MOST IMPORTANT GK/GA LATEST DATE 10-24-2013 TO 10-30-2013 India has developed a new missile, Pragati [ 10/30/2013] India has developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile, Pragati, with a range between 60-170 km and will offer it to friendly countries. It is on display at a defence exhibition in South Korea. Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud Appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad [ 10/30/2013] In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President has appointed Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud , Judge of the High Court of Bombay, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office. Shri Subhas Goswami Appointed as Director General ITBP [ 10/30/2013] Shri Subhas Goswami, IPS(AM:77), presently working as Director, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderbad has been appointed as Director General in Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The appointment of Shri Goswami will be effective from the date of taking over the charge of the post and till the date of his superannuation (Dec. 31,2014) or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier. Foundation Stone of Doon Medical College at Dehradun and Agriculture University at Sehaspur, Uttarakhand [ 10/30/2013] The Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad laid the foundation stone of Doon Medical College at Dehradun and Agriculture University at Sehaspur in Uttarakhand. He also launched Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram, Free Drug Service, National Iron Plus Initiative and National Ambulance Service in the State of Uttarakhand. Declaration of Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports [ 10/30/2013] The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for declaring the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports to fulfill the long pending demand of people as well as the State Governments of Odisha and Manipur. Declaration of these airports as international airports will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of services at competitive cost to the air travelers resulting in boosting international tourism and economic development of the region and the country. Railway Minister Launches High Speed Rail Corporation of India Limited (HSRC) [ 10/30/2013] The Minister of Railways Shri Mallikarjun inaugurated a two day international technical conference on “High Speed Rail Travel; Low Cost Solution” in New Delhi. While addressing the conference, the Railway Minister said that India’s primary focus has been to provide a mass mode of safe, reliable and affordable transport, being the largest passenger Railway in the world, it is a natural aspiration of the people of this country that Indian Railways provide them high speed rail travel. The Railway Minister formerly launched High Speed Rail Corporation of India Ltd. (HSRC), a subsidiary of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) and also revealed the logo of HSRC that has been designed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Air Marshal Arup Raha will be the next Chief of the Air Staff [ 10/30/2013] The Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal Arup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, at present the Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC on December 31, 2013. Air Marshal Raha was commissioned into the IAF on December 14, 1974 in the Fighter Stream of the Flying Branch. During a career spanning over nearly 39 years, he has held various command, staff and instructional appointments. He has served as Air Attache at the Embassy of India, Ukraine. Besides various technical courses, Air Marshal Raha has done National Defence College, Staff College, Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course and Junior Commanders’ Course. He has commanded Central Air Command and Western Air Command. He is one of the Honorary ADCs to the Supreme Commander. Three-Day Festival of India [ 10/30/2013] Indian cultural festival in Cuba formally inaugurated by the Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari on 29th October in the Theater Mella in Havana with the Sangeet Natak Academy’s Dance Festival called Nrtiyarupa. This Gala Indian Cultural Festival also coincides with the state visit of the Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari. The inaugural function would be attended by the Cuban First Vice President and a number of senior dignitaries from the Indian and Cuban side. The Festival would manifest many elements of long, rich and diverse Indian cultural heritage and would be the largest Indian cultural festival ever held in Latin America and the Caribbean. This reflects the special place that Cuba enjoys among Indians. The Festival would be held from October 29 to 31, 2013. The Indian Film Festival would be held in the Charles Chaplin Cinema Theater. The inaugural film screened would be Ek Tha Tiger which was filmed in Cuba. Other films being screened include Raja Harishchandra (mute), Taare Zameen Par (Hindi), Taal and Parineeta (Hindi). The Indian Film Festival is being coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Vice President Launches INCHAM in Lima, Peru [ 10/28/2013] The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari officially launched the Indian Chambers of Commerce (INCHAM) during his visit to Peru at special function jointly organized by the Embassy of India, Peru and INCHAM in Lima, Peru. Ambassador of India to Peru Mr. ManpreetVohra and President of INCHAM, Mr Ravi Krishna, senior officials and business leaders from both India and Peru were present on the occasion. Vice President Inaugurates Festival of India in Lima, Peru [ 10/27/2013] The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated the “Festival of India-2013” in Lima, the capital of Peru today. The First Vice President of Peru Mrs. Marisol Espinoza and other important dignitaries were present on the occasion. The Festival is being conducted in the Latin American Countries of Peru and Cuba from October 25 to 31, 2013, to disseminate Indian culture in Latin America. In Peru, the festival comprises of a Film festival, Dance festival and a literary festival. With these the people of Peru will be exposed to the diversity of Indian culture and closely integrate with its various components. At the inaugural function, “Nrityarupa”, the mosaic of six Indian dances – Bharatnatyam; Kathak; Odissi; Manipuri; Kathkali; and Chhau, encapsulated the experience of Indian dance as it has evolved in various parts of the India. Parliamentary Delegation to Visit Armenia from 29 October to Strengthen India-Armenia Friendship [ 10/26/2013] Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is leading an official Indian Parliamentary Goodwill Delegation to visit Turkmenistan to attend their National day on 27 October 2013. The delegation will reach Ashgabat Capital of Turkmenistan. The Goodwill delegation is carrying a message of the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee on behalf of the People of India congratulating the People of Turkmenistan on their Independence Day and presents it to the President of Turkmenistan H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat. A New Plastic Park Sanctioned for Odisha [ 10/26/2013] Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Statistics & Programme Implementation Shri Srikant Kumar Jena has sanctioned setting up of a Plastic Park at Siju Village, Kujanga Tehsil of Jagatsinghpur District in Odisha. The Plastic Park is to be set up by a Special Purpose Vehicle called “Paradeep Plastic Park Limited”. The Central Government shall provide a grant of Rs 40 Crore for the project, of which about Rs 8 Crore is being released shortly. The Plastic Park being established near IOCL, Paradeep Refinery will have the necessary state-of-the art infrastructure and would facilitate investments by micro, small, medium and large units in the Plastic Park and is expected to create vast employment opportunities in the region. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad Chairs the Launch of the “Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries”at Beijing, China [ 10/24/2013] The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, ShriGhulamNabi Azad chaired the session for launching of the “Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries” at Beijing, China.Shri Azad said that the goal of the Commission is to enable gender, equity and rights based policies and programming that will improve the quality of life of the ageing population in developing countries including the 25 member countries of Partners in Population and Development (PPD). India is presently the Chair of PPD. Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs Signs Five Memoranda of Understanding with Country’s Five Leading Research, Academic and Business Institutions [ 10/24/2013] The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous institute functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, today signed 5 memoranda of understanding with country’s five leading research, academic and business institutions, namely: Indian School of Business (ISB); Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE); Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS); The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) and YES Bank Limited. Shri Sachin Pilot, Minister of Corporate Affairs, was present on the occasion. IICA provides opportunities for research, education, and advocacy and also serves as a knowledge-centre for policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders related to the domain of corporate affairs. The Institute supports the growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach. IICA is also an academy for the Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) officers. The Minister had an intense interaction with the probationers of the ICLS, discussing their training needs and how IICA’s course modules could be enhanced to cater to everyday practical requirements. Shri Pilot emphasized the importance of gauging and assessing the specific needs of industry and business and stressed on the fact that all the courses should add value to the participants’ potential and ability thereby creating a demand in the Corporate Sector for employees to undergo training/development at IICA. Visit of Vice-President to Peru, Cuba & UK from October 25 - November 2, 2013 [ 10/24/2013] Vice-President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari will pay an official visit to Peru, Cuba and the United Kingdom from 25 October to November 2, 2013. This is the first ever visit at the level of Vice President to Peru and Cuba. He will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shri Jitin Prasada, four Members of Parliament, senior officials and media. Vice-President will be in Peru from October 26-29, 2013. During his visit he will hold a comprehensive dialogue with his counterpart H. E Ms. Marisol Espinoza Cruz, First Vice-President of Peru and meet with Foreign Minister and Minister for Foreign Trade & Tourism. He will also call on President H.E Mr Ollanta Humala. Vice-President`s visit coincides with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Peru. He will inaugurate the Cultural Festival of India in Lima to commemorate this historic event. India and Peru enjoy warm and friendly ties which are characterised by exchange of regular visits at all levels and underpinned by economic interests. The bilateral trade between India and Peru in 2012 was US$ 1.68 billion and evenly balanced. In Cuba, Vice-President will hold comprehensive bilateral talks with his counterpart H.E Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Vice President of Cuba and call on President of Cuba H. E. Mr Raul Castro on October 30, 2013. He will also inaugurate a Cultural Festival of India in Havana during the visit. India and Cuba enjoy historical and cordial relations as founding members of NAM. They maintain close contacts in the multilateral fora on issues of common interest. Bilateral relations are characterised by active cooperation in the field of Energy, Biotechnology and Sports. OVL has an active presence in the Cuban EEZ. In the last leg of his tour, Vice President will be visiting the United Kingdom to deliver a public lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies on November 1, 2013 on the theme Identity and Citizenship”.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:50:59 +0000
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