Current Affairs 16 May 2016

Current Affairs 16 May 2016 - Important Points

• India successfully test fires indigenous Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile – Ashwin
• Which country launches Yaogan-30 remote sensing satellite – China
• Who becomes first Indian to be awarded IAF’s ‘Hall of Fame’ Award - UR Rao
• To win first Italian Open Title Andy Murray beats which player - Novak Djokovic
• Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis clinch - 2016 Italian Open Title
• Which Aayog to prepare 15-year vision documents by replacing 5-year plans – NITI Aayog
• Rahul Dravid and Mahela Jayawardena appointed to - ICC Cricket Committee

Current Affairs 16 May 2016 - Details

India successfully test fires indigenous Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile – Ashwin

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 15 May 2016 India successfully test fired an indigenously developed Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile, called Ashwin. 

This missile was launched from the complex of Abdul Kalam Island (formerly known as Wheeler Island) off Odisha coast.

However, the advanced version of low altitude supersonic ballistic interceptor missile was fired at a ballistic missile, a modified version of Prithvi weapon system. It was test fired to validate various parameters of the interceptor in flight mode.

Know About Air Defence interceptor missile Ashwin – 

• Missile Ashwin is capable of destroying any incoming hostile ballistic missile.

• The ADD interceptor missile is a 7.5-meter long single-stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator.

• This missile weighs around 1.2 tonnes and has a diameter of less than 0.5 meter.

Which country launches Yaogan-30 remote sensing satellite – China

Among Important International Current Affairs, China has successfully launched Yaogan-30 remote-sensing satellite into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) using the Long March-2D rocket.

This rocket was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in Gobi desert in northwest China’s Gansu Province.

Although, in 2016, it was the 227th flight of the Long March rocket series and was also the second orbital launch from the Jiuquan Satellite launch Center. 

Do You Know – 

• The Yaogan-30 satellite was built by the CAST which is known as China Academy of Space Technology.

• It is also the part of second generation of the Yaogan series inaugurated in 2008. The first Yaogan satellite was launched in 2006.

Who becomes first Indian to be awarded IAF’s ‘Hall of Fame’ Award - UR Rao

Among Important National Current Affairs, Former ISRO Chairman and space scientist Prof Udupi Ramachandra Rao became the first Indian to be given ‘Hall of Fame’ Award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). 

UR Rao has been selected for the prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to the progress of astronautics within the framework of the IAF activities. 

In September 2016, Mr. Rao will receive his award at the 67th International Astronautical Congress to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Know About UR Rao – 

• UR Rao, who is also known as Udupi Ramachandra Rao,  is a space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

• Currently, he is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and chancellor of Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram.

To win first Italian Open Title Andy Murray beats which player - Novak Djokovic

Among Important Sports Current Affairs, on 15 May 2016 Andy Murray won his first Italian Open Men's Singles Tennis title. 

In the final round, which is played in Rome, third-ranked Murray defeated the top-ranked Djokovic by 6-3, 6-3.

This is Murray's first title in Rome and it comes exactly a week before the French Open begins on 22 May 2016.

Whereas, Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Madison Keys in an all American women's Singles final.

Know About Andy Murray – 

• Andrew Barron who is popularly known as "Andy" Murray is a Scottish professional tennis player, currently ranked singles world No 2.

• Andy Murray is a two-time Grand Slam winner, Olympic champion and Davis Cup champion. Murray is the younger brother of doubles former World No. 1 Jamie Murray.

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis clinch - 2016 Italian Open Title

On 15 May 2016, World No. 1 women's doubles team of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis captured the Italian Open title. The pair defeated Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6(5)-7, 10-3 in the final to clinch the title.

This Italian Open women’s doubles title was the fifth title for the Indo-Swiss pair after Sydney, Brisbane, Australian Open and St Petersburg.

After this win, Mirza and Hingis also captured their 14th women's doubles title together.

Know About Italian Open Title - 

• The Italian Open Title is an annual tennis tournament, which held in Rome, Italy. 

• It is one of the most prestigious red clay tennis tournaments in the world after the French Open, with the men's competition being an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour, and the women's competition being a Premier 5 event on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour.

Which Aayog to prepare 15-year vision documents by replacing 5-year plans – NITI Aayog

Among Important National Current Affairs, in the second week of May, The Union Government announced to replace 5-year plans with 15-year vision documents.

Beginning from 2017-18 financial year, the long-term perspective plans will be prepared by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. 

Know About NITI Aayog – 

• NITI Aayog, which is known as The National Institution for Transforming India Aayog is a Government of India policy think-tank established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace the Planning Commission.

• The main aim of NITI Aayog's creation is to foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India. 

Rahul Dravid and Mahela Jayawardena appointed to - ICC Cricket Committee

Among Important Sports Current Affairs, on 13 May 2016 Former India captain Rahul Dravid and ex-Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena were appointed to the ICC Cricket Committee for a 3-year term.

Rahul Dravid was chosen by current test captains to represent the interests of the current players, Whereas, Mahela Jayawardena will represent the interests of past players.

However, along with Dravid, Tim May, former Australia off-spinner, was also elected to the committee to represent the interests of the current players.

Know About ICC Cricket Committee

• Including players, umpires and the media, The ICC Cricket Committee is representative of all stakeholders in the game.

• It is also empowered to make recommendations on cricket playing issues to the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC).