Current affairs- July 14, 2016
1.Juno Spacecraft Sends First Image From Orbit
Around Jupiter
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has sent an image of Jupiter and three of
its moons. It’s the first spacescape returned after the probe’s daring plunge
through Jupiter’s lethal radiation belts.
Details:
Juno took the photo while it was 2.7 million miles away from the
solar system’s biggest planet.
In it, Jupiter’s beautiful atmospheric bands and shrinking Great Red Spot are visible. Also shown, hanging against the cosmic black, are three
of the planet’s four Galilean moons-volcanic Io, humongous Ganymede, and watery
Europa.
2.Sebi notifies stricter transfer norms for
Participatory Notes
To allay concerns over misuse of controversy-ridden P-Notes,
regulator Sebi has notified new norms restricting transfer of these offshore
instruments only to entities
authorised for their use and that too after prior consent from the issuer
foreign investor.
- As per the new notification, a foreign portfolio investor will have to ensure that any transfer of offshore derivative instruments issued by or on behalf of it, is made subject to two specific conditions — such ODIs are transferred to persons fulfilling Sebi norms for subscription and a prior consent of the FPI is obtained for such transfer, except when the persons to whom the ODIs are to be transferred to are pre-approved by the FPI.
3.Benefits to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh living in India:
The Union Cabinet has approved proposals for extending several
benefits to “persecuted” minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
living in India on long-term visas.
Details:
- The beneficiaries can buy property for self-occupation or use in self-employment. They are allowed free movement within the State of their stay, and can get their long-term visa papers transferred from one State to another.
4.Beijing could declare air defence zone over South
China Sea
China is planning to set up an air defence zone in the South China
Sea (SCS). This announcement comes shortly after a UN-backed tribunal ruled the
country had no historic rights over islands in the contested region.
5.Load Generation and Balance Report (LGBR) 2016-17:
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released the LoadGeneration and Balance Report (LGBR) 2016-17.
Highlights of the report:
- In India, 300 million people don’t have access to electricity, power cuts are rampant and per capita power consumption is significantly lower than the world average.
- The deficit has reduced from 11% in 2008-09 to 2.9% in 2015-16 and for the first time, there will be a surplus in 2016-17. India is likely to experience the energy surplus of 1.1% in 2016-17. However, state discoms are unable to buy electricity due to poor financial health.
6. Ashok Patnaik is NATGRID chief
The government has appointed a serving Intelligence Bureau (IB)
officer Ashok Patnaik as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
- The appointment is being seen as the government’s effort to revive the project, which was conceived in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
7.India Post Philately Company:
The Department of Post is planning to set up an independent
company "India Post Philately Company" for its philately business with an aim to boost revenues from the sale
of collectible stamps. The proposal would soon be sent to the Cabinet.
8.New Central scheme targets skilling of one crore
people
The Cabinet has cleared the decks for a Rs. 12,000-crore plan to
train 60 lakh youths and certify 40 lakh informally skilled workers over the
next four years with a revamped version of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which includes a mechanism to revive the traditional
Guru-Shishya approach to train youth with the help of local craftsmen and trade
practitioners.
9. e-Aadhaar
valid document for new mobiles
The e-Aadhaar letter or the downloaded version of the
card from the UIDAI website, can now be used as a valid identity and address
proof document for taking a new mobile connection.
10. ECIL
signs tech transfer pact with C-DAC
Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), a Government of India enterprise, has
signed Transfer of Technology agreement for Internet of Things (IoT) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(C-DAC), a leading research and development institute of the Department of
Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).
- The corporation’s CMD, P. Sudhakar, exchanged documents with C-DAC director general Rajat Moona in the presence of Aruna Sharma, Secretary, DeitY.
Appointments:
1.
Maldives new Foreign Minister – Mohamed Asim
Previous
post- High commissioner to Bangladesh
2.
New Prime minister for Britain – Teresa May
