Current Affairs 3rd February 2016

Important Points : 

• Who will head the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force - Major General Menon
• Name the scheme launched for economically backward Dalit entrepreneurs in Maharashtra  - Babasaheb Ambedkar Special Collective Incentive Scheme
• Which state has won 61st National School Athletics championship - Kerala
• Which two countries have signed 3 MoUs to deepen bilateral cooperation - India & Brunei 
• Who has been conferred with Lifetime achievement award - Amitabh Bachchan 
• Who has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat high Court - Justice Ramayyagari Subhash Reddy 
• Which movie has became the first Indian film to win Best First Foreign Film award by FSCC - Titli 
• Which company has became the world’s most valuable company - Alphabet Inc.
• Which government has extended Aahar cheap meal scheme to 29 districts - Odisha Government

Details : 

Who will head the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force - Major General Menon

On 2nd February 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India was appointed as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). 

He will replace Lieutenant General Purna Chandra Thapa of Nepal. 

Menon brings to his new position extensive command experience and knowledge of peacekeeping affairs at the national and international levels.

About Major General Menon

He served as the General Officer, Commanding of an Infantry Division between 2012 tot 2013. 

In past, he had held positions like Battalion Commander, Commandant of the Regimental Training Centre, Brigade Commander.

About United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

On 31st May 1974, Security Council resolution 350 (1974) established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan.

Name the scheme launched for economically backward Dalit entrepreneurs in Maharashtra  - Babasaheb Ambedkar Special Collective Incentive Scheme

On 2nd February 2016, for the welfare of economically backward Dalit entrepreneurs, Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Special Collective Incentive Scheme was announced by Maharashtra Cabinet.

The scheme marks the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. 

Major highlights of the Scheme 

• Lower classes can set up their businesses on lands provided by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).
• For businessmen belonging to lower class, the government will set aside a portion of land in every integrated town. 
• The schemem also includes the Tribal entrepreneurs.
• Only one person per family are allowed for taking the loan under this scheme.
• For granting permissions required for starting a business a single window (Maitri Kaksha) will be present.

Which state has won 61st National School Athletics championship - Kerala

On 2nd February 2016, the 61st National School Athletics championship was won by Kerala. 

This was the 19th consecutive win for Kerala. Kerala won 39 gold, 29 silver and 17 bronze medals in the championship.

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were at the second and third position respectively.

Which two countries have signed 3 MoUs to deepen bilateral cooperation - India & Brunei 

On 2nd February 2016, 3 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)were inked between India and Brunei to deepen bilateral cooperation. 

List of 3 MoUs

• MOU on cooperation in youth and sports affairs
• MoU on Defence cooperation
• MoU in health cooperation

Who has been conferred with Lifetime achievement award - Amitabh Bachchan 

On 2nd February 2016, Lifetime achievement award was conferred to Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan for his contribution to the film industry at NDTV Indian of the Year Awards.

About Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan

• In the year 1969, he started his career by the film Saat Hindustani.
• Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby, in which he played a Jewish character was his Hollywood debut movie. 
• In his career, he has won many awards including three National Film Awards as Best Actor.
• With a total of 39 nominations, he is the most-nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare.

Who has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat high Court - Justice Ramayyagari Subhash Reddy 

On 3rd February 2016, Justice Ramayyagari Subhash Reddy was appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat high Court by replacing Justice Jayant M Patel.

Earlier to the appointment, he was Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

About Justice Ramayyagari Subhash Reddy

• In October 1980, he started working as an Advocate of the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh.
• For 2001-2002, he was elected as the President of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association.
• On 24th June 2004, he was sworn in as Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
• On 2nd December 2012, he became the Additional Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

Which movie has became the first Indian film to win Best First Foreign Film award by FSCC - Titli 

On 1st February 2016, the Best First Foreign Film Award conferred by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics 2016 (FSCC) was won by Indian film-maker Kanu Behl directorial Titli.

Earlier, this film has won at various international film festivals like Spain, Hawaii, Turkey, New York and Bordeaux.

About French Syndicate of Cinema Critics

• Best International Film, Best French Film, Best Short Film and Best First Foreign Film are the four awards presented by The French Syndicate of Cinema Critics.
• Apart from this, it also organizes the International Critics' Week every year which is the oldest parallel competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival.

Which company has became the world’s most valuable company - Alphabet Inc.

On 2nd February 2016, Alphabet Inc. became the world's most valuable public company, replacing Apple Inc as the Shares of Alphabet Inc. opened nearly 3 % higher.

About Alphabet Inc.

• It is an American multinational conglomerate initiated in 2015 as the parent company of Google and several other companies previously owned by or tied to Google.
• Google's co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin head this company.
• On 2nd October 2015, the reorganization of Google into Alphabet was completed.

Which government has extended Aahar cheap meal scheme to 29 districts - Odisha Government

On 2nd February 2016, the decision to extend the Aahar scheme to 29 districts in the State was taken by the Government of Odisha. 

To provide subsidized food to urban poor under the scheme, 58 centres will be established in 29 districts across the State. 

Features of Aahar Scheme

• On mark1st April 2015, to  the State’s Foundation Day, Utkala Diwas, odisha government has launched this scheme.
• In the first phase of the scheme, Aahar outlets were opened in Rourkela, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar.
• One thousand people will get food daily between 11 am and 3 pm oneach Aahar outlet.