Current Affairs 27th August 2015

Current Affairs 27th August 2015 - Important Points

• 4 months extension for 7th Pay Commission was cleared by - Union Cabinet

• Which port is referred as the best 'Major Port of 2014-15' - Kolkata Port

• Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Civil and Commercial matters with Oman ws approved by - Union Cabinet

• Who is elected as president of ACSSI, India's premier cricket Statisticians association - Dilip Vengsarkar

• Name the three Indians who are named as Fellows of American Society for Metals for 2015 - Pradeep Goyal, Vivekanand Kain, and Gankidi Madhusudhan Reddy

• Who has been conferred with 2015 Stockholm Water Prize - Rajendra Singh

• Amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes was approved by - Union Cabinet

• GSLV-D6 launched successfully from - Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR

• Who is appointed as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF -Tennis Player Novak Djokovic

• Union Cabinet approved signing of agreement between - India and Afghanistan

• The list of Top 20 Wealthiest People Under 35 was relesed by - Wealth-X released

Current Affairs 27th August 2015 - Details

4 months extension for 7th Pay Commission was cleared by - Union Cabinet

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 26th August 2015, 4 months extension (up to 31 December 2015) to the 7th Central Pay Commission was given by Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur is the Chairman of the Commission.

The extension of 4 months was approved due to volume of work and intensive stake-holders’ consultations. 7th Pay Commission is scheduled to come into effect from 1st January 2016.

Which port is referred as the best 'Major Port of 2014-15' - Kolkata Port

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 21st August 2015, Kolkata Port was adjudged as the ‘Major Port of the Year’ amongst 12 major ports in the country in recollection of its impressive growth rate in customer satisfaction, growth in output per berth, volumes and optimizing capacity utilization.

During April to June 2015, Haldia Dock System and Kolkata Dock System under Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) together handled 16.834 million tonnes (MT) of traffic, which stands against 13.698 MT handled during the corresponding period 2014.

Traffic growth of 23% was attained by the KPT, while a growth of 5.8% was recorded with all other major ports of the country.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Civil and Commercial matters with Oman ws approved by - Union Cabinet

On 26th August 2015, approval for signing and ratification of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Civil and Commercial matters with Oman was given by the Union Cabinet.

Areas covered under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)

• Request for reciprocal legal assistance relating to civil and commercial matters submitted before or after its entry into force.
• Service of summons and other judicial documents shall not be refused on the ground that the request does not show sufficient grounds supporting merits of the case, unless the requested State, considers that compliance with the request would infringe its sovereignty, security or public policy.
• Taking of evidence through request.
• Execution of judgments, settlements and arbitral awards.
• Service of judicial orders, summons and other legal and judicial documents or processes.

Who is elected as president of ACSSI, India's premier cricket Statisticians association - Dilip Vengsarkar

Among the important appointments, In third week of August 2015, Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has been elected as the president of the Association of Indian Statisticians and scorers of India (ACSSI).

Presently, Vengsarkar is the vice president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). He was elected uncontested during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ACSSI.

Apart from this, Ganesh Iyer and Dara Pochkhanawalla were elected as the two vice presidents of the organisation.

Do You Know :

To do a serious research on Indian cricket, both past and present and provide one-stop accurate information about Indian domestic, test and limited overs international cricket statistics, ACSSI was constituted in the year 1987.

Name the three Indians who are named as Fellows of American Society for Metals for 2015 - Pradeep Goyal, Vivekanand Kain, and Gankidi Madhusudhan Reddy

Among the important National Current Affairs, In fourth week of August 2015, three Indians Pradeep Goyal, Vivekanand Kain, and Gankidi Madhusudhan Reddy were named as Fellows of American Society for Metals (ASM). Along with them three other Indian-origin persons were featured among the list of 29 fellows who were named as Fellows of ASM for 2015.

The Indian-origin achievers were Muthukumarasamy Sadayappan, Suveen Mathaudhu and Pranesh Aswath. All the fellows were honoured for their contributions in the field of materials science and engineering.

In October 2015, during the Materials Science and Technology event at Columbus in Ohio State of the USA, these fellows will be presented with their awards.

About Fellows

Vivekanand Kain : He was selected for significant contributions focused on understanding and controlling corrosion in nuclear power plants, especially the corrosion of stainless steel and nickel and zirconium based alloys. Currently he is a professor and scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

Gankidi Madhusudhan Reddy: He was shortlisted for his outstanding contributions in welding science and technology with special emphasis on the development of solutions enabling the fabrication of critical components used in defence and aerospace applications. Presently, he is a scientist at the Defence Metallurgical Research Lab in Hyderabad.

Pradeep Goyal: He was chosen for his establishment of the internationally-known Industrial Microwave Research Centre and for his contributions towards environmental and energy improvements in ore and petrochemical processing industries using new technologies. He is the CMD for Pradeep Metals Ltd. in Mumbai.

Pranesh Aswath: He was selected for his significant contributions to the science of tribology through establishing fundamental relationships between lubricant additive chemistry, tribofilm formation and friction and wear. He is a professor and associate dean at the University of Texas in Arlington, the USA.

Suveen Mathaudhu: He is an assistant professor at UC Riverside and he was selected for his scientific leadership, management, and advocacy of the US Army materials research efforts, and in particular for the development and support of new advanced lightweight metals and bulk nano-structured materials.

Muthukumarasamy Sadayappan: He is a research scientist at Canmet Materials in Canada. He was selected as a Fellow for his significant contributions to the field of non-ferrous foundry metallurgy and solidification processing.

Do You Know :

ASM is a technical community of experts associated with materials science and engineering. It was established in 1969 to provide recognition to their distinguished contributions to materials science and engineering, and to develop a broad-based forum of technical and professional leaders to serve as advisers to the society.

Who has been conferred with 2015 Stockholm Water Prize - Rajendra Singh

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 26th August 2015, 2015 Stockholm Water Prize was awarded to the Waterman of India Rajendra Singh.

During the World Water Week in Swedish Capital Stockholm, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Patron of the Stockholm Water Prize presented the prize at a Royal Award Ceremony.

Singh was awarded for his innovative water restoration efforts, improving water security in rural India, and for showing extraordinary courage and determination in his quest to improve the living conditions for those most in need.

Contributions of Rajendra Singh

• Through his organisation Tarun Bharat Sangh (India Youth Association), he has dedicaated several years of his life to tackle drought and empowering communities of Rajasthan.
• He has overcome with the problem of waters in villages of Rajasthan through building traditional earthen dams also known as Johads.

About Stockholm Water Prize

It is a global award founded in 1991. Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) presents this award annually to an individual, organisation or institution for outstanding water-related achievements. The prize includes a specially designed sculpture and 150000 US Dollars.

Amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes was approved by - Union Cabinet

On 26th August 2015, the amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was approved by the Union Cabinet for making suitable amendments in the Central List of OBCs in respect of two States Gujarat and Uttarakhand.

The castes/communities have been included in the Central List of OBCs in the two States of Gujarat and Uttarakhand are as follows :

Gujarat :

• Sipai
• Patni Jamat or Turk Jamat (all Muslims)

Uttarakhand :

• Kahar
• Tanwar Singhariya

GSLV-D6 launched successfully from - Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 27th August 2015, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D6 was successfully launched from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

GSLV-D6 consists of 2117 kg GSAT-6, an advanced communication satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite is deliberate to provide S-band communication services in the country.

Key Features of GSLV-D6

• It is the fifth developmental flight of GSLV and the ninth flight of GSLV.
• The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) is being carried on-board during a GSLV flight for the third time.
• It is designed with all its three stages including the CUS similar to the ones successfully flown during the previous GSLV-D5 mission in January 2014. GSLV-D5 successfully placed GSAT-14 satellite carried on-board in the intended GTO very accurately.

Who is appointed as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF -Tennis Player Novak Djokovic

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 26th August 2015, Novak Djokovic, the world’s top ranked tennis player, was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also inked between the World Bank and the Novak Djokovic Foundation to promote early childhood development. In 2011, since Novak Djokovic teamed up with UNICEF, he has been lending his support to children's welfare.

With this, Djokovic has joined other UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors including David Beckham, Harry Belafonte, Orlando Bloom, Danny Kaye, Shakira, Maxim Vengerov, Serena Williams, Audrey Hepburn, Katy Perry, Sir Roger Moore and others.

Union Cabinet approved signing of agreement between - India and Afghanistan

On 26th August 2015, The Union Cabinet approved signing of the agreement between India and Afghanistan on legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters for the service of summons, judicial documents, commissions, execution of judgements and arbitral awards.

Highlights of the Agreement

• The agreement also applies to any request for reciprocal legal assistance relating to civil and commercial matters submitted before or after its entry into force.
• It states that service of summons and other judicial documents shall not be refused on the ground that the request does not show sufficient grounds supporting merits of the case.
• The agreement also deals with taking of evidence by Diplomatic and Consular representatives from nationals of the country they represent, without compulsion, in order to help in completion of judicial proceedings commenced in the courts of the country they represent.
• Service of judicial orders, summons and other legal and judicial documents or processes.
• Taking of evidence through request.
• Execution of judgments, settlements and arbitral awards.

The list of Top 20 Wealthiest People Under 35 was relesed by - Wealth-X released

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 19th August 2015, the report on Top 20 Wealthiest People Under 35 was released by the Global wealth intelligence and prospecting company Wealth-X.

As per the report, with a personal fortune of 41.6 billion US dollars, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the wealthiest individual under the age of 35.

The second place on the list with an estimated net worth of 9.3 billion US dollars was claimed by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz followed by Huiyan Yang with an estimated net worth of 5.9 billion US dollars on the third spot.

Highlights of the Report

• Snapchat chief executive Evan Spiegel, who at the age of 25 has already amassed a personal fortune of 1.9 billion US dollars and is the youngest individual on the list.
• The richest woman on the list is Huiyan Yang, the 34-year-old vice chairman of Chinese real estate developer Country Garden Holdings.

List of Top 10 Wealthiest People Under 35

• Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook Inc with 41.6 billion US dollars)
• Dustin Moskovitz (Asana with 9.3 billion US dollars)
• Huiyan Yang (Country Garden Holdings with 5.9 billion US dollars)
• Eduardo Saverin (99 with 5.3 billion US dollars)
• Scott Daniel Duncan (Enterprise Products Partners with 5.0 billion US dollars)
• Elizabeth A Holmes (Theranos with 4.5 billion US dollars)
• Nathan Blecharczyk (AIRBNB with 3 billion US dollars)
• Brian Chesky (AIRBNB with 3 billion US dollars)
• Joe Gebbia (AIRBNB with 3 billion US dollars)
• Thomas Persson (Hennes & Mauritz with 2.7 billion US dollars)