GK and Current Affairs Updates

Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia on 14 September 2016 became the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics. 
•    He broke his own world record to clinch the medals at the Rio Games.
•    Jhajharia, who won his previous gold in the 2004 Athens Games, bettered his own world record to finish on top in the men’s F46 event.
•    Born on 10 June 1981, Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events.
•    The first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics.
•    He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming only the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for India.
•    He is currently being supported by the GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme.

As turbulence continues unabated in the Valley, the army has quietly moved an entire brigade into South Kashmir as part of operation ‘Calm Down’ to clear it of militants and protesters.
•    Amid intelligence reports of a virtual ‘Jungle Raj’ prevailing in the area, with militants and their sympathisers calling the shots, holding protests and blocking arterial roads, nearly 4,000 additional troops have been pressed into service to restore normalcy, but with clear instructions to use minimum force, official sources said.
•    The troops, mobilised from reserves have fanned out in all the four districts of South Kashmir — Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam.
•    These districts have borne the brunt of the current spiral of violence in the Valley triggered by the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
•    After “clearing” Karimabad area of Pulwama, the troops have moved into Shopian and Kulgam. 
•    The process, which was halted briefly for Bakrid, will resume after the festival, sources said, adding more troops were likely to be pressed into service.

August 2016 was the hottest month measured since contemporary records began in 1880, according to a NASA analysis. 
•    It was not only the hottest August ever, but also it ties July 2016 as the hottest month ever—an extraordinary occurrence.
•    In 2015, the hottest October ever took place, and it was followed by the hottest November ever, and then by the hottest December ever—and this sequence continued right up to the present.
•    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) keeps separate records, and its streak of record-breaking months stretches even further back in time: Every month since May 2015 has been the hottest version of that month ever, according to the agency. 
•    Second, August’s record essentially ensures that 2016 will be the warmest year on record. 
•    2016 could wind up being as much as 1 degree Celsius hotter than the pre-industrial temperature average. 
•    This is a stark accomplishment when you consider that the nations of the world committed last year to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. 
•    We are two-thirds of the way there already.
 

The Union Government on 12 September 2016 issued model guidelines for states to regulate direct selling and multi-level marketing businesses while prohibiting pyramid structures as well as money circulation schemes. The guidelines were issued to protect consumers from Ponzi frauds.
The Direct Selling Guidelines 2016 framework was released by the Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
•    Direct selling means marketing, distribution and sale of goods or providing of services as a part of network of direct selling other than under a pyramid scheme.
•    To conduct direct selling business, the guidelines have prescribed many conditions that need to be complied within 90 days.
•    The guidelines also mandate direct sellers to constitute a grievance redressal committee to protect consumers’ right.
•    They also prohibit direct selling entities from using misleading and deceptive or unfair recruitment practices.
•    The contract should provide direct sellers a reasonable cooling-off period in which they can cancel it and receive a refund for goods and services purchased.
•    The new guidelines mandate a seller to provide information about the name of the purchaser and seller, delivery date of goods, procedure of its return and its warranty.

The Union Cabinet on 12 September 2016 approved the creation of the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).
•    The HEFA will be established to give a major push for creation of high quality infrastructure in premier educational institutions.
•    It will also mobilise CSR funds from PSUs/Corporates, which will in turn be released for promoting research and innovation in these institutions on grant basis.
•    The HEFA will finance the civil and lab infrastructure projects through a 10-year loan.
•    All the Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions will be eligible for joining as members of the HEFA.
•    For joining as members, the Institution should agree to escrow a specific amount from their internal accruals to HEFA for a period of 10 years. 
•    This secured future flows will be securitised by the HEFA for mobilising the funds from the market.
•    Each member institution will be eligible for a credit limit as decided by HEFA based on the amount agreed to be escrowed from the internal accruals.

The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of the Technical Arrangement between India and Switzerland on the identification and return of Swiss and Indian Nationals and its implementation. 
•    Conclusion of the Bilateral Technical Arrangement (BTA) has been linked to the Visa Free Agreement for holders of Diplomatic passports as a package deal. 
•    It is noteworthy that the estimated number of irregular migrants in Switzerland who are thought to be from India is less than 100. 
•    If the BTA with Switzerland is approved as proposed, it would offer an opportunity to use the same as a model template for negotiations on the subject with other EU countries, which have been raising the issue regularly with us. 
•    It would also help to leverage the Readmission Agreement to liberalise visa and work permit regimes for legitimate Indian travellers. 
•    This has been envisaged as a key goal in the recently concluded India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM)
 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of Department of Consumer Affairs on enhancing the buffer stock for pulses up to 20 lakh tonnes. 
•    The buffer stock will be built through domestic procurement and imports of 10 lakh tonnes each.
•    Releases from the stock and procurement in subsequent year would be based on the prevailing pulse scenario as well as buffer stock position. 
•    Requisite funds for this operation would be provided to the 'Price Stabilization Fund' Scheme of the Department.

•    The allocation/release of the pulses from the buffer stock would be made to States/ UTs and Central Agencies. 
•    Pulses would also be released through strategic open market sale. For managing the buffer, professional pulses buffer management entity may also be engaged. 
•    The exercise will ensure a stable price regime for pulses and will also encourage domestic farmers to increase production of pulses.

The Union Cabinet on 12 September 2016 approved the extension of contract between Ministry of Earth Sciences and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules.
The contract has been extended for a further period of 5 years (2017-2022). 
•    By extending the contract, India's exclusive rights for exploration of Polymetallic Nodules in the allotted Area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin will continue.
•    It will open up new opportunities for resources of commercial and strategic value in area beyond national jurisdiction.
•    At present, India has an area of 75000 sq.km. located about 2000 km away from her southern tip for exploration of Polymetallic nodules.
•    Polymetallic nodules are also known as manganese nodules.
•    Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium.
•    Out of the minerals found in it, nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.

Indian athlete Deepa Malik on 12 September 2016 became the first Indian woman to bag a medal at the Paralympics.
Malik clinched a silver medal in the shotput F-53 event. Her throw of 4.61m was the best in her six attempts.
With the win, she confirmed India’s third medal from the Rio Paralympics.
•    Deepa Malik is an Indian athlete born in Sonipat.
•    She is associated with Himalayan Motorsports Association (H.M.A.) and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (F.M.S.C.I.).
•    She has done an 8 day, 1700-km drive in sub-zero temperatures which included a climb to 18000 feet.
•    She is currently being supported by the GoSports Foundation through their Para Champions Programme.
•    She is a member of the working group in the formulation 12th five- year plan (2012-2017) on Sports and Physical Education as nominated by the Planning Commission HRD Division on behalf of the Sports Ministry.
 

The Union Cabinet on 12 September 2016 approved the process, formation and functioning of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council.
The GST Council and its Secretariat will be set up as per the following details:
•    Creation of the GST Council as per Article 279A of the amended Constitution
•    Creation of the GST Council Secretariat, with its office at New Delhi
•    Appointment of the Secretary (Revenue) as the Ex-officio Secretary to the GST Council
•    On 8 September 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to the 122nd Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Bill will pave the way for rollout of GST.
•    The new tax regime will do away with the indirect taxes. It will usher in one tax for the entire country.
•    Over 18 States have ratified the bill.
•    The GST is a single indirect tax, which will subsume most of the central and state taxes such as VAT, excise duty, service tax and central sales tax.