Current Affairs - January2,2016

 

Indian-origin cancer expert Harpal Singh Kumar knighted.

UK-based cancer expert Harpal Singh Kumar was knighted by Queen Elizabeth Kumar was knighted for his "influential work in preventing and treating cancer.

 

About Harpal Singh;

• Harpal Singh Kumar was born in India in the year 1965

• In 1997, he founded Nexan Group, a venture capital-backed medical devices company

• In 2002, he joined Cancer Research Technology Limited as a chief executive

• In 2004, he became Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Cancer Research, UK in 2004. He became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April 2007

• He has won the Mobil Prize, Metal Box Prize and Hughes Prize.

 

About Knighthood; 

• A knighthood is one of the highest honours that an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve. While in past centuries, knighthoods used to be awarded solely for military merit. Today, they also recognise significant contributions to national life

• The knighthoods are conferred by the Queen or a member of the Royal Family acting on her behalf in Britain. Queen usually presents insignia at the ceremony.

 

BCCI Annual Awards 2014-15.

The BCCI Awards are a set of annual cricket awards given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The awards recognise and honour the best Indian international and domestic cricketers of the past year. The awards were first given in 2006–07.

Recipients of 2014-15 BCCI Awards are;

• Polly Umrigar Award for international cricketer of the year: Virat Kohli (trophy and Rs 5 lakh)

• CK Nayudu Award for lifetime achievement: Syed Kirmani (trophy and Rs 25 lakh)

• Madhavrao Scindia Award for most runs in Ranji Trophy: Robin Uthappa (trophy and Rs 2.5 lakh)

• Madhavrao Scindia Award for most wickets in Ranji Trophy: Vinay Kumar & Shardul Thakur (trophy and Rs 2.5 lakh)

• Best Cricket Association of the Year for overall performance: Karnataka (trophy)

• M A Chidambaram Trophy for best Under-16 cricketer: Shubman Gill (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• M A Chidambaram Trophy for best Under-19 cricketer: Anmolpreet Singh (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• M A Chidambaram Trophy for best Under-23 cricketer: Almas Shaukat (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• M A Chidambaram Trophy for best woman cricketer: Mithali Raj (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• M A Chidambaram Trophy for best woman junior cricketer: Devika Vaidya (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• Best umpire: O. Nandan (trophy and Rs 50,000)

• Lala Amarnath Award for best all-rounder in Ranji Trophy: Jalaj Saxena (trophy and Rs 2.5 lakh)

• Lala Amarnath Award for best all-rounder in limited-overs tournaments: Deepak Hooda (trophy and Rs 2.5 lakh)

 

Union inks Financing Agreement with World Bank to fund education of minorities.

• The Union Government has signed a Financing Agreement of 50 million dollars with the World Bank for Nai Manzil Scheme- Education and Skills Training for Minorities.

• Under this agreement, the credit will be facilitated by the International Development Association (IDA), World Bank’s concessionary lending arm.

• This credit will be in the form of loan which carries a maturity of 25 years, including a 5-year grace period.

• The loan funds will be used for interventions under this scheme improve the employability and performance of minority youth in the labour market.

• The total project size is 100 million dollars, out of which 50 million dollars will be available as IDA credit and the remaining balance funding from the Union Budget.

 

About Nai Manzil Scheme

• The central scheme is designed to address educational and livelihood needs of minority communities lagging behind in terms of educational attainments.

• It aims to provide educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system.

• It seeks to provide trade basis skill training in four courses at the same time of formal education, in field of (i) Manufacturing (ii) Engineering (iii) Services (iv) Soft skills. It intends to cover people in between 17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students.

• This scheme will provide new avenues for minorities for continuing higher education and also open up employment opportunities in the organised sector.

 

The 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award was conferred to Veteran South Indian classical vocalists Sanjay Subrahmanyam

Renowned Carnatic singer Sanjay Subrahmanyan will be felicitated with the 'Sangita Kalanidhi' award for his outstanding achievements in Carnatic music. The 47 year old musician will be amongst the youngest list of musicians who had received the prestigious award before turning 50.

 

About Sangita Kalanidhi Award;

• The Sangita Kalanidhi is the highest honour given to a Carnatic musicians in India

• The award was initially not named Sangita Kalanidhi, it was given the name only in 1942

• The first recipients of the award were T.V. Subba Rao, Vidvan T.S. Sabhesa Iyer, and M.S. Ramaswamy Iyer. They were awarded in 1929

• Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama was the first to get the award in 1942 under the title Sangita Kalanidhi

• The award comprises of a Gold medal and a 'birudu patra'

• Not only singers, but instrumentalists of Carnatic music also receive the award

• Some popular and acclaimed musicians who have received the awards are Muthiah Bhagavatar, Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer, Professor Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, G.N. Balasubramaniam, Palghat Mani Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi, M. Balamurli Krishna and T.V. Gopalakrishnan.

 

Shyam Benegal Committee has been constituted by the Union Government

Shyam Benegal Committee has been constituted by the Union Government revamp Censor Board.The committee will be headed by Shyam Benegal.

Other members of the revamp board are Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Piyush Pandey, Bhawana Somaaya, Nina Lath Gupta.