Current Affairs 4th January 2016

Important Points : 

• Who has climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina - Arunima Sinha
• Name the veteran CPI leader who has passed away - AB Bardhan
• Who has won the 2015 SAFF championships - India
• Which state has launched e-Vahan Bima Scheme - Telangana
• Which indigenously developed rocket has been successfully test-fired by India - MBRL Pinaka II 
• Who has given ex-post facto approval for MoU on BRICS Network University - Union Cabinet
• Which Airbase has been attacked by Terrorist - IAF Airbase at Pathankot
• Which Oscar-winning cinematographer has passed away - Vilmos Zsigmond
• Union Government announced setting up of CCL Sports University in - Jharkhand
• Which English cricketer has passed away - Matthew Hobden 
• World Braille Day observed on - 4th January

Details : 

Who has climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina - Arunima Sinha

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 25th December 2015, Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. Earlier she had set a record by climbing the Mount Everest.

She became the first female amputee to climb 5 Mountains of the World after successful completion of the 5th summit of the Mission 7 Summits. The other four mountains climbed by her are : Kosizko in Australia, Elbrus in Europe, Kilimanjaro in Africa and Everest in Asia.

Arunima was awarded with the Padmashree when she climbed the Mt. Everest. "Born Again on the Mountain" by Arunima Sinha was launched by PM Narendra Modi.

Name the veteran CPI leader who has passed away - AB Bardhan

On 2nd January 2016, Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away at the age of 92.

About AB Bardhan

• In the year 1940, at the Nagpur University, he joined the All India Students Federation.
• As a member of the All India Students Federation he took part in the freedom movement.
• In 1957, he won election to the Maharashtra Assembly.

Who has won the 2015 SAFF championships - India

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 3rd January 2016, the South Asian Football Federation Cup (SAFF) championships was won by India by defeating Afghanistan in the final clash.

Jeje Lalpehlua scored the first goal of India in the match. 

Out of the total 11 editions, India has won 7 editions. In 2013, Afghans won their first title.

Which state has launched e-Vahan Bima Scheme - Telangana

Among the Important National Current Affairs, On 2nd January 2016, to issue motor insurance policy in digital form, e-Vahan Bima Scheme as launched by the Government of Telangana.

Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao in the presence of T S Vijayan, Chairman of Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) launched the scheme.

Now, Telangana has became the first state in the country to accept motor vehicle insurance policy in digital form legally.

Characterstics of e-Vahan Bima Scheme

• As per the scheme, an electronic motor insurance policy in digital form with Quick Response (QR) code is issued.
• The code will be scanned for the verification of policy details.
• Apart from this, an SMS-based verification was also installed which can be stored and accessed on smart phones.

Which indigenously developed rocket has been successfully test-fired by India - MBRL Pinaka II 

Among the Important Defense Current Affairs, In last week of December 2015, Pinaka II multi barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) System was successfully test-fired by Amament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) at Pokhran.

Key features of the Rocket

• It has the ability of neutralising large areas with rapid salvos and is also an unguided rocket system. 
• It has a range of 60 KM which is more than its previous version.
• ARDE, Pune has indigenously developed the Pinaka MBRL System.

Who has given ex-post facto approval for MoU on BRICS Network University - Union Cabinet

Among the Important International Current Affairs, On 30th December 2015, for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among BRICS countries on BRICS Network University an ex-post facto approval was given by the Union Cabinet gave.

With the help of this MoU, higher education and information exchange and enhancement of scientific research will be developed among the BRICS nations by the pro-active cooperation.

Which Airbase has been attacked by Terrorist - IAF Airbase at Pathankot

On 2nd January 2016, Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by several heavily armed terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist militant group.

Earlier, on 27th July 2015, the terrorist attacked on a police station in Gurdaspur district in Punjab. 

Which Oscar-winning cinematographer has passed away - Vilmos Zsigmond

On 1st January 2016, winner of an Oscar for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond passed away at the age of 85.

About Vilmos Zsigmond

• On 16th June 1930, Vilmos Zsigmond was born in Szeged, Hungary.
• He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in the year 1962.
• The Sadist was the first film he worked on in the US.

Union Government announced setting up of CCL Sports University in - Jharkhand

On 31st December 2015, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy announced the setting up of CCL Sports University in Jharkhand with a capacity of 15 sports academies and 1400 students.

The decision was made under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and the Jharkhand Government in June 2015.

Do You Know : 

• Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). 
• It is considered as the Mini Ratna Company which manages the nationalized coal mines of the Coal Mines Authority, Central division. 

Which English cricketer has passed away - Matthew Hobden 

On 3rd January 2016, Sussex fast bowler Matthew Hobden died at the age of 22. England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the death of Hobden.

About Matthew Hobden

• On 27th March 1993, Matthew Hobden was born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England.
• He played for Glynde & Beddingham Cricket Club.
• His team won the National Village Cricket Knockout Final at Lord's in 2009.
• On 1st June 2014, he made his County Championship debut.

World Braille Day observed on - 4th January

Among the Important International Current Affairs, On 4th January 2016, World Braille Day was observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille across the globe.

On this occasion, various organisations and NGO's stood together to raise awareness about the indifference towards visually disbled people.

Do You Know : 

Louis Braille is known for the invention of the Braille script which helps the visually impaired people to read and write.