25-26 july 2015

25 july

Ajay Mathur appointed as Director-General of TERI

Ajay Mathur was on 24 July 2015 appointed as the Director-General (DG) of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). His appointment was made by TERI’s Governing Council. He succeeded RK Pachauri who was removed from the top most position over sexual harassment charges.

Currently, Mathur is working as the Director General of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) of the Union Government. 

About The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) 
• TERI is a non-profit research institution that conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development. 
• It was established in 1974 as Tata Energy Research Institute and was renamed as The Energy and Resources Institute in 2003. 
• It aims to formulate strategies for shaping global solutions to critical issues. In 2013, it was ranked as the Topmost Global Think-Tank by the International Centre for Climate Governance (ICCG).

 

Ramachandra Guha chosen for Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015

Historian Ramachandra Guha was on 24 July 2015 chosen for the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015 in the Academic Category.

The prize will be conferred upon him on 17 September 2015 in Fukuoka International Congress Center in Japan, following which the awardees will be deliberating lectures at high-schools and universities across the city. 

Guha, who is best known for his book India After Gandhi, will speak on Gandhi, India and the World at the event. The aim of his lecture would be to increase awareness of the value of Asian cultures as well as to establish a framework within which Asians can learn from and share with each other.

About Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize
The Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize, established in 1990 by the Japanese city of Fukuoaka, recognises outstanding achievements by individuals or groups in preserving and creating the unique and diverse cultures of Asia. 

The Fukuoka Prize is offered in three categories viz. Grand prize, Academic prize and Arts and Culture prize.

Union Government constituted All India Council of Sports

The Union Government on 24 July 2015 constituted All India Council of Sports as an advisory body for the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The advice rendered by the council will be duly considered by the government, but it will not be binding and obligatory on the government.

The Council will be headed by a President in the rank of Minister of State and will include four Members of Parliament, Sports personalities, coaches, sports experts, sports administrators, D-G of Sports Authority of India, D-G of National Anti Doping Agency, Vice Chancellor of LNIPE, officials from Sports Ministry, representatives from  National Sports Federations, Indian Olympic Association and NGOs.

The appointments of the President and members of the Council other than ex-officio members shall be made by the Union Government. The council may organize national, international conferences, seminars, symposia etc, for promotion of sports and games in the country.

The Council will meet from time to time, at least once in a quarter and will deliberate on matters relating to the promotion and development of sports and games in the country.

Objectives of the All India Council of Sports

  • Popularizing sports amongst the youth as a way of life
  • Increasing outreach of sports to rural and tribal areas, areas affected by left wing extremism, north east and Jammu & Kashmir
  • Implementation of policies for promotion of sports and games in the country
  • Matters relating to promotion of inclusiveness in sports with special focus on women, differently-abled, tribals etc
  • Preventing drug abuse in sports, fraud of age and sexual harassment of women in sports
  • Bringing professionalism, transparency and good governance in functioning of national sports federations
  • Ways and means to raise resources for the promotion of sports and games in the country
  • Promotion of sports sciences and sports medicine
  • Augmenting sports infrastructure and ensuring its proper utilization
  • Matters relating to participation and performance of sportspersons and teams in international sporting events
  • Issues arising out of match fixing and other malpractices in competitive sports
  • Ways and means to promote indigenous games in the country
  • Early identification of sports talent and nurturing of the identified talent
  • Integration of sports in educational curriculum in schools, colleges and universities
  • Welfare measures for sportspersons
  • Issues and matters specifically referred to the council by the ministry of youth affairs & sports.

Helena Ndume, Jorge Sampaio awarded with first-ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize

Helena Ndume of Namibia and Jorge Sampaio of Portugal were on 24 July 2015 awarded with the first-ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize by the United Nations (UN) at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Ndume, a female ophthalmologist, was awarded for treating blindness and eye-related illnesses in Namibia and throughout the developing world. 

While Sampaio, the former president of Portugal from 1996 to 2006 and also the former mayor of Lisbon from 1989 to 1995, was awarded for his contribution to his country for his struggle for the restoration of democracy in Portugal.

The award ceremony was a part of the annual commemoration ofNelson Mandela International Day, which is observed on 18 July every year.

About Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize
The prize was established in June 2014 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to pay homage to Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life and legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation.

It also recognizes the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity particularly in the promotion of social cohesion and community development by promoting the UN purposes and principles.

 

PM Narendra Modi launched Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana in Patna

The Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 25 July 2015 launched Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) along with various other development projects in Patna.

The Prime Minister also launched the following projects:

  • Inaugurated the Daniawan-Bihar Sharif new railway line
  • Flagged off the Rajgir-Bihar Sharif-Daniawan-Fatuha passenger train and Patna-Mumbai AC Suvidha Express
  • Inaugurated campus of IIT Patna
  • Laid the foundation stone for Incubation Centre for Medical Electronics, Patna
  • Inaugurated the construction of the first phase of the Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline project

These projects will provide development and improve the quality of life of the people in the State.

About DeenDayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)

  • The DeenDayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for rural areas was launched to fulfil the following objectives:
    • To provide electrification to all villages
    • Feeder separation to ensure sufficient power to farmers and regular supply to other consumers
    • Improvement of Sub-transmission and distribution network to improve the quality and reliability of the supply
    • Metering to reduce the losses
  • The Scheme has an outlay of 76000 crore rupees for implementation of the projects under which Union Government shall provide Grant of 63000 crore rupees.
  • The benefits of the scheme will be:
    • All villages and households shall be electrified
    • Increase in agriculture yield
    • Business of Small and household enterprises shall grow resulting into new avenues for employment
    • Improvement in Health, Education, Banking (ATM) services
    • Improvement in accessibility to radio, telephone, television, internet and mobile
    • Betterment in social security due to availability of electricity
    • Accessibility of electricity to schools, panchayats, hospitals and police stations
    • Rural areas shall get increased opportunities for comprehensive development
Back to Top