27th July 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

In the first major terror strike in Punjab in eight years, 3 heavily-armed terrorists in army uniform today sprayed bullets on a moving bus and stormed at Dina Nagar police station, killing six persons, including an SP, and injuring eight others in Gurdaspur bordering Pakistan.
- All 3 attackers were killed in the operation.
Indian Railways are planning to operate semi-high speed trains in 9 rail corridors including Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Chandigarh.
- Note : Semi-high speed trains will run at a speed between 160 to 200 kilometres per hour.
To reduce Diarrhoea deaths in the country, the union health ministry in collaboration with a few international health organizations has launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight-2015 programme.
- Between July 27 and August 8 Asha (Accredited social health activists) workers will carry out several activities in the remote parts of the states including paying home visits for distribution of ORS packets to every household with under-five children along with group counselling.
- Apart from the health ministry, the other stakeholders in the programme are World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Micro Nutrient Initiative (MI).

Former Indian President Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam (84) Passed Away today
- Important Points to Note :
- - He served as India's (2002-2007).
  - He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 1981.
  - Joined the ISRO in 1969 and was the project director for India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle programme.
  - Was a pioneer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, India’s space workhorse.
  - Brain behind India’s missile programme, including Agni and Prithvi.
  - He was the chief project coordinator of the Pokhran II nuclear tests.
  - He was Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the DRDO between 1992 and 1999.
  - Read more about Abdul Kalam from here
Six times Lok Sabha member and former union minister Bijoy Krishna Handique (81) passed away.

Business & Economy

IDFC Ltd has announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had granted a banking licence to the financial company, making it the second lender to enter the banking sector after more than a decade.
- The Indian microfinance company Bandhan Financial Services and Mumbai-based IDFC were the only two companies to be granted preliminary bank permits last year.
- Note : Yes Bank was the last bank to be set up, in 2004.
Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has been chosen as the top Indian company in the electrical and electronic equipment sector in the Dun and Bradstreet 'India's Top PSUs awards 2015'.
- Chairman and Managing Director of BEL : S.K. Sharma

Awards & Honors

Helena Ndume of Namibia and Jorge Sampaio of Portugal received the first-ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize 2015.
- The prize was established in June 2014 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to recognise the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity by promoting the UN purposes and principles.
- Ndume, a female ophthalmologist, has been treating blindness and eye-related illnesses in Namibia and throughout the developing world.
- Sampaio, the former president of Portugal from 1996 to 2006 and also the former mayor of Lisbon from 1989 to 1995, has been awarded for his contribution to his country.

Germany's Sebastian Vettel has won the Hungarian Grand Prix of Formula One (F1) Title 2015.
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic held on to the World No.1 spot with 13,845 points in the latest rankings released today.
The top-10 rankings:
- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 13,845 points
- Roger Federer (Switzerland) 9,665
- Andy Murray (Scotland) 7,840
- Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) 5,790
- Kei Nishikori (Japan) 5,525
- Tomas Berdych (Czech) 5,140
- David Ferrer (Spain) 4,325
- Milos Raonic (Canada) 3,810
- Marin Cilic (Croatia) 3,495
- Rafael Nadal (Spain) 3,000.