Important Daily Current Affairs Updates – 22nd October 2017
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STATE
Academics to Get Sabbatical Leave to begin Startups in Kerala
Kerala government has given green signal to a proposal of the state Startup Mission (KSUM) to accord sabbatical leave to the faculty members of all colleges who intend to establish startups. An expert panel, headed by KSUM CEO Saji Gopinath, will select 10 faculty members on a pilot basis for the implementation of the project. The new initiative would help members of the academic community in the state to become part of entrepreneurship, a statement. According to the proposal, teachers can start their own startups, form their groups or join as founders/co-founders along with students.
Useful Info
State – Kerala
Capital – Tiruvananthapuram
CM – Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor – P.Sathasivam
Periyar National Park, also known as Periyar Tiger Reserve, is in the mountainous Western Ghats of Kerala.
Rajasthan limits probes against public servants
Rajasthan State Government under Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has passed Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 which seeks to protect serving judges, former judges, magistrates and public servants in Rajasthan from being investigated for on-duty action without Government’s prior sanction. The ordinance also seeks to bar the media from reporting on accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is obtained. The ordinance provides 180 days immunity to the officers, during which no investigation could be ordered nor could any investigation be carried out against serving judges, former judges, magistrates and public servants in Rajasthan. No decision on request to sanction investigation till the end of immunity period would automatically mean that sanction has been granted. Violators of the clauses of this ordinance could face two years of imprisonment.
Useful Info
State – Rajasthan
Capital – Jaipur
CM – Vasundhara Raje
Governor – Kalyan Singh
UP Government doubles ex-gratia amount for police officials
Uttar Pradesh State Government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced to double the ex-gratia amount for police officials martyred on duty. Post this announcement, the ex-gratia amount for Police officials martyred on duty stands, revised to Rs. 40 lakh from Rs. 20 lakh earlier. Adityanath made this announcement at the Police Commemoration Day Parade in Lucknow. He also announced that number of medals awarded to police personnel in all the units of Uttar Pradesh’s Police Department has been increased from 200 to 950. Uttar Pradesh State Government has given jobs to 400 families of deceased police officials. These measures are aimed to boost the morale of the police force which will in turn help in strengthening the law and order situation in the state.
Useful Info
State – Uttar Pradesh
Capital – Lucknow
CM – Yogi Adityanath
Governor – Ram Naik
NATIONAL
Most Pollution-linked Deaths Occur in India
With 2.51 million deaths in 2015, India has been ranked No. 1 in pollution-related deaths, according to a report by The Lancet Commission on pollution and health. China recorded the second highest number of such deaths (1.8 million). India accounted for about 28 percent of an estimated nine million pollution linked deaths worldwide in 2015. The Lancet Commission on pollution and health is a two-year project in which more than 40 international health and environmental authors led by environmental scientist Philip Landrigan were involved.
Centre asks states to name toilets as ‘izzat ghar’ in rural areas
The Central Government has asked each state to name the toilets in their rural households as “izzat ghar”, or to use a phrase in regional language equivalent to “house of dignity”. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has asked the state government’s principal secretaries, to name toilets in rural areas as “izzat ghar”, after observing the name being used in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. Hindi-speaking areas may continue using the name “izzat ghar”. Other regions could use a name in the local language with the same meaning as that of “house of dignity”.
Useful Info
Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation – Uma Bharti
Constituency – Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
BANKING & ECONOMY
RBI clarifies why linking of Aadhaar with Bank Account is Mandatory
The Reserve Bank of India has clarified that linking of Aadhaar to the bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on 01st June 2017. The clarification comes after a section of the media reported while quoting a reply to a Right to Information Act application that linking of bank accounts with Aadhaar is not mandatory.
Useful Info
RBI – Reserve Bank of India
Headquarters of RBI – Mumbai
Governor of RBI – Urjit Patel
AWARD
Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan to get Lata Mangeshkar Award
The very popular playback singers Alka Yagnikand Udit Narayan and the music composers Usha Khanna, Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik and have been selected for the Madhya Pradesh state government’s prestigious National Lata Mangeshkar. The artistes will be honoured for their contribution in the field of singing and composition of music.
APPOINTMENT
Sibi George appointed as the Ambassador of India to Switzerland
Sibi George was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Switzerland. Sibi George is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1993 batch. He has also served as deputy chief of mission of Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia. Sibi George will replace Smita Purushottam as the ambassador of India to Switzerland. He is presently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Aftairs. He would to take up this assignment shortly.
Useful Info
Country – Switzerland
Capital – Bern
Currency – Swiss franc
Malaysia Airlines names Izham Ismail as new CEO
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) announced that, it has appointed its current chief operating officer, former pilot Captain, Izham Ismail as its new Group CEO. Izham Ismail would replace Peter Bellew as CEO of Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Peter Bellew is returning to Ryanair airlines. Izham has 38 years of experience in the aviation industry. He started his career with Malaysia Airlines as a pilot in 1979.
Useful Info
Headquarters of Malaysia Airlines – Sepang, Malaysia
New CEO – Izham Ismail
