Current Affairs 25th October 2016

Current Affairs 25th October 2016 - Important Points

• ECI amends election rules to allow e-transfer of - Postal Ballot 
• CO2 level reaches record high in 2016 - WMO 
• ISRO starts landing tests for - Chandrayaan-2 Mission 
• Urja Ganga in Varanasi launched by - PM Narendra Modi

Current Affairs 25th October 2016 - Details

ECI amends election rules to allow e-transfer of - Postal Ballot 

Among Important National Current Affairs, The Election Commission of India (ECI) has amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to facilitate the e-transfer of postal ballot. 

However, the new rules empower a returning officer in any constituency to send postal ballots to an eligible voter by electronic means as specified by the ECI. 

Also in India, postal ballots have played a critical role in extending the electoral process to voters who are unable to exercise their franchise due to either the nature of their job or geographical location of their posting.

CO2 level reaches record high in 2016 - WMO 

Among Important International Current Affairs, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere has reached a record high. 

However, in 2015 the globally averaged concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached to 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time. 

Also, it is expected to surge again to new records in 2016 on the back of the very powerful El Niño event.

ISRO starts landing tests for - Chandrayaan-2 Mission 

Among Important National Current Affairs, ISRO which is known as The Indian Space Research Organsiation (ISRO) has started a series of ground and aerial tests linked to the critical Moon landing of Chandrayaan-2. 

However, these tests were started as ISRO’s new site at Challakere in Chitradurga district, 400 km from Bengaluru. This site has also simulated craters. ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) is the lead centre for the second Moon mission. 

It has been artificially created close to ten craters to simulate the lunar terrain and test the Lander’s sensors. ISAC will also conduct many tests including on avionics and electronics, testing the Lander’s legs, followed by a combined full test.

Urja Ganga in Varanasi launched by - PM Narendra Modi

Among Important National Current Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally laid the foundation stone of Urja Ganga, the highly ambitious gas pipeline project in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. 

However, the gas pipeline project which aims to provide piped cooking (PNG) gas to residents of the eastern region of the country and CNG gas for the vehicles.

Do You Know – 

• The project Urja Ganga is being implemented by state-run gas utility GAIL. 

• However, by 2018 it also envisages laying a 2,050-km pipeline connecting Jagdishpur (UP) to Haldia (West Bengal).