Current affairs- June 30,2016
1. Surface-to-air missile test successful
A new generation Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile(MRSAM), developed by India and Israel, was recently successfully
test-fired from the Integrated Test Range off Odisha Coast.
- This is the first time that the MRSAM system was tested in India. In the next few days, a series of tests will take place before the system joins the Indian Air Force arsenal.
2. ZSI to record climate change impact on animals
The Zoological Survey of India has started five long-term
monitoring plots in the Himalayas to document the impact of climate change on
the animal world.
Key facts:
- The project is funded by the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- It will monitor indicators in species like fish, butterflies, bees and other insects to find out how their distribution has been affected by climate change.
- ZSI will compare the distribution of species in the past and present to come out with a study report on the impact of climate change on their survival.
- The project will run for three years in West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and more than Rs. 2 crore has been earmarked for the exercise.
3. National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
has approved the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP).
- The NMEP primarily aims at accelerating the exploration activity in the country through enhanced participation of the private sector.
4. Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and
Condition of
Services) Bill 2016
The Union Cabinet recently cleared the Model Shops andEstablishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2016.
Highlights:
- The law will allow shops, malls and cinema halls, among other establishments to run 24×7 throughout the year.
- It covers establishments employing 10 or more workers except manufacturing units and will provide freedom to operate 365 days with flexibility on timing to open and close.
5.New members to UNSC
The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly has elected
Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan to serve on the UNSC for a period of
two years, starting from 1 January 2017. With this, now only one non-permanent
Council seat remains to be filled.
- The newly-elected countries will replace Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Angola and Venezuela.
6.MoU between UPSC and RCSC:
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Royal
Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Bhutan. The MoU is aimed at strengthening the
existing relationship between RCSC and UPSC. It will facilitate sharing of
experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment. The
areas of cooperation include the sharing of experience and expertise in
recruitment and selection of officers, development of professional skills of
the officers, use of Information Technology in examination processes and
digitization of records among other things.
7.Four Indian-Americans,
including Google CEO Sunder Pichai, are among 42 US nationals to be honoured
with this year’s prestigious “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” award for
their inspiring professional accomplishments. The other three Indian-Americans
are Hari Sreenivasan, anchor and senior correspondent, PBS NewsHour, Vikram
Malhotra Chairman of the Americas, McKinsey & Company and Bharati Mukherjee
National, Book Critics Circle Award-winning author.
8.Indigenously-built heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra has been successfully inducted in the navy, making India one of the eight countries to have the capability to design and build such a system. The submarine is developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a premier laboratory of DRDO.
