11-12 August 2015
11 August
Hockey India suspended Gurbaj Singh for 9 months
Senior India hockey player Gurbaj Singh was on 10 August 2015 suspended for 9 months for indulging in groupism and creating disharmony within the team.
This suspension means that Gurbaj will be unable to play for India till 9 May 2016. It may shatter the midfielder's dream of playing in 2016 Rio Olympics.
The decision to suspend Gurbaj was taken after a meeting of Hockey India's disciplinary committee headed by Harbinder Singh with the midfielder and former India coach Jude Felix. The coach levelled the charges against Gurbaj in his report after July 2015 Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.
Besides Harbinder, the Hockey India disciplinary panel also included former players RP Singh, AB Subbaiah and Jasjeet Handa.
Gurbaj, however, has the option to lodge an appeal with Hockey India's appellate tribunal within a month's time.
Amitabh Bachchan accepted the proposal to be Maharashtra’s tiger ambassador
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on 10 August 2015 accepted the proposal of Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar to be the tiger ambassador of the state.
To promote eco tourism, especially tiger tourism in Maharashtra, Mungantiwar requested Bachchan to represent the state as its tiger ambassador. Mungantiwar wrote a letter to Bachchan on 29 July 2015 on the occasion of World Tiger Day.
The 72-year-old actor has communicated his consent to Mungantiwar through a letter.
Rajasthan High Court banned Santhara ritual in Jain Community
Rajasthan High Court on 10 August 2015 banned the Santhara ritual prevailing in the Jain Community.
Pronouncing its judgment, the court considered the act as a criminal act amounting to suicide and directed to register cases under section 306 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The ritual was banned by the court on a Public Interest Litigation filed by human rights activist Nikhil Soni a decade ago, claiming that the ritual is a social evil and should be considered as a suicide.
Soni, a native of Churu district in Rajasthan had filed a Public Interest Litigation in 2006 against Santhara. Churu district is known as the world’s Santhara capital for its highest per capita incidence of the practice in recent history.
In his plea, Soni argued that 'Santhara' was no different from the ritual of 'Sati'. He said that when Sati is considered an act of suicide and legally banned then why not Santhara.
Santhara
Santhara, an ancient ritual also called Sallekhana or Samadhi-marana or Sanyasana-marana, is the voluntary starvation to embrace death. Its purpose is to purge old karmas and prevent the creation of new ones.
It is prescribed both for the householder (sravakas) and ascetics. It is allowed only when a person suffering from incurable disease or great disability or when a person is nearing his end.
Sallekhana, made up from two words sal (meaning 'properly') and lekhana, which means to thin out, is a highly respected practice among the members of the Jain community.
Telecom Ministry launched mobile app named Disha to promote digital literacy in Bihar
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on 10 August 2015 launched a new mobile app named Disha to promote digital literacy in Bihar. The app aims to help people learn about computers and Internet through self learning modules.
The app also aims to offer digital literacy to tribal and Dalit women in the state. The app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.
Disha Handbook
The Ministry also launched Disha handbook that has pictographic lessons on computers operations. The Disha handbook is framed by the Common Service Centres (CSCs) for the purpose of digital literacy.
The book was composed to ensure that anyone with little or no digital literacy can also learn using this book. This initiative is aimed at spreading digital literacy in women from tribal and Dalit background in Bihar.
About Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA)
• The Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA) mission was launched on 21 August 2014 with an aim to provide digital literacy to non IT literate citizens.
• The scheme imparts IT training to 52.5 lakh persons that include Anganwadi and ASHA workers and authorised ration dealers in all the States/UTs across the country.
• The training is conducted in collaboration with Intel, which is working with the Common Service Centres (CSCs) for the purpose of digital literacy in India. So far Intel has trained over 200 Dalit women.
World Bio-Fuel Day observed globally on 10 August
10 August: World Bio-Fuel Day
The World Bio-Fuel Day was observed across the world on 10 August 2015. The day is observed every year with an aim to create awareness about non fossil-fuels (Green Fuels).
Background
On 10 August 1893, Sir Rudalph Diesel (inventor of the diesel engine) for the first time successfully ran mechanical engine with Peanut Oil. His research experiment had predicted that vegetable oil is going to replace the fossil fuels in the next century to fuel different mechanical engines.
Thus to mark this extraordinary achievement, World Bio-fuel Day is observed every year on 10th August.
World Bio-Fuel Day in India
On this occasion, the Union Petroleum Ministry launched marketing of High Speed Diesel (HSD) blended with Bio-diesel in selected retail outlets of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in New Delhi and Vishakhapatnam by Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), in Haldia by Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) and in Vijayawada by Indian Oil (IOC).
Google launched its parent company Alphabet Inc
Search engine giant Google Inc on 10 August 2015 launched a new parent company called Alphabet Inc that separates its highly profitable search and advertising business.
The new parent company was formed as part of Google’s new organisational structure which will help the company to keep tremendous focus on the extraordinary opportunities and products.
With this, Google will be replaced by Alphabet Inc as the publicly-traded entity and all its shares will automatically converted into the of shares of new parent entity with same rights. Alphabet Inc will comprise of the search engine unit and all other subsidiaries.
Highlights of the Restructuring of Google
• Under the new structural arrangement, all subsidiaries of Google will be brought under the control of Alphabet Inc which will come into effect by 2015 itself.
• Alphabet Inc will be led by Co-founder and current CEO of Google Larry Page while Sergey Brin, the other co-founder, will serve as the President of Alphabet Inc and Eric Schmidt will be executive Chairman.
• Google’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ruth Porat will become CFO of Alphabet and current directors of the company will become directors of Alphabet Inc.
• Chennai born Sundar Pichai will be the CEO of new Google that is now the subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu launched new train services in Northeast
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 10 August 2015 launched new train services in the Northeast after the completion of North Lakhimpur-Murkongselek and Balipara- Bhalukpong sections into broad-gauge. He launched the service through video-conferencing from New Delhi.
Prabhu described the occasion as a Golden Day in the history of Arunachal Pradesh and flagged off few train on the occasion.
Following trains were flagged off on the occasion:
• 15613/15614 Guwahati-Murkongselek Intercity Express (Daily)
• 55719/55720 Dekargaon-Bhalukpong Passenger (on newly gauge-converted Ballipara-Bhalukpong section)
• Extension of 55429/55430 Rangiya-Rangapara North Passenger upto Dekargaon with New Nos. 55721/55722.
• Extension of 55613/55614 of Dekargaon-Harmuti Passenger upto Murkongselek with new No. 55813/55814
• Increase in frequency of 15903/15904 Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express from Weekly to Bi-weekly announced in Railway Budget 2012-13.
Commissioning of Balipara-Bhalukpong gauge conversion is the second Broad Gauge connectivity for the state. Earlier in 2015, the Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar was provided connectivity with the National Capital through a direct train.
Background of the Project
These 510 km gauge conversion project was sanctioned in 2002-03 with the budgetary outlay of 3600 crore rupees. However, the project suffered delay mainly due to funds constraints in the past.
But in 2014-15, a budgetary outlay of 713 crore rupees was provided for this line and an additional balance of 300 crore rupees was provided in 2015-16.
At present, the Union Government in Northeast India has undertaken 13 new lines, 3 gauge conversion and 4 doubling projects with the balance fund of 37000 crore rupees. These projects on completion will augment railway network by 1915 km.
Union Ministry for Minority Affairs launched Nai Manzil Scheme in Patna
The Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla on 8 August 2015 launched a new Central Sector Scheme Nai Manzil in Patna.
The scheme will address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities in general and muslims in particular as it lags behind other minority communities in terms of educational attainments.
Highlights of the scheme
• The scheme gives a new direction and a new goal for the all out of school or dropped out students and those studying in Madrasas. It is so because they will not be getting formal Class XII and Class X Certificates rendering them largely un employed in organised sector.
• The Nai Manzil scheme is aimed at this target group as an integrated intervention in terms of providing education as well as skill development.
• It aims at providing educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system.
• It will also provide them trade basis skill training in 4 courses including Manufacturing, Engineering, Services and Soft skills.
• The scheme is intended to cover people in between 17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students.
• It will provide avenues for continuing higher education and also open up employment opportunities in the organised sector.
Xiaomi Corp tied up with Foxconn to set up facility in Andhra Pradesh under Make in India initiative
China-based Smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp on 10 August 2015 tied up with Taiwan-based Foxconn to set up first Assembly line in Andhra Pradesh under Union Government's Make in India initiative.
These two Smartphone manufacturers will together roll out Xiaomi’s first locally made Smartphone, the Redmi2 Prime to expand Xiomi's market share in India. However, both the parties did not disclose the amount of investment made in setting up the assembly line.
Foxconn already began assembling phones at its facility in Sri City, an industrial park in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The Foxconn facility will house a 100m assembly line for Xiaomi that will put together phones with components imported from China.
Foxconn is currently making phones at four assembly lines in its Sri City facility. It will eventually expand to 20 lines with a production capacity of 30 million units.
About Xiaomi
• It is privately owned China-based world’s fourth largest Smartphone distributor, incorporated in 2011. It is famous for its designs of smartphones and consumer electronics.
• It designs develop and sells smartphones, mobile apps and consumer electronics. Xiaomi markets its products under brand name Mi.
About Foxconn
• Foxconn Technology Group is a multinational electronics manufacturing company headquartered in New Taipei, Taiwan.
• It is the largest electronics contractor manufacturer in world that manufactures notable products like iPad, BlackBerry, iPhone, Huawei, Kindle, Xiaomi, PlayStation 4, Motorola, Xbox One. It is third-largest Information Technology Company by revenue.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples observed
9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous People
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples was observed on 9 August 2015 with the themePost 2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples' health and well-being.
This year's theme puts a spotlight on the issue of indigenous peoples' access to health care services, as improving indigenous peoples’ health remains a critical challenge for indigenous peoples, Member States and the United Nations.
The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Volume II was launched at the UN
International Day of the World's Indigenous People
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 23 December 1994 adopted resolution 49/214 and proclaimed that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995–2004). In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005–2015, with the theme of A Decade for Action and Dignity.
Kochi became first Indian city to join World Tourism Cities Federation Council
Kochi on 10 August 2015 became the first Indian city to be a member of Beijing headquartered World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council and join its league of leading tourism cities across the world.
The invitation to Kochi to be the member of the council was sent to Kerala Tourism Department by WTCF, which was formally accepted by the department. The membership acceptance document was handed over to Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng by the Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany.
Kochi became the member of the council on ground of its partnerships in culture, sports and tourism. Kochi's cuisine, martial arts and snake and dragon boat races fulfil the set ground for membership.
About World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council
• The WTCF, headquartered at Beijing, is a non-profit, non-governmental international organisation voluntarily formed by tourism cities like Los Angeles, Berlin, Barcelona and many other world famous tourism cities and tourism-related institutions.
• WTCF was initiated in 2012 at Beijing with 58 cities and today it encompasses 135 members.
• It is the world’s first federation that is committed to its core concept ofBetter City Life through Tourismand promoting cooperation between members in the development of tourism.
No unauthorised construction in Taj eco-sensitive zone: NGT to UP Government
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 10 August 2015 directed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to ensure that no unauthorised construction activities are permitted and no trees cut in the eco-sensitive zone near the Taj Mahal.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the state government to conduct physical demarcation of the forest area and the green belt within 500 meters of the Taj Trapezium Zone.
The green panel also directed that the demarcation activity shall be executed in the presence of representative from Forest Survey of India (FSI) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
The Tribunal's direction came after perusing an inspection report by advocate MC Mehta, who was appointed as local commissioner to probe into the alleged illegal felling and sale of four thousand trees in the eco-sensitive zone in Agra.
The inspection report also said that builders have started raising huge constructions in these areas and even on the bank of river Yamuna.
Veteran Marathi stage actor Bhalchandra Pendharkar died
Veteran Marathi stage actor, singer and drama producer Bhalchandra Pendharkar died at a private hospital in Mumbai on 11 August 2015. He was 94.
Born on 25 November 1921, at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, Pendharkar was affectionately known as Anna. He gained popularity through his play Duritanche Timir Javo. His other memorable contributions in the field of theater included Panditrao Jagannath, Gita Gaati Dnyaneshwar, Shabbas Birbal Shabbas and few others.
Pendharkar played a vital role in the strengthening of the Lalitkaladarsh Natak Mandali which was founded in 1908 by Keshavrao Bhosale.
The versatile theatre personality received many honours and awards,some of them were
• Vishnudas Bhave award in 1973
• Bal Gandharva award in 1983
• Keshavrao Bhosale Puraskar in 1990
• Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2004
• Prabhakar Panshikar Jeevan-Gaurav Puraskar in 2006
President Pranab Mukherjee presented Saraswati Sammaan to Dr. M Veerappa Moily
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 10 August 2015 presented the 24th Saraswati Sammaan for the year 2014 to Dr. M Veerappa Moily, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) in New Delhi. He received the award for his epic Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam written in Kannada.
Divided into five volumes, Ramayana Mahanveshanam was first published in 2007 in Kannada. Later the poem was translated into English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.
Moily’s work was selected for the award in March 2015 by a 13-member panel of scholars and writers headed by former Chief Justice of India RC Lahoti.
About poem Ramayana Mahaveshanam
In the poem Ramayana Mahaveshanam, Moily tried to explore the Ramarajya or the true principle of the ideal State from a secular and modern point of view in his collection of poems.
Moily and his works as an author
75-year-old Moily a senior Congress leader from Karnataka is an established writer in Kannada. He has authored four novels, three collections of poetry, a number of plays and numerous essays. His novels includes
a) Kotta (made into telefilms in both Kannada and Hindi)
b) Tembare (translated into English under the title, The Edge of Time)
c) Suligali: Typhoon
d) Sagaradeepa: Ocean lamp
• His poems includes
a) Halu-Jenu Maththe
b) Nadeyali Samara
c) Yakshaprashne
• He has authored four volumes of an English book named Unleashing India
About Saraswati Samman
Saraswati Samman is an annual award that is given in recognition of outstanding prose or poetry literary works in Indian languages that are listed in Schedule VIII of the constitution of India.
This Samman is given for the literary works of last 10 years. The award was established in 1991 by KK Birla Foundation and carries a prize amount of 10 lakh rupees along with citation and a plaque.
The KK Birla Foundation has instituted three awards in the field of literature. These are Saraswati Samman, Vyas Samman (for Hindi) and Bihari Puraskar (for Hindi and Rajasthani writers of Rajasthan).
On 23 September 2014, the Saraswati Samman 2013 was given to Govind Mishra, the renowned Hindi author for his novel Dhool Paudhon Par that was published in 2008.
12 August
Uttar Pradesh Government approved new guidelines for Begum Akhtar Award
Uttar Pradesh Government on 11 August 2015 approved the amended guidelines for Begum Akhtar Award. The amendment empowers the Chief Minister to make any further amendments to the guidelines.
The award will be annually awarded on singers of ghazal, dadra, and thumriwho have achieved a milestone in these forms of music. It will be conferred on a singer who is a local resident of the state and should not be less than 40 years of age.
The award will carry a cash award of 5 lakh rupees, an ‘angvastram’ and a citation.
Begum Akhtar Award is named after Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, also known as Begum Akhtarwho was a well known Indian singer of Ghazal, and Dadra, and Thumri genres of Hindustani classical music. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan (posthumously) by Union Government. She was also given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals).
Delhi government constituted panel to probe CNG fitness scam
Delhi Government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 11 August 2015 decided to constitute an independent Commission of Inquiry to probe the multi-crore CNG fitness scam of Delhi. This Commission of Inquiry will be headed by a retired High Court judge, Justice SN Agarwal.
The Delhi cabinet has mandated that the commission will complete its probe within three months from the date of its first sitting.
The one-man probe panel was set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 will look into all the investigations and developments that have taken place in this case, including wrongful denials of sanctions to prosecute guilty officials and dereliction of duty in taking action against those involved in the scam.
The decision to constitute an inquiry commission on the scam was taken at a Cabinet meet presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
About the CNG fitness scam
The CNG fitness scam surfaced in 2012 when Anti Corruption Bureau found that the Delhi government had lost over 100 crore rupees by awarding the contract to operate and maintain certification of CNG vehicles at the transport authority in Burari to ESP India instead of ESP USA.
A number of officials of previous Sheila Dikshit government are under scanner in the multi-crore CNG fitness scam. These officials had been given a clean chit by the Dikshit regime and approved by LG Najeeb Jung in 2013.
India & World Bank signed agreement of US$ 308.40 Million for NCRMP-II
Union Government and World Bank on 11 August 2015 signed 308.40 million US dollar credit agreement in support of the second phase of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Program (NCRMP-II). The agreement was also signed by the state Governments of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
The agreement was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Union Government and John Blomquist, Program Leader and Acting Country Director in India, on behalf of the World Bank
The Project Agreements in respect of the States of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal were signed by the representatives of the respective State Governments.
Objective of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project-II (NCRMP-II)
• To reduce vulnerability to cyclone and other hydro-meteorological hazards of coastal communities in the states of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal
• It aims at increasing the capacity of the State entities to effectively plan for and respond to disasters.
• The project will also finance technical assistance for strengthening of multi-hazard risk management at the national level and improving the quality of available information on multi-hazard risks for decision making across the country.
• NCRMP-II has four components and they are
a) Early Warning Dissemination Systems
b) Cyclone Risk Mitigation Infrastructure
c) Technical Assistance for Multi-Hazard Risk Management
d) Project Management and Implementation Support
The primary beneficiaries of NCRMP-II will be coastal communities in the target states benefitting from cyclone risk mitigation infrastructure and early warning systems.
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and at the state level, it will be executed by the respective State Disaster Management Authorities.
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced marketing of Bio Fuel Blended HSD
The Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) on 10 August 2015 announced Marketing of High Speed Diesel (HSD) blended with Bio-diesel in selected retail outlets of OMC’s in New Delhi & Vishakhapatnam (by HPCL), Haldia (by BPCL) and Vijayawada (by IOCL). ‘
It is a path breaking step in India’s retail sector for launching Bio-diesel B 5 blend to diesel consumers.
Sale of fuel was announced on the occasion of World Bio Fuel Day by Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan at HPCL’s retail outlet in New Delhi. He also launched the sale of Bio-Diesel blended HSD in other cities through live streaming from New Delhi.
Earlier, the ministry had permitted direct sale of Bio-Diesel (B100) to bulk consumers like Railways, shipping and State Road Transport Corporations etc. This was permitted as part of promotion of Ethanol Blended Petrol program (EBP) in the country, wherein ethanol blending in petrol is planned to increase from 5 to 10 % based on the availability of ethanol.
Maharashtra Government constituted Cabinet sub-panel to tackle impending drought crisis
Maharashtra government on 11 August 2015 constituted a cabinet sub-committee to prepare an action plan to tackle the impending drought crisis. The committee will be headed by state Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse.
Other members of the committee will be Water Supply Minister Babanrao Lonikar, Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
At present, Beed, Osmanabad and Latur districts of Maharashtra are facing the worst crisis. To tackle the situation of drought, the government has planned to transport drinking water from the Ujani dam to Latur in the Marathwada region through railway wagons.
It will also purchase fodder from other states and generate employment in these regions will be made available under EGS and Jalyukta Shivar.
Besides, the government has also decided to increase the depth of rivers so that water storage level increases in the event of good rainfall. It also set a target to desilt all small rivers in Marathwada within five years.
According to official figures, the Marathwada region is the worst affected with water levels in Beed, Latur and Osmanabad districts having gone below 600-ft.
India lost 41 tigers in 7 months: NTCA & Traffic India data
Fresh data from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and TRAFFIC-India, the wildlife trade monitoring network released in August 2015 revealed that between January and 9 August 2015, India lost about 41 tigers. The count is similar to the count in the same period in 2014.
It says that despite the union and state governments’ efforts towards conservation, the number tiger deaths continued.
Few facts revealed by the data includes
• Tigers are dying not just from natural causes, but they are also being shot to death by authorities in case of man-animal conflicts. Snares and traps, even poisoning are the other reasons are behind their death.
• States that have reported the maximum number of tiger deaths include Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.