Current affairs : January 31, 2017 for all competitive exams
India is planning to launch one of its back up navigation satellites this
year as a replacement to IRNSS-1A satellite, whose three atomic clocks have
failed.
- Each of seven satellites has three clocks. The
clocks are important to provide precise data.
- An atomic clock is a clock that uses the resonance
frequencies of atoms as its resonator.
Panel headed by Vinod Rai to oversee BCCI’s affairs
The Supreme Court has appointed a four-member Committee of Administrators
(CoA) headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai to
oversee the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
- The committee will function as the interim head of
the BCCI and run the day-to-day administration of the cricket body till
the Lodha reforms are fully implemented and elections held.
- The Supreme Court recently ousted former BCCI
president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke for stalling the Lodha
reforms.
Centre to hold talks to end Manipur crisis
The Centre has decided to hold tripartite talks with the United Naga
Council (UNC) and the Manipur government to end the ongoing blockade of two
national highways in Manipur, which has disrupted normal life and led to a
shortage of essential commodities in the State.
- The economic blockade is imposed by the UNC, an
umbrella body of Naga groups under the patronage of National Socialist
Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). It is against the Manipur government’s
decision to carve out seven new districts.
Bombay Natural History Society
launches climate change programme in Central Himalayas
The Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) has launched climate change programme to assess the status,
distribution and conservation of pheasants and finches in the Central
Himalayas.
- To evaluate the socio-economic activities of local
communities and involve them in conservation efforts and sensitize the
local forest department staff.This programme is funded by Oracle and
facilitated by CAF-India.
Meghalaya’s first ever Apparel and Garment Centre:
Meghalaya’s first ever Apparel and Garment Centre was recently inaugurated
at Ampati.
- The Centre will create employment opportunities for
both men and women of the region, thereby empowering them economically.
- The Centre has been set up at a cost of
approximately Rs. 14.26 crore, under the North East Region Textiles
Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) of the Ministry of Textiles.
Karnataka Govt Approves
Amending Laws to Lift Ban on Kambala & Bullock Cart Race
The Karnataka state cabinet
approved amending Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill, 1960 Act to legalize
the Kambala and Bullock Cart Race which is a traditional festival held annually
in Karnataka.
- The amendment Bill will be introduced by the state
cabinet in the legislature session scheduled to be begin from February
6,2017.
New test to detect signs of life on alien planets
NASA scientists have developed a new chemical assay that could aid the
search for life on exoplanets by identifying the presence of amino acids, the
compounds that make up proteins and building blocks of life.
- The test uses a liquid-based technique known as
capillary electrophoresis to separate a mixture of organic molecules into
its components.
- It was designed by researchers from NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the US specifically to analyse for amino
acids, the structural building blocks of all life on Earth.
Artificial skin that can ‘feel’ temperature changes
created
Scientists have constructed a new material that can feel temperature
differences, which could possibly be used in prosthetic limbs to act as a
sensitive artificial skin.
- The new material is known as Pectin. The material
uses a mechanism that is akin to the pit organ in vipers. The researchers
were studying synthetic wood when they discovered that a molecule, pectin,
played a role in generating an electrical impulse when exposed to changes
in temperature.
India Post Payments Bank
starts pilot services
India Post Payments Bank
(IPPB) kicked off its operations by rolling out pilot services in Raipur and
Ranchi.The bank will offer an interest rate of 4.5% on deposits up to Rs25,000;
5% on deposits of Rs25,000-50,000 and 5.5% on Rs50,000-1,00,000.
- The paid up equity of the new bank is Rs800 crore,
of which the government has already infused Rs.275 crore.
Suryoday
offers 9% on 1-2 year fixed deposits
Suryoday, a small finance
bank that started banking operations last week, will offer 9% on fixed deposits
with a maturity of 1 to 2 years, said a top official.
- Senior citizens will get 75 basis points (bps) more
on such deposits, R.Baskar Babu, managing director and chief executive
officer of Suryoday
- Suryoday, which was a micro finance institution (MFI), has converted into a small finance bank. The lender also said it will offer 6.25% on savings bank deposits of up to Rs. 1 lakh.
Reliance Defence Signs
Contract with Ministry of Defence to Construct 14 Fast patrol Vessels for
Indian Coast Guard
Reliance Defence and
Engineering Ltd (RDEL), a wholly owned arm of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd
(RInfra), has signed a contract worth Rs. 916 crore with the Ministry of
Defence to design and construct 14 Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian
Coast Guard.
- The medium range, high speed vessels would be
deployed for patrolling within the exclusive economic zone, costal
surveillance, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue operations.
It will also provide support as front-line warships during emergencies.
Priyanka Chopra among 150 most
fashionable women
Indian actress Priyanka
Chopra has made it to the list of Harper's Bazaar's 150 most fashionable
women.
- The 34-year-old "Quantico" star features on the list under the section of New Guard. Priyanka took to Twitter to share the news with her fans and followers.
Ashok Amritraj Appointed UN in
India Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals
Film producer and Wimbledon
tennis player, Ashok Amritraj has been appointed the United Nations in India
Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals
- Amritraj is the first Ambassador for the UN in
India.He is responsible to generate momentum and commitment to achieve the
SDGs by 2030 and to foster engagement of new stakeholders in the
implementation of these Goals.
Amulya Patnaik appointed as
Delhi Police Chief
IPS officer from Union
Territories cadre, Amulya Patnaik is appointed as Chief of Delhi police on
January 30, 2017.
- He is succeeded by Alok Verma, who has been moved as the director of CBI.Patnail is currently workig as Delhi police special commissioner (administration).
Dushyant Chautala is new TTFI
president
Dushyant Chautala has been
appointed as the president of the Table Tennis Federation of India
(TTFI).
- Chautala is the youngest president of the apex body. His term, which is for four years, extends until 2021.
