• Current Affairs 7th January 2016

    Updated : 07-Jan-2016

    Important Points : 

    • Name the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who has passed away - Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
    • Name the French conductor and composer who has passed away - Pierre Boulez
    • Who has resigned as Test captain of South Africa - Hashim Amla
    • Who has won gold at Swedish Cup Grand Prix - Apurvi Chandela
    • Name the initiative launched to expose youth from J&K to rest of India - Wattan Ko Jano initiative
    • MoU between India and Singapore in the field of civil aviation approved by - Union Cabinet 
    • Who has been elected as General President of 105th Indian Science Congress - Achyuta Samanta
    • Who has been appointed as Chairman of Internet and Mobile Association of India - Kunal Shah
    • Which western state has declared state of emergency in Los Angeles - California
    • Which noted Gujarati writer has passed away - Labshankar Thakar 
    • Who has been appointed as India metals business CEO by Vedanta - Samir Cairae
    • Who has been appointed as Odisha Government’s Technical Advisor - Sam Pitroda

    Details : 

    Name the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister who has passed away - Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

    On 7th January 2016, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away at the age of 79.

    About Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

    • Till 1987, he had been a member of the Indian National Congress party.
    • After quitting the congress party he joined Jan Morcha of V. P. Singh.
    • In the year 1989, he became the minister of Home Affairs in the Union Cabinet of India.

    Name the French conductor and composer who has passed away - Pierre Boulez

    On 5th January 2016, the former principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez passed away at the age of 90 in Baden-Baden, Germany.

    About Pierre Boulez

    • During 1970s, he led the the BBC Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic.
    • Apart from this, he also worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Cleveland Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony. 
    • More than 25 Grammy awards are won by his recordings.

    Who has resigned as Test captain of South Africa - Hashim Amla

    On 6th January 2016, Test captain of South Africa, Hashim Amla resigned. After his resignation, AB de Villiers will be the Captain for the remaining two Tests. 

    Amla was denounced for his leadership in the England series. Although, he scored 201 runs in the just concluded Test.

    Who has won gold at Swedish Cup Grand Prix - Apurvi Chandela

    Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 5th January 2016, Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela won gold in the women's 10 metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix and broke the world record.

    She shot 211.2 in the event breaking the record shot of 211 of Chinese Olympic gold medallist Yi Siling.

    On the other hand, Swedish shooters Astrid Steffensen won the silver while Stine Nielsen won bronze.

    About Apurvi Chandela

    • She is an Indian shooter of 10 metre air rifle event.
    • She will participate in the Women's 10 m air rifle at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
    • In the 2014 Commonwealth Games she won the gold medal.
    • At the Intershoot Championships at The Hague in the year 2014, she won four medals.
    • At the National shooting championships in New Delhi in the year 2010, she won the gold medal in the 10 metres air rifle event.

    Name the initiative launched to expose youth from J&K to rest of India - Wattan Ko Jano initiative

    Among the important National Current Affairs, On 6th January 2016, The Union Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government launched the Wattan Ko Jano initiative.

    In 2011, J&K State Rehabilitation Council started the Watan Ko Jano initiative. 

    The objective of the initiative is to expose the youth of the state to other states of the nation. 

    MoU between India and Singapore in the field of civil aviation approved by - Union Cabinet 

    On 6th January 2016, an ex-post facto approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Airports Authority of India and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise in Civil Aviation was approved by the Union Cabinet.

    Key features of MoU

    The MoU seeks collaboration in Civil Aviation Sector in the areas of:

    • Traffic development 
    • Operation and management and any other areas with mutual consent
    • Commercial development 
    • Cargo handling and Management 
    • Maintenance, repair and overhaul 
    • Service quality improvement 
    • Training and development 
    • Master-planning and design 

    Who has been elected as General President of 105th Indian Science Congress - Achyuta Samanta

    Among the important National Current Affairs, On 6th January 2016, Dr Achyuta Samanta was elected as the General President of the 105th Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).

    At present, he is also serving as the member of Executive Council of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).

    With this appointment in the history of ISC for past 102 years, Samanta has became the second person from Odisha to be elected as President. 

    About Achyuta Samanta

    • He has set up institutions like Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneshwar and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University.
    • He has also been the member of CAPART, AICTE, NCTE, UGC (2008-2014) and National Coir Board. 
    • Since the year 2011, he has been the member of Executive Council of ISCA. 

    Who has been appointed as Chairman of Internet and Mobile Association of India - Kunal Shah

    Among the important appointments, On 5th January 2016, Kunal Shah, FreeCharge co-founder and CEO was appointed as the Chairman of Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

    He has replaced Nishant Rao, who is now the global Chief Operating Officer of Freshdesk.

    Apart from this, Vishwas Patel has been appointed as the Treasurer of IAMAI. 

    About IAMAI

    Registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860, established in 2004, it comprises of online publishing, e-commerce and digital payments players, mobile and online advertising, mobile content and services.

    Which western state has declared state of emergency in Los Angeles - California

    Among the important International Current Affairs, On 6th January 2016, a state of emergency over a methane gas was declared by the California Governor Jerry Brown on the outskirts of Los Angeles County.

    On 23rd October 2015, the leak happened at the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon storage field in Porter Ranch of Los Angeles. 

    Do You Know : 

    Methane (CH4) gas has the capability of trapping solar radiation in the atmosphere and is a very strong greenhouse gas. 

    Which noted Gujarati writer has passed away - Labshankar Thakar 

    On 6th January 2016, Noted Gujarati writer and poet Labhshankar Thakar passed away at the age of 80.

    About Labshankar Thakar 

    • He has composed some famous poems like Kalagranthi (1987), Manasni Vaat (1968), Boom Kagalma Kora (1974), Pravahan (1986), Mara Namne Darwaje (1972), Vahi Jati Pachhal Ramya Ghosha (1965). 
    • Some of his written plays are Bathtub ma Machhali (1982), Make Believe (1967), Mari Jawani Maza (1973), Asatyakumar Ekagrani Dharpakad. 
    • He was also an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

    Who has been appointed as India metals business CEO by Vedanta - Samir Cairae

    Among the important appointments, On 6th January 2016, Samir Cairae was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diversified Metals (India) by Vedanta Limited.

    He will also become a member of Vedanta Executive Committee team.

    Do You Know : 

    • In the year 1954, the company was founded as Scambi Economici SA Goa.
    • Earlier, Sesa Sterlite/Sesa Goa Limited was the name of Vedanta Limited.

    Who has been appointed as Odisha Government’s Technical Advisor - Sam Pitroda

    Among the important appointments, On 6th January 2016, Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda, also known as Sam Pitroda, was appointed Technology Advisor to the Odisha Government for development of ITES, telecom, IT and electronics sectors of the state.

    About Sam Pitroda

    • Sam Pitroda is director of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi owned the Young Indian Company.
    • He is the founding Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission.