Current Affairs : October 5, 2011

2 new SC Judges appointed by the President

President Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil appointed 2 new Judges to the SC. Justice Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court Justice Justice Chelameswar were appointed to the Supreme Court.

New Chairman of Press Council: Justice Katju

Justice Markandey Katju (Former Judge of Supreme Court) appointed as new Chairman of PCI (Press Council of India.) Mr Katju has authored various books in his name, ‘Law in the Scientific Era’, ‘Interpretation of Taxing Statutes’, and ‘Domestic Enquiry’.

India and Russia sign agreement to step up defence ties

India and Russia articulated willingness to acquire all essential methods to promote their support on a jointly valuable basis. An agreement signed after the Eleventh meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technology in Moscow. 

India vigorously taking into consideration for membership in IACA: President

President Ms Pratibha Devi Singh Patil opined that India taking into consideration to deal efficiently and sincerely with the subject of corruption. India considering to become member of International Anti- Corruption Academy, IACA,
a joint initiative by the UN Office on Drugs And Crime, UNODC, the Republic of Austria, the European Anti Fraud Office, OLAF and other stakeholders. IACA: Trailblazer institute in Vienna, Austria that aspires to conquer present defects in knowledge and practice in the field of anti- corruption.

UN resolution on Syria: India refrains whilst Russia, China veto

• UNSC resolution on Syria which threatens action against Syria if it did not at once stop the lethal onslaught of anti-regime protesters – India refrained from voting. Russia and China (both permanent members of UNSC) vetoed thus annulling the draft.
  
• Other countries that abstained from voting were Brazil, Lebanon and South Africa. Countries voting in favour of the resolution were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, France, Gabon, Germany, Nigeria, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  
• UNSC, a 15 member council has been talking terms of a resolution for more than 3 months. The draft declaration excoriated the brutal onslaught by President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces in opposition to pro-democracy protesters and called for instant end to the violence.
  
• Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri (India’s Permanent Representative to the UN) opined that the conduct of the global commune should be such that it eases a participation of the Syrian Govt and the opponents in a Syrian-led all-encompassing political procedure and not make difficult the state of affairs by bullying of sanctions, Government alterations.
  
• Mr. Puri further opined that the declaration also didn’t place any liability on the opponents in Syria to renounce violent behaviour and connect with the nation’s authorities for restitution of their grudges by means of peaceful political route.

  
  

‘Aakash’: World’s cheapest tablet PC launched in New-Delhi

‘Akash’: World’s cheapest Tablet PC Aakash was launched in New Delhi. Objective: It will aid in bridging the digital divide in the country. The tablet costs about $40 but it will be slowly brought down to nearly $10. A component of the
Government’s National Mission on Education’s Sakshat Project, Aakash aims to link all higher education institutions in the country. It will generate open source material from IITs so that educatee from institutes in remote locations and rural areas can access lectures. The s/w for the Tablet PC developed indigenously by the IIT, Rajasthan.

Features:

• Android 2.2 operating system
• 7 inch (18-centimetre) screen
• Wi-Fi Internet access
• A media player
• 180 minutes of battery power
• Video Conferencing
• 2 USB ports
• 32GB expandable memory
• Powered by 366 Mhz processor
• It weighs 350 grams
• It has 256MB RAM
• It has standard 3.5 mm headphones jack
• The tablet comes with a 12-month replacement warranty and supports formats like DOC, DOCX, PDF and PPTX.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi to host South Asian Football Federation Championship
Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, New Delhi, will be hosting the South Asian Football Federation Championships scheduled in December. An agreement in this regard signed b/w All India Football Federation, AIFF and Sports Authority of India, SAI. Agreement will enable them to host international and domestic tournaments at the JLN stadium.

‘Rest of India’ lifts Irani Cricket Trophy

The Rest of India lifted Irani Cricket trophy for the 6^th consecutive time after beating Ranji Champions Rajasthan by 404 runs in the finale.

$172 million loan approved by the WB for Bangladesh

World Bank approved loan of $172 million for supporting installation of solar home power systems in Bangladesh. The loan has been sanctioned as additional credit for the ongoing Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Project. 

India inclined for early adoption of CCIT

India is inclined for early adoption of the CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism). India has called upon the worldwide community to promote the anti-terror legal framework and execute the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in an integrated manner. Mr. Rahman Khan, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman in his address at the United Nations held that the comprehensiveness of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy will not be concluded devoid of the conclusion of the CCIT which is at an important phase of discussion before the UN.

Moody’s downgrade SBI’s Credit Rating from C- to D+

Moody’s, a Global Credit Rating Firm downgraded the Credit Rating of SBI from C- to D+. The reasons for a –ve view of Moody’s on SBI was SBI’s scarcity of capital to mitigate bad loans or eventualities and thus it’s deteriorating asset quality.

Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011 passed in Goa Assembly

Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011 (which is a modified version of the Goa Lokayukta Bill 2003) was passed in the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Salient features of the bill:-

• The Bill authorizes the Lokayukta (Ombudsman) to also examine the CM. Lokayukta’s term: 3 years. Lokayukta to be appointed by the Governor on the advice of CM in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and the leader of opposition.
  
• Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta, shall not be removed from his office except by an order of Governor passed after an address by the State Legislative Assembly supported by majority of the House. Lokayukta can examine the grievance suo moto or on grievance made to him.
  
• The Bill cites that after first round investigation, if Lokayukta detects that there are rational basis for thorough inquiry, he should advance the complaint to the concerned Authority of the Government. 
  

The above 5 questions are part of Daily Current Affairs 20 MCQs Series in GKToday Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for Rs. 799/- for entire year. Download Now

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2011