Current Affairs Update – 13th August, 2015

Hello and welcome to ExamPundit. Here are the Important Current Affairs of 13th August, 2015. These are important for UIIC Assistant and IBPS RRB 2015 Exams.

India
Indian Railways
signed 4 MoUs with Union Ministries of Power and New & Renewable Energy
  • The Indian Railways on 12 August 2015 signed four Memorandum
    of Understandings (MOUs) with Union Ministry of Power and Union Ministry of New
    & Renewable Energy for Cooperation in areas of electricity transmission,
    energy conservation and promotion of renewable Energy in a time bound manner.

Highlights of the
MoUs
  • MoU for co-operation in the area of Electricity and Energy
    Conservation between Union Ministry of Power and Indian Railways.
    Implementation of Electricity & Energy Efficiency projects for Indian
    Railways including feasibility, study, construction, operation and maintenance
    of Electricity & Energy Efficiency projects in a phased manner by optimum
    utilization of resources of both Parties.
  • MoU between Indian Railways and Union Ministry of New &
    Renewable Energy. Conceptualization, structuring, implementation, Operation and
    Maintenance of Renewable Energy Projects in phased manner by  optimum utilization of resources of both
    Parties.
  • MoU between Indian Railways and Bureau of Energy Efficiency
    (BEE). Co-operation in implementation of energy conservation projects  for targeted achievement of energy savings
    over Indian Railways and development of long term road map.
  • MOU between Railway Energy Management Company Limited
    (REMCL) and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). EESL will  undertake Energy Audits of Railway Building,
    assess potential of energy savings through techno-commercially viable energy
    efficiency measures as may be mutually agreeable.

Union Government
approved 300 crore package to save standing kharif crops from weak monsoon

  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meet
    chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 August 2015 approved the
    300-crore rupees package to save standing kharif agriculture and horticulture
    crops from weak monsoon.
  • The package will help farmers to be better equipped to deal
    with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon, as the state governments
    will be able to initiate immediate remedial measures to save standing
    agricultural crops and perennial orchards in rainfall deficient districts.
  • Besides, the CCEA also gave its nod to a soft loan scheme to
    the extent of 6000 crore rupees for the current sugar season. The decision was
    taken to make sure that the farmers are paid their dues expeditiously. It also
    mandated that banks pass on the financial assistance directly to the cane
    growers after obtaining the list from the mills.

Union Cabinet nod for
India, US MoU on cooperation to establish the Pace Setter Fund
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra
    Modi on 12 August 2015 gave its ex-post-facto approval for the Memorandum of
    Understanding (MoU) on cooperation to establish the Pace Setter Fund (PSF).
  • The PSF seeks to support the Promoting Energy Access through
    Clean Energy (PEACE) track of the US-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy
    (PACE) between India and United States of America.
  • This MoU signed on 30 June 2015 is expected to accelerate
    commercialisation of innovative off-grid clean energy solutions by providing
    early-stage grant funding. This would also allow businesses to develop and test
    innovative products, systems and business models.

Union Cabinet
approved MoU between India, Nepal for construction of petroleum pipeline
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra
    Modi on 12 August 2015 gave its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of
    Understanding (MoU) between the India and Nepal for the construction of a
    petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul (India) to Amlekhgunj (Nepal).
  • The MoU also includes re-engineering of Amlekhgunj Depot of
    Nepal and allied facilities. The MoU will promote bilateral cooperation in the
    oil and gas sector and secure long term supply of petroleum products to Nepal.
  • It will also help preserve the environment along the route
    and decongest the international border at Raxaul.

Highlights of the
Project
  • On behalf of Union Government, the Indian Oil Corporation
    (IOC) has been entrusted with the job of construction of the pipeline and re-engineering
    of the Amlekhgunj Depot and allied facilities.
  • The project will be completed in two phases. In the first
    phase, a petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul in India to Amlekhgunj in
    Nepal would be constructed.
  • The Indian Oil Corporation will bear a cost of 200 crore
    rupees for the first phase of the project.

Centre sanctions
1,500-MW solar power park for AP

  • The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned a
    1,500-MW ultra mega solar power park for development in Kadapa district of
    Andhra Pradesh.
  • This will become the third park of over 1,000 MW to be taken
    up by the state. Two other parks of 1,000 MW each are being executed by NTPC at
    Anantapur and Kurnool districts, respectively.
  • Tenders for the Kurnool project are expected to be finalised
    later during the month, and those for phase two of 750 MW for the NP Kunta
    project in Anantapur would be invited shortly. The phase one of 250 MW has been
    tendered out and is now under execution, Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy, Andhra
    Pradesh, said.
  • The first bunch of projects tendered out by the state in
    2014 is expected to be implemented before March 2016 as per schedule, Jain said
    after a meeting with renewable sector companies — solar and wind power — here
    today.

Appointments
               
O.P. Rawat Appointed
New EC

  • Om Prakash Rawat, a former Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer
    who till recently was Secretary at the Centre, was today appointed as the new
    Election Commissioner, days before dates of the Bihar assembly elections are
    announced.
  • His appointment will come into effect from the day he
    assumes office, a Law Ministry statement said here.
  • With Rawat’s appointment, the sole vacancy in the
    three-member poll body has been filled. His appointment comes days before the
    poll watchdog takes a call on announcing the schedule for Bihar assembly polls.
  • Born on December 2, 1953, Rawat — a 1977 batch officer —
    will have a tenure of more than three years which will end in December, 2018.
    He had retired from government service in December last year.
  • An EC or a CEC has a tenure of six years in office or till
    he or she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • While Naseem Zaidi is the Chief Election Commissioner, Achal
    Kumar Joti is the other Election Commissioner.

Coca-cola India signs
Sourav Ganguly for 3-years as social ambassador

  • Beverage maker Coca-Cola India has roped in
    cricketerturned-commentator Sourav Ganguly as its social ambassador for a
    three-year deal ending in 2017, replacing Sachin Tendulkar, the country’s most
    famous cricketer, whose contract ended last year.
  • Ganguly is on board and a part of the team that will lead
    our charge towards the FIFA Under-17 World Cup football 2017.
  • Besides the cricket association, Ganguly will lead
    Coca-Cola’s football programmes and run various grassroots football activities.

Jayant Patel
appointed as acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court
  • Justice Jayant Patel was on 12 August 2015 appointed as
    acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. Justice Patel has replaced
    Justice VM Sahai who retired as acting chief justice on superannuation.
  • Justice Patel (59), who hails from Veraval town in Junagadh
    district, graduated in commerce and law from MS University. He started
    practicing law in 1979.
  • During his three-decade career as advocate, he had appeared
    for Union government, Railways and Income Tax department. He was elevated as an
    Additional Judge of the High Court in 2001 and confirmed as a permanent judge
    in 2004.

Indian-American Atul
Keshap Sworn in As US Envoy to Sri Lanka
  • Indian-American Atul Keshap has been sworn in as the US
    Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, becoming the second Indian-origin
    diplomat to be posted to the region after Richard Rahul Verma.
  • Keshap, 44, a former official at the US Embassy in India,
    was administered the oath of office by Deputy US Secretary of State for
    Management and Resources Heather Anne Higginbottom.
  • Keshap was confirmed by the US Senate as the country’s envoy
    last week. It would be his first Ambassadorial posting.
  • In his previous capacity as the Deputy Assistant Secretary
    of State in South and Central Asian Affairs, Keshap had visited Sri Lanka and
    Maldives on several occasions.

Sudhakar Shetty
elected as President of Gymnastics Federation of India
  • Sudhakar Shetty of Maharashtra was elected as the president
    of the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) on 12 August 2015. He succeeds
    Jaspal Singh Kandhari.
  • Elections for the four year term were attended by 35 members
    from 18 States and Units.
  • Kandhari, the outgoing president who was in the fray for a
    third term, could not contest the elections after his nomination was rejected.
    According to GFI release, his nomination was rejected on the ground that he did
    not file his address in the nomination form, which is mandatory as per the
    rules.

Awards
& Honors –
Sania Mirza became
second Tennis player to be recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

  • Sania Mirza, currently ranked world number one in women’s
    doubles, on 11 August 2015 became only the second tennis player to be
    recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
  • The first tennis player to be named for the top award was
    Leander Paes. He was bestowed the honour way back in 1996 after his bronze
    medal in the Atlanta Olympics.
  • Sports Minister Sarbanada Sonowal on 1 August 2015
    recommended Sania’s name for the highest honour that is given for achievement
    in sports.  But, her name for the award
    was finally approved by the Sports Ministry-constituted awards committee headed
    by Justice VK Bali, the retired Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

Urdu Author Shamim
Hanfi Chosen for Jnangarima Manad Alankaran Award
  • Noted Urdu litterateur Shamim Hanfi has been chosen for the
    first Jnangarima Manad Alankaran award, instituted by the Bharatiya Jnanpith
    this year, the literary body said today.
  • The award marks the seven decades of Jnanpith.
  • Hanfi was selected for the award in a meeting of jury
    members chaired by Hindi author Vishwanath Tripathi. Other members of the board
    included poet Kedarnath Singh and author Madhusudan Anand.
  • The Jnangarima Manad Alankaran award comprises a monthly
    honorarium for one year.

World
China, Pakistan
signed deals worth 1.6 billion US dollars to implement CPEC
  • China and Pakistan on 12 August 2015 signed 20 agreements
    worth 1.6 billion US dollars to implement the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic
    Corridor (CPEC) project. These agreements were signed during the CPEC Forum
    that was held at Karamay city in Xinjiang province of China bordering.
  • Both the countries together also issued the Karamay
    Manifesto on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major project under
    China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
  • CPEC project is brainchild of China and was launched by
    Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Pakistan in April 2015. Around
    51 agreements were signed of which 30 were linked to this strategic corridor.
  • It is part of its ambitious six economic corridors conceived
    under Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

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