Daily Current Affairs for SSC, Banking & Postal Exams: September 17, 18, 2016

500 crore rupee approved by GOI for the development of tourism in J&K

The Union Government approved projects worth 500 crore rupees for integrated development of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.

• The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee for the scheme approved the projects as part of Development Package of Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (PMRP).
• The new projects include Integrated Development of Tourist facilities at Mantalai - Sudhmahadev - Patnitop Circuit (for 99.99 Crore rupees), Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh circuit (for 99.98 Crore rupees), Rajouri - Bafliyaz - Shopian - Pulwama Circuit (for 99.99 Crore rupees) and Anantnag-Kishtwar- Pahalgam- Daksum - Ranjit Sagar Dam Circuit (for.99.75 Crore rupees).

Advertisements issued by Delhi government violated Supreme Court guidelines: Panel

A committee set up by the Union Government said that the Delhi government splurged the exchequer's money on advertisements projecting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his party that violated Supreme Court guidelines.

The three-member panel headed by former Chief Election Commissioner BB Tandon has asked the Delhi government to reimburse the money expenditure since the violation of the Supreme Court order of 13 May 2015, has taken place. The other two members of the panel were adman Piyush Pandey and journalist Rajat Sharma.

 The violations shown by the panel includes

• Outstation advertisements
•  Advertisements for self-glorification and to target political opponents
• Advertisements against media
• Advertisements mentioning the party in power by name
• Advertisements issued on incidents occurring in other states

The committee was constituted by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on the directions of the Supreme Court to address issues related to Content Regulation in Government Advertising.

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Indian finished second in Track Asia Cup 2016

The 2016 Track Asia Cup concluded on 16 September 2016 at the Cycling Velodrome in IG Stadium in New Delhi. Hong Kong topped the chart with 18 medals which comprise 11 Gold, four Silvers and three bronze.

On the other hand, India the hosts of the tournament ended their campaign at second position with 16 medals, including five gold, four Silver and seven bronze.

• Track Asia Cup: The Track Asia Cup cycling competition was held from 14 September to 16 September 2016 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex velodrome. This is the third year in succession that India is hosted the event. The event is recognised by the International Cycling Federation and is part of the World Championship qualifier.

India announces major initiative for R&D into Next Generation HFC refrigerant alternatives

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 15 September 2016 announced an ambitious collaborative R&D programme to develop next generation, sustainable refrigerant technologies as alternatives to HFCs.

This R&D initiative brings together Government, research institutes, industry and civil society to develop long term technology solutions to mitigate impact of currently used refrigerant gases on the ozone layer and climate. With this initiative, India reaffirms its commitment to working with all other nations to safeguard the Earth’s natural ecosystem.

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Nadia Murad Basee Taha appointed UNODC Goodwill Ambassador

Nadia Murad Basee Taha, who survived trafficking at the hands of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), on 16 September 2016, was appointed the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking.

• The appointment marks the first time a survivor of atrocities is bestowed with this distinction. The induction ceremony took place in the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber in the New York United Nations Headquarters.
• During her Ambassadorship, Murad will focus on advocacy initiatives and raise awareness around the plight of the countless victims of trafficking in persons, especially refugees, women and girls.

India, Nepal sign three agreements including improvement of road network

India and Nepal on 16 September 2016 signed three MoUs and agreements to enhance the bilateral agreement between the two nations.

• The agreements were inked during the four-day-visit (from 15 September to 18 September 2016) of Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda to India.

The inked MOUs and agreements are

• MoU for project management consultancy services for upgradation/improvement of road infrastructure in Terai area of Nepal – The services will be provided by NHIDCL in pursuance of the MoU signed on 20 February 2016.
• First Amendatory Dollar credit line agreement between Nepal and EXIM Bank: Amendatory agreement to 1 billion US dollar Line of Credit agreement signed on 25 November 2014, enabling reapportioning of unutilised funds for post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal.
• Dollar Credit line agreement between Nepal and EXIM Bank: New Line of Credit agreement for 750 million US dollar for post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal.

Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma conferred with Arjuna Award

• Sports Minister Vijay Goel conferred Arjuna Awards on cricketers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane at a function in New Delhi. Sharma was given the award for 2015 and Rahane for 2016.
• Earlier, the two cricketers could not receive the awards from the President Pranab Mukherjee as they were participating in international tournaments.

Indian-American Dinesh Bharadia wins 2016 Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

India-born researcher Dinesh Bharadia on 14 September 2016 was chosen for the prestigious Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award. Bharadia was chosen for his contribution to send and receive radio (wireless) signals, including mobile telephony and data on the same channel. His research disproved a 150-years long assumption that it is not possible for a radio to receive and transmit on the same frequency band because of the interference that results.

About Marconi Society

• The Marconi Society is named after Nobel laureate Guglielmo Marconi, who invented radio.
• The Marconi Society awards annually outstanding individuals whose scope of work and influence emulate the principle of creativity in service to humanity.
• The Paul Baran Young Scholar Award is an equivalent of the Nobel Prize in science and technology domain.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2016 observed across the world

• The 2016 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed across the world on September 16, 2016. The theme for the year 2016 is Ozone and climate: Restored by a world united.
• The theme for the 2016 International Ozone Day recognizes the collective efforts of the parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol towards the restoration of the ozone layer over the past three decades and the global commitment to combat climate change.