Current Affairs 4th February 2016

Important Points : 

• Who has been selected for Bhimsen Joshi Award - Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan 
• Who has been appointed as first women head of Indian Cost Accounting Service - Aruna Sethi 
• Name the India's first Ayurvedic anti-diabetic drug - BGR-34
• Who has became world's most powerful IT Services brand - TCS
• Who has been appointed Vice President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank - DJ Pandian 
• World Cancer Day 2016 observed on - 4th February

Details : 

Who has been selected for Bhimsen Joshi Award - Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan 

On 3rd February 2016, Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan was selected for the prestigious Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Classical Music Award for 2015-2016.

Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde announced his selection for the award.

About Pandit Ram Narayan

• He is the first internationally successful sarangi player. 
• He was hired as an accompanist for vocalists by All India Radio, Lahore, in 1944.
• In the year 1956, he became a concert solo artist.
• In 2005, he was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour.

Who has been appointed as first women head of Indian Cost Accounting Service - Aruna Sethi 

On 1st February 2016, Aruna Sethi, the Principal Adviser (Cost), became the first woman to occupy the post of head of Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS). 

She is a 1985 batch ICoAS officer and held many important roles in Government of India including Ministry of Finance,  Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Department of Expenditure etc.

About Indian Cost Accounts Service

• Constituted in 1978, it is comparatively young accounting service.
• It is a professional body staffed by qualified Cost/ Chartered Accountants. 
• Office of Chief Adviser Cost is one of the divisions functioning in the Department of Expenditure. 

Name the India's first Ayurvedic anti-diabetic drug - BGR-34

On 3rd February 2016, the country's first anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug for Diabetes, the BGR-34, was launched by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 

CSIR's Senior Principal Scientist Dr AKS Rawat as part of the Global Ayurveda Festival launched the ayurvedic drug BGR-34 at Kozhikode, Kerala.

This drug works by controlling blood sugar level and limiting the harmful effects of other drugs. 

CSIR in collaboration with National Botanical Research Institute and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plant developed the drug. 

Who has became world's most powerful IT Services brand - TCS

On 3rd February 2016, Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation firm, rated Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as the World’s Most Powerful Brand in IT Services.

Over the last six years, it is also the fastest growing brand within its industry. 

Key highlights of Brand Finance Global 500 2016 Report

• Strongest brands’ shares outperform the S&P 500 average
• 4 of the 10 fastest growing brands are Chinese
• Volkswagen brand value falls by $12 billion US dollars following emissions scandal
• Apple is the world’s most valuable brand
• Disney is the world’s most powerful brand

Who has been appointed Vice President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank - DJ Pandian 

On 3rd February 2016, Former chief secretary of Gujarat DJ Pandian was appointed vice-president and chief investment officer of the newly-created Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

AIIB approved his appointment as vice-president and chief investment officer. He is a retired 1981-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre and had worked with the World Bank in Washington and MD of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC).

On 25th December 2015, the Beijing-based 100 billion dollar multi-lateral lender, AIIB was set up to boost lending for infrastructure projects such as education and healthcare,  urban construction, energy, transportation and logistics.

World Cancer Day 2016 observed on - 4th February

On 4th February 2016, World Cancer Day (WCD) 2016 was observed across the world with the theme "We can. I can".

The tagline of the theme reflects on what you can do and asks to make a pledge and take action and make a difference in fight against cancer. 

Do You Kow : 

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) founded World Cancer Day to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. The main goal of the day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer by 2020.