Current Affairs 29th January 2016

Important Points : 

• 1st batch of 20 smart cities announced by - Union Government 
• Which state has decided to impose ban on polythene from January 2017 - Madhya Pradesh
• The Turbulent Years, Volume II of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee released
• Who has been appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh - Justice Sanjay Mishra
• Which former minister and freedom fighter passed away - Maheswar Baug
• Commemorative Coin of 150 rupees & Circulation Coin of 10 rupees on Lala Lajpat Rai released
• Who has won gold in Senior National Rowing Championship - Navneet Kaur & Santosh Kadale
• Which country has signed deal with Airbus to buy 118 Airbus planes - Airbus 
• Who has been appointed as CMD of NTPC - Gurdeep Singh
• Who has won 2016 Australian Open women's doubles tennis title - Sania Mirza & Martina Hingis 
• Who has won 2016 William E. Colby Award for Best Military Book - Nisid Hajari 

Details : 

1st batch of 20 smart cities announced by - Union Government 

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, the 1st batch of 20 smart cities from 11 States and Union Territory of Delhi under the Smart Cities Mission was announced by Union Ministry of Urban Development.

The cities were selected through the Smart City Challenge competition.

Besides, States and Union Territories who could not make to the list will be given an opportunity to participate in a fast track competition.

List of 20 smart cities  

Which state has decided to impose ban on polythene from January 2017 - Madhya Pradesh

On 27th Janaury 2016, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has decided to impose ban on polythene from January 2017 in entire state.

Besides from September 2016, the ban on polythene will be strictly imposed at tourist destinations and holy cities Khajuraho, Orchha, Pachmarhi, Maheshwar, Ujjain, Omkareshwar and Amarkantak from September 2016.

The Turbulent Years, Volume II of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee released

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, Vice President Hamid Ansarin released the second volume of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee titled The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996.

In this book, he reviewed about decisive events of his political life including his ouster from Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet, Babri Masjid demolition, operation Blue Star and Indira Gandhi's assassination.

The book reported some significant developments of the 1980s and 1990s which were considered most unstable in India's post independence history.

On 11th December 2014, the first volume of President’s memoir titled The Dramatic Decade- The Indira Gandhi Years was released.

Who has been appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh - Justice Sanjay Mishra

Among the important appointments, On 28th Janaury 2016, Justice Sanjay Mishra was appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court has approved his appointment.

The apex court bench comprising Justice Prafulla C Pant and Justice Ranjan Gogoi recollected the earlier order dated 16th December 2015 appointing Justice Virendra Singh for the post following the objections raised against Singh's appointment.

Which former minister and freedom fighter passed away - Maheswar Baug

On 28th Janaury 2016, Former minister and freedom fighter Maheswar Baug died at the district headquarter hospital in Balasore, Odisha at the age of 85.

About Maheswar Baug

• He was inspired by Ram Manohar Lohia and associated in many social organizations all along his life.
• In 1961 and 1977, he was elected twice as the Member of Legislative Assembly from Basta constituency in Balasore district.
• In the year 1977, he was minister for works and health during chief ministership of Nilamani Routray.

Commemorative Coin of 150 rupees & Circulation Coin of 10 rupees on Lala Lajpat Rai released

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, a commemorative coin of 150 rupees and a circulation coin of 10 rupees on Lala Lajpat Rai was released by Ministry of Culture.

The 150 rupees coin has a diameter of 44 mm and weight of 35 grams and is made of Quaternary alloy.

The 10 rupees coin diameter of 27 mm and weight of 7.71 grams and is made of bi-metallic material.

On the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, the coin was released by Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of state (Independent charge) Minister of Tourism & Culture. 

Who has won gold in Senior National Rowing Championship - Navneet Kaur & Santosh Kadale

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, in the 34th Senior National Rowing Championship at Hussainsagar Lake, Hyderabad, Navneet Kaur of Punjab won two gold medals. It was her maiden gold in the senior category at the country’s highest level.

Harpreet and Navneet Kaur won the women’s doubles sculls timing 7:42.94 seconds.

Nasik’s Santosh Kadale won his maiden national gold in the men single scull.

Which country has signed deal with Airbus to buy 118 Airbus planes - Airbus 

Among the important Business Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, two agreements covering new aircraft orders and a comprehensive civil aviation co-operation package was signed between Airbus and Iran. Purchase of 118 new Airbus aircrafts is included in the agreement.

The agreement includes 27 A330ceo family, 16 A350-1000, 24 A320neo family,  18 A330neo (-900), 12 A380 and 21 A320ceo family.

Details of the two agreements

• For the acquisition of the full range of new Airbus airliners, Iran Air and Airbus signed an agreement. 
• A complete co-operation agreement to rationalize the civil aviation sector of Iran was signed. 

Who has been appointed as CMD of NTPC - Gurdeep Singh

Among the important appointments, On 28th Janaury 2016, Gurdeep Singh was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NTPC Ltd. He will be the first person to be appointed to the top job at a Maharatna company through a search committee route.

His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for a period of five years.

About Gurdeep Singh

• At present, he is serving as the managing director of Gujarat State Electricity Company Limited (GESC).
• In 1987, he started his career in NTPC.
• Earlier, he was associated with IDFC Projects in different capacities, Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation and Powergen.

About NTPC Limited

• In November 1975, NTPC Limited was founded as National Thermal Power Corporation Private Limited.
• It is engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities and is an Indian Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Who has won 2016 Australian Open women's doubles tennis title - Sania Mirza & Martina Hingis 

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 29th Janaury 2016, the 2016 Australian Open title of tennis in the women’s doubles category was won by Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis after defeating  Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka.

Since their victories in the 2015 Wimbledon and US Open, it was their maiden Australian Open title and the third successive Grand Slam doubles title.

This was their second title in the 2016 season. Earlier on 15th January 2016, they won the 2016 WTA Apia International Sydney title.

Who has won 2016 William E. Colby Award for Best Military Book - Nisid Hajari 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 28th Janaury 2016, the 2016 William E. Colby Award for his book, Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition was won by Nisid Hajari.

In April 2016, he will be presented with the award and honorarium at Norwich University, the USA.

The book covers the 1947 partition of India and the violence that surrounded that event.

About William E. Colby Award

• In 1999, the William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium established this award.
• It is named in honour of former CIA director William Egan Colby.
• Douglas V. Mastriano won the award for Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne in the year 2015.