Current Affairs 20th October 2016

Current Affairs 20th October 2016 - Important Points

• IUNC to declare Kashmir’s Red Stag as - Critically Endangered
• International Prize in Statistics awarded to - Sir David Cox
• Who has been appointed as Odisha's CIC - Sunil Mishra
• India signs pact with which country to lease second nuclear submarine – Russia

Current Affairs 20th October 2016 - Details

IUNC to declare Kashmir’s Red Stag as - Critically Endangered

Among Important National Current Affairs, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is going to be declared as the Kashmiri Red Stag (which is also known as Hangul) as a Critically Endangered species. 

However, the critically endangered status to the Kashmiri Red Stag will help it to get more protection and enhance the conservation efforts to increase its rapidly declining population.

Know About Kashmiri Red Stag – 

• The Kashmir Stag or Hangul is known to be a subspecies of elk native to India. 

• However, earlier it was believed that it is a subspecies of red deer. But mitochondrial DNA genetic studies have revealed that it is part of the Asian clade of elk. 

International Prize in Statistics awarded to - Sir David Cox

Among Important International Current Affairs, on 19th October 2016 Noted British statistician Sir David Cox was named the inaugural recipient of the International Prize in Statistics. 

However, he is also honoured for Survival Analysis Model Applied in Medicine, Science, and Engineering.

Please Note: The International Prize in Statistics Foundation is recognizing Cox specifically for his 1972 paper in which he developed the proportional hazards model that today bears his name.

Who has been appointed as Odisha's CIC - Sunil Mishra

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 19th October 2016 Retired bureaucrat Sunil Kumar Mishra has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Odisha. Governor Dr. S C Jamir approved the name of Mishra, an official release said.

However, on 6th October 2016, a selection committee, which is chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recommended Mishra’s name to the Governor for appointment as the CIC.

Also, former director general of income tax Mishra will succeed former chief secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra. Since February 2015, the post of CIC was vacant. Before six months, TK Mishra had resigned his scheduled retirement on personal ground.

India signs pact with which country to lease second nuclear submarine – Russia

Among Important National Current Affairs, India has finally signed agreement with Russia to lease second Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine (SSN). 

However, the deal is believed to be worth about $2 billion. Also the lease to transfer a multipurpose Project 971 nuclear submarine to India from the Russian Navy was signed in Goa on the sidelines of 8th BRICS Summit. 

Please Note: The second nuclear submarine is expected to arrive in Indian waters in 2020-21.