Current Affairs 18th January 2016

Important Points : 

• Who has won 2016 DSC Prize - Anuradha Roy
• Why did NITI Aayog collaborated with IDFC - For Enterprise Survey of Manufacturing Firms
• 21st Critics' Choice Awards
• Which rocket has been launced by NASA launched - SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket 
• Who has become the first female President of Taiwan - Tsai Ing-wen
• Where did the first infected case of mosquito-borne Zinka virus recorded - US
• Who has been elected to Board of Directors of AIIB - India's Dinesh Sharma
• Start-up India initiative launched by - PM Narendra Modi 
• Who has won Premier Badminton League title - Delhi Acers

Details : 

Who has won 2016 DSC Prize - Anuradha Roy

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 16th January 2016, the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature was won by Indian author Anuradha Roy for her novel Sleeping on Jupiter.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe awarded her with a prize and a unique trophy.

About Anuradha Roy

• She is an Indian editor, novelist and journalist.
• In the year 2000, she co-founded Permanent Black, a publishing house.
• World Literature Today named her first novel "An Atlas of Impossible Longing" as one of the 60 Essential English Language Works of Modern Indian Literature.

About DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

• The prize is awarded annually to writers of any race or nationality writing about South Asia with themes such as history, politics, people or culture.
• DSC Limited, an Indian infrastructure and construction company instituted this prize.
• The winner is awarded with a prize of 2800000 rupees.

Why did NITI Aayog collaborated with IDFC - For Enterprise Survey of Manufacturing Firms

On 17th January 2016, to conduct an enterprise survey of manufacturing firms, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog collaborated with the IDFC Bank Ltd.

Features of the survey

• This survey will include start-ups of all states and Union Territories.
• The survey will complement the governments Make in India initiative by taking stock of issues faced and providing incitement for State-level reforms.

21st Critics' Choice Awards

On 17th January 2016, The 21st Critics' Choice Awards were anounced at the Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hangar in California.

These awards honour the finest achievements in drama and television filmmaking which were aired between 1 June 2015 and 31 December 2015.

On 14th December 2015, the nominees for the 2016 awards were announced by Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) and the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).

The List of winners of Critics' Choice Awards 2016

DRAMA

• BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY : Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY : The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki
• BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN : Mad Max: Fury Road – Colin Gibson
• BEST EDITING : Mad Max: Fury Road – Margaret Sixel
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR : Sylvester Stallone – Creed
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS : Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
• BEST DIRECTOR : George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY : Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY : Charles Randolph and Adam McKay – The Big Short
• BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE : Tom Hardy – Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE : Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST COMEDY : The Big Short
• BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY : Christian Bale – The Big Short
• BEST COSTUME DESIGN : Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan
• BEST HAIR & MAKEUP : Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST VISUAL EFFECTS : Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST ANIMATED FEATURE : Inside Out
• BEST ACTION MOVIE : Mad Max: Fury Road
• BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE : Ex Machina
• BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM : Son of Saul 
• BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS : Jacob Tremblay – Room
• BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE : Spotlight
• BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE : Amy
• BEST SONG : Furious 7 – “See You Again”
• BEST SCORE : The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
• BEST PICTURE : Spotlight
• BEST ACTOR : Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
• BEST ACTRESS : Brie Larson – Room

TELEVISION

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES : Christian Slater – Mr. Robot – USA
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES : Jesse Plemons – Fargo – FX Networks
• BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES : Kirsten Dunst – Fargo – FX Networks
• BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES : Timothy Olyphant – The Grinder – Fox
• BEST GUEST ACTOR/ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES : Margo Martindale – The Good Wife – CBS
• BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES : Fargo – FX Networks
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES : Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Fox
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES : Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory – CBS
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES : Constance Zimmer – UnREAL – Lifetime
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES : Jean Smart – Fargo – FX Networks
• BEST ANIMATION SERIES : BoJack Horseman - Netflix
• BEST REALITY SHOW - COMPETITION : The Voice - NBC
• BEST REALITY SHOW HOST : James Lipton - Inside the Actors Studio - Bravo
• BEST STRUCTURED REALITY SHOW : Shark Tank - ABC
• BEST TALK SHOW : Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - HBO
• BEST UNSTRUCTURED REALITY SHOW : Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - CNN
• BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES : Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent – Amazon
• BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES : Rami Malek – Mr. Robot – USA
• BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION OR LIMITED SERIES : Idris Elba – Luther – BBC America
• BEST COMEDY SERIES : Master of None – Netflix
• BEST DRAMA SERIES : Mr. Robot – USA
• BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES : Rachel Bloom – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – The CW
• BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES : Carrie Coon – The Leftovers – HBO

Which rocket has been launced by NASA launched - SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket 

Among the important Iternational Current Affairs, On 17th January 2016, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in the USA.

Satellite Jason-3 was carried and successfully inserted it in the desired orbit by the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket. 

Features of Jason-3 Mission

• This was the fourth mission in U.S.-European series of satellite missions.
• The satellite will also help the USA in ennhanced forecasting of marine navigation anad hurricane forecasting.
• In the year 2001, the Jason-1 and in the year 2008, OSTM/Jason-2 missions were launched.

Who has become the first female President of Taiwan - Tsai Ing-wen

Among the important Iternational Current Affairs, On 16th January 2016, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Tsai Ing-wen won in Taiwan's presidential election and became the first female president.

About Tsai Ing-wen

• Earlier, she had served as consultant for the the National Security Council and Mainland Affairs Council.
• Apart from this,, she also head the drafting team on the Statute Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau.
• In 2000, she was given the high-profile appointment of chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council.
• She was appointed to the post of vice president of the Executive Yuan.

Where did the first infected case of mosquito-borne Zinka virus recorded - US

Among the important Iternational Current Affairs, In third week of January 2016, A mosquito-borne virus Zinka was found spreading rapidly through the American continent.

In January 2016, when a traveler returning from Latin America the, the first case was confirmed in Texas, USA.

About Zinka virus

• According to the Centers for Disease Control, the virus can make people sick with rash, pinkeye, fever and joint pain.
• This virus can be transmitted if a person with the virus is bitten by a mosquito and then that mosquito bites another human.
• In the year 1947, it was first recognized in Uganda.

Who has been elected to Board of Directors of AIIB - India's Dinesh Sharma

Among the important appointments, On 17th January 2016, India’s Dinesh Sharma was elected to the 12-member board of directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). 

This is the first Board of Directors of AIIB with founding members of 57 nations.

AIIB holds  subscribed capital of 50 billion US dollars and authorised capital of 100 billion US dollars. 

With 26.06 % voting shares, China is the largest shareholder while India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5 %.

About Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

• It is an international financial institution with an objective to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The capital of the bank which is about 100 billion US dollars, is equivalent to about half that of the World Bank and two-third of the capital of the Asian Development Bank.

Start-up India initiative launched by - PM Narendra Modi 

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 16th January 2016, Start-up India initiative to augment startup ecosystem in the country was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Key features of Start-up India, Stand-up India Action Plan

• A separate fund will be created with 10000 crore rupees collection for development and growth of innovation driven enterprises. It will be 2500 crore rupees a year for four years.
• 500 sector specific incubators, including 5 new Bio clusters will be established across the country.
• Liberalised Fast-track mechanism will be evolved to process startup patent applications under IPR protection with 80 percent reduction in registration fee.
• Self-certification based compliance regime will be followed in relation to labour and environmental laws. 
• A new mobile app to enable start-ups to register themselves within a day and a portal to apply for clearances online will be operation from 1 April 2016.
• Capital gains tax to be exempted for venture capital investments. However, the exemption will be applicable only when only when the proceeds are invested in another startup.
• New scheme will be launched to provide Intellectual Property Rights protection to start-ups and new firms.
• An innovation programme will be launched in 5 lakh schools across the country to nurture innovation among 10 lakh children.
• Profits of Start-up units will be made tax-free for 3 years and there will be a moratorium on labour inspections for the first 3 years of operations.
• Easier exits for failed ventures with a provision for winding them up within 90 days under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, 2015.
• The Atal Innovation Mission was announced with a focus on strengthening incubation facilities for startups. Under the mission, among other things, pre-incubation training will be offered to willing entrepreneurs.
• Under the mission, 35 new incubators, 7 new research parks, 31 innovation centres will be set up at the premier technology institutes under the public private partnership mode.

Who has won Premier Badminton League title - Delhi Acers

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 17th January 2016, Delhi Acers won the Premier Badminton League (PBL) title after defeating Mumbai Rockets in the finals. 

About Premier Badminton League

• Badminton Association of India manage and commercially owns the Premier Badminton League.
• It was founded in 2013 and was known as Indian Badminton League (IBL).
• The purpose of the tournament is to bring top Indian players.