GK and Current Affairs Updates

India’s premier container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai has signed 400 Million US Dollar agreement with State Bank of India (SBI) and Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) for External Commercial Borrowing (ECB). 
•    The agreement was signed by JNPT officials in the presence of the Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
•    With this ECB Agreement, JNPT becomes the first major port in the country to take loans in dollars to improve the infrastructure. 
•    The ECB of 400 Million dollars will be primarily utilised for expansion of JNPT’s existing road network connecting to its port project. 
•    It will help JNPT to double its existing capacity. JNPT was able to take loans in dollars as it has US dollar denominated foreign currency earnings which can be leveraged for a low cost foreign currency borrowing. 
 

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Maharashtra Government and Airports Authority of India (AAI) on 23 August 2016 signed a tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for successful launch of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
•    The 10 airports that will be developed are- Kolhapur, Shirdi, Amravati, Gondia, Nashik, Jalgaon, Nanded, Solapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg will be developed.
•    The state will contribute 20 percent cost of Viability Gap Funding, whereas the centre will bear the remaining 80 percent cost.
•    The state government will reduce the Local Body Tax (LBT) on air fuel from existing 10 percent to 1 percent for a period of 10 years.
•    Moreover, the government will provide essential land free of cost.
•    These airports will be provided with roads, rail, Metro and waterway connectivity. 
•    The state government will also provide electricity, water and necessary facilities at concessional rates.
 

Telangana and Maharashtra government on 23 August 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to start work on three barrages- Tummidi Hatti on Pranhita River, Medigadda on Godavari River and Chanaka-Korata on Painganga River.
The MoU was inked after a meeting between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.
•    The approval for these 3 projects was given on the recommendations of the Inter-State Board of Maharashtra and Telangana that had been set up for the purpose.
•    All expenses for these projects will be borne by Telangana government and not a single village of Maharashtra will be submerged.
•    More than thirty thousand hectares of land in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Yavatmal will come under irrigation because of these barrages.
•    This MoU to construct irrigation projects will help in ending the long standing water dispute on water utilization of Godavari River and its tributaries between the two states.
 

Sakshi Malik, the woman wrestler who won the bronze medal at 2016 Rio Olympics in the 58 kg category, was named as Haryana’s brand ambassador for Beti Bachao, Beti Padao campaign.
•    Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal made this announcement on 24 August 2016 at Bahadurgarh where he awarded Malik with 2.5 crore rupees and Commendation Certificate. 
•    He also offered her a class two level job in the state government.
•    Her coaches Mandeep and Kuldeep were also presented cheque of 10 lakh rupees each by the Chief Minister.
•    Besides, the Chief Minister also announced that a sports nursery and a stadium would be set up at Mohra, native village of Sakshi in Rohtak district.
•    Sakshi Malik is an Indian freestyle wrestler. 
•    At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she won the bronze medal in the 58 kg category, becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics and the fourth female Olympic medalist from the country.
•    She is a part of the JSW Sports Excellence Program, along with fellow female wresters Vinesh Phogat, Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat.
 

Andhra Pradesh on 20 August 2016 launched the DNA Index System (DIS) for DNA (Deoxyribonucleac acid) profiling of criminals. The system uses the latest DNA technology tool, known as RapidHIT DNA System, developed by IntegenX of United States.
•    With this, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to do so.
•    It allows generation of DNA profiles from live samples like buccal swabs, saliva and blood stains etc.
•    It creates DNA profiles within 90 to 120 minutes compared to currently available technologies which take at least two days or more. 
•    It could also help the suspects prove their innocence. 
•    With DNA in the database, repeat offenders will be easily and quickly caught which will further help to bring down crime rate. 
•    This system helps to test and create DNA profiles of seven persons within two hours.
•    It can help resolve missing persons’ cases with on the spot DNA testing and also reduce backlogs of trying of criminal cases.
 

The International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) on 22 August 2016 announced that the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup will be hosted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The tournament will take place from 7 October 2016 and will conclude on 22 October 2016.
•    Kabaddi is a contact sport that originated in Ancient India.
•    India always dominated the event by winning all the gold medals in both men's and women's category.
•    Kabaddi World Cup was first played in 2004, then in 2007 and then annually from 2010 onwards.
•    2004 and 2007 were played in Standard Style and other years in Circle Style.
•    World Cup 2015 was cancelled because of 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration controversy.
•    Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab was the host of the Kabaddi World Cup 2014.
•    The winner of the Kabaddi World Cup 2014 was India. New Zealand was the Runner-up. Pakistan stood on the third place.
 

India and Germany on 22 August 2016 signed an agreement to foster conditions that will help create and improve workplace-based vocational training in India's industrial clusters.
The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and German International Cooperation (GIZ).
•    Under the pact, German technical assistance will be used to enhance industry institute partnerships between Indian and German organizations.
•    It will help build capacity of local training institutions and foster industry linkages which will help adapt elements of the German dual system into the Indian context.
•    It will initiate a new project focused on adapting elements of the German dual system in select industrial clusters in India. 
•    The project will run for three years starting August 2016 with a budget of 22.6 crore rupees made available by the German Government.
•    It will be implemented in three selected clusters, which include the Automobile cluster in Maharashtra and Electronics cluster in Bangalore.
 

National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years; Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar  is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.
                 
Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has  decided to confer awards upon the following sportspersons/ coaches/organizations:
(i) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ranta 2016
 1.    Ms. P.V. Sindhu    Badminton
2.    Ms. Dipa Karmakar    Gymnastics
3.    Shri Jitu Rai    Shooting
4.    Ms. Sakshi Malik    Wrestling
 

(ii) Dronacharya Awards 2016
 1    Shri Nagapuri Ramesh    Athletics
2    Shri Sagar Mal Dhayal    Boxing
3.    Shri Raj Kumar Sharma    Cricket
4.    Shri Bishweshwar Nandi    Gymnastics
5.    Shri S. Pradeep Kumar    Swimming (Lifetime)
6.    Shri Mahabir Singh    Wrestling (Lifetime)
 

(iii)        Arjuna Awards 2016
  

1.                       Shri Rajat Chauhan    Archery

 2.                       Ms. Lalita Babar    Athletics
3.                       Shri Sourav Kothari    Billiards & Snooker
4.                       Shri Shiva Thapa    Boxing
5.                       Shri Ajinkya Rahane    Cricket
6.                       Shri Subrata Paul    Football
7.                       Ms. Rani    Hockey
8.                       Shri Raghunath V.R.    Hockey
9.                       Shri Gurpreet Singh    Shooting
10.                   Ms. Apurvi Chandela    Shooting
11.                   Shri Soumyajit Ghosh    Table Tennis
12.                   Ms. Vinesh    Wrestling
13.                   Shri Amit Kumar    Wrestling
14.                   Shri Sandeep Singh Mann    Para-Athletics
15.                   Shri Virender Singh    Wrestling (Deaf)
 
(iv) Dhyan Chand Award 2015
 
1    Ms. Satti Geetha    Athletics
2    Shri Sylvanus Dung Dung    Hockey
3    Shri Rajendra Pralhad Shelke    Rowing
  
(v) Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar, 2016
 

1.    Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent    1.Hockey Citizen Group
2.Dadar Parsee Zorostrian cricket club
3.Usha School of Athletics
4. STAIRS
2.    Encouragement to sports through corporate social responsibility    India Infrastructure Finance Corporate Limited
3.    Employment to sportspersons and other welfare measures    Reserve Bank of India
4.    Sports for Development
 5.  Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society
 
 (vi) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2015-16
 Punjabi University, Patiala
 
The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2016. 
Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh.  Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each.  Recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given Trophies and certificates. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments will be given MAKA Trophy, award money of Rs. 10 lakh and  certificate.
 

The All India Radio's first cross-border radio service channel was launched on Tuesday in Kolkata by President Pranab Mukherjee. 
•    The channel, dedicated to Bengali listeners will air content for 16 hours daily for listeners across India and Bangladesh. 
•    The participatory content creation platform, aimed to strengthen bilateral ties will be shared between 'Akashvani Maitree' and 'Bangladesh Betar'.
•    The new channel will be broadcast from a brand new state-of-the-art high power 1000Kw DRM transmitter installed at Chinsurah in West Bengal's Hooghly district and will cover the whole of Bangladesh through medium wave.
•    West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi and Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar were also present at the event.
•    Listeners can tune in to Akashvani Maitree on 594kHz frequency, while it will be also be available globally through the website and a mobile application.

Stone Brewing', a brewery based in San Diego, California is set to open the world's first beer-themed hotel in the city in 2018. 
•    The $26 million 'Stone Hotel', that will spread across 1,00,000 square feet, will feature a bar-style lobby where guests will be welcomed with complimentary beer on arrival. 
•    Draft beer will also be delivered to the guests' rooms.
•    The sprawling 100,000 sq-ft, $26 milllion Stone Hotel, set next to the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station venue, will feature a bar-style lobby where guests will be welcomed with a complimentary Stone beer on arrival. 
•    The hotel will also also offer in-room 'beer growler' service, with draft beer delivered in a jug.
•    Other facilities at the hotel will include a 10,000 sq-ft rooftop garden, a pool deck, an acre of outdoor event space and an 8,000 sq-ft ballroom.