Current Affairs 24th September 2015

Current Affairs 24th September 2015

Updated : 24-Sep-2015

Current Affairs 24th September 2015 - Important Points
Current Affairs 24th September 2015 - Details
Where did the first India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue held - Washington
Among the important International Current Affairs, On 22nd September 2015, The first India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue was held in Washington, the USA. External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State John Kerry co-chaired the meeting.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker also attended the meeting.
The objective of the dialogue was to raise up bilateral economic exchange to 500 billion US dollars and increase regional security.
It was the first of its kind as the element of commerce was added to the bilateral strategic dialogue that is being held annually since 2010.
From a modest , The bilateral trade in merchandise goods has increased to 66.9 billion US dollars in 2014 from 5.6 billion US dollars in 1990 depicting an impressive 1094.6% growth in a span of 24 years.
Further, both the countries face similar security threats in the form of terrorism originating from the Af-Pak region.
Name the legend Baseball player who has passed away - Yogi Berra
On 22nd September 2015, Baseball legend Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra died at his home in New Jersey at the age of 90. He was acquainted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

The Hall of Fame catcher’s was part of the New York Yankees dynasty that dominated baseball through 1950s.
His witty quotes made him one of America’s most beloved sports icons. He also inspired the cartoon character Yogi Bear.
He spent his 19-year career with the New York Yankees. He was a 13-time World Series champion and three-time American League Most Valuable Player. He is one of only five players to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award three times.
Who is reinstated as president of Burkina Faso - Michel Kafando
Among the important International Current Affairs, On 23rd September 2015, Michel Kafando was reinstated as the president of Burkina Faso in the capital Ouagadougou as a result of an agreement reached between the RSP and the national army.
After the fall of Blaise Compaore regime, since November 2014, he had been the interim president of the country.
On 17th September 2015, he, along with the country’s Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida, was confined and supplant from the position by the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP).
During the one week interlude, the RSP announced General Gilbert Diendere as the chief of the newly established National Democratic Council (NDC) to superintend the governance in the country.
Although, the RSP and Diendere had to step down as they faced inelastic opposition from the national army, citizens and international players including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

About RSP
It is an independent secret service organisation responsible for security to the President. For long time, it has been considered as loyal to Blaise Compaore who ruled the country for 27 years after seizing power in a coup in 1987.
Joint Statement on the First India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue released
On 22nd September 2015, a joint statement on the First India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue had been released by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Highlights of the dialogue are
- The two countries also decided to elevate the Secretary- level trilateral with Japan to a Ministerial-level. As a result, Kerry and Swaraj would meet their Japanese counterpart in New York in the last week of September 2015 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
- Initiating a new high-level dialogue between India's Foreign Secretary and the US Deputy Secretary of State on regional and global Issues.
- Encouraging cooperation in fighting terrorism. Joint declaration on combating terrorism to expand counter terror partnership.
- Close consultation in the run up to Paris Conference on Climate Change.
- Recapitulation of the USA of their support for India's membership of the four major multilateral export control regimes including the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
- India's greater participation in internet governance. Program to further cooperation on internet and cyber issues.
- Further cooperation in the area of Space to facilitate US satellite components on Indian commercial space launch vehicles.
- The two sides also decided to launch an Ocean Dialogue, aimed at promoting sustainable development of blue economy.
Which revered monk of the Hindu monastic order passed away - Swami Dayanand Saraswati
On 23rd September 2015, Revered monk of the Hindu monastic order, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, passed away at the age of 85.
He was the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and a renowned traditional teacher of Advaita Vedanta.
On 15th August 1930, he was born as Natarajan Gopala Iyer in Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. He completed his early schooling from the District Board School at Kodavasal. Later, he moved to Chennai and started his career as a journalist for the weekly magazine Dharmika Hindu.
In 1952-53, the public talks of Swami Chinmayanand ignited Saraswati’s interest in Vedanta. Thereafter, Saraswati attached himself to the newly formed Chinmaya Mission. Within the first year of the initiation of the mission, he was made its secretary.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati started the Acharya Sabha. The Sabha brought together the archbishops from all over the world on a common platform to take up the cause of Hinduism and discuss the challenges that it faced.
UNDP to provide support for - Arunachal Vision 2030
Among the important National Current Affairs, On 23rd September 2015, The United National Development Programme (UNDP) stated its goal to provide support in execution of Arunachal Vision 2030 of Arunachal Pradesh.
Also, the multilateral agency will extend the cooperation to CM’s Mission on Skill Development and Employment Generation in the state.
About Arunachal Vision 2030
In January 2015, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet gave its approval for preparing the Draft Arunachal Vision – 2030 document.
It covers medium and long term development goals and respective strategies encompassing six broad areas like social harmony, economic potential, social sectors, resource mobilisation, enabling infrastructure and border development.
Features of CM’s Mission on Skill Development
- Under the initiative, job melas, skill development, interview rallies are organised in regular intervals.
- Till date more than 31000 youths have been employed or self employed.
- It aims at improving employability of educated unemployed youth.
- Its objective is to provide one lakh jobs for unemployed youth between 2012 and 2017.
Which government has increased the pension given to World War Soldiers - Haryana Government
On 23rd September 2015, Haryana Government increased the pension given to the ex-servicemen or widows of soldiers by 1500 rupees who took part in World War I and World War II.
It has been decided that 4500 rupees per month will be given to the war-widows and ex-servicemen who participated in the World Wars. Prior to this, the amount of pension was 3000 rupees per month.
Due to the raise in pension, the state government will have to bear an additional burden of 8.57 crore rupees. Earlier on 8 May 2014, the pension was doubled from 1500 rupees to 3000 rupees per month.
Apart from this, it was also announced that the state government will continue to provide financial assistance of 51000 rupees for the marriage of grand daughters of the ex-servicemen.
Who has won 2015 Baba Farid Gold Cup hockey title - Indian Air Force
Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 23rd September 2015, Indian Air Force (IAF) won the 2015 All India Baba Farid Gold Cup hockey title in Faridkot, Punjab. IAF defeated the Army to claim the 24th edition of the championships.
All the three goals were scored in the first half of the match while the second half of the play went goaless despite both the teams getting several opportunities.
In the ninth minute, Army XI was the first to open the account with a goal by Bachittar.
In the IAF side, Devinder Singh was the lone scorer with his equalizing goal in the 20th minute and the decide4r at the 33th minute.
Who has launched publishing company Juggernaut - Ex-Penguin India publisher Chiki Sarkar
On 23rd September 2015, the former publisher of Penguin India and editor-in-chief of Random House India, Chiki Sarkar, launched her own publishing company, Juggernaut in collaboration with ex-CEO of Web18, Durga Raghunath.
At presnt, Raghunath is the CEO and co-founder of news portal, Firstpost.
Do You Know :
From April 2016, newly formed publishing firm Juggernaut will publish 50 titles each year starting. They will be distributed and stocked by Hachette India.
The focus of the company will be on digital publishing, and it will soon roll out its digital program.
Juggernaut’s investors are William Bissell, MD of Fabindia, Nandan Nilkeni, former CEO and co-founder of Infosys, and Neeraj Aggarwal, CEO of Boston Consulting Group in India.
NSSO released 68th Round data on Status of Education and Vocational Training in India
Among the important National Current Affairs, On 22nd September 2015, the data of 68th Round on Status of Education and Vocational Training in India was released by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
This report is based on the employment and unemployment survey conducted in the 68th round of NSS during July 2011 to June 2012. The survey was spread over 12737 FSUs covering 101724 households and quantify 456999 persons.
Literacy rates in General
- Among persons of age 15 years and above, only 2.4% had technical degrees or diplomas or certificates. The proportion was 1.1% in rural areas and 5.5% in urban areas.
- Literacy rate among persons of age 7 years and above was 74.7% in 2011-12 of which 70% were in rural areas and 86% in urban areas.
- 18.2% of households in rural areas and 5.9% in urban areas do not have a single literate member in the age-group 15 years and above who could read and write a simple message with understanding.
- The male and female literacy rate in rural areas was 79.1% and 60.6% respectively. In urban areas, the literacy rates were 91.1% for males and 80.3% for females.
Current attendance in educational institution among persons of age 5-29 years
- About 27% in rural areas and 26.4% in urban areas reported that they never attended any educational institution as ‘education not considered necessary’.
- About 3.6% in rural areas and 3.4% in urban areas reported that they never attended any educational institution as the schools were too far.
- ‘To attend domestic chores’ was the single reason for more than half of females not attending any educational institution.
- In rural areas 24.7 % of males and 28.4 per cent of females and in urban areas, 22.9 % of males and 29 % of females reported the reason ‘education not considered necessary’ for never attending educational institution.
- About 57.7 % of people in the age group 5-29 years were estimated as ‘currently attending’ educational institutions.
- In rural areas, 57.4 % of the persons of age 5-29 years currently attended educational institutions compared to 58.5% in urban areas.
- Among persons of age 5-29 years, about 64.5% were currently attending ‘Government and local body educational institutions’, 22.5% were currently attending private unaided institutions and 12.3% were currently attending private aided institutions.
- ‘To supplement household income’ was the main reason for more than 70% of males for currently not attending any educational institution.
- Among males, nearly 25 per cent in rural areas and 33.2 per cent in urban areas reported the reason ‘to supplement household income’
- Among females, nearly 29.3 % in rural areas and 28.1% in urban areas reported the reason ‘to attend domestic chores’ for never attending educational institution.
Vocational Training among persons of age 15-59 years
- Among rural males who received/were receiving formal vocational training, the share was the highest (22.3%) for field of training ‘driving and motor mechanic work’ while among urban males it was the highest for ‘computer trades’ (26.3%).
- Among rural females, who received/were receiving formal vocational training the share was the highest for ‘textile related work’ (32.2%) while among the urban females it was the highest for computer trades’ (30.4%).
- Among persons of age 15-59 years, about 2.2% reported to have received formal vocational training and 8.6% reported to have received non-formal vocational training.
- In rural areas, nearly 1.6% of males compared to 0.9% of females and in urban areas, nearly 5% of males compared to 3.3% of females reported to have received formal vocational training.
- In rural areas, nearly 11.1% of males compared to 5.5% of females and in urban areas, nearly 13.7% of males compared to 4.3% of females reported to have received non-formal vocational training.
Uninor re-branded as - Telenor India
On 23rd September 2015, Telenor Group announced that it had changed its brand identity along with legal company name from Uninor, its subsidiary in India, as Telenor India Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Telenor in its release said that the renaming will not change its commitment to bring the best value to its 40 million customers.
Telenor Group
It is one of the leading mobile operators in the world, with 189 million mobile subscriptions. It has mobile operations in 13 markets, as well as an interest of 33% in VimpelCom Ltd., operating in 14 markets.
The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway provides tele, data and media services in the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. In Asia it is operational in India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and Myanmar.
CCS cleared 8000 crore rupees Integrated Air Command & Control System
On 23rd September 2015, The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the proposal for Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) worth around 8000 crore rupees. The system aims at integrating all air and ground sensors.
Defence Acquisition Council sanctioned the proposal in November 2014.
Once set-up, the system will offer a composite air situation picture to the air headquarters as it will be integrating Air Force, Army and civilian radars.
Do You Know :
Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) is an automated command and control system for Air Defence planned by the Indian Air Force. It is designed to provide an appropriate solution to identify the track information in the air.
Features and capabilities of IACCS
- Automation of tactical functionalities viz. Interception, Aircraft recovery, Threat evaluation etc.
- Flight Plan ingestion & collision resolution
- Post mission analysis
- Adaptable to legacy systems
- High availability rate
- Situational awareness and Analysis
Who is appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights - Stuti Narain Kacker
Among the important appointments, On 23rd September 2015, A 1978 batch IAS officer, Stuti Narain Kacker, was appointed as the head of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) by the Union Women and Child Development Ministry.
She is a former Secretary at the Department of Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. She looked after the management committee of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
Prior to the appointment of Kacker, the panel had remained headless for almost a year when former UPA appointee Kushal Singh’s tenure ended.
About NCPCR
It was set up in March 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, an Act of Parliament in December 2005.
It deals with education, care of neglected, elimination of child labour, child psychology, child development, vulnerable and marginalised children and other children related laws.
Heritage Flying Expedition held to - commemorate 1965 Indo-Pak war
On 22nd September 2015, The Heritage Flying Expedition was in news as the Pushpak aircraft, which formed a part of the Heritage Flying Expedition, touched down at Sanganer airport in a ceremony attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
In the 1965 and 1971 operations, the aircraft, which is more than 55-years-old, was used for Air Observation role. The aircraft was rebuilt and refurbished to flying standards with no modern equipment. Brigadier AS Sidhu and Lieutenant Colonel Arvind Saini flown the aircraft.
On 14th September 2015, the expedition started from Bathinda and flew all along the Western border from Amritsar (Punjab) to Naliya in Kutch (Gujarat) and more than 3500 kms were flown in the vintage aircraft.
The purpose of this heritage flying expedition was to honour the martyrs, who had laid down their lives during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. The expedition generated awareness among the present generation on the type of aircraft and difficulties under which our predecessors flew.
Who is elected Bihar Cricket Association President - Abdul Bari Siddiqui
On 23rd September 2015, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, a senior leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was elected as President of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) after an election, which was held in accordance to direction of the Supreme Court of India.
A statement issued by Justice Dharampal Sinha said that Siddiqui defeated Vinod Kumar, a former president of BCA, by a margin of 30 votes in the election.
Currently, Siddiqui is the chairman of the state’s Badminton Association.
Some other appointments based on the results of election include
- Treasurer: Ram Kumar
- Working President of the cricketing body: International umpire Laliteshwar Prasad Verma
- General Secretary: Ravi Shankar Prasad
- Five Vice Presidents were elected: Sunil kumar Singh, Gopal Bohra, Anand Kumar, S Mumtazuddin and N K Jamuar
MoEF Committee gave environmental clearance for Ramagundam Urea plant
On 24th September 2015, A committee under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) gave environmental clearance for the proposed 5465 crore fertiliser plant in Ramagundam, Telangana.
Earlier in January 2015, Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL), Engineers India Limited (EIL) and National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) together formed a joint venture company (JVC) for setting up two new Ammonia and Urea plants at the existing site of Ramagundam Fertilizer plant.
It is named as Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited. It has the capacity to produce 1.1 million tonnes of urea yearly. It is expected to be commissioned in 2018-19.
This plant, which became obsolete for the past decade, was originally established as a coal-based plant. Subsequently, the plant could not survive due to shortage of raw material such as Phosphate.