Current Affairs 24th February 2016

Important Points : 

• Which parliament has became first in world to run entirely on solar power - Parliament of Pakistan
• Which project has been approved by Assam Cabinet - Metro Rail
• Who has been appointed as Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre - KN Vyas
• Who will be conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFP - Sagar Sarhadi
• Who has been selected as Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission - Former CJI HL Dattu 
• Who has sworned in as Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC - Justice Dinesh Maheshwari
• Name the exercise started between India, South Africa, Brazil - IBSAMAR
• 18th Mercer Quality of Life survey released

Details : 

Which parliament has became first in world to run entirely on solar power - Parliament of Pakistan

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 23rd February 2016, world’s first parliament to run fully on solar power is the Parliament of Pakistan.

The solar power system, provides 62 MW to the parliament and a surplus 18 MW to the national grid. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the solar power system.

Key facts related to the project

• China has funded the solar power plant costing around $55 million. 
• It will save around 12 million rupees in electricity bills every year.

 Which project has been approved by Assam Cabinet - Metro Rail

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 23rd February 2016, the detailed project report (DPR) for a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Guwahati was approved by the Assam Cabinet. 

On 29th February 2016, the foundation stone for the Metro project in Khanapara area will be laid by State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Key highlights of Guwahati Metro project

• The project will be completed in three phases covvering 203 kilometres Metro corridor.
• 61.4 kilometres will be covered in Phase I having four corridors : ISBT to Paltanbazar (elevated), M.G. Road to Khanapara (underground), Jalukbari to Khanapara (elevated) and Dharapur-Narangi (elevated).
• Carrying capacity of train will be 975 passengers.
• GMRCL will be a wholly-owned company of the Assam Government and will look after the operation and maintenance of the project.

 Who has been appointed as Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre - KN Vyas

Among the important Appointments, On 23rd February 2016, Distinguished Scientist KN Vyas was appointed as Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

He has replaced Dr Sekhar Basu, who is Secretary to the Union Government, Department of Atomic Energy and the Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission.

Prior to this appointment, he was an Associate Director for Reactor Projects Group in BARC.

About KN Vyas

• He had a rich experience of 36 years in design and analysis of nuclear reactor fuels.
• He has received many awards including DAE Awards in the years 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2013, Indian Nuclear Society Outstanding Service Award 2011 and Homi Bhabha Science and Technology Award 2006.

 Who will be conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFP - Sagar Sarhadi

Among the important National Current Affairs, Between 26th February and 28th February 2016, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the second edition of the International Film Festival of Prayag (IFFP) will be presented to renowned scriptwriter Sagar Sarhadi.

About Sagar Sarhadi

• He is an Indian short story, play writer, director and producer.
• His directorial Bazaar starring Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Sheikh and Smita Patil was a critically acclaimed film.

About International Film Festival of Prayag

• It is a festival organised in the city of Allahabad, India.
• In the first edition of the award, Veteran actor Om Puri was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

 Who has been selected as Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission - Former CJI HL Dattu 

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 23rd February 2016, Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was selected as the next Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). 

Other members of the committee were Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh,  Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

President Pranab Mukherjee's approval is pending for the selection. 

Do You Know : 

According to Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by President on the recommendation of the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister.

 Who has sworned in as Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC - Justice Dinesh Maheshwari

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 24th February 2016, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court was sworn-in as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.

State Governor V. Shanmuganathan administered the oath of office to Maheshwari.

About Justice Dinesh Maheshwari

• On 8th March 1981, he enrolled as an Advocate.
• He practised mainly on civil and constitutional sides.
• On 2nd September 2004, he took oath as judge of Rajasthan High Court.

 Name the exercise started between India, South Africa, Brazil - IBSAMAR

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 19th February 2016, 5th edition of exercise IBSAMAR between Brazil, India and South Africa initiated in Goa. 

The main objective of the exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies.

Key highlights of IBSAMAR V

• The scope of Exercise IBSAMAR V includes wide-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour Phase and a diverse range of operational activities at sea during the Sea Phase.
• The thrust of exercises at sea in 2016 will be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface firings, Air Defences, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Flying Operations, Search and Rescue and tactical procedures.
• The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Mumbai, an indigenous designed and built guided missile destroyer, INS Trishul, a stealth frigate and INS Shalki, a Shishumar class submarine.
• The Brazilian Navy will be represented by Brazilian Naval Ship Amazonas with Special Forces, commanded by Commander Alessander Felipe Imamura Carneiro.
• The South African Navy will be represented by South African Naval Ship SAS Spioenkop with integral helicopter and Special Forces, commanded by Captain MA Boucher.

About IBSAMAR

• IBSAMAR denotes a series of naval exercises between the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa.
• The name IBSAMAR is an abbreviation of India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime.
• The exercise was initiated in 2006.
• IBSAMAR IV took place off the coast of South Africa in October 2014.

 18th Mercer Quality of Life survey released

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 23rd February 2016, 18th Mercer annual Quality of Living survey was released. With the help of this companies and organizations recognize compensation and hardship allowances for international staff.

Vienna, Austria's grand capital on the Danube River offers the highest quality of life of all cities in the world, according to the list compiled by consulting firm Mercer. Apart from this, the Iraqi capital Baghdad, is still at the bottom of a live ability list.

Seven Indian cities were ranked in the list and they are  

• New Delhi – rank 161
• Kolkata – rank 160
• Mumbai – rank 152
• Chennai – rank150
• Bangalore – rank 145 
• Pune – rank 144 
• Hyderabad – rank 139

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