Current affairs : September 23, 2016 for all competetive exams
Centre appoints three members to Monetary Policy Committee
- They are Chetan Ghate, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute; Pami Dua, Director, Delhi, School of Economics; and Ravindra Dholakia, Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The members will have a term of four years
Bar Council to varsities: Set age limit for law courses
The Bar Council of India (BCI), a statutory body under the Advocates Act of 1961 mandated among other functions to represent bar and set standards on legal education including grant of recognition to universities/colleges, has asked vice-chancellors/registrars/principals to ensure that no person above the age of 20/30 years secures admission for a three/five year undergraduate law course respectively.
- On August 29, the apex court had issued notice asking both the Bar Council of India and the Maharashtra government to file a response.
Enhanced support under Merchandise Exports from India
Scheme (MEIS)
Department of Commerce has extended support to certain new products and
enhanced the rate of incentives for certain other specified products under the
Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
- 2901 additional products falling under different product categories have been added.
Ministry of Shipping Proposes New Model Concession
Agreement for Port Sector
The Ministry of Shipping has proposed a new Model Concession Agreement
(MCA) for the Port Sector.
- The proposed MCA will replace the existing Model Concession Agreement which came into existence in January, 2008.
Management board an ideal option to end Cauvery impasse: CWC chief
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Water Management Board.
- The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal mandated the establishment of the Cauvery Management Board to ensure implementation of and compliance with its 2007 final order on the sharing of the river waters, mainly between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but also with Kerala and Puducherry. The board is a permanent body under the Union Ministry of Water Resources.
‘In-Residence’ programme:
Eminent artists Shri Paresh Maity and his wife, Smt. Jayasri Burman have commenced their stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan as Artists In-Residence.
- They will be in residence for 10 days.
IIT-M’s cheap solution to make brackish water potable
IIT-M has come up with an idea to convert brackish water into drinking water at about 12 paisa per litre right on the kitchen table by using a potential difference of just 1.8 volts.
- The researchers used a stack of tissue paper and carbonised it at high temperature to make graphene. Graphite electrodes were then coated with the graphene produced in the lab.
World’s largest solar power plant:
The ‘world’s largest solar power plant’ with an installed capacity of 648 MW has been commissioned at Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is set up by Adani Group.
- The plant comprises 3.8 lakh foundations, 25 lakh solar modules, 27,000m of structure, 576 inverters, 154 transformers and 6,000km length of cables.
Terror-sponsor Pakistan backs LeT, JeM: U.S. Bill
A new bill has been moved in the U.S House of Representatives in the wake of the terrorist attack on an Army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The ‘‘Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2016” designates Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. It calls on the U.S. administration to provide a report on whether or not Pakistan qualifies as such under various U.S. laws.
Andhra Bank ties up with Cigna TTK, Reliance General Insurance
Andhra Bank has entered into corporate agency agreements with Cigna TTK Company Ltd, and Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd for providing health and general insurance respectively, to its customers.
- These partnerships will provide mutual benefit to the bank and insurance companies in tapping the potential in the market and also help in increasing the insurance coverage.
Wipro acquires Chinese FMCG brand
Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) arm of Wipro Enterprises has signed a pact to acquire 100% shareholding in Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products to boost its presence in the fast-growing toiletries and liquid detergent space in south China.
Sahoo is bankruptcy board chief
The Centre has appointed
Madhusudan Sahoo as chairperson of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of
India.
- Sahoo is at present a member of the Competition Commission of India.
Afghanistan signs peace deal
with militant group Hezb-e-Islami
Afghanistan has signed a
peace agreement with one of the country's largest militant groups Hezb-e-Islami
led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
- This agreement paves the way for
Hekmatyar to make a political comeback.
- As per the agreement, Hekmatyar will be granted amnesty for his offences and the prisoners of Hezb-e-Islami will be released by the government.
Two-Indians selected for
wildlife awards
Two Indian forest officials,
Sanjay Dutta and Ritesh Sarothiya, have been selected for the 2016 Clark
R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards.
- Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards honours individuals engaging in exemplary law enforcement actions to protect wildlife.
Govt. shuffles envoys:
Ministry of External Affairs
changed its envoys on September 22, 2016 .
- Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS 1980),
High Commissioner to U.K., will be the next Ambassador in Washington DC.Mr
Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the
most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life'
that was released last year.
- Taranjit Singh Sandhu will be the
next High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
- The current Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Yash K. Sinha is likely to take Mr. Sarna’s place in London.
