GK and Current Affairs Updates

Government has notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. It is for the first time a scheme has been notified to offer financial incentives to employers. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore with a target of 50 Lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20.
Apprenticeship Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. 
•    It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training. The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India. The policy proposes to work pro-actively with the industry including MSME to facilitate tenfold increase opportunities in the country by 2020. 
•    25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be reimbursed to the employers directly by the Government of India. The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal trade training (fresher apprentices). 
•    Online portal for ease of administering. All transactions including registration by employers, apprentices, registration of contract and payment to employers will be made as online mode. Eligible employers shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment. Employers need to register on the apprenticeship portal and must have TIN/TAN and any one of EPFO/ESIC/LIN. 
•    Brand Ambassadors will be appointed for states and for local industrial clusters to act as facilitators and promoters to promote apprenticeship training.
 

NASA has successfully conducted the first genome sequencing in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The ability to sequence the DNA of living organisms in space opens a whole new world of scientific and medical possibilities, NASA said.
For the first time ever, DNA was successfully sequenced in microgravity as part of the Biomolecule Sequencer experiment performed by NASA astronaut Kate Rubins.
With a way to sequence DNA in space, astronauts could diagnose an illness, or identify microbes growing in the ISS and determine whether or not they represent a health threat, NASA said.
A space-based DNA sequencer would be an important tool to help protect astronaut health during long duration missions on the journey to Mars, and future explorers could also potentially use the technology to identify DNA-based life forms beyond Earth.

After winning two consecutive assembly polls in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Friday added yet another feather to her cap with her Trinamool Congress being extended the 'national party' status by the Election Commission.
•    Sources in the poll panel, quoting an order, said Trinamool Congress has satisfied one of the conditions mentioned in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 to be recognized as a national party — having being recognized as a state party in at least four states.
•    It is a recognized state party in West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
•    Now, India has seven recognized national parties — Congress, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPM, NCP and All India Trinamool Congress.
•    Recognition as a national or a state party ensures that the election symbol of that party is not used by any other political entity in polls across India. 
•    Other registered but unrecognized political parties have to choose from a pool of "free symbols" announced by the commission from time to time.
 

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov passed away on 2 September 2016 at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He was 78.
Karimov had dominated Uzbekistan, Central Asia's most populous nation, for more than 25 years.
•    Islam Karimov was the first President of Uzbekistan, in office from 1990 to 2016.
•    He was born in Samarkand and was in and out of an orphanage from 1941 to 1945.
•    He became an official in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He became the party's First Secretary in Uzbekistan in 1989.
•    On 24 March 1990, he became President of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.
•    His election to the Uzbek Communist Party resulted after his predecessor Rafiq Nishonov failed to quell inter-ethnic clashes and instability in the Fergana Region.
•    He declared Uzbekistan an independent nation on 31 August 1991.
•    He subsequently won its first presidential election on 29 December 1991.
 

The martial arts movie star is set to receive an honorary Oscar statuette at the Academy's 8th Annual Governors Awards to be held in November.
•    Chan Kong-sang, known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and singer. 
•    In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself. 
•    Chan has been training in Kung fu and Wing Chun. He has been acting since the 1960s and has appeared in over 150 films.
•    Chan has received stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 
•    As a cultural icon, Chan has been referenced in various pop songs, cartoons, and video games. 
•    An operatically trained vocalist, Chan is also a Cantopop and Mandopop star, having released a number of albums and sung many of the theme songs for the films in which he has starred. 
•    He is also a notable philanthropist.
•    In 2015, Forbes magazine estimated his net worth to be $350 million.
 

Union Steel Minister Shri Birender Singh, who was on a 3-day visit to United Kingdom and Luxembourg, invited companies and businessmen from these two countries to invest in India and be a partner in India’s growth story. The Minister was accompanied by senior officials from Ministry of Steel and SAIL during this visit, which concluded with his arrival back to Delhi yesterday.
•    The Steel Minister met Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Mr. Etienne Schneider. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides, during which various issues of mutual interest for both the countries, were discussed. Shri Singh highlighted the significance of Luxembourg from steel industry point of view and expressed gratitude to Mr. Schneider for taking a keen interest in business relations with India. He invited the Luxembourg government and businesses to explore opportunities for enhancing their business presence in India and assured of full support by the government.
•    During the visit, Shri Singh visited the offices of M/s. Paulworth and M/s. Arcelor Mittal, and had interaction with their top management representatives. He shared details of steps being taken by the central government in India to improve ease of doing business and to facilitate foreign investment. The Minister shared his vision for steel industry in India and termed R&D as the key driver for sustainable growth of the industry. Shri Singh stated that producers of steel will have to come forward and demonstrate advantages of using steel by executing innovative pilot projects. He exhorted the two companies to contribute their best in realization of this vision. Mutual collaboration on technology and development front can be advantageous for all the partners, for example, the Joint Venture between SAIL and Arcelor Mittal, he added.
•    Earlier on the first day of the visit, the Minister attended “International Conference on contribution of Sir Chhotu Ram in Pre Independence era” as the chief guest. He had extensive deliberations with the Diaspora and urged them to take active interest in India’s growth and development.
 

Coal India Limited (CIL) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) today signed an MoU for effectively monitoring of environment related issues in the coal mining projects. 
•    The MoU will also help in improving the rehabilitation and reclamation of the mined out areas. 
•    This arrangement would help CIL in proper compliance and monitoring of the conditions that are laid down by the MoEF & CC while according environment and forest clearances. 
•    The MoU covers assessment and monitoring of plantation and eco restoration activities, preparation of wild life management plans, preparation of environmental impact assessment and environmental management plans, capacity building for the executives of CIL on environment and forestry issues etc.
 

Government has notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. It is for the first time a scheme has been notified to offer financial incentives to employers. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore with a target of 50 Lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20.Apprenticeship Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. 
•    It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training. 
•    The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India. 
•    The policy proposes to work pro-actively with the industry including MSME to facilitate tenfold increase opportunities in the country by 2020. 
•    25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be reimbursed to the employers directly by the Government of India. 
•    The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal trade training (fresher apprentices). 
•    Online portal for ease of administering. All transactions including registration by employers, apprentices, registration of contract and payment to employers will be made as online mode. Eligible employers shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment. Employers need to register on the apprenticeship portal and must have TIN/TAN and any one of EPFO/ESIC/LIN. Employers are invited to register on the apprenticeship portal to avail benefits under the scheme. 
•    Brand Ambassadors will be appointed for states and for local industrial clusters to act as facilitators and promoters to promote apprenticeship training.
 

In the august presence of Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu a Joint Venture Agreement was signed today i.e. 1st September, 2016 between Ministry of Railways and Government of Kerala for developing railway infrastructure in the State. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Ashok Kumar Mital, Member Engineering, Shri Aditya Kumar Mittal and other Board Members, and other senior officials were also present on the occasion. The JV Agreement was signed by Shri S.C. Jain, Executive Director(Works) on behalf of Railways whereas it was signed by Shri K.R. Jyothilal, Secretary, Department of Transport & Revenue (Devaswom) on behalf of Govt. of Kerala. 
•    Indian Railways has been playing a major role in national integration by connecting the remotest places and bringing people closer to each other. Railways receive a large number of demands for network expansion as a Railway line acts as an engine of growth for the area it serves. 
•    Railways have a large shelf of ongoing New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling projects needing about Rs 3.86 lakh crores to complete. We have been trying to meet the aspirations of public within limited availability of funds. 
•    To expedite the projects, Railways have been trying to mobilize resources through other than Gross Budgetary Support. Towards this mission, 10 State Governments have till now agreed to share the cost of 41 ongoing projects ranging from 25% to 67% of the project cost. Some States are providing land free of cost in addition to sharing of construction cost. 
•    In view of the growing demands for Railway Lines in various States and huge requirement of funds to execute them, Hon’ble Minister for Railways has taken an initiative for setting up of Joint Ventures with States for focused project development, resource mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation and monitoring of critical rail projects. 
•    Setting up of JVs will go a long way in identifying requirement of states keeping in line with other plans, finding avenues for funding of projects etc. Governments of Odisha, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have already signed JV agreement with Ministry of Railways for the same. 
•    The present railway network density in Kerala is 2.70 Km per 100 square Km which is above national average 2.01 Km per 100 square Km. However, it is an established fact that the railway network density in the country as a whole needs to be improved and the States coming forward in this regard is a welcome step. 
•    Signing of these JVs will go a long way in developing infrastructure in the State of Kerala. 
•    The average outlay to Kerala in Railway Budget was Rs.821.0 crore during 2014-15 to 2016-17 which is an increase of 121% over the average outlay of 371.9 crore during 2009-10 to 2013-14.
 

A special cleanliness awareness drive was organized here today by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to mark the successful completion of the ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’. 
•    NSS volunteers and other youth were out in large number on the streets of the Capital to convey the message of Swacchta to general public through placards and action on ground. Secretary Deptt. of Youth Affairs shri Rajeev Gupta encouraged the NSS volunteers and students from different educational institutes on the occasion. 
•    Deptt. of Youth Affairs organized Swacchta Pakhwada from 16th August to 31 August, 2016 all over the country in which a day-wise schedule of activities was chalked out for the NSS volunteers and youth clubs of NYKS.
•    The programmes included seminars and pledge on ‘Swachhta’, cleaning of campuses of educational, health and welfare institutions, public places and public statues, door to door campaign about swachhta and making the village ODF (Open Defecation Free), rallies, Quiz competitions, street plays etc.