Current Affairs : July 3-4, 2011

9 day long Lord Jagannath’s Rathyatra commences

• 9 day Long Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha
  
• Why it is celebrated: To mark the annual visit of the God to his birthplace
  
• Deities Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra taken in their respective chariots
  
• The King of Puri Gajapati Maharaj did the traditional cleanse of the grand road by a golden broom after the deities were taken into the chariots
  
• In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area
  
• The Rathyatra is taken out at 110 places in Gujarat, and the procession in Ahmedabad has the longest tradition
  
• Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did the symbolic ‘road cleaning’ ahead of passage of chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and their sister, Subhadra
  
• In Delhi, processions taken out from Jagannath temples at Hauz Khas and Thyagaraja Nagar
  

Yingiluck Shinawatra: First Woman Prime Minister of Thailand

• Yingluck Shinawatra (Leader of Pheu Thai Party and Sister of ousted Premier Thakshin Shinawatra)
  
• Yingluck Shinawatra became the First Woman Prime Minister of Thailand
  
• Yingluck, dubbed as Thaksin Shinawatra’s political proxy, will be the 28th prime minister of the country
  
• General elections were the first key electoral test for Government since mass demonstrations by Thaksin’s “Red Shirt” supporters last year paralysed Bangkok and caused the worst political violence in decades
  

Novak Djokovic: Wimbledon’s Men’s Singles Champion 2011

• Novak Djokovic of Serbia
  
• Novak Djokovic won the Men’s Singles title in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London
  
• In Finals he defeated defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain
  
• Djokovic won the title in his maiden appearance in the final

  
  

Supreme Court constitutes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate black money cases

• Supreme Court appointed a high-level Special Investigation Team(SIT)
  
• Headed by: B.P.Jeevan Reddy (Former apex court judge)
  
• Other members: Justice Reddy (Chairman of the SIT), Former     judge, Justice M B Shah (Vice-Chairman of the panel)
  
• Objective: To monitor the investigation and steps being taken to     bring back black money hive away in foreign banks 
  
• The Bench also directed the Government to disclose the names of all the persons who have been issued show cause notices by the authorities in connection with the probe into the black money issue
  
• The Court passed the order on a petition filed by eminent jurist Ram Jethmalani and others seeking directions to the Government to track black money hived away abroad and to bring it back 
  

PM stresses for establishing linkages b/w various Policies of Govt and HIV/AIDS Programme

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed on the points that
  

1. Different ministries should make HIV sensitive policies and programmes to provide employment and assistance to HIV-AIDS infected persons
   
2. Linkages be built between MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee) programme and HIV/AIDS programmes to facilitate employment of HIV positive persons

   The nutritional needs of HIV positive people, especially Women and Children should be undertaken by linking them with ICDS and other developmental schemes
   

3. Need to ensure that there is no stigma and discrimination towards HIV infected and affected persons
   
4. No child be denied entrance in schools and colleges because he or she is infected with HIV or because his or her parents are infected with the disease
   

    

• Thus, PM stressed that different Policies of the Government should be linked with the HIV/AIDS Programme:-
  

   

• Employment of HIV/AIDS infected people — (Link To) — MNREGA Programme
  
• Nutritional Needs of HIV/AIDS infected Women and Children — (Link To) — ICDS Programme
  
• Education Rights of HIV/AIDS infected Children — (Link To) — Right To Education Programme
  

Contract signed b/w Bangladesh Railway and India’s Texmaco Limited

• Bangladesh Railway signed a contract worth $ 16.45 million with the Indian company Texmaco Limited Indian Company to supply Oil tank wagons and break vans
  
• As per the agreement, 165 broad-gauge oil wagons and six broad-gauge break vans will be supplied to Bangladesh Railway within a year
  
• The wagons to be used to supply oil to power plants in Bangladesh
  
• The project being enforced under the $1 bn Credit Line provided by India to Bangladesh
  

Braille script on Electronic Voting Machines in Maharashtra

• Maharashtra State Election Commission added the Braille script on the     EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines)
  
• Objective: To facilitate Visually Challenged Voters in exercising their     franchise
  
• The EVMs, installed with Braille sign to be used in all the elections in     the     state from now onwards
  
• The EVMs to also have security features
  
• Designed by:
  The Electronics Corporation of India Limited
  
  

India Post 2012 Project started by GOI

• GOI started India Post 2012 Project
• In August 2010 Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the ‘INDIA POST 2012’ IT Modernization project with a total outlay of Rs 1877.2 crores
  
• Objectives:
  
• To develop Future business model for post offices in the country
  
• To transform Department of Post into a Technology enabled, and autonomous market leader
  
• The project focus on five initiatives:-
  
  • Covering increased market share and revenues
    
  • New products and services
    
  • Improved services delivery
    
  • Motivated workforce
    
  • Rural development
    
• Mr. Sibal held a round table session with various industry leaders to give a shape to India Post 2012 project
  
• ‘Partnering India Post: 2012 and Beyond’
  conference held to understand fields, techniques and
  challenges for developing a long-term relationship between India’s postal department and key stakeholders
  
• Minister for IT and Communications: Mr. Kapil Sibal
  

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2011

Category: Government Schemes Current Affairs