Current Affairs 24th August 2017

Current Affairs 24th August 2017 - Important Points

• Former Manipur CM Rishang Keishing passed away on - 22nd August 2017
• India grants Pfizer patent for pneumonia vaccine in - August 2017
• Nano Missile developed by Indian Student for - Indian Army
• National Sports Museum to be established in New Delhi announced by - The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
•  New frog species with pig face discovered by - Indian Scientists
• Common Services Centres (CSC) in India to launch - Doorstep Enrollment Facility for Elders
• NITI Aayog to launch Mentor India Campaign on - 22nd August 2017
• International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Its Abolition 2017 observed globally on - 23rd August 2017
• Ashwani Lohani appointed as Chairman of Railway Board on - 23rd August 2017
•  Cabinet approves India-Nepal MoU on drug matters on - 23rd August 2017
• Australia beats Iran to clinch 2017 FIBA Asia Cup on - 20th August 2017
• Finance Ministry gives formal go ahead to printing of Rs 200 notes on - 23rd August 2017

Current Affairs 24th August 2017 - Details

Former Manipur CM Rishang Keishing passed away on - 22nd August 2017

Former Manipur Chief Minister Rishang Keishing passed away on 22nd August 2017 due to brief illness. He was a freedom fighter and first parliament member of India, Keishing served as the Chief Minister of Manipur from 1980 to 1988 and from 1994 to 1997.

More about Rishang Keishing

• In Ukhrul district from Bungpa village was the place where Keishing belonged.
• He was elected to the Lok Sabha in the first parliamentary elections held in 1952.
• He had also represented Manipur in Rajya Sabha.
• He won Lok Sabha elections from Manipur Outer constituency in 1957 and 1962 as a Socialist Party candidate.
• He joined the Congress party at the invitation of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964.
• He was retired from the Rajya Sabha as its oldest member in 2014 after serving two terms, first elected to the upper house in 2002.

India grants Pfizer patent for pneumonia vaccine in - August 2017

India granted US pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. a patent for its pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13 in August 2017.
The decision was taken in spite of opposition from the health group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The group had filed a “patent opposition” to prevent Pfizer from getting a patent on its pneumococcal conjugate vaccine also called PCV 13.
However, MSF has now warned that patent grant would be blocking other manufacturers in India from supplying the vaccine to those who need it most.

Use of this Vaccine

• This Vaccine is used to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive diseases caused by 13 Streptococcis pneumoniae strains.
• Currently, there are three types of PCV available in the global market, which go by the brand names: Synflorix, Prevnar and Prevnar 13.

More about Pfizer Inc.

• Pfizer Inc. is an among the world's largest American pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York City.
• The company develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide range of medical disciplines, including cardiology,immunology, oncology,endocrinology and neurology.
• The company was founded by cousins Charles Pfizer and Charles F. Erhart in New York City as a manufacturer of fine chemicals in 1849.

Nano Missile developed by Indian Student for - Indian Army

Dacharla Panduranga Rohith, a student of Chennai's SRM University, was recognised by World Records of India for developing a nano missile on 21st August 2017.

Important Information

• In the presence of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramapuram in Chennai, the basic prototype was tested and the video was submitted to World Records of India for recognition in July 2017.
• He developed the missile for the Indian Army and local police to fight terrorism. It was developed for launch through a robot.
• This 1 centimeter nano missile can fly by burning the red phosphorus, and hit the target at three meters distance.
• Rohith is now working to change the fuel to give it more thrust and reduce the weight of the missile further so that it can be targeted to longer distances even.
• Post the completion of the project, he will be handing over the missile to the DRDO for further testing and inclusion in the weaponry of the armed forces.
• Rohith has completed his high school and Intermediate education from Sriviswasanthi Educational Institutions in Vuyyuru of Krishna  district and is a student of final year Computer Science Engineering at SRM University in Chennai.
• His interest in flight technologies and missiles led him to serve as a flying cadet in the aero show organised by the Indian Air Force in Vijayawada couple of years years ago.

National Sports Museum to be established in New Delhi announced by - The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on 23rd August 2017 that it will be establishing National Sports Museum at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The decision in this regard was taken three months ago. The current venue for museum was finalized by the Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel himself.
Key highlights

• The first-of-its-kind museum will be showcasing India’s achievements in sports.
• It will also be focusing on the traditional sports within the country.
• This museum aims to popularise the sports as a way of life within the country.
• The first phase to establish the museum will be commencing soon as the idea has been transformed from concept to museum model stage by the experts.
• The proposed museum will be going beyond the classical approach to collect memorabilia to be an interactive venue of interest for all age groups.
• The museum will be displaying achievements of the Indian greats in sports and also act as an educational hub and offer opportunity for the young to delve into some sporting activity.
• The proposed museum will also be having audio-visual display of rules and legacy events pertaining to various sports as a part of education for the budding sportspersons.
• The museum will also be a house of a well-equipped library of sports and physical fitness, painting gallery and an amphitheatre for screening of legacy matches/ contests/games.
• It will also be having a cafeteria, a souvenir/pro shop, an activity zone and a play area.
• Activities planned in various segments will be including sports related computer games, sporting activities and kiosks selling sports memorabilia and sports equipment are also proposed.

 New frog species with pig face discovered by - Indian Scientists

Indian scientists have recently discovered a new frog species named Nasikabatrachus bhupathi having a pig face. Alytes, a scientific journal published this discovery devoted to the study of frogs and amphibians. This new species of frog shows comparisons with the Purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), which was discovered in Seychelles in 2003.
Important highlights

• Scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad discovered this new species.
• This name was given to the frog after the Indian herpetologist S. Bhupathy, who died in 2014.
• It is a soiled-dwelling species of purple frog, inhabits in the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, near the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

Common Services Centres (CSC) in India to launch - Doorstep Enrollment Facility for Elders

Common Services Centers (CSC) India tied-up with UIDAI on 22nd August 2017 to launch door step enrolment facility for the elderly, patients and others who cannot travel to the Aadhaar centres.

CSCs are a strategic keystone of the Digital India program. They are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contribute to a financially and digitally inclusive society.

Important Highlights on CSC

• There are almost 2.5 lakh CSCs operational across the nation.
• It works with Patanjali Ayurveda to sell Patanjali products at the last mile through the vast network of Common Services Centers.
• CSC is also committed to provide BBPS (Bharat Bill Pay Service services) and further enable the villagers to pay their Water, Gas,Electricity, Mobile bills and DTH.
• CSC also launched its Aadhaar Enabled Payment service ‘Digi Pay’ in order to address the need for the financial services of rural people.
• CSC also partnered with IFFCO to market all products and service offerings of IFFCO and Group Companies through their Digital Seva portal.
• CSC has partnered with IGNOU in order to extend its online services through the network of CSCs across the country.

NITI Aayog to launch Mentor India Campaign on - 22nd August 2017

NITI Aayog announced to launch the Mentor India Campaign on 22nd August 2017, a strategic nation building initiative to engage leaders who can guide and mentor students in more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs. These Atal Tinkering Labs are established as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission across the country.

Important Highlights of the Mentor India Campaign

• This campaign is started with the aim to maximize the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs and  to engage leaders who will be nurturing  and guiding students in the Atal Tinkering Labs.
• These labs are non-prescriptive by nature, and it is expected that mentors are enablers rather than instructors.
• These leaders will expect to spend one to two hours weekly in such labs to enable students experience, learn and practice future skills such as computational thinking and design.

More about Atal Tinkering Labs

• Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated works spaces where students from Class 6th to Class 12th learn innovative skills and develop ideas that will be going to transform India.
• The labs are powered to make students familier with up to date equipments such as 3D printers, Internet of things & sensors, robotics & electronics development tools etc.
• The government is setting up 900 such labs across India and aiming to have 2000 labs by end of 2017.

International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Its Abolition 2017 observed globally on - 23rd August 2017

The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition was observed across the world on 23rd August 2017. The Day marks the anniversary of the 1791 insurrection of slaved men and women in the western part of the island of Santo Domingo, which is now known as Haiti. This Haitian Revolution led to their freedom and independence in 1804. This uprising of it was a turning point in human history.

UNESCO Executive Board through its Resolution 29 C/40 proclaimed this day. The Day was first celebrated in many countries, especially in Haiti on 23rdd August 1998 and at Goree in Senegal in 23rd August 1999.

Ashwani Lohani appointed as Chairman of Railway Board on - 23rd August 2017

Ashwani Lohani was appointed as the Chairman of Railway Board of India on 23rd August 2017.
Lohani will be succeeding AK Mittal, who resigned as the Chairman of Railway Board following two back-to-back train accidents.

This announcement has been made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet after Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu offered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following this recent train accidents. However, his resignation has not been not accepted. Mittal's resignation came hours after Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express got derailed in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district on 23rd August 2017. Minimum of 74 people were injured in the incident as nine coaches of the Kaifiyat Express got derailed after colliding with a dumper. 23 people were killed and 156 injured after fourteen coaches of Utkal Express got derailed near Muzzafarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on 19th August 2017.
More about Ashwani Lohani

• Lohani was serving as the Chairman & Managing Director of Air India before this appointment.
• Lohani had also served as the Divisional Regional Manager of Delhi and ITDC chairman as well as the Director of the Rail Museum in Delhi.
• Lohani scripted success story of MP Tourism and was later drafted to pull out stressed Air India.
• His name was presented in Limca Record in 2007 to have four "engineering degree equivalents" in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering from Institution of Engineers, India.

 Cabinet approves India-Nepal MoU on drug matters on - 23rd August 2017

The Union Cabinet gave its approval to sign of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 23rd August 2017 between India and Nepal to resolve the issues of illicit traffic in psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs. According to an official statement, the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a pact between the two neighboring countries on Prevention of Illicit Trafficking and Drug Demand Reduction in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters.

Important Highlights

• The agreement lists out the areas of cooperation on drug matters between both the countries.
• It also indicates the mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities which would be responsible for the implementation of the pact and exchange of any information.
• The move is expected to minimize the illicit traffic of psychotropic substances, narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals.

Major provisions of the MoU:

• It provides that both countries should develop mutual cooperation with a view to resolve the issue of illicit drug trafficking effectively and cooperating in drug demand reduction through prevention, education, awareness, and community-based programs, treatment and rehabilitation.
•  It needs both the countries to exchange information of technical, operational and general nature in drug matters, exchange literature on their existing laws, procedures,rules, best practices and methods to curb the illicit trafficking and any further amendments in the existing legislation.

Australia beats Iran to clinch 2017 FIBA Asia Cup on - 20th August 2017

Australia was crowned the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 basketball champions on 20th August 2017. The team has defeated Iran 79-56 in the final to grab the title. South Korea clinched the third place with a win over New Zealand 80-71 on the other hand.

More bout FIBA Asia Cup

• It is an International Basketball tournament.
• The tournament is taking place every two years between men's national teams of Asia.
• This was the Asian qualifying tournament for the the Olympic basketball tournament and FIBA Basketball World Cup.
• Last Asian Championship to serve as qualifiers to the Olympic Games and FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2013 and 2015.
• The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup was the 29th continental basketball championship in Asia.
• FIBA Asia organises the tournament.
• It was held at the Nouhad Nawfal Stadium in Lebanon from 8th to 20th August 2017, a week earlier from the initial scheduled date.
• The tournament determined the composition of the joint FIBA Oceania and FIBA Asia qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Do you know?
The FIBA Asia Cup was known as the FIBA Asia Championship formerly.

Finance Ministry gives formal go ahead to printing of Rs 200 notes on - 23rd August 2017

The Union Finance Ministry confirmed the launch of the new Rs 200 note on 23rd August 2017.
The information was formally revealed through a Gazette notification, which stated that The central government hereby specified the denomination of bank notes of the value of 200 rupees. On the recommendation of the Central Board of Directors of the RBI, this notification has been issued under the Section 24 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

Along with the confirmation on the launch of the new Rs 200 note, the government also formally has announced the release of a new fluorescent blue Rs 50 note. However, this does not in terms to indicate demonetisation of the earlier Rs 50 notes, as they would continue to remain as legal tender.
The printing of the new Rs 200 note is already underway and hence, it will be brought into circulation soon. The move is aiming to increase the  smaller denomination notes circulation, easing the pressure off the existing bills. Following demonetisation of all ?500 and ?1,000 banknotes on 8th November 2016, there have been reports of people facing problems in using the new high-value Rs 2000 note due to insufficiency in the number of lower denomination currency notes, especially in the Rs 100 and Rs 500 banknotes.