hindi published during the last 10 years.

In 1991, Ram Vilas Sharma was the first person to receive the award for his Bharat ke Pracheen bhasha parivar aur Hindi.

Vishwanath Tripathi received the award for the year 2013 for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh' that is a biography of the noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. While, Narendra Kohli received the award for his work 'Na Bhooto Na Bhavishyati' in 2012 and Ramdarash Misra for his collection of poems 'Aam K Patte' in 2011.

International Migration Outlook 2015 released by - OECD

On 22nd September 2015, the International Migration Outlook 2015 was released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

It inspected the recent development in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and some non member countries.

Also, the report described the evolution of recent labour market outcomes of immigrants in OECD countries.

Highlights of International Migration Outlook 2015

• Asylum seeks in OECD countries reached an historical high in 2014 and levels continue to increase in 2015.
• One in ten immigrants to the OECD is Chinese and 4.4 percent from India.
• Between 2000-01 and 2010-11 the number of doctors and nurses emigrating to OECD countries from countries with severe shortages in health workers like India grew by more than 80 percent.
• Immigration flows are on the rise in most OECD countries. They increased sharply for the first time since 2007 and are back to their pre-crisis level with 4.3 million permanent entries to the OECD in 2014.
• Germany is consolidating its position as one of the main immigration countries, now second only to the USA in the number of migrants it receives.
• Overall, the average employment rate of immigrants in the OECD area increased by 1.3 percentage points during 2011-14, compared with 0.5 percentage points for the native population.

Where did the Korea Caravan 2015 held - Vishakhapatnam

On 22nd September 2015, Korea-Andhra Pradesh Friendship Forum organized the Korea Caravan 2015 in Vishakhapatnam. This is for the first time that Caravan was held outside New Delhi.

A Korea Desk, would be an exclusive cell to be opened in the State Secretariat, to issue necessary clearances and give swift response to investors.

Besides, it also called upon the Koreans to join hands with the Indians to set up various industries in the State and in building the capital Amaravathi.

On the other hand, Ambassador of Korea to India Joongyu Lee, while addressing the gathering, reiterated the faith and confidence in the potential of Andhra Pradesh as was reflected by the World Bank’s recent report on ‘Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms.

The report ranked the state second in ease of doing business category. Andhra Pradesh was ranked with a score of 70.12 percent, below Gujarat which stood at the top with a score of 71.14 per cent.

Who is elected as Chairman of US-India Business Council - Cisco’s Executive Chairman John T Chambers

On 21st September 2015, John T Chambers, the Executive Chairman of Cisco, was elected as the next Chairman of US-India Business Council’s (USIBC) by the Council’s Board of Directors.

His name was announced at the USIBC’s 40th Anniversary Leadership Summit that kicked off the US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

He has replaced Ajay Banga, the President and CEO of MasterCard, who has been the longest-serving chairman of the Council.

US-India Business Council (USIBC)

It is the premier business advocacy organization committed to strengthening the economic and commercial relationship between the United States and India.

At the request of both the United States and Indian governments, it was established in 1975. The Council is the largest bilateral trade association in the United States with liaison presence in New York, Silicon Valley, and New Delhi.

Mukesh Aghi is the president of USIBC.

Who has won Community Impact Award at Google Science Fair - Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai

On 22nd September 2015, a class 9th student from Koraput district of Odisha, Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai, grabbed the prestigious Community Impact Award at the fifth Google Science Fair held in California.

She received the award for developing a low-cost bio-absorbent based water purifier, which aimed at cleaning waste water by flowing through difference layers of corn cobs.

She has received 10000 US dollars as prize money. She will also receive support from Google for one year for her project.

Winners of the fifth annual Google Science Fair

• Virgin Galactic Pioneer Award- Pranav Sivakumar (15), United States
• Scientific American Innovator Award- Krtin Nithiyanandam (14), United Kingdom
• National Geographic Explorer Award- Deepika Kurup (17), United States
• Lego Education Builder Award- Anurudh Ganesan (15), United States
• Google Technologist Award- Girish Kumar (17), Singapore
• Grand Prize- Olivia Hallisey (16), United States
• Community Impact Award- Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai (13), India
• Incubator Award- Eliot Sarrey (14), France

Do You Know :

The Google Science Fair is an online science competition sponsored by Google, National Geographic, Galactic, Lego, Virgin and Scientific American. The competition is open for 13 to 18 years old students from all over the world. The first ever Google Science Fair award was announced in July 2011.

Who has approved signing of Joint Declaration of Intent between India and Germany - Union Cabinet

On 22nd September 2015, The Union Cabinet approved the signing of Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between India and Germany. It was approved with minor amendments in the earlier MoU for facilitating implementation of the programme Indo-German Strategic Partnerships in Higher Education.

The amendments in the earlier MoU include

• The funding period for the programme will be changed from 2015-19 to 2016-20, that is, from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2020.
• The term ‘Strategic’ will be removed from the title of the programme to make it Indo-German Partnership in Higher Education

The strengthened education relationship through this Joint Declaration of Intent will enable the higher education institutions in both the countries to benefit mutually to enhance innovative partnerships in the field of education, research and skill development.

It will be advantageous for faculty development and to encourage advanced research in the identified priority areas of challenges for India.

Millennium Development Goals: Delhi State Report 2014 released

On 22nd September 2015, The Institute of Human Development (IHD) released a report titled Millennium Development Goals: Delhi State Report 2014 prepared by the IHD in collaboration with the Delhi Planning Board (DPB).

Highlights of the report

• The proportion of people below the poverty line in Delhi estimated for 2011-12 was 9.9% in comparison to 15.7% during 1993-94, the base year for MDG.
• Teledensity (number of connections for 100 individuals) increased from 41.8 in 2004 to 218.9 in 2011.
• The youth literacy rate that is between 15 and 24 years old was 96.46% during 2011-12.
• Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector was 17.1 in 2011-12.
• Tuberculosis prevalence rate reduced to 67.7 per one lakh population in 2010 as opposed to 284.5 recorded in 2004.
• While the percentage of slum households in 2001 was 16.3, it came down to 11.3 in 2011.
• While the proportion of seats held by women in the state Assembly was 4.3% in 2013, it increased to 8.6% in 2015.
• While the under-5 child mortality rate was 83.1 in 1992, it dropped to 28 in 2012.
• Infant mortality rate was 25 in 2012 against 36 recorded in 1998.
• Percentage of underweight children (under 3 years) decreased from 36.2% in 1992-93 to 24.9% in 2005-06.
• While around 29.1% of households have personal computers, only 17.6% households having internet facility.
• Net enrolment ratio in primary education was 97.6% during 2012-13 and proportion of pupils completing it was 99.7% in 2010-11 against the 100 percent target envisaged by the MDG.

CCS cleared multi-billion deals for Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from US

On 22nd September 2015, the deal to buy 37 military helicopters from the United States (US) has been approved by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The deal is worth 3.1 billion US dollars.

The deal comprises of 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers and 22 Apache attack helicopters from US defence contractor Boeing to replace the old Soviet-era aircraft.

The deal, which was being delayed from 2012, also contains proposals to place follow-on orders for 7 more CH-47F Chinook and 11 more AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters.

On the one hand, the Apache, armed with fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles, has the ability to track up to 128 targets in just 60 seconds and prioritise threats. The missiles, in addition, enhance the helicopter gunships with heavy anti-armour abilities.

On the other, the Chinook’s main duty includes transporting troops, artillery and battlefield resupply.

Who has approved 1575 crore rupees road project in Odisha - CCEA

On 22nd September 2015, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its nod to four-laning of the 112-km Cuttack-Angul section of the National Highway-42 in Odisha.

The total estimated cost of the project will be 1575 crore rupees and it will be built on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis.

The project will be executed under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase III.

Maximum grant from the government for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) will be up to 40% of the total project cost.

After the completion of the project, the road will greatly help reduce the time and cost of travel of traffic. Apart from this, it will also give a rise to socio-economic condition of the people living in the region.

World Rhino Day observed on - 22nd September

On 22nd September 2015, The World Rhino Day was observed to celebrate all five species of rhino and they are Javan rhinos, Black, White, Sumatran and Greater one-horned.

In 2010, WWF-South Africa first announced the World Rhino Day. The following year, World Rhino Day grew into an international success, enclosing both African and Asian rhino species.

In India, the day was observed with all-day awareness programmes at Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Manas National Park (Assam) and Laokhowa Burachapori (Assam).