Current Affairs 08th September 2015

Current Affairs 8th September 2015 - Important Points

• International Literacy Day 2015 celebrated on - 8th September

• Which government has abolished LBT on petrol and diesel within 15 days - Maharashtra government

• Who is selected for 2015 UNEP Champions of the Earth award - Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit of South Africa

• Global Waste Management Outlook was released by - UNEP

• Who has became first Indian golfer to qualify for Presidents Cup - Anirban Lahiri

• Who is appointed as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir - Brij Raj Sharma

• Doha Bank tied up with Reliance ADA Group to generate business opportunities

• Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was passed by - Haryana Assembly

• The Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2015 was released by - WEF

• IamSMEofIndia signed MoU with - MCX Ltd

• First-ever Census on India’s Leopard presented

• Digital version of Mahatma Gandhi's collected work was launched by - Arun Jaitley

• e-Pragati project was launched by - Andhra Pradesh Government

Current Affairs 8th September 2015 - Details

International Literacy Day 2015 celebrated on - 8th September

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 8th September 2015, The International Literacy Day was celebrated across the globe on the theme "Literacy and Sustainable Societies".

Further, the theme concludes significance as the world is moving up to adopt the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN General Assembly meeting scheduled to be held in September 2015.

About International Literacy Day

• On 8th September 1966, First World Literacy Day was celebrated and it was declared officially by UNESCO in 1965.
• To mark the importance of literacy associated issues every year a theme is chosen.
• International Literacy Prizes are presented to the awardees by UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris every year.
• Literacy Prizes consists of five prizes i.e, UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, The Malcolm Adiseshiah International Literacy Prize, Noma Literacy Prize and International Reading Association Literacy Award.

Which government has abolished LBT on petrol and diesel within 15 days - Maharashtra government

On 7th September 2015, Maharashtra government decided to abolish the Local Body Tax (LBT) within 15 days on petrol and diesel to end the disparity between fuel dealers and other traders.

After the discussion between the state government and petrol/diesel pump owners over its imposition the decision was made by the government. Abolishing LBT will cost the government fund 280 crore rupees.

But the government will charge an alternate tax in place of LBT.

Besides, the State Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the fuel dealers are ready to accept the imposition of an alternate tax in lieu of LBT. All they want is parity between all pump owners.

Who is selected for 2015 UNEP Champions of the Earth award - Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit of South Africa

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 7th September 2015, Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) of South Africa was selected for the 2015 UNEP Champions of the Earth award in the inspiration and action category for its courage in comabatting poaching and community led initiatives in protecting wildlife in the Balule Private Game Reserve of South Africa.

On 27th September 2015, during the Sustainable Development Goals summit the award will be conferred in New York.

About Black Mamba APU

• In 2013, it was founded to protect wildlife in the Balule private game reserve.
• It is a unit of 26-members of which majority of women.
• The area that they protect is home to an abundance of wildlife - including not only rhino but leopards, lions, elephants, cheetahs and hippos.
• Due to the efforts of Black Mamba APU, not a single rhino was poached in the reserve in over ten months compared to the death of 23 rhinos in the neighbouring reserve in the same period.

Do You Know :

• UNEP Champions of the Earth award is United Nation's top environmental honour awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• People and organisations all over the world that epitomize leadership and advocate action on climate change, sustainable development and a life of dignity for all are recognized.
• The awards are presented in four categories i.e, science and innovation, inspiration and action, entrepreneurial vision and policy leadership.

Global Waste Management Outlook was released by - UNEP

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 7th September 2015, first of its kind report on waste management, the Global Waste Management Outlook was released in the Belgium capital Antwerp.

International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) jointly prepared this report to generate awareness among policy makers and public in general about different sources of wastes, their impact on health and environment and finally, solutions to mitigate the associated problems.

Highlights of Global Waste Management Outlook

• Every year around 2 billion tonnes municipal solid waste (MSW) is arised globally.
• Around 7 to 10 billion tonnes per annum is estimated including ‘urban’ wastes, including MSW, commercial and industrial (C&I) waste, and construction and demolition waste (C&D).
• An estimate of around 3 billion people worldwide lacking access to controlled waste disposal facilities.
• Extending MSW collection to 100% of the urban population is a public health priority and eliminating uncontrolled disposal is a priority for protecting the environment.
• E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream all around the world due to increased consumer demand, perceived obsolesce, and rapid changes in technology and inventions of new electronic devices.
• A 2015 report by the United Nations University (UNU) estimated that 41.8 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was generated in 2014, almost 25% more than the 2010 figure of 33.8 Mt.
• Major constituents of e-waste are: rare earth metals like lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, gadolinium and dysprosium; precious metals such as gold, silver and palladium; or other metals such as copper, aluminium or iron, which have a high intrinsic value.
• To transform the problem of waste into a resource for economies, the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- should be employed.
• It also calls for a major shift away from the linear take-make-use-waste economy and towards the circular reduce-reuse-recycle approach to the lifecycle of materials.

Who has became first Indian golfer to qualify for Presidents Cup - Anirban Lahiri

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 7th September 2015, Anirban Lahiri became the first Indian golfer to qualify for a Presidents Cup. He will be part of the International Team in the 2015 championship which is scheduled to be held at Incheon in South Korea between 2nd and 4th October 2015.

About Anirban Lahiri

• He from Pune, Maharashtra and is an Indian professional golfer.
• Next to Jeev Milkha Singh, he became the second Indian golfer to make the cut at the Masters.
• Including the Malaysian Open and the Hero Indian Open in 2015, he has two European Tour wins and seven Asian Tour wins.
• As per the official world golf ranking, presently he is positioned at number 40.
• In September 2014, he received the Arjuna Award that recognizes achievement in national sports.

Do You Know :

• Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the USA and an International Team representing the rest of the world excluding Europe.
• Europe competes against the USA in a similar but considerably older event, the Ryder Cup.

Who is appointed as Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir - Brij Raj Sharma

Among the important appointments, On 7th September 2015, Brij Raj Sharma was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir approved by the state government. Sharma replaced Muhammad Iqbal Khandey, who has decided to take voluntary retirement (VRS) three months prior to his superannuation.

Although, he will continue to hold the charge of the post of Administrative Secretary, Planning and Development Department till further orders. He will serve as the Chief Secretary of the state till 2020.

Earlier, Sharma has held various important positions in the State Administration before including the posts of Chief Electoral Officer, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department and Excise Commissioner.

Doha Bank tied up with Reliance ADA Group to generate business opportunities

On 7th September 2015, Doha Bank tied up with Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADA Group to generate business opportunities in the India and Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The MoU is forcasted to provide substantial business opportunities and further prospects for expansion for Doha Bank and Reliance Group. Synergy in product development and congruence in mutual infrastructure support will also be provided.

It will include financial services initiatives with Reliance Capital in the areas such as distribution of financial services, life and general insurance and asset management.

About Doha Bank

• Doha Bank is one of the largest commercial banks in the State of Qatar and was incorporated in 1978. In 1979, it started its domestic and international banking services.
• Through an extensive network and multiple access channels, the Bank enables customers to do their banking and investing whenever, wherever and however they choose.

Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was passed by - Haryana Assembly

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 7th September 2015, the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was passed by Haryana Assembly in which the Bill seeks to amend the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and fixes matriculation as minimum educational qualification for elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

With this bill, Haryana became the second state to fix educational and other qualifications for the candidates contesting Panchayat elections after Rajasthan.

Highlights of the Bill

• It provides that persons against whom charges have been framed by the competent court for grave criminal offences punishable by not less than 10 years of imprisonment will not be allowed to contest the elections till they are acquitted by the court.
• Defaulters of cooperative loans will be debarred from contesting the elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• It makes it mandatory for the candidates to have functional toilets.
• For general candidates contesting the Panchayat elections, matriculation is fixed as an essential qualification.
• Middle standard or class 8th is the qualification for the women (general) and Scheduled caste candidate.

The Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2015 was released by - WEF

On 7th September 2015, The World Economic Forum released its maiden Inclusive Growth and Development Report.

The aim of the report is to improve our understanding of how policy incentives and institutional mechanisms can be used to make economic growth more socially inclusive without dampening incentives to work, save and invest.

Report with respect to India

• In the small business ownership category India was placed at the bottom (38th position).
• Among the lower middle income countries it ranked in the bottom half of the 38 countries in terms of overall inclusive growth.
• In terms of fiscal transfers it ranked 37th out of 38, 32nd for Tax Code and 36th for social protection.
• Sustained strong growth has lifted many out of absolute poverty but improvements in living standards have not kept pace with GDP growth or been evenly distributed.

IamSMEofIndia signed MoU with - MCX Ltd

On 7th September 2015, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at creating awareness among Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) on the benefits of commodity price risk management was signed between The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) and Integrated Association of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises of India (IamSMEofIndia).

This partnership will encourage them to safegaurd on exchanges and face competition adroitly. It will also spread in-depth knowledge about the derivatives market and its benefits among MSMEs will lead to their growth and development.

The small businesses are pivots of innovation and entrepreneurship, they provide a varied range of products, but bear the brunt of international commodity price movements. However, this collaboration will enable and empower them to effectively manage their risks amidst unprecedented uncertainty.

First-ever Census on India’s Leopard presented

Among the important National Current Affairs, In First Week of September 2015, Lead scientist of the tiger census Yadvendradev V Jhala presented first ever data on India’s leopard. Except the northeastern region of India, around 7910 of leopards across India was shown by the team.

According to the data retrieved, the team assumes leopard population to be around 12000 to 14000.

The lead Scientist Jhala says that the species is well distributed across India, which means that the animal is quite healthy. Their population according to the study

• Goa - an estimated population of 71
• Bihar - an estimated population of 32
• Jharkhand - an estimated population of 29
• Chhattisgarh - an estimated population of 846
• Odisha - an estimated population of 345
• Andhra Pradesh - an estimated population of 343
• Uttar Pradesh - an estimated population of 194
• Madhya Pradesh – an estimated population of 1817
• Karnataka - an estimated population of 1129
• Maharashtra - an estimated population of 905
• Rajasthan - an estimated population of 171
• Tamil Nadu - an estimated population of 815
• Uttarakhand - an estimated population of 703
• Kerala - an estimated population of 472

Digital version of Mahatma Gandhi's collected work was launched by - Arun Jaitley

On 8th September 2015, the e-version of the 100 volumes of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG) in New Delhi was launched by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley launched.

Speeches of Gandhi are included in the works of Mahatma Gandhi compiled by a team of Scholars. The collection provides varied, numerous and logical profiles of Gandhi’s life and thought, action and engagements.

Publications Division published the CWMG. Electronic Master Copy of CWMG (Volumes 1 to 100) is in the form of a searchable PDF beta version.

Authentic documentation of Mahatma Gandhi's available writings was carried out under the CWMG project. The project commenced on September 1956 and concluded on 2nd October 1994, with the publication of the 100th volume.

e-Pragati project was launched by - Andhra Pradesh Government

On 7th September 2015, The Andhra Pradesh government launched the AP State Enterprise Architecture (APSEA) e-Pragati project to bring all the government services under one roof. The APSEA is a inclusive architecture to hold the latest advances in e-governance tools.

The motive of the project is to bring together 745 government to businesses, government to citizens, government to employees and government to governments services offered by 33 departments and more than 300 government agencies.

With an estimated investment of 2358 crore rupees of which the State will share 1528 crore rupees over a period of three years the e-Pragati project has been designed.

Major components of e-Pragati

The project revolve around 7 missions, 5 grids and 5 campaigns including:

• Lab Hub (that contains details of all types of land parcels in the state)
• APcan (comprehensive system for management of cancer)
• mSeva (a platform for providing a wide range of citizen services on mobile)
• e-AgriMarket (a platform that enables farmers to sell their produce online to get the best price)
• e-Panchayat (enhances efficiency of Panchayat Raj institutions)
• AP Fibre Grid (to all gram panchayats)
• Dial AP (a unified contact/call centre that the citizens can use to access a wide range of services)
• e-Learning platform (that provides learning and online material/education aid to enhance quality of education)
• Social benefits management system (that includes all benefits schemes)
• AP State Data Centre (to host all the data and applications)
• e-Highway (to seamlessly connect all the departments digitally)
• People Hub (to house all the socio-economic data of the citizens of the state which will be used to implement welfare schemes and development programs)