Current Affairs 7th March 2017

Current Affairs 7th March 2017 - Important Points

• Who has been appointed as advisors of Cairn India ? - Atul Gupta and Melody Meyer
• Punjab and J&K signed agreement to - resume work on Shahpur Kandi 
• Environmental pollution kills 1.7 million children each year, stated by : WHO
• Conservation Drones to be used to monitor Tigers in the - Reserves
• Small & Medium Traders on Digital Payment Initiatives is inaugerated by - Union Government
• Survey launched in Ganga to determine population of aquatic life by - Union Government
• National Conference on Jal Kranti Abhiyan organised in - Delhi
• Brasil Open 2017 won by - Pablo Cuevas
• Commemorative postage stamp on 100 years of Yogoda Satsang Math released by - PM Narendra Modi
• Scientists unearth world's oldest fossils unearthed in - Quebec, Canada
• Who has been appointed as adviser to the Odisha Government - K Srinath Reddy
• MoU between India, Portugal approved on - Renewable energy
• Temporary ban on Malaysians from leaving the country by - North Korea
• MoU between India, UAE approved on - Energy Efficiency Services 
• Trade Mark Rules 2017 came into effect on - 6th March 2017
• Travel ban revised by Trump excluding - Iraq

Current Affairs 7th March 2017 - Details

Who has been appointed as advisors of Cairn India ? - Atul Gupta and Melody Meyer

Oil and gas experts Melody Meyer and Atul Gupta were appointed as advisors of Hydrocarbons major Cairn India on 6th March 2017. As advisors, they will provide strategic direction and delivery focus to Cairn India. Cairn India seeks to invest Rs 30000 crore in five new projects. 

Important Points

•  Meyer has 37 years of experience with Chevron Corporation.She is a United States citizen.
•  She was the Asia-Pacific President of Chevron Corporation.
•  She served various roles in various companies such as Vice President of the Gulf of Mexico SBU,President of Energy Technology,Vice-President of US Mid-Continent and Alaska SBU.
•  Atul Gupta is a British citizen of Indian origin and he has over 36 years of experience.
•   He served in Hindustan Oil Exploration Company of HOEC Bardahl India as the Managing Director from August 2006 to August 2008.

 Did you know?

Cairn India is a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd, one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in India. It's headquarter is in Gurgaon.

Punjab and J&K signed agreement to - resume work on Shahpur Kandi 

J&K and Punjab agreed to resume work on Shahpur Kandi Dam project in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on 3rd March 2017 .  The 55.5m high Shahpur Kandi dam will be providing irrigation facility to 5000 hectares of land in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K besides the generation of 206 MW power. The Ministry of Water Resources persuaded the two states so that the country can use its rights on Eastern Rivers of Indus basin.

Key Highlights

•  The construction of Shahpur Kandi project was started in May 1999.
•  The work on the project was paused in 2014 due to dispute between Punjab and J&K.
•  It was a part of the National Project schemes by Union Government.
•  The design of the project will be the same, which was agreed between the two states. 
•  Punjab govt. will implement the program.
•  As agreed earlier, 20 per cent of the total power generated at the Dam will be shared with Jammu and Kashmir by the Punjab government.
•  This share will be provided by the Punjab at the mutually agreed rate of Rs 3.50 per unit, subject to the confirmation of the rates by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

 Environmental pollution kills 1.7 million children each year, stated by : WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced  on 6th March 2017 that more than 1 in 4 deaths of children under 5 years of age are because of unhealthy environment.

Agency revealed the impact of the environment on children's health it in its two new reports, titled Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children’s Health and the Environment and Don't pollute my future!. The WHO went on to state that indoor and outdoor air pollution, unsafe water, lack of sanitation, active and passive smoking and inadequate hygiene take the lives of 1.7 million children below 5 years.

Conservation Drones to be used to monitor Tigers in the - Reserves

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun are planning to use drones to monitor tiger population in the reserves. The conservation drones would map selected tiger reserves in the country. Apart from monitoring the tiger population, the drones would also collect and transmit visual data on animal movements, poaching activities and forest fires from the inaccessible areas of the reserves. The data provided will be used to manage habitats of species.

Interesting Information

• The project is launching in 10 tiger reserves across the country.
• Each reserve would get five unmanned vehicles,costing around Rs 400000 each.
• Drone tests have been conducted previously in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam and in Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

Did you know?

Drones have programmable auto-pilot and telemetry systems that are capable of recording information and doing its live transmission.

Small & Medium Traders on Digital Payment Initiatives is inaugerated by - Union Government

The Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated training of self organized small & medium traders on digital payment initiatives on 4th March 2017.

Vital points on Project

• The project is assigned to the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
• Its aims to show transparency in the system and reducing corruption with evolved participation of all sections of the society.
• It focuses to understand and adopt simplified digital payment mechanisms like UPI, USSD, BBPS, AEPS etc. in a convenient manner.
• Through this training project, around 13500 small and medium unorganized, self organized businesses and traders are targeted. 
• NIELIT will organize 5 Regional Workshops in Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and 30 State Workshops and 100 DigiDhan Camps in rest of the India.

Did you know?

Use of cash to make payments to vendors and suppliers at NIELIT was discontinued in 2014 itself.

Survey launched in Ganga to determine population of aquatic life by - Union Government

The Union government has launched the first ever across-the Ganga-river survey to get details about the population of

 aquatic life in it.

The survey will help creating a baseline scientific data for the Centre to take suitable measures to improve the quality of the river water, according to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

Important Details - 

• The first part of the census was launched from Narora to Bijnor stretch in Uttar Pradesh on 1st March 2017 covering a  distance of about 165 km.
• The second part, will cover a distance of about 250 km from Allahabad to Varanasi, is expected to be launched later this week.
•  Along with this, another study to determine fish species’ composition in the 2,525 km long river launched from Harshil village in Uttarakhand. 
• The survey is being conducted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the Namami Gange programme.
• It is expected to determine the number of ghariyals and turtles in the river.
• The counting is expected to continue till October 2017.
• Apart from the population count, the study would also help in understanding the distribution pattern of aquatic life in the river, the threat they are facing and their habitat conditions.

Did you know?

The Gangetic dolphins, one among the four freshwater dolphin species in the world, are disappearing from the Ganga’s Narora to Kanpur stretch due to pollution.

National Conference on Jal Kranti Abhiyan organised in - Delhi

A national conference on Jal Kranti Abhiyan was oranized by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation on 7th March 2017 in New Delhi. The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation inaugerated this conference. The day-long conference had around 700 participants, representing various stakeholder groups such as officials, farmers, students, NGOs and panchayat members.

Key Highlights

• It mainly aims to create awareness among various stakeholders about the importance of water conservation.
• It was launched with the aim of making it a mass movement by consolidating water conservation and management in the country through a more integrated approach involving all stakeholders.
• It aims to bring together all the relevant existing and planned schemes of the Government of India on one platform  and to work on them collectively inn order to achieve the objectives.

Did you know?

Uma Bharti launched this nationwide program of Jal Kranti Abhiyan on 5th June 2016.

Brasil Open 2017 won by - Pablo Cuevas

Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 to win Brasil Open Men’s Singles title on 6th March 2017 .

Detailed Info-

• It is the third straight Brasil Open title for Cuevas.
• In the rain-delayed clay-court tournament, Cuevas finally wrapped up the title with a victory against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain. 
• Born on 1st January 1986, Pablo Cuevas is an Argentine-born Uruguayan professional tennis player.
•  He has won 5 singles titles.
•  He achieved his career-high doubles ranking of World no. 14 in April 2009.

 Did you know?

• The Brasil Open is one of the main events of a tennis tournament in Brazilian tennis Calener held annually in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• It is a part of the ATP World Tour 250 series.
• Pablo Cuevas won Brasil Open Men’s Singles title in 2016.
• Rogerio Dutra Silva and Andra Sa won Brasil Open Men’s Doubles title in 2017 .

Commemorative postage stamp on 100 years of Yogoda Satsang Math released by - PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a special commemorative postage stamp on 100 years of Yogoda Satsang Math on 7th March 2017. The Yogoda Satsang Math are the headquarters of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). It aims majorly to reveal the complete harmony, basic oneness and common foundations of all true religions.

More about Yogoda Satsang Math

It's a non-profit religious organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917.

The society is known as the Self-Realization Fellowship in countries outside the Indian subcontinent.

The YSS oversees more than 180 Kendras, Mandalis, 

Retreats and Ashrams all over the globe.

Did you know?

Mrinalini Mata is the current President of the YSS. This math is situated in Dakshineswar, Kolkata, West Bengal

Scientists unearth world's oldest fossils unearthed in - Quebec, Canada

A group of researchers from the University College London recently discovered one of the earliest lifeforms ever found on the earth. The remains of microorganisms are at least 3770 million years old. It was concluded after examining rock found along the eastern shore of Hudson Bay in northern Quebec, Canada. Carbon dating techniques indicate that these rocks are at least 3.77 billion years old and might even be 4.28 billion years old. The discovery was published in the first week of March 2017 in the journal "Nature".

Important highlights of the discovery

• During the examination of the rocks, it was observed that mineralised fossils are associated with spheroidal structures that usually contain fossils in younger rocks.
• It suggests that the haematite most likely was formed when bacteria oxidised iron for energy and were fossilised in the rock.

Who has been appointed as adviser to the Odisha Government - K Srinath Reddy

K Srinath Reddy, a Padma Bhushan awardee has been appointed as the adviser to the Odisha government on 6th March 2017. Naveen Patnaik, Odisha’s Chief Minister made this announcement.

More about K Srinath Reddy

• He is a renowened cardiologist, epidemiologist and the President of the Public Health Foundation of India and World Heart Federation.
• He also served as the President of the National Board of Examinations that deals with post-graduate medical education in India. 
• He is the first Bernard Lown Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health.

• Srinath also served as the head of the cardiology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

MoU between India, Portugal approved on - Renewable energy

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Renewable Energy between India and Portugal on 6th March 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved this MoU during the cabinet meeting in New Delhi.

Highlights of India-Portual MoU on Renewable Energy

• The MoU establishes the relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues.
• The MoU envisages constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG), which can include members from scientific institutions, research centers, universities, or any other entity, as and when required.
• The MoU will also help in strengthening overall mutual cooperation between the two countries.
•  Relations between these two countries are close and friendly. These two established diplomatic relations in 1949
• The two countries share an excellent political relationship today. Portugal has consistently supported India including a permanent seat at the UNSC.
•  It also supported India in its bid for a non-permanent seat in 2011-12.

Temporary ban on Malaysians from leaving the country by - North Korea

The foreign ministry of North Korea had temporarily banned Malaysians from leaving  the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) until the safety of North Korean diplomats and citizens in Malaysia was fully guaranteed through the fair settlement of the case involving the murder of North Korean leader’s half brother Kim Jong Nam. They made this announcement on on 7th March 2017. 

 Key Points

• The notification assured complete safety of the diplomats and citizens of Malaysia in DPRK.
• However, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak condemned the action by saying that it was in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms.
•  He further warned that Malaysia would not hesitate to take all the necessary measures to protect its citizens.
•  The Malaysian police sealed off the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur to find out the exact number of officials inside.
• Kim Jong Nam was reportedly killed by a toxic VX nerve agent that left him dead within the time span of just two minutes.
• Two women, one from Vietnam and other from Indonesia were arrested on the charge of murder, two North Koreans are also wanted for questioning by the Malaysian police and they are suspected to be hiding in the North Korean embassy.
• South Korea and the United States believe that the murder was planned by North Korea

Did you know?

The crisis was sparked following the lethal poisoning of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s estranged half-brother Kim Jong-Nam at the Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017.

MoU between India, UAE approved on - Energy Efficiency Services 

The Union Cabinet appproved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the field of energy efficiency services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave this approval on 6th March 2017 in New Delhi.

Key Highlights

 The MoU will lead to the collaboration between the National Productivity Council (NPC) and Al Etihad Energy Services UAE in the field of energy management and conservation.

• NPC is a national level organization to promote productivity culture in India.
• As per the MoU, the NPC will provide the following services.

           1. Energy assessment services

           2. Training and certification of energy auditors

           3. Demand side management

• While, Al Etihad ES will provide the following services to all the relevant projects on a case by case basis.

         i) Customer support to UAE government and privately owned organizations in the United Arab Emirates

         ii) All local support for field auditing professionals in the UAE

         iii) All local support for training and certification of energy auditors in UAE

         iv) All support related to demand side management of industries based in UAE

• The MoU will be a model for engagements with other international collaboration partners and will enhance NPC's visibility in the field of energy efficiency.

Trade Mark Rules 2017 came into effect on - 6th March 2017

The Trade Mark Rules, 2017 came into effect on 6th March 2017. This will replace the erstwhile Trade Mark Rules, 2002 and streamline and simplify the processing of Trade Mark applications. The best part of the revamped trade mark rules is that the number of Trade Mark (TM) forms have been brought down to eight from 74. Commerce and Industry Ministry said, the fee for online filing has been kept at 10 per cent lower than that for physical filing, to promote e-filing of trade mark applications.

Important Highlights

• The fees for individuals, start-ups and small enterprises is reduced to Rs 4500 from 8000 for e-filing of trade mark applications.
•  The number of adjournments in opposition proceedings has been restricted to a maximum of two by each party, which will help dispose-off the matters on time.
• Registration procedure of trademarks have also been simplified.
•  Overall fees is rationalised by reducing the number of entries in Schedule I to 23 from 88.
•  E-mail has been made an essential part of the address for service to be provided by the applicant or any party to the proceedings so that the office communication may be sent through email.
•  It introduced the process of hearing through video conferencing.

Did you know?

The examination time for the TM application was brought down to 1 month from the previous time period of 13 months in Jan 2017. TM filings went up by 35 per cent in 2015-16 as compared to the previous year.

Travel ban revised by Trump excluding - Iraq

 US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order reinstating a ban on immigration from six of the previously banned Muslim majority countries for three months and all refugees for four months on 6th March 2017. The countries featuring on the banned list include Libya, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. Iraq is excluded from the list. The decision to exclude Iraq from the list was welcomed by the Iraqi foreign ministry and it said that this order will enhance US-Iraqi cooperation in the fight against Islamic State terrorists. 

Key Highlights

• The new ban will come into effect from 16th March 2017.
• The new order won't include permanent residents and current visa holders who had initially been covered by the previous order.
• It also dropped language offering preferential status to persecuted religious minorities for refugee settlement, a provision that had been viewed to target Muslims.
• This revised order was unveiled by the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security John Kelly.
• The order also gives permission to those refugees who had already received approval from the State department to enter the United States.
• It has lifted the indefinite ban imposed on all Syrian refugees.

Did you know?

Trump’s previous executive order was faced with wide-scale protests, especially at the nation’s airports. It was ultimately blocked by a federal appeals court.