Current Affairs 29th August 2017

Current Affairs 29th August 2017 - Important Points

• India-China Doklam border standoff end on - 28th August 2017
• ‘National Sports Talent Search Portal’ launched by - Vice President Venkaiah Naidu
• UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award won by - Cristiano Ronaldo
• Subramanian Swamy’s plea to direct BCCI to e-auction IPL rights rejected by - Supreme Court
• 10-year jail term for Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh pronounced by - CBI court
• International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2017 observed globally on - 29th August 2017
•  National Sports Day observed on - August 29th 2017
• Ministry of Textiles proposes to hold Pan India camps for weavers and artisans on - 28th August 2017
•  Union Government to launch Deep Ocean Mission on - 28th August 2017
•  DIPP releases Consolidated FDI Policy on - 28th August 2017
• Non Resident Indians can also have convertible notes on non-repatriation basis.

Current Affairs 29th August 2017 - Details

India-China Doklam border standoff end on - 28th August 2017

Ending the bitter standoff of 70-days over Doklam, India and China agreed to withdraw their troops from the border region on 28th August 2017.
India said that, diplomatic talks led to breakthrough.
A press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated that on that basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam had been agreed to and was ongoing."
Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a standoff at Doklam in the Sikkim section since June 2017 and this standoff led to an escalation in bilateral tensions.
The conflict witnessed three hundred soldiers from each side confronting against each other on the Doklam plateau.

Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. It is 3,488 kilo meter long border between China and India from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh which is around 220-kilometer section in Sikkim.
The breakthrough was achieved few days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China.
PM Modi will visit to China to attend a summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group of nations in September 2017. The summit will be held in Xiamen from 3rd September to 5th September 2017.

‘National Sports Talent Search Portal’ launched by - Vice President Venkaiah Naidu

Venkaiah Naidu, Vice-President has launched the Sports Ministry’s much-awaited ‘National Sports Talent Search Portal’ on 28th August 2017 officially at a function in the Indira Gandhi in door Stadium in New Delhi. Vijay Goel, Union Sports Minister was also present at the occasion among other ministers.

More about the Portal

• The portal will be enabling any person from across country to upload his/her information through a simple three step process for registration, profile creation and upload of achievements.
• The Sports Ministry will going to tap their talent and train them further in their respective disciplines and provide them with a platform to showcase their sporting abilities irrespective of their economic or social status.
• Around 1000 children will be selected and they will be receiving scholarships worth Rs 5 lakh per year for eight years.
• The talent search portal will be available in English and other regional languages, in order to ensure language doesn’t serve as a barrier for any boy or girl from uploading their achievements.
• The portal will also be available as an App that will be available to download on smart phones.

UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award won by - Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo was named the 2016-17 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award in August 2017. He surpassed Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Buffon to win the prestigious award.
Ronaldo picked up the trophy for the second consecutive season and third time in overall, having also received the accolade in 2013-14. Along with that, Lieke Martens was named the 2016-17 UEFA Women's Player of the Year.
More about UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

• This award is granted to the footballer playing for a football club in Europe that is considered the best in the previous season.
• UEFA in 2011 award was replaced by this award.
• It replaced the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is the first and the only player to win this award three times and that too twice in a row.
• The award has been won by Lionel Messi (2011, 2015), Andrés Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribéry (2013) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2014, 2016, 2017) since its beginning.

Subramanian Swamy’s plea to direct BCCI to e-auction IPL rights rejected by - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court refused to direct the BCCI to conduct e-auctioning for awarding media rights relating to the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on 28th August 2017. Three-judge bench comprising newly appointed Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra and Justices, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chadrachud made this decision. The bench refuted the plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that the ongoing tendering process to award media rights for the IPL events be stayed and e-auctioning directed. This verdict from the court has come as a major relief for the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). The IPL matches are scheduled to start in April 2018.
Important Details of the Verdict

• Swamy had petitioned to the Supreme Court to direct BCCI to conduct e-auction, in order to bring more transparency in the process.
• Supreme Court had asked the Vinod Rai-headed COA (Committee of Administrators) to submit an affidavit on how the physical option is better than the e-auction.
• Senior advocate Parag Tripathi while arguing on behalf of COA, presented that BCCI’s ongoing tender process was a better option, as all the bidders had put their best bid in a sealed envelope in order to get the media rights.
• Before this, BCCI had to postpone the auction to 4th September 2017 after the court asked Rai to file q reply by 28th August.

10-year jail term for Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh pronounced by - CBI court

10-year jail term for Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh pronounced by CBI Court Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been jailed for 10-years for his crimes on rape 15-year-old girl and sexual exploitation case.  Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh delivered the sentence.
The quantum punishment against the rape convict Dera Saccha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was announced by the CBI Court on 28th August 2017 in Sunaira Jail on the outskirts of Rohtak, where the Dera chief was kept in judicial custody.

The verdict of the court was pronounced in the tight security arrangements in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. In addition to that the area around 10 kilometres near the jail on all sides was sealed.  Only persons bearing the pass were allowed to enter the premises.

International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2017 observed globally on - 29th August 2017

The International Day Against Nuclear Tests was observed across the world on 29th August 2017 with an objective to promote peace and security world-wide.

The Day is observed through the coordination of various activities all across the world such as symposia, competitions, publications, conferences, exhibits, instruction in media broadcasts, academic institutions and others. It was first celebrated in 2010.

 National Sports Day observed on - August 29th 2017

India celebrated its National Sports Day on 29th August 2017. The day is annually celebrated on this day to mark the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.
Various programs are being conducted across India in order to celebrate the day. On this occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind will be giving away the  National Sports Awards this evening. A total of 29 players have been selected to receive the honours from the President, Ram Nath Kovind.

The President will be conferring Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Dronacharya Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Arjuna Awards are accolodated to recognize outstanding achievements in National sports by the players while the Dronacharya Award is for coaches to honour.

More about Dhyan Chand

• Born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad, Dhyan Chand was an Indian field hockey player and known as “The Wizard” for his superb ball control.
• He is known for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats.
• He made India to win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936 in field hockey.
• He scored more than 400 goals in his career spanning over 22 years.
• He was awarded with the Civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1956.
• The Union Government in 2012 decided to celebrate his birthday, i.e. 29 August, as the country’s National Sports Day.

Ministry of Textiles proposes to hold Pan India camps for weavers and artisans on - 28th August 2017

The Ministry of Textiles proposed to organise Pan India camps in handlooms and handicrafts clusters, under the ‘Hastkala Sahyog Shivir’ initiative on 28th August 2017.
According to an official release, the camps will be organized between 7th and 17th October 2017. The initiative is dedicated to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ‘Garib Kalyan Varsh’, the birth centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay - late senior leader of Bharatiya Jana Sangh who is also the forerunner of the present day Bharatiya Janata Party.

The following services will be provided to the artisans and weavers in these camps:

• Credit facilities Issuance through MUDRA scheme
• Assistance for technological enhancement under the Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata
• Distribution of modern equipments and tool kits
• Issuance of Yarn Pass Book
• Enrollment under NIOS/IGNOU courses
• Access to Common Service Center facilities
• Buyer-seller expos and meets
• Further, the proposed camps will be organized in over 200 handloom Block Level Clusters
  and Weavers’ Service Centers and more than 200 handicraft clusters in collaboration with the State Governments.

 More about Dhyan Chand

• Born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad, Dhyan Chand was an Indian field hockey player and known as “The Wizard” for his superb ball control.
• He is known for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats.
• He made India to win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936 in field hockey.
• He scored more than 400 goals in his career spanning over 22 years.
• He was awarded with the Civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1956.
• The Union Government in 2012 decided to celebrate his birthday, i.e. 29 August, as the country’s National Sports Day.

Union Government to launch Deep Ocean Mission on - 28th August 2017

M. Rajeevan, secretary, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) announced on 28th August 2017 that the Union Government will soon be launching a Deep Ocean Mission to encourage research activities in ocean science and develop technology to harness ocean resources. The Mission is aiming to explore and harness mineral resources under the ocean floor.
The proposed interdisciplinary and inter-ministerial project also seeks to create jobs and business opportunities in ocean science.

 DIPP releases Consolidated FDI Policy on - 28th August 2017

The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) released the Consolidated FDI(Foreign Direct Investment) Policy containing all the changes in procedures and rules notified by the Union Government over the past year on 28th August 2017. The new consolidated document is focusing to ensure higher ease of doing business in the country and an investor-friendly climate for foreign investors so that the country attracts more FDI.

Key Highlights of the policy

• The consolidated policy lays down the general conditions on FDI, procedures for government approval and sector specific conditions on FDI.
• The document has included start-ups for the first time. As per the norms, start-ups can raise up to 100 percent of funds from FVCI (Foreign Venture Capital Investor).
• The start-ups can issue equity, equity linked instruments or debt instruments to FVCI against receipt of foreign remittance.
• Person who reside outside India (other than citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh) can purchase convertible notes issued by Indian start-up company for Rs 25 lakh or more in a single tranche.
• Non Resident Indians can also have convertible notes on non-repatriation basis.
• A citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan is also barred from investing in atomic energy sectors, space, defence etc. A start-up company, engaged in a sector that needs government approval for foreign investment, can also issue convertible notes to a non-resident only with approval of the Government.
• The start-up issuing convertible notes needs provide reports as prescribed by the RBI.
• It also said the rule allowing foreign airlines to own up to 49 percent in Indian carriers do not apply to AirIndia.