Current Affairs 2nd September 2015

Current Affairs 2nd September 2015

Updated : 02-Sep-2015

Current Affairs 2nd September 2015 - Important Points
Current Affairs 2nd September 2015 - Details
Which city will host the XXII Commonwealth Games in 2022 - Durban
Among the important International Current Affairs, On 2nd September 2015, South African city Durban was selected as the host for the XXII Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly.

With this announcement, South Africa became the first country from Africa to host the games in past 85 years.
On 18 July 2022, to mark the birth anniversary of South African anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, the game is scheduled to be started.
About Commonwealth Games
- So far, Britain have hosted the Games six times, Australia and Canada four times each, New Zealand three times, and Jamaica, Malaysia and India (2010) once each.
- While the XIX Games was held in Glasgow of the UK, the XX Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia.
- The General Assembly of the CGF is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. It is the highest authority of the Commonwealth Sports Movement.
- It is a multi-disciplinary international sporting event that involves athletes from 71 nations and territories connected with the Commonwealth.
- It is held once every four years. It is often referred to as the Friendly Games.
- The first event was organised in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada.
Who has won Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy of Cricket - Mumbai
Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 1st September 2015, Mumbai won the Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy in the All India invitation cricket tournament.
Surya Kumar Yadav of mumbai was awarded with the Man of the Series.
About Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy

It is an annual tournament held in honour of Mothavarapu Buchi Babu Naidu.
He was born in 1868 and was an Indian socialite and cricket pioneer who organised cricket clubs for native Indians. He is known as the “father of south Indian cricket”. He founded the annual Madras Presidency Matches.
2000 crore rupees have been released to EPS-95 as contribution for 2015-16 by - Union Government
On 1st September 2015, 2000 crore rupees have been released to Employee Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS-95) as its contribution for the year 2015-16 by the Union Government.
Further, a sum of 250 crore rupees was granted for providing minimum pension of 1000 rupees to the pensioners of EPS-95.
Employee Pension Scheme (EPS)-95
- On 16th November 1995, it came into effect and the scheme was launched under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
- Under the scheme, monthly benefits for superannuation/ retirement, disability, survivor, widow(er), children is provided and the amount of pension is based on average salary during the preceding 12 months from the date of exit and total years of employment.
- It also provides for minimum pension on disablement and also provides for past service benefit to participants of erstwhile Family Pension Scheme, 1971.
- It is applicable to the employees of all factories and other establishments to which the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 applies.
- The Union Government and employers granted 1.16% and 8.33% of the monthly wages of the members respectively.
Who has won the three-match test series - India
Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 1st September 2015, the three-match cricket test series between India & Sri Lanka was won by India.
Do You Know :
- Captain Angelo Mathews and debutant Kushal Perera 135-run partnership in the third test, is the second-highest stand in the fourth innings in Sri Lanka's Test history.
- As a Test captain, it was Virat Kohli's first test series win.
- The second match was the last Test of Kumara Sangakkara.
- After 22 years, India has won a memorable series victory in Sri Lanka.
Which zone has became the first zone to eliminate all Unmanned Level Crossings - West Central Railway Zone
Among the important National Current Affairs, On 31st August 2015, the first railway zone in the country to eliminate all Unmanned Level Crossings (ULCs) is the West Central Railway.

Out of total 118 unmanned level crossings, 80 were removed in the financial year 2014-15 and the remaining 38 were removed by 31st August 2015.
By the construction of 33 Limited Height Sub Ways (LHs) and manning of 30 level crossings, the safety initiative was achieved.
Policy for Marginal Fields of ONGC and OIL was approved by - Union Cabinet
On 2nd September 2015, The Union Cabinet gave its nod for Policy for Marginal Fields (MFP) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limted (OIL).
Marginal Fields are those discoveries that could not be fabricated for many years due to various reasons such as isolated locations, small size of reserves, high development costs, technological constraints, fiscal regime etc.
Characterstics of Policy for Marginal Fields
- The aim of the policy is to stimulate investment as well as higher domestic oil and gas production.
- 69 oil fields will be opened for competitive bidding which have been held by ONGC and OIL for many years, but have not been exploited.
- Private sector will be allowed to play a bigger role in the development of marginal fields.
The Duels of the Himalayan Eagle authored by - Air Marshal Bharat Kumar
Among the important National Current Affairs, On 1st September 2015, The Indian Air Force (IAF) commissioned book, The Duels of the Himalayan Eagle: The first Indo-Pak Air War was released by Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari at the inauguration of the Tri-Services Seminar to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the India-Pakistan War of 1965 in New Delhi.
In the book, the author has tried to club official records, squadron diaries and veteran accounts of the war, who was a young fighter pilot during the 1965-war.
Who is appointed as CMD of Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited - Dinesh Kumar Likhi
Among the important appointments, On 1st September 2015, Dinesh Kumar Likhi was appointed as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI). Earlier to this appointment, he was Director (Production & Marketing) of MIDHANI itself.
He has replaced M Narayana Rao. As a CMD of MIDHANI, he will contribute in research, development, manufacture and supply of critical alloys and products of national security and strategic importance for defence, aerospace and atomic energy in a bigger way.
About Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)
- It is a Hyderabad-based Public Sector Unit that works under the Ministry of defence.
- It was established in 1976 with the motive of proving the nation self reliance in strategic materials. For over three decades now, the company has been handling challenging tasks of developing alloys, taking a lead position in adapting critical technologies and products.
- It has now started offering its core competence of developing and manufacturing custom made alloys to suit the specific requirements of customers for their critical applications.
India emerged as 8th largest tourism market for - Australia
Among the important International Current Affairs, On 1st September 2015, Australian trade minister Andrew Robb said that India has emerged as the 8th largest tourism market for Australia. Over 2 lakh Indians visited the country and spent about 1 billion dollars which was an increase of 39 percent in 2014.
A total number of 207000 Indians have visited Australia till date in 2015. 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand supported this increase.
Robb also said that India was one of the fastest growing markets and the result demonstrates that tourism is one of its strengths. He said that tourism can be its fastest growing sector this decade if it continues to leverage on the 'clean, green and safe' brand to position itself for tourism.
Who is appointed as Interim CMD of NTPC - AK Jha
Among the important appointments, On 1st September 2015, A K Jha was appointed as the Interim Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).
Jha holds LLB degree from the Delhi University and is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from BIT Sindri, Ranchi University.
In 1977, he joined the NTPC as an Executive Trainee and was directly associated with its flagship project Singrauli (5×200 MW). He has an experience of 38 years in areas across power projects such as design and engineering, project planning and monitoring and construction.
In July 2012, he joined the NTPC board as Director (Technical).
Swachhata Sangraam Abhiyaan was launched in - Indore
On 1st September 2015, Swachhata Sangraam Abhiyaan was launched in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh. 140 toilets were donated by over 100 public representatives for the poor on the occasion.
The objective of the initiative is to make the entire district open defecation-free by the end of the financial year 2015-16.
Ahilya Gram Puraskar will be awarded to the first three village panchayats including cash prize of 20 lakh rupees, 15 lakh rupees, and 5 lakh rupees respectively to eradicate open defecation as announced by the district collector P Narahari.
Apart from this, a cash prize of 3 lakh rupees each will be presented to all panchayats that become open defecation free by 2 October 2015.
The collector also said that those who are donating toilets would be given the title of Swachata Shiromani and their names would be put up on the board in the village where they made the donation.
Swachata Nayak and Swachata Senani titles will be awarded to the individuals doing the best work under the programme.
UNESCO's Award of Excellence 2015 for conserving Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple was won by - India
Among the important International Current Affairs, On 1st September 2015, the UNESCO prize Award of Excellence 2015 for the conserving the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple of Kerala was awarded to India. The award was given in the category of UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
The UNESCO Award of Merit was won by the Xieng Thong Temple in Luang Prabang and became the first project in Lao PDR to receive the UNESCO Asiaâ€Pacific Heritage Award.
Other Awardees
A total of 12 winning projects from five countries India, Australia, China, Thailand and Lao PDR have been recognized in 2015 Heritage Awards of UNESCO. These Awardees are:
Awards of Distinction:
- Saltpans of Yim Tin Tsai, Hong Kong SAR, China
- JN Petit Institute, Mumbai, India
Awards of Merit:
- Cangdong Heritage Education Centre, Kaiping City, Guangdong Province, China
- Pingyao Courtyard House, Shanxi Province, China
- Xieng Thong Temple, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
- Baan Luang Rajamaitri, Muang District, Chantaburi, Thailand
Honourable Mention:
- Wanslea Cancer Wellness Centre, Cottesloe, Western Australia, Australia
- Sanfang Qixiang, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Parvati Nandan Ganapati Temple, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel, Hong Kong SAR, China
Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts:
- Port Arthur Penitentiary, Tasmania, Australia
Do You Know :
To recognize and encourage private efforts and public-private initiatives in successfully restoring structures of heritage value in the region, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were established in 2000.
Since then UNESCO has received 562 entries from 24 countries and a total of 174 projects have received UNESCO Heritage awards for conservation till date.