GK and Current Affairs Updates

Union Government on 9 September 2016 issued fresh flexi-fund guidelines for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). 
•    The guidelines would give more freedom to states in spending money under the CSS to meet local developmental requirements.
•    Under the new norms, flexi-funds in each CSS have been increased from the current 10 percent to 25 percent for states and 30 percent for Union Territories.
•    Now, the states can use the fund to undertake mitigation or restoration activities in case of natural calamities, or to satisfy local requirements in areas affected by internal security disturbances.
•    The guidelines said that state governments will have to constitute a state-level sanctioning committee to avail of the flexi-fund facility. 
•    The flexi-fund facility is not for CSS which emanate from legislation, like MNREGA. 
•    Based on the recommendations of the sub-group of chief ministers and consultations with stakeholders, Niti Aayog had issued instructions for rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 8 September 2016 launched e-nivaran (electronic resolution) facility for online redressal of taxpayers’ grievances. 
The grievances can be related to refunds, Income Tax Returns (ITRs), Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), and Permanent Account Number (PAN) among others.
•    It will help taxpayers in registering their complaints through their computer and receive a special PIN number on their registered mobile number and email, which will help to keep track on the issues.
•    It will also allow the complainant to track the progress of the complaint.
•    People can lodge their complains and upload the documents related to the same in form od a PDF file and clubbed as a ZIP file.
•    People who don’t have a PAN can also access the e-nivaran facility and lodge their complaints in connection with their I-T case.
•    The ‘e-nivaran’ form will be available in a physical form at the Aaykar Sampark Kendras (ASK) (tax facilitation centre), located in over 300 cities. 
•    Later, the form will be fed into the system by tax officials.

The first BRICS Wellness Workshop concluded on 11 September 2016 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 
•    The workshop was inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar on 10 September 2016.
•    Along with the workshop, National Fair on comprehensive Indian Medicine system (AROGYA) was also inaugurated in the city. 
•    The four day event is organized by Union Ministry of AYUSH, in collaboration with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). 
•    The fair will conclude on 13 September 2016.
•    The Workshop is organized to promote partnerships with BRICS nations.
•    It aimed at promoting knowledge sharing and pushing forward AYUSH initiatives in BRICS countries, which will further help in globalization of AYUSH.
•    The Workshop was designed to have sessions related to Traditional Systems of Medicine, Trade and Economy, Wellness and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Wellness indicators for BRICS, Wellness and Tourism among others.
•    It included a session on WHO strategy for Traditional Medicine.
 

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa has been sacked weeks after the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in the state, accusing him of violating the constitution.
•    The sacking was imminent after Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed during a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee last Wednesday that Mr Rajkhowa's position had become untenable and he had lost the centre's confidence.
•    The government waited to act against the governor until after a two-day special session of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly called on Thursday to ratify a constitutional amendment bill enabling the Goods and Services Tax or GST.
•    The centre had earlier asked Mr Rajkhowa to resign "on health grounds" but he had defiantly refused to step down.
•    The 72-year-old had told a local TV channel: "I want the President to dismiss me. I will not resign. Let the President express his displeasure."
•    The former bureaucrat was appointed as governor last year.
•    On July 13, the Supreme Court reinstated the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh by cancelling all decisions of Mr Rajkhowa that had precipitated its fall in January
 

Taking off temperature of seas have turned into a key reason for the steady diminishing in a number of creatures, human, and marine lives. 
•    It already has a significant impact on people, fish stocks, and crop yields and now according to a recently published report, this temperature of seas is the greatest hidden obstacle to Indian farming division.
•    The study also says that the temperature of seas is the “greatest” hidden challenge” for the current agricultural and food production sector of India.
•    Changes in the patterns of ocean-based atmospheres have some direct impacts on food production industry of India and can generate great hamper it to a great extent. 
•    The study also says that “Both will have impacts on the yields of crops over a range of important food producing areas such as Australia, North America, and India.”

As Indian and U.S. troops began to assemble for counter-terrorism exercises in the hills of Uttarakhand from September 14 to 27, senior officials said they would soon discuss ways to enhance the scope and scale of exercises in tune with the deepening military cooperation.
•    This means that accounting and book-keeping for the exercise will be done under the arrangement which does away with the need for settling bills and payments every time.
•    They will be recorded and cleared every three months.
•    The bilateral exercise comes against the backdrop of Pakistani media reports that Pakistan and Russia will hold their first joint military exercise later this year. 
•    Possible sale of Russian military hardware to Islamabad is on the cards.
•    Separately, China and Russia began naval war games on Monday in the contested waters of the South China Sea, where India had joined the chorus for enforcing “freedom of navigation” and “open sea lanes of communication”.
•    The 12th edition of the annual bilateral exercise, Yudh Abhyas, one of the longest running joint military training exercises, will take place at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand, close to the China border.
•    Both countries host the exercise alternately.
•    Officials said that currently the exercise is at the company level, comprising 225 soldiers from each side, with Brigade headquarter elements incorporated. 
•    Plans are on to enhance the scope and scale to the brigade level with division-level elements added on.
 

The Union Government has launched Urja Mitra Helpline through which customers can get information on power outages from distribution companies by dialing 14401. 
•    The helpline was launched by the Department of Telecom (DoT) of the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
•    Urja Mitra Helpline is for pan-India usage to send information through voice calls and SMS. 
•    The information will apprise customers about power situation in their area so that they can plan accordingly. 
•    It is a mandatory service, which will be provided by all the telecom operators.
•    Besides, Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on behalf of the Union Power Ministry has developed Urja mobile app. 
•    It will enhance consumer connect with power distribution companies. 
•    Using it consumers can get information on outages, complaint redressal, timely release of connections, and power reliability, among others.

Third seed Stan Wawrinka on 11 September 2016 defeated world number one Novak Djokovic to lift the 2016 US Open Men’s Singles title.
In the final, Swiss Wawrinka defeated Serbian Djokovic 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the title.
This is Wawrinka’s maiden US Open title and his third major title.
•    Stan Wawrinka is a Swiss professional tennis player.
•    He has reached three Grand Slam singles finals in his career, winning all three: the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open.
•     The 2016 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts.
•    The 2016 US Open was the 136th edition of the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year.
•    It took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park of Queens in New York City, United States.
•    Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares won the men’s doubles title.
•    Angelique Kerber won the women's singles event.

China and Russia were to start war games in the South China Sea.
•    The eight-day joint exercises will include a focus on "seizing and controlling" islands and shoals, Chinese navy spokesman Liang Yang said in a statement.
•    They will involve surface ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, ship-borne helicopters, Marine Corps and amphibious armored equipment from both navies, he said.
•    China claims almost all of the South China Sea and has sought to bolster its case by building a series of artificial islands capable of supporting military facilities.
•    But a UN-backed tribunal ruled in July that any extensive claims to the sea had no legal basis and that China's construction of artificial islands in disputed waters was illegal.
•    This week's drills will be carried out off the coast of Zhanjiang city in the southern province of Guangdong.
•    Their precise location was not announced, but they do not appear to be taking place in disputed parts of the sea.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned well-equipped offshore patrolling (OPV) vessel named ‘Sarathi’. 
•    It was commissioned by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) shipyard at Vasco in south Goa. 
•    ICGS Sarathi is the third in the series of six OPVs built by GSL for Indian Coast Guard (ICG). 
•    It is designed and built indigenously by GSL. It is the largest i.e. 105-meter long and is most advanced new generation off-shore patrol vessel. 
•    It has a state-of-the-art propulsion system that can propel the vessel to a speed of over 25 knots. 
•    It is designed to carry one twin engine light helicopter and five high speed boats. 
•    The vessel will be joining coast guard fleet based at Kochi, Kerala and will form part of the Naval Training Squadron. 
•    It will be deployed for other surveillance and to safeguard the maritime interests of the country. 
•    It will also help the coast guard meet the increasing requirement of policing and patrolling of the India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).