Current Affairs 22nd January 2016

Important Points : 

• Which Government has inked pact with central PSUs for railway project - Chhattisgarh Government
• Who has been appointed as Prime Minister by Moldovan parliament - Pavel Filip
• Name the new bird species found in India - Himalayan Forest Thrush 
• Which legendary dancer has passed away - Mrinalini Sarabhai 
• With whom did the Indian Olympic Association signed marketing deal - Infinity Optimal Solutions
• Which Italian film director has passed away - Ettore Scola 
• Who has spotted the potential Planet 9 - Scientists of California  
• Which hotel has been named the world's best hotel of 2016 - Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan Palace
• Who has been appointed as Chairman of CBDT - IRS officer Atulesh Jindal
• Which scheme has been launched in Jammu and Kashmir - Nai Manzil Scheme
• Who has won an Oscar Award for technical achievement - Rahul Thakkar

Details : 

Which Government has inked pact with central PSUs for railway project - Chhattisgarh Government

On 20th January 2016, for the second phase of Jagdalpur-Raoghat railway project, Chhattisgarh Government signed a share-holding agreement with a few central government-run corporations.

To build 142 km railway line at a cost of 2000 crore rupees, a special purpose vehicle (SPV)-Chhattisgarh Dakshin Railway Pvt Ltd-was constituted through the agreement.

Key highlights of the agreement

• 43 % stake will be of National Mines Development Corporation in the SPV.
• 26 % stake will be of IRCON, a Ministry of Railways company, in the SPV.
• Chhattisgarh Mines Development Corporation will have 10 % stake while SAIL will have 21 % stake in the SPV.

Who has been appointed as Prime Minister by Moldovan parliament - Pavel Filip

Among the important appointments, On 20th January 2016, Pavel Filip has been appointed as the third Prime Minister of Moldova in less than a year by Moldovan parliament. 

Earlier Chiril Gaburici was appointed as the prime minister in June 2015 and Valeriu Strelet in October 2015.

Name the new bird species found in India - Himalayan Forest Thrush 

Among the important Discoveries, A new bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush was discovered by a team of scientists in northeastern India.

It was noticed that a bird, known as a brush that lived in the forest, sang differently than the same bird that lived in the mountains.

The scientific name of this new species is Zoothera salimalii which is named after famous ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali.

Which legendary dancer has passed away - Mrinalini Sarabhai 

On 21st January 2016, Padma Bhushan recipient and Legendary dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away in Ahmedabad at the age of 97.

Sarabhai was also a environmentalist, poet and writer.

About Mrinalini Sarabhai

• She was the founder director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad.
• In recognitions of her contribution to art, she received many awards and citations .
• In the dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathakali, she trained over 18000 students.
• Besides choreographing more than three hundred dance dramas, she has also written many novels, poetry, plays and stories for children.
• She was also the chairperson of the Handloom Development Corporation Ltd and Gujarat State Handicrafts.
• Mrinalini Sarabhai: The Voice of the Heart is her autobiography.

With whom did the Indian Olympic Association signed marketing deal - Infinity Optimal Solutions

On 21st January 2016, a marketing deal was signed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) with Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS).

According to the deal, Infinity will manage sponsorship and public relations for all national and international events of IOA.

Details of the IOA-IOS deal

• The deal is for a period of 2 years and having worth of 12 crore rupees.
• The IOS will develop sophisticated properties in partnership with IOA.

Which Italian film director has passed away - Ettore Scola 

On 19th January 2016, Italian director Ettore Scola passed away at the age of 84.

About Ettore Scola

• He has directed some of the world's greatest actors including Jack Lemmon, Fanny Ardant, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.
• In the year 1953, he started working as a screenwriter and in the year 1964 he directed his first big film Let's Talk About Women.
• His A Special Day was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film.

Who has spotted the potential Planet 9 - Scientists of California  

Among the important Science Current Afafirs, On 20th January 2016, Scientists of California spotted the potential planet which was causing the disturbances in the gravitational field of the far solar system. 

It was claimed as the possible ninth planet by Konstantin Batygin and Michael E. Brown, the researchers at the California Institute of Technology. On 20th January 2016, their research papers were published in The Astronomical Journal with the title ‘Evidence for a distant Giant Planet in the Solar System.’

The new potential Planet 9 was found by the two astronomers while they were looking at those small rocks around the Pluto. 

Which hotel has been named the world's best hotel of 2016 - Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan Palace

Among the important International Current Afafirs, On 21st January 2016, the award of the world's best hotel at the Travellers' Choice award organised by TripAdvisor was presented to Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

List of top 10 hotels for 2016 according to TripAdvisor :

• Umaid Bhawan Palace – Jodhpur, India
• Shinta Mani Resort – Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Bellevue Syrene – Sorrento, Italy
• Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa – Hanoi, Vietnam
• Achtis Hotel – Afitos, Greece
• Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Great Milton, United Kingdom
• Mirihi Island Resort – Mirihi, Maldives
• Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts Aruba – Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba
• Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa – Lance aux Epines, Grenada
• Hotel Ritta Höppner – Gramado, Brazil

Who has been appointed as Chairman of CBDT - IRS officer Atulesh Jindal

Among the important appointments, On 21st January 2016, Senior revenue service officer Atulesh Jindal was appointed as the chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

He will replace A K Jain, who completes his term at the end of January 2016.

The appointment of Jindal as chairman of the apex policy-making body of the income tax department was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

About Atulesh Jindal

• He is a Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of 1978 batch.
• At present, he is working as member (revenue) in the CBDT.

Do You Know : 

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
• The Chairperson of CBDT is the senior-most IRS civil servant in the Government of India.

Which scheme has been launched in Jammu and Kashmir - Nai Manzil Scheme

Among the important National Current Afafirs, On 20th January 2016, for the first time the Nai Manzil scheme was launched in Jammu and Kashmir for girls in Srinagar in three institutions- University of Kashmir, two Madarsas and Skill Development Centre.

Highlights of the scheme

Three month skill development training will be provided in seven identified sectors relevant to the region to the girls from minority communities and a stipend of 4500 rupees for the course will also be offered.

Do You Know : 

Announced by the Union Budget 2015-16, Nai Manzil Scheme is an integrated Education and Livelihood Initiative for the Minority Communities.

Who has won an Oscar Award for technical achievement - Rahul Thakkar

Among the important International Current Afafirs, On 8th January 2016, Person of Indian Origin Rahul Thakkar was named as one of winners of the Scientific and Technical Awards given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, famously called Oscar Awards.

He will share the award with Richard Chuang in the category of groundbreaking design of the DreamWorks Animation Media Review System.

On 13th February 2016, he will receive the award at the Academy’s annual Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation.

About Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards

The award is presented to the men, women and companies who contributed in significant and lasting ways to motion pictures with their innovations and discoveries.

The Sci-Tech Awards presentation has become a highlight of the Academy Awards season.