GK and Current Affairs Updates

The Maharashtra Government became first state in the country to launch India’s first comprehensive ‘Crime Criminal Tracking Network System’ (CCTNS) in Mumbai. 
•    It was launched through the operationalisation of 34 cyber laboratories across the state in order to combat growing cybercrimes. 
•    The CCTNS has been developed by Pune based Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). 
•    Under it, all police stations in the state will be linked with one another for sharing information about crimes in their respective jurisdictions. 
•    It will pave the way for a digital police force in Maharashtra. 
•    The services of the cyber labs, will be linked by secure high-speed fibre optic cable network. 
•    It will be available to address cyber security concerns of private organisations and banks among others. 
•    Under it, the state government will raise a special cyber police force of around 1,000 policemen well trained to handle the growing incidents of cybercrimes.
 

Researchers from the Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavanagar, Gujarat have developed photo catalyst that can completely degrade three industrial dyes in the presence of sunlight. 
•    This photo catalyst is able to completely degrade three industrial dyes — methyl orange, methylene blue and reactive black-5. 
•    The photo catalyst was developed using titanium dioxide doped with red seaweed polymer carrageen an (a substance extracted from purple and red seaweeds). 
•    So the researchers from CSMCRI doped titanium dioxide nano particles with sulphur and carbon by treating it with carrageen an.
•    The nano composite was found to behave as an excellent photo catalyst that degraded the industrial dyes quickly in a single-step process. 
•    The nano composite photo catalyst is thermally stable. It can be reused up to 6 times with the degradation efficiency remaining at over 97%. 
 

MEA has launched a mobile app that integrates multiple social media handles of over 170 Indian missions on a common platform. 
•    The application will help to further expand digital presence of MEA and serve as a common platform to further its public outreach. 
•    The application has been developed by social media giant Facebook for free.
•    It will help people connect with Indian missions abroad and the MEA through a range of social media platforms without having to access individual websites. 
•    The MEA uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Gplus, Youtube, Soundcloud, Flickr to reach out to people as part of its social media engagement. 
•    People through the app can just tap on the map of the country to get access to all social media platforms of the mission rather than searching for websites, Facebook pages and twitter handle of individual missions.
 

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had proactively released data relating to direct tax collections, PAN allocation and distribution of income in the returns for AY 2012-13 earlier in April, 2016.
•    A new version of the income distribution data for AY 2012-13 has now been placed in public domain and is available at www.incometaxindia.gov.in. Version 2.0 of the tax return data includes additional tables containing distribution of gross total income in respect of different types of taxpayers e.g. individuals, HUF, firms, companies, association of persons, etc.
•    In addition to the additional information provided in respect of gross total income, the new version also takes care of internal inconsistencies in the data set released earlier which had crept in due to data quality issues in some of the returns of income received from the taxpayers.
•    CBDT hopes that Version 2.0 will be found much more consistent and relevant for study and analysis by all the stakeholders.
 

India has become one of the fastest growing and developing economy in the world. India, being enriched with variety of minerals, has witnessed increased activity in the field of mining to support the rapid economic development. The exploitation of natural resources and its impact on environment and ecology have become far more significant. There has been concerns on the adverse impact of mining on ecology, environment such as pollution of water, air and land affecting adversely the local communities as well as displacements of people. There is an urgent need to balance mining activities vis a vis protection of environment.
•    The Ministry through Indian Bureau of Mines has developed a template for Scheme of Star Rating of Mines. The main objective of this system is to bring all mines to a minimum standard of Star Rating in the shortest possible time frame to adopt sustainable practices. A two layered system providing self-evaluation templates to be filled in by the mine operator followed by validation through Indian Bureau of Mines. 
The star rating will be based on the following parameters:
•    Scientific and systematic mining to mitigate environmental impact.
•    Addressing social impacts of resettlement and rehabilitation of mining affected people.
•    Local community engagements and welfare programmes for socio-economic development of local community.
•    Progressive and final mine closure to ensure for restoration of mined out land in better conditions then original.
•    Adoption of international standards for mining operations and reporting.
The main advantages of the Star Rating of Mines will be:
•    Comprehensive mitigation of environmental impacts on land, air and water by mining activities.
•    Collation of various technical, environmental and social data of the mining sector at one platform by IBM, which would be utilised to enable better management and monitoring of the compliance of various conditions laid down by statutory authorities for mining.
•    In addressing cumulative impacts in mining areas through coordinated and collective action in the long run by helping in formulation of Comprehensive Regional Plans’- a robust Environment &Social Management framework.
•    Availability of the information on mining as well as the conservation activities in public domain to enable greater transparency to enable effective participation of stakeholder and speedy resolution of conflicts.
•    Reduced delays in obtaining various clearances (environmental, forest, mining plan, etc.) for mines. Self-certification to be allowed for the approvals for scheme of mining.
•    The progressive and final mine closures will be monitored to ensure that the lessee leaves the area after proper management of any adverse impact over the mined area.
•    Encourage adoption of highest standards and sharing and good practices.
 

Joao Havelange, former President of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), passed away on 16 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was 100.
•    Havelange’s tenure as President was the second longest in FIFA's history, behind only that of Jules Rimet.
•    Born on 8 May 1916, Joao Havelange was a Brazilian lawyer, businessman and athlete.
•    He served as the 7th President of the FIFA from 1974 to 1998.
•    He received the title of Honorary President when leaving office; however, he resigned in April 2013.
•    He succeeded Stanley Rous and was succeeded by Sepp Blatter.
•    He served as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1963 to 2011.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), situated in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 18 August 2016 banned wrestler Narsingh Yadav for four years following an appeal by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
•    The CAS also ruled to disqualify all the competitive results obtained by Narsingh from 25 June 2016. 
•    The CAS panel further stated that there was no evidence to accept his claim that his food/drink was spiked.
•    After this will not be able to participate at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He was scheduled to commence his campaign on 19 August 2016 against Zelimkhan Khadjiev of France in the 74 category.
•    In July 2016, Narsingh Yadav was tested positive for a banned substance steroid in an out-of-competition test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
•    In the samples collected at the National camp in Sonepat, he was tested positive for the methandienone, which is a banned anabolic steroid.
•    However on 1 August 2016, he was given clean chit by NADA, which accepted his claim of sabotage.
 

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, dedicated a number of facilities the people of Jahanpur Gram Panchayat in district Sihor in Madhya Pradesh under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, yesterday. The village houses about 100 families. 
•    The Minister dedicated a night shelter, particularly for the benefit of people performing a circumambulation (Parikarama) of River Narmada. A toilet has also been constructed to prevent people from defecating in the open. 
•    Shri Dave also inaugurated a water filter plant, with an objective to provide 20-25 litres water per day per family. An auditorium, with a view to encourage people to organize cultural activities and a Panchayat Bhawan, has also been dedicated to the people. The Environment Minister also planted a sapling on the occasion. He distributed school uniforms to children of the village and held discussions with women members of NGOs. 
•    Shri Dave also held a review meeting with officers of the concerned departments to review the various works being undertaken.
 

In a significant move aimed at professional enrichment of its manpower, Ministry of Railways has decided to send its officers for acquiring MBA degree. Accordingly, the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara, which is the apex level training institute of Indian Railways for imparting training to Railway Officers, has signed an MoU with Maharaja Sayajirao(MS) University, Vadodara for award of MBA degree in specific Railway fields to railway probationary officers belonging to Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) and Indian Railway Store Service (IRSS). The MoU was signed this week in the august presence of Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. This step is being viewed as an important measure of enhancing professional management education in the specific railway fields to the Railway Probationary Officers. This programme will start from August, 2016 itself. 
•    Railway probationary officers who are currently trained at NAIR, will study and obtain MBA degree from the University with specialization in respective fields e.g Finance, Human Resource Management, Production and Operations Management and Marketing Management. 
•    This formal tie-up also enables MS University to select students at their end for MBA along with Railway officers. These students will also be awarded MBA degree in respective disciplines. This will also serve the requirements of railway related infrastructural construction contractors, suppliers, Metros and Port Railways. They can also seek employment in Railways, by appearing in exam conducted by UPSC.

Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti launched various projects worth Rs. 560 crore under Namami Gange programme at Ganga Barrage in Kanpur today. This includes Rs. 63 crore interception and diversion plan of Sisamau drain, Rs. 397 crore networking schemes and river front development scheme at Bithoor worth Rs. 100 crore. 14 Ghats and five crematoria will be constructed at Bithoor. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said her Ministry will develop market for treated water based on hybrid annuity mode through PPP Model. She said Water Resources Ministry is in the process of signing MoUs for this with various Ministries. Sushri Bharti said “We will follow the due process for Ganga conservation. No decision will be taken in haste so that public money is not wasted”. 
•    Speaking on the occasion the local MP and former Union Minister Dr Murali Manohar said that each one of us is equally responsible for the present state of river Ganga. He said we need to change our attitude towards this holy river. He suggested that a light and sound programme should be prepared depicting the history of Ganga to encourage people’s participation in Namami Gange programme. 
•    It may be recalled that on July 07, 2016 to 231 projects under Namami Gange programme were launched at various places in the states of Uttrakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West-Bengal, Delhi and Haryana. In Kanpur, construction of 11 Ghats and two crematoria were launched. 
•    Noted dancer Aarushi and her team presented a dance drama based on river Ganga on the occasion.