22nd May 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

• Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev is being observed today with reverence.
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations of renowned Hindi Poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's works 'Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay' and 'Parshuram ki Pratiksha' in New Delhi.
• • Dinkar is considered as one of the most important modern Hindi poets.
  • He has been hailed as a Rashtrakavi ("National poet") on account of his inspiring patriotic compositions.
  • He won Sahitya Akademi and Padma Bhushan awards in 1959 and Jnanpith in the year 1972.
• India has reached sixth position in terms of publishing scientific research papers, climbing four spots (earlier our country was in 10th Position).
• • Secretary, Department of Science and Technology : Ashutosh Sharma, 
• Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah invites AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa to form a new government in the state.
• • Jayalaithaa is set to become the Chief Minister of the state for the fifth time.
• Union Home Ministry issues notification saying Lieutenant Governor has jurisdiction over matters of services also in National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• President Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated 24 hot-spots with 30 WiFi access points in the President’s Estate, making it 100 percent WiFi enabled.
• • Important Points to Note : 
  • India was at the 89th position in Network Readiness Index.
  • Countries like Singapore, Finland and Sweden are leaders in this index.
  • India, with 244 million internet users, ranks third after China and the US in terms of number.
  • Communication and Information Technology Minister : Ravi Shankar Prasad 

International Affairs

• 
• Today (22nd May) is the  International Day for Biological Diversity (or World Biodiversity Day).
• • This day is being observed by United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
  • Themes of International Day for Biological Diversity
  • 2015 - Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
  • 2014 - Island Biodiversity
  • 2013 - Water and Biodiversity
  • 2012 - Marine Biodiversity
  • 2011 - Forest Biodiversity
• India has ranked 24th out of 70 countries in the first Environmental Democracy Index.
• • This Index evaluates nations' progress in enacting laws to promote transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in environmental decision making.
  • This list was launched by Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI) and Access Initiative.
  • This Index was topped by Lithuania 
  • Top 10 Nations :
  • • Lithuania, 
    • Latvia, 
    • Russia, 
    • US, 
    • South Africa, 
    • UK, 
    • Hungary, 
    • Bulgaria, 
    • Panama and 
    • Colombia 
  • Note : The index evaluates environmental democracy in 70 countries, including 75 legal and 24 practice indicators, based on recognized international standards. 

People in News

• A special Court in Delhi granted bail to Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Union Minister Dasari Narayan Rao and ex-Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda in a coal block allocation case in Jharkhand.
• • The court also granted bail to former Coal Secretary HC Gupta in the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation case. 

Science & Technology

• The Union Cabinet has approved Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) continuation programme of fifteen operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C36 to PSLV-C50, thus enabling the launch of satellites required for Earth Observation, Navigation and Space Sciences along with the possibility of clinching commercial launch service contracts.
• • The total fund requirement is Rs 3090 crore and includes the cost of fifteen PSLV vehicles, Programme Elements, Programme Management and Launch Campaign. 
  • It will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency of four to five launches per year, with a greater focus on enhancing the level of participation by the Indian industry. 
  • All the fifteen operational flights would be completed during the period 2017-2020.

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